Still Not Fitting In

Sandwiched between the ham and the cheese
(The meat is young and supple and ingenious
well-schooled and active
Perhaps a bit full of itself
The cheese stands alone at the pinnacle of it all
Yeasty, aged and exquisite)
Where does that leave me?
The pickle? Sliding around between cheese slices?
So indefinite
God forbid, the mayo?
I say nayo!
Perhaps I'll be the slice of pickled ginger
slipped in-between the layers
A surprise sweet and sour
Independent of the pork and the dairy
No need of cousin Dill or
Colonel Mustard
Yet full of complements.

---

From our latest Poetry Jam session.

So, You're Walking!

I wrote this poem as an internal dialogue, and for some reason the voice I heard in my head as I wrote it was a cross between Fran Drescher and some Boston lady. So, I had to read it that way. Enjoy the recording.

Park the car
And do the last half mile on foot
So, You're Walking!
Kick off the high heels
And plant them flat feet
In some Merrell's
So,You're Walking!
Maybe you get a stone in your shoe
Sit on a park bench
Remove your shoe,
shake it out for a while
A long while...
Enjoy the trill of the creek
And the scent of tree blossoms
As you sit in the park
Maybe people drive by
And see you sitting there...
Smile at them
Show them how much you enjoy
Sitting there in the soft breeze
Surrounded by birdsong

Then You're Walking!
Breathe in deeply
Don't choke on the exhaust,
Maybe hug the creek a little,
Yeah, So You're Walking!
Get a good rhythm going now
You have to cross a thoroughfare
It's okay
The light turns green
And You're Walking
A motorcycle crashes through a puddle
Right in front of you
Splashing your Anne Taylor slacks
It's Okay!
Maybe the dry cleaner can get out the stains
Maybe not!
Don't worry about it!
Send it to ChaRM in Boulder
They'll take care of recycling that material
Probably give you a discount
On your next trip in...
Cause You're Walking!

Ten minutes late for your lunch date?
Well, now you know, Sweetheart!
Leave yourself more time
the next time.
So, You're Walking!
We all had to learn
At some point in our lives
Your friends will forgive you
After they finish giving you parakeet looks.
You'll out live them anyway, Dear.
'Cause
You're Walking!