After four

Shopping and Then Some

Pulling the cart with client attached

Turning corners widely so he won’t bump into things.

Sports, kitchen, men’s and women’s clothing,

Household, jewelry, cleaning supplies, groceries

Crossing the last item off the list.

Making supper, editing paper, doing dishes,

putting people to bed, writing this poem

Hoping I have the wherewithal to write an essay

Stroke

Just when my plate was full to over flowing

the Lord dumps my plate and fills it with something else.

And I’m left staring at this unfamiliar plate

wondering where I should stick my fork in first.

August 16, 2017 Poetic Asides Introduction

Meeting of Essayist and Poet

I walked into a crowded room of writers

busily buying bunches of books from other writers.

Bumping me this way and that as they swished past,

and I said, “I feel like a rock in a river.”

I made my way across the aisle

where a lady looked at me and asked,

“Are you a poet?” “Yes,” I answered. “Why?”

“I could tell by what you said.”

“How would you say it?” I asked.

“I’m in the way,” she answered.

I said, “You must write nonfiction.”

She nodded. We laughed a writerly laugh.

Stroke poem

When it Rains

Since hubby had a stroke

Had three flat tires

A cracked windshield

A hacked computer

A clogged toilet

Because of God,

when I am weak

I am strong.

See me flex

my muscles.

August 14, 2017

Van full of equipment

Wheelchair, bath chair, commode rails

Hoping they won’t grow old at my house

August 13, 2017

Discreet Goodbyes

The nurses looked a little teary

When they said their goodbyes

Wheeled him to our van, waiting

But when he pulled out the urinal

They went back in commenting

About watering the bushes

August 12, 2017

Prayer Meeting

Being prayed for in Jesus’ name

By a group of brothers and sisters

In the presence of the Holy Spirit

Like taking a soothing bubble bath

My mind and soul are squeaky clean