Posts Tagged ‘children’

Sonnet III

When I was schooling in halls so hallow,
my pale young body was softer than now,
Name-calling bullies taunted Moo! and Cow!
comments I took to be somewhat shallow
I’d lie awake by the flick’ring tallow,
years of frustration furrowing my brow,
wanting to break free—yet not knowing how—
from flesh that felt like spongy marshmallow

These days such mem’ries seem irrelevant,
my current physique is sculpted from oak
But though I am strong as an elephant,
a soft onion bagel still can evoke
pain that propels me down on hell’s descent—
to my old body, the butt of a joke




02

02 2009

Green Onion Bagel (III)

I remember
that day that
I finally
heard the words
Grandson,
I believe
you are old enough
to help

Beaming
at the boiling
water below,
I imagined bragging
and boasting
the other boys
would be
so impressed

But when I
grabbed that
golden ring,
offered it for inspection
I only heard
No! Oh no!
That one isn’t
ready yet

And I knew
neither was I




28

01 2009

The Onion, The Bagel, The Cream Cheese, and The Child Complaining of Hunger Pains

Maybe if you grease me,
I might grill better

Were you to toast me,
I might taste better

Perhaps if you stir me,
I might spread better

If only you would feed me,
I might finally be able to stop suffering from malnutrition




24

01 2009

Reflections on Daughterhood

“Be wary of men bearing bagels,”
My mother would often warn me,
“Although they may make you feel thankful,
Such gifts are quite often not free.”

If only my youthful ears listened
Alas! I believed I knew better,
My morals were frequently loosened
By an Xs- and Bagels-signed letter.

I’d smile for a boy serving sesames,
I’d wink at a guy wielding wheats,
Before long, men were undressing me
By baiting me with blueberry treats.

But my heart only fell for one Romeo
Who made me forget all the rest,
His sweet onion bagel aroma
Awakened true love in my breast.

In nine months I found myself natal,
And our daughter drove him away,
“Be wary of men bearing bagels,”
I oftentimes tell her today.




09

01 2009

Fate

My Daddy was a bagelman
way out in Idaho
My Momma worked the onion fields
in old New Mexico
They kissed in Loosiana
with the stars shinin’ above
Raised a baker’s dozen children
filled with hope, cream cheese and love




30

12 2008

“i think you love that onion bagel more than you love me”

but
baby
my darling
love of my life
the girl of my dreams
precious little flower
adorable beloved
future mother of my children
the sweetest truest gift there could be

…what did you think was going to happen?




23

12 2008