Our hist’ry books replete with war
With massive emigration,
With kingdoms, holy avatars,
The rise and fall of nations,
Do not reflect what real life’s like,
What occupies creation,
What stains the life of youngish tykes
Through age’s depredation.
It’s not cor’nations or crusades
That sap human elation,
But tasks that mar our few decades
All burdened with frustration.
My ancient plumbing’s doomed to fail,
The oven timer’s broken
(And that part’s not available),
These failures just a token.
The groceries must consciously
Exclude all fats and sugar.
The garden’s filling with debris,
The weeds displaying vigor.
The workplace teems with evil stress,
The picky cats grow bitter,
Refuse their food—strut cheekiness—
While I clean out their litter.
I take a hundred pills each week
I’m not sure why I do it
It’s not a prolonged life I seek
I’ve lived too long, so screw it.
The traffic’s plain unbearable,
And every summer’s hot—
Meanwhile, it’s damned impossible
To park in Costco’s lot.
I’m booked to make two visits soon
With G-I all the topic—
I feel that treatment’s not a boon
And dread what’s colonscopic.
I sometimes fantasize
I’ll find a warm, dark
Hole one bright day,
Slip in and
Just dis-
Appear.
(3/31/14)