Cherry Trees, by Norman Elder

 

We will not pause for long,

we whirling particles atomic,

Perhaps to regroup later, unknown to me, us.

Our porcelain shells will shatter to shards and dust.

Our bias human form is untrue;

neither clear nor blurred.

 

We can pause for only moments in the

glaring blindness of tasks undone,

love unwon,

right,

wrong.

It does not matter that critics sit silently in the dark at last.

Let the regrets fall to clatter into the darkness

gone.

 

We must pause,

the cherry trees that line the lake side path

have come to blossom.


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What If? By Norman Elder

 

What if I had been an artist? Kept singing?

Waited a little longer to marry or married Sherry,or Sandy or Patti or Jim?

What if we still had all our hair?

What if I had loved more of everything fine,

had gone fishing more often with Ken Marble,

played baseball all summer, spring, autumn?

What if I change my ways and learn to dance, not hesitate, hesitate?

What if I learned to fly like superman? Sail around the world and study

heavenly stars with my sweetheart.

What if I could be Francy Kling just for a day?

What if I quit exaggerating or been as good looking as Kaye Evans, or smart

enough to let you do more of the work??

What if I had spent less time with Lee Fortier, would I still be emotionally

scarred?

What if Brenda gave us each, one more hug?

What if I were as nice as Amy Matson?

What if Gary Paine could tell a joke?

What if I could be Mark Stalder for a day?

What if I spent more time with children, my father, mother, or at the zoo with

Bobo, the gorilla, or Dick Duncan or Marty Penhallegon or Danny Henyan?

What if I pray each day. Am peace-loving, save money; kick a soccer ball

What if I Kiss and hug more?

What if I am kinder?

What if I could fly with Bruce Crimin in a fighter jet, Zoom just once?

What if we visit more beaches, fix the roof, sit with and pet the cat?

What if I have more dinners with Charlie and Judy Gilmore.

What if Terry Hastings asks us to store some of his cars in our garages?

What if we pause for a few minutes to drink a beer or two,

and keep quiet and listen for awhile?

What if we reunite in five years and laugh some more?


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After 38 Years by Norman Elder

 

“After 38 years of marriage, wife kills husband with toaster.”

The news reports, “She confesses all.”

“We were very much in love at first,

but after he retired, he just hung around the house.”

“Why don’t you this? Why don’t you that?”

“This. That. Nag, nag, day in day out, I just got sick of it.”

Such goo, potato chip crumbs, dirty socks, cigarette butts......

“Beer Woman!,’ He would bark.”

“You know!? Annoying.”

“We couldn’t divorcee. No. No. No.

“We would never hurt our kids or granny babes that way.”

“You know how it is!?”

“I just needed to have a little time of my own,

to be let alone once in awhile.”

“I could not even think, but

No. No. No. No. No.”

“He was always drifting around, bugging me day and night

and morning and evening.....

then

The the the lump,

grabbed my toasted bagel right off the plate.......”

“Grrrr”

“I ask you,

What was I to do!?”


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