Lucky Horseshoes
—Photo by Cynthia Linville, Sacramento
—Kevin Jones, Elk Grove
Man had a wooden leg;
It wooden work.
—My Father’s Favorite Saying
I dreamed my father got drunk
With Bill Veeck, the baseball
Rebel, and iconic owner
Of the Chicago White Sox.
Dreamed they woke up beside
The dumpsters behind
Comiskey Park, each wearing
The other’s wooden leg.
I know it was a dream:
My father was careful who
He drank with. And Bill,
Though he’d share a beer
With anybody, was leery
Drinking with folk south
Of the South Side.
I know it was a dream.
But somehow, these yellowed
Season passes in the mailbox,
And the note, “It was my
Left leg, and I want it
Back. Let’s do it again.
Love, Bill.”
____________________
AND THEN,
Mr. Calderon
spilled the coco-coloured coffee
over his yellow dress shirt
paisley tie
and light blue dress slacks.
Jimmy was in elations
since he thought
class would be cancelled
due to his philosophy instructor's gaffe
and lack of balance and concentration.
And then,
when the professor
arrived to class
in flop-flops
white t-shirt
and blue sweat pants,
Jimmy and Anabel
were happier than before.
—Michael Cluff, Highland, CA
___________________
AND THEN #2
—Michael Cluff
And then,
Edgar methodically
put down
the phone
crusted with salt
from tears
and smiled
knowing someone
was out of pain
at last
at least.
The sun peaked
over the craggy crest
and today
decided to continue
moving upward
closer to heaven.
____________________
AND THEN #3: January 9, 5:31 p.m.
—Michael Cluff
The phone rang
right after Jacob's mom
called to check in with him.
They are so close
in all the right
and safe ways.
Casting was complete
and I had gotten
the role:
Abe Goldman
the father and dry cleaner
from Chicago via Hungary
of two daughters
one married
the other still not.
I was pleased
and surprised:
the solo sad moment
was when I realized
I would have to go
to several dry cleaners
to pick up my parcels.
The cost of many things
is too fluid
to ponder at times.
_____________________
AND THEN #4
—Michael Cluff
The coffee and copies
were not precise and perfect,
the staples were a tad too tight
and the wrong color of paper
was found by Mr. Fairman
upon his hourly inspection
of the office.
But he forgave
everyone except
Deanna, Mabel, Stephanie,
Natalia, Kiki and Rhonda
for not knowing
better.
Oh
Pablo, Amir,
Matsuo, Sven
and Lamar
in addition.
____________________
RIPPLES
—Caschwa, Sacramento
As we get older
The glass over mirrors
Transforms to dichroic
Ripple texture
Smooth is no longer
A visual possibility
It is now confined to
Rare oral sensations
Get used to vinegar
It will follow you
Like the Paparazzi
There is no escape
Don’t you like purple?
It so becomes you
It is written
You must embrace it
The Shakespeare and Beowulf
Logs are rekindled
For those who still have hearths
To share with their grandchildren
Prepare for life after death:
Keep your subscriptions current
Don’t share your passwords
And leave a forwarding address
_____________________
Today's LittleNip:
One hundred years ago, the British government sought to quell once and for all the widespread superstition among seamen that setting sail on Fridays was unlucky. A special ship was commissioned, named "H.M.S. Friday." They laid her keel on a Friday, launched her on a Friday, selected her crew on a Friday and hired a man named Jim Friday to be her captain. To top it off, H.M.S. Friday embarked on her maiden voyage on a Friday, and was never seen or heard from again!!!
Happy Fri/13! Watch where you step...
—Medusa
Raven Gets His Just Desserts