A bookmark in time

When the shelves are overflowing,

and the suitcase too heavy, he slid a bookmark

into his shirt pocket, the one with the plastic pocket

protector, the ball point pen slightly bulging from

his smooth, rather slender, frame.    

Paris, Budapest, Hanoi, but particularly Neuchatel

where he remembered the stories of the elephants

who arrived annually with the circus;

Local children stood entranced at the lake shore

as the elephants romped in the lake, spraying

each other and the children, droplets sparkling

in the afternoon sun.

passing time

is this what we do to pass time when

our hair is bobbed in grey, some of us 

hunched over a keyboard, some still erect

and at task

even when the tempo is "rock n roll"

the music shuffles, one can hear the suede

brush against the stage with each change

 of key signature

what is our key signature these days, having 

gone from major to minor, and our volume

has diminished from forte to piannissimo

we creep about life, wondering what to do 

with ourselves as we are busy avoiding the

steady stare of Death.

I'll have a MethaneSAT margarita

I'd have a MethaneSAT margarita except 

I'm the designated driver, my companion is 

looking suitably and happily sloshed, 

I'm sure the drink was delicious,