Blossoms fill the air in spring.
I don’t know the name of the tree
but, I like its fragrance
even though at times,
it makes me sneeze.
When spring comes around next year, I know
I can depend upon that sweet aroma
returning.
That smell is in my mind,
which is strange
things from the past
like your mom’s old perfume
lingers in our noses.
Isn’t it nice when pleasantries repeat?
Isn’t it nice to be alive
when things go good?
Isn’t it hard when all the bad stuff
happens and we wonder why it happens to us
so much?
One day, it will be lights out.
as, we all will undoubtedly
take turns doing so.
and, will we go
to a place we are not sure
we can see things,
smell things,
eat things,
talk to our friends,
pet our pets,
talk to our loved ones,
drink a beer,
have a glass of wine,
send a birthday card,
and enjoy
another Christmas Turkey dinner?
We know we will surely miss
some of these
as we stretch in the mornings
to welcome a new
day.
Please forgive me
and I
apologize in advance,
and I don’t intend being
so darned mean,
but,
Even though we’ll probably miss his
little happy Pomeranian dog who’s always
so glad to greet us
jumping up in our laps
licking our cheeks so sincerely,
I surely have my doubts we’ll miss your
Uncle Fred
who smacks his lips with every bite he eats,
belches at the table,
has gas coming out the other end
(the silent but deadly kind that you know came from him because he always has that goofy smirk on his face as he eats at the dinner table where at least fifteen other relatives have to endure that disgusting smell without so much as a word, flinch and grimace)
and never uses underarm…
But, the list doesn’t stop there.
Not by a longshot.
But, you and I have a heart
because we are both decent
people.
Therefore,
Out of respect,
for the sake of
crusty old uncle Fred
we will leave it at that.
we will honor the memory
of him sitting in front of that empty table setting
at the head of the table
next holiday dinner
at your mom’s.