Apricot Glow
In the apricot glow
of sunset two
hummingbirds come
to the red feeder
show a little one
how to sip
Mrs. O’Toole is raking leaves
at 93 with vigor as strong
as Tim has seen for decades.
He crosses the street and asks
his neighbor how she's doing.
Not good, says Mrs. O'Toole.
Her doctor has told her
she doesn’t have much time.
She has a blood problem
with a long name and no cure.
She’ll fade away without pain.
May have a year at most.
Cancelled her daily paper
and now must rake her leaves.
A young couple bought the house.
Sunday Commandants
You met the man a year ago
shook hands with him back then.
Now you see him once a week
nod and say hello but you
can’t stand the man for reasons
you don't understand.
Neither of you is rich or poor.
He’s done nothing untoward.
Perhaps it has to do with him
becoming a commandant like you
albeit in a different aisle
passing the basket at church.
Donal Mahoney lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
No comments:
Post a Comment