Patchwork Prose and Verse
Scnooquains
Schnoodle
ornery, sensitive
zooming, tug-of-warring, bullying
howls when phone rings
Boo
Schnoodle
transcendental, possessive
pawing, lap-snuggling, begging,
fierce hunter of lizards
Fitz
Schnoodle
playful, intelligent
fetching, greeting, sniffing
no paper shredder needed
Ollie
Abundance
that feeling: when you’re
content in your surroundings
nothing is desired
Labor Day weekend
no place to go, relaxing
slippered feet propped up
Mississippi roast
in the slow cooker, dinner
ready at seven
three dogs chewing treats
from rescue to royalty
spoiled in every way
husband on the Deere
out mowing the funny farm
smell of fresh-cut grass
comfortable chair
reading a series of books
fragrant candle glows
afternoon sunlight
hazy beams stream through windows
can time just stand still?
The Fig Tree
I bought a little
three dollar clearance
turkey fig twig
from the scratch and dent
plant cart at Home Depot
a decade ago
today, there is no sign
that it was ever
the runt of any litter –
it stands tall and yields
an abundance of tender fruit
it simply needed time and space
and nurturing
the fig tree at Denise R’s house
down Pinckney Colony Road
not far from Salk’s monkey farm
smelled of fermentation
stood tall and took crews
with ladders to pick its fruit
I was a fig picker once at that tree
My young daughters picked
from my mother’s tree and
took to the kitchen
making strawberry pigs
and licking spoons
after dipping the
homemade preserves
into freshly-boiled mason jars
as they canned time and memories
in jars and sealed them tightly
with a pop-button lid
this once dispirited
Charlie Brown fig tree
that stands more like
Wonder Woman today
conjures welcome memories
but more than that –
it beckons more
canning of precious
family memories
while there is time
Monkey Farm:
Morning Greetings
whole grain oatmeal
cooked to perfection
topped with berries
maple syrup-drizzled
half and half doused
hot spiced tea steaming
a welcome way
to greet the day
Questions
I’m tired of asking
three-part questions and getting
one-part responses
Pain
Playing Hide and Go
Seek with pain is a real game
When will it be gone?
Overdone
I’ve overdone it
I’m feeling surgery pain
Today’s plan: bed rest
Spoiled
There’s no vaccine for
spoiled Schnoodles who wallow in
their masters’ quilt beds
Her master writes:
KONA
Splendidly spoiled
Caring Canine Companion
KONA
Great Friend
Ah! Best Gift
Oophorectomy Haiku
Three small incisions
Getting rid of equipment
No longer needed
o·o·pho·rec·to·my
/ˌōəfəˈrektəmē/
noun
#nationaldogday
#nationaldogday
three spoiled Schnoodles on the swing
thinking they’re human
Common Threads 