The Little Words Mean the Most

https://www.crisisaid.org/

 

why not?

 

 

 

Window Closed poems: That, too

 

you have a vase

your head

 

that vase is in your hands

I i tell myself

 

every day

every few minutes

his face-mask reassures

or not enough; hers too

 

 

 

 

Window Open poems

 

there's so much to learn about patterns

you need to listen ~ I forget

crack a nearby window ~ I forget

a goose squadron transects the silence ~ I forget

a who-who will arrive and ask

a nudging wind will say breathe please

it's good for you

 

 

In 2027, this book will appear

 

Non-fiction,

 

pub. 2027,

 

pop. history by a distinguished univ. prof.,

 

titled: ALL PRESIDENTS CONSIDERED

 

"By the end, #45 was known as the Grim Reaper. He botched decision after decision. His famous 'gut' hated experts. His staff acted in sycophantic unison. Vast death found a cozy hearth."

 

thank you 2020 voters; you threw out the trash instead of recycling

 

 

 

From our bestie, Doris Donovan....

 

Captain Trump, from the Titanic

 

 

There isn't any iceberg.

There was an iceberg but it's in a totally different ocean.

The iceberg is in this ocean but it will melt very soon.

There is an iceberg but we didn't hit the iceberg.

We hit the iceberg, but the damage will be repaired very shortly.

The iceberg is a Chinese iceberg.

We are taking on water but every passenger who wants a lifeboat can get a lifeboat, and they are beautiful lifeboats. Look, passengers need to ask nicely for the lifeboats if they want them.

We don't have any lifeboats, we're not lifeboat distributors.

Passengers should have planned for icebergs and brought their own lifeboats.

I really don't think we need that many lifeboats.

We have lifeboats and they're supposed to be our lifeboats, not the passengers' lifeboats.

The lifeboats were left on shore by the last captain of this ship.

Nobody could have foreseen the iceberg.

 

 

Out and aboot in a time of pandemic

 

Embrace complaints: They're an unambiguously POSITIVE indicator

 

A notably successful United Way ED wrote in despair, after she'd sent an emergency email appeal that did fine:

                    A donor just cussed me out. 

My response to her:

                    I learned this from another fine fundraiser, Steve H. He just did the same kind of appeal. And he got cussed out by one recipient. As I say, complaints are normal. The good stuff ALWAYS get at least one complaint.

Her to me:

                    That's good to know. It hurt my feelings. He's wealthy!

Me to her:

                    Yeah, humans. Pleasin' all of them all the time? Good luck! Look: unless you live on Gilligan’s Island, there are always OTHER wealthy people. Relax.