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Observations
by Ken HarnischGoing down the stairs in the morning
The cat will always leap ahead
And the dog will always follow
A daughter whose lucid writings
Have been raved over by justices in the
New York City court system can’t seem to
Communicate with loved ones except
Through bumper sticker inanities
On Facebook
A man whose wife is in the printing industry
But doesn’t read herself brings him home
Treasure troves of new stuff which he devours.
Still, he wonders why he is the only
One in the family who’s cracked open a novel in
Twenty years.
Life is prose that only a poet
Can see the beauty in. Twitter
Makes both notions absurd
And reduces us to…twerps?
A son, allegedly boarding upstairs
In the same house, has more to say
To his father texting on the i-phone
During the day than he ever does
Face-to-face at night.
And still, in a world where the old man
Is surrounded by Catholics, a scowly
Son, more interested in the Bengals free agents
Than he ever was any church, was the first
To notify that the new pope was Francis.
Ain’t technology amazing?
Half the New York Yankees are on Medicare
And the other half should be.
Hurricane Sandy brought with her
More colds, flu, fevers, and other sicknesses
Than any other ill wind in anybody’s
Memory. The walls in the office downstairs
Haven’t dried yet.
This winter has dragged on way too long.
In my next life, I might be more of a prick.
03/17/2013 Posted on 03/17/2013
Copyright © 2025 Ken Harnisch
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by A. Paige White on 03/17/13 at 05:48 PM I loved this from the beginning, the differences in how our pets travel with us somewhere, although, every cat I've had would've been winding between my feet and we'd have ended up in a bundle at the bottom at about the same time. I enjoyed your observations and even your ending observation slash (?possible?) hope about yourself. Knowing equally little about Catholicism and the Bengals, didn't help me with those stanzas but it was still entertaining. Enjoyed. |
| Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 03/18/13 at 01:26 AM I enjoyed this. I see real people here inhabiting a real place and feel their contrasts and contradictions clearly. Thanks, Ken. |
| Posted by George Hoerner on 03/18/13 at 09:31 PM This is a very enjoyable write Ken. One part reminds me of the French mime Marcel Marceau. In an interview many years ago he was asked about his ability to communicate with so many people without using any words. His responce was yes except with my own family with whom I have an impossible time communicating. |
| Posted by Carolyn Coville on 03/20/13 at 12:31 AM Some wise observations! Here's to hoping there is no social media in your next life :) |
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