After the TV mavens had their say
the gnomes crept out of their caves
spoke and returned to their caves.
...
Paul's not a veteran of Vietnam
but he goes there in his dreams
to watch his brother Tim
...
November's lovely in the rain, she says
from her rocker near the window
to no one in particular although
...
We do our best to avoid
the Zika Virus. We smack
mosquitoes and avoid
tanned folks just back
...
He should have married someone,
James tells himself at 80
coughing in bed with the flu.
...
Wally and Fred voted in the big election and then went to O'Leary's Bar for a couple of beers. O'Leary's is where men who work for the city go after every important election. Chicago has many neighborhood bars like O'Leary's, catering to blue collar workers not on the clock. At least most of the time.
After six beers, a few hard-boiled eggs and a plate of nachos, Wally asked Fred how the hell could he have voted for a bum like that after 50 years of voting a straight ticket.
...
I'll have to ask some preacher
what if he comes
when it's inconvenient
...
If you arrive too early
at the public library
and stand on
...
Tim's mother told him that in 1926
she was a teen in Ireland who hid
on a ship sailing to America.
...
Reunions can happen
and leave you speechless.
I'm standing at a bank
...