AT YOUR SERVICE: Momma

MOMMA

She knows the recipe
Has the address
Remembers the time of my birth 

And she always

Always

Always

Believes that I have worth.

AT YOUR SERVICE: Apple Red Happiness (A True Story)

APPLE RED HAPPINESS  (A True Story) 

She left their Christmas dinner 
To see a man in bed

In her pocket was an apple 
Crisp and Christmas red

“I miss the crunch of apples”

the quadriplegic said 

So she brought him joy and peeled it 
And saw that he was fed 

 

AT YOUR SERVICE: Family

FAMILY

In looking back
I hope you’ll find

Even those 

who failed you miserably 

Were doing the best they could
At that time

AT YOUR SERVICE: Housekeeping

HOUSEKEEPING

With mop or broom 
Cleaning our room 
Bent by the work
of workdays
I see (and very much appreciate) 

You

AT YOUR SERVICE: Pain

PAIN

For high contrast
And hidden springs of strength 
Unearthed

For showing me what real love is 
And isn't 
Pain, you’re of great worth 

AT YOUR SERVICE: Ride Share Rescue

RIDE SHARE RESCUE

I am watching for the silver Jetta
one minute, eight seconds away...
~
Kicking snow from my boots, to the driver
“Downtown, please - Hilton Garden Inn" 

~
At least for tonight, I am rescued
from rage and his next DUI
~

AT YOUR SERVICE: Teachers

TEACHERS

I followed my teacher
And last night’s assignment 
Into the quiet hall

Braced for shame
I found instead
My dignity in tact 

She didn't laugh

Her voice was kind

She let me try again 

 

AT YOUR SERVICE: Collectibles

COLLECTIBLES

There was a week
Last year in May
When inclement weather fell 
On gov'ment holiday

Trash bins in town 

Uncollected for days 
  ... and days 
       ... and days

And days. 

We will never 
Take our collectors for granted 

Again. 

AT YOUR SERVICE: My Country Tis Of Thee

MY COUNTRY TIS OF THEE

For twenty some odd years now
Since they were very young 
My children spot the uniforms
Extend their hand and say:

“Thank you for serving our country”

AT YOUR SERVICE: Customer Services

 CUSTOMER SERVICES

My parents remember full service gas 
Fuel pumped by an attendant

I grew up 

in a cashier land o'plenty 

What if 
Eventually 

We do for ourselves 
Every job taken for granted?