Thursday, July 9, 2026

"Dog Days Of Summer"

We started with two,
then adopted one more.
A friend needed help,
so we’re now up to four

Our youngest still bites,
the others warn with growl;
Can’t leave them alone—
Makes me just want to howl!

They’ve special diets,
but eat each other’s food;
Hope they won’t vomit—
Please have mercy, fur dudes!

Yellow got nervous
and emptied his bowel—
Cleaned up his pee too
with a fresh washèd towel

“I’ll dig thro’ the trash
while they’re out with that one,”
said and did th’ Brown—
We’ve had it, we’re done!

Lock them in kennels
for just a short time,
‘til butterfly farts,
and they all start to whine

“I know! Let’s all play”—
Should we inside or out?
Weather makes us sweat,
so we opt for the couch

They won’t share the toys,
and they step on my toes;
“OWW!” yell I. They pause,
sixteen legs all 'kimbo

We’ve suffered enough,
let’s just all go to bed;
We’ll rest and then wake
and do this over again

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

"I Just Washed My Hands"

I just washed my hands—
It doesn’t matter the reason;
I sang about a twinkling star
To ensure I had done my best

I wave at the "eye"
That triggers mechanical dance,
Then wait a whole, entire season
While the paper rolls way too far

End now drags the floor:
It’s gross, and I refuse to dry;
I step across and wave again—
Will it also try such treason?

It whirs—just a tick,
Produces one that’s way too short—
Water’d blot if I could e’en try;
I give up and just use my pants

Putting this to rest,
But I’ve a few more thoughts on it:
I have one more stanza before—
Grr… there is still damp on my thighs!

A one-inch bookmark,
And more sheets for my king-size bed;
I do not need or want these things:
All I want’s a towel…or four.

"Minimum Wage"

Earn a paycheck,
Not God’s grace;
Earn your pillow,
Not salvation

The check we strive for is
Six feet long and six feet deep;
But it was already done,
Already finished

The gift we get,
The love of God
Wrapped in flesh, was
Twelve feet up
And millennia foretold

Learn your Savior,
Who brought God’s grace;
Learn your Lord,
Who gives you rest

Saturday, July 4, 2026

"Semiquincentennial"

Go-karts
Pizza
Pizza
Waiting for ice cream
Live music
Waiting for ice cream
Live music
Waiting with i
                      c
                         e

Anyone have a napkin?

Fireworks—
right overhead! 

                              c
                                r
                                  e America!

"Pledge"

I pledge obeisance to the Lord
of the universe and all it contains,
and to the cross on which He hung,
one Kingdom of our God
Who, without partiality,
offers freedom and salvation to all


adapted from “The Pledge of Allegiance”
Francis Bellamy, 1892
Public domain