Maybe

This poem I wrote after a friend had been a bit critical with me, and I knew there was no apparent reason other than grumpiness.



                                                        Maybe
                                                              you'll read
                                                                               my poem,
                                                        or
                                                               at least
                                                                               smile when
                                                        I
                                                               ask for
                                                                               one new

                                                        word
                                                                to make
                                                                                it worth
                                                         your
                                                               while.

Yellow Summer Squash Pickles

A few summers ago, my wife got a new recipe for yellow summer squash pickles.  I wasn't sure about it and wrote this poem.  Now they are one of my favorite pickles:








                                                                  You asked
                                                                                   me to try
                                                                    one newly
                                                                                     prepared
                                                                     summer squash
                                                                                     pickle.
                                                                     I think
                                                                                     to myself
                                                                                                     that
                                                                     nothing
                                                                                   could be quite
                                                                     as sour
                                                                                as my refusal
                                                                     to do
                                                                                 as you
                                                                                                ask.