everyone loves pies
especially my “sailor”
sailing in England
his dream, to be here
honoring Admiral Nelson
at pub built for him
the travel bug bites
a little later for some
(i’m glad it but him)
Silver Anniversary Trip, Day Eight
Month: July 2023
Silver Anniversary Trip, Day Seven
sometimes all you need
is a dish you’ve never tried
to spice up the bed
Silver Anniversary Trip, Day Six
Silver Anniversary Trip, Day Five
Nelson rests his soul
at London’s tourist heart
in Trafalgar Square
unobstructed views
of the man, the miracle
he finally saw it
Silver Anniversary Trip, Day Four
he finally sees
his HMS Victory
in her dry dock bed
how victorious
twenty-five years we’ve waited
to take this long trip
always toting kids
or visiting our family
never alone time
the fish and chips speak
whispers of a turquoise sea
beckoning us: more
Silver Anniversary Trip, Day Three
monumental start
to a pretty walking trip
of a London day
Tower Bridge tour
with views of the mighty Thames
where they built this town
an historic bar
rebuilt four centuries back
for beers in cellars
Silver Anniversary Trip, Day Two
jet-lagged beginning
for a slow and easy day
goals: tea, nature, food
the Thames is perfect,
Chelsea is as sweet as pie,
London has orchids
with perfect planning
(cutting onions with bad knives)
we’ll eat cheap; sweet prize
Silver Anniversary Trip, Day One
with first flight canceled,
a frenzied drive across town
against Swift traffic
we made it in time
to a line wrapped three times round
the doomed terminal
we had just hours
after a year of planning
to catch the right plane
at the airport bar
post-security panic
we toasted our luck
he saw my new ‘do
the grins of relief returned
twenty-five years in
on board, luck joined us
with a whole row to ourselves
on “overbooked” flight
what a start to our
silver anniversary
purple as the sun
Ten to One
ten gallons of paint
in two shades of first-place blue
nine sets of hands working
on their shared day off
eight sets of curtains
washed and re-hung
seven stairs on each level
to paint between the cracks
six day deadline to
start a vacation, a new life
five day miracles happen
with many hands making light work
four levels to scrub grime
from walls, baseboards, and floors
three gallons of cleaner
to rub our hands raw
two levels of pet-pee-stained carpet
replaced at an affordable rate
one hell of a victory
for the life we work so hard to achieve
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