a stray tear doth adieu occasionally shed...

by matthew scott harris
(schwenksville, pennsylvania)

gone...boot not forgotten!

toward thee spunky gal,
whose impregnation and debut appearance
way to brief a tale for Aesop
cuz, (umpteen iterations recounted),

out the birth canal aye did bop
analogously compared
to a mealy mouthed measly crop
a spindly tangle of arms and legs

radiated (starfish like)
dangled and would uselessly drop
like a raggedy ann male counterpart
(raggedy andy - how original)

with limbs that didst flop
and tis no small wonder, thyself as one
newborn baby body electric
easily confused with bony glop,

which skimpy weight
leant convenience as sigh grew older
to alternate jumping
(ala pogo stick mode) and hop

from one skinny spindle shank leg to another,
and manifold orbitz whip
sawing round the sun
bore witness to puny laughable specimen

of a nerdy lad, who (in hindsight)
grew long straggly hair,
which NO ONE (except me) could touch,
nor most definitely NOT lop

off (this fetish) compensation
for very slight physique
in dewed time begot
pencil necked geek milksop,

now at an age prowl lix sing viz
dragging, crawling, battling...
slight abdominal bulge
unlike widower octogenarian biological pop

whose once strapping superman
like build atrophying (sad sight)
since grim reaper put objectionable stop
upon head of harriet harris,
whereat two and a half score years
her longevity did top.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
now, comb may tooth how zen,
sans eight plus ten
'twill be thirteen yars
when me late mum agonizingly relinquished

an indomitable loo ving life,
which strong fighting spirit
(spittle and vinegar) yen
reached a juncture,

(sans metastasized ovarian cancer)
forewent heroic measures, which ken
not avail bottled anger within this sole son
telling thee, he didst love ye
never communicating NOR often!