Listen to the Chicken
Henny Penny ran in a panic
when one acorn fell on her head.
All the birds
in the barnyard followed,
their rhyming names repeated
in a litany of alarm.
No one in high office
wants to be Henny Penny
and send the public fleeing
into the arms of a hungry fox.
But what to do
when falling objects
are bigger than acorns
and dropping too fast
to dodge?
Will those in charge declare
the sky is not falling,
call Henny Penny a fool?
Or will they listen
to the chicken
who runs to warn us
and stop worrying
how much it will cost
to stop the fox?
Dinnertime in a Hospice House
While the patient dozes in his wheelchair,
one elbow on the arm rest, hand holding
his forehead, the wife eats cereal for dinner.
The aide sits at the other end of the table
with a chicken dish brought in a plastic container
and heated in the microwave.
Both chew softly, careful not to disturb the patient
who has slept seven out of the last twelve hours.
It is so quiet the wife can hear the air
blowing through the vents.
It’s as if the house is practicing
for the silence to come.
The Dream of Pain-Free Feet
I’ve lost track of the money
or how many things I’ve tried.
Heel cushions, compression socks,
wraps, night splints, orthotics....
Each one renewing hopes
that the fibrous band of tissue
running along the sole of my foot
won’t always be inflamed.
My feet will rebound
like the woman in that Facebook ad
who went from limps to leaps
using a product not sold in stores,
a special offer of only $60
with a moneyback guarantee.
Just like her, I'll walk again
without wincing. If I can last
until tomorrow when
the next miracle cure
arrives in the mail.
The First Task
Numbered diagrams.
Fifty-four in all.
If I follow the booklet
precisely, page by page,
I can build a dresser with six drawers,
make a place for sweaters and socks.
Put undies out of sight.
All the pieces are here.
Hardware, too. I counted
when I unpacked the box.
Now I just have to focus
on the first task,
resist the urge to puzzle
over what comes next
or what might not fit
together as it should.
Do the first task,
and trust I can handle
the fifty-three remaining.
Visit her online at www.jacquelinejules.com
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