A BIRTHDAY GREETING FOR BAILEY; A VERY GOOD DOG!

They say each dog must have his day, 

This one is surely yours! 

 And now, upon this very day, 

 Your special one occurs! 

We’re all so glad your special friend,

Invited us today! 

Kathy knows just what you like: 

To socialize and play! 

So thank for inviting us, 

 A Paw Party, indeed! 

Of all the parties, this is best! 

On that we’re all agreed! 

 Happy Birthday to Bailey from Joan 3/16/2024

                                           

                                           ###    

JAUNTY JOE BIDEN --- A LITTLE VERSE BY YOURS TRULY

Oh Jaunty Joe Biden came out of the East, 

Determined to slaughter the cruel COVID Beast. 

His friends and his family urged him to run, 

And he and Young Kamala easily won. 

He was honest and open, he never was hidin’ 

He won a majority, Jaunty Joe Biden! 

So boldly he entered that Wilmington Hall, 

Midst hardworking, loyal campaigners and all,  

Then spoke Mr. Trump, all red-faced and sore, 

For he’d certainly live in the White House no more. 

“You stole my election! My votes you were hidin,’ 

You’ll never replace me, you upstart Joe Biden!" 

But Jaunty Joe Biden adjusted his mask, 

He clearly was going to be up to the task! 

And Trump just crawled grumbling out of the hall, 

To drive to Bedminster and whack at a ball! 

While the ladies he dated each stifled a yawn, 

And said to each other “Thank goodness, he’s GONE!”

                                        ###

Written by Joan Levin around 2020

TWO ODES TO MY UPPER LEFT SECOND MOLAR, AFFETIONATELY KNOWN AS NUMBER 15

Two Poems for my Upper Left Second Molar, Affectionately Known as “Number Fifteen” Ode to my Molar — Joan Levin, 3/10/20 Youʼve been right there with me since I was a teen, And now you are leaving, dear Number Fifteen! I brushed you and flossed you, as well suits a Queen, But those days are over now, Number Fifteen! Thereʼll be a big hole where you lately have been, My tongue will search vainly for Number Fifteen! Iʼm sorry you broke! This world can be mean! Requiescat in Pace, dear Number Fifteen! ### Goodbye Number Fifteen Joan Levin, 3/17/20 With Fifteen gone, there is no peace, The battles in my mouth donʼt cease Two smashes Thirty one, by golly, Just like a Frazier bout with Ali! Fourteen vs Nineteen — itʼs not funny, Itʼs just like Dempsey banging Tunney! These battles leave me limp with fright, And thereʼs no referee in sight! ###

TWO ODES TO MY UPPER LEFT SECOND MOLAR AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS "NUMBER FIFTEEN"

Two Poems for my Upper Left Second Molar, Affectionately Known as “Number Fifteen” Ode to my Molar — Joan Levin, 3/10/20 Youʼve been right there with me since I was a teen, And now you are leaving, dear Number Fifteen! I brushed you and flossed you, as well suits a Queen, But those days are over now, Number Fifteen! Thereʼll be a big hole where you lately have been, My tongue will search vainly for Number Fifteen! Iʼm sorry you broke! This world can be mean! Requiescat in Pace, dear Number Fifteen! ### Written by Joan Levin around 2020 ### Goodbye Number Fifteen Joan Levin, 3/17/20 With Fifteen gone, there is no peace, The battles in my mouth donʼt cease Two smashes Thirty one, by golly, Just like a Frazier bout with Ali! Fourteen vs Nineteen — itʼs not funny, Itʼs just like Dempsey banging Tunney! These battles leave me limp with fright, And thereʼs no referee in sight! ###

I DON'T KNOW NO ONE 'CAUSE MY BRAIN WORE OUT!

I Don’t Know No One, ‘Cause my Brain Wore Out!  

(Tune: Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out!)

Once I lived the life of a college grad, 

Had lots of friends and I was always glad!

Went to plays and movies, read lots of books, 

Went to nice restaurants with very good cooks!

Then my memory forgot how to store,

At first it was just numbers, but then it was more!

Birthdays, anniversaries, name and places, 

Like a deck of cards, without any aces!   

(Chorus) 

I don’t know no one, cause my brain wore out! 

Under my hat, there’s just grey hair!

Aside from that, there’s not much there!

If we ever meet on the street again,

I hope that I would greet you like a long lost friend, 

But now I fear I’ll just stare in doubt, 

You see - I don’t know no one, 'cause my brain wore out!

                             Lyrics © 2023 Joan Levin

D.C.Metro L-4 Bus Song

Once the Metro was working they were talking about limiting or even terminating the L4 bus line. (Oh my goodness that was nearly half a century ago!) Is the L4 still running? Joan Levin, June, 2023 

 Hands Off L-4!! 

Tune, Wabash Cannonball 

Words by Joan D. Levin 

                              ___________________

 From stately Federal Triangle to the hills of Chevy Chase, 

With slow but steady motion she moves from place to place. 

She’s the Grand-dame of the Great Northwest, 

You’ve heard her name before, 

She’s the pride of the Metro system; she’s the elegant L-4! 

    Chorus: Hear the fare box jingle, oh what a pleasant sound,

    Look right out the window, and see the city round! 

    Let us travel on the road we’ve traveled oft before – 

    You can keep your Metro train; just leave us our L-4! 

 She rolls along Thirteenth Street, and down the mighty K, 

She passes on to Twentieth and Florida by the way. 

She cruises up Connecticut and lumbers down once more, 

She’s a shelter in a time of storm, our very own L-4! 

    Chorus: Hear the fare box jingle, oh what a pleasant sound,

    Look right out the window, and see the city round! 

    Let us travel on the road we’ve traveled oft before – 

    You can keep your Metro train; just leave us our L-4! 

 If you would like to make a trip for lunch in Cleveland Park,

 Or if you’d like to see the sights of Dupont after dark, 

The L-1 will not stop for you; the L-7 doesn’t run, 

So climb aboard the old L-4 to get in on the fun! 

      Chorus: Hear the fare box jingle, oh what a pleasant sound,

    Look right out the window, and see the city round! 

    Let us travel on the road we’ve traveled oft before – 

    You can keep your Metro train; just leave us our L-4! 

 If you go downtown shopping, to catch up on the sales, 

To doctor or the dentist, to keep you feeling hale, 

To work, to play, most any day, or anywhere you roam, 

 The L-4 bus will take you there and bring you safely home! 

 © 1981, Joan D. Levin

While Fighting Off Senility. 2023 and Apologies to the Bard

While fighting off senility To best of my ability, It may sound like banality, To say that rationality, Is something that I seem to lack, My skull is like an empty sack! Thoughts follow scattered, unknown trails, Like a train run off the rails! They wander off to who knows where? Then pop up sometimes, here or there! An idiot’s tale of sound and fury? Macbeth spoke well. So what’s my hurry? April 26, 2023

AGL's Birthday, December 25, 2022

 

THE CHANGE SONG

The Change Song

Tune: These Boots are Made for Walking

(by Nancy Sinatra)

Heracleitus said these words quite early:

You can’t step in that same river twice!

Change is all that’s constant, know it surely -- 

That’s what gives our life its extra spice!

Mutatis mutandis!

Is where it’s at, that’s true!

And every single day those changes wash up over you!

Whitehead said each moment we’re evolving –  

We’re not the gal or fella’ that we were;

Life is just a problem for the solving, 

And that is all that we can know for sure!  

Mutatis mutandis!

Just try not to stew! 

You can master change, it doesn’t have to master you!

The path you’re treading may seem harsh and cruel,

Hard luck striking like an ugly toad,

But strife and evil may conceal a jewel,

Hidden in the dust along life’s road –

Mutatis mutandis,

Cheer up, don’t be blue!

Adversity has sweet uses;  if you look you’ll see that’s true!  

So when those changes roll into your station,  

Hop aboard and ride for all you’re worth,

You may not know the final destination,

But what a way to travel on this earth!

Mutatis mutandis!

No matter what you do!

You can’t fight it, learn to love it, let it work for you!  

© Joan Levin 2000 

ODE TO MY BLOOD PRESSURE

A little high, a little low, 

A little fast, a little slow; 

There seems to be no way I know,

To bring about perfection!  

Since watching diet is not enough, 

I do my part with pills and cuff, 

But still I don't have the right stuff! 

Please tell me: Where's perfection?

                                                                                         ###

THE PUMPKIN TREE

The Pumpkin Tree 

A Tribute to my D. C. neighbors,  the Hessels, with apologies to A.E.Houseman!

Loveliest of trees the pumpkin now, 

Is hung with orange along the bough,

And stands quite close to Rock Creek Park,

Where Hessels watch from dawn to dark!

Now of my fourscore years and ten,

Eighty will not come again, 

And take from ten still left — at most,   

Just add it up: my life is toast!

But even as I groan and wheeze, 

And limp about on aging knees, 

I still can laugh long as I please, 

And watch the Hessel’s Pumpkin Trees!

With apologies to A.E. Houseman: 

https://poets.org/poem/loveliest-trees

and see:  

https://poemanalysis.com/a-e-housman/loveliest-of-trees/ 

                                              ###

WHO IS AMERICA'S DOCTOR IN 2021?

Decades ago when babies went amok,

Their parents turned for help to Dr. Spock!

Now that these babes are grown, and scared and grouchy,  

For COVID help they turn to Dr. Fauci!

###

EAT YOUR HEART OUT EMILY DICKINSON

 As I deal with my Prolia-fractured bones (see www.JoansBackboneDisaster.com) and macular degeneration of the eyes, my thoughts turn to the poet Emily Dickinson, who, while dealing with disabilities of her own, nevertheless turned out hundreds of brief poems, each an insightful gem!

To learn more about the life and work of Emily Dickinson, see: 

https://poets.org/poet/emily-dickinson

Here is my brief homage -- admittedly inadequate -- to this exquisite poet!

                          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      An Unexpected Source of Inspiration?

Roosevelt struggled with crutches, 

John Milton’s eyes couldn’t see,

Fate caught them both in its clutches, 

And now it has seized upon me!

I’ve studied the lives of these masters,  

Especially the blind and the lame, 

Who triumphed o’er body’s disasters, 

But I’ll pass on them all just the same! 

                        ###