Musings of a Rhymer

As we approach Thanksgiving Day And prepare in our usual way Turkey, all the trimmings  Lots of football on that day   Recalled about six weeks ago The old Columbus Day Renamed and repurposed  As Indigenous People’s Day   Some say old Chris Columbus  Was really one bad dude He enslaved, raped and pillaged With a Conqueror’s attitude    Couldn't have a day named for Chris Once we learned the facts Had to honor Native Americans  Those subjected to his acts   Not trying to stir up trouble  On this Thanksgiving Day But I think we have a conflict  Coming into play   One hundred thirty years after Chris The Pilgrims came to stay Their behavior not much different From Columbus, so some say   That the Pilgrims and the “Indians” Joined for a celebratory Thanksgiving feast Some say is a harmful lie At the very least   A national day of mourning  Some Indigenous People say Is a proper celebration  Of Thanksgiving Day ...

  The Magic Mirror in Snow White Would not tell a lie But your mirror is not like that And I will tell you why   Your mind and mirror, they conspire Though they intend to do no wrong Your mind says “you look great" And your mirror goes along   Your mind ignores the wrinkles And where hair used to be Mind and mirror say forget it That’s between us, you see   Photos are not like that They can often seem unkind Unlike your friendly mirror  Photos disregard what’s on your mind   Mirrors will cut you slack And flatter you, that's true But recent photographs don’t really care And they won’t lie to you   A feature of a photo though Is its unconcern with time While your appearance deals with life Your photo image remains just fine   So, find a recent photo  Of you that someone took The odds are very high You won't like the way you look   But take that recent photo  That you do not like And for a couple of years  Keep it out of sight ...

  Lynda is off to Paris Having Coq au vin Meanwhile I’m in Frisco, Texas Sitting in our Den   I’m having a grilled chicken breast With a glass of wine A Texas version of Coq Au Vin That suits me just fine   Lynda is staying in a chic hotel In the heart of Gay Paree Three weeks there will give her time For all the sights to see   I’m staying home in Texas Just our parrot Joker and me Joker doesn’t go out much around here And I’ve seen what there is to see   Feeding Joker, watering plants That’s how I start my day While she and her friend, Beth, are galivanting  Down the Champs-Elysees   Feed the rabbit and wild birds Lynda said to my dismay While she and our friend Beth are touring  The Louvre and Musee d’Orsay   Don’t forget the Eiffel Tower And the Cathedral of Notre Dame Lunch at Les Deux Magots and Other places in Saint-Germain   The Tuileries and The Luxembourg  Are Paris gardens she must see Watering her orchids in Frisco Is my...

Down in Northern Burgandy South of Gay Paree Private boat, four other couples Lynda Lou and me   On the Canal de Bourgogne  Cruising on a luxury barge Sounds like an oxymoron But we were living large   Three gourmet meals per day Different wine with every course With such pleasant company A trip with no remorse    The barge was named La Belle Epoque Translates to "The Beautiful Time" A synopsis of the cruise, Company, food and wine   Barge slipped along so slowly  You could enjoy the countryside  Stroll the path by the canal Reboard later, rejoin the ride   Life on the barge was very nice  Had side trips every day One day to an 800-year-old Abbey A UNESCO site in Vezelay    On another day we visited  The historic village of Chablis Toured winery Domain Laroche Hundreds of years of wine history    Other side trips included  A display of falconry An afternoon in Auxerre Ancient city in Burgundy    Th...