More from the half-used bookshelves of M. L. Hedengren

Here are some more of the weird things I've found in my old notebooks. Ah, what a youth I was..!



Go child-- my mother said to me-- go and and wash the poop from your shoes.
Take paper towel and stick and hose and wash the poop from off your shoes.
For Adam's sake was all man curses that pleasures might a price demand
And for a day's wanterlust and romp, to spray one's treads out will suffice.
For simple pleasures, and carelessness, a simple recompense is made.
So go and use the outside hose and wash the poop from your shoes.

***
My lad, I'm glad you've some to stay
And watch the house while I'm away
Before I go, just let me say
Don't poke the monster.

If you're feeling bored and dull
Play hide and seek with the mad troll
or eat moat frogs until you're full
But don't poke the monster.

And if it's really dreadful weather
Tie medusa's heads together
and tickle her with griffen feather
But don't poke the monster.

Insist that Vlad become a cat. Then bat.
Then cat again, still cat, then bat, then cat,
until he's not sure where where he's at
But it's better to be a cabacacabacat
Then to poke the monster.

Made it's music you adore
You can join the banshee choir
For about as long as you endure
but don't poke the monster.

[I'm very sorry this one is unfinished, but I think we can all imagine what the logical next step in the narrative will be.]

***


Don't laugh--those roses
were for you.
Although it sems absurb--
like Stan and Ollie
at the rainy day
matinee,
I really like holding your hand.
So I though--
perhaps half-mockingly--
I might bring you
some orange flowers
I though maybe
we could be in love.