Conversation is a knack,

the art of giving forth and back

–a method linking me and you

expressing thoughts—point of view…

but now and then you’ll drift away,

unaware of what I say,

at this juncture never fear–

there’s a way to mimic hear. . .

Check my gaze, and nod your head,

create impression what I’ve said,

is deep, and something that you ponder. . .

when in fact your thoughts have wandered.

Furthermore arrange your face,

in gauging manner, looking sage,

“Isn’t that the way it goes?”

is safe to say—is always close.

Otherwise, make sure to add

the words “I hear ya”—don’t bite back

–the urge to laugh, if it seems timely,

according to my tone, and finally,

When you’ve made use of all of these,

check me out, from head to knees,

Interrupt, don’t interject

“have you lost weight?” is totes correct.

‘Searched for truth

until eyes blurred

‘swiveled hips

until they burned

‘scratched my pen

until it emptied

–dined on little,

starved on plenty.

Hosted egos

’til it hurt

‘tempted kismet

kismet t→U←rned

‘dove in pools

’til I floated…

>oVer-easy<

dead & bloated.

‘Blazed my trails

until the last

‘mining nuggets

others pass

‘jumping lines

to sweeter paths

♥ loved all in ♥

‘KicKed some aSS.

©Karen Robiscoe

daily prompt: bucket list

 
I pretended my face

. . .

greased up & good to go, i

arranged my shoulders geometrically

. . .

more T-bone than

x intersecting y,

i

dressed before 10

and solid 9

(from afar)

i

gave it the ole GED try

. . .

eraser obsolete

those first bubbled-in answers

popped!

(evened so)

lead not going out

but staying in,

i

smashed joke butts

into bins too small

to fit

. . .

warming extra stock

to make

sophomoric soup

. . .

a complement for

Nevermore pie wedge

i

chewed and snapped like

bubbled gum

–to answer

that plate

(that didn’t ask)

–but also overflowed.

The Game of Life

(the card version)

is 52–

you pick up more

or less

cards

(sometimes, too)

(depending how you play)

and perforce

arrange them by suits.

Birthday Suit

is freshest.

The hearts & love suit,

because…babies

(who doesn’t love a baby)

an up-all-night pastime

with in-your-face cards

stamped by cake

(whatever’s left)

candles,

dangly bits,

and

me-me-me

(me)

–the magic meld

that wins the hand.

Suit Yourself

is closely related

–the other red suit—

which appearance

(in the game)

could be marked by diamonds

(conflicted or otherwise)

friendship bracelets,

matching polos,

or promise-I’ll –buy-it-later

rings

–the strong of this suit

all about

you-you-you

(you)

Monkey Suits

follow

(suit)

a disproportionate sequence

of uniform,

office wear,

and ties-on-top

Zoom apparel

that goes on and on

(and on)

and so on

its paycheck-based

clubs

mandating dues

for the best part of this go’round

–as boring as War

and practically

lifelong

Good thing, then,

Suits of Armor

can also be drawn

–or purchased on Amazon

with iffy second-day delivery options—

since at this point

in life’s game

–you better have won–

outerwear to

trump

the luck or misfortune

of your draw

a blinded amalgamation of

all that’s come before

–piled high and brought to the table

(courtesy of)

me-you

hymns & hearse

–along with

pencil

(to keep score)

and spade.