Things could always be verse
For the first (only) time, a poem -- part of Renee Sarojini Saklikar's Poetry Phone project with the Downtown Vancouver BIA
This week’s writing offering is in a genre I don’t typically inhabit, for reasons that will soon become very obvious to you. But my friend the poet Renee Sarojini Saklikar (who has a new book coming out in April) is the curator of a very neat project with the Downtown Vancouver BIA, Poetry Phone — and when she said there could be room for something light (very light) (floating), I wrote this. The idea is that anyone who might be feeling bummed out or isolated or lonely can phone this number and hear a poem written and read aloud by an actual Vancouver poet, or one stowaway stand-up comedian.
So head to the website, and/or save the number. And please [try to] enjoy my humble contribution, posted beneath this photo of my muse, Luna.
Best friend, worst thing you can say
The worst thing you can say
to a hesitant spouse
in a bid for a dog that will ultimately
be yours
collectively
:
You won’t have to do any of the work
You’re lying
to begin with
(Lying like a dog
the forty-fifth president used to say
And everyone agreed
that it was very strange
that he said it)
You’re lying
to
like a dog
to love a dog
But you won’t be able to
do it
alone
to
wit
:
One day you’ll take the kid and the dog to the park by your self, (Superdad)
And
the worst thing you can say
to a kid
is that she can’t go on the playground
you told her she could
go on
It’s not her fault,
her problem,
of any interest to her,
that the sign says
No Dogs Within 15m
of playground
Now
:
you can have
a ticket
Or you can have
a tantrum
Or you can hang back, forty-five
feet away from where she’s playing, watching
And when you see that old friend
(a (better) Superdad)
you can wave, and
shout what
is actually
the worst thing you can say
at least at the park
next to
the playground
:
I’D COME SAY HI/BUT I’M NOT ALLOWED WITHIN 15 METRES