Replaced

“I’m going to replace you,” my wife told me.

“What are you talking about?” I said.

She tossed my suitcase onto our bed.

“You heard me.”

Not, we’ve got to work things out. Not, I’m seeing another man. She said it as if I were a dishwasher.

“I’ve outgrown you,” she said. “I’m ready for someone new.”

“You’ve just replaced the dining room table, your car, and the dog.”

“Yes.”

“So haven’t I given you everything you’ve ever asked for?” I said.

“Yes,” she said. “Please don’t stop now.”

for Weekend Writing Prompt

Harper, turn the espresso machine on

Harper, turn the espresso machine on,
Harper, turn the espresso machine on,
Harper, turn the espresso machine on,
We’ll all have a double latte.

Mackenzie, turn the espresso machine off again,
Mackenzie, turn the espresso machine off again,
Mackenzie, turn the espresso machine off again,
They’ve all gone away.

Plug in the toaster oven and make malted toast,
Put the croissants on to warm but don’t roast,
Plug in the toaster oven and make malted toast,
We’ll all have a double latte.

For the Weekly Terrible Poetry Contest

haiku

photo from Universe Today

deer take extra care
hunter’s moon bright in night sky
to hide do not move

for Haiku Challenge

love is a battlefield

the trouble began with me referring to my side of the bed as my foxhole.

and her side, the trenches

for her, the bed became hiroshima, after the bomb fell.

(she’s japanese, so i guess she’s allowed.)

putting on my p.j.s i called suiting up.

when she pulled her nightgown over her head, she’d shout battle stations!

no quarter was given, none asked. biting was allowed.

poison gas under the covers.

peace talks at breakfast.

for Mad About Metaphor

Fate

Fate faded away; it was fate.

for Six Word Story Prompt

haiku

migrating wildlife
detours around urban sprawl
which keeps on sprawling

for Fandango’s One Word Challenge

U. S. Marine

I was in Washington D. C. last week, on a business trip regarding my worldwide gold interests. While there, I stopped in Brentwood to catch up with some relatives of friends I had visited in Luanda in September (https://joem18b.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/luanda-angola/).

Washington is almost 50% African-American and Angola was active in the slave trade back in the day. The folks in Brentwood have roots in Southwest Africa stretching back to the 1700s.

We spent a quiet weekend, in part discussing the John McWhorter book “Talking Back, Talking Black,” which describes and explains the Black English dialect. I had a great opportunity to observe the dialect in action.

The family lost a grandfather in 1945 at Iwo Jima and by chance they were visiting the Marine Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery for a Sunday ceremony. I went along. It was quite moving. The past is still with us.

for What Pegman Saw

haiku

the shadows of trees
shade from the sun but heavy
air still full of heat

for Ragtag Daily Prompt

haiku

cat wakes at nightfall
after long day’s sleep inside
time to come alive

for Your Daily Word Prompt

haiku

cat finds fallen chick
good fortune like visit to
the farmers market

for Word of the Day Challenge