Alabaster. Nancy Pietsch

sister, hurry, we’re running late

      I hate to be a nagging pest

      After all, we’re about to paint the town

      And we’re wearing our Sunday best

      Heh, sister, really where should we go

      To have a toast and raise a cup

      To each other, out on the town

      Heh…let’s go someplace dress up!

      A Good Night

      I watch how I spend my nickels and dimes

      I try to get by living day-to-day

      I rely on the check in the mail

      Yes, on my social security pay

      Would my mind be more at rest

      If I possessed abundant wealth

      The elite are busy shepherding their money

      Does this worry bother their health

      Would I want to be one of the crème de la crème

      Awake all night chasing my sheep

      No, I’ll continue to watch my nickels and dimes

      I value much more a good night’s sleep!

      That’s Why

      I feel I’m like the hollyhock

      The last one standing in the season

      All my friends are dead and gone

      Why must we die, what is the reason?

      We thought we could endure

      We stood our ground together

      But as summer turned to fall

      We couldn’t tolerate the weather

      I’ll soon be suffocated

      When winter’s blanket covers me

      My beauty will have faded

      My friends await my company

      I feel I’ve done my very best

      I’ve dropped all of my seeds

      They’ll be welcomed in the garden

      Spring will satisfy their needs

      When these new flowers bloom, people will say

      How beautiful they are, far better than last season

      I now understand why we had to die

      The miracle of “rebirth” is the reason

      Sister Sue

      Fall air is clean and fresh

      This is my favorite season

      I’ll tell you the major thing

      I’ll tell you what’s the reason

      On those extremely clear fall nights

      If you watch with great endurance

      You can see this blessed sight

      A seldom seen occurrence

      It will take your breath away

      Its aura indescribable

      It’s called the northern lights

      Its beauty undeniable

      I invite you to sit beside me

      In expectation for me and you

      This fantastic light display

      “Aurora borealis” just for two

      Give It Up

      I’m trying to stop smoking again

      I cleaned the house of all my packs

      I am crabby, and I’m edgy

      But I may calm down soon and relax

      One particular nervous day

      Anxiety caused me tension

      I checked former hiding spots

      Too many for me to mention

      I opened a drawer, now full of bulbs

      And this is not a joke

      A three-way bulb said, “I have an idea

      Give it up! Just don’t smoke!”

      A Twinkle

      In the gloaming in the garden

      When the fairies shake a sprinkle

      Listen very close, and you may hear

      A star let out a twinkle

      Technology

      A cell phone is like the yellow pages

      Their fingers do the walking

      With cell phone texting

      Our fingers do the talking

      Monotone

      I’d carry a tune, but it’s far too heavy

      I’d pay attention, but it costs too much

      Obligation

      I’ve never been dying

      But I see what takes place

      Family and friends come for

      One more look at the face

      If I were dying

      I’m not exactly sure

      I’d want all my loved ones

      Waiting for my death to occur

      Aside from these feelings

      Sounds I don’t want to hear

      Are muffled voices, quiet crying

      Of those I hold dear

      I have strong thoughts of

      Sights I don’t want to see