Diego’s Morning Lament

What is she doing lying there in bed
when we are out here waiting to be fed?
Even though the rain has stopped and the sun is out,
how can she forget that food is what it’s all about?
She may have her blog to do before she leaves for town,
but can’t she see the ground is wet so we can’t lie down?
Oh sure there is that sheltered place and chairs to lift us up,
but waiting’s not the sort of thing attractive to a pup.
We’ve got the doorways all staked out, I alternate between
The bedroom and dining room, with the taped up screen.

I admit I made the tears in the screen doors there.
When I jump up excitedly, they just seem to tear.
Now I’m barking at someone passing in the street.
And every bark I have to make, my sister must repeat.

I’m at the back door, she’s in front. We make a stereo chorus.
Sitting silent as folks pass is just inclined to bore us.
What’s more it drives our human mad. Perhaps she’ll bring us in
and feed us a bit early just to stop the din.
I know that we have our routine and breakfast is at nine,
but if she’d stop and feed us now, our day would start out fine.
Every morning is the same, we wake her up at eight
to let us out for bathroom breaks, then we start the debate
of what the next thing scheduled will turn out to be.
We think the most important thing, once we’ve had our pee
is to have our breakfast–we think it is absurd
that her priority instead is the written word!
We’ve given up our barking but hope she’ll come about.
and realize her food for thought can’t fill our tummies out!

I’m sure you know the ending to this daily story,
The ending’s never sad or scary, action-filled or gory.
The rising action and the climax mounted with our pleading,
and as you might predict, were finally resolved with our feeding!

Now our human must be off. We hear her engine zoom.
We hope she’s home for supper so this drama can resume!

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “S/he Said.” Pause whatever you’re doing, and ask the person nearest you what they’re thinking about (call someone if you have to). Write a post based on it.

Stepparents Day

She’s the lady who married your father.
He’s the fellow who married your mom.
Not really your actual parent,
like a date that’s set-up for the prom.
In other words, you didn’t choose them;
and also, they didn’t choose you.
But you now have each other as family.
There’s really not much you can do.

Sometimes you wind up as real buddies,
becoming a sort of strange friend.
Other times you feel resentful,
like you wish that their marriage would end;
and your dad would go back to your real mom,
or your mom would go back with your dad.
Then you realize that’s not really happening,
but only a dream that you had.

Then you notice your mom is now smiling
and your dad seems happier, too.
So you think you’ll just go with the flow now
and you give in and finally do.
You now have two happier families—
two places that welcome you in—
and decide that liking stepparents
is really not much of a sin.

Then you wonder why there is no day for
stepparents and grandparents, too,
and decide that this brand-new tradition
might just as well start now with you.
You declare July 1 to be chosen
as National Stepparents Day.
So even though it’s not official,
and the powers that be might say, “Nay,”

you throw on some burgers or hot dogs
and cook up a fresh apple pie
and buy your particular “steppie”
a nice box of candy or tie.
You tell her you know your dad’s happy
and tell her that you’re happy, too;
or tell him you’re glad your mom’s “single”
has turned into a table for two!

Let’s start up a national movement
to honor our stepparents now;
and ask for our step moms and dads and our grands
to come center stage for a bow!
So children all over this nation
can welcome their stepparents in
and acknowledge they’re part of the family,
exactly like regular kin.

A rerun, in response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Familial Feasts.”