Charge It!

I use an electric toothbrush
That keeps my teeth real white
But when it looses its charge
I just plug it in all night.
My camera just stopped working
No pictures I could snap
So I got out the recharger
And gave the batteries a zap.
I type this on my laptop
But the battery is getting low
So I just plug in the cord
And [...]

Camping

I used to sleep in nylon tents
Under the Northwoods stars;
Now I sleep in a fine RV
While men still strive for Mars.
I used to dread the wind and rain
When it woke us in the night;
Now I care not to complain
But snore away with delight.
Camping on a summer vacation
In fine RV’s or little tents;
What matters is a [...]

Summer Blessing

May the summer breezes bless you
May the August moon bathe your night
May the choir of daisies adorn your walk
May your morning coffee be just right.
May your travels make you grateful
May your picnics be free of bugs
May a parade chase away your blues
May you sip from cool, refreshing mugs.
May your garden be free of ghastly weeds
May [...]

Racial Face

A  black man knocked in the door
The neighbor called the cops.
No one knew what was in store
For bewildered, old black Pops.
On the porch of Gates, the professor
The cop asked for his ID;
Gates looked at his oppressor
And thought of black history.
The cop’s questions did persist
Gates was feeling a test;
Handcuffs slapped on his wrist
For resisting his arrest.
It [...]

Old Photo

I found that Instamatic  photo
in a bottom drawer
underneath the old maps.
He looks at me,
smiling from the front porch
and I back at him
shaking my head.
Off the map he was thrown,
instantly happy forever.
And I am still finding
my way back home.
______________________
Poem by Steven J. Pedersen  for Friday July 17, 2009

Pig in The Parlor

There’s a pig in the parlor of our church
Which you might think quite funny;
He doesn’t want to be left out in the lurch
He’s just hungry for your money.
Coins and bills, large and small
Are on its favorite menu;
He has the steady wherewithal
To help us in a kosher venue.
This is a different kind of Pig
That you will [...]

You Are

You are named in The Pledge:
“One nation under GOD”
But some push You to the edge
They think religion odd.
You are etched on our coins
It says, “In God we trust”
That may play in De Moines
But in D.C. that’s a bust.
Ruler of all nations, Please
Have mercy on this Land;
Put us down on our knees:
Our future’s in Your Hand.

Going Digital

Today’s the day your TV should be converted;
For months we all have been alerted.
Your TV can be born anew;
So all the channels you can view.
Just another major change
So your reception won’t look strange;
All the stations cannot be mineral or vegetable
They all must broadcast only in digital.
Grandma says, “I won’t go High tech.”
Her grandson says, “Oh, [...]

When We Were Young

We’ve been cousins since I was born
In a Racine Winter of February cold;
When we were young
And our mothers were not  old.
My cousin Randy was my buddy
Since my brothers and sister had left the fold;
When we were young
And our mothers were not old.
We grew up on “Hi-O-Silver”
We were Cowboys, oh so bold;
When we were young
And our [...]

Save the last slice for me

You can bake a cake and frost it nice
You can make a pie out of pumpkin spice
But when a frosted oval Kringle I do see;
Oh Darlin’ save the last slice for me.
You can bring home doughnuts and long johns
You can count the calories with their pros and cons
But you won’t find a Kringle, thank God, [...]