Strep the Sequel, Romantic Wrapping, a Little Extra Darkness, and antibiotics - the Tuesday poem roundup
What I wrote Sat, 4/5 to Tues, 4/8
Happy Tuesday, y’all. Four days have passed, four poems have been written. Let’s get into it.
4/5/25 I’ve never actually seen Shrek 2 But it’s probably better than strep 2. I’d much prefer quirky, slimy, green ogres To murky, slimy, green drippings. Some things cry out for a sequel. This doesn’t. We don’t need to know What happens next for strep. His further, kooky adventures With his diseased sidekicks As they have a party With you and the little one.
Strep continues to make its way through our household. Started with the little one, then it walloped the wife, and I’m the last one standing…for now (see Tuesday’s poem below for an update). So, even though I’ve not seen Shrek 2, I have to imagine it’s more fun.1
4/6/25 Wrap yourself around me on a chilly, spring night. I’ll wrap my words around this day and tie it in a bow-tie bow so we can keep it. Wrap yourself around me when the shivers come to call. I’ll wrap my words around each bone and muscle to keep them strong for the years ahead. Wrap yourself around me as I start to feel my years. I’ll wrap my words around your qi and keep it pulsing, flowing golden red and purple blue to get us through the night.
Sometimes, words are what we have. And we use them as best we can to show affection. And hope it’s enough. That’s essentially the thesis of Every Day, Luv.
4/7/25 There’s something about Jotting down these bits of my brain At first light, At the edge of night, As it takes a bow To thunderous applause and exits stage right. So even though I love Having more daylight Than in the cold, winter doldrums, I miss having A little extra darkness To sit inside And say something to you.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m as big a fan of daylight savings as the next New Englander. Long summer evenings, where you can sit outside until well after 7pm and hear peepers and cardinals and dragonflies perform a nightly symphony. But I do miss the dark mornings, before the world wakes up, when it’s just me, the pen, and the paper.
4/8/25 A good course of antibiotics can feel good. A good course of waterfalls can feel wet. A good course of toes in sandals can feel sunburned. A good course of kisses in the shadows can feel sweaty. A good course of snoring can feel sleepy the next day. A good course of fifth-grade math can feel intimidating. A good course of laughing at my jokes can feel fulfilling.
The opening line was a text from the wife assuring me that it’s ok that I was the last pillar to fall and get strep and that it’s ok that I now have to pop antibiotics for 10 days. The rest tumbled out from my odd brain.
Next update on Friday! And be sure to stop by tomorrow at 4:45 E / 1:45 P for our first ever live chat, featuring Kimberly Jane Nasrul | MFT . :)
I have a strange, patchwork relationship with the Shrek franchise. Seen the first one many times, seen chunks of the third and fourth on TV, seen one of the Puss in Bootses on Netflix (but don’t remember which), and somehow completely missed the second. Hopefully, it’s the standout of the series, like Wrath of Khan or Empire Strikes Back.