“Cakes are for baking
and rakes are for raking,”
declared Paul Von Nosberg
Von Shaking.
“Numerous studies
have indicated the same thing,”
he said as he buffed
his large amethyst ring.
“Ships are for shipping
and chips are for chipping,”
he continued,
though little encouragement came.
“Though not for dipping,
as dips are made for the same.”

“Meats are for meeting,
and fleas are but fleeting,”
he pondered as he scratched his strange chin.
“And therefore ticks are for tickling,
and sticks are all sticky,”
his eyes lit as he grinned a pontificant grin.
“In tombs filled with tumors…
you cough in your coffin.
And in day old-canoe,
in robes made for rowing
we paddle with oars but not witches…”

“Which witch grabbed the oar or the paddle,
which, padded, was added to the boat for an ad, which I wrote?
Do not eat a donut in shorts that show nuts if you’re grown-up.
And if you groan up tree number three, which is a Douglas fir,
doubtless fur will fall in the Fall,
as chipmunks who live with hens within when scared are given not to shitting but, as ought to, shedding.”

“I met a man named Mark who I avoided,
lest my hands turn black.
But I was quite keen on Carrie,
since I had some heavy boxes waiting around the back.
I met Robbie in the lobby and when I did I clutched my handbag tight.
I thought Will was too determined, and Davie kept me up at night.
Hal I found quite funny
Bill just wanted my money
As did Sue, though she was less polite.”

“Charles burnt my hot dogs,
Bertha goes into labor every time she jogs,
Miles made me wait too long,
Paul kept humming this depressing song,
John pissed me off,
Dusty made me cough,
Pat was too touchy-feely,
Lisa’s monthly payments kept her from living freely,
Sharon had nothing of her own,
and Peter?”

“He was just a dick.”