Pharmacist

by Joan McNerney

She thought of herself as a
modern alchemist.   Fluent
in an arcane language
about the composition of so
many minute capsules.

The rest of the store could
be in a gas station or bargain
store.  Filled with candies,
lip sticks, other frivolous items.

If you simply had a cough, syrup
could be found on aisle three.
Her area was sacred to patients,
those with serious ailments.

Filling prescriptions navigating
insurance companies, seeking
authorizations. Always aware of
side effects, multiple drug reactions,
possible allergic problems.

Austere yet approachable,
she dispensed heroic potions
from her prized domain
as chemical priestess.

The Blue God

by Joan McNerney

The blue god
    is so strong
he can twist trees
with the tip of his tongue.

You better not defy him
              scream at him
              lie to him.
He'll explode and beat
      the hell out of you.

He lives on nothing
   will die for nothing
   makes us children
   shivering all night
   crying in empty winds
   turning our tears to ice.

The blue god
    is so strong
northern winds bow to his will.

He doesn't dig
           your moaning
           and groaning.
You better shut up or he'll
make mincemeat out of you.

He laughs at everything
has respect for nothing
makes us afraid to fight
when he spits in our faces
turning our tears to ice.

So we watch in silence
waiting for the coming light
when he will hold us
in his burning hands
and we will be born twice
    once by fire
    once by ice.

Miracle Lotion

by Joan McNerney

This can erase years from your face,
cover blemishes, sun spots, crow's feet.
You will glow in the dark capturing
hearts, especially those of rich men.

Now you can procure a position of
prestige with a blue chip company.
You are to be admired by all, heads
turning whenever you enter a room.

Coarse dry skin can become
softer than angel wings.
The alluring scent of this balm
enraptures legions of admirers.

Old friends will stare at a new you.
Baffled, they ask if you had surgery.
With a smug but unwrinkled smile,
you point to your precious ointment.

Years of time, grime and slime
magically erased.  See dramatic
transformation as you stand transfixed
by that glowing beauty in the mirror.

Envision flying down boulevards,
patronizing haute fashion shops, driving
cadillacs...all this and more from the
Miracle Creme now at a new low price.

By All Counts

by Joan McNerney

Proper and improper fractions
have distinctive differences

Proper fractions study at
prestigious universities.   They
attend cultural events and play
at least one musical instrument.
Proper fractions step aside
for ladies patronizing only
haute couture shops.

Improper fractions are hooligans.
Each one guzzles cheap beer,
crunching potato chips while
screaming at wrestling matches.
Improper fractions knock over
seniors to reach clearance racks.

Beware of mixed figures.  These
hybrids can not decide what they are.
Medication might help them plus
talking therapy so popular today.  Never
allow children to associate with them.

Negative numerals should be avoided.
Those will only subtract from your life
flinging freezing rain in your face.
Conversely, positive numerals are
delightful handing us glowing statistics
and bright bouquets of fragrant daisies.

Never take integers for granted.  Do not
allow yourself to be divided but let
all quotients be fruitful and multiply
until that day when your number is up.

Raffle Prize

by Joan McNerney

I bumped into my neighbor.
She slipped me some posters
to put up. There’s going to be a
craft fair. Everybody can come.
Proceeds go for a good cause.

Red X marked my calendar.
Gosh, I couldn’t even tell you
how many friends of mine
gathered at long rows of tables.

For sale were fleece jackets, woolen
scarves, feathered hats, fancy tees.
Plus rings, necklaces, earrings,
glitter pins, bracelets.  Wow!

So I took a chance and bought some
raffle tickets...all for a good cause.
But truth be known, I was eyeing
three wonderful bracelets.

Three amazing amulets colored like
three cups of coffee.  Dark roasted java,
frothy white crème, crystal sugar cubes.
Stretch jewelry made from stones in
all shapes, ovals, squares, hexagons.

Later that afternoon came a knock on
my door. I won the three bracelets!
How fantastic and they fit me perfect.
I love running my fingers over these
cool gems all contours, all sizes.

Aloe vera lotion and cocoa butter are
slathered all over my hands now so
I can show off my raffle prize tomorrow.
Everyone will find out I’m a winner.

How sweet!

by Joan McNerney

After bathing in bubble gum,
Mary Jane unties ribbon candy
from bags of chocolate kisses.

Sky colored by yellow, pink
& blue cotton candy clouds.

Marshmallow chicks hide
behind spearmint leaves.

Jelly beans sprout along
fields of candy corn.

Caramel apples, lemon drops,
orange slices stacked for sale
at Lolly Pop’s juicy fruit shop.

Watch out as sour gummy
worms wiggle underfoot.

Climbing big rock candy mountain
wandering with sugar high stars.

Thirsty now, Mary Jane sips
root beer barrels at Snickers Bar.

Black licorice fills this night
with confectionary dreams
& one big banana moon pie.

Present

by Joan McNerney

You gave me
five brown pods
to grow in
my garden bed.
I put them
in a glass jar
with my locket.
Five brown pods
winding through
heaven. Weaving
night with winter
wishes for wisteria.
In a flower dress
wandering over
perfumed fields
I sleepwalk
searching for
my golden locket
and your embrace.

Proclamation

by Joan McNerney

I love you
and I'll
shout it from rooftops.
Chisel giant hearts
through Mount Everest.
Take out an entire edition
of the New York Times.

You love me
and you'll
preempt the president.
Send our rocket to Venus.
Fly fluorescent banners
over the United Nations.

Let's write our names
on this perfect sky
so even heaven knows
we are in love.

Sewing curtains

by Joan McNerney

All weekend long
how quickly my needle
skips over hems.

We won't have to look
at bricks anymore.
I bought a patch of
celestial blue to hang
from the kitchen window.

A few yards of green
velour in the bedroom
waving like soft meadows.
Green meadows
will keep street lights
from our eyes.

Sewing curtains all
weekend long.
I want to hide
away in my own
world with you.

It's Sunday

by Joan McNerney

Your laughter
comes in cascades when
I toss your curly hair
tickling those big ears
with long blades of grass.

We stop at the lake startling
frogs just before they leap
away. Listen to squirrels brush
over carpets of crunchy leaves.

You turn to hold me hold me
hurry it's late. O Michael
pink clouds ribbon heaven and
I want your arms around me forever

Azaleas

by Joan McNerney

Fat azaleas red pink purple
azaleas shaking in morning sun
as children call children to play.
Oozing from thick bushes delicately
perfumed azaleas fat azaleas
bees spinning spinning spinning.
Children singing out names while
chameleons crawl in shining grass
lustrous azaleas bright satin.
Azaleas fat azaleas starlings slip
from branch to branch gliding to
bushes stretching red pink purple.

Sparrows recite

by Joan McNerney

Sparrows recite
litanies in wood. Trees
greener every rainfall
their leaves growing longer.
April evening covering
swiftly swiftly scented
crepe myrtle.
Suspended this moment
between light and dark.
Clouds rush over horizon.
Sun dropping from sky.
Movement of white flowers
blowing over hillsides.

Wildflowers bobbing

by Joan McNerney

Wildflowers bobbing
in open fields. Two fabulous
daffodils sprout from
your eyes. Falling dizzy in
love as o so lackadaisical
breeze tugs at shirt sleeves.
Again we are flushed in
warm love caress. Solar
energy orbiting billions of
grass blades. Hum hum
hummingbirds hurry hurry
pass us tripping giddy
in love.