Random New Year Observations

1.

The summer weeds rise up

profusely green on high stems.

The vine writhes, and intertwines

with its own long branches down the fence.

The squat pots for approved flowers

stand empty, their contents dead

long before the rain revived

the sleeping seeds of weeds

to green my garden beds.

2.

Languid Eleven drawls to enumerate

her list of expensive Christmas presents,

forgetting to thank her grandmother

for a thoughtful but more modest gift.

Observing surreptitiously,

I can almost discern the grandmother's hand

twitch (like mine) with a spanking itch.