On the Landing

In backgrounds of austerity

You climb them one by one

They don’t allow despair-ity

But nip them in the pun

It would not do to tread ahead

Or balance on your thumb

The rules are Never, No and Not

The only way around

Is sliding down the banister

Be careful of your fanister

Just close your breath

And hold your eyes

They’ll never notice your disguise

And when you stop you will have found

That down is up and up is down

The other way around

Three Toads

Three toads sat in a diner.

One was green, one was red,

One a whiner.

“This meal is superb,”

The green toad was heard

To say to the red,

Who replied as he fed,

“I don’t believe I’ve had finer.”

Then the whiner

Spoke up. “The meat is dry,

Potatoes mushy, overcooked;

My salad is despicable,

My praise is not applicable,

And this I cannot overlook—

Damn the server, damn the cook—

There is no ice-cream on my pie

And in my coffee floats a fly.”