Poetry Breakfast

If Stephen King Wrote Poetry

it still goes on
those little things
that annoyed me about you

the casket’s closed
but the kitchen cabinets remain open

it’s like you’re here
going through the junk drawer
leaving the toilet seat up

the dog wags its tail
at your Laz-Z-Boy

your favorite beer
fills my fridge
your socks lay on the floor

our grandchild
still talks to you

your aftershave
calls my name from
hand towels and pillow cases

the damn lawnmower
refuses to start without you

along with the old Ford,
barbeque grill,
and the sump pump

which leads me to
your photo on the wall

as I wonder if those eyes
are asking me to follow
or simply saying good-bye

About the Poet:
As a hospice volunteer Alan Harris helps patients write stories, poems and letters. Harris is a 61 year-old graduate student. He writes short stories, plays, and poetry based primarily upon the life-stories of friends, family and total strangers. Harris is the 2011 recipient of the Stephen H. Tudor Scholarship in Creative Writing, the 2014 John Clare Poetry Prize, and the 2015 Tompkins Poetry Award from Wayne State University. In addition he is the father of seven, grandfather of eight, as well as a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee.

Photo by Mystics Art Design.

Poetry Breakfast accepts submissions of poetry and poetry related creative non-fiction year-round.  See our Submission Guidelines page for details on submitting your work.

Start your morning with a nourishing poem.  Follow us on  Twitter, Facebook, and  Tumblr,  and enjoy a new poem every morning straight to your feed.

Still Driving

my odometer refuses to roll over
the coolant light is on
and there’s nothing I can do about it
I keep the tires in good shape
and just had new wiper blades installed
but there’s so little else I can replace
my gas gauge can’t be trusted
the driver’s side blinker won’t even wink
at the headlights up ahead
or the trooper trying to get around me
I can’t tell if the siren’s for real
or is it the background of a song
on my AM radio
and in my rear view is either
a tow truck or a hearse
content to follow me home

About the Poet:
As a hospice volunteer Alan Harris helps patients write stories, poems and letters. Harris is a 61 year-old graduate student. He writes short stories, plays, and poetry based primarily upon the life-stories of friends, family and total strangers. Harris is the 2011 recipient of the Stephen H. Tudor Scholarship in Creative Writing, the 2014 John Clare Poetry Prize, and the 2015 Tompkins Poetry Award from Wayne State University. In addition he is the father of seven, grandfather of eight, as well as a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee.

Photo by Joshua Wilson.

Poetry Breakfast accepts submissions of poetry and poetry related creative non-fiction year-round.  See our Submission Guidelines page for details on submitting your work.

Start your morning with a nourishing poem.  Follow us on  Twitter, Facebook, and  Tumblr,  and enjoy a new poem every morning straight to your feed.