What strange times these are, wonderful moments and terrible happenings. So for a change of pace, I serve you my September poem. Fun to read it out loud. Trigger warning for people avoiding sugar. For those of you who wish to go further into the science of giggling rats, just Google Scientific American – “giggling rats” or go on YouTube for the same. Here is a link for a smile. This is a National Geographic YouTube short about it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-84UJpYFRM&feature=youtu.be

Ode to Doughnuts

Doughnuts—daring me to desire
those hanky-panky curves, soft, warm
iced O’s of surprise, magic rings to rule,
Saturn’s sugar halos, and handcuffs.
The sweet fat wheels tumble into boxes,
nestle in crinkling, crumpling paper
from Uncle Benny’s Doughnut and Bagel place.
Opens at 4:00 AM for coffee, cream and sugar,
dream crunch with a schmear.

Who is up at 4:00 AM? Outer Sunset streets
are quarantine empty. Hungry ocean waves roar.
No pigeons to soar in for peckable crumbs,
seagulls sleeping, terns don’t take a turn,
Golden Gate Park owls distain vegetarian,
not even our coyotes would deign.

But raccoons, rainbow sprinkles their fave,
racing fat, striped and wadding,
snatch and grab, to slide chuckling
down culverts and midnight drains.
I present a maple bacon delicious on the sidewalk
to pied piper more dwellers
from the underground city crowd.
High IQ squeaking and giggling rats
praise their goddess and laugh in thanks.

Spirit of mom disapproves with a frown,
but I am statin protected!
A sugar-high rebel with a circle steel chakram,
me and Xena, The Warrior Princess, ululate ferocity
galloping through the sleepy San Francisco hills
on wild apple stallions.

I yippeeee kay yayaaa for chocolate old fashioneds
not the bourbon old fashioneds of my parents.
French fry edge crunch
trailing midnight chocolate icing flakes
behind me, calling to ants everywhere.