Always too busy

Day 7:  "Start by reading James Tate’s poem “The List of Famous Hats.”  Now, write a poem that plays with the idea of a list. Tate’s poem is a list that isn’t – he never gets beyond the first entry. You could try to write a such a non-list, but a couple of other ideas would be to create a list of ingredients, or a list of entries in an index. A self-portrait (or a portrait of someone close to you) in the form of a such a list could be very funny. Another way into this prompt might be a list of instructions." It just so happens I have a perfect list,  tailor made for this prompt.


Always too busy

A small square piece of paper hangs accusingly
In plain sight under a round red magnet on the fridge door.

It's been there since the autumn before last -
A list of four tasks that you needed to do before Christmas.

  *Fix the garden lights, which failed three summers ago, 
      (neighbours and friends have got used to bringing a torch)

  *Replace the handrail, where I fell down the steps, 
      (I now creep down those steps gingerly, one at a time)

  *Create a shelf in the gap under the oven, to store baking trays
      (we've got used to piling them on top of the microwave)

  *Put up the coathooks to hang up the dustpan and brush
      (to be fair this could come off, I've used stick-on hooks instead).

It's been there so long it's beginning to annoy me
And for you it's just part of the view.


© Copyright 2023. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved.

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