Stephanie's Ark 

By Hank Edson

There was this party

Of a family, a good Irish Catholic family

With six children and grandparents

And then the children had children

And even some of the children’s children had children

And there were nephews and aunts and cousins

And heaven knows what kinds of relations...

And their dates, of course.

Or their wives or their brothers-in-law or fiancés

And friends;

Some were not really not even remotely “family,” just total strangers

Who were adopted and for the party, perhaps for good,

Actually made family

And all of these people numbered about 250.

And everyone was drunk.

It was on the shore of the Delaware River

With a band, a picnic, dancing,

And people were really carried away.

One man passed out and was tied to the base of a tree by his feet

So that he was in the odd position of hanging right side up

By his toes.

And when he woke up, he tried to walk

And fell down helpless and fuming:

“NO ONE TIES ME TO A TREE!”

And everyone laughed.

There was a contest to see who could hit a golf ball

All the way across the river.

One of the family, a brother or something

Was a trophy winner

And two others, also brothers? Were good

But everyone else, and that’s a lot,

Was not good at all, just beginners, just playing.

And one pregnant lady was so drunk

She said she couldn’t play because she couldn’t see the ball

In front of her.

She was laughing, hysterical

And everyone was so relaxed;

It was great fun.

And I was a young woman, an exchange student from West Germany.

Copyright © Hank Edson 2009

Drops of Jupiter 

By Pat Monahan

Now that she’s back in the atmosphere
With drops of Jupiter in her hair,
She acts like summer and walks like rain
Reminds me that there’s time to change,

Since the return from her stay on the moon
She listens like spring and she talks like June,

Tell me did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the milky way

To see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated

Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me

While you were looking for yourself out there

Now that she’s back from that soul vacation
Tracing her way through the constellation,
She checks out Mozart while she does tae-bo
Reminds me that there’s time to grow,
Now that she’s back in the atmosphere
I’m afraid that she might think of me as plain ol’ jane
Told a story about a man who is too afraid to fly so he never did land

Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance

Along the light of day
And head back to the milky way

And tell me, did venus blow your mind
Was it everything you wanted to find
And did you miss me

While you were looking for yourself out there

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken
Your best friend always sticking up for you

Even when I know you’re wrong
Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance

Five-hour phone conversation
The best soy latte that you ever had . . . and me

Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance

Along the light of day
And head back toward the milky way

Tell me did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the milky way

To see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated

Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me

While you were looking for yourself out there...