Sue Grafton and Kinsey Milhone

Thoughts About Sue That Might Make Us Blue

Is there a day coming when we will all moan

Where on earth have you gone, Kinsey Milhone?

The Alphabet Mysteries were Sue Grafton’s creation, 

Which became a detective story treat for the nation. 

We first met Kinsey with A is for Alibi

From imminent danger Kinsey never did shy,

As the years went by Sue led us along

Through the rest of the alphabet and didn’t do wrong, 

Meaning of course that she never skipped a letter 

Though Sue might have titled some a bit better. 

Which leads me on to a dumb question 

Did she write these books before creating the title?

Or was the title itself really quite vital

In setting the course of each succeeding book,

Which left the rest of the story for the players to cook.

I find myself looking ahead to her grand finale  

Ah, Z is for Zip just sounds right up her alley.

Oh, For A Three Point Rib Bloom

To Outback Steakhouse I’ll be sayin' goodbye

My cholesterol count’s flying way too high.

Yet I’m nearly sold on the 3-Point Rib Bloom 

Hope there’s a bed empty in a hospital room.

Shirts

My first choice of shirt did not make the grade

So I hurried to my closet to negotiate a trade

Second time around I actually succeeded

A determined fashionista just can’t be defeated.

The Twilight Of Easter

T’was the evening of Easter and in the backyard

We watched all those golfers not working too hard

No clouds in the sky were there to be spotted.

We saw going by the deer as they trotted

Near our side of the woods they’re headed for home

‘round us neither antelope nor buffalo roam.

Seeing all this wildlife, you might think it funny  

That despite all this watching, we’ve seen not one bunny.

But we’re thankful it’s springtime in South Carolina

And to be here at Easter, not much could be finer.

We somehow wound up here, the causes aren’t clear 

But complaints out of us, you surely won’t hear. 

We set aside part of almost every spring day 

To give thanks to the forces that came into play.

Our kids and our grands are both quite nearby,

And that’s one more reason that we never cry--

“We wish that we lived in northern Illinois!”

But we’ll soon come to visit, cold air to enjoy.

Meanwhile, we’re sending “Happy Easter,” wishes

ta-ta for now, I must do the dishes. 

Number 44--I Can’t Find This Message In Any Hallmark Card

I stood there in the store aisle

Reading cards all the while

It was just really hard 

To find the right card.

One card’s message to convey

All of the things I had to say

Giving up, I composed this rhyme

To save us both some time

And avoid driving on to yet another store

To read cards, it would seem, just forever more.

I wanted you to know I still feel about you

The way that I did when I first said, “I do.”

After forty-four years, I’d guess you’re shocked I remember old feelings like these

When yesterday you watched, as I spent a half hour in search of my keys. 

Of this one thing you can always be certain,

Our wedding day I’ll remember ‘til the final curtain.

And I will love you all the days of my life,

Since that day you consented to become my wife.

One Toasty Mornin'

The lady of the house put out some fine Irish bread

Sayin’—“Sure, if you’d like to try some, go ahead.”

Thus I found a whole loaf set out in the kitchen.

And though I thought the loaf would need no enrichin’

She said the taste might improve with a wee bit of toastin’

I tried it out and she was surely not boastin’