Staying Alive
I ruin my writing by being employed
I use hands-only CPR to save it
I feel a heartbeat
bum-bum-bum-bum
There is black magic in work, coffee, ink
Will what I scribble show enough
of the picnic cloth with pom-poms
that I dreamt for us?
I make lists
I wait at the breakfast table
I sing to the dog
And after a week…
I burn my words around fire pits!
My mouth has unlimited credit!
Free free free summer fancery!
I am the whole damn band!
But first, and foremost, and always,
I have to do that old Chancery Hand.
Amy Cunningham 2017
6 thoughts on "Staying Alive"
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Reminds me of The Office in a good way
Thanks for introducing me to “Chancery Hand.” I love “picnic cloth with pom-poms” and the lightness of your word play. Great title.
“black magic in work, coffee, ink” gets line of the day for me. The light tone really works here.
“Will what I scribble show enough…” Yes!
Great reading of this poem at Old Washington Wordsmiths. This is so well crafted and a delight to struggling poets of all stripes-even retired ones who end up babysitting grandchildren. What a pleasure for Jennifer and I to discuss and laugh over, especially “my mouth has unlimited credit.”
I had to look up “Chancery…”