Every morn each day
Cowboy Jim calls “Breakfast on”
Fresh Fruits’ Bowl dances

Healthy in Beauty
Nature’s colors sing sweetness
Perfect sections diced

Cut grapes stack them high
Balance Mandarins with care
Nectar nectarines

Why? Proof of lovin’
Kitchen Cowboy shows his skills
Every morn each day

Charlene James-Duguid
Amissville, Virginia
August 30, 2020

“Cora, wake up darling child.
It’s your birthday, a perfect popping day.
You’re only six, and only
Magically Mary, popping in
And out on
This very special day.
Today and only today.”

“I know that I cannot waste a moment, Anne.
So many details, so many, so many.
You know Miss Bird needs brown paper sacks.
And Bert needs a new brush to sweep the
Chimneys, make them 100% soot-free.”

With those jobs in mind
Cora opened her bumbershoot.
She began to tie freshly-penned notes,
Directives to each spoke.

She was determine to
‘Be responsible for all I do.
Find that every problem has a sunny side.
Know what I believe.
Think without a muddle in your brain.
Take time for myself by
Poppin in and out.”

“Perfectly Poppins, you are, you are,”
Exclaimed Anne.

“I can

Super
Cala
Fragalistic
Expealidocious
My way through life.”

And Cora did.
Putting her know-how in her
Bumbershoot, bedecked with
Crimson ribbons springy
And spangly from its spokes
Cora stepped out into the clouds
To be the famous nanny,
For her
Fantastic Birthday.

Charlene James-Duguid
Amissville, Virginia
August, 2020

Photo by Anne Williams

Photo by Martin Jameson

Before the dog came
The Floor was covered with crumbs
Magically now hair
(Martin Jameson)

Now Misty in home
All scan chairs carefully not
Sit on sleeping face

Long ballerina
Legs always running non-stop
Proves she’s dancer’s heart

Big paws mean big dog
House and home full of Huge dog ness
Dad says, told you so

Connoisseur first class
Misty approves art sniffing
Knows what’s great or not

That dog really smart
Finds food, attention, comfort,
Got to call it love.

Sitting for portrait
Worldwide Dog celebrity
Misty’s tricks excel

Charlene James-Duguid
Amissville, Virginia
August, 2020

One morning you wake up
All swaddled tight, warm and
Cozy and before you can count to
Three,
You’re Three.

Decked out in understated velour
Making your way to the Park
To see which hearts you can break
Then mend again with a smile.

All the while you spread your charm
You guess at the gifts you’ll receive.

A daisy dressed up like a violet.
A never-melting snowflake.
A balloon that speaks French.
My baby brother’s cuddle.

All in all, it will be a grand day
My day to share with one and all,
Great and small.

Charlene James-Duguid
Amissville, Virginia
August 21,2020