(A Nursery Rhyme)

No jiggety-jog
but the old cat was happy
jumped on my shoulder
nose to my ear
curled in my jacket
slept the whole afternoon
while I bought groceries
cleaned out the fridge
stopped by the post office
picked up our mail

The flight was no hardship
only some part of me
chose to stay back there
in West Virginia
with my wife, our two poodles
our new baby granddaughter
all the friends and neighbors
we'd just gotten to know

I'm happy to be home again
the house feels more than peaceful
but even for someone
as scattered as I
this being in two places
will take some getting used to
thank god for the phone
with its photos and facetime
and my dear wife whose love
reaches out across timezones
transforming my world
with her warmth and her laughter
her wisdom and joy