Monday in the ER

Hi all, no poetry from me this week because I spent most of my Monday in the Emergency Room.

Everything is okay, but at the time my face and arm was going numb, so that was less okay. I have a muscle strain in my right shoulder that makes me feel like there is an icy-hot poker stabbing at me. That is, when I’m not taking pain meds. Oh, and I have been getting muscle spasms in my neck, too. Fun times.

So, nothing creative from me this week. Or, maybe there is…

Monday in the ER

shoulder hurt, stabbing
pit stop, pit crew, she dying?
safe. home with pain meds

OR

my arm and neck numb
not dying. feel kind of dumb
remember: ergonomic


Ahhh…I could go on and on with the haikus. At least the dogs cuddled me at the end of the night. Showing their love, as doggies do. One big, giant, doggy pile.

Not a Poem – How’s Your January Been??

January has just been one big suck-fest. Anyone with me?

I have a poem I’ve been working on, but instead of coming together like things usually do, pulling the words out for this one is like trying to pull blood from a stone.

I am on the struggle bus. Physically. Mentally. Creatively. I long for sunny days. And warmth.

I hope everyone else is doing better than me. If you’ve kept up with this blog and my poetry book, you’ll know that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) hits me big every year. This past month, more so than others.

I take comfort in my light therapy, friends, comedy, and the dogs.

I don’t have anything creative for you today. I’m sorry. But here’s a few dog pics, because dogs are awesome and cute. Bowl is life. ❤️😆 love them. (The chocolate is Koda; the golden, Teddy.)

Walking The Dogs On a Snowy Evening

Whose yard is this? The dogs. (I know)
They both like it covered with snow
And lake-like puddles on the ground
And squishy grass that’s hard to mow

They will chew their sticks to the sound
Of wind blowing their ears around
With snow that bites with winter’s chill
They chew, oh — another stick found!

And the dogs always get a thrill
Smelling bunnies and things to kill
Noses to the ground, at my side
They sniff until the world grows still

The yard is icy, cold and wide
And I continue to abide
Please, it is time to go inside
Please, it is time to go inside


This poem is inspired by Robert Frost’s Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening, but obviously with a less serious and sillier theme. I had the pattern of this poem in my head while out walking the dog one evening and I thought it might be fun to play around.

Wishing everyone a meaningful Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

If you’ve liked what you’ve read, check out my poetry book, Walking in Cemeteries available for purchase here.

Dog Love

dogs tell tales
like humans do
scratch an ear
steal a shoe

a stolen slipper
means, “I missed you”
a sock in mouth
means “hello,” too

love is the language
that dogs speak
except they say it
with a toy that squeaks

or slobbery kisses,
with head on your thigh
hands in warm fur
a deep, contented sigh

and muddy paw prints
on the kitchen floor
nose prints on the window
scratching the bathroom door

a minute is an hour
when you’re gone away
because they love us
every. single. day.


If you liked what you read, considering following me on Instagram @ajmorse_writes and follow my Facebook page A. J. Morse. My poetry book Walking in Cemeteries is available on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/cAsZUxa

And…because we love our two buds…some pics below! We recently got a new golden retriever puppy. Meet Teddy! You can follow them both on instagram @kodabear_and_teddy