Jungle Fever
By: Charles Giuliano - Jun 14, 2022
Jungle Fever
Me and Astrid
Don’t have kids
Married mid-life
Well actually
She does
Daughter and two granddaughters
Nola just graduated
Off to Fordham come fall
They call her Oma and me Opa
That’s in German
She would like a little dog
Or a cat
Something alive
Perhaps fish
Have had them all
Except for a dog
Instead we have plants
Some are huge like
Little Shop of Horror
Feed me feed me
The cactus reached
For the sky
Branching out
Taller and taller
Truly amazing
Love of our life
Perfect specimen
Then one night
Started to fall over
Natural disaster
On a ladder
I had to help
Supported her back
She climbed up
Wearing gloves
Carefully snipped
Ones that drooped
Same with giant begonia
Now in flower
Massive blooms
Some we gave away
Huge Norfolk Pine
To a greenhouse
In Williamstown
Locals call Billsville
Last few days
She’s been repotting
Mostly kitchen counter
I made dinner
Where can I cut the meat
I said somewhat confused
No room in the clutter
Nice turkey roast
Cooked in Cosori
With fresh beets
Are we eating dirt
She was miffed
Toiling for the
Common good
Made a little space
I put grub on the table
Our river room
View of the water fall
Too cold in winter
First of the summer
So now we have
A cactus farm
They grow real slow
Great comfort
For golden oldies
Pots of soil
Her annual toil
Me the mohel
Quite the cutup
She the muthah
As I live and breathe
It’s a jungle here
God bless you
Tiny Tim