She Before Me

(Soft Eggs and Toast)

The counter seats of 

most restaurants 

are full of men 

who have no one at home

to cook their 

soft eggs and toast.

These elderly gents

leave the house wearing their

favorite baseball cap and 

“Worlds Best Grandpa” 

sweatshirt

and take their 

place at the counter

with their friends from 

the neighborhood 

who have unwillingly joined the

“She Left Before Me” club

(though some silently refer to it as the 

“I Was Supposed to Go First” club)

and though they boast 

bravely 

of their willingness to be 

done with it all

happy once again

reunited with love

they do their best to 

hide their fear 

on days when 

their destiny 

overwhelms them

with news of

an opening in the club

and a place at the counter.

Ken Owen    Van Niddy Press 

October 2018

The Flight Attendant

is beautiful 

but seems

very 

unhappy. 

She has not 

smiled since I’ve boarded 

the plane 

(and I’m not taking that personally).

It looked like

she took great exception

to having to parade

down the aisle

during the safety 

demonstration 

as part of her duties

but I enjoyed her

parade

very much.

It is 6:00a.m.

so

perhaps expecting 

anyone

to smile now

while teaching the public 

how to use a seat belt

is asking a bit

much.

As a young girl

when she realized she 

wanted to travel the globe

seeing all the great cities 

of the world

I’m guessing she never 

imagined 

that teaching 
uninterested passengers 

how to use a 

floatation device

would be part of the deal.

Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press

September 2018

Like You

In a moment of panic

I found myself

desperately searching 

for the book you gave me

I could see it 

clearly

in my mind

a small black book of 

haiku 

by Kenneth Rexroth

and I was sure 

you had written in it

but when I finally 

found it

there was no 

inscription

It must have been in 

the note I didn’t keep

that came with 

your present 

I realized then

I went looking 

for your hand

but it wasn’t there

and this would be 

the first of

many times

this would happen

from now on.

                   ~~~~

          I cherish your gift,

       a little book of haiku 

        filled with art, like you.

-for Marlene 

Ken Owen   October 2018
Van Niddy Press