She Before Me

(Soft Eggs and Toast)

Photograph by Dianne Woods

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 

“World's 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

when reunited with their 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