Do Not

I am 71
Lecturing
On a cruise
Ship with my
Old friend from
High School as my
Companion for this
Voyage and we are
Walking back to our
Shared cabin when
She says to me do
Not tell again your
Joke about why
Hillary lost the
Election, you
Know it up
Sets me
And I
Reply that
That is why
I repeat it just
To tease you but
She is in no mood
To hear my excuse.
The next night at our
Eight-person dinner table
Of always new fresh folks
I say that Hillary lost the
Election because she
Tried to change the
Red white and blue
Into the rose ivory
And teal as my
Friend looks
At me from
Across the
Table and
Rolls her
Eyes
But
Telling
Me do not
Do something
Is a good way to
Get me to do it
So in life when
Thou suggest
I am putty in
Thy hands
But when
Thou say
Do not
Thou
Art
Barking up
The wrong tree.
Yet we are lifelong
Friends who forgive
Each other but if
We were wed
She would
Toss me
Off the
Ship
So do
Not try
This on
Your wife.