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Dangling Participles
by
Donal Mahoney


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Every time something breaks
like the pipe in the wall
we heard gushing

this morning
my wife wants to call
a repairman because 

I can’t fix anything
except split infinitives
and dangling participles

and I usually agree
but this time
I mention the kayaks 

in the attic and say
why don’t we hop
in the kayaks

open the front door
and sail down the street
wave to the neighbors

cutting their grass
planting their peonies
worrying about crime

and shout best of luck
we’re tired of the good life
we’re sailing away.

 

© by Donal Mahoney.
Used with the author's permission.

 


Donal Mahoney lives in St. Louis, Missouri. A native of Chicago, he spent the early ‘70s actively submitting poems to print journals and enjoyed some success. He then took a 35-year hiatus from poetry to work as an editor of prose at such lofty establishments as the Chicago Sun-Times, Loyola University Press, and Washington University in St. Louis. Upon retirement, Donal took to his recliner, and was perfectly happy reading and listening to Gregorian chant all day. After three years, however, his wife bought Donal a computer and showed him where the boxes of still-unpublished poems had been stored in the basement for many years. Thus Donal began actively submitting again in June 2008. Some of his work since then can be found here; more can be seen at http://booksonblog12.blogspot.com/.

 

 


Post New Comment:
cork:
I know now how to deal with a plumbing problem. Thank you.
Posted 10/21/2015 09:59 PM
Lori Levy:
I'll think of this poem next time I hear gushing in the pipe in the wall.
Posted 10/21/2015 12:42 PM
Jancan:
I like it! Janice Canerdy
Posted 10/21/2015 11:48 AM
pwax:
And more of his work can be seen in yesterday's newversenews.com It's nice to see your work two days in a row!
Posted 10/21/2015 11:14 AM
KevinArnold:
Fun.
Posted 10/21/2015 10:43 AM
wendy morton:
Lovely. A kayak of a poem.
Posted 10/21/2015 10:28 AM
erinsnana:
I loved it!
Posted 10/21/2015 09:58 AM
TheSilverOne:
Enjoyed the poem, and the bio.
Posted 10/21/2015 09:55 AM
ed werstein:
outstanding work as usual, Donal
Posted 10/21/2015 09:46 AM
ElizabethP:
Love it!
Posted 10/21/2015 09:10 AM
rhonasheridan:
A dismal day. Then I read this poem. That made me laugh and now I feel fine! Thank you. It made me giggle - even better!
Posted 10/21/2015 08:57 AM
Cindy:
That is kind of how I feel sometimes! A fun poem.
Posted 10/21/2015 08:45 AM


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