And Then There's a Poem Written with Coincidences. 4/20. Who Knew? I Was Just Thinking About How Adulthood Works and When Things Should Burn

The 20th prompt of #VerseLove was about memories/thoughts/ideas, etc. needing to be burned as a result of Covid. There were multiple directions I thought about going, but then I was triggered by the concept of "up in smoke" (Isn't that a movie?) and thought about the changes occurring in society as a result of new laws.  I began contemplating the way(s) legalization is slowly creeping onto the radar and around the corner in adult life and how funny that seems to be. As I began writing, I looked for slang or modern nicknames, and lo and behold, there are websites and industries advertising many. My day turned mischievous, as it's sort of interesting to discover the big business of it all. 

I guess this is what comes from commercialism.

So, I wrote. Then a writer commented, "Great humor, Crandall. 4/20. This is hilarious. Nice job!" I had to look 4/20 up. The Great Whatever, man. It wasn't my intent. I was attempting to be Darlene on The Connors. Then my writer friend Ann Burg shared with me how she wore a hand-me-down sweatshirt for years that had 4/20 on it, and whenever she went to the mall, she bonded with all sorts of people. It's wasn't until her daughter educated her on 4/20 that she realized why everyone was so intrigued by her.

Burning It At Both Ends

She stepped out of the car

as a sunbeam crossed her face.

I knew she was on her way -

(how could I not know she was on her way?),

as she texted me for two hours.

I stopped in Vermont for you…She says, 

handing me a plastic tube.

Wait? You got me a tampon?

It seems everyone’s a teenager these days,

and we’re all just an episode of Roseanne.

In college, people thought I was Cheech

(or is that Chong)(I always get them wrong)

because I looked like Anthony Kiedis

and tap-danced with bees upon blind melons —

— even raised a squirrel on Rotary Ave.

That's where Matt taught me, 

the eucalyptus leaf is lobster for the ladybug.

Okay, Shaggy. Give Scooby another snack.

And it is true I've impounded for years 

(confiscated) (quality control) from the boys — 

because I have friends that come

over, sometimes, and…

well, mom has her gummies. 

So, I confess, at times I pretend 

to pack all my anxieties into a bowl 

and watch them go up in smoke.

Papaya Wow

Storm Dough

Gooberry Red

Twilight Curse

Rhino Gold

Banana Zero

Lavender Shit

it’s all legal now, huh? 

(I just looked these up…

who knew I’d discover the language of poets?).

But yes, I’ll can save the tampon for when you visit.

But I'll have to hide it first.