Pops is Tops
May Gitles
For Susan at Christmas
Bettys
I Have Known
To Nancy Who Looks So Young
Ellen's Tale
Dog-gone it
For a man Born in the U.S.A.
Gloria
Jana Banana
Gary
Valerie
Jessica Renee
All poems © Elaine Person
Pops
is Tops
by
Elaine S. Person ©2009
This
story is about Pops, a Chicago, Illinois man.
He
is the son of Walter and Ann.
Our
hero is of Polish descent.
His
parents had a happy event
on
August 24, 1914,
the
day was warm, the grass was green.
There,
in Chicago, Illinois
a
child was born, a baby boy.
There
were seven children all together.
Pops
was born in summer weather.
When
he grew up, he married Bernice.
Their
true love made his joy increase.
They
had a son and called him Jim.
Bruce
came along years after him.
A
shop foreman for Armstrong Tool and Die
Pops
was such a reliable guy.
Also
a teamster for National Tea Food
He
was always in a good mood.
Pops
retired at age 62
and
was still married; his love was true.
When
Bernice passed on, he lived alone
then
chose to make Florida his new home
close
to the house of his first son, Jim.
His
father wanted to live near him.
Brother
Eugene called him “Sunshine Boy.”
It’s
a nickname he does enjoy.
Pops’
real name is Adolph. “That has to stop,”
said
Jim’s wife, Vickie, “Let’s call him ‘Pops.’”
Vickie
has two sons, David and Rick.
Family
ties are very thick.
Continuing
on in Pops life cycle,
Rick
and Jill had Erica and Michael.
And
Erica and Doug had baby Jacob-Allen.
Pops
likes to make soups by the gallon.
Bruce
married Pat, had Amanda and Leslie Bre,
and
they all live in Mississippi.
Pops
likes poker, Polka, dog races, the Lottery,
and
likes to watch baseball and football on TV.
Pops
is a great cook from Golumpki to soups,
whether
for himself or for big groups.
Pops
looks so young. I asked him why
his
face is free of wrinkles and lines.
Pops
said he uses cold water only.
He
knows he is loved and never is lonely.
Have
the Happiest Birthday there ever could be
and
lots of fun, Pops Mowinski!
May Gitles
© 2011 by Elaine S. Person
It was May 30, 1917,
a Wednesday in spring, and the trees were green.
She was born in Chicago. It was a great day.
A baby arrived, and she was named May.
The family wasn’t very large;
In five years twins came: Sylvia and Marge
Her father sold raincoats, so he would say
when it rained, “Isn’t it a beautiful day?”
They had a nice house, ‘though it wasn’t a palace.
May had a good friend whose name was Alice.
The first TV on the block brought them laughter.
May loved her crafts and was quite a crafter.
Her parents gave May piano lessons;
She rode a streetcar to the sessions.
She fell in love. It was uncanny,
and her Prince Charming’s name was Manny
with Paul Newman blue eyes, and what’s more
they met at Storkline Furniture Store.
Then Manny and May cut a rug;
Her favorite dance was jitterbug.
May got married in 1949.
She was happy; all was fine.
Their baby girl was born the next year.
The parents named her Toni Claire.
May and Manny were married forty years
with lots of joy, little tears.
They traveled to Las Vegas for conventions.
What happens in Vegas, people don’t mention.
Something happened that was so alarming:
May lost Manny, her Prince Charming.
Daughter Toni is May’s biggest fan.
To make May happy, Toni can.
Toni and May went to Turkey and Greece.
They knew their fun would never cease.
They went to Athens, a large metropolis;
May and Toni climbed the Acropolis.
Now May spends her days playing Mah-Jong
with many friends that she brings along.
May lives in the Heritage Assisted Living.
The staff is warm, and nice, and giving.
Her favorite food is still Italian.
She loves spaghetti and always has fun.
I wish you joy on this Happy Birthday,
This poem’s for you, wonderful May.
For Susan at Christmas
I meant to buy you diamonds
I meant to buy you pearls
Instead I’m celebrating
Having lunch with us girls
I wish you Merry Christmas
Please don’t be annoyed
I didn’t buy that Jaguar
Since I am unemployed.
Bettys
I Have Known
Bettie
Page was all the rage
with
her erotic factor
Betty
Rubble kissed caveman’s stubble
She
was quite an actor
Betty
Grable was truly able
to
show us how glamour should look
Betty
Crocker, pre-TV food-rocker
taught
us all how to cook
Betty
Ford, if you can afford
her
clinic to stop drinking
Betty
Boop, get in her loop
She
helped us to stop thinking
Betty
and Veronica
vied
for Archie's attention
Now
it's time for Betty Boggs
It
is time to mention:
It's
Betty's birthday,
her
put on earth day
Happy
Birthday, Betty!
The
most current Betty I know.
To Nancy, Who Looks So Young
Nancy worked at Siemens
With church she is involved
She fixes many challenges
With her it’s “Problem solved.”
Nancy aged another year.
Nancy won a Science Fair.
And one thing is really clear:
Nancy loves to volunteer.
Nancy likes the Steelers
Nancy puts on shows
She makes her lovely scrapbooks
And shops for pretty clothes.
She loves her husband and her sons.
With grandchildren she has fun.
She goes to the beach to get some sun.
Kohl’s keeps Nancy on the run.
She was married in 1966.
She has two cats at home.
From Colorado to Costa Rica
Nancy likes to roam.
You look so young and full of zest.
Nancy, do you ever rest?
Your sense of humor is the best.
And you’re always so well dressed.
I wish you Happy Birthday
Not to put you on the spot
But to wish you many blessings
With your own verbal snapshot.
© 2010 by Elaine S. Person
This verbal portrait of your life
Like the photographs you make
Life for you is what you give,
not the things you take.
Ellen’s
Tale
This is
the story of a woman named Ellen
She’s
the one about whom I’m tellin’
On February twenty-first in 1949
Ellen was
born, and she was fine.
Born in
Van Wert County, Ohio
A part of
the U.S. that gets lots of snow.
She lived
in Convoy, went to Crestview High
The county
fairgrounds were nearby.
Mother is
Evalyn. Father is Denean
She went
to college at Bowling Green
Her friend
from childhood is named Ruth Ann
In
college, Ellen met a man.
Ellen met
Vaughn on the phone.
Now her
best friend’s name is Joan.
With an
MSLS from the University of Kentucky
She got a
job in Maitland; that was lucky
Her
husband is Vaughn. Kylie’s her daughter
a lawyer
in Hawaii near the water
Kylie’s
husband is a doc in the Navy
Ellen
makes Thanksgiving dinner with delicious gravy
Son Jeff
is in school taking pre-med
Ellen
cooks and keeps her family fed
Thanksgiving
dinner tastes so fine
She bakes
hundreds of cookies at Christmas time
Another
part of Ellen’s story:
Jeff’s
dog Jade and Kylie’s dog Dori.
She loves the University of Kentucky Wildcats
Enjoys
people and likes long chats
Her
favorite color is burgundy
Ellen
works at the Maitland Public Library
Her
favorite TV shows? That is the query:
NCIS and
The Big Bang Theory.
Ellen is
happy reading novels and knitting
Here’s a
wish that’s oh, so fitting:
Happy Birthday, Ellen
Have so much fun
And a wonderful year
That's just begun.
Dog-gone
It © 2012 Elaine Person
Edie
was a lovely pet
She
wandered far from home
Pretty
soon she got all wet
And
in the woods did roam
Four
days later a neighbor
of
owners Linda and Tom
Found
the little puppy dog
for
Edie’s “dad” and
“mom.”
The
green bandana got her found
It
was a happy day
Little
Edie came around
She
now is home to stay.
For a man Born in the U.S.A.:
Take a Wrecking Ball
To last year
Start anew
Go to the River
Reminisce your
Glory Days
Don’t forget Orlando is a
Lucky Town to have you.
If you have a Hungry Heart
do a little Dancing in the Dark.
Perhaps take a Long Walk Home.
If you feel The Rising need for
Human Touch
Take a ride in the Tunnel of Love
with your wife.
The Promise of better days to come is
guaranteed in your life
The Essential sentiment is:
I hope your day is Magic.
Happy Birthday, Jack.
© 2012 Elaine Person
Gloria
What makes her tick? Let the story unravel
Gloria really likes to travel
She grew up in Bartow, teaches piano
Lived in Pensacola, now Orlando
Works in a pharmacy, gives out drugs
But Gloria’s really good at hugs
She patient and kind, helpful, and caring
Travels the country; yes, she is daring
Went to Maine, went to Sedona
And Mardi Gras in Pensacola!
Gloria taught me what to eat
And she said I should be neat.
Likes astrology, and a tennis match,
“Pawn Stars” on TV she’ll catch
She grows orchids, has two cats
Wears K-Swiss and shower hats
Music’s a big part of her world
Wore her hair straight; now it’s curled
Starts each day with meditation
At work, gives out medication
Lives with cats named Sally and Chester
Gloria’s wise, a good investor
She knows how to save a dollar
Wears a coat with a fur collar.
Many things Gloria taught me
Like how to keep skin wrinkle-free
On the face don’t use harsh soap
Gloria just knows how to cope
She’s relaxed and very wise
Had some trouble with her eyes
She cooks healthy, veggies galore
Friend June used to live next door
Wendy’s sandwich, her specialty
Is a meal she made for me.
I was injured, needed a place
to stay and not fall on my face.
Her heated hot tub gave relief
She taught me positive belief.
I survived the pain, lived through the bout
because of you. There is no doubt.
Thank you, Gloria. Thank you so.
Thank you more than you’ll ever know.
©
2012 by Elaine Person
Jana Banana
Jana Banana
Is in the group Yella!
Loves Sassy and Tater
and Jason, her fella.
From Bellville, Kansas
She gives us BanaNews
She sings so well from
commercials to old blues.
McDonald’s commercials sung with ease,
Talks politics, gossip, shoots the breeze
Answers phones, always says “please”
And she swam with manatees.
Says off-color things
on air during dinner
Basketball in Greece
was a gold medal winner.
Speaks great “British”
and Nancy Grace
Wears a beret
Or a spiral hair case.
Happy Birthday, Jana
Happy Birthday to you
And thanks for all the
entertainment you do!
Gary
Their once was a man named Gary
Whose body got hard to carry
He started to slip
The doc said, "Your hip!
Replace it; please do not tarry."
So Gary had surgery done
Recovery wasn't much fun
Is it worth the pain
To give up the cane?
Yes, now you see Gary run.
Valerie © 2013 by Elaine Person
There is a woman here in town
who used to pay my salary.
She loves life, she gets around.
Her first name is Valerie.
She’s comfortable at Opera
or in a fine art gallery.
She’ll dine with candelabra
that woman known as Valerie.
We used to have such likely talks
like how to lose a calorie.
And every day she goes for walks,
that gal whose name is Valerie
Saw sunset down in old Key West
’Twas at a Square named Mallory.
When asked the trip she liked the best,
“I liked them all,” said Valerie.
Valerie has business sense
She knows just what to do
with houses and investments;
she’s good that way, it’s true.
She likes fine films and theater,
cruises, trips to France.
Her nice Jaguar will get her far,
and she loves to dance.
There is a woman here in town
who used to pay my salary.
I thank her so, more than she’ll know,
and that great gal is Valerie.
Jessica Renee © 2013 by Elaine Person
In 1997, on June the fifth
the world received a lovely gift.
A baby girl was born that day.
She was named Jessica Renée.
Jessica’s talented. You will find
she likes music of all kinds.
She saw Miley Cyrus live.
Her mom took her and did drive.
Jessica’s wonderful imagination
comes with her great motivation.
About Jessica, here are the facts:
she sings, draws, writes, and acts.
Jessica is kind, it is told
that she has a heart of gold.
She’s in High Voltage, was in Live Wire,
sings at church, is in the choir.
Those who know her always see
her constant spirituality.
She loves retreats and mission trips,
goes mountain climbing; she never slips.
Was in Uniteens, now in Y.O.U.
Loves all colors, especially blue.
Larry’s her stepdad. Bonnie’s her mother.
Christian and Patrick are her brothers.
Likes to go to the mall with friends.
They shop and laugh; the fun never ends.
Jessica has a generous heart.
With just scraps, she can make art.
A multi-talented individual,
she’s unique; she’s an original.
This tribute is special, and it’s all true.
These loving words are just for you.
Because I love you, Jessica Renee—
from me to you: Happy Valentine’s Day.
Love, Stepdad Larry
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