Anti-Theft
My father lived in a time when men wore hats.
In places like bars they hung with others on a rack.
Carefully in India ink on the inner band he'd printed
In neat upper case, "LIKE HELL IT'S YOURS PUT IT BACK."
His message truly worked, I cannot doubt it.
I never even once saw him come home without it.

Unclipped
I have a sure measure of time.
Unlike my watch, it never fails.
It is the accumulation of grime
Under the edges of my nails.

Oh, No
One's modern life is filled
With many a minor fright:
I looked down and saw
A lit CHECK ENGINE light.