This is ridiculous
said the literary old woman
nobody gives us any respect
the young in one another’s arms
are talking on their iPhones
the congressman are lying through their teeth
and our husbands are watching the game

This is ridiculous
said the tulip
all those genetically altered blossoms
those stupid long-lived orchids
that are practically plastic
and those fancy designer grasses
getting more than market share

This is ridiculous
said the dog
now they not only have to walk me
they have to rush up after me with their
sanitary plastic bags
imposing their bourgeois values
on my spontaneous creativity