Midnight Run
by Ted L Glines

Eight hours  up the road,
eighteen-wheeler -- heavy load,
from the  meat-sheds down in Texas
to  an Oklahoma nexus
where the  beef will get its labels,
then to market --  and your tables.
Another  guest -- checkin out,
and that's what he's  about,
outta  here at midnight,
open road in his headlights.
Another  guest  -- another friend,
we'll be seeing him again,
twice a week  he  makes this run,
midnight drivin toward the sun.
Know  his kids by their  first names,
know their grades and their  games,
know his troubles with  his wife,
know way too much  about his life.
Cuppa coffee -- stifled yawn,
he'll be  drivin way past dawn,
step outside -- wave him on,
diesel  roars and he is gone.

Author's Notes: I need to thank Patty  for the title.  It did not have a title when I read the poem to  her. She told me to name it  "Midnight Run." I told her, "No, I  prefer one-word titles." Well, she  sweet-talked me, twisted my  arm, threw me on the floor, stepped on my neck, and  gave me other  subtle hints that "Midnight Run" might be an okay title. Patty can  be somewhat persuasive. Thank you, Patty.

MiMaw
by Ted L Glines

Way in the dark of the rotting swamp,
where the fog hangs deep and cajuns won't go,
where the mangrove steals the souls of men,
there's a monster crawlin' ... the chillen all know,
'cause they heard about it at their mother's knee
as she told horrid sights that her grandma saw,
all about the haunts and ghouls and gropes,
and worst of all ... the dreaded MiMaw.

Tis said she started as a headstrong girl
with the heart of a snake but pretty as a pearl,
but the boys who courted her disappeared
as she grew fat ... foul play was feared,
and the witch-men found her late one night
with blood on her mouth ... horrible sight,
right next to the body of a lover-pal,
gnawed and ruined by his “sweetie” gal.

Been many a year since she ran away
to the swamp that never saw light of day
and they say she lives and hunts and grows
in the ghastly depths where no one goes,
and her legend grows in deeds and fears
as her tale is told down through the years
and even grown men will cringe and hide
at unknown noises in the night outside.

The MiMaw comes in the dark of night
when the moon ain't there to give you sight,
and she eats little kids and big men too
when they've been bad like some of you.
So boys and girls, y'all be good
and do everything like you know you should,
'cause if you don't, you'll feel the claw
when she comes for you ... the dreaded MiMaw!

MiddleEastTourism
by Ted L Glines

Summer time is coming
and you're going on vacation,
you'd like to travel safely
so here's an explanation.

Please enjoy the Arabs,
even with their Jihad look,
cause if they take you hostage,
you can always write a book.

Take delight in Israel,
bask in Abrahamic sights,
but stay away from driving
in those land-mined Golan Heights.

There's a **Special** deal on Baghdad,
those wild Arabian nights,
take your kevlar vest and helmet
in case you're shot by mad Shiites.

A little tip on flying,
though it sounds a bit insane,
if your captain wears a turban,
you should jump right off his plane.

And if you spy Osama
in the Pakistani night,
he'll sure be glad to see you
... don't forget to write  ...