Once a Year or Never

This is a bit of poetic drivel I wrote several years ago for my own entertainment. Perhaps it will entertain you as well. It is intended to be read aloud--but not too loud.

Once a Year or Never

(Being a poor poet’s imitation of Ogden Nash)

Most people think windows ought to be done in the spring and in the fall,

But I think they ought to be done once a year or not at all.

Cleaning windows is an awful chore and a terrible laborium,

And the space between the panes is a natural laboritorium—

An entomologist’s delight and Miss Muffet’s sorest fright.

What are those glass menageries

With plants and smallish creaturies?

They might be called terrariums.

Perhaps they’re planetariums.

I think I’ll call my viewing ports my little spiderariums.

If I cleaned my windows in the spring and in the fall,

I would say I do it by the semi-annu-all.

If each four years I try to do them sorterly,

May I say I clean my windows quarterly?

My neighbors are ashamed.  With me they are quite vexed.

I’ll start my annual cleaning in the year that’s after next.

                                                             John K. La Shell