​POETRY  

" I have a $2 bill.
My $2 bill is in my wallet for good luck."
​
                                     Photo by Weebly.com                                    

Things I Have
by Dennis Sides   

Inspiration: the poem “I Have a Horse” by Tomaz Salamun
as a City College poetry exercise​

​​I have a horse. My horse is invisible and thinks he’s a unicorn.
I have a car. My car is small, so I usually walk.
I have time. My time can be told, but it never listens.
I have teeth. My teeth work best for chewing and the occasional growl.
I have a mind. My mind wanders, but I know it’s around here somewhere.
I have a land line. My land line faithfully records all my robocalls for safe-keeping.
I have a calendar. My calendar takes the measure of my days to make sure they fit.
I have a mouse. My mouse is magic and takes me all over the world without jet lag.
I have a neighborhood. My neighborhood has hills, houses, history, humans, and high hopes.
I have a book. My book is good to read on dark and stormy nights.
I have a friend. My friend lives in Chicago and talks funny because he’s French.
I have an idea. My idea has already been replaced by another idea.
I have a poem. My poem doesn’t rhyme very often, but is trying to do better.
I have a voice. My voice mostly talks, but sometimes it goes indoors.
I have a pot. My pot cooks food for me, but I do most of the work.
I have a wing. My wing would like a prayer to go with it.
I have a dream. My dream is that each and every living thing also has a dream.
I have a mission. My mission is Top Secret and even I don’t know what it is.
I have a $2 bill. My $2 bill is in my wallet for good luck.
(So if Mr. “Dirty Harry” ever asks me if I feel lucky, well, I can answer truthfully that I do.)

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​Dennis Sides has been a software developer, book editor, professional musician, construction project manager, tech writer, and world traveler. He's hung up his traveling shoes during COVID, but hopes to get back out on the road soon. He's lived in the Fillmore long enough to qualify for "San Francisco native" status.

Other works in this issue:
Poetry:
​Sleeping for a Better World

Catalyst

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