The Woods are Full of Tricks

At our tent site prune juice

caused me to lose my schnapps

and looking around to clean

the mess only sticks available

in sizes used to beat the bushes

for lions in the African

jungle saw it on TV once --

with no catalogue around

I made a beeline for the pond

mosquitoes needing blood

raspberry bushes threatening

me with weight loss tossed

myself into tepid water

big brother horse fly waiting  

as I gasped for air bit me

on the higher deck of cheek --

when I return home my wife

asks, “Have a nice time, dear?”

screams held back finally loose.