A staple of summertime correspondence, the humble postcard has been the only communication between those on vacation and those stuck at home. I explored the idea of its mundane purpose…

Seasick, Too

The ‘wish you were here’ seemed so insincere;

Holiday postcards haven’t changed a bit

Even though the photographs are more clear;

Herein lies the problems, there is no wit

On the back and ev’ryone seems so bored;

Lines like ‘Beautiful weather’ and ‘Good view’

Instantly turn the mind off. Had it poured

Down with rain, one could say, ‘Oh, this is new.”

As in the otherworld vacation time,

Yesteryear, it was sufficient to write

Couplets of some flowery verse in rhyme

And the people back home thought, ‘Outta sight.’

Returning to the identical place

Depresses the soul and makes one lose face.

June 5, 1988