Today I got up on the roof
to blow away the leaves and such
something I have done for many a year
although much easier in my youth
every year I face this task
and every time I say its the last
that I will find a younger man
there must be somebody I can ask
this time turns out to be the worst
because the amount of leaves has grown
and mixed in with all the mess
are the catkins that are a curse
these little brown things have had a good year
the most that I have ever seen
these are the males whose jobs are well known
and that is to make acorns appear
this is not accounting for much
what really matters is how it is done
as the males release a pollen count
miserable to many with allergies and such
I have never really been aware
or had problems quite this bad
as when I blew the stuff from the roof
and released the pollens into the air
It had never affected me before
and I have done this task over many years
this time I thought I was at deaths door
as my body reacted for doing this chore
I rushed to the local Pharmacy
coughing and sneezing along the way
scanning the shelves for an instant cure
a quick relief I’m hoping to see
It took me a couple of days
to even get close to feeling right
but I am happy to say
I am almost back to my normal ways
next year when it comes the time
to clean the roof of leaves and stuff
I swear I’m going to find that guy
and to him this task I will assign.

Written 4/29/2018