In recognition of Poetry Month, and to celebrate our treasure trove of Orcas Island poets, Orcas Issues is pleased and honored to offer daily poetry during April.
OUTSIDE OF A DOG
by JoEllen Moldof
“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside a dog, it’s too dark to read.” —Groucho Marx
He arrived in our living room each week
with his rubber ducky
that clever bird who
without warning dropped down
into the TV screen
to a fanfare of bells and buzzers
with a word
gripped in its beak.
“You just said the secret word,”
Groucho would boom,
his eyebrows laughing.
He flicked his cigar.
“You get to share the $100 prize!”
The audience went wild.
The contestants were overwhelmed
by their good fortune.
And I, happiest of eight year olds,
sat on the floor in front of our new Zenith,
applauding until my hands ached
thrilled to discover
that words could win prizes.
