Aretha Has An Announcement Poem by Donal Mahoney

Noon meal at the nursing home
and everyone is there
chowing down and talking.

Before dessert is served there's
an announcement to be made
and Maxine is the one to do it

from somewhere in the room.
But few can see her since she's tiny
just turned 90 and cannot stand.

She's been doing this for years
and once she starts talking even
the deaf believe they hear.

She Aretha when she booms
"Let's be in the day room, folks, at 3.
It's our flu shot time of year.