These Are My JOTtings, Part #2

But Then It Went Sideways

Murphy's Law can often keep
me looking out for the weaknesses
in life. It's problems often steep,
run over all conveniences.

The supper food was very good,
that night of peace those nights ago,
but then a stone got stuck quite rude
somewhere I'd like you not to know.

To live with pain the hours gain,
but then it went sideways, I must go
to hospital as right as rain
to better feelings live and show.

A wondrous day on sunny beach
turned odd when all the water went.
On muddy flat those folks beseech,
"Run quick as sideways water's spent!"

In hospital some souls revived,
but then for others sideways bad.
The sideways water had of life deprived,
which made me feel of pebble glad.

The pebble still my low back pains,
"I need help, Dear Doctor Friend!"
"In nearly a week, we'll look for gains."
"'Til then, I stress must full attend."

How doth this Life go sideways oft?
How from its deleterious pokes
by wind draw peaceful folks aloft,
through pain's most unkind, constant jokes?

"The fruit, the fruit," like Murphy's Law,
"the dissonant and sideways tones."
The words now parrot bright macaw,
"Once joyful sin, now just the groans."

line count: 32
poetry form: quatrains of mostly iambic tetrameter
prompt number: 26 (February 26th, 2026)

by Jay O’Toole
on February 26th, 2026