To Sneeze or Not to Sneeze

On this hot and windy afternoon, one of the worst allergy days for me so far this year, I thought it would be fitting to share this poem, written by my step-dad, Jim:

To Sneeze or Not to Sneeze

(with apologies to William Shakespeare)

To sneeze or not to sneeze,

For me, that is the question. Whether

In the mind ‘tis nobler

To suffer a runny nose and congested head

Or to have qualms against a sea of herbal tea and

By opposing it to lie, to lie awake for hours,

To sweep the covers off my feverish bod, and

Amid sinus headache and a thousand dirty Kleenex,

For a sneeze is air too. ‘Tis a proclamation

Snoutly to be wished. To sneeze,

To blow my nose, perchance to clear my head.

Under that pillow, ay, there’s my VapoRub!

© 2007 James Rasmusson