The Naughty List

By Duane Anderson

The state highway department posted the message:
“Not wearing seat belts? I’m telling Santa,”
but I tell them, go ahead, tell Santa,
for Santa hasn’t visited me in ages.

I was already on his naughty list,
but since I was already wearing a seat belt,
there was no reason to tell Santa that I was being good,
so there I am, once again,

one not to be visited on Christmas Eve,
one not to be taken off
the naughty list even though
I was obeying the law,

The State’s reminder to all drivers to drive safe.
Merry Christmas to those wearing seat belts,
and to all the other drivers and passengers,
welcome to the naughty list group.

Duane Anderson currently lives in La Vista, NE.  He has had poems published in Fine Lines, Cholla Needles, Tipton Poetry Journal, and several other publications. He is the author of ‘On the Corner of Walk and Don’t Walk,’ ‘The Blood Drives: One Pint Down,’ and ‘Conquer the Mountains,’ and ‘Family Portraits.’