Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for January 15, 2025

Just in the nicotime

Now we know why Thunder has been practicing lighting fires.

The smoking is OK, it’s the coughing at 3AM…..

/// Gil saw smoke. Of course, “Fire!” was his shout

as he fetched hose for putting it out.

Had this canine brigade

by some skunks have been sprayed?

No… they’re all smoking weed without doubt.

New dog on the block, Chauncy (a former police dog), supplied the stash.

Gil Habner’s a tolerant bloke,

Despite all this terrible smoke.

“I can’t really blame,

My two large Great Danes,

And l’m grateful they’re not sniffing coke."

Good morning Balladeers!

And I thought they limited it to cigars while playing poker.

When Gil was young, they called him Lil’ Habner.

I hope this wasn’t taking place in the Palisades.

Where there’s smoke, there’s Gil.

gil’s feelin’ a bit green about the gills…