twelve grapes and black-eyed peas

i try

to eat the twelve grapes,

as the superstition

says to

do, to make it successful

and lucky new

year.

but the grapes have gone

bad,

sour,

and rancid.

i'm only able to eat three,

then throw

the rest across

the room,

where the dog eats them

and gets

sick too.

i end up in the emergency room.

it's not a good start.

and now she

wants me to 

eat some

beans or something, or carry

an empty

suitcase

around the block like

you're supposed

to do.

i'm not feeling too lucky

right now.