Tag: poetry

Plead the Fifth–in response to The Daily Post’s Writing Prompt

Flashbulb lightning
Residual flash
Temporary
Celebrity.

Shouted interrogatory
Penetrates dark,
Manufactured
Histrionics.

Hurried exchange
Hissed advice,
Prevaricate!
Obfuscate!

Stricken beauty
Softly demurs
Fabricate?
Never!

Amendment pled
Stricken eyes
Motivation?
Vanity.

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I’ve never shied away from telling my true age. Never pled the fifth. For many years I loved hearing people exclaim, “You don’t look ___!” Now, I believe all my years, like chickens, have come home to roost. And they’re having a wonderful time creating havoc with my looks.

Peace, people!

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February 29

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I tried in vain to find

February 29. 

Alas, it does not  

Exist in 2015. 

Less compassionate 

Folks might not care 

That February gets 

Short shrift. 

 But I do.

Peace, People

Me Time–in response to The Daily Post’s Writing Prompt

A trio of haiku written in response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt.

I. Tick tock wind the clock

Carefully controlled tension

I snap when overwound.



Art by Norman Duenas found on Pinterest

II. Time out, hurry up

Life goes on without me now

Wrinkles slow me down.



III.  “A Time for Us” sung

Plaintively, no dry eyes here

Save mine; mine were clear.



Peace, People

Something for Nothing

I always mess up “air kisses.” Read on:

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He gave her a kiss,

A gentle touch of 

Lips against cheek.

Very cosmopolitan. 

Her attempt to 

Reciprocate ended 

In a sloppy smooch 

Gone terribly wrong. 

Her bright pink 

Revlon left a smear 

Starting near his nose 

And ending at his ear. 

Oh dear.

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Peace, People!

Diamonds and Cats

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If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then
why do I prefer the presence of a cat?

Maybe because diamonds do not purr when scratched behind their ears. They don’t stretch when waking from a long nap in a sun-filled corner.

Diamonds do not pounce on one’s chest first thing on a Sunday morning, nor do they paw gently at one’s nose as a way of saying, “get up lazy human and feed me!”

If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then why haven’t they learned to keep me warm by crawling into my lap and slowly circling one, two, three times before settling into a cozy ball of fluff?

Diamonds cannot possibly be a girl’s best friend since they have yet to learn how best to chase a stuffed mouse or to bat around a ball of yarn.

Diamonds are amazingly incompetent at leaping on top of the refrigerator or at meowing for treats. Diamonds are totally unable to arch their backs or to leave cat hair on a favorite pair of black pants.

Diamonds have their place, I suppose, but I’d much rather have a cat.

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American Dream

Oddly enough this poem came to me while I was watching Ender’s Game on HBO this afternoon. In solidarity with my Texas relatives I’ve taken a snow day, plus I still have a nasty head cold, so watching HBO is probably therapeutic. 

Back to Ender’s Game–I was struck by how purposeful his education was and for the thousandth time reflected on how without purpose mine was. Yes, I was taught to read, write, and perform mathematics, but to what end? Upon graduation from high school I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do or become.

When I went to college the first time, I was still purposeless. It seemed silly for me to continue spending my parents’ money on a big “if”.

Even when I returned to school I had no real desire to become a teacher; it just made sense for our family. I wonder, how do others deal with this lack of desire to be something specific. I know I had aspirations at one time, but I cannot remember them at all. 

American Dream 

She was smart,

But she held no purpose. 

Talented, 

Yet no audience. 

What benefit then 

Of all this hard work 

These accolades? 

That stellar GPA means 

Less than nothing now; 

Numbers on a printout. 

All for a scroll with 

Her name in tight
Script. 

 He was smart 

But not filled with grand 

Ideas. 

Tailored for 

Leadership through 

Genetics perhaps, and 

Hard work. 

No four year degree or 

Empty promises. 

Trials along his path 

Strengthened his 

Resolve, brought him 

Success. 

 American Dreamers 

Different paths 

Taken together. 

 Not the entire story, 

Neither is it at an end. 

Daily one or both 

Smile, slightly 

Dazed by their
Journey. 

 Remember? he’ll ask 

She always does. 

What next? She’ll wonder. 

Who knows? Says he.

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Peace, People!

Craigslist

If I ever want a good laugh I need go no further than Craigslist, that online domain where goods are bought, sold, and traded, where jobs are found and relationships launched.

I’ve never actually purchased anything advertised on Craigslist, nor have I discovered a job worthy of my considerable talents, but there is something slightly mesmerizing about Craigslist. I’m especially fond of the personal ads and rants and raves.

In the relatively small market of Tallahassee I discovered a potential 50 Shades of Grey scenario in the making:

Tallahassee Italian late 50’s (looks and acts younger) seeks attractive open minded younger female for a 50 shades relationship. Please send description or pic in first reply. No experience necessary if interested in learning the lifestyle. Be open to :

-being shown off
-shared
-light bondage
-spanking
-costumes
-role playing
-being trained
-obediant
-more

I am a classy, patient, understanding teacher. If you have experince let me know.

He says he’s classy, so he must be, right? He does have some serious spelling deficiencies, though.

And how about this rant I politely edited about an older female driver from a self-avowed nice young man?

You are a menace. You are not in a position to lecture anyone on driving or etiquette. I apologize for ending our conversation with an abrupt “F____ You” and I admit it was not my finest moment. However, I was a bit flustered after you almost caused an accident and then ambushed me in the parking lot. When I calmly explained to you that I had the right of way, you agreed. Then you claimed that the rules did not apply to you and proceeded to denigrate me, my manners, and my upbringing. My manners are fine, because I was not raised by people like you.

If I see you pull a stunt like that again, I will do the polite thing and call the cops.

Sincerely,

Nice Young Man

I couldn’t make this stuff up, folks!

So if you’re in need of a giggle, check out Craigslist. Oh, and read my poem:

Craigslist

Whatever I need
Day or night
A quick search of
Craigslist can make
It all right.

Need a car?
A job or a house
To rent?
Golf clubs or maybe
A small pup tent?

Personal ads
In search of romance?
Casual encounters
Might turn raves
Into rants.

Just need to discuss
A topic online?
The forums can
Guide you,
If you just have the time.

Oh Craigslist however
Did we survive
Before you brought
This variety
Into our lives?

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Peace and happy reading, People!

A Plot of Earth–My Take on the Daily Prompt

Mercury did not suspect,
Yet Venus knew the score,
Earth was plotting to implode
Mars tried to close the door.

Jupiter was in on it,
He hoped that Earth would blow,
But Saturn was in denial,
And Neptune was too slow

The plot of Earth, it’s sad to note,
Went off without a hitch,
And those of us who ignored her plight
Are not allowed to bitch.

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Looking at all the Angles

I taught math to fifth and sixth graders. My mind has been warped ever since. The evidence follows in haiku:

Ninety degrees are
Also known as right angles
Angles most correct.

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Obtuse angles are
Geometry’s friendliest
Shapes. Always open.

An acute angle
Isn’t necessarily
Attractive, my friend.

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Perpendicular
Lines meet briefly at one point
Think intersection

Parallel lines seem
So lonely, these lines never
Touch, never will meet.

Geometry has
No irregularity
Like haiku, rules rule.

Quadrilateral:
Polygon having at least
Two lines parallel

Rules of Laundry

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Laundry Day Monday
Clothes grouped
Strictly in neat piles:
Whites with like
Darks the same.
Delicates,
Hand washables,
Unmentionables
Require special
Piles all their own.

Yet I’ve found the
Nearer I come to
Laundry Day’s end,
That some piles slyly
Begin to migrate,
Merging with similar
Neighbors
Cutting ten loads
Into five.

And only I know the
Rules have been broken.
I’m a bit of a maverick that way.
Shhhh.

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