* * *
110222
MIDDAY NAP
Someone wearing white stockings,
petticoats, and a gold silk pinafore
is tumbling down a long, cushiony hill.
Lying in bed and viewing this,
I know it’s me, gently bouncing down
from lush spring-green heights,
skimming over golden tufts
of autumn grasses, and approaching
a long, gentle out-of-view slope
that will end abruptly and culminate
in something wonderful or tragic.
110221
NEWS OF THE DAY
People- and earth-
quakes rumble.
Dictators and buildings tumble.
Thinkers fumble.
Doers stumble.
The world is all a-jumble
[ASIDE: Uprisings in the Middle East,
Earthquake in New Zealand.]
110220
JUST DO IT
Coax bad habits
down the stairs?
Slow-mo tweeze
your nasal hairs?
110219
CAT: A TONIC (for Butterscotch)
What once was merely preferential
now is clearly near-essential:
a daily dose of cat to schmooze
(it hardly matters whose).
110218
"WHY" GENERATION (for Allan)
Why are unanswerable
questions the ones I pose?
Why, why, why
am I obsessed with those?
110217
IN BRIEF
Why use
long words?
Short will do.
Short is better;
four-letter…
three-letter…
look, too, to two.
PLAY, MATES!
To kinder spirits,
it’s one big garten.
THINKING ABOUT
NOT THINKING
I was born.
I talked.
I stopped to think.
Now I think
it may be better
not to talk,
not to think.
Such emptiness
may well be
death’s birth canal.
110216
CLOUDS FORMING
“Such a pretty sunrise—
but enjoy it; this may be
the only sun we see today.”
“What—are there more?”
PEACE BY PEACE
When belief causes grief,
this may make some sense:
seek contrary evidence.
110215
TREAD LIGHTLY
I don’t know what happened
to elicit this—but, dang!
“Don’t insult me, mister!
I’m the quiet type with fangs.”
[ASIDE: Encountered on Twitter.]
A WALK IN THE “PLARK”
That’s when play and work
run together indistiguishably
(walk together; same thing).
GOOD WRITING (for Christopher)
Take a simple story
with characters
you care about.
Tell it well. No doubt,
your readers will care too.
Face your fears.
Accept help, insights,
feedback, and advice.
Join others who
struggle like you.
Get unserious;
make it fun.
Go nuts!
Keep it simple.
Be bold.
Write with guts.
[ASIDE: Comment/synopsis made at:
http://www.fuelyourwriting.com/
power-of-words-the-kings-speech-and-good-writing/]
110214
LOVE IS BLIND
Chocolate candy, pink lace hearts,
red-red roses, cupid darts…
From dollar store to galleria,
valentine excess overflows.
Bows and arrows, ribbons and bows…
Surely, everybody knows...
had it been a fresh idea
(something neither myth-icized,
love-aligned, nor cute-ified)—
cupid would be stupid.
DEAR YOU… LOVE, ME (for Darby)
Beyond this world’s illusion,
we are in collusion...
enacting love’s inclusion.
Love is all we are.
Love is all we do,
even when not meaning to.
LOST IN THE MIDDLE
I like to piddle.
I like to twiddle.
I like to not make up my mind.
Or else, I find,
I like to make it up one way,
then down another,
again and again and again.
I like to piddle
and twiddle and fiddle—
but why? That’s the riddle.
NEW MEMBER (for LeaAnn)
“LeaAnn Van Winkle-Gisler”
…now, THAT name is a whistler!
How many other times
ya think this “LeeAnn” rhymes?
110213
DAY? OH!
Sun.
Him come.
Him wake up
everyone.
110212
RIGHT?
To believe a belief,
one has to believe
all contrary evidence
lies.
LEAD ON
How will You direct my day today;
what will You have me do?
How will You invite, incite;
what will You move me to?
NOT ALL THAT UNEXPECTED
Why do scientists keep discovering
fabulous things like quarks and quasars,
black holes, and distant planets?
Because we keep thinking them up.
[ASIDE: Some posit that the universe is made of thought
and keeps extending outward from our consciousness
as the range of our thought increases.]
DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
My latest rabbit hole
(a logo design contest)
was a lost cause
from the get-go.
So I got-gone—
or at least
my prospects did
(which means I’m still snagged).
Well, I will submit my superb
(trust me) entry anyway,
sure that it will be disqualified
on a technical technicality—
specifically, my lack of
the specific technology needed
to produce the design
in a specific software format.
But I can hardly call this
a “lost weekend"—
the difficulties were such
a satisfying challenge.
[ASIDE: My determination to do my best, once I’d launched,
resulted in a submission that did meet the design specifications—
thanks to contributions of knowledge and expertise by
some of my artist friends… may they be blessed!]
110211
AS EXPECTED
“What if?”
That’s the most
wonderful wonder.
What if… I’m okay?
What if… it’s okay?
What if it’s okay
if I’m okay
with whatever is?
110210
QUI SUM
Throwing off fear,
shame and sham,
I claim myself.
I say who I am.
PIQUANT
To a poem,
time is spice.
Read it slow.
Read it twice.
DEFLATED
Sixteen inches this morning,
compared to twenty yesterday:
a too-quick collapse of our
wonderful snow soufflé!
COLD, HARD
LIGHT OF DAY
Last night, I placed paper
and pencil by my bed.
In the dark, I wrote a poem.
There was no pencil lead.
NOLA PRIMA DONNA (for Valerie)
Alligator... hurricane...
you'd think she was a bold one.
No, she's mean and vain;
she taunts;
she flaunts good fortune.
She's the cold one!
[ASIDE: Valerie, my niece, contrasted her fine evening
in New Orleans with the circumstances of Arkansas relatives
blanketed under 20” of snow. Why? Because (she said) she is mean.]
* * *
Showing posts with label words. Show all posts
Showing posts with label words. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Fire and Ice
* * *
100325
ANAGRIM
Someone has evil
in his very name
and can't veil his breath:
a vile, live, evil flame.
100324
FIRST TEN HITS
I feel so stressed.
I feel so behind.
I feel so old.
I feel so empty.
I feel so stalked.
I feel so good.
I feel so unloved.
I feel so accomplished!
I feel so…….down.
I feel so badddd.
[ASIDE: Random Twitters.]
100323
SLICK
Our foot of snow arrived quickly,
sandwiched between layers of sleet.
Taking in the scene this morning,
I decide: “Any exercising done today
will be done indoors.”
Then I notice sparrows, exercising
their fruitless search for food.
So, in boots, nightie,
and borrowed husband's robe
(husband's borrowed robe, that is),
I trek outside to a the crest of the lawn,
carrying a dishtowel
and a mixing bowl filled with
breadcrumbs, cereal, and seeds.
To free my hands before spreading
the towel on the icy surface,
I set the bowl down—and down it goes:
down the knoll, down a rut in the long
winding driveway and, from there,
whirling and bobsledding,
down the street toward the lake.
My trek just became extended
and my exercise decision un-decided.
* * *
100325
ANAGRIM
Someone has evil
in his very name
and can't veil his breath:
a vile, live, evil flame.
100324
FIRST TEN HITS
I feel so stressed.
I feel so behind.
I feel so old.
I feel so empty.
I feel so stalked.
I feel so good.
I feel so unloved.
I feel so accomplished!
I feel so…….down.
I feel so badddd.
[ASIDE: Random Twitters.]
100323
SLICK
Our foot of snow arrived quickly,
sandwiched between layers of sleet.
Taking in the scene this morning,
I decide: “Any exercising done today
will be done indoors.”
Then I notice sparrows, exercising
their fruitless search for food.
So, in boots, nightie,
and borrowed husband's robe
(husband's borrowed robe, that is),
I trek outside to a the crest of the lawn,
carrying a dishtowel
and a mixing bowl filled with
breadcrumbs, cereal, and seeds.
To free my hands before spreading
the towel on the icy surface,
I set the bowl down—and down it goes:
down the knoll, down a rut in the long
winding driveway and, from there,
whirling and bobsledding,
down the street toward the lake.
My trek just became extended
and my exercise decision un-decided.
* * *
Monday, March 22, 2010
Snow Days with Pirates
* * *
100322
WHITE LAWN
The lady
drops
her handkerchief.
The gentlemen
watch,
cold and stiff.
[ASIDE: Mother Nature brought a foot of snow;
menfolk immobilized.]
100321
UNSEASONED
Flinging snow like an apprentice,
Mother Nature came, this solstice,
like some newbie, fool, or novice;
some amateur in need of practice.
100320
WHAT MAE BE
Mae West was well blessed
with what let's call a chest.
And here is something more—
“Mae West” as "life vest"
started out as simile,
became a metaphor,
then turned so eponymous
they’re practically synonymous.
[ASIDE: Wisdom House challenge entry]
100319
STUCK BECAUSE NOT
What is missing?
I have no clue—
except one thought:
my life needs glue.
100318
VISITED
Do you suppose Mary
went around
explaining to the neighbors
what God had wrought,
so as to not
scandalize them or
keep them in the dark?
Do you suppose
we neighbors now
are being made privy
to miracles gestating
in the Marys and Magdalenes
next door or down the block?
100317
THE USUAL
Feeling
unusually glad—
about feeling glad,
as usual.
100316
INSTRUMENTAL
By reading, I know
words can ring—
as, on your stage,
mine dance and sing.
100315
PILING ON
Oh, by the way,
this day of Caesar-cide
(this Ides of March and “Brutus Day”)
now coincides
with “Buzzard Day.”
Well, to my mind—
the birds are much maligned.
100314
PIRATE TECHNICS
Pirates have at their disposal,
as they plunder on the sea,
quite a number of choices
in arsenals of weaponry:
flashing swords and gashing knives
(of which they’re such aficionados);
cannonballs, canisters, stinkballs, and mines;
pomegranate-shaped hand grenados;
blunderbusses, muskets, and musketoons,
plus pistols of every description;
fire-arrows, torches, rockets, and flares.
These all must be used with discretion.
Their best measure
is to seize without a fight.
Fire backfires—
they lose treasure
when they set a ship alight.
100313
REFLECTION
All my parts I daily meet
(the ones that meet my eye)
are slender: arms, hands, wrists;
my calves below the thigh.
“Envision,” say my diet books;
learn to “Think yourself thin!”
Well, were it not for mirrors,
I would think myself thin.
100312
JUST JOY
Joy, joy, joy!
Just joy I find—
Someone’s playing
with my mind.
* * *
100322
WHITE LAWN
The lady
drops
her handkerchief.
The gentlemen
watch,
cold and stiff.
[ASIDE: Mother Nature brought a foot of snow;
menfolk immobilized.]
100321
UNSEASONED
Flinging snow like an apprentice,
Mother Nature came, this solstice,
like some newbie, fool, or novice;
some amateur in need of practice.
100320
WHAT MAE BE
Mae West was well blessed
with what let's call a chest.
And here is something more—
“Mae West” as "life vest"
started out as simile,
became a metaphor,
then turned so eponymous
they’re practically synonymous.
[ASIDE: Wisdom House challenge entry]
100319
STUCK BECAUSE NOT
What is missing?
I have no clue—
except one thought:
my life needs glue.
100318
VISITED
Do you suppose Mary
went around
explaining to the neighbors
what God had wrought,
so as to not
scandalize them or
keep them in the dark?
Do you suppose
we neighbors now
are being made privy
to miracles gestating
in the Marys and Magdalenes
next door or down the block?
100317
THE USUAL
Feeling
unusually glad—
about feeling glad,
as usual.
100316
INSTRUMENTAL
By reading, I know
words can ring—
as, on your stage,
mine dance and sing.
100315
PILING ON
Oh, by the way,
this day of Caesar-cide
(this Ides of March and “Brutus Day”)
now coincides
with “Buzzard Day.”
Well, to my mind—
the birds are much maligned.
100314
PIRATE TECHNICS
Pirates have at their disposal,
as they plunder on the sea,
quite a number of choices
in arsenals of weaponry:
flashing swords and gashing knives
(of which they’re such aficionados);
cannonballs, canisters, stinkballs, and mines;
pomegranate-shaped hand grenados;
blunderbusses, muskets, and musketoons,
plus pistols of every description;
fire-arrows, torches, rockets, and flares.
These all must be used with discretion.
Their best measure
is to seize without a fight.
Fire backfires—
they lose treasure
when they set a ship alight.
100313
REFLECTION
All my parts I daily meet
(the ones that meet my eye)
are slender: arms, hands, wrists;
my calves below the thigh.
“Envision,” say my diet books;
learn to “Think yourself thin!”
Well, were it not for mirrors,
I would think myself thin.
100312
JUST JOY
Joy, joy, joy!
Just joy I find—
Someone’s playing
with my mind.
* * *
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Grammar of Friendship
* * *
100304
"NATIONAL GRAMMAR DAY" LIMERICK
There might come a time when I were.
This sounds almost wrong; I concur.
But, in grammar school,
subjunctive rules rule;
I’d be smart if I “were” to defer.
[ASIDE: This was done for a contest with a short deadline.
But I got caught away from the computer and wasn't able to
submit it on time.]
BELATED CARD
I may have forgotten your birthday AGAIN!
. . . and I may forget next year (it’s WHEN?)
but you’re on my mind most of the time
and I’m thrilled just to call you my FRIEND.
100303
FACILITATOR
She has no hesitation
to express her point of view.
She has no doubt we love her—
and so, no doubt, we do.
100302
TWITTER-TIME
Your words—so funny, sweet, and wise—
often fill me with surprise.
Greetings, all you Tweetie-Pies!
* * *
091227
COMPANIONS
Feeling lonely.
Feeling feeble.
Feeling lost and glum.
Lady Bug and Scarab Beetle—
how kind of you to come.
[ASIDE: December poem notes found and edited]
* * *
100304
"NATIONAL GRAMMAR DAY" LIMERICK
There might come a time when I were.
This sounds almost wrong; I concur.
But, in grammar school,
subjunctive rules rule;
I’d be smart if I “were” to defer.
[ASIDE: This was done for a contest with a short deadline.
But I got caught away from the computer and wasn't able to
submit it on time.]
BELATED CARD
I may have forgotten your birthday AGAIN!
. . . and I may forget next year (it’s WHEN?)
but you’re on my mind most of the time
and I’m thrilled just to call you my FRIEND.
100303
FACILITATOR
She has no hesitation
to express her point of view.
She has no doubt we love her—
and so, no doubt, we do.
100302
TWITTER-TIME
Your words—so funny, sweet, and wise—
often fill me with surprise.
Greetings, all you Tweetie-Pies!
* * *
091227
COMPANIONS
Feeling lonely.
Feeling feeble.
Feeling lost and glum.
Lady Bug and Scarab Beetle—
how kind of you to come.
[ASIDE: December poem notes found and edited]
* * *
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Words of Fun
* * *
100218
LEXICONSTRUCTION
Need a word? Just make one
(it’s a democracy).
Then add two or three.
I needed a word,
for example.
I present it as a sample:
Simplicity plus happiness?
That’s “simblissity.”
100217
A HOST OF DAFFY DEALS
I wandered only as The Cloud
that floats on high o’er th' Internet
(that vast e-commerce-dealing crowd).
With virtual virtue I was endowed.
By data streams I roamed, and got not wet.
100216
COACHING SESSION
“Depend upon your higher power,”
my guru/coach suggested.
“Assign one dream-goal upward.
Let your uptight self be rested.”
“Use intuition to set that goal.”
Well, that’s how I got flustered.
My inner whisper told my soul—
“Go, ye. Speak of buzzards.”
100215
RISE ‘N SHINE, YEP!
Hello, Sun, how do?
Liftin’ up them clouds, are ya,
movin’ everthang along?
Guess I best git up, m’self—
ta start my own day strong.
100214
PEAR-TREE
Morning is its blossom.
Noon, its honey-bee.
Evening is its harvest:
the pear called ecstasy.
Night has come,
has come, my love,
drawing you to me.
Come, my love—
come share this night.
Love, come pear with me.
[ASIDE: Shall I come-pear
thee to a summer’s night?]
ANY ART
If you plan to pick it up,
know how to put it down.
Progression can be obsessive.
If you plan to stick with it,
know when to put it down.
Obsession can be progressive.
100213
GUEST, LIST!
This is a private party,
not a banquet or a ball,
and if you want a lecture,
go find a lecture hall.
[ASIDE: Scrapped…
This is a private party,
intimate and small—
open just to kindred souls
(but open to them all).
This is a private party
for the select few
who manage to gain entry.
So, welcome. That is you.]
100212
BEYOND THE PALL
The sheet that skims my skin tonight
requires the moon to make it white—
and more than moon; for, though so bright,
moon but reflects more brilliant light.
100211
CHERUBIM TO CHERUBIMBOS
Wondrous, sonorous signs and symbols!
Words are heaven’s mighty cymbals
sounded by angels at their gambols
to babbling mortals at their rambles.
-------------------------------------------------
[SONG LYRICS FOR LIONS INTERNATIONAL]
LION PRIDE WORLDWIDE
If you know one Lion, you’re bound to know a few.
You find them on savannahs, in the jungle, at the zoo.
You find them in the circus, and other places too.
But can you guess—more or less—what these Lions do?
Lions meet and Lions talk.
Lions work from dawn till dark,
Raising help and hope and funds,
Especially for little ones.
A Lion is a lady. A Lion is a man.
Dogged as a shepherd, gentle as a lamb.
Lion vision helps all see—
The world is one community.
If you know one Lion, you’re bound to know a few.
You find them on savannahs, in the jungle, at the zoo.
You find them in the boardroom and on the factory floor.
They do good in neighborhoods—Hear those Lions roar!
Lions meet and Lions talk.
Lions work from dawn till dark,
Raising help and hope and funds,
Especially for little ones.
A Lion is a tiger, fighting for the right.
A Lion is an eagle, searching with true sight.
Lion vision helps all see—
The world is one community.
[ASIDE: Lyrics for our local club, which LOVES to sing
“Happy Birthday” in as garbled a fashion as possible…
Lions meet and Lions talk.
Lions sing in Rogers , Ark. ,
Raising voices to a screech,
Growling this for all and each—
“Happy Birthday to you…”
or “Hear Those Lions Roar” ]
-------------------------------------------------
100210
HAPPENSTANCE
Whatever happens
happens (in one theory)
to be good, so that
whenever whatever
shouldn’t happen happens,
it just so happens
that it should.
100209
KNOWSEY NEIGHBORS
Love that saying.
Is it your own?
Inquiring minds
want quoted sources known.
100208
SNOW ON SNOW
Overnight snow falls afresh,
slipping from branches
to meld with melting snow below.
* * *
100218
LEXICONSTRUCTION
Need a word? Just make one
(it’s a democracy).
Then add two or three.
I needed a word,
for example.
I present it as a sample:
Simplicity plus happiness?
That’s “simblissity.”
100217
A HOST OF DAFFY DEALS
I wandered only as The Cloud
that floats on high o’er th' Internet
(that vast e-commerce-dealing crowd).
With virtual virtue I was endowed.
By data streams I roamed, and got not wet.
100216
COACHING SESSION
“Depend upon your higher power,”
my guru/coach suggested.
“Assign one dream-goal upward.
Let your uptight self be rested.”
“Use intuition to set that goal.”
Well, that’s how I got flustered.
My inner whisper told my soul—
“Go, ye. Speak of buzzards.”
100215
RISE ‘N SHINE, YEP!
Hello, Sun, how do?
Liftin’ up them clouds, are ya,
movin’ everthang along?
Guess I best git up, m’self—
ta start my own day strong.
100214
PEAR-TREE
Morning is its blossom.
Noon, its honey-bee.
Evening is its harvest:
the pear called ecstasy.
Night has come,
has come, my love,
drawing you to me.
Come, my love—
come share this night.
Love, come pear with me.
[ASIDE: Shall I come-pear
thee to a summer’s night?]
ANY ART
If you plan to pick it up,
know how to put it down.
Progression can be obsessive.
If you plan to stick with it,
know when to put it down.
Obsession can be progressive.
100213
GUEST, LIST!
This is a private party,
not a banquet or a ball,
and if you want a lecture,
go find a lecture hall.
[ASIDE: Scrapped…
This is a private party,
intimate and small—
open just to kindred souls
(but open to them all).
This is a private party
for the select few
who manage to gain entry.
So, welcome. That is you.]
100212
BEYOND THE PALL
The sheet that skims my skin tonight
requires the moon to make it white—
and more than moon; for, though so bright,
moon but reflects more brilliant light.
100211
CHERUBIM TO CHERUBIMBOS
Wondrous, sonorous signs and symbols!
Words are heaven’s mighty cymbals
sounded by angels at their gambols
to babbling mortals at their rambles.
-------------------------------------------------
[SONG LYRICS FOR LIONS INTERNATIONAL]
LION PRIDE WORLDWIDE
If you know one Lion, you’re bound to know a few.
You find them on savannahs, in the jungle, at the zoo.
You find them in the circus, and other places too.
But can you guess—more or less—what these Lions do?
Lions meet and Lions talk.
Lions work from dawn till dark,
Raising help and hope and funds,
Especially for little ones.
A Lion is a lady. A Lion is a man.
Dogged as a shepherd, gentle as a lamb.
Lion vision helps all see—
The world is one community.
If you know one Lion, you’re bound to know a few.
You find them on savannahs, in the jungle, at the zoo.
You find them in the boardroom and on the factory floor.
They do good in neighborhoods—Hear those Lions roar!
Lions meet and Lions talk.
Lions work from dawn till dark,
Raising help and hope and funds,
Especially for little ones.
A Lion is a tiger, fighting for the right.
A Lion is an eagle, searching with true sight.
Lion vision helps all see—
The world is one community.
[ASIDE: Lyrics for our local club, which LOVES to sing
“Happy Birthday” in as garbled a fashion as possible…
Lions meet and Lions talk.
Lions sing in Rogers , Ark. ,
Raising voices to a screech,
Growling this for all and each—
“Happy Birthday to you…”
or “Hear Those Lions Roar” ]
-------------------------------------------------
100210
HAPPENSTANCE
Whatever happens
happens (in one theory)
to be good, so that
whenever whatever
shouldn’t happen happens,
it just so happens
that it should.
100209
KNOWSEY NEIGHBORS
Love that saying.
Is it your own?
Inquiring minds
want quoted sources known.
100208
SNOW ON SNOW
Overnight snow falls afresh,
slipping from branches
to meld with melting snow below.
* * *
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
