Poetry – Poetry, Short Prose and Walking

December Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to either Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick or her Writing Prompts during the month of December 2025.

Boring

Though it’s boring I’m snoring away
all those daydreams that come during day
and those nightmares as well
got me snoring. I’d tell
you a story – “It’s boring,” you say.

Prompt word: “boring” December 1, 2025

Promises, Promises

If you’ll do it, then do it. OK?
Don’t promise to do it and say,
“Oh, I’ll do it tomorrow
come rain splashing sorrow.”
Just do it and do it today.

Prompt word: “promise” December 3, 2025

There once was a wonderful sky and a guy with two eyes asking why

Sweet Candy

Though I used to think candy was sweet,
well, it is and it was. I could eat
my fair share of the stuff
even more than enough
even more than my share. It’s so sweet.

Prompt word: “candy” December 8, 2025

Sleigh

It’s away in a sleigh we will go
though it’s warm and there isn’t much snow.
In fact, it’s quite hot
and the reindeer are not
really reindeer. Oh, well. Here we go!

Prompt word: “sleigh” December 15, 2025

that fine sky was so red. Ah, there’s blue now instead.

Giving

I am living, that’s why I will be
someone giving back life given me.
There are more ways than one
to give life. See? The sun
keeps on giving and giving for free.

Prompt word: “giving” December 17, 2025

Holly

With the holly and ivy we go.
Grab a kiss under sweet mistletoe.
But is mistletoe sweet?
Well, the rhyme was no cheat.
May that kiss bring you bliss and love grow.

Prompt word: “holly” December 22, 2025

Family

During Christmas our family is fine.
There are some who perpetually whine.
There are some full of joy.
How they giggle, annoy
all the whiners, but family is fine.

Prompt word “family” December 24, 2025

Unused Door

The cell of my prison’s fine door
was opened. I stood on the floor.
Do I dare to go out?
Dare I run, walk about?
I stayed stuck so they locked the cell door.

Prompt word “door” December 29, 2025

The shepherds knew an angel who
had told them of His birth.
They went to see the mystery
of peace, goodwill on earth.

Today as well we yearn to tell,
like them, this tale of love,
with accent true with joy that’s new
from ancient songs above.

Go on and see beyond the tree
how righteousness reigns there.
He will not leave though devils grieve.
He’s with us everywhere.

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Denise offers the prompt word “accent” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories.

I am grateful to P. A. Oltrogge whose book of poems, tales, carols and Bible verses, Christmas on the Porch, reminded me that it is the Christmas season and a narrative poem may be the best story.

The Piano Guys

Six Sentence Story: The Cost Of Treason

After Nimrodwannabe’s kingdom fell to the Medes and Persians, Daniel won the favor of Darius, the new king, to the envy of others. Some of those others deceived Darius into passing a law, secretly targeting Daniel to get rid of him, that Darius could not undo punishable by death to whomever broke it.

When Daniel did not obey he was arrested and sentenced to spend a night in the den of lions who were kept hungry by not feeding them provision from the lion keeper’s shed. All Darius could do at this point to save his favorite was wait and see if Daniel’s God could and would protect him from the treasonous setup.

When Daniel survived Darius had the deceivers – along with their wives and children – cast into the same den for the lions to execute judgment. The lions eagerly did.

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Denise offers the word “shed” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories.

Daniel 6:24 KJV – And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

November Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to either Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick or her Writing Prompts during the month of November 2025.

The two photos are for those who prefer a picture to a thousand words.

One Wondrous Now

Be not bitter. Don’t litter away
all the moments, those nows, when you play,
since those nows are one now.
There’s just one anyhow
and that one wondrous now is today.

Prompt word: “litter” November 3, 2025

Though the black is outstanding the light of the orange and the yellow is bright

Snickety Snacks

All the snickety snacks in my pack
are quite tasty and none of them lack
a smart crunch. One or two
might sound odd, but a few
sound delightful when crunch leads to crack.

Prompt word: “snacks” November 10, 2025

Fishy Dish

How I wish that I had a fine fish
nicely fried, baked or cooked on a dish.
Well, I don’t. That’s OK.
Who likes fish anyway?
Let them swim like a fish where they wish.

Prompt word: “fish” November 12, 2025

Whale On Scale For Sale

There once was a scale for sale
and a guy who weighted more than a whale.
He decided to see
what he weighed heedlessly
and that was the end of the scale.

Prompt word: “scale” November 17, 2025 (modified)

and the sand on the shore may get littered with more of the stuff the waves brought through the night.

Shopping My Life Away

With nothing to do I went shopping.
The eyes in my head were a-popping.
I saw this. I saw that.
Everything thing I looked at
asked me why I don’t buy? Price is dropping!

Prompt word: “shopping” November 24, 2025

Angelic Looking Devil

There’s an angel – some say – over there,
but it acts like a devil. Beware!
It’s so soft and so cute
as its grabbing the loot
in a devilish devil’s affair.

Prompt word: “angel” November 26

October Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick during the month of October 2025. Some I have slightly modified. I’ve even added titles which I hear limericks are forbidden to have.

I’ve added two photos for those who prefer a picture to a thousand words of nonsense.

Crazy Love

“That is crazy!” I thought though it’s true
like the fact that the blue sky is blue
like a gift from above
like a message of love
like an answer just waiting for you.

Prompt word “crazy” October 6, 2025

By the lake with its mountains and trees dark worries can’t do as they please.

Be Careful Whom You Follow

When I followed, you said, “Follow through,”
but I followed. What more should I do?
“Well, I gave you a map.”
Like a rat in a trap,
yes, I followed, but why didn’t you?

Prompt word “follow” October 13, 2025 (slightly modified)

Moon Cheese With Bread And Wine

Although some say the moon’s made of cheese,
is there wine and fresh bread with that, please?
Are there olives as well
and soft moonbeams to tell
of that night with the warm light through trees?

Prompt word “bread” October 20, 2025 (slightly modified)

Some white clouds come to play on this bright blue fine day and my mind, like I’ve said, is at ease.

Dusty Dust

So much dust! Can a sneezer now trust
all the dust that a sneezer now must?
When I sneeze I will say
to the dust: Blow away!
But it stayed since it’s just dusty dust.

Prompt word: “dust” October 27, 2025

Cosmic Photo Challenge: Scenes From An Autumn Garden

Dale offers the prompt, “scenes from an autumn garden”, for this week’s Cosmic Photo Challenge.

These photos are from a few years ago when we lived in Northbrook, Illinois. The flowers were in a public park or forest preserve.

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September Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick during the month of September. Some I have slightly modified. I’ve even added titles which I hear limericks aren’t supposed to need.

I’ve added two photos for those who prefer a picture to a thousand words of nonsense.

When Hell Freezes Over

With the spell came a chill from the well
like a frost from the fires of hell.
So, we capped it that day,
made the devils obey
which they did with no rights to rebel.

Prompt word: “spell” September 1, 2025 (modified)

The ocean is wavy and gray before start of a bright shiny day.

Just Buy A New Scale

The new scale I bought yesterday
has said what I feared it would say.
I should lose one or two
maybe more than a few
of the pounds that it said I might weigh.

Prompt word: “weigh” September 8, 2025 (modified)

The Difference Between Night And Day

It is funny how nightmares don’t seem
quite so spooky when in a daydream.
In the night, light is dark.
In the day, wolves don’t bark.
So relax. Wait till night comes to scream.

Prompt word: “funny” September 15, 2025

Then the birds rise to see how the sun shines with ease and the clouds will just have to give way.

Shower Of Thoughts

As I thought and I thought and I thought
in a shower of thoughts I got caught.
I had hoped to get clean
not stay dirty and mean,
but I still do not do what I ought.

Prompt word: “shower” September 22, 2025

Tick, Tock, Tank

As a tank it was built for success.
It succeeded in making a mess.
It was stopped one fine day
when it went out to play
by a tank built to cause more distress.

Prompt word: “tank” September 29, 2025

August Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick during the month of August. Some I have slightly modified.

I’ve added two photos for those who prefer a picture to a thousand words of nonsense.

There once was a la-de-de-da
who wanted a good rhyme for “ah”
like how “much” rhymes with “touch”
like how “such” rhymes with “Dutch”
like how what rhymes with “ah” except “ha”?
Prompt Word “touch” August 4, 2025

Sandy beach and what the ocean waves brought in

The old clock is as still as a rock.
It’s now timelessly ticking each tock.
It still hangs on the wall
since it’s pretty and all,
but it’s not of much use as a clock.
Prompt Word: “rock” August 11, 2025 (modified)

Well, I just want to say I don’t trust
all the news that I hear, but I must
let the dust settle, too.
It’s the least I can do –
and the most – since I can’t control dust.
Prompt word: “just” August 18, 2025

The odd knowledge I once thought I had
is on sale and for cheap I might add.
I will sing a new song
and you may sing along.
That dumb knowledge is gone and I’m glad.
Prompt word: “sing” August 25, 2025