Poetry – Page 27 – Poetry, Short Prose and Walking

Resolutions

Chel Owens challenges us to write a funny, clean limerick about “resolutions”.

Those demons look deeply demented.
Based on deeds, none of them have repented.
Resolutions to keep
Are not won on the cheap.
With such demons you’ll turn up tormented.

Unfortunately I doubt that limerick’s funny. Here’s another attempt.

How I wish I could make resolutions
That would stick when they’re stuck in solutions
When solutions go weak
Resolutions will streak
At the cost of some nasty pollutions.

And that limerick doesn’t make any sense. Here’s another attempt.

Every plan I attempt goes to pot.
Every dream I cook up has a spot.
Resolutions today
May resolve in some way,
But they’re not, though, the kind that I’ve got.

And so I give up my resolution to write a limerick.

Linked to A Mused Poetry Contest.

Snappers’ Choice

When Alice saw the rabbit hole,
she wondered: “Do I dare to go?”
She went. Praise God. Raise gratitude.
She found her winding way back home.

Linked to Cosmic Photo Challenge where Dale offers the theme of “snappers’ choice”, or photos of my own choosing. These are pictures taken about a week ago near the beach.

Also linked to Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile. I was thinking this past week of Matthew 6:13, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (NIV)

I smiled when I thought the temptation from the evil one might be for me to get my own way (or its way) when instead I should be rejecting it. When I do get my own way, that is, when my own will was done, I wondered if that were also His will for me? And that made me suspicious of the lyrics in the song, I Did It My Way.

Ahh! Going down that rabbit hole made me smile all the more with gratitude as things started to make sense from that context. Now to find my way back home.

Crystal Grimes is hosting a Holiday Blogging Party to which I am linking this post. May all of you have a blessed Hanukkah and a merry Christmas.

Knocking

His knuckles tapped the door to knock.
Would no one on the inside hear?
But then came Jane, who wiped a tear,
and Jim, a target safe to mock.
They looked outside, released the lock,
and called the others, “Come and see!”
But none would bother. Faithfully
both Jim and Jane dressed in pure white,
gave thanks like it were Christmas night,
and shared a meal among just three.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the goal is to use the rhyme word “knock” in the A line of a décima having rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC.

I imagine Jim and Jane as those rare members of the church in Laodicea, as recorded in Revelation 3:20, who were willing to open the door.

Crystal Grimes is hosting a Holiday Blogging Party to which I am linking this post.

Ronovan's Decima Poetry Challenge Image — Ronovan’s Decima Poetry Challenge Image

Firewood

Though night
conceals the day
our winter’s wood is dry.
Take me in I beg of you. Tell me what I need to do.
With joy and thankful cry
we walk the way
with Light.

Linked to Farrago Express where the prompt is to write a saturnica, a poem of 7 lines with rhyme pattern ABCDCBA with syllable counts 2/4/6/14/6/4/2 centered to look like the planet Saturn with its rings.

Also linked to Crystal Grimes’ Holiday Blogging Party.

Stable, Truthful Hope

Although what shines need not be wrong
beware dark lies that shadow truth,
distract the old, confuse the youth
with specious lyrics from a song.

I wonder.  Must I sing along?
Some tunes that once enchanted me
now don't make sense.  Be just and free,
merciful, alive and stable,
driving out false dreams and fable,
preferring joy to pleasantry.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the requirement is to use “stable” as a rhyme word in the D position of a décima have rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC.

Also linked to Crystal Grimes’ Holiday Blogging Party.

Sand Train Over a Hill on an Ocean’s Beach

Art From Nature

Linked to Cosmic Photo Challenge where Dale offers the theme of “art from nature”. The art here is the hook, trellis poles and grape arbor. Nature framed it.

Also linked to Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile. We moved back to Miami Beach, but could not get our internet re-connected for a couple of days. Everything seemed to go bananas and the excuse was always “covid”. Then the problems vanished after going to the cable provider’s offices personally, covid or no covid. I look at it as divine blessing. I did realize we need to prepare for extended periods without the internet. That realization was the source of my smile this week along with every opportunity to offer gratitude for blessings.

Tears To Leave Behind

They're growing in a window well
where light is rarely seen.
Live on, persist, be bright and green,
or yellow hued for just a spell.

They offer us some hope and tell
us though pigheaded, willful, blind
there's grace abounding, sure and kind.
With thankful blessings everywhere
repent, reform, reach up and there
we'll leave our every tear behind.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the word “blind” is a rhyme word in the C lines of a décima with rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Low Light

Linked to Cosmic Photo Challenge where Dale offers the theme of “low light”. I lowered the light on these, perhaps too much.

Also linked to Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile. The leaves are gone, but the forest preserve is still a peaceful place to walk conducive to many smiles.

Here is a poem I wrote for Chel Owen’s Christmas Newsletter challenge. The challenge is open until December 11th for any who might want to participate. These poems are supposed to be funny. I am not sure that mine is, but if I did achieve that rare state of humor, that would bring another smile to my face.

Christmas Newsletter

Larry’s Earth is on the Moon.
Greg’s might be on Mars.
Lulu’s livid with the news.
Sue shoots shooting stars.

I’m the final one who’s sane.
At least, I can pretend.
I have no time to rush away,
so Merry Christmas, friend!

“HEAPS & HEAPS OF URGENCY”, Graffiti found at Skokie Lagoons

Nightmares on the Gentlest Tier of Hell

This tossing makes me wonder why
regrets won't let me get some sleep
without those nightmares from the deep.
I would shed tears. I'd even cry
if that would help. Regardless, I
can't face these twisted memories.
I'd have to run off on my knees,
but could I even find my way,
the one I lost that lazy day,
or days, when I served my own ease?

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the rhyme word “sleep” must be one of the B rhymes in a décima with rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC.

In case it isn’t obvious, the “I” in the poem is an imaginary character in a mild region of hell trying to get some rest. I pray this “I” would not be me. I pray he not be you either.

Thanks and Giving

I'm thankful for this time to live
and suffer if need be.
There also is a chance to give
and do so generously.

Though it be short or it be long,
though what I do be small,
I offer back a thankful song
in praise and give it all.

Linked to Michael Williams (Farrago Express) poetry challenge on giving thanks. I used a similar common meter to the poem he provided as a prompt.