The Problem with Flint and Steel — a Poem

Fire from heaven he kept
in the suit-coat pocket, folded
notes in leaves
of the combat bible — sweating
as he climbed
the dais.  His gaze
sharp, scanning
the rows.  The agitated
ones, his targeted
words aimed
at their throats.  Convicting
in mind.  Grace tied
and silenced.

Thirty minutes became
an hour under the weight
of his tongue.  Choruses sung
coercively.  Brimstone smoldered.

End of story — much smoke, no light.

* * *

Victoria is hosting Poetics at dVerse Poets Pub and she has us all hot under the (clerical) collar with a call for poets to bring “Fire.”  Sheesh!  Doesn’t she realize how dangerous that could be?!?

Advice to Those Imperiled by the Encroachment of Personal Civilization — a Poem

Borrowed from the internet somewhere — Dunno.  But this is author/poet Jim Harrison.  The one in front.  The meaner looking one.

 

Don’t bite the chain.

Be like the wild-wise ones.  Do
what they do — measure
the links, feel when it tenses.

Walk
it back — then run
full-bore.  Stop
just at that point.  Make
the chain break
itself.  Don’t settle
for civilizing kibbles.  Range
free, and eat
deeply!

Be the dog the rancher won’t let near her cattle!

 

* * *

Written in response to reading Jim Harrison’s poem, “Tethered.” 

 

 

 

Nothing New To Say

Too good not to share.

Jilly's

The sun has risen just as it always does
The leaves turn brilliant colors and they fall
I see it all with placid eye because
I really have nothing new to say at all
Never mind me; it won’t be my downfall

Love has come to stay, where it never was
That smile across the breakfast table mine alone
I see it all with tranquil eyes because
I really have nothing new to say, I merely drone
Never mind me if clever words have flown

Death arrived, a bee without a buzz
It stings and gives no honey in return
I see it all with docile eyes because
I really have nothing new to say that can be heard
Never mind me; I’ll sit beside the fire, watch it burn

The sun has fallen just as it always does
The crocus and a daffodil burst through the snow
I see…

View original post 75 more words

Sonnet: A Jester Doffs His Cap and Bells — a Poem

 

“Jesters do oft prove prophets.”

― William Shakespeare, King Lear

 

Should I a jest upon our nature make
and slight the finer aspects of our love
a cad more I should be.  A goof for sake
of laughter’s compensation.  O, above
all else I’d be a fool who lives for wit,
cavorts across the stage’d heart — who sees
an open door for quip — be swept in it;
but laughing hard I’d lose your love.  No pleas
my honor would restore, nor passions fire.
Away I would see my dearest depart
to never return, all love would expire.
And fool I’d be, a jester sans a heart.

Then thus I here now take a pledge, for true.
No jest will come between my lips — and you.

 

* * *

No prompt.  No challenge.  I just felt the desire to attempt wrestling the bears — Sonnet form and Iambic Pentameter.

 

 

 

Photography: And yet the dog knows

 

 

 

Quadrille: Dislangled, to Tell the Trood — a Poem

 

Tongue-bound, can’t roll

my Rs.  Minnesotan, I slip

Ds where THs s’posed to

B.  Can’t read a poem

I’ve written allowed,

s’rong wid me?  When

young I stuggled with

ESSes… came out ETHHes.

Given “LispOils,”a balmy

stuff to stuff twixt numbed

lips and gums.

 

* * *

 

Lillian is hosting Quadrille Monday at dVerse Poets Pub.  Her prompt word is “spoil.”

 

I gave it my best shot…!

 

 

Photography: Silent Sunday

 

 

 

 

Raven: Stanza 19 — a Poem (fragment)

Freaking News

 

Come the morrow dawn was lifting; dreams were melting, thoughts were sifting.
In the sunlight thoughts of Lenore; tears alight my bedroom floor.
Then I thought my nighttime dreaming was a nightmare too true seeming;
Then I thought my nightmare’s dreaming took its power from Lenore.
And my soul leapt from the shadow as I heard my love, Lenore:
she who’d bust a buzz-saw snore.

 

* * *

Well, I mean… why not?!?  Write a final stanza of a classic (The Raven), and change the overriding tone of the poem.  But keep the meter and rhyme — including the internal rhyme — scheme.