Annie wants to come along
When I came in to finish packing for a trip to the states a few years ago, i found that Annie had decided she’d like to come along so she had packed himself. I wonder if that is her passport or mine showing in the upper lid pouch?
For RDP, the prompt word is “Pack”
Escargot
I am an ally of the truth, which lives the whole world over,
hiding beneath leaves of grass or hyacinths or clover.
A tiny snail detective, sliding slowly with no sound,
scoping out a food source over every edge and mound—
with its single jaw at work, nature’s innovation
cleans up all her messes with its constant mastication.
Cutter ants march by like time, disposing hour by hour,
of beauty we aren’t finished with, flower after flower,
but the snail goes gliding by, almost beyond detection,
eating everything in sight—less picky in selection.
From animal waste to fungus, and even other snails,
the appetite of gastropods seemingly never fails.
And then, ludicrous humans, knowing not what they do,
themselves devour these creatures who deign to dine on poo!
Prompt words today are snail, innovation, detective, march, ally and clover.
Fauna Fashion
Fox in sox and cats in spats.
Dogs in clogs and rats in hats.
When pigs are on sabbatical,
they’re rather acrobatical,
so they depend on spandex suits
as well as stretchy rubber boots
to make sure they don’t skid and fall
when they’re performing in the mall.
In urban settings, it’s a blessing
that there’s more reason to be dressing
formally. Of course that means
a negative on cut-off jeans.
Cool cats are not satisfied
until they have been spatified,
and sequined tops and silken slacks
are de rigueur, as are scoop backs.
But, perchance, have you been guessing
the one bird not fond of dressing?
(His response you’ll find less quirky
when you hear that it’s the turkey.)
Prompts today are fox, sabbatical, negative, urban and satisfied. All illustrations are free images from the internet.
Building Joy in the World
If I forgo mere toil and strife
for a more playful sort of life,
and live this playful sort of life
to the accompaniment of fife,
of fife and whistle, flute and drum,
my narrow life might expand some.
Expand from shard to full-blown bowl,
filled to its edges with more soul
’til edges of my soul have filled
the bowl from which it now has spilled.
Spilled out to change the world it touches,
wrested from my lonely clutches.
Freed from their clutch, to build a life
that has transcended mere toil and strife
Prompt words today are narrow, forgo, playful, shard and touch. This poem is also written to fulfill the NaPoWriMo2022 day 27 prompt to write a “Duplex”—a 14 line poem of seven two-line stanzas where the second line of the first stanza is echoed by (but not identical to) the first line of the second stanza, the second line of the second stanza is echoed by (but not identical to) the first line of the third stanza, and so on. Then the last line should be the same as the first line of the poem. Image by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash.
Air Despair
I get goosebumps every time I travel via jet,
but I haven’t crashed and burned or perished as of yet.
Pedants say my chances of crashing are remote,
but nonetheless, if I could choose, I’d rather take a boat.
The revelry is greater and the distance to the ground
is cushioned way much better with water all around.
It’s easier to stretch one’s legs, there’s shuffleboard, a pool,
and every cabin has a bed with private sink and stool!
Although planes are faster, what’s the hurry? What’s the rush?
Consider airplane food, the tiny restrooms and the crush.
First class in planes has nothing on last class in luxury cruisers.
In short, I think planes were invented for impatient losers!!
Prompts today are revelry, jet, pedant and goosebumps.
R.I.P.
They say he was a bastion of the community.
Of what their youth should aim for, the exact epitome.
Mothers named their kids for him and he was so discreet,
his name labelled a shopping center and a city street.
Asked to speak at graduation, his words were most succinct.
Not one old lady fell asleep. Nobody even blinked!
Moral, staunch and upright, he was everyone’s ideal.
He always used the crosswalk. He didn’t cuss or steal.
No forensic laboratory ever had a label
or test tube or fingerprint of his upon their table.
In short, his reputation was one without besmirch.
He went to each town meeting, every Sunday, went to church.
He did not exceed the speed limit, use liquor or smoke pot.
Every single vice on earth was something he was not.
His genes were the best of genes. His relatives all lasted
at least until one hundred, and he dieted and fasted.
Ate kale and probiotics, whole grains and leafy greens.
He sponsored many charities and lived within his means.
So when he died it wasn’t from alcohol or drugs.
He did not die from violence–his own or that of thugs.
He did not perish from obesity or accident or whoredom.
In the end, they say that he simply died of boredom!
For RDP prompt bastion.
and Daily Addiction’s prompt forensic
and Fandango’s is succinct.
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 