Where is the Poetry?

[Les]

Mike,

Where have all the Poets gone?

[Chad Fabry]

Around this time at each year's end,

Ilook back and see what I have done.

I think of laughs shared with a friend,

and projects worked on to the end

and those with whom I've had fun.

I dwell on trials I have endured

and smile where I've done my best,

and wince with woe at wasted word

that argued banal points absurd

to feel the smugness of conquest.

In the end, joys wrought by life

are seldom found in victory.

Time that I spent engaged in strife

denied my children and my wife

of the man I would rather be.

Give thought to action, deed and word.

Make life count, don't be a turd.

I'll be yer huckleberry

[kurt]

Chad, that's good stuff. I was misting up until I got to the "turd" reference. A little work on the ending, and that's publishable stuff.

[Jim Baird]

Here's one I like:

Another reason why I don't keep a gun in the house

The neighbors' dog will not stop barking.

He is barking the same high, rhythmic bark

that he barks every time they leave the house.

They must switch him on on their way out.

The neighbors' dog will not stop barking.

I close all the windows in the house

and put on a Beethoven symphony full blast

but I can still hear him muffled under the music,

barking, barking, barking,

and now I can see him sitting in the orchestra,

his head raised confidently as if Beethoven

had included a part for barking dog.

When the record finally ends he is still barking,

sitting there in the oboe section barking,

his eyes fixed on the conductor who is

entreating him with his baton

while the other musicians listen in respectful

silence to the famous barking dog solo,

that endless coda that first established

Beethoven as an innovative genius.

--Billy Collins

[hausdok]

Hmmm,

Has Sir Brian of Goodman parish been dethroned?

OT - OF!!!

M.

[Chad Fabry]

Originally posted by kurt

Chad, that's good stuff. I was misting up until I got to the "turd" reference. A little work on the ending, and that's publishable stuff.

For Kurt's soft side, an alternate end.

The shadow's cast by mid-day light

trace man's last words; not his own.

No regrets embrace death's hindsight.

Let those words be just and right.

Etched into that cool gray stone.

[Scottpat]

Well this is mine!

Roses are Red

Violets are Blue.

I missed the shot

it was not my fault.

So with weak arms and legs

I am singing the Blues,

cause I home in bed with

the flu!

[Les]

What have I done? I shudda' know'd better.

A little poetry reading in Austin wouldn't be a bad idea!

[Paul MacLean]

Originally posted by Les

What have I done? I shudda' know'd better.

A little poetry reading in Austin wouldn't be a bad idea!

Roses are red,violets are blue.

Austin poets stay in deep do-do.

Austin in January is nice and bright,

and having you here will be a delight.

I'll stop now before it gets worse. [:-paperba

[Jeff Remas]

Oh How Whipped I Am and by the way Merry Christmas

By Jeff Remas

The years have passed, my love still here

Growing with you each day

A friendship formed, a bond strengthened

A path for us to stay

More familiar now than before

We won’t take for granted

New experiences and learning

Our seeds of hope are planted

A Holiday upon us

Some stress in the air

Take time to love

Take time to care

I know I’m where I want to be

I know I’m where I belong

I know my love is true

I’ve known this all along

If you guys want to steal this from me for Christmas for your loved one then it is my gift to you.

[Terence McCann]

Still my all time favorite:

When you get what you want in your struggle for self

And the world makes you king for a day,

Just go to a mirror and look at yourself,

And see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your father or mother or wife,

Who judgement upon you must pass;

The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life

Is the one starring back from the glass.

He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest.

For he's with you clear up to the end,

And you've passed the most dangerous, difficult test

If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years.

And get pats on the back as you pass,

But your final reward will be the heartaches and tears

If you've cheated the man in the glass.

[Bruce Thomas]

Thanks Jeff,

I did just that.

Bruce

[Richard Moore]

Change to SOP.

To all that await,

their gifts by the fire.

We now park on the street,

not allowed to go higher.

Our insurer insists,

we no longer walk roofs,

because of the damage,

inflicted by hooves.

Rudolph’s not happy,

but what can you do?

It’s all the damn lawyers,

Too eager to sue.

So this year you’ll find,

well hidden from thieves,

your toys in the crawl,

or hung from the eaves.

So please move the milk,

and the cookies as well.

outside on the porch,

it saves ringing the bell.

Merry Christmas to all.

This will be my last year.

New emission controls,

are failing the deer.

Santa.

[hausdok]

Very kewl Richard!

OT - OF!!!

M.

[kurt]

Well Les, the poets seem to be alive & well here @ TIJ. I'm proud to know these guys; this is some good stuff.

Beats hell out of talking about home inspection organizations.

[Les]

Kurt, you are right. Poetry beat the devil out of some of the nonsense going on in the other threads.

I love a good "discussion" but the attacks are getting a little boring!

[kurt]

I'm still waiting on Goodman's, although he's gonna have to whip it to outdo Fabry's.

[Brian G]

I'm afraid nothing is forthcoming until these darned clients quit ringing my phone off the wall. I've still got lots of Christmas shopping to do yet. [:-crazy]

Brian G.

Poetry Don't Pay the Bills [:-mouse]

[Jeff Remas]

Let it ring, let it ring, let it ring

When you finally inspect tonight

Oh I hate to go out in the storm

But with my winter jacket on tight

All the way through I'll be worm

Oh my pen is finally stopping

And my ladder is finaly dropping

Since I have another inspection to go

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

[Les]

Brian G. said "I'm afraid nothing is forthcoming until these darned clients quit ringing my phone off the wall. I've still got lots of Christmas shopping to do yet." That was December 14th 2004.

Of course anyone is welcome to submit material for our poetry enjoyment! It is just Brian made a commitment.