there was, in fair Kalamazoo
no circus, no fair and no zoo
at last, that town's dwellers
all humorless fellas
demanded a zoo, or they'll sue
the magistrate, unsympathetic
imbued with a certain aesthetic
he said: you shall rue
and no kangaroo!
the lawsuit's dismissed, it's pathetic
Author notes: https://allpoetry.com/contest/2794862-A-Double-Limerick
what sets apart a cruel heart
defenses that defy the senses
cold stares that shout: I DO NOT CARE
what sets apart a cruel heart
indifference is the likely difference
sit back right there, and do not stare
what sets apart a cruel heart
who's scoring what we are ignoring
your scared to help, you do not dare
what sets apart a cruel heart
please care
along the sculpted Scottish coast
they tell the tale of Duncan's ghost
the howling wind's an anguished wail
cold wet despair, and gusts of hail
the ghost still whispers of Macbeth
the thankless thane, despair and death
and of his lady, heartless witch
the ghost does bellow and beseech
along the sculpted Scottish coast
they are no strangers to the boast
but mention Duncan or Macbeth
and there's that telltale catch of breath
yes, something wicked this way comes
cue in the beating of the drums
the witches prick their thumbs and chant
and Duncan seeks escape, but can't
though he is calm
and self assured
his face obscured
an inner turmoil
you can't view
and to deter
an apple, green
and so the face
remains unseen
Author notes: https://www.renemagritte.org/the-son-of-man.jsp
Dear Santa:
send pants without pockets
I write you from snowy Nantucket
so tired of puns
on pockets and guns
Yours Truly,
Sincerely
Will Phukett
there's relatives and dear old friends
the kind on whom your life depends
there's classmates and coworkers
and stars of great tearjerkers
but let me tell you this, dear human
when it comes to a man and woman
the man, at least, is not platonic
unless of course he's catatonic
Author notes: https://allpoetry.com/contest/2794675-Platonic-love.
staring at a granite wall
fingers grasping tiny fissures
solid purchase elusive
a mountain cat, it's claws out
no cable, no net
I make the climb
the Yggdrasil is boundless love
the crown it wears, way up above
sends down its tendrils through the roots
and when their touch is bearing fruits
the Mother, oh so gentle, smiles
and when those fruits go through their trials
forgiving all, she understands
gathers them in, with helping hands
Author notes: https://allpoetry.com/contest/2793882-Couplet---Prompt
it is not frankincense and myrrh
we seek, when lost and found
this I infer from Lucifer
Prometheus, unbound
the devil, giver of the light
an ancient Roman tale
invites a rascally delight
gone are both hooves and tail
while some succumb in reverie
we find the cuss a plus
we love a bad boy, it must be
the rebel child in us
a ball of tiny claws and teeth
claws he is willing to unsheathe
the tiniest of provocations
elicits startled jumps, frustration
to watch him fully lose his cool
just tease him with ball of wool
by now you've guessed the tiny critter
now go and post his pics on Twitter
Author notes: https://allpoetry.com/contest/2794634-Kitten
a frozen rose, its lips are sealed
what secrets would have been revealed
now lie beneath a crust of ice
a glossy glimpse of paradise
Author notes: https://allpoetry.com/contest/2794477-Frozen
our monumental history
maintains an air of mystery
but painted with a modern brush
it makes one wonder, at first blush
what's to be done if every shrine
repainted with a certain whine
is disassembled, brick by brick
back, as it where, to rock and stick
and if our cultural debate
akin to children, on our plate
we separate the different foods
based on our colors and our moods
what's to be done so we regain
a sense of what was right and plain
we've lost our will, our will to teach
some days it feels so out of reach