A. Gee Where words collide

Poems

Auditions

Henceforth there shall be no auditions
So noted The Bremen Musicians
Our Muse shall be free
Engage her with glee
Performing without preconditions

But wait – said the jackass at last
He was – quite frankly – aghast
I must be the voice
You leave me no choice
I cannot perform with this cast

Woof, Woof, I agree, said the dog
This won’t go with our catalog
My bark and my bite
Is not in this fight
No Bremen for me, and no Prague

The cock crowed: I shall have my say!
A sad and tumultuous day!
I can’t be the one
Who welcomes this sun!
And therefore, I also can’t stay

No problem, the cat answered back
I’ll have them repurpose the plaque
While you’re in cahoots
I shall get my boots
My pussies will pick up the slack

Author notes: wc 137 Image from Pinterest https://allpoetry.com/contest/2786072-Fantasy-1043

Change Program

when with the young, I'd say that change is coming
when with the old, I'd say that change will stop
when with the poor, I'll say here's your pastrami
when with the rich, I'll say there is no top

with the believer, I shall pray to heaven
and with the heathen, say there is no hell
and to the gambler, wish for only seven
and for the wiccan, here's your magic spell

if you are weak, I'll say there's strength in numbers
if you are strong, I'll say more power, man!
if you are slow, I'll say everyone lumbers
if you are fast, I'll say you beat the plan!

if you need help, I'll say around the corner
if you give help, a nice ribbon will do
if you are grieving, I'm a heartfelt mourner
if you're aggrieved, I'll say go on and sue

In short I'll be like every politician
I'll say that I am focused on the mission
and when at last, I'm sitting on my own
I'll focus on not being overthrown

Author notes: https://allpoetry.com/contest/2785750-If-you-were-president-what-would-you-change

The Ballad of the Old Bachelor

Let me describe an episode from recent memory
The last few years, though I have slowed, I’m not a retiree
And my retirement account in summary – it’s short
A bargain, at a good discount, if genuine – I’ll sport

By any measure, I deserve the better things in life
I want what many will observe is odd – I want a wife
(here I’ll confess that my desire Is hardly a volcano
The spirit’s willing, but I tire -- still hard enough to say no)

And so the purpose of my quest if I’m to clarify
Not to confuse or obfuscate – a diamond to buy
My lady friend – no plaster doll, says opposites attract
“we’ll consummate, but after ring”, is how she did react

A pattern that’s as old as time, a program in her genes
Still I must learn to play my part, to get me in her jeans
I find a parking, a good spot, on 47th Street
And buy a stone – forget me not – to sweep her off her feet

I rush to her, she’s overjoyed, and gives me a big hug
But asks me: can we get perhaps, a bigger house – I shrug
I ask: “but why?” she says: “we’ll need it, for our nursery”
“And I’m afraid much sooner than our anniversary”

Author notes: https://allpoetry.com/contest/2785734-Random--Seven-Letter-Word-Play Summary                    Attract Clarify                          Bargain Confuse                      Parking Observe                      Diamond Pattern                        Deserve Volcano                        Measure Genuine                      Nursery Retiree                        Program Account                        Episode Purpose                        Plaster

Cleopatra the First

Helen of Troy would surely have been jealous
Whose beauty truly launched a thousand ships?
Who was a living goddess to her zealous
and pious subjects, their apocalypse

A Greek ruling in Egypt, woman, mother
Within a whisker of “Queen of the World”
Her lovers vying to outdo each other
Antony, Caesar, banners are unfurled

She hid in Caesar’s carpet – this seduction
Egyptian pharaoh tames a Roman beast
Planted the seed of Caesar’s own destruction
A Roman Consul, smitten by the East

Then Rome, Caesarian, and what comes after
Escape to Alexandria and war
Death by a snake, or hairpin, and the laughter
Augustus, now a dictator, and more

What would have been if Anthony had stricken
Octavian, when he was close to home
We cannot know it, but the pulse does quicken
To think of Cleopatra, Queen of Rome

Author notes: https://allpoetry.com/contest/2785551-Cleopatra

Quaint Notions

the meek
shall inherit
when hell freezes over
and the lion lies down with lamb
not soon

not soon
maybe never
convenient visions
beyond the event horizon
no lambs lost to test prediction
lions

lions
will be gone soon
except Serengeti
endless savannahs not endless
no more

no more
but life will shrug
and keep going as if
nothing happened. Nothing at all
so sad

so sad
life doesn’t care
we care. Our empathy
is it unique? Do dolphins care?
do rats?

so sad
but life will shrug
convenient visions
endless savannahs not endless
no more

Author notes: wc 96 https://allpoetry.com/contest/2783630-FORM-Challenge---Garland-Cinquain