Poems

A crimson rose demands to know my name.
Incredulous, I ask her why it matters,
or does she think all humans look the same?
I start to tell her but attention scatters.

Another soon chimes in: how old are you?
Who'll water us when you're no longer present?
I bend to tie a shoelace on my shoe.
The earth, dug raw, more pungent than unpleasant,

as welcoming as ever. It remains
the one connection to the dust I came from,
the ashes of the fire in my veins...
The rose bush is persisting in its tantrum:

Who's going to take over when you're gone?!
The monument's for two. I was the one.

"Cry 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war."
Spoken by Marc Anthony in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

the dogs of war slipped newly loosened leashes
their flea infested manes run stained with blood
they roam the countryside, depraved and vicious
leave grimy, mangy paw prints in the mud

yet every one of these was once a puppy
so cute that smiles break out and hearts soon melt
a mischievous and joyous ball of happy
and now a skull and bones dressed in a pelt

what spawns a dog of war from such beginnings
is there an inner flaw, a well bred trait
how narrowly do men define their winnings
how unconditional, how raw their hate

a dog of war is surely man's best friend
devoted, loyal, faithful till the end

choose your illusion
the world's in your hand
an easy conclusion
all goes as you've planned
though doubt often lingers
you might singe your fingers

Author notes: image from pinterest

a bridge into Oz
underneath a pale moon
the city that was
gonna welcome you soon
a shadow of its former glory
it hopes you can rewrite its story

Author notes: image from pinterest

"an apple a day keeps the doctor away"
the teacher said, filling her bowl
and we kept on bringing them, since come what may
that seemed like a laudable goal
the doctors still came with their needles and oils
the teacher, she loved Granny Smith
but took any apple, enjoying her spoils
as we sat absorbing her pith

the pen, seeking a gentler reputation
attempted to trade places with the sword
to wax poetic as befits its station
to carefully consider every word

the sword fought back by getting ever duller
less piercing and less cutting in its ways
allowed its rusty edges to discolor
and stayed inside the scabbard days on days

who's mightier, or gentler, that's the question
they're wielded by the same five fingered fist
persisting in their rivalrous expression
though some observe it's solely in the wrist

the rainbow hides behind a cloud
as poets and romantics
those that feel lonely in a crowd
whose deeds are labeled antics
set out to find its very source
and let the Muses chart their course

Author notes: image from treehugger.com

airborne troopers, they descend
it is hard to comprehend
how your greener grass, your lawn
you're its master, all alone
of a sudden, home to lions
manes resplendent in defiance

Author notes: image from dreamstime.com

each sentence a lifetime, each period peace
each comma a drummer, each stanza release
each syllable able to rhythm your blues
and each letter better reflect on your views

a horse that is designed by a committee,
they say -- as if it doesn't rate creation --
no genesis for you -- ah, more's the pity
the camel surely merits better station

it roams the arid deserts of Arabia
a journey from oasis to oasis
and though its toes are oft compared to labia
the simile is likely without basis

why should the dromedary cause such drama
the platypus and pangolin abstain
its cousins, the alpaca and the llama
acceded to the upstart mustang's reign

at least the cigarette is out of favor
the skunk took over as the day's top flavor

one humped camels strike a nerve
is that all that they deserve?
even worse for helpless llamas
should have listened to their mamas
looking for a proper mate
get one who humps and never late

Author notes: image from thoughtco.com

through the window, view is thrilling
but the guests are on the bed
choose to spend time there, instead
after all, they're newly wed
bubbly on the ice, just chilling