The second of my collections of poems written for "Express It In Eight." |
As usual these days, I choose blog format because it offers more space for the work. |
Replacement Bill Brown grew tired of his old scarecrow, broomstick leg and extended arms, tattered coat and straw-filled head, and crows attracted by his perching charms. Built him a new one from his wife's old frock, gave her a bag and a bonnet atop, threw up an arm as if hurling a stone, and the crows flew away with never a stop. Line count: 8 Rhymed abcb For Express It In Eight, 07.31.24 Prompt: As per illustration. |
Don’t Follow Me A follower I once was but gave it up because no one’s feet were gold their plans would always fold. I tried being a leader never liked being a feeder felt bled like being a donor so now I’m just a loner. Line count: 8 Rhymed couplets For Express It In Eight, 07.30.24 Prompt: Quote from Ellen DeGeneres re following paths. |
You Don’t Really Mean That It’s a losing battle I know but one I have to fight you see I have this need to ensure we get it right. You say it’s only words and don’t elucidate I think it matters more that we communicate. Line count: 8 Rhymed abcb For Express It In Eight, 07.29.24 Prompt: Precision. |
Sadness Seeks Company Well I try to keep a happy outlook on life but, to be honest, the costume doesn’t work these days clowns are only seen in horror flicks and I never had the nerve to be in those. So now I join the line for dinner we’re all down on our luck in this place and people understand me better not that they make any sense to me. Line count: 8 Free verse For Express It In Eight, 07.27.24 Prompt: As per illustration. |
Pursuit I once saw a dog catch a car, he didn’t know what to do; we prob’ly wouldn’t go far, if we caught what we hunted too. We seek the eternal daydream, chase thoughts of money and fame, avid our plans and our schemes, but end in the place whence we came. Line count: 8 Form: Rhymed abab cdcd, and syllables are 8-7-7-8 8-7-7-8, although this was entirely accidental. For Express It In Eight, 07.26.24 Prompt: Write a poem about pursuit. |
Beyond There are more things on heaven and earth than Horatio ever dreamed; there are wonders of unutterable worth beyond possible, or so it seemed. Does it not make you wonder, tear credence asunder, build castles of air, or just make you stare? Line count: 8 Rhymed abab ccdd For Express It In Eight, 07.25.24 Prompt: Photos of Australia’s tube clouds. |
Porch Pirate Porch pirate, porch pirate, flitting fast, package pincher, postal plucker running past, when we catch you, you’ll be done, say goodbye to illicit fun. Line count: 8 Rhymed abcb For Express It In Eight, 07.24.24 Prompt: Photo of thief stealing delivered packages. |
Otherworld In the land of peppermint streams where the buffalo perch in the well the trees are hung with American dreams and the day begins with a bell. Bert the magic dragon sings like some indignant loon and overhead the skies do swing round the sun, a bright balloon. Line count: 8 Rhymed abab For Express It In Eight, 07.23.24 Prompt: Video of the sun falling from the sky. |
Ode to Cartoons Oh, Daffy Duck, we’re out of luck, and now it seems, at least in dreams, that it’s manga, a dropped clanger, rhinoceros, preposterous! Line count: 8 Rhyming couplets For Express It In Eight, 07.21.24 Prompt: Write a preposterous poem. |
Fingerprints on an Abandoned Rail It’s about time this humble little rhyme all the years that have passed and what our futures cast like shadows on the wall mere spectres of us all we leave a phantom trail of prints upon a rail. Line count: 8 Rhymed couplets For Express It In Eight, 2024 Prompt: It’s about time. Note: “Fingerprints on an abandoned rail” is a quote from Bob Mortimer that just fits for some unknown reason. |