Today's poet

[Mossdog]

Crikey! Here's another one by the same bloke - really it requires a health warning or a helpline number afterwards, so you've been warned and i take no responsibility for the consequences. blah, blah, blah (hide all the sharp implements if you're of a sensitive persuasion).

a smile to remember


we had goldfish and they circled around and around
in the bowl on the table near the heavy drapes
covering the picture window and
my mother, always smiling, wanting us all
to be happy, told me, "be happy Henry!"
and she was right: it's better to be happy if you
can
but my father continued to beat her and me several times a week while
raging inside his 6-foot-two frame because he couldn't
understand what was attacking him from within.

my mother, poor fish,
wanting to be happy, beaten two or three times a
week, telling me to be happy: "Henry, smile!
why don't you ever smile?"

and then she would smile, to show me how, and it was the
saddest smile I ever saw

one day the goldfish died, all five of them,
they floated on the water, on their sides, their
eyes still open,
and when my father got home he threw them to the cat
there on the kitchen floor and we watched as my mother
smiled

[Hes]

two seven hour flights
upgraded to first on second
champagne tested good


arrived China safely
now it's tomorrow, I think
feels like yesterday

Hurray!!!! You didn't let us down, thanks DT. Hope you recover from the jetag soon.

[Mossdog]

Moss Dog, this is really meaningful and I like it a lot. I love the last line...I feel that way too. Finding out what is important in life, feeling in harmony with nature but also in awe and putting humanity back into perspective.

Thanks Hes. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that there are so many kindred spirits on this thread.

[southernsoftie]

I wonder if this thread is ready for charles Bukowski.....????????, little bit dark like etc etc

Eulogy to One Hell Of A Dame


i think this is beautiful in a rather macabre way....well it sure aint robert frost!

Is it just me, or does any one else want to meet this 'dame'?

[Derby Tup]

Hurray!!!! You didn't let us down, thanks DT. Hope you recover from the jetag soon.

10.25pm here and feeling better already. tested should have read 'tasted'

[Mossdog]

One of my favourites by the Bard of Salford, John Cooper Clarke. I've seen him several times live and if you like him and get chance to see him, go as you'll love him. Sharp and very very funny

fasten your seatbelts says a voice
inside the plane you can't hear no noise
engines made by rolls royce
take your choice
...make mine majorca

check out the parachutes
can't be found
alert those passengers
they'll be drowned
a friendly mug says "settle down"
when i came round i was gagged and bound
...for Majorca


and the eyes caress
the neat hostess
her unapproachable flip finesse
i found the meaning of the word excess
they've got little bags if you wanna make a mess
i fancied Cuba but it cost me less
...to Majorca


(Whose blonde sand fondly kisses the cool fathoms of the blue mediteranean)

they packed us into the white hotel
you could still smell the polycell
wet white paint in the air-conditioned cells
the waiter smelled of fake Chanel
Gaulois... Garlic as well
says if i like... i can call him "Miguel"
...well really


i got drunk with another fella
who'd just brought up a previous paella
he wanted a fight but said they were yella'
...in Majorca


the guitars rang and the castinets clicked
the dancer's stamped and the dancer's kicked
it's likely if you sang in the street you'd be nicked
the double diamond flowed like sick
mother's pride, tortilla and chips
pneumatic drills when you try to kip
...in Majorca


a stomach infection put me in the shade
must have been something in the lemonade
but by the balls of franco i paid
had to pawn my bucket and spade
next year I'll take the international brigade
...to Majorca

Snigger. Thanks for the mood change DT. Really enjoyed it.

[Mossdog]

Is it just me, or does any one else want to meet this 'dame'?

Sounds like she'd take a lotta handling SS - dead or a live!!!!!!!!!

[Hes]

Crikey! Here's another one by the same bloke - really it requires a health warning or a helpline number afterwards, so you've been warned and i take no responsibility for the consequences. blah, blah, blah (hide all the sharp implements if you're of a sensitive persuasion).

a smile to remember


we had goldfish and they circled around and around
in the bowl on the table near the heavy drapes
covering the picture window and
my mother, always smiling, wanting us all
to be happy, told me, "be happy Henry!"
and she was right: it's better to be happy if you
can
but my father continued to beat her and me several times a week while
raging inside his 6-foot-two frame because he couldn't
understand what was attacking him from within.

my mother, poor fish,
wanting to be happy, beaten two or three times a
week, telling me to be happy: "Henry, smile!
why don't you ever smile?"

and then she would smile, to show me how, and it was the
saddest smile I ever saw

one day the goldfish died, all five of them,
they floated on the water, on their sides, their
eyes still open,
and when my father got home he threw them to the cat
there on the kitchen floor and we watched as my mother
smiled

I love that about this thread, it's not all rhyme and romance but gritty reality and it makes you think. Thanks Freckle and Moss Dog. Some great choices today.

[Mossdog]

someone may have to change the tone at some point with something fluffy...

How about this?...

A poem by Mrs. Miller’s and Mrs. Gilbertson’s classes:

Animal Sounds

Birdies tweet.
Cats meow.
Donkeys bray and
kids say “Wow!”

Lions roar.
Poodles bark.
Children giggle
in the park.

[Mossdog]

or...Please Don't Kill My Antelope

Please don't kill my antelope,
He hasn't bothered you.
He hasn't kicked you in the shin
Or spit inside your shoe.
He hasn't bitten off your nose
Or stomped on your rear end.
Please don't kill my antelope,
My antelope's my friend.