John Watt Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

Note To Self

Encamped in the local IHOP patio
Doing reconnaissance on the butter pecan syrup
I discern its malicious, aggressive intentions: 
To march defiantly down Mt. Stack
And wage a ruthless attack on
Defenseless over-easy eggs

Acting quickly, I wield my fork 
Digging trenches in my pancakes
I flank the enemy, staving off 
This unprovoked act of aggression
Victory!

Only in that moment do I lift my eyes and notice 
A brood of young sparrows
heralding their hunger
The chevron of hang-gliding geese silently 
sailing to destinations unknown
Majestic Monarchs flitting 
stoically southward
And rival suitors:
An iridescent hummingbird and an industrious bee
Romantically pursuing myrtle blossoms

The canopy of cerulean blue
And all the life within its realm
Resolves my thoughts from war to peace

Note to self:
Don’t forget to look up

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L. J. Carber August 5, 2020 at 9:43 AM It's rare that a poem makes me hungry-- congrats on your top lace, John John Watt August 5, 2020 at 10:06 AM LJ, thanks for your friendly words, now go make yourself some pancakes! ~ John

Regina Mcintosh August 5, 2020 at 9:40 AM Beautifully done, dear friend. Congrats on your well deserved winning placement. God bless you always :) John Watt August 5, 2020 at 10:05 AM Thank you Gina, you make me smile with your uplifting words. God bless you as well ~ John

Beata Agustin August 5, 2020 at 2:19 AM Wow! Congrats! Thanks for sharing this. I'm delighted with your concluding lines... reminding me to trust the Lord. God bless you. John Watt August 5, 2020 at 10:04 AM "Let us lift our eyes to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith", my life verse, Beata. Thank you for your endearing comment ~ John

Sigrid Ermine August 4, 2020 at 3:40 PM Hark the birds are back! Great scenario. We can all see the syrup gushing down into the 'trenches' - good word. ' Cerulean blue' - how delightful! (should I mention it should kick azure out of poems)? Hang gliding and other alliteration boost the readability of your Winner! John Watt August 5, 2020 at 10:03 AM You have very attentive eyes for poetry, Sigrid. I am grateful for your careful read and comments on specific words. Your input helps make poets grow in their abilities and confidence and for that I heartily thank you ~ John

Andrea Dietrich August 4, 2020 at 2:26 PM I just KNEW this was a winner. a very well deserved first place. I am so happy I placed tenth with my little one!! John Watt August 4, 2020 at 9:50 PM I love your confidence, my friend. I'm glad you placed with your Just A Moment poem.

Jan Allison August 4, 2020 at 2:15 PM WOW!!!! you are an exceptional poet and have a golden pen John, many congrats on your win, this is poetry at its best ...into my faves to bite into another day:-) hugs jan xx John Watt August 4, 2020 at 9:46 PM Your wonderful words touch me deeply, my Manx friend. Thank you for the fave and lovely comment. Hugs ~ John

Aditi Mishra August 4, 2020 at 12:40 PM This is brilliant John! Just the perfect example of what I said the other day. You have an outstanding ability to create magic with the mundane and bring out a touching tale and a life lesson with your remarkable wisdom and emotions. Really happy to see this placed at the top. Congratulations on your win dear friend :) John Watt August 4, 2020 at 9:40 PM You really made my day with this heartwarming comment. I love the Impressionist painters for dignifying the ordinary. That's my goal as well. Many thanks, friend.

Paula Goldsmith August 4, 2020 at 12:23 PM Congratulations on your win. Now I want some pancakes with butter pecan syrup. Do I place my order with you???? Guess you will make everyone hungry with this write and picture. Enjoy your win and day.................. John Watt August 4, 2020 at 12:26 PM Would you care for some coffee with your order? Haha, I loved your comment, Paula. Enjoy your day as well ~ John

Sam Kauffman August 4, 2020 at 10:01 AM Congratulations on your first place win John! This is as delicious as it is creative. I love the transition from diving into breakfast to seeing the wonder around you. Well done, dear friend! Sam Kauffman August 4, 2020 at 9:20 PM Hopefully "birds of a feather!" It seems we get the on base "signs!" I love that. And I love the fact that you get what I'm going for. Thank you my friend. Sending you bundles of blessings! John Watt August 4, 2020 at 4:24 PM Sam, thank you for your return visit and ongoing poetry friendship. You always seem to understand exactly what I'm going for.

Line Gauthier August 4, 2020 at 6:21 AM Bravo, John. A FAVE for me and a most deserved top premiere honors for you ~ Congrats !! John Watt August 4, 2020 at 4:18 PM I greatly appreciate your fave and congratulatory comment, Line

John Lawless August 4, 2020 at 5:19 AM This is, as we say in Boston "WICKED PISSA" which is a level up from "WICKED AWESOME". Thanks for playing in the moment.... John Watt August 4, 2020 at 11:27 AM Thanks to you, I learned a new Bostonian saying today! Really appreciate the generous placement and all you do in sponsoring these fun contests, John. Take care and have a great day ~ John

Jennifer Proxenos August 2, 2020 at 7:16 AM I've been wanting to use the word gobsmacked for a while, but my husband put me off. Then I saw it for the first time and I said look, look darling, I can't be too bad, so I am gobsmacked by your awesome poetry, there now I can also use it!. Blessings and hugs, Hoping this is a win in the contest. Jennifer. John Watt August 2, 2020 at 10:29 PM WOW, I'm gobsmacked that you were gobsmacked by this writing, Jennifer! You totally made my day with this wonderful response. Thank your hubby for granting permission, you will always have my permission, haha! So charmed by your comment. Thank you, dear Jennifer.

Kim Rodrigues July 28, 2020 at 6:34 PM Great! I will tell you, you had me with the picture of blueberry pancakes...mmm! Let us bow our heads, give thanks and look up and let the geese not mess up breakfast...lol John Watt July 28, 2020 at 11:08 PM I love that picture too, Kim! Except I couldn't find one with eggs getting syrup on them... oh well. Appreciate you and your sense of fun!

Mark Koplin July 28, 2020 at 6:24 PM well done John, now I'm craving IHOP and I just ordered Dominos after reading Arturo's Great poem John Watt July 28, 2020 at 11:07 PM Save some pancakes for me! Thanks for dropping by with your fun comment, Mark!

Andrea Dietrich July 28, 2020 at 5:36 PM wow, you got a LOT in that little moment, John. I especially loved the description of the syrup and how you tried to rescue your eggs from its attack!! but hey, where are the eggs in the picture? Did you eat them all up? haha . Your poetry is SO great, my friend. John Watt July 28, 2020 at 11:05 PM Well, you noticed what I hoped wouldn't be too obvious, the lack of eggs in the image. Apparently nobody eats eggs and pancakes on the same plate, because I couldn't find a single picture that looks like my messy conglomeration of breakfast foods! Thanks for the fun and complimentary comment, Andrea ~ John

Michelle Faulkner July 28, 2020 at 3:43 PM Sticky sweet blueberry pancakes, savory smoky bacon, creamy eggs - That's my favorite breakfast! I love the 'stack/attack' internal rhyme, and also 'hand gliding geese', 'Majestic Monarchs', 'canopy of cerulean blue' - if this doesn't march to the top of the winner's list, I'll be gobsmacked:) John Watt July 28, 2020 at 11:03 PM Thank you, Nina and Jan, for our new favorite word, 'gobsmacked'. And thank you Michelle for being willing to be gobsmacked, and as always for the wonderful comment ~ John

Ilene Bauer July 28, 2020 at 9:19 AM now THIS is what poetry is about! i love when a moment is captured as perfectly as you've done here, john! should be top of the list in any contest... John Watt July 28, 2020 at 11:00 PM I'm always charmed by your affirmations, my friend! Thank you ever so kindly ~ John

John Hamilton July 28, 2020 at 9:10 AM Ahh the memories of IHOP, it's true gotta watch out for those seagulls they'll steal a pancake when you're not looking, or worse leave their mark on you as they fly overhead,yuck. Nice write very entertaining! John Watt July 28, 2020 at 10:46 PM I'm glad you liked it, John. Thank you for taking time to leave me your encouraging words. You are appreciated.

Charles Messina July 28, 2020 at 5:19 AM Awesome write, John. Very well written my friend. Poetry at it's best! Best wishes in the contest. Charlie John Watt July 28, 2020 at 10:41 PM Thanks for stopping by, Charlie. Your words are beyond kind.

Caren Krutsinger July 28, 2020 at 4:47 AM This is such a wonderful sliver of a terrific moment. Well penned! John Watt July 28, 2020 at 10:41 PM Appreciate the kind comments, Caren!

Tom Cunningham July 28, 2020 at 2:05 AM Love this one, love the note to self, that aerial bombardment would certainly put the damper on things, lol. Good luck in the contest Tom John Watt July 28, 2020 at 10:40 PM Thank you, Tom. Do you have IHOPs in the UK? They are breakfast restaurants very common in the US. Appreciate the words of encouragement ~ John