Three funny guys, Curly, Larry, and Mo
Slapstick comedians, you all must know
But there are three circus clowns
Who create mayhem and frowns
The crowd calls them Corny, Hairy and Schmo
Corny thinks he's the wily ring leader
Acting as if he's a Walmart greeter
Talking like he's really cool
But people laughed at the fool
Gobbled by the lion called 'Man Eater'
Hairy can be a bear when in pursuit
Got his name from being very hirsute
He was threatened with a shave
If he refused to behave
He bit off his tongue and now is a mute
Sad has become the life of flunky Schmo
He feeds peanuts to monkeys in the show
Since he lost his two friends
Finds himself at loose ends
Three circus clowns; each one was a bozo
The wheel of the ship
spinning 'round
out of control, the
captain below deck
spitting vitriol, first
mate and deckhands
at loose ends, no
orders or goal...
all coming undone
beached on a
barren rocky atoll
Examine 2018 and spin it around
Stand it on its head; turn it upside down
Thank back all the way to its start
Now that the time has come to part
Was it 'Ho-hum?" -- just another year?
Or was it precious? Was it dear?
How much did you actually achieve
How much unfinished did you abandon and leave?
Did you bring a smile or two to a strange face
Did you add any value to the human race?
Did you stay in touch with treasured friends
Did you shore up relationships that were at loose ends?
Did you keep any significant resolutions
Or did you grant yourself absolution?
Did you help make this world a wee bit better
Or reflecting on the year gone by, would you rather forget her?
Retirement comes, I'm at loose ends,
But blessed to have some loyal friends
From work, from church, from family,
And tennis, gym less formally,
A men's group too for two decades,
My social life had no blockades.
I hadn't started writing yet,
So not so many friends from Net.
In gyms, I met folk quite devout
For staying fit and working out.
I'd never been an athlete,
At first, routines were quite a treat,
Pumped iron and swam and grew quite strong,
But pressed too hard and worked too long,
Was plagued in fact by injury,
This latest gig a misery.
Wrecked both my shoulders swimming laps,
The older prone to such mishaps?
I know this now but then naive,
Sought no advice, did not conceive
My older body worse for wear,
Would soon require high-priced repair!
Each shoulder took six months to mend,
One wiser might not want to spend.
A health investment worth the price,
But time regained, I'd seek advice,
Before pursuing fitness so,
More balance lead to healthy glow
(Though I don't make Charles Atlas proud.)
Dare I to say these words out loud?
Just health! What need have I for fame!
Let me be me, where is the shame?
Brian Johnston
15th of June 2018
Sometimes in relationships our love defeats our lust, but sometimes not;
Sometimes in relationships our peace is kept by trust, but sometimes not.
Sometimes in relationships we, each to each, are hurt and held and healed;
Sometimes in relationships we share our heart and mind, but sometimes not.
Sometimes we are lost lovers, our lives blaze with brighter bursts of passion;
Sometimes we are best friends, we balance with compassion, but sometimes not.
Sometimes we are up-in-arms night and day, our battles are fought and won;
Sometimes we are at-loose-ends and struggle to be one, but sometimes not.
Sometimes we are with others, together we entertain family;
Sometimes we are you and me; two is good company, but sometimes not.
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.