Russia outproduced the U.S. in artillery, in industry for war
The targets were in Ukraine, deaths that we deplore
The Russians haven't used nukes, Putin didn't allow
The missiles hit in another hemisphere:
for now.
China fortifies its island chains across the southern sea,
Building silos where nuke missiles will be.
It demands Taiwan, it hopes we will kowtow.
A buildup like we've never seen:
for now.
Jihadis rule Afghanistan and Syria too
Imposing in Africa a different world view
Nobody to stop them, will West Africa bow?
I might as well plant begonias:
for now.
Jews have been killed for being Zionist
I have to hope I'm not on some list
I see violence on TV, no sword into a plow
And the raging ocean laps my toes:
For now:
I try to maintain balance on a rope
It's not that I have a false hope
There are bills to pay, paths to wander
Limited time that I don't want to squander
I dread "now" when it finally becomes "then"?
When the storm front faces, when the bear leaves the den.
When we have to fight, but I don't know how
When what we hoped to avoid, becomes imminent now.
A brawl broke out at the local plant sale
The normally meek started to flail
Their begonias and orchids around
Geraniums were ripped right out of the ground
Look at them wrong and they'll fight you without fail.
bumblebee bertie
belongs beyond begonias
buzzing beautifully
Pigeon
A pigeon (with
baking powder all over her on the
backyard deck chair next to
the pot of
begonias once told me, ‘To
provoke public opinion against or
for anything all you have to do is
press your elbows together.’ A
dumbfounded Oh was
my reaction.
Two Bees or Not To Be
Bumble bees buzz busily
In Betty’s big back yard
Balmy breezes blow in from the bay
Beautiful the butterflies
That flutter here and there
Bluebells and begonias gently sway.
Beyond the far horizon
Below the setting sun
Bobbing boats upon the water blue
And far above the seagulls soar
Bemoaning with their cries
Two inconsequential mortals,
Me and you
Rosey, had a rose of course
And Dan had Dandelions.
Sonny sought out Sunflowers
And Pete perfumed Petunias.
Maisey dreams of Daisys,
Cyrus clings to Iris.
Pops loves Poppys everywhere and
Viola vies for Violets.
Amy loves the Amaryllis
While Dolly dallies Dahlias.
Don’t miss Miss Chrysanthemum or
Aly’s awsome Alyssum.
James with Jasmine ran and
Percy picks the Jersey Lily.
Casey cares for Camelia and
Phyllis leaps through Lilies.
Angie’s all “Angelica” while
Bob boasts of Blossums.
Fiona’s Flora flies and
Abe craves more Azalea.
Beatrice bathes in Begonias and
Cassie crafts with Calia.
Goodness, 300 flowers or more!?
Oh distain, I’m out of names!
No more room for blooms
I’ll stop meddling, and “petal” on.
The thick numerous shoots of grass have come out,
no more snow shovels til late autumn comes about.
I hear the robins chirp as they tend their nests,
wait....the sound of a cranky lawn mower chugging
to life from its winter's rest!
Quickly, dear, go out and mow before everyone else
does!
our yard needs to look perfect, 'cuz-
the neighborhood spring lawn mowing wars have
just begun,
it's quite serious, not so much fun.
Yard envy is so common in our subdivision,
The HOA "Yard Of The Month" prize brings derision.
If the young couple who just moved in across the
street think their landscaping is the best,
my roses and begonias will put them to the test.
Hubby can't start the riding mower,
he's cursing its parentage midst dandelions
and clover.
The other men in the cul-de-sac are already
halfway done,
as their wives bring out iced tea for them
under the strong sun.
Well, well, tomorrow is the neighborhood
block party,
I've already made an array of warm weather
dishes so hearty,
My potato salad and baked beans will surely
be the envy of the other cooks,
it is in the good 'ol American spirit-
to compete and be a smug schnook! ~
Written: May 07, 2024
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
he peppered peony
petals, poems ...
past my path
scattered starlight, songs,
moonstones …
spaning my spine
friendship fell
in felicity.
hush the bee hum in
my hooters were hazel
Begonias bloom
bound
silent songs
strum my sternum
funneled fairly
fetching forward!
fettered
gramophone of love
My haven is my special place to relax and unwind
Where the fragrant geraniums and begonias are divine
Blooms in colors of pinks, purples, oranges and reds
Petunias in pots and perennials in a stone walled bed
Colorful bird houses hang in the nearby trees
Bird feeders and bird baths displayed to appease
Beautiful songbirds visit to nest, drink and feed
Rare birds sometimes appear perched at the seed
I love to sit in my oversized outdoor rocking chair
While listening to birds sing in the fragrant air
My fountain trickles and makes soothing sounds
Peacefully attracting more species to my grounds
Hummingbirds zoom by as they frolic and play
Stopping to sip nectar, then quickly fly away
My backyard is my haven and my favorite space
A place to unwind, relax and warmly embrace
they think they are being sneaky
but… their giggling gives them away
the pink begonias are shaking with mirth
I see their silk hats with pretty bows
chipmunks are awesome!
I do not see the house at first, I see the bird feeders and a fat cat.
The striped beast lies in wait on the path to Aunt Marvel's house.
Like an intimidating guard dog, probably aware of the chubby robins
The scene is beautiful with foxglove, daisies, marigolds and bluebells.
Johnny jump ups, begonias, and lilies delight the air with fragrance.
Past the cat I see Aunt Marvel's pretty gingerbread house, it suits her.
Painted in a gorgeous peach that takes nothing away from her garden.
“Flower Gorilla won’t bite you!” She yells from the porch. “Come on up!”
Big black bugs
Beasts and
Butterflies
Befitting
Betsy’s
Beauty
Betting
Beyond
Belief
Both
Boys
Begin
Betting
Bigtime
Believing beyond belly laughs and sunbeams
They both traveled by boat and bird into Bali
Brave buccaneers breezing along brilliantly
Bye! We bellowed Big buds
Buried beside boy began by
Beseeching both beyond a
Bigmouthed bee be bright?
Boisterous bigwigs buried both basic beliefs
Butterflies and bumblebees began blowing
Bubbles amid bumper crop of begonias.
Wild, red roses undulate, in the windswept way,
Purple peonies flutter, along the breeze highway,
Blue and pink daisies waltz, in pathways of sun,
Delicate lilies waver, in gentle cream commotion.
Green grasses ripple, going to hued sunset end,
And orange begonias quiver, in a gold weekend,
Black and red irises shake, under bluest of blue,
As peach dahlias quake, on lanes fresh and new.
Clap your hands, sing with joy for warm spring is here.
Swallows are the first to arrive now the sky is clear,
Purple Martins perform aerial acrobatics
To snap up flying insects as is their tactics.
Chickadee small and pretty songbirds enthral
But the goldfinch is the most beautiful of all.
Below a dazzling garden so well designed,
Each patch adorned with fragrant flowers all lined
With special flowers of every marvellous pansies,
And in each patch, you'll find flowers which one fancies,
Impatiens, begonias, petunias, delightful in the breeze,
While all around work is began by pollination by the bees.
28 April 2022
Spring Rhyme - 8-12 Lines Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Tania Kitchin
Placed 2
Green was the theme, mainly green and blue
then came you
in your floral dance and open mouths,
red insect-eating lips. snaky tongues
big, bold, and subjectively pretty,
objectively fleshy,
lushly, lustful, lapping at life.
The sun adopted the new
grey turned greyer next to you.
Blooming bouncing behemoth begonias
yet uncultivated, all hungry to suck the soil,
burst breeding seeds, pollinate, infiltrate,
dominate, habituate, inflate.
Then when the small ape-like manikins
(proto us),
began to populate
they picked you.
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