Needed: unsung heroes, with no need for fame.
Be a piccolo or cymbal in the symphony of rain.
—by poet
Single Drop
jumping into single drop
landing with a belly flop
dancing with all, dousing land
Spring’s crush inside portioned crop
Daisies twisted into fantasy crowns and jewelry.
Honeysuckles permeating the nose, golden-buttery.
Sweet Honesty, when I was fresh and summery.
My spirit was the frenetic wind, a new storm exciting.
Shades of purple-yellow-green-pink polish, engaging.
Loose, the elbows-knees-hips-ankles-neck, sashaying.
Belly flop onto a gorgeous garden spread, a teen’s bed.
A record-player, all my own, spinning vinyl, ‘fore I wed.
What’s for dinner, left up to my mom; memories embed.
When wishes, were strewn in every direction, the seeds
of dandelions…when a natural glow, not internal, beads
lit up my face. Life before me, without a glimpse of weeds.
Now, I see clearly, the fresh trek of my progeny, assessing
various paths, as if there’s a purport that they’re following.
The fragrance of a bridal train; wisteria of vibrant blessing.
Have you ever seen a duck come in to land… on land
It’s an eventuality that nature never planned
For ducks that land on water such a graceful splashdown make
But should they land on terra firma… it sure ain’t Swan Lake
Each one does a belly flop, a cartwheel and a stagger
They get up and compose themselves, but ducks weren’t made to swagger
They have no shame so simply waddle with ungainly gait
Toward the back door of my house where they all stand and wait
This morning there were six of them, I watched them all crash down
“They’ll need a pint or two of seed,” I muttered with a frown
Their heads were first to hit the deck, their rumps stuck in the air
I went out with a jug of seed to find them gathered there
As I stepped outside I felt like Moses on the shore
The ducks made space for me to walk and not a hair’s breadth more
Two partridges were standing by and I also fed those
And when the pecking finished, well, I almost checked my toes.
Bird seed by the quarter-gallon gobbled up each time
I wouldn’t mind but it ain’t half a kilo for a dime
But it gives me pleasure and as I stood there this morn
Two more kamikaze ducks crash landed on my lawn.
Children run to piles of raked leaves
a gift of lightness
belly flop carnival
escapist pleasure
that lifts laughter
skyward
in waves
hands full of red leaves
thrown aloft
like small torches
messy play
beyond the reach of disapproval
erasing the confinement
of autumn's
cramped, cold canvas
cheeky innocence
in a fearsome world
that wants everything back
to the way
it was
Poem composed: November 30, 2020
Miniature Bats with big blinky eyes batting butterscotch kisses
Baby belly flop Frogs that happily hop and squiggling Lilliputian Octopi
Tiny hats on Teensy Teddy Bears casting star bright wishes
Squeezable short-legged Dinky Dogs that are eating Pie-In-The-Sky
Lil' Bitty Butterflies that spread their wings like a whizzing carnival ride
Pocket Size Pixies dusting Boxcar Buggies with carts that whirl and glide
Baby Grins that play hide and seek with every Peek-A-Boo Lullaby
To my chagrin and giggles, heavenly hearts fly off to Lollipop Skies
The itsiest-bitsiest, mini-infinitestimal treasure that is never seen as it is
magically small
Is the giddiness and joy of cuteness that brings so much happiness to us all!
July 17, 2019
Miniverse Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Nina Parmenter
Mr. Brenun Lays Pro--
boscis, a belly flop, said:
"No tax read my lips"
no one could read them at all
coz, both mantled by his nose!
Do not play with Arabian poetics ;)
Not quite as thin and nimble being middle-aged,
Jack entered the Ironman contest feeling brave,
trying to jump over the candlestick,
he fell into it doing a split,
with his privates requiring a little first aid,
Then he had to jump over a paddling pool,
he gave a running start as best he could,
falling and doing a big belly flop,
the gigantic wave he caused didn't stop,
the audience all at once looking like a used wet mop,
Then came the ships tall mast,
he ran and ran and jumped as best he can,
falling and landing on the poop deck,
where he landed was appropriate,
because in his pants he had a slight "accident,"
Next thing you know
he had to jump over the planets and stars,
instead he jumped in his car and yelled out,
"Are you people crazy, what do I look like,
an astronaut or a cow!?!
Next morning at all the stores,
there was a snapshot on the nursery rhyme
rag paper of Jack and his sores,
sticking his tongue out and doing a
raspberry to the reporters,
with the caption saying "Jack too old and fat,
winner of contest is now Jack Sprat!"
Wide wings with dark fingery tips
Fan tail of duplicate feathers
From beneath: a small white bird, wearing a glamorous white-grey-brown coat
A black moon sits in the middle of staring round yellow eyes
It descends – gliding down towards the still lake
Its claws are moved in front, when its reflection can be seen more clearly
A tidy belly flop landing on the lake breaks the majesty of its descent
Wide wings flap, in almost slow motion, as it struggles to regain flight
Astute wrestles with the underwater
Two final flaps takes it to air
Struggling was not in vain
An obese salmon twitches as it is carried across the lake – virtually at death
A thick black talon in the chest of the fish, causes its death and its disablement
Rewarded
Emotionless
Professional
One hundred feet of yellow plastic,
that's how long it seemed to me.
Stretching from the picnic table,
on past that grand pear tree.
Water flowing from a garden hose,
kept the surface slick and wet.
And there I was, first one in line.
Was I ready? You bet!
One, two, three. Get ready, set and go.
Run towards it with all my might.
A belly flop and off I go,
down that Slip-N-Slide, out of sight.
Grass stained knees and sunburned face,
all worn out from all the fun.
Now it's time to say goodnight,
Can't wait 'til tomorrow comes.
9/2/12
A belly flop, I was dared to do
After my beer, I headed for the pool-
A diving board jump!
Enormous splash- all my plump
Bystanders drenched, Me- feeling like a fool.
Next time they want a boisterous cheer,
Hopefully not until next year-
No more jelly belly
Stay away from the deli
I'll dive like a swan-with tight new gear~!
*Alternative ending; with a tight new rear~!
9th place in the "Battle of the Bulge Limericks" contest by
Carolyn Devonshire.
A. Green
we hid beneath the lilac forts
our books in hand
cool and dark we read and dozed
made up stories
looked for fairies
when the hot afternoon passed
we came on out
ready for some cold water
whats for dinner
lets go swimming
and Dad would meet us at the pool
big and handsome
we knew to swim just out of his reach
paddling furiously
and then
the big belly flop
he was in!
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