Best Arlene Poems
Who was that masked man?!?
Brian Williams, rides again.
He was in Amilia Earhart's plane;
even rode with the Dalton Gang.
The day the Titanic went down;
In the rescue boat when Rose was found.
He went on expeditions with Louis and Clark.
Once gave his seat to Rosa Parks.
He was actually the first man in space.
That shadow on the moon........ It's his face!
The earliest woman, they deemed to be
bones in the desert they named Lucy.
She was his niece, tho she drug her knuckles,
so he really is a monkey's uncle!
He walked miles and miles on the Trail of Tears;
wondered the desert with Hebrews for forty years.
He dated Cleopatra; drank wine with Moses;
gave the Queen of Sheba a camel and roses.
He's walked with Bigfoot in the hills;
been bitten by vampires, but magically heals.
He has had great adventures of every kind.
He's Brian Williams; a legend in his own mind.
Maybe I can be one of those news cast stars.
This is Arlene, reporting from mars........
Couldn't resist this little tribute to the wild stories of reporter Brian Williams who was fired for seemingly padding up his stories....
Categories:
arlene, silly, slam, drug,
Form:
Rhyme
Do not judge me, you have not walked in my shoes
Do not judge me, you know not 'the why' or the reason I chose,
This path I took , the decisions I made, did not come easy,
and I was oft afraid.
Much I regret, but can do nothing about,
others I am thankful for, I have no doubt.
The hand of Fate can be cruel or kind,
and often the choices are a test for the mind.
One path can look welcome , with many friends,
the other , quite lonely and with unseen bends .
But sometimes friends are not always true,
they can turn their coats and lose interest in you.
Offtimes the path that you took as a duty
, can reveal a vista of astonishing beauty.
But chose one we must before our life is through
and live with the consequences , of which we may rue.
Arlene Phillips 2019 ©
Categories:
arlene, feelings,
Form:
You melt my butter.
You sop my gravy.
There is no other
like my redneck baby.
You're the frost on my mug;
the salt on my pretzel.
You really squish my mud.
You're the one I want to wrestle.
But if faithful, you're not,
or you be loose and fast;
not Cupid's arrow shot,
but mine, in your ass!
Love, Arlene
Categories:
arlene, funny, funny love, valentines
Form:
Rhyme
Imagination frees imprisoned souls
to soar among the stars on golden wings
or rest upon the moon as gods of night.
To fill yourselves with grandeur, close your eyes.
You're kings and queens to rule enchanted lands
where dragons, wizards, trolls, and knights abound.
Exploring seven seas from fathoms deep
to Neptune's keep, with walls Tahitian pearl.
A mermaid sings for sailors lonesome tunes.
The forest comes alive where fairies play
or shadow monsters loom in silence. Then...
Imagination brings you safely home.
Scansion:
i-MA-gi-NA-tion FREES im-PRI-soned-SOULS
to SOAR a-MONG the STARS on GOL-den WINGS
or REST up-ON the MOON as GODS of NIGHT.
to FILL your-SELVES with GRAN-duer, CLOSE your EYES.
you're KINGS and QUEENS to RULE en-CHAN-ted LANDS
where DRA-gons, WI-zards, TROLLS, and KNIGHTS a-BOUND.
ex-PLOR-ing SE-ven SEAS from FA-thoms DEEP
to NEP-tune's KEEP, with WALLS, ta-HI-tian PEARL.
a MER-maid SINGS for SAI-lors LONE-some TUNES.
the FOR-est COMES a-LIVE where FAI-ries PLAY
or SHA-dow MON-sters LOOM in SI-lence. THEN...
Im-MA-gi-NA-tion BRINGS you SA-fely HOME.
Written by Arlene Smith
July 20, 2024
Contest: For new poets: An exercise in Iambic Pentemeter
Sponsor: Roy Jerden
Categories:
arlene, fantasy, imagination,
Form:
Iambic Pentameter
Four winds whisper;
tricky crossroads.
Consider gingerly,
with the patience of Jobe
and care of the surgeon's scalpel.
A rocky path, or dead end road
entices same as smooth.
One will be lit by truths.
Arlene Smith
01/23/15
Contest: Tarot Cards
Sponsor: Nette Onclaud
No. Four: The hanged man
Categories:
arlene, truth,
Form:
Verse
Do you ever wonder why old people cry?
reasons unknown to you and I
here are some thoughts that come to mind
there are many more I'm sure you will find.
A well loved son killed in the war
now only a photo kept in a drawer.
A family pet who gave so much pleasure
just a precious memory that will live forever.
A silly quarrel with a once dear friend ..
regretted now, but too late to mend.
Little children who once sat on their knee
Now all grown up ,too busy to call,or off on a spree
Holidays and outings with friends and lovers
brings back happy memories of exciting things discovered
.
A day at the races for the first time ever
I chose the winner, you chose the other
I laughed at you and called you a loser
You took the huff and stomped off to the boozer!
Our old cat, Fluff , who caught many a mouse
and scared us to death bringing a live rat in the house.
A chat with a neighbour by the garden gate
unburdening all our woes,
of war and rations friends and allies
and who we thought were foes
Old fiends drifting past in our mind's eye
we thought it would never end and one day would say goodbye
But it does.
That holiday in Spain where you taught me to dance
The Pasadobla, the Tango...or was that in France ?,
Days at the beach when the children were small
building sandcastles , eating ice cream, sunburn and all.
trying to teach them all to swim, the splashing the shrieks, they made such a din.
Our daughter was wed at twenty three
and prouder parents there never could be,
two years later she had a son who did not last the year,
the grief felt by all was immeasurable 'twas almost too much to bear.
Time hangs heavy now I've lost my spouse
the ghosts and memories haunt the house,
so don't wonder as we age lost in memories of times gone by
So now you know why old people cry.
Arlene Phillips 2018 ©
Categories:
arlene, loneliness,
Form:
Rhyme
His long, sleek, diamond clad body,
more coldblooded than vampires;
no second life offered his prey.
Lying in venomous wait,
he'll rattle you with a warning
while aiming his deadly kiss.
Arlene Smith
01/15/15
Contest: Night creatures
Sponsor: Nette Onclaud
No. 2--rattlesnake
Categories:
arlene, animal,
Form:
Verse
Unable to face the future alone;
she longs for happier days.
Kept out by winds of time.
Arlene Smith
02/15/15
Contest: In Praise Of A Kimo
Sponsor: Nette Onclaud
Visual #2
Categories:
arlene, lonely, longing, time,
Form:
Kimo
She was lean, she was mean, a fighting machine.
Sixteen brothers had toughened her up.
She was secret woman, our little Arlene.
Raised on cold kerosene from a cup.
Our mother had passed when Arlene came into the world,
On a horribly stormy and mean October Saturday night.
We all crowded around, as the drama unfurled,
Sixteen brothers, and a dad, oh, so tight.
We dressed her in our best hand-me-downs, the best fellows all around.
And took turns with her feedings, up until a quarter ‘til three.
Dressed in blue overalls, and short-named Arley, she loved to run around.
Like a wild thing, thinking she was a boy, the best she could be.
When she started to school, the teachers wanted her to change F to M,
Thinking she was a boy, a fellow, one of the guys, which she thought she was.
Until one accidentally discovered she was girl, but knew nothing of fem.
Then them teachers started horning in teaching her to cook and sew and stuff.
Pa and us stood helplessly by, as they tried to change Little Arley into a girl.
It was great when she could make delicious chili soup and cheese cake surprise
But we were all irritated at sixteen when she started wearing girl clothes,
And got her eyes on some idiotic seventeen-year-old not-so-great guys.
She went to the prom, and we all followed along in our pick-up trucks and RVs.
She was our baby, and we were not about to let anything change our family’s way.
Five years later we followed her and her new husband to Texas, so he could see.
She was our baby, and we were not going to let her move so far away.
The marriage did not last, and we have lots of reasons and thinking about the why.
But she is home with pa now, safely tucked away, with her wedding dress on the closet door.
Making chili and pastries, and other good stuff like molasses cookies and pumpkin pie.
Home where she belongs, wild and crazy as ever, Little Arlene, we always knew before.
Little Arlene, the best auntie around,
Little Arlene, the one our children adore.
Little Arlene, the best sister we have found,
Little Arlene, home for ever more.
Little Arlene, Little Arlene, Little Arlene!
Categories:
arlene, 2nd grade, 3rd grade,
Form:
Ballade
The blossoms are so beautiful this year,**
but Bob's not here.
The birds are singing sweetly in the trees,
and all around me is a gentle breeze,
but Bob's not here.
My hero battled bravely to the end,
fighting for three long years a cancer rare,
inspired his family and all his friends,
and even strangers happening to be there.
His heart grew larger as he suffered on,
The Lord was truly with him all the way,
and with the ups and downs that surely come,
God's blessings were so evident each day.
Every time I heard a certain song,
his wedding dance song, "The Wind Beneath My Wings",
it touched my broken heart so tenderly,
reminding me that God is in all things.
So many beautiful stories I could tell,
of all the daily blessings that were there,
And, even now, my soul is comforted,
remembering God's goodness, I can share,
"God heals the brokenhearted" is so true,
Each day live thinking you have just this day,
to live upon this earth, so live it well,
The past is gone, tomorrow may not come,
And God is with us in the here and now.
** 2013
Arlene Binner
Categories:
arlene, absence, appreciation, bereavement, blessing,
Form:
Lyric
Somebody mean once asked Arlene
how her routine left her so lean.
Whether drunk or on junk,
if it wasn't for *****
she wouldn't get any protein.
Categories:
arlene, health, parody, satire
Form:
Limerick
Forever in our minds,
Forever in our hearts.
Eternity will be yours,
for to forget we will not.
Many a years you lived,
a presence you once were.
Touched forever the lives of today,
from moments of yesterday.
You gave of yourself everyday,
even though tomorrow will never come.
Missed you will be,
but you will live on.
Generations come and go,
but memories will forever stay.
Dedicated to Ellen Arlene Guy. R.I.P. 1921-2015
©K. Chun 6.18.15
Categories:
arlene, death, eulogy, tribute,
Form:
Free verse
She was just an older lady who I so little knew,
Though people laughed at her, nothing did she do.
She'd go on about her business with not even caring,
While others made fun of the clothes she was wearing.
When she needed to get off the bus at the next stop,
Others tried to trip her, make her things drop.
I couldn't stand the cruelty this lady had to bear
And inside me grew much anger, empathy, and despair.
The next day I watched for her as I saved for her a seat
For I vowed to myself the day before would not again, repeat.
When she came onto the bus, I invited her to sit
Next to me knowing the others would then mock me too, a bit.
Somehow, it didn't matter, their words being directed
Cruelly at me as I was then too another one rejected.
We talked and got to know each other the length of her ride
And that day I made a friend so beautiful inside.
We made plans to meet for coffee later on in the eve,
As we tuned out the bullies who wished for us to grieve.
It was the start of a friendship that lasted twenty years
And we laughed and cried together through both and many tears.
She has gone to Heaven now and how I miss her presence here.
Who'd have ever thought that on a bus ride, I'd meet one so dear.
She'll be forever in my thoughts, forever in my heart
And in heaven there are no bullies to keep her set apart.
My dear friend, Arlene, this one's for you.
Thanks for being my friend, always so true!
The animals you treasured, your entire crew,
Are I'm sure in Heaven right there with you.
2018-04-22 14:03:00 (EDT)
Written for 'NEW POEMS ONLY - 2 - Poetry Contest'
Sponsored by Emile Pinet
Categories:
arlene, anti bullying, bullying, friendship,
Form:
Rhyme
Sun sinking in pastels,
kissing the horizon;
a familiar vision.
Her knees weaken.
A special place to them;
first kiss shared on this pier.
He proposed to her here.
Comforting thoughts.
As she walks to the end;
last time with him to view
the evening sea's deep blue,
she lifts the urn.
Written by Arlene Smith
July 09, 2014
Contest: On the pier
Sponsor: Nette Onclaud
Categories:
arlene, farewell, love, sorrow,
Form:
Verse
I went to the Dragons to try and make a deal.
I didn't consider, how scared I would feel.
On the tables beside them, were piles of cash.
I became so nervous, I broke out in a rash.
Tongue tied I fumble, my ideas unclear.
How in the world, did I ever end up here.
Jim from Boston Pizza, a former RCMP
Said if he had his cuffs, he would arrest me
Then Mr Wonderful, not such a friendly guy
Said my idea was so bad, it made him want to cry
Arlene was a little nicer, yet still said that she was out
My confidence was shot, I felt like such a lout
Robert Herjavic said " don't quit your day job".
I could take no more, I started to sob!
If you have an idea, be sure you prepare
As for me happy, to get away from there
Dragons Den is a Canadian show where entrepreneurs
present ideas to Millionaires in hopes they will invest
in their business or idea. This is thankfully not a real
life experience.
Categories:
arlene, fire,
Form:
Couplet