Best Atari Poems
It started quite some time ago
His name was Pitfall Harry
I learned of bits and algorithms
On a 2600 Atari
And then there came Nintendo
It began my end I think
For I had to rescue Princess Zelda
As a courageous lad named Link
I peered at that screen for hours
Each puzzle, each riddle, each stage
And Gannon was no match for me
My frenzied button rage
The torch then passed to Genesis
And with it Altered Beast
Addicted to those graphics
My life outside had ceased
Compulsion soon would fade
I slowly began to bore
Then Sony created the gamers dream
To brilliant to ignore
Dazzled bye amazing play
lost for a year or two
Acting as an exercise scarecrow
And girl repellant too
So now I have no gaming system
But it seems that my PC
Is the summit of Geek Mountain
And that's where you'll find me.
-------------------------------------------
That last line written years ago
Such games are no longer fun
For Im filled with glee and happy to be
Reaquainted with the sun
Categories:
atari, funny, nostalgia, science, social,
Form:
Rhyme
Daley Thompson's Decathlon
A game that made your fingers throb
And Pacman was an intriguing game
A mission of sticking things in his gob
Who could ever forget Space Invaders
A quest to blitz the monster's before you were reached
And Donkey Kong was a journey towards the animals breach
The last 20 years have been a video game extravaganza
From the Atari to the PS3
And Nintendo and XBOX have followed suit
But made board games obsolete
They have fastly become the 21st century babysitter
Able to hypnotise your child with ease
And catapult them into a fantasy world
Where gladiators are killing giant cheese
This extravaganza is no laughing matter
We need to fight against this electronic regime
Instead of paying £39.99 for things like FIFA 13
It's time to take back our children
Allow them to be innocent again
And rather than locking them a way in a room
Take them to the park again
Categories:
atari, childhood, funny, growing up,
Form:
Rhyme
I’ll always remember the things that we did,
When you were my dad and I was your kid.
You were everything then that I wanted to be,
And you’re fully the reason why I became me.
We drew Indian villages on big cardboard sheets,
And on Sunday evenings we’d have midnight feasts.
You would toast us a crumpet on the fire with your fork,
You would play the Atari whilst I would just talk.
I would sit on the side while you made us both toast,
Whilst I told you wild stories of some made up coast,
You encouraged my dreaming and imagination,
You helped me to learn and embrace education.
You worked all hours going to put food on the table.
But you always made time to play games when you’re able.
All the kids in the area joined our huge snowball fights,
And most still remember you taught them to ride bikes.
We had all that we wanted and then some more on top,
With a legendary dad who was cream of the crop,
And as we grew up, and as we became men,
You were best friend and confident and then dad again.
If ever I needed advice or a moan,
You would always be there on the end of the phone,
You would listen for hours and though nothing was solved,
You would focus my mind, my belief and resolve.
You’re my teacher, my mentor and my happy place,
And though you leave us too soon there’s a smile on my face,
For your legacy shows how you’ve relished this life,
Leaving four loving sons and your Gail, your wife.
It’s so hard as I write this and say my goodbyes,
I will miss you for always and have many more cries.
But I want you to know whilst you’re leaving is sad,
How grateful I am to have had you as my dad.
In all I’ll achieve and the places I’ll see,
You’ll always be there seeing it right with me,
And if I’ve one regret, one thing I didn’t do,
It’s becoming a Dad who is loved just like you.
I owe you more than words; till we meet again old man.
Categories:
atari, cancer, dad, death,
Form:
Blank verse
As the only large cat with a voice I roar from within my solitude
Prowling with swagga and a side of attitude
My voice is wild game's command
Order in the kingdom is my superior demand
Backed clearly by my teeth and claws
They call me Wisdom and I'm here to lay down the law
I stalk the cantelope
Terrorize the antelope
"Why in the world..." you may ask
Feeding my cubs is my task
I roam from Argentina to the African Safari
My name is bigger than the historical Atari
To mankind I am a beast
In my pack I am a leader at the very least
Upon my hunters i seek revenge
Upon these lands I shall avenge
Less fortunate creatures line the shore of the creek
Stir not as this black panther speaks
For I am the most fierce of all
Disobedience shall be their death call
Categories:
atari, voice, voice,
Form:
Epic
grandma's potato pancakes
reminds me of my wooden tennis racket
along with my three wheeler big wheel
drench however many with butter and some warm,
equally buttery grits and my stomach thanks me for his
sleeping bag warmth and indulgence
there was a time when saturday morning meant something
and professional wrestling was a serious sport though physical theater
merry-go-rounds were at every park and high dives were at every public pool
memories and delectable delights overtake my mind with no resistance or struggle
one radio station was all i needed to get through the day
ten dollars filled a gas tank and arcades were everywhere
poems were not in my mind but instead was within the atari 2600 of decadence
the fried chicken plays a rare groove from somewhere, and i realize that i cleaned my plate
Categories:
atari, memory, remember,
Form:
Free verse
Milltown, Shawsbridge in the 1980's...
When the sun had possession of the season
and tarmac was treacled by the temperature.
When we went to war with the wasps
and ventured wide eyed in 'the planties'
to the roped thrall of commandoland.
Back when 'mr freeze pops' and 'cherry coke'
was our sustenance against the beating sun.
When real music blared from ghettoblasters
and parents red raw slurped ice cold harp via can.
When shawsbridge was appealing
and patchworked in vibrant beach towels,
folks clustered in defeat of the sun.
Back when the Barclay had an arcade machines
and we cross pollenated each's bedrooms
to play Nes, Atari and Amstrad CPC 464.
Back when our longsuffering knees
were raw to the pavement
and rollerboots were means of transport.
When kirby was played and water pistols our means of defence.
Back when reality glimmered....
And summer shone with meaning.
S.J.C
Categories:
atari, childhood, life,
Form:
Light Verse
5/5/17
I know I've been tardy
Let my mom know, I'm sorry
Like 6 dogs said in "flossing"
I know I've been tardy
Let my mom know, I'm sorry
Like 6 dogs said in "flossing"
I know I've been tardy
Let my mom know I'm sorry
Haven't always been thinking smartly
But rather bizarrely and darkly
I've been on a wild goose chase, not a safari
Always getting faded, as if I love to party
And burning through it like Bob Marley
While looking up during nights that are starry
Near and far from the sea
Been feeling like a one man army
Doesn't mean that nothing can harm me
I'd still jump off the top rope like Matt and Jeff Hardy
If another tried to make the ones I love suffer harshly
Then they're the ones that will really be sorry
I'll do much more than karate and making their arm bleed
By causing mental and physical scarring
Vaguely familiar with Atari
And way too old for Barnie
I don't care about the hierarchy
I'll cook you up something hearty
Made with or without some parsley
I know I've been tardy
Let my mom know I'm sorry
Like 6 dogs said in "flossing"
I know I've been tardy
Let my mom know I'm sorry
Like 6 dogs said in "flossing"
By: Dalton Ogletree
Categories:
atari, poetry, rap, word play,
Form:
Rhyme
Barbie, Atari, He-man
Batman, She-Ra, Ronald Reagan
Indiana Jones, and landline phones
The Dark Crystal and around 5.2 billion people
Andre the Giant’s Honeycomb commercial
Rainbow Brite, Jem, and Rose Petal
Welcome to the Jungle, Cheers! Metal
Mike Tyson, Debbie Gibson, Teddy Ruspin
And the best Christmas carolers are Gremlin
Taxi, the DMV Scene, "What does the yellow light mean?"
Young Guns, Russians, Charlie Sheen
Sony’s Walkman, Michael Jackson, and Tom Cruise
What was fake news or social media reviews?
Reebok, Converse and Keds shoes
Glo Worm, Nintendo and playdough
The Burbs, Rambo, and Willow
KB Toys, Sam Goody, And Gemco stores
Return of the Jedi and Disney’s Star Tours
Floppy disk computer and Punky Brewster
The Family Ties and spoiler alert Optimus Prime dies
Updated 5/14/2019
Categories:
atari, nostalgia, remember,
Form:
Pong
First commercially successful
Video game technology
Pong arcade video game
Made by Atari
Loved by millions instantly
Started an 80 billion dollar industry
Pong -no Ping-
Just Pong
Simplistic graphics still astound
Mesmerized by the sound
Blip
Blip
Pong, blip
Blip
Pong, blip
Pong, blip
PONG!!!
Hah! Point made
In the shade!
First to eleven
In Pong heaven
Blip
Blip
Pong, blip
Blip
Pong, blip
Pong, blip
PONG!!!
A social lubricant it became
Relationships formed
Playing the game-
Rocking to our favorite songs
Staying awake all night long
Taking turns playing Pong
Pong -no Ping-
Just Pong
Categories:
atari, childhood, fun, games, memory,
Form:
Rhyme
Atari, Sega
Nintendo, Playstation One
Just reminiscing...
Categories:
atari, adventure, childhood, funny, games,
Form:
Haiku
That first non-rhythmical matter,
Floated on the new dust of light,
To whet the eleventh spark clatter,
Such that its dividend split tight;
A web, a sea of ringed atmosphere,
Then a cob of meteoric compression,
Hurling towards a black collapse here,
To dent the shock supernovas intervention;
With planets duetting their sweeps in silence,
The night is not black and suffers a blow,
Identified deductively but with great nuance,
The waves glinting the bounce and the flow.
God became a man, human to the core,
Not an apple, lamp, priest or Ferrari,
Even though Genesis incepts with lore,
Given god as a construct, apple’s Atari;
Christianity grabs god indeed as a man,
Possibly to concede that a human coasts,
Crucially opening herbs and aromatics fan,
To the differential and to the weaker posts.
Life without a momentum blackadders,
Would not summate to conviviality,
Rejuvenation oscillations sprite the adders,
Ionotrophic energy comes up from banality.
Rhoda Monihan
Categories:
atari, atheist, i am, space,
Form:
Tail-rhyme
Long before Nintendo or Atari were invented,
At birthday time you bugged your folks and maybe they relented
And added to your toys a game you’d coveted, I’d bet:
A marvel made of solid wood, a real Nok-Hockey set!
The game was table-sized, although you’d play it on the floor.
No matter if you won or lost, you always wanted more.
Your wooden stick hit wooden puck and aimed it like a rocket;
The object was to sink it into your opponent’s pocket.
It’s kind of retro now, I guess, or maybe just passé.
It’s not the type of game that modern children like to play;
And that is why the set I saw did not evoke a smile,
‘Cause there it was just sitting on a curbside junkheap pile.
It’s sad to reminisce when all those remnants from the past
Remind us how the years have disappeared so very fast;
And all those things we valued once when we were young and brash,
Just like that cool Nok-Hockey set, get thrown out with the trash.
Categories:
atari, nostalgia,
Form:
Couplet
The Nativity
Macy's Christmas parade
Jingle Bells on a Silent Night
Lionel Trains sets
Anxious and can't sleep
colorful gift wrapping paper
bows and ribbons
large family xmas gathering
Lit Brother's Christmas village (phila)
Fruit cakes and apple cider
Sitting on Santa Claus’s lap
Colorful lights draping the street posts
Crying scared of Santa Claus (myself)
Sears Christmas catalog
New pajamas
Barbie and GI Joe
Christmas carolers’
Decorating the Christmas tree
Rock em Sock em Robots
Snow on Christmas day
Woolworth 5 & 10
Easy bake oven
Last minute shopping Christmas Eve
Peace on earth, good will toward men
GI Joe with the kung fu gripe
three page Christmas list
Cabbage patch dolls
Hot wheels
Toys R US big toy book
Atari
School and church Christmas plays
Teddy Ruxpin
Game boy
No snow on Christmas day
Tickle me Elmo
Power Rangers
Nintendo
Stores sold out
Pre internet
Desperate search for the last Nintendo
Christmas gift bags
Laptops & tablets
Re-gifting
Xbox 360
Gift cards
Extreme Christmas lights
Amazon
Latest I-phone
Hoverboards
Hallmark’s 45 days of Christmas movies
Hoverboards catching fire
Camping out all night
Play station 5
The Nativity
What’s your Christmas memory?
Categories:
atari, christmas, imagination, memory,
Form:
Free verse
Vidtec and US Games were made for the Atari VCS.
Some of them were great while others were a mess.
US Games and Vidtec were a division of Quaker Oats.
But the creators found it extremely difficult to stay afloat.
Their best games were Space Jockey, Commando Raid, and M.A.D. too.
But US Games went out of business just one year after beginning in 1982.
They made several good games; not including Word Zapper.
People should've taken that game and thrown it in the crapper.
Another of their crappy games was Sneak 'N Peek.
The fireman on Towering Inferno looked like he was taking a leak.
When they hit the shelves, they didn't start disappearing.
But the $5.50 price tag at Revco made them endearing.
None of their fourteen games became a hit.
Some liked them while others didn't give a Sh**.
(THIS POEM IS ABOUT GAMES THAT WERE MADE FOR THE ATARI 2600/VCS.)
Categories:
atari, funnygames, games,
Form:
Rhyme
I’ve made a resolution to begin a
new tradition. Maybe something
along the lines of working out at
the gym, for once I’d be in shape
and slim. Oh, to be a muscle girl
able to run a mile without bending
over…dying in hyperventilation,
or creating a tingling sensation.
I’ve made a new resolution to begin a
new tradition. It is probably best
for me to forward my utility bills
to mean Mr. Johnson. Shut off notices
and delinquent days would be over.
I could then save up for that new
one hundred and fifty dollar hair
removal system I’ve always dreamed
of! Side burns bye bye, and I’d finally
be equipped to remove the hair above
my upper lip.
I’ve made a resolution to begin a new
tradition. I’d sell all my Cabbage Patch
dolls on ebay and buy an old Atari system.
I’d sit there and play Pac-Man and Frogger all
day with my brand new puppy I’ve been
dreaming of adopting. The joysticks would
probably confuse me and while playing
Space Invaders I’d most likely die. Even
though I love these games, Asteroids
will always be my favorite.
I’ve made these New Year’s resolutions
not only to benefit myself, but I have
always dreamed of being a tight-abbed,
non-delinquent and hairless woman who rocks
at playing Atari. These things are very
important to me, you know…
New Year's Resolutions Contest
December 18, 2016
Categories:
atari, fun, games, humor,
Form:
Free verse