Best Cautionary Poems
A girl called Lucy loved to trumpet lies
And idle gossip laced her lips with ease.
Tall tales tripped off her tongue to tantalise
Those twitching ears which reddened by degrees.
This filled her honest Mother with despair
‘You wash your mouth with soap’ she often cried.
Young Lucy shrugged it off and did not care -
To those who would do likewise, woe betide!
One day, when she’d amassed an eager crowd
Who circled round to hear the latest slur,
She stood there in the limelight, feeling proud,
When suddenly a fly buzzed near her ear.
How everybody gaped to see it dive
Right into Lucy’s mouth poised open wide,
Then heard her splutter, gasp and vainly strive
To cough it up - she choked and promptly died!
The moral of this tale is do not lie;
When tempted move your upper lip down south.
Then Lucy’s fate will surely pass you by,
Nor fly, nor lie invades a fastened mouth.
18.08.19
CAUTIONARY COUPLETS
I hazard it has many times been said
That we have never lived if we’ve not bled
If you attest a life of no regret
I’ll wager you have never placed a bet
If in your time you never crash and burn
You miss an opportunity to learn
If you forever seek to others blame
Well they may seek to ever wipe your name
If you choose peace at all cost you may see
A subjugated life of tyranny
If love is all, in truth I promise that
With careful seasoning I’ll eat my hat
If you aver you never told a lie
I’ll guarantee the moon’s a pizza pie
If you contend you never commit sin
Then join this club of one, they’ll let you in
A cautionary tale I have for you.
Trust no one that you see on Halloween,
especially whom you’ve opened your door to.
Trickery diabolical I’ve seen.
One Halloween while feasting with a friend
on Reece’s pieces (popular for treats),
the door bell rang. Who knew it was the end
of my poor friend? She thought they wanted sweets.
Three vampires with one alien just said,
“Can you come off your porch?" She was apprised
of someone who was hurt and nearly dead.
She left with them, then vanished. Paralyzed
was I. It was abduction. After dawn
I only found some blood where she had gone!
Oct. 27, 2020 for Emile Pinet's Halloween Challenge Contest
Words used: alien, blood, cautionary, vampires, trickery, abduction, paralyzed , Halloween, feasting, diabolical
An Oracle, ‘’ a cautionary tale’’
The man was called upon to help he went, heart full of love, not his own
but (put there) questions and laughter..are (you surely sent) then test the
spirits was a teaching the ‘‘executive Minister’’ applied, an overriding
rule his intent! Journey down to a little old hall, seemed to rub them up
wrong yet trying (to answer that call) started too early was often the slot
to preach, a new understanding of Christians this treatment did teach, as
the Deacon changed leaders amid small slights and large. Till late in 1991
the Holy spirit took charge..! Psalms 36 verses 1 to seven thru, (n k j)
taking this note to the executive was what he must do, and feeling in a
a condition of de ja vue, just wrote outreach name not feeling worthy
and not wanting to lay blame. 3 months later the Deacon saw red, took
a knife half cut off brother in laws finger a shame, step down the testing
preacher then said, still attending church meetings and opening halls
rolls 10 years on, & the full fulfilment now calls. His son argues with blood
uncle.. Ex-Deacon arrives kills this brother with a shotgun over another
he drives, also shoots him a no more (progeny shot) then he goes to the
slammer to await his lot.!
Copyright Joe Maverick 2011
For the Glory of God & ^Rick Parise’s Oracle contest, I see that this
Contest was not the idea of a man. But Rick is being used to set the
Stage to show Gods prophetic power, the above is a true story I knew
All of the people involved, I believe that this contest fits the saying
That all hidden things will be brought into the light, I have no
Personal knowledge of Rick, yet you would be forgiven for thinking we have
dreamed this opportunity up..! (I submit this work as Gods entry)
Solomon Grundy, Solomon Grundy,
sniffer of glue, when offered, on Monday.
The Tuesday was hash, a whopping great spliff;
on Wednesday took coke, a generous sniff.
For Thursday some crack, the dodgiest brand,
and Friday’s dope needle was quite second-hand.
When Saturday came, a massive OD;
on Sunday it ended, this hedonist spree.
In spite of the blurb you find on a packet,
right up to the end, he thought he could hack it!
~
For Debra's 'Nursery Rhyme' Competition.
There was a chap from Queens
Who loved big bowls of beans.
He ate them with delight
Both morning and night.
Blasting a hole backside his jeans.
At last it has arrived,
let there be no doubt.
That everyone goes crazy
at the Christmas staff night out.
Now Santa took the sleigh.
He did not stop to think.
For that was very foolish
with all that food and drink!
Tooth fairy looked real nice
so did the pantomime dames,
but Grinch was asked to leave
for calling Santa names.
The leprechauns told anecdotes
in the spirit of Bob Hope.
The snowmen all got stoned
by passing round the dope.
Santa told rude jokes!
and some were even funny.
But everyone avoided
that randy Easter Bunny.
Jack Frost he was concerned,
told the Elves what he was thinking.
"That Santa"s getting drunk,
he is doing to much drinking."
When the meal was over,
the MC he did stand .
"Will you welcome live on stage,
The Boogie Man and his band."
The celebrations ended.
"Get on your merry way."
Santa staggered out
to try and find his sleigh.
The reindeer headed home
they knew the way to go.
They did not stop to think,
to take it kind of slow.
Santa started singing
a chorus of Wild Rover.
When flashing lights appeared
and he was soon pulled over.
"Lets see your drivers licence
and please put out that ***."
"Step out of the vehicle
and blow in to this bag."
Oh Santa was locked up.
You should have heard him wail.
"You have to let me out,
you have to give me bail."
His sentence will be soon
lets hope the courts a fan.
For what will happen next year?
If he gets a driving ban.!
Poor old Santa Clause
it is a sorry tale.
He got community service,
instead of going to jail!
By all means leave a carrot.
A glass of milk I think.
But don"t encourage Santa
by leaving out a DRINK!
© Ned Flanders
Trust
true, unwavering
confident certain absolute
belief shattered, changing views
Strength
Blood and Envy - A Cautionary Christmas Poem
By Jude S. Walko
Twas some time after All Hallows Eve.
The roof started to leak like a sieve.
But the buckets of rain,
seem to wash away the pain,
and left young Timmy relieved.
The holidays swiftly descended down,
spreading cheer throughtout his town.
Each caught up in his own,
leaving Timmy completely alone.
Nary even a concerned soul to be found.
Timmy believed he perhaps was forgiven.
But soon realized there were no thanks for giving.
For as the Church bells did sound,
crowds soon gathered around,
and realized the hell which past months, he'd lived in.
Streets formerly filled with mirth,
now appeared, scarlet, as with violent birth.
Timmy looked up with an innoncent plea.
But no forebearance would be given to he.
Indeed there'd be no Peace on his Earth.
Mrs. Plum's legs hung by the fire they'd be,
Her entrails decorated the tree.
We'd soon be remiss,
if her husband we'd miss,
His head apart from its own body.
All Timmy had asked for was a train.
A simple request again and again.
Yet his parents must be daft
as they ignored what he asked
and as a result needed to feel some pain.
When Timmy was asked what he'd done.
He responded with wit and aplomb.
Were they not great providers of he?
Of what other use could they possibly be?
Clearly what was done, must've been done.
Soon the town's tale of Timmy grew epic in size,
of his parents grotesque and untimely holiday demise.
But let it never be said,
that therein a child went to bed
wihtout being quite sure of a Christmas surprise.
A small token of love to a boy.
like a train, some candy, or a toy,
can be used to let demons subside,
reasonably preventing even parricide,
and keeping the season with joy.
And so let the lesson be learned.
An' in your memory it may be burned.
That if a small child should ask,
take upon this small task,
or into a meatpie, promptly be turned.
Technically, not a sea at all,
Lake Superior churns up its share of sea storms.
There is not a lot to do in Marquette, Michigan:
Except for high school drivers to "buzz the gut",
Or cruise past a courthouse where "Anatomy" was filmed.
You could smoke dope or drink underage
Under a disused, fourteen story ore pocket dock.
Rusted off shards of flat black paint
Fall on the gently sloshing waves.
There is a breakwater of dumped cement blocks
That has a chain-linked fence and sign that says,
DANGER! NO TRESPASSING!
But of course, the young ones do.
And better yet if a sea storm comes.
Maritime law forbids including those who drown
As sailors lost at sea.
Once, a little Spanish girl
was given a "regalo" -
a dainty little potted plant,
a purple-petalled mallow.
She set it in a sunny spot,
beneath a southern window,
re-housed it in an iron pot
and named it, "Don Galindo".
She gave it water every day,
and gave its loam a hoeing.
She talked to it and petted it,
and marvelled at its growing.
Her plant rose tall and strong and fine,
rewarding all her labors:
"¡Te quiero!" sighed the little girl:
"¡Que raro!" cried the neighbors.
Joy never lasts, grief always comes,
said someone (maybe Byron?)
Galindo's roaming, ravenous roots
were hemmed-in by the iron.
The fine plant sickened and declined,
all hopes of salvage scuppered:
its lower parts, by steel confined,
could not sustain the upper.
And so, the moral of our tale -
resisting is not giving.
Do not preclude, prevent, prevail -
rigidity's all very well,
but soon turns heaven into hell!
Give in to me -
set us both free -
don't cramp or crowd -
things disallowed
can hardly go on living.
There was a girl called Polly Esther,
the fastest girl from downtown Leicester.
Pre-packaged food was her sole fare,
For healthy meals she had no care.
In the tum for food there's room.
There plastic wrappings end in doom
Herr Heinrich Schneider and his spouse
Felt the need to wander,
And for once to leave their house
For a land that lay far yonder.
Japan at cherry-blossom time!
No better place than this
Enthralled the German couple’s mind.
The chance they would not miss.
"But what of Spezi", Heidi cried,
"We can’t leave him behind."
"Ach! unser Spezi," Heinrich sighed.
"There’s a way we’ll find."
They gave him anti-rabies shots
And medicines galore.
All that red tape, and lots and lots
Of paper-mountains more.
Off to the orient they flew
With hopeful joy and glee.
Oh what wonders bright and new
Would soon enthral all three?
Imperial palaces they saw
And Fuji’s snow-capped summit,
Ornate gardens stirring awe.
You name it, they had done it.
Immersed in culture and in art
They sensed a certain lack.
And so it was that they took heart
To leave the beaten track.
They hired a car and off they went
To some far-distant by-way.
And many a pleasant hour they spent
Till the dying light of day.
They found a cosy place to rest.
On the price they made a deal.
At last a chance to have a "Fest".
The time came for a meal.
The menu was in Japanese,
As well one might expect.
The waiter clearly meant to please
And bowed with great respect.
Of English, German and of French
He had no scrap of knowledge.
He gave each ear a nervous clench.
No, he’d never been to college.
Herr Schneider felt like sauerkraut
And Heidi felt like veal,
Food of this kind they’d do without
Until another meal.
But Spezi’s hunger would not wait.
Herr Schneider eyed the waiter.
"Wuff, Wuff, our Spezi wants a plate.
For dogs one has to cater."
While they sat there, a full hour passed.
Then the waiter brought some dishes.
The Schneiders ate their strange repast,
Which fell short of their wishes.
It was now time to pay the bill,
Which ran to many a yen.
Both were feeling somewhat ill.
and hardly spoke a word, but then -
Heidi cried "Is Spezi back yet?"
"Wuff wuff" did Heinrich bark.
"Please, waiter, tell us, where’s our pet?
In the kitchen? In the park?
A piece of fur the waiter brought.
Then Heidi’s face went pale.
She had a grim and horrid thought
On seeing Spezi’s tail.
What is the moral of this tale?
Down under be a dingo.
Where e’er you roam you should not fail
To understand the lingo.
A happier couple, you could never see.
One blessed day, they would be three.
They'd enjoy a picnic in a park or beach,
Joe and his wife, Molly, a lovely peach.
I would say their lives were very much in check
'Til the day Joe became obsessed with tech.
"Where's our simple life?", Molly would sigh,
"Before electronic gadgets and AI?"
Soon, digital tools would run their life.
Molly was no longer a happy wife.
Joe spent all the money in the cookie jar
To put AI in his TV, watch and car.
Then, these two could never be alone,
Each accompanied by an intelligent phone.
Even their fridge had something to say
As it monitored their diets night and day.
All Joe's devices networked as a team -
To improve the couple's lives, their scheme.
They, of course, knew exactly what to do -
They had more brain power than these two.
This system started acting somewhat strange
As their lives, it would upgrade and change.
Even the navigator on Joe's new car,
Instead of home, drove to his favorite bar.
His phone called Molly to duly report
Joe was having fun with a blonde escort.
The refrigerator told Joe to discard
Conventional wisdom and eat more lard.
The thermostat set itself way up high -
In bed, Mollie would at a distance, lie,
While her phone whispered in her ear,
"You look so lovely tonight, my dear."
Did I say that Joe and Molly would be three?
Did I tell you if he bought a warranty?
What did they get for all the things Joe bought?
A new boy - a beeping baby robot!
Great is the battle, small the victory
when all that is won is lost to mankind -
in this war of worlds its great casualty
is the fallen consciousness in our mind.
From spear tip and arrowhead to smart bomb
or Ptolemy to Hubble looking glass,
Luxor hieroglyphs to CD Rom -
from the Bronze to Silicon Age we pass.
Primeval footprint, genetic blueprint,
sandstone castles under canyons of steel -
gone are the Caesars and Pharaohs extinct
and there’s a cautionary tale so real.
Civilisations that with hubris act
fall a ruin, a remnant, an artifact.
Written: August 2004