Best Department Store Poems
I pretend I'm alright
And put my best stance forward
Wear my brave face
Tryin to be smooth
Just tripped on my shoelace
What's a girl to do
Busted, razed, flat broke
My foot slipped off the pedal and into the spoke
Out of focus, idling, coasting on fumes
Myyyyy, mmmm, my oh my
Must retreat to my bedroom
For slumber; ugh - that noxious perfume
I sprayed on today
In the department store
I don't need to tell you
It reeks
That's a big pee you
Oh my
My plan has gone awry
I try to write
After listening to Vile
He inspires me
Perspiring
Thinking bout how to
Ink brilliance
Such as he
Slamming on the brakes
My leg itches
Ya damn flea
Bravado and all
I seem to fall
I spiral out of control
Resilience reels me back in
I'm a bouncy, buoyant, headstrong girl
Go ahead and believe what you want
Self deprecation is my defense mechanism
Keep playing
those cards close to your vest
You're bluffing fool
I know this by now
Prevaricator is a might big word
For liar
As you try to set the world on fire
I see you race away
And turn my head
Pretending not to see
When you visibly disgust me
You're not proving anything
With your ostentatious
Obnoxiously awesome self
Annnnnything
I ain't seen before
And won't soon forget
I'm a rhyming
tonight
Maybe filled with fright
Or could it be boredom
Delirious laughter
G'night
Sleep and clarity are what I desire
Slough off this crap
I know it's beyond time for a nap
My RPM is slowing
My aching for REM is growing
Copyright June 17, 2023 Lori Steindorf
YOUR FAVOURITE PERFUME
I thought the yearning had ended
And I’d finally moved on.
The memories had faded,
In the months since you had gone.
Those dreams had been less frequent,
That disturbed my sleep at night.
Your photograph was in a drawer,
Kept safely out of sight.
But today, in the department store,
I was back there under your spell,
As I passed the perfume counter
And caught a whiff of Chanel.
I turned, expecting to see you there,
With your mass of golden hair,
Smiling the way you used to.
But, of course, there was no-one there.
I thought the yearning had ended
And I’d worked through all the pain.
But one whiff of your favourite perfume
Has brought it all back again.
17th July 2022
Rhyme Rumi Quote poetry contest
Sponsor - Sotto Poet
The scent of linen,
Slacks, creams, leather. Mellow tunes.
Soft muted bustle.
We move promptly to our quest.
In the purse, Mom’s hard won cash.
~
The shoe department...
Always with my size and style.
The well-groomed salesman,
His warm charm sooths my unease
At the cold chrome size device.
~
Brylcreem, tweed, Old Spice.
Soft caring hands hold my feet.
New shoes. Perfect fit.
And now, such memories past
Bring warm solace to my years.
* Reworked version submitted in tanka format.
It’s time to go back to school
For me that’s fine and cool
Student's life is so much fun
I’ll be receiving my daily allowance
Truly, I’m so excited
I can see again my crush, Ted
So eager to see his cute smiles around
While playing basketball on the ground
He’s a real heartthrob of our campus
He’s girls’ number one choice
Wish, he’ll notice me this time
Now, that I’ve written a short rhyme
Mom and I are going to a department store
To buy my notebooks, uniforms and many more
I think I’ll better add one lipstick
For my pale lips, quite thick
Aug 22, 2022 10.50am
AN APPETITE FOR SOCKS
We load up our washing machine,
With clothes that practically, weigh a ton,
But why is it when we put in a pair of socks,
And then open the dryer door, we only find one?
Our washer and dryer is like the Bermuda Triangle,
We always deposit our socks by the pair,
You would normally expect, what goes in must come out,
But one of those socks manages to disappear.
This is one of the mysteries of the universe,
It doesn’t matter whether the socks are cotton or wool,
Maybe, just maybe, those socks turn into lint,
And that’s why those lint traps are always full.
Somewhere, there are close to a dozen socks,
That either my washing machine or dryer ate,
As a result, we have a bag of mismatched socks,
That are quite lonely, because they’re missing their mate.
Well, I guess it’s off to the department store,
Some more socks I will have to buy,
I know my appliances have an appetite for socks,
But what I really would like to know, is why?
The Hush of Christmas Past
It came more slowly then.
After Thanksgiving
the lights and decorations
started showing up.
The excitement started to build.
Santa showed up at the
department store, The
ads in the newspapers
were larger, some even
in color. There was talk of
“the list”, and “naughty or nice”.
It was agonizing – waiting for
the night Mom said “OK, let’s
go buy the tree”. The trip to
the back lot behind the
super market, “This one…
NO! THIS ONE!” We carried
the tree - by any means possible -
remembering Mom’s warning:
“Remember, you will have to
carry that big tree home.”
The tree was somehow decorated.
Lights, tinsel, bulbs, each one someone’s
favorite, ribbons, bows, a picture
of the cat. Now the speculation
began in earnest. “Whadaya
think you’re gonna get?”. “OH,
I hope, I hope, I hope”, “But I can’t
tell you, it’s a secret.” We knew there
would probably be sox, some new
PJ’s, mittens – the usual. But there
would also be those other nicely
wrapped gifts – from Santa.
The baseball glove, the skates,
the “un-wrapable” scooters, bikes,
baseball bats, hockey sticks.
These were always brought by
Santa Clause. Santa supplied the
dreams, Mom and Dad the gifts.
We provided the unmistakable
sounds of Christmas morning.
There would be church and a
Christmas dinner, lost amid the
joy of dreams. Dreams of snagging
that line drive with the new baseball
glove, of racing down the hill on
the bike, of Bobby Orr like moves
with the new skates.
The colored lights took their cue
from the setting sun as we gathered
around the table and savored the
sweet, juicy, succulence of Mom’s -
never to be equaled – Apple Pie.
John G. Lawless
11/22/2014
submitted to HUSH OF CHRISTMAS PAST – Poetry Contest
sponsor – Mystic Rose
I wonder if this is a trait
reserved only for Americans,
Or do all humans suffer
From this dementia?
I saw an item advertised
In my local paper
A one day sale
Limited quantities.
So Hurry In!!!!
This was something I'd
wanted for years,
And the price was reasonable,
But a forty mile ride to get there
So, I drove the distance
To this big Department store,
Speeding a bit
I hoped they would still have more,
A line at the check out counter,
Department Manager on the phone,
Every few moments you could hear a groan,
And another frustrated customer
left for good...
Before I knew it, I was at the front of the line
The manager and sales clerk buzy
With a potential customer on the phone,
Now I understood the groan.
This potential customer was shopping
by phone, with endless questions...
Seemed there was no way to get these people's
Attention...
I waved, I knocked on the counter,
I repeatedly begged for assistance
But the Bozo on the phone got all
of their attention.
Live customers waving cash in thr air
Made no difference to them,
As they decribed every item in the
department
I turned to the eight or so people behind me
"Isn't this Ridiculous?"
Turning away from live customers,
eager to buy, and spending all your attention
to some clown on the phone too lazy to come by!
So now, when such an incident arises,
I'll call them from my cell phone,
While on line,
And perhaps, then, I'd be taken seriously.
Dress Code
Black pencil skirt
Black pants and black shoes, black blouse that’s the dress code here all black.
To a Macys employee our dress code identifies you and where you work-Macys.
I interviewed for a job at a nearby Macys department store so….
I get a nice email saying I didn’t get hired not once not twice but three times in five years.
I say I’ll apply again but the same thing happens and I wonder aimlessly if I’ll ever get hired at Macys.
I am very interested in Macys Careers after College after I graduate from college in about a year.
I once got hired at JC Penny. I really wanted and still want a job at Macys to be among the “employees” that must follow the dress code.
I would do it proudly.
Come on folks! Everybody come on over here!
I’m one of the coolest poetic vendors all throughout the year!
Midnight , anniversary , summer and all kinds of seasons sales,
I’m sure you’ll enjoy shopping here while saving up your bills.
My spiritual uplifting poems are 80 percent discount offer,
For whole sale, take freely my dog who is so expert in prayer.
Take my poems about friendship and love as much as you want,
Like sharing half of my heart to you, that’s 50 percent discount.
Special poem, My Name and poems dedicated to special friends,
They are out of stocks, but you can make an order if you can.
My poems all about arts, music, nature and mysteries of life,
Biggest discount I’ll give, all have been displayed in my big shelf.
The poems which express my joys, sadness, and my pains,
Buying them in retail price, take freely My Stupid Boyfriend.
Life is real Good while you shop at LG’s Poetry Department store,
Grab my Garage Sale now! You’ll regret if you postpone or ignore!
Written: Sept . 13, 2012
First Place
Contest: Poets Garage Sale
Judged:10/23/2012
Poet Sponsor: Poet SKAT
As preacher’s daughters we had to toe the line,
But sometimes our halo slipped and we weren’t too divine.
When my twin sister and I were 15 we rebelled against the rules,
And pulled a fast one on our parents, just to look good in school.
We wanted to pierce our ears and be like the other girls in school,
And forget we were preacher’s kids for once, and just be cool!
Our parents emphatically refused, so they thought our hands were tied.
But we wouldn’t take no for an answer…we wouldn’t be denied.
We came up with a sneaky plan to forge our parents name,
Giving us permission to pierce our ears… we had no shame!
We went to the department store, and the dirty deed was done.
We didn’t think our parents would notice … we thought we had won!
We had lied and forged and were headed towards hell,
But we were only thinking, “Boy those earrings are really looking swell!”
For a few weeks, we wore our hair down and they never knew.
Then one day I forgot, put my hair in a ponytail, and it all came unglued!
My Dad was home and noticed, and I heard his wrath.
He was not at all happy, and was on the warpath!
I figured if I was going down, my twin would too,
So my loyalty went out the window, and I said, “She did it too!”
We were in hot water with my parents for quite a while,
And ashamed of ourselves, so at home we went the extra mile.
But one good thing that came out of our sinful indiscretion,
Was that we got to keep our earrings, our brand new obsession!
The Hi-ways and the By-ways
By Franklin Price
6/5/2016
The hi-ways and the bi-ways long before the Super-way,
Driving 'round the country different, here are memories of the day
The roads were mostly two lane, speeds were fast at fifty-five.
Had to watch out for the tractors to get there breathing and alive.
No white lines on the edges. No reflectors on the lines.
Speed traps in the small towns; directly paid the cops the fines
Watched for ads of Burma Shave. The signs all in a row
With quirky little sayings; looked for ones we didn't know.
Stopped to eat at truck stops; the best food was there you know.
Pro drivers always ate there. Where else should travelers go?
Could stay the night in teepees or a small white Alamo
Many themed motels along the way; creative places we could go
Had to drive through every town; that's why the roads were made
Here's what I saw there in them before the memories of them fade
The highway was the main street; sometimes the railroad by its side
Small stores were there for shopping. Restaurant food was country fried
Always was a barber shop and a small department store
A hardware place with everything you could ever want and more
A church or two that closed the shops were there on holy ground
All attended in their very best when Sunday rolled around
A station there to get some gas, someone to top the tanks,
Check the oil, wash the windows and at the end to give you thanks
To fill up cost a buck or two to get us on our way
Always got change for a five; that's how it was back in the day.
There was a giant sale last Saturday.
An unbelievable one!
Such civilization: how far we’ve come,
Many came to partake from all walks of life.
What a deal; what a steal.
That store it seems, in real estate, is up for sale,
so to keep it’s customers satisfied,
they cheapened their goods to the public’s avail.
It’s dark in that store;
It’s always dark in there,
But on the sidewalk there is light,
a totally opposite fare.
Yes last Saturday there was such a sale,
The like has never been seen
O’er hill , department store or dale.
Such a deal; what a steal!
But it’s dark in those sale lairs,
It’s always dark in those stores,
While selling their wares,
But people still came by the scores.
There were prices one couldn’t refuse,
The customer just couldn’t lose!
A fantastic sale for which one would kill,
At this local abortion mill….
But outside of the mill front on the sidewalk…
there is the peace of Christ and prayer talk,
His light shining and on the rise
A light that darkness can’t recognize.
So perhaps it’s time to listen to your heart,
Forget the worn out buzz lines and what your “friends” say,
Face the light, squint your eyes and make a new start,
Join with light and life in a brand new day.
This poem was inspired by an actual “sale price” they had
at the baby killing abortion mill in our town recently . Sad but true.
Let those of us who care, pray for a change of heart for all
those who think in the darkness of excuses that somehow
It is a Godly thing and a woman’s right to kill His babies.
…sale or no sale.
Then and only then will this country take a change for the better.
“Seek ye the kingdom of God and all else will be added unto you.”
Robert A. Dufresne.
Mall, Boutique, Department store treasures to my commercial heart do speak
Must frequent all to earn preferred status and join the frivolous clique
Glitzy curtains, fragrant candles, gaudy clothes through glamorous show windows peak
Sales, promotions, every-day values entreat any time during the week
Checks, petty cash start the extravaganza; plastic cards extend the streak
Nick knacks, valuables, and everything in between must seek
To grand openings, holiday giveaways, early previews, away I sneak
Revelling through posh galleries, gilded show rooms in the presence of chic manequins so sleek
Reconnoitering new fashions, suave styles, designer wears so sheek
Through crowded aisles, up squeaky escalators, into narrow corridors not for the meek
With such dedication, resolve, and passion you dare call me weak
My cabinets are stuffed, my closets are packed, my halls are cluttered; but I'm no freak
Leg warmers flop and fold
Embracing tender ankles
Adored by suitors
Ready to heal with bouquets
And accolades.
Balanced, extended,
Moving off air,
Like flowers, forever stretching
Kicking up relevé
Like the aromatic main floor of
An old department store
at Christmas.
Their limbs like flowers,
Forever fragrant.
She filled her shopping cart to the brim.
Warm clothes to wear on cold winter nights,
Some food for the flame and whatever else,
Many things, that seemed to have future value.
She walked the streets night after night.
Bubble gum rings and plastic beads, her treasures.
A colorful existence responsible only to herself –
One night, she ran across the street
In front of an oncoming car and was saved.
Her pursuer gave up and went home.
It was abandoned in an old neighborhood.
Without her cart of goods and with hair strewn,
She went to the department store.
There were plenty of grocery carts there.
Each one waited empty wanting to be filled.
She did not have a job, but she loved things.
This time, she walked inside and looked around.
There was food; there were clothes; everything.
She looked wantonly at it all and at many people.
She took an empty cart to freedom and fresh air.
She walked the streets, night after night.
When her cart was full of found items,
She slept on a cardboard bed beneath the stars.
Huddled alone in a warm coat from her cart,
She rested until tomorrow, which always came.
2/14/2017
Written for “Theater of the Absurd´ Poetry Contest