Best Fare Poems
On a fine April day, set out in the great cruise ship, Titanic,
Into the pelagic waters of Atlantic, with the weather alluringly sweet.
Plush it was with beaming fellow travelers and amenities astounding.
A journey of great excitement under a star-studded sky at night.
With the crew so hospitable, there was overwhelming warmth and conviviality.
Wine and liquor flowed down through gullets; tasty cuisines were served.
On the deck couples and lovers waltzed, a sweet breeze kissing their cheeks.
But tragedy loomed large in the form of an iceberg, unobserved.
I sat away from the crowd enjoying the rising gaiety.
What was the deafening sound I heard from near?
With a violent shake, the huge leviathan turned to one side.
Hardly knew what was happening, but sensed death was not far.
Hit hard n' ripped into two pieces, the vessel began sinking into the waters.
Amid euphonic melody and revelry, some didn’t know what was happening.
Some in panic ran helter skelter with growls and groans renting the air.
A man gave away his lifeboat to a mother and child, his own life abandoning.
It was a moment I witnessed the beauty of selfless love.
I was inspired to give away my lifeboat that I secured by chance.
A divine spark hit me, and all anxieties vanished instantly.
Sudden was the transmutation, I saw the whole scene in a new stance.
Heaven’s fire was lit in my breast and in love, my spirit began to glow,
How great it is to give life to someone who needed it more.
I heard the angel’s voices flit, saw a new door opening wide.
Had a fleeting vision of the heavenly hall with aureate roof and glazed floor.
I knew all my agony depart and hope instantly sparking.
With God on my side, I felt sinking into the icy depth,
My mind was calm with an unusual courage filling my every nerve,
And my horizon growing bigger and enlarging into uncommon width.
My inaudible parting words were “Goodbye Titanic, fare thee well,
In the oceanic depths, you stay as a symbol of world’s fleeting glory,
Making men think that fate can shatter and pulverize human hubris.
In the sunless Atlantic lair, lie down ageless to tell your allegorical story"!
I invited a dragon to dinner
(That was almost the wrong thing to do!)
Have you ever seen what a dragon
can do to a bowl of beef stew?
The carrots were shrunken and shriveled.
The celery- quite a sad sight,
yet the dragon seemed rather delighted
as he gobbled up every last bite!
The salad was quite a disaster
with the croutons burnt to a crisp
and the lettuce was beyond recognition
and wilted into a green wisp!
Still that dragon ate every last morsel
and was pleased as a dragon could be!
Cause he roared and belched rather loudly,
but politely exclaimed, “Pardon Me!”
Next I passed the desert to the dragon
as we giggled and talked for a spell.
Then the dragon thanked me profusely
and uttered a steamy farewell.
He taught me to laugh at my worries,
enjoy life with good company,
so tomorrow he’s coming for breakfast
and frying the bacon for me!
She's empty handed!
NO EYEBALL TREATS OR GUT STEW?
Withering disgust
10/10/17
Farewell old pard, I write this letter to you. Well, I guess I’ll saddle up and ride out with my new pard, he’s only a colt at three.
He’s a real beauty, a real eye pleaser and sure of foot with a cutting pedigree.
I’ll go on out to the rough country where the sky is blue, relive the
old times and try to work the rope a bit, so I won’t be thinking of you.
We were pards for many a year and we both tote the scars to show
and that cold back you had fairly tossed me hard every morning before you’d make up your mind to go.
But we never shared a cross word that ever meant much among friends,
Though, you did take a few hard comments when you got ornery now and then.
We purt- near worked in all kinds of weather, rain, snow and even a blizzard or two.
We shared our misery out on the plains when the cold winds off the mountain blew.
We’ve covered a lot of country, any closer, I don’t guess any pards could be
and though you weren’t much to look at, it never meant much to me.
You loved your job and worked it well with light rains and leg ques.
And there were times when you led the way, and I took my ques from you.
You were not a natural cutter, but you weren’t scared of bulls, cows or steer
and you worked the tight spots eagerly, never showing the jitters of fear.
We were pards, alright, never just a way to get the job done nor pleasure for me,
You loved it too, riding the open range with only the basics that kept us wild and free.
Why did you go and leave me, you just laid down in your stall and I was left alone.
I tell my stories and old pard, I tell yours too, since you’ve checked out and gone.
I look back through the years as I sit here looking over the grass growing high on the range.
How love for a horse can feel so right is hard for this cowboy to explain.
I can’t help but riminess’ and wonder, were there times you just didn’t feel quite well?
You always took to the saddle and in my selfish way, I never cared to ask, and you didn’t tell
We’d ride out and pretty- soon, you seemed glad you came along and there were
times we trailed in late, long after the sun had gone.
But now I look back on the past and sentimental thoughts tears my eyes and burden me.
Good-by old pard from your old friend, you were the best any pard could be.
To all the girls I've loved before
You know I always wanted more
But I could always see
Your love was not for me
But for a soulmate you adore
In dreams you found that love can grow
With someone you don't even know
And set my love aside
To be the blushing bride
In dreams where only you can go
I'm glad you found the time to share
The moments when we were a pair
Please live an happy life
As someone else's wife
But know that I shall always care
No longer will I search the stars for that bright
shooting star that bursts like a rocket through
the cobalt sky, exclaiming our love.
No longer will you hold me in your warm arms.
No longer will dawn steal my breath as twilight
softly fades into a lavender sky.
No longer will my heart take flight with
birds on the wing.
No longer will I sing songs with the sea.
No longer will there be four foot prints in the sand.
No longer will your laugh make me laugh too.
No longer will I enjoy food prepared by
your sweet hands.
No longer will I feel cloaked by your love,
protected by your presence, or safe when alone.
No longer will you be by my side.
No longer, no longer—
No longer will I feel sorry for myself,
but happy for you.
Fare thee well my love.
Fare thee well.
Connie Marcum Wong
Note* My husband is doing better now. My gratitude for your prayers.
Donald and Rosie
Took a public bath
She’d animate the bubbles
He’d sit and do the math.
They raced to the playground
Jumped on verbal seesaws
Up went their issues
But down came the law.
Hopscotch was so hopeless
A game of stark bemoans
Instead of tossing pebbles
They started hurling bones.
They drifted to a fountain
Dropped pennies for a wish
Before settling to the bottom
They were swallowed by the fish.
People wandered off to food stalls
Unsure which meal to grab
Should one choose the lobster,
Or settle for the crab?
just a little too tired today
i've been waiting so long that there's
an ache that just won't go away
clutching still at my teddy bears
too tired to cry
or say goodbye
just a little too sad today
one place less in musical chairs
"i lost a friend" it's all i say
it burns too much, endless dares
too sad to try,
or even lie
I've traveled from the farm in Indiana, the place of my humble birth,
To places I never dreamed of seeing all around this earth!
On ships, trains and airplanes visiting fascinating ports of call,
And dining in hoity-toity eateries, more than I can ever recall!
I've dined on such exotic dishes as Beef Eterhazy and Athenian Moussaka,
Nasi Goreng, Halibut Cheeks, Paht Thai and Linguine Bugatta;
Linguine Primavera, Mahi Mahi, Lobster Thermidor and Cordon Blue,
Canard a L'Orange, Chateaubriand and savory Fillet of Wahoo!
I enjoyed those epicurean delights, but they'll never compare,
To the simple, wholesome dining on good old country fare!
I salivate thinking about a heaping plate of cornbread and beans,
With a salad on the side of fresh garden picked lettuce greens!
I drool just thinking about a hearty meal of meat and taters,
With stuff fresh from the garden like sweet peas and 'maters,
Home-made oven baked biscuits and heaps of fried chicken.
Ah, the very thought makes my old ticker begin to quicken!
Just to contemplate a repast of Bermuda onions and fried liver,
Gets my mouth watering and sets my old bones aquiver!
May you enjoy your Pate de Fois Gras at the country club;
I'll settle anytime for good old nourishing country grub!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved
Their fare in life wasn't fair
poor children play and sing
on pocket bread
they take to swings
others decry with dread
sniffling at their looks
in playground scene
poor children mistook
in being good human beings
still they feel the vibes
the stares of their eyes
they hear of "go away"- the jibes
the status quo sighs
on playground swings
poor children eat their crust
as jays in their heart sing
while looking around life unjust
at night they sleep in slums
scrape garbage for crumbs
move to and fro like bums
and hear sad fate's beat drums
still they wake up at dawn
pause, look at her peeking face
and cry at life withdrawn
the first break of light an euphemism
connie pachecho
3/12/17
Sad war torn country
rolling hills spattered with blood,
lush green grass, to mud,
brothers marching off to war,
sons running off to their fate.
Fair thee well she said,
and kissed him upon the lips,
return to me love,
“Fair thee well my sweet Michael,
Fair thee well, fair thee well now.”
High upon the banks,
is where she lost her lover,
a hero’s ending,
though no comfort does it bring,
years ago, she mourns him still.
Softly she sings there,
as she lays upon his grave,
softly she cries there,
“Fair the well my sweet Michael,
Fair thee well, fair thee well now.”
The way to cook up a good Limerick
Is to add the right words, then simmer it
But if it begets raunch
That’s unfit for your paunch
Then I wouldn’t touch it for dinner, ick!
-and for dessert-
My gal loves to make Limerick-sicles
On very hot days to be whimsical
But the more we licked
The hotter it git
And often it’d even get critical.
Roast turkey with all trimmings
Cauliflower cheese
Goose fat roasted potatoes
Crisp pigs in blankets
Cranberry Jelly
Candles lit
Serve!
A Thanksgiving turkey fowl
Pentecost pancakes
Harvest jacket potatoes
A Holiday sundae
Fruitless Christmas cake
Easter egg
Praise!
Rivers of tears flows throughout the night
When one close to heart is out of sight
Yearning for joys we always impart
Moments we shared will always.....always beat my heart.
Shattering the time as we depart
Happy memoirs in my heart impart
Bundles of laugh may deaf an ear
Yet a gap from time will no one could ever... ever declare.
Flesh are we that flee like dust
Mingling, dwindling amongst the wind
Mingling, dwindling like billows fast
Twining, spinning our destinies pinned.
Moments we shared will always in my heart
Painted with love , for ever drawn with art.