Best Fob Poems
Some folks smile when I say I’m a writer
Some smirk, suggesting I should get a job
My stories and poems make our days brighter
Fantasy often, and, occasionally macabre.
Some of my poems make your heart throb
They may elicit laughter when I am lighter,
Friends enjoy going out with me to hobnob
Some folks smile when I say I’m a writer.
Writing opinion, I can be a fierce fighter
A sarcastic line I have been known to lob
To meet a deadline, I’ve pulled an all-nighter
Some smirk, suggesting I should get a job.
My profession does not make me a snob
For I need your stories to write a nail-biter,
Just as history gave us Hugo’s Les Misérables,
My stories and poems make our days brighter.
I edit a great deal to make my writing tighter
Much time and effort’s required, I’m no slob.
I write a mixture of genre, I can be a compiler,
Fantasy, sometimes; occasionally macabre.
So, I pay little attention to the illiterate blob
To those who delight in being a backbiter,
Who are no more important than a watch fob
Spending their time in meaningless blighter,
When I say I’m a writer.
Written June 15, 2022
#33 on Best New Poems List
Poetry Soup
June 22, 2022
#36 on Best New Poems List
Poetry Soup
June 19, 2022
The west winds of springtime
Brought forth April showers
That rained on the pavements
Of Southwick for hours.
It was standing room only
And full to the brim
As people sought shelter
At the old Tabard Inn.
A man with a top hat
Sat staring in space.
There was illness and sadness
Etched deep in his face.
A man with a fob watch
Was seen swapping gold
For a bottle of whisky
Before facing the cold.
A woman sighed deeply
Then laughed with a guest
While sipping tap water
And winning at chess.
There was no chef so no food
Since that dark violent day
When the innkeeper watched him
Being stretchered away.
So the sailor (being followed)
Missed having his tea,
And drank five pints of real ale
Before leaving for sea.
FOB Echo Iraq was a forward operation base near the Babylon site in the city of Diwaniya, in fact the US military put security hesco and fencing around the ruins for protection from all of the goons in the region. This was a hot base and the hajis would lob at least 3 salvos of mortar on us each day. February 06 i was walking from my CHU to the DFAC for lunch and i heard a rocket scream over head at low altitude, sounded like a high performance jet, about the most startling sound I've ever heard.. a hot second later the KBR laundry facility went up in an incredibly loud boom, a huge ball of fire, smoke, dust and debris ...... was the first to the entrance, the place was in flames and lying about 20 feet in the inside the door was the body of this cute girl wearing a blue KBR t shirt, she was folded in half.. i don't believe or at least i tell myself she didn't suffer or felt stress. i still see her face, just a cute girl, kind of mulatto, pretty, just trying to make a living and support her family back in the islands. Shortly after the US brought in Strikers and they raged havoc on the area for several weeks. That was and remained a hot base. Never so glad when i was on Cat Fish Air out of that hole... occasionally like last night, she comes to visit me in my dreams
"The Heart’s Eye"
When the heart’s eye
speaks to you,
you listen, just as
when the heart’s eye
sees how it all is,
you feel, touched
in the mind
the heart’s eye
is an overworked muscle
working overtime
a pearl of wisdom
eating you inside out
like a carnival eats
its exposed clowns
eventually it stops
tick-tock
tick-tock
no one truly suspects
the depths of its
depraved covert nature
incognito, it’s a time bomb
some Lewis clock
on a well-lit fob watch
down the rabbit hole
we go journeying
with smiling hatters
who are really Jabberwocks
the heart’s eye is a Red Queen
residing inside
Love, exists, resists,
concedes for all its worth
light and dark treacly stuff
it’s a messy business
it ain't clean,
all said and done
when heads
roll off
(LadyLabyrinth / 2023)
God gave him 10. Attached to all he was. Some small, some large, some in between. Seems a big one got sick. Dr. tried to cure it. Some big toes arent very cooperative. This toe had other ideas. Dreams of being a bolo tie or keychain fob it had. They parted ways one day. My advice...dream big.
Grandpa had so many folks and things he cared for;
God's Creation, his family, nation and very much more.
I sorta thought I was special to him, the apple of his eye,
Showering love on me of which he had and abundant supply!
One of his dear possessions in which he took special pride,
Was given to him by Grandma when he took her as his bride.
A handsome railroad pocket watch is was, a Waltham by name,
Exquisitely encased in gold with ornate etching 'round its frame.
Grandpa was always clad in a stylish suit and vest,
With an elegant gold chain and fob draped across his chest.
Asked the time, with a twinkle in his eye and practiced panache,
He'd produce his watch and tell you the time as quick as a flash!
His daily routine was ruled by the watch and it would never fail,
If his meals weren't on time, at Grandma he'd rail!
He'd look at his watch and say, "It's time for my afternoon nap,"
And he'd invite me to join him on his comforting lap!
Grandpa cherished that old watch - it was wound only by him,
But time passed on, he grew frail, his eyes grew dim.
He called me aside one day saying, "This watch is yours my lad.
Pass it to your son and tell him it's from his Great Grandad."
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired (© All Rights Reserved)
Force feed me the taste of your skin
‘You will have to break my chastity belt wide open now
for I have sold myself into silent slavery to this ….our universal broken heart
even you will have to try hard……to save me now
I cannot recall your sounds…your hand motions
as they devoured the subtle softness of me
drew round my curvaceous places in curling ownership
intimacies’ sweetest embrace
But too…you move to me
with a ferocity that mowed the grass down to a short golf course length
from the living room table where you drew it happening… a hundred years ago
The length of your hair too has been a subject of much debate
Love
that surging heavenly song...that told our story so well
like that movie from long ago about the girl who cut off and sold her hair to buy her love a golden watch fob and chain …the one who sold his golden watch to buy her a beautiful clip pin for her gorgeous long hair
………………………………..you see how this goes …with true love
We cut off our noses and then turn backs on our faces
and on each other on Facebook
Itself the enemy…where only devils and the luckiest of angels spread
Tread on me beloved!
till I am awakened
to our lips
which just now in writing I suddenly can feel meeting again
taste
smell
the salted brine of your pure water and sometimes beer soaked self
Is it me you feared
as you said Good bye?
How little you know me
like the formation of the first ever green tree grows up one limb at a time
from a base long song of deep roots and strong center...so beautiful the Hosts stagger before its creation ….Halleluiah
The limbs sprouting forth like the wings bursting out of the flesh of the first angel
who died in agony as they were formed….exploding from his shoulders
moving her hair aside as the arch of wing thrust like white tree limb from the goodness within
and the reincarnation of true kindness was born to the conscious of itself
so my love knows no limit
my soul no separation
and my being no longing
Parents sent him to school
to learn the Golden Rule
Son entered college
to pursue knowledge
Now he has a fine job
chained to a fob
On the ocean waves in a stormy sea
goblinskin sails fly o'er me.
To a far off lands wid bloody hands;
upon Savage’s shore did 'e land.
“Sing Hey, Ho, ’m wild and free;
at least its nae a part of me!”
Threw a mad mans skull, 'e spot me prey;
and call me black 'earts into the fray.
Knee deep in mud and covered wid gore
I gouge out der gold teeth ta add to me store.
Sing Hey, Ho, ’m wild and free;
At least its nae a part of me!
We loads de treasure, raise anchors of bone;
hoist high de midsail and fly fast home.
Wid a new gold tooth and diamonds rare;
an' Booberie feathers dance’n me hair.
Sing Hey, Ho, ’m wild and free;
at least its nae a part of me!
From de Slaugh bones jaw 'pon m' knee;
I carve a comb wid a tee hee hee.
Wid a skillful 'and an a bone white knife;
I finish a fob ta bring ta me wife.
Sing Hey, Ho, ’m wild and free;
at least its nae a part of me!
To Cursing's foul harbor threw sewage galore;
bundles of pelts stacked ta da fore,
down da plank, 'e walk wid swaggering stride;
viper oil coats the sword at me side.
Sing Hey, Ho, ’m wild and free;
at least its nae a part of me!
Threw thieves’ foul dens 'e carry me horde
unload at de tanner, strut ‘board.
“Cook ‘ere!” I holler “Bring me dat stew!”
Snowbeast meat pie and hearty brew.
Sing Hey, Ho, ’m wild and free;
at least its nae a part of me!
Ghoulskin sails unfurled, storm crestin' high
'e sail out ta plunder and land 'e spy.
“Ahoy! Me buckos! What’s ’pon dat shore?”
monsters dressed in bones, naught more.
“Sing Hey, Ho, I be wild and free…..
“By gum,” der dressed in de likes a me.”
The visit was over and off to my car
It was out in the snow, but not too far.
Cleared the windows and what did I see
Was that the bag I got for free?
There in the front seat lay napkins around
I don't recall them, but they are not on the ground.
I pointed my key fob and tapped on the right
Suddenly that 'Silence' gave me a fright.
That 'Click' I usually hear opening the lock
Left me panicky and in shock.
Perhaps I had done it wrong, so I tried again.
Swear words came to mind, but I was careful to refrain.
The cold winter snow had frozen the door
But I kept clicking more and more.
Nothing was working, and I needed some heat
Back to my friend's house to warm my feet.
Thankfully, alcohol should work she explained
So with spray bottle in hand I tried once again.
I liberally sprayed all around the doors, trunk and lock
One time then two times then looked at my clock.
Five minutes passed and once again I tried
Pressed the key fob, was that a noise nearby?
As I tried once more I listened for that sound
Then suddenly realized and had to turn around.
Oh my goodness, what to my surprise
There across the lot I saw with my own eyes.
The trunk suddenly opened on a vehicle not far
Darn! There it was. This is not my car!!
On a pirate ship in a stormy sea;
goblinskin sails fly o'er me.
To a far off lands wid bloody hands;
upon Savage’s shore did 'e land.
“Sing Hey, Ho, ’m wild and free;
at least its nae a part of me!”
Threw a mad mans skull, 'e spot me prey;
and call me black 'earts into the fray.
Knee deep in mud and covered wid gore
I gouge out der gold teeth ta add to me store.
Sing Hey, Ho, ’m wild and free;
At least its nae a part of me!
We loads de treasure, raise anchors of bone;
hoist high de midsail and fly fast home.
Wid a new gold tooth and diamonds rare;
an' Booberie feathers dance’n me hair.
Sing Hey, Ho, ’m wild and free;
at least its nae a part of me!
From de Slaugh bones jaw 'pon m' knee;
I carve a comb wid a tee hee hee.
Wid a skillful 'and an a bone white knife;
I finish a fob ta bring ta me wife.
Sing Hey, Ho, ’m wild and free;
at least its nae a part of me!
To Cursing's foul harbor threw sewage galore;
bundles of pelts stacked ta da fore,
down da plank, 'e walk wid swaggering stride;
viper oil coats the sword at me side.
Sing Hey, Ho, ’m wild and free;
at least its nae a part of me!
Threw thieves’ foul dens 'e carry me horde
unload at de tanner, strut ‘board.
“Cook ‘ere!” I holler “Bring me dat stew!”
Snowbeast meat pie and hearty brew.
Sing Hey, Ho, ’m wild and free;
at least its nae a part of me!
Ghoulskin sails unfurled, storm crestin' high
'e sail out ta plunder and land 'e spy.
“Ahoy! Me buckos! What’s ’pon dat shore?”
monsters dressed in bones, naught more.
“Sing Hey, Ho, I be wild and free…..
“By gum,” der dressed in de likes a me.”
Feelings are those seismic ocean waves,
they capture evanescent moments,
a Jack-o-lantern thought which might vanish,
deep breath of ink blue laden vortex,
I wallow in the beneficial sweep,
elation at each seacoast prompt,
banshee wail current of moss-rim swirl,
laughter that billows over garnet rocks,
anamnesis, that emboldened staunch
bosom pal of recourse,
cinematic silver ripple pulse by random toss,
vermillion heartbeat brazen in its banner,
cliff edge catalyst devoid of reckless frame,
emotional attachment this treasure-trove key fob,
hazel eye mere haze yet simon-pure exultant,
clouds afloat spurn august effigy beyond,
love plume flight engaging harsh wind magnet,
tweet from distant recalls lavish echo,
coalesce in perigean springtide haze,
dissolving into faint light petrichor post shower,
rally to suburban chorus when off mute,
where instinct dovetails sentimental crush,
emotion often shunned by headlong rush,
but thin veil satin mist in step with mood,
how frequent are the blissful amorous at noon,
love bug duos sway amid some idle amber sun,
caper to romantic dawn I scope eternal,
wish fulfilment raindrops skim the grey milk dew,
palette tinctured honey phrased yearning,
as love enthrals a towering Mount Blanc.
If love is fleeting
Then it's sleeting
You said you hate me
Now you date me.
You get me riled up,
When the bills are piled up.
I'm already stressed,
I can't deal with that mess.
You want to do things
Like people with rings,
But there's so much more
To marriage than that.
Marriage is love
And caring and sharing.
Marriage is much more than rings
It's dishes, laundry, bills & things.
The kids who rob
You of your sleep
Your key fob
They keep.
Don’t talk to me like I’m stupid
Don’t think I haven’t a clue
Don’t fob me off with excuses
Don’t tell me what I should do
You know that your product is faulty
You know that I have every right
You know that I want a full refund
You know that I don’t want a fight
But should you refuse my request, mate
And believe me that’s not very wise
I will, take the product in question
And make sure it brings tears to your eyes
© John W Fenn 08-05-2009
Clyde Duran
1894-1923
Kindly show me the exit sign!
My watch fob is missing.
It is most likely with the trench nails.
Those nails lay strewn by the cat,
Out back amongst the kiln bricks,
And the broken wheelbarrow.
Send for the constable!
Summon the parson with the forked tongue!
Peel the oranges carefully please.
Use the trench nails!
Here kitty kitty kitty.
Have you, my little furry friend,
Seen the exit sign?
Mother may have hidden it, out back,
With the cream cookies.
How dare I once again,
Steal the cream cookies!
Mother Mother.
I tried to please you best I could.
Sorry I displeased you with
My lazy irresponsible ways.
Sorry for being such a disappointment to you.
Where is my watch fob?
Where is my sweet little kitty?
Send for the constable!
Summon the lying parson!
And kindly show me the exit sign!