Best Manning Poems
Comes the inevitable moment to decide at last
Whether to stay or go; whether to love or hate
Whether to stand aside or bravely engage issues
To defy the odds and stand proud before the mast
To be late or early, to depend on timorous fate
Heart ripped asunder over questionable virtues.
Yea, lest anyone think fence-sitting is admirable
Or ignoring the necessities of every day’s wishes
The day arrives when we all must compensate
Stop the handwringing and become comfortable
By manning up to what life dishes.
written the week of June 20, 2021
Sorry your kids can't come into
school today
As all the teachers are out on strike
wanting better pay
So are the doctor's and nurses and
paramedics as well
If you are sadly unfortunately feeling
unwell or have any form or other of
medical emergency or have an untimely
fall
As they also want a fairer living wage
to take home at the end of the month
And even if you wanted to go anywhere
and don't have your own car
I am also sorry to inform you that both
the buses and trains are currently out
on strike as well
So it seems like nobody is going anywhere
at the present moment in time
Because you can't or may be unable
to go or get anywhere anyways
And chances are no one will be there
or is probably at and manning their
work stations anyway
As everyone and everyone seems to
be currently out on strike
Seeking and searching for better pay
come what may
Only problem is nothing seems able
to be or is getting done for all and
sundry
And the negotiations between both and
all parties concerned
Don't seem to getting or going nowhere
either
Because and after COVID there
is hardly little or no money left in the
pot we are more so in debt since
world war II
The Bard stopped at Footscray
on the road to Ballarat
he was researching The Eureka Stockade
not Romeo and Juliet
he imagined the miners
manning the barricades
police bullets flying
hoisting The Southern Cross
and dying.
The naysayers said Manning was too old,
And under Brady's pressure he would fold.
But Peyton proved 'em wrong,
And came through very strong!
Manning out-gunned Brady and caught him cold!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
GOOOOO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!
Potholes
The joy of riding
where the small ones
have gone away
turns into nothing
at the big one
minutes away.
* This is about the joy of riding on the highway which has been recently repaired and re-laid, ridding it of its pits and potholes and the mortification of subsequently getting stopped by the traffic police or by the less-than-civil contract labor manning toll gates.
05 mar 13
Form: Grook ( A short aphoristic poem characterised by irony, paradox, brevity, sophisticated rhyme and often satiric in nature)
Contest: A Grook for all occasions
As I was walkin’ down the street
I thought I saw him ahead,
I followed on trembling feet
wherever he led.
We threaded through the crowd
And entered a dark lane.
The sun blushed behind a cloud
As I leapt into his arms again.
Tear blind eyes freed my senses
To see the monster manning the trap.
I halted at the hyper-spatial fences,
Poised to take a step back...
Come, thou Demond of Delgon,
Appear as my lover again for me.
I know not where he is gone,
And I may be consumed by thee.
Originally published:
Clarke, R. (Ed) The Mentor 85, January 1995, fanzine published by Ron Clarke, Sydney, Australia, [Archival copy available online at http://efanzines.com/Mentor/TM85COMP.pdf].
Among the trees
Through the forest
High up on the mountain top
Situated for the world
To see is a lighthouse
It's a guide for boaters
Finding their way home in the evening
To awaiting loved ones
Sometimes there is a lighthouse keeper
Manning the lighthouse
But not always
It's been there for centuries and centuries
And will still be standing even after I a human leave this world
Lighthouse you are mighty and strong
And play an important role in the world and in history
The klaxon sounds and off we do scurry
Up to the gun house we head in a hurry
Through narrow p-ways and up noisy stairs
We pass each other with far away glares
What threat to meet, all do wonder
We’re well trained and there’ll be no blunder
Hatches closed and scuttles secured
Drive motors humming, we speak not a word
Ammo to the hoist, battle dress in place
Flash hoods cover all but our face
“Mt 51 manned and ready!”
Gas eject air pressure is holding steady
“Air action port!” our circuits align
Gun slews, the target to find
“On target aircraft!” the checksight declares
Our peril confirmed, no drill, all just a deep inhale
“Right and left guns load!” first powder then shot
To the mad dance, cast we all our lot
Guns loaded, we track knowing not when
Waiting the salvo alarm, the dance soon to begin
Fourteen men poised, ready for the show
Bound to each other, not for their own glory they do go
Gong! Gong! Fire! The first stanza a roar
Then rapid and continuous we feed each bore
“Bore clear!” signals to load the next round
As hot-case men pitch spent brass to the ground
Practiced harmony, each motion robotic
Load!, Ram!, Fire!, Eject! the cadence hypnotic
Smoke and flareback, gases choking
Onward we whirl, and curse the foe attacking
“Foul bore left gun!”
A stuck case has us undone
Pry bar in hand, the Gunner appears
The extractors are broken, confirming worst fears
Casing removed and the gun finally clear
Up all night we’ll be, fixing this gear
“Cease fire!” all safely emerge
Realize we now, our fears to purge
Destruction averted, another hour to draw breath
Till the enemy returns, seeking our death
“Police up that brass and swab out those barrels!”
The chief keeps us all intent on the peril
They will come again, or we will seek them out
So little rest we take, while the issue is in doubt
***************************************
This describes a live shoot from the prospective of
the men manning a twin 5 inch gun aboard a destroyer.
These ships were common in our Navy from 1944 through
about 1980. The "old salts" out there will find this very familiar.
This is a spinoff from my "Tin Can Sailors" write even though
the ships in that story were single mounts. Same gun, but
with just one barrel. Those were before my time.
Oh the glory! Of this my story
Upon a colossal, metallic beast
Did I sail, for many a year
Every ocean and sea, seemed the vastness of eternity
My name is Arthur Homer Creed, AKA -“Homie”
Chief Petty Officer, United States Navy
My job, dangerous as it was
Was my one true love.
Director on the flight deck
Of an aircraft carrier
We cruised from Japan to Quebec
The scream of the jet
Was Mozart to my ear,
Adrenaline rush
Newbies full of fear-
But taught them all I did,
To be safe and stay on the grid
To catch a Tomcat became second nature-
And soon, for the novice, a breathtaking adventure.
How I adored the hues of sunset
And the smell of intensity from a jet
Off we sent them,
In the fury of a screaming cat
A hundred miles up they would fly
While we waited to catch them
From a dismissive sky.
“Chief Homie“, my flyboys called me
I was their father, and mentor out to sea
Their only family.
The young ones who were here to serve,
This great battleship,
Only the best did they deserve.
Into ports we swept
Alluring the girls, and scoring some drink,
Then back to the ship we went
Refreshed, relaxed and ready to think.
Onward another month or two we sailed,
18 hours days,
Through high winds and formidable gales.
Then the time came to get serious
There was a threat
The “Old Man” was furious -
F-18’s sent to the Middle East
Dropping bombs
In the name of peace.
Sorties flown day and night,
Blackout ship- we were trying to hide
Manning all battle stations,
This was a defensive action.
Through the bulkhead it came -
Crashing, crushing, killing, exploding
Entire ship, quickly eroding.
This projectile -
Erasing the faces I had known,
My legs, I saw, off were blown-
I grabbed the hatch
To keep
This hell from reaching others,
Up on deck.
Heaving it shut
With all I had left
I got that watertight hatch closed
Then I knew I was dead-
As the water enveloped my head,
I could no longer breathe -
Sea pouring in all around me.
I saved that ship, and those boys
From dying that day-
Or so I suppose,
Because I hear their praises
Sung to me -
In my watery grave,
Under the sea.
A. Green
I watched as she dusted and sneezed;
'It's worthless, I'm certain,' she wheezed.
I thought I'd be rich -
oh, life is a b.tch!
(My desk got a clean, so I'm pleased...)
written 26th April for Joseph's contest - about Anita Manning from The Antique Roadshow
Standing here feeling the constancy of the trade winds blowing my hair around
I marvel at the bright whiteness of the birds flying in their madly screaming love of
life
Again I try to focus on one. It’s a futile task for even my young eyes
How they can go through these intricate maneuvers without colliding is amazing
The tarmac is white with their waste and once more I thank them for their
consideration
Soon I too will be aloft flying in the false darkness of a super Constellation radar
patrol plane
Watching Russian “trawlers” and the “whales” that sometimes accompany them
We’ve used them as navigational aids on the way back from the Aluetians to this
white sand dot called Midway
Their constant patrolling has helped many a time when the day clouds in and
Nav can’t get a sunline. The same two eyes that can’t keep up with
a gull have found us the way home.
Scope doping, manning a line of defense, flying thru all weather conditions,
a wall of planes, ten eyes each ,doing sentry duty in relative comfort
Days of boredom seconds of terror It improves my poolgame plays hell with my
poker skills (folding sucks) and makes 3 2 beer taste okay while we play soft ball
awaiting the next flight Three more then it’s back to Honolulu
What will it be like remembering these perfect beaches and awesome sunsets
when I’m old and forty Will this Elvis rock still be around?
I wonder if England has any country singers
Nah! Who’d under stand them?
Granma's free stone peaches
have to be on the truck
the grocery store was just next door,
it didn't seem enough!
Because they ran the RailRoad
Rock Island ~ it sounds tough
and Granma needs her peaches
that grocer better scuff!
The Midwest's little giant
went everywhere on time,
and Granpa's heavy RR watch
it really had to chime!
They parked the train in the next block
the men stayed where they could
to eat and sleep for twenty-six
a place was understood!
It was the 30's dustbowl
and vagrancy was deep
but with the rail still rolling
some decency could keep!
People kept right on coming
the atmosphere was bleak
but for the land, some humming
within gave them their break!
Those 26 were something
held on for all their worth
to build the land from nothing
and rail by rail ~ upsurge!
The red man there ~ stout, manning
while destiny came first,
progress was still in planning,
was Iron Horse their curse?
Granma's today not fanning
their errors in reverse,
the ladies keep on canning,
their goodies are their nurse!
The PAULS were the family Railroad people of the late 1800's and through most of
the 1900's. Now the Sioux Falls, South Dakota freeways spill in every direction
in the same area, and direction of the Rock Island. And trucking has become
pursuant to the economy!
Like an epic battle of warriors in the ancient times,
rhythms of defeat and success punctuate the line;
either one wins or loses the game doesn’t matter,
it’s sportsmanship, fairness and attitude of respect.
Super Bowl kick-off highlights Sunday’s program,
championship in historic match cheers everyone;
along with mammoth crowds like on Staten Island,
jubilant fans who emerge and show their smiles.
Giants fans elsewhere blare their cars’ horns
a triumphant meaning, a victorious experience;
truly, it’s a huge and festive moment to share
with others who admire those players like Manning.
New England’s Patriots acknowledge their defeat,
their strengths and weaknesses make them authentic;
how they react and show about their abysmal loss
echoes a challenge, an experience worth reflecting.
New Yorkers herald jubilations and their triumphs,
faithful followers of their respective teams combined;
begin to celebrat and make a toast of beer in bars,
getting the whole clan, along with peers and friends.
Such a boisterous scene that makes the difference,
with ordinary games shown on TV or big screen;
however, the Giants in their popular name here,
has got their favor and trust from people elsewhere.
“Situations”
In the morning when I rise
On Sundays watching the game with the guys
At the table when I eat
In the car bobbing to a beat
At the job on the paper chase
In a session with smoke in my face
In the church listening to the Word
In my notebook combining nouns and verbs
In the gym while making baskets
On the court hitting balls with rackets
In my bed lying all alone
On the field trying to reach the end zone
At the bar buying a drink
Under the stars just trying to think
At the board ironing my clothes
In the club throwing them boes
At the house just trying to chill
At Mama’s house enjoying a meal
At the track kicking up dust
On the corner catching the bus
On the couch taking a nap
In the circle trying to rap
At the mall buying some shoes
In the room feeling the blues
On the porch staring up at the sky
In the encyclopedia trying to find out why
In the yard manning the grill
Under the weather waiting to be healed
In a boat pulling fish out the water
Under the hood putting on a new starter
On the side of the road fixing a flat tire
On my knees saying prayers getting ready to retire
In the kitchen cooking it up for my lady
At Victoria’s Secret buying a gift for my baby
With my boys bragging on my girl
On the clock slaving just to give you the world
But regardless where I’m at and regardless what I do
The only thing constant is I always think of you
On a sunny day,
The herdsman observes,
As usual the herds,
Towards the pasture they heed.
Advance! Advance!
As the slaughtering is today,
The merchant delightfully spends for his pay,
No longer living in despair.
While manning the herds, a question remains unanswered.
Good riddance!
What kind of this diabolic creature,
Struggle to survive, never,
Strive for the best, sympathy is an err.
Uncertainty costs the future,
Like the herds living in the pasture,
Hope and dream no longer.
Alas, the end is near,
No treat for the fever,
Their death fortunes others.
(28/11/2018)