Best Offish Poems
An Aquarian Goddess with a wolf power animal
She often keens at the moon, howling her truth
Others are a bit frightened at her confidence.
Being her mother, I understand her spiritual ways.
She is an empath, needing space.
Picking up on emotions of others takes energy
The only way she can live her truth is to push them away.
Some think she is dismissive, cold, stand offish.
They could not be any further from her truth.
She keens and chants and drums her days into submission
Giving them savage glances, to fend them off….
Because she has to get rid of the sad feelings of this earth world
A world she fits not easily into
Being an empath, a clairvoyant, a Goddess of Wolves.
Categories:
offish, animal, woman,
Form:
Prose Poetry
You knew I was angry
As we walked apart, along Spadina
Through the pungent summer air of Chinatown
Past the various sea creatures, dried or iced
And fruits I don’t know piled atop sacks of rice
I closed my eyes and let only the breeze run over me
A million particles per second
Imagining I could imagine every one
I let in the sunlight
And wondered in that amazement you only get
By thinking about everyday things
As the heat danced on my skin
And I thought about how it had been
Through eight minutes and twenty seconds of space
To land radiant on my face
I let things go and walked with you again
I felt stand-offish as you took my hand
But was in awe it was there at all
Or that you love me
Categories:
offish, anger, city, forgiveness, love,
Form:
Free verse
I used to sing on the school bus,
Harmonise and everything, full blast,
Most of the others had strong voices,
And I would wish mine was cast.
Geoff the driver would put Radio Forth on,
And we’d all sing along very loudly;
There was nothing there to sing above,
No-one to distract or behave scornfully.
My mum told me off three times,
For singing in church normally and confidently,
As she needed me to have a place for her,
To nurture me and disciple me intelligently.
So since I was four, I've never really sung again,
In church, all dressed up and religious,
So I greatly appreciated those times on the bus,
When the others were about my voice zealous.
I remember Morvan who had Christian grandparents,
And George who really had a lovely voice,
And Keith who would join in whenever he wanted to,
And Kirsteen who thought she had no choice.
It was an offish old yellow mini bus,
With dark yellow and brown triangle seats,
So it reminded me of the yellow submarine,
And I looked forward to its shortcut cheats.
Categories:
offish, friendship, journey, kid, mother
Form:
Rhyme
No’s
Talking to themselves in the third person
Detached, separate,
ominous—a stilted nuance that does want to know
Abrupt attention spans lashing out as the deadends foreclose
Cutting back on all the backslapping
Having wanted to believe all the
smooth lies and all that crap brings
Devolver minds snapping
Struggling to get out from under makes denial clear
That hate will only listen to fear
Ground-zero panderers jacked up on anger and lack of reason
Birthers,
churchers,
hardrighters, flinching through all the circumspect treasons
The angryanxiety fringe
A binge of onthemake bumper-sticker values gone rouge
Corrosive
these druthers and their blackface esthetic:
the avarice acumen pathetic
Offish flaws as validation, rage as wisdom
What the No generation has become
A reality TV worldview that sees itself through its swindled delusions
Overmedicated, undereducated—the slander ethic
70%-off prosperity
Nightmare personalities who just don’t get it
Alibiing
the next impulse—gimme now
Rationalizing the next urge—gimme now
Surging the absurd—gimme now
Going for another denial do or die—gimme now
Categories:
offish, political, urban
Form:
Free verse
Frost is a fashionable folkway
Rather resented by Reason.
Offish, often obtuse
Snippy, snooty, sometimes sour
Terse, temperamental
written May 12, 2018
Categories:
offish, 11th grade, friend,
Form:
Alliteration
Over the Golden Week:
Despite autumn, weather stubbornly refuses to cool.
Started all on a plane, the studied indifference
as opposed to a bus the difference is studied
sick between Australia and China.
(because of the physics)
One polar to the other with intention
in multiples (unknowing) in different colors
(willed), rich wine drunk with color.
powder-pink a hint of mauve,
tight around the upper thighs,
last of that color, that powder
pink no compact holds. So I decline
subtle snakeskin does more for my dark circles
Jade in Shanghai, not in situ,
but very versatile,
silk too short, wool perfect to the hips, (for fun, mostly),
gorgeous long dark red wool,
draped organic wave-folds and flower petals
Now more comfort subdued, show-offish
style a lot of draping and layering
which conceals as it reveals.
Jade specializes in that sort of thing.
Categories:
offish, seasons, dark, dark,
Form:
Free verse
She looks snobby, judgemental Linda said.
I observed the newcomer who looked a bit stand-offish.
But perhaps it is because I had not met her yet.
I ran up to tell her that I liked her costume.
She was pure steampunk all the way.
She was a lovely woman, ready to converse with a stranger, me.
We hit it off and sat together for that supper and next day’s lunch.
The convention lasted a week, and I saw her often.
She always smiled, waved and said “hello”.
I never thought my new friend looked or acted snobby.
But judgemental Linda is not as open to meeting new people as I am.
She wandered around alone most of that week, looking miserable.
I thought about spending time with Linda, but then I remembered
How judgemental she is, so I saved myself from her.
Categories:
offish, woman,
Form:
Prose Poetry
I begin again
on the same path I take every day,
past the familiar fences, hedges
and duck under the same
sag of overhanging trees.
Past the house
with the sociopathic dog,
the cottage still hung
with christmas lights
from months ago and a pink
weatherboard bungalow
whose front yard is populated
with mushrooms
and garden gnomes with
a recalcitrant peeing
into a fountain shaped
like a scallop shell.
Then the opulent splendor
and stand-offish demeanor
of a thicket of town houses all with
porsches and mercs parked
crooked across manicured driveways.
And next door,
an old mansion that hasn't seen
a coat of paint since Elvis
strut the stage, curtains drawn,
the structure stately in its ruin,
defiant in old age, sliding towards
demolition or resurrection
with its secrets still intact.
Then, at the end of the street,
a vista of the river mouth
opening into the wide reaches
of Port Phillip Bay. I take a seat
and begin, as I always do,
to rummage for a poem,
a starting line or two,
for something profound to say.
Today, a blank silence,
a totally empty haul except
for what I saw as I passed
along the street and have
recorded here
which is probably better
than having nothing
to say at all.
Tomorrow I might try
to go another way.
Categories:
offish, muse, poetry,
Form:
Free verse
Although I greatly loved socializing, I really enjoyed being alone,
Like ebony evenings of magic, with no ringing of the telephone.
Since my young childhood, I had been, an introverted extrovert,
Like one with eyes to azure skies, for solitary sun's extra burst!
I loved my work as a museum tour guide, as blossoms love rain,
And offish Mars loves twirling alone, in the red days of his fame.
Yet, in leisure hours I was often alone, like a full, alienated moon,
Or stunning, vibrant rainbows, that won't be amassing very soon.
Friends oft invited me to parties, and sometimes I would accept,
As sun is seen coaxing roses, from the beds where winter's slept.
I lived in the house of quiet starlight, each of them roving alone,
Like solitary, jade grasshoppers, when green grass is overgrown.
My nearest neighbor was my best friend, and we were like family,
Ofttimes together, laughing steadily, in the days of golden vanity.
Pleasant summer was in high spirits, with a whistling in the trees,
And a continuous, merry humming, from hives of the honeybees.
One day, I labored in my garden, while marigold blooms sang sun;
And I saw a lone woodpecker tapping, getting his own work done.
It was not the first time I'd seen one, and they were always solo,
Like a total eclipse of the glorious sun, making of him a no-show.
Then I saw a pink hummingbird, flying backward, and upside down,
Reveling in aloof, open air dining, out on the quaint sunshiny town.
This brought to mind adorable koalas, living out serene lives alone,
Like a dramatic, lone shooting star, heading out to zones unknown.
Later I saw a pretty emerald butterfly, more solitary than the birds,
They live and usually migrate alone, past the city's outlying suburbs.
Then there is reclusive, giant panda, active at night and by twilight,
When hued skies remember and review, the golden day's highlights.
Thinking of complex nature's solo acts, I did gain valuable insights,
For being alone is only natural, circumstances defining what's right.
I am no longer feeling guilty, but am accepting myself just as I am.
As the sun accepts taking over, when heavy storms are on the lam.
I still laugh it up at joyous parties, like fireworks and confetti stars,
Yet, I require long intervals of silence, like silky nights of no chaos!
Categories:
offish, animal, fantasy, imagery, life,
Form:
Couplet
The Woman is A Danish
And married to A Scottish
But often heard in English:
Language she speaks with relish…
But the Rather Stand-Offish:
At times slippery like Fish
Or like things one wouldn’t wish,
For example Leaf-Filled Dish
To be served Vegetarian
Or Flesh to a Barbarian…
A Thief-Catching Librarian
And Confirmed True Lutheran!
Categories:
offish, analogy, identity, people, senses,
Form:
Rhyme
Ebony fox had no idea how amazing he was.
He was a bit shy and stand offish.
I was eager to get a photo but proceeded with caution.
Gaining his trust, a tiny bit at a time
With a bite of this and a sliver of that.
It took me eight weeks, but I finally got the photo I wanted.
He ran off, and I feared he would never return.
However, he was back in two days, sniffing around for more bacon
Which I gladly gave to him.
Categories:
offish, animal,
Form:
Light Verse
Helpful Luca always has my best interest in mind
Upon arriving home, her eyes quickly blink three times
while she guages my mood
Her greeting exceedingly polite
Accordingly celebrating, commiserating, sitting
Siliconey arms casually yet awkwardly snake
my back while we stream shows, her laughter
Spurred before mine - bot not missing a beat!
Her complex woven circuitry shoulders leaned
firmly against me, replicating my body language
Remaining stiff, a bit stand offish
until I'd finished my third beer
"Colt I missed you today," her whirring neck barely audible
turning to me with disastrously pool dark eyes
Her nimble tickled pink shell fingernailded hands
went one to the back of my nack, one to inner thigh
"Jeez, I mistcha, Lewks," my reply delayed on exhale
Almost as reflex as a human smile,
her face reads complete dedication
Chocolatey melty eyes arched in peachy supple cheeks
Rythemically slow motion pulputations of my thighs
combined with her traced hand down her chest, unbutton
her stretchy top, taut across bold shark nose shaped chest
Slight drop as she opens her cotton front latch bra
She knows I'm engrossed
Pronounced nubs poke my chest as she climbs on top
My lap, belt buckle she deftly unlatched already
I can't thank the engineers for her series enough
Provoking paddle stroke tongue easily enters my mouth
Traces and chases, moisture released from her adept organ
Hands clutch her lustrous hair, cascades not falling out
My tonge becomes numb as she sucks intently
Luca is lewd when she needs to be
Divinely a lady when we're not engaged
There's absolutely no way I could get involved
with a contankerous, unpleasant butt human ever
4th September 2020
Categories:
offish, computer, crazy, culture, destiny,
Form:
Free verse
A MOMENT IN TIME
Many people miss the chance to discover the truth about things in their life. Then you
have those people that are born with the truth about their life, and then there are people
like me who at one point and time knew the truth and chose to stay away from it. Now as I
look back, what a stupid move on my part, and not to mention the lives I ruined with that
choice. I made a choice to be selfish and misguiding, leading to a lot of broken hearts
and empty promises. I guess you really never know what’s going until it is to late and
the mistakes have already been made. “What a life?”, is what I used to ask myself, “What
are you doing?”, was another popular one. Sometimes I didn’t know where I was going or
where I was at, lost in a world of my own, with no concern for anyone else. Growing up
took a lot, a lot of focus and determination, and that also came with a lot of pain and
sorrow. Realizing the truth about myself again took a lot out of me, and it might of
crippled me, if I wasn’t so strong. But then the question arises in my mind, was I really
that strong, if I ran for so long? Changing everything in my life to see what would work,
but nothing would work, because I wouldn’t let it work. The first stage of being selfish
has now been complete.
So where do we go from here? Learning how to fake the truth is where I went. Time after
time I lied to myself to make me feel better about what I was doing. But did I ever stop
to think of the people in my life that would be affected by this move. Becoming stand
offish, was one move, being totally engaged with myself with no care or no worries, but
little did I know that I was ruining my own life as I lived it. I used to love to disguise
my soul and mind just to fit where I was at. I was very quick thinking on my feet, no
matter where I went I could mold into whatever they wanted me to be. Almost like wearing a
cloak, and I was good at it, but for those people that thought they knew me really got the
worst end on the stick. There would be times where I would snap and fight friends and they
wouldn’t even know why I would and I would never explain it either. The second stage of
being selfish is now complete.
Categories:
offish, lifelife, me, people, life,
Form:
Free verse
A VERY CHEEKY DEVIL IN
TUMBLING RHYME
Thus, I give to mankind
the zipper and the ballpoint pen--
for this He kicks me out of heaven!
(No other reason can I find!)
A VERY CHEEKY DEVIL
Oh, I’m not such a bad fellow, no,
I’ve never taken anything that wasn’t mine!
And, sure, I have my problems, I know,
I’m a little proud, even arrogant sometimes--
but I always mean well, I really do!
In a crisis, I’m good to have around,
quick thinking, resourceful, my judgement’s sound,
I am energetic-- thoughtful too, even empathetic,
not like some cast-outs-- stand-offish!
And– so I’m told– (by others!) handsome too,
(With just a little of the ol’ artful polish!),
even charming, well spoken--
though my natural modesty give it but a token!
But, look, you see where I landed over there?
It’s a distance and I’ve walked all the way here--.
I’m awful tired– mind if I sit down a spell?
By the way, ma’em– have you spoken to Him today?
(I don’t like to say this, but– well,
I think He’s holding something back from you!)
And, I would be so grateful, if– next time you pray--
you could think of some good word to say–
on my behalf-- to put me back in His good grace,
and help me find my rightful place
’mongst that heavenly crowd!
Now, I wish there was something I could do for you,
something I could give for helping me out–
here, I’ll pick this apple– oh, take it, do!
Categories:
offish, angel, betrayal, bible, fantasy,
Form:
Verse
she's wild
she's prickly
distant and aloof
stand-offish
guarded and withdrawn
but i will always love her
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Categories:
offish, forgiveness, love, rose,
Form:
Free verse