Best Packages Poems
Drenched to the skin in sweat after mowing the lawn
I am lounging on my sun-dappled back porch
with a glass of cold water and notice a squirrel
scampering across the railing of
the back deck of my neighbor’s house
which has a view of a bluff of trees.
Seeing me, it scurries up to my railing and
stands sizing me up like a praying mantis;
I close my eyes with a smile and breathe in content.
a cool breeze passes
the scent of freshly cut grass
a crow caws afar
~06/08/18
~Haibun contest by Mick Talbot
Small Packages
She was so cute.
Standing in the check-out line
Pretty dark golden-brown skin
Five foot tall? Not even that, I thought
Seventy years old? Maybe more
High top laced black shoes,
Black stockings and skirt
Black check with gold stripe skirt –
Gold quilted jacket topped with a
Red and gold sun hat -- brim turned downward
Big smile, big glasses and soft voice
Gentle and kindness exuded
She was standing there to be checked out
Her taupe vinyl purse was lying in the grocery cart
The purse didn’t fit the image. I wanted to say,
“Ma’am, you need to watch your purse:”
That is until I saw her open her jacket right side.-
I saw that she had on a jumper when
She lifted her right hand and placed inside the jumper top
“What is she doing?” I wondered
Aha! From somewhere – I don’t know where –
She pulled out a small unwrapped package secured with rubber bands.
It was time to pay for her merchandise
“Eight dollars and twenty-three cents,” the clerk said;
Very carefully, the elderly lady unfolded her fives that were together
Then, she unfolded her ones that were together
And from a separate pocket she counted out the change.
I could tell she had tens folded together and
Twenties folded together – all denominations separate;
It looked like her important cards were in the packet with the bills,
“You sure are organized,” I said.
“Things don’t go far now days,” she said,
Smiling as she placed her small rubber-band secured bundle
Back into “the someplace” inside her jumper top,
Such a complete little package--
Decoy and all
-Evelyn Pearl Carpenter Anderson
April 10, 2014
Slickly marketed
evangelical leadership packages,
whether liberally or conservatively dressed,
but not when green conservational liberating undressed,
return party favor favorites
for further runaway capital investments
Reinvestments in gloriously cancerous growth
exalting competitive ecopolitical changes
these voices self-predict
should we be wise enough
to elect
and re-elect
and re-select their privileged gifts
delivered opaquely
through non-communicating win/lose debate
Monocultures of patriarchal disempowering capitalism
overpowering green ecofeminist
win/win non-violent communicating
democratic experiences.
What is this desecrating or sacred "CHANGE"
economically and politically coming
to redeem our current pathological real estate?
Is this a threat against those who vote
weakly
and unwisely?
A promise to those who share
StraightWhitePatriarchal privileged intelligence?
Our soul-invested left-brain confidence
against liberal democratic revolutionary love
Or does such forceful enlightenment
promise evermore conservative
capitalistic
evolutionary weapons
for forcibly changing under-invested green democratic
ecological health systems
until living on DeGenerative Earth
is rather more like
trying to give or receive health care delivery systems
midst global chaos
of rapturously narcissistic Hell.
Have you checked your mailbox for incendiaries
Watch out for suspicious looking packages from radicals
Could be a warm welcome
Filled with incendiary venom
The political climate has emboldened these crazy nationals
packages
they say
that God works in mysterious ways
his wonders to perform
every day it seems
that more and more
of what we buy
and consume
comes in packages
sent from here and there
as people
continue to practice
social distancing
and going to the store
becomes an exercise
fraught with peril
and danger
so we order
on line
and we get our packages
sent from here and there
one day we received
a gift package
of clams
delicious fresh clams
as I ate them
I thought of the workers
who had labored unseen
for me to enjoy
this bounty from the sea
and I gave thanks
to the gods
for making it happen
in this day and age
we should thank
those who are still
laboring to feed the world
they are the unsung heroes
of this war fought by nature
under the direction
of General Corona
tweeter speak poetry prompt April 16 Packages
….
Not of importance
But Amazon now have a new department
dealing with customers who set fire to their own packages
FAVORITE THINGS Poetry Contest, a Seguidilla
Nette Onclaud
8/16/2025
brown paper packages
While getting the noonday sack,
This storyline goes.
A handpuppet gets too much —
Girl eats with mouth closed,
Then a thermos drops.
In someone's lap, fingertips
Better her heartthrobs.
Wrapped with God's bountiful love*
Mom's gift exudes grace
Dad carries puppy inside
Revealing champ's face
Sis brings mirth-filled toy
For special child's milestone day
Packed to spark blest joy.
*Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
August 19, 2025
2nd place, "FAVORITE THINGS" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Nette Onclaud; judged on 8/27/2025
Desultory winds
chimera in throes of doubt
effusive, disconsolate
-clanging in hills stout-
Ductile mind bends sound.
virtuoso of the void—
sweet, zoetic, browned
I love this unravelling!
Tearing loose paper,
cutting sticky tape and string -
what’s this dark vapour?
Package comes from a
“Kaczynski” – wasn’t he the
dreaded Unabomber?
Gosh! Out of wrapping paper?
I need more gift wrap,
too late to go to the store.
What can I do! Crap!
Cut brown paper bags,
as wrapping for packages.
Add bows and gift tags.