Best Peddled Poems
I take my hat off for the flag
I stand up straight; let others sag
I get all weepy for Old Glory
thinking of my family's story
They came from Russia with naught but hope
with just their wits to help them cope
No language skills or education either
Money or living quarters, they had neither
But they scraped and scrimped, and just kept going
Gramps peddled junk, grams did the sewing
And with the help of God, it all worked out
Hard work and faith -- their kids did sprout
My father an attorney, my uncle a physician
All due to gram and gramps' prescient intuition
To emigrate alone, part of no community
to an unknown land of opportunity
Categories:
peddled, america, cry, grandfather, grandmother,
Form:
Couplet
Blue-checkered curtains are faded and drawn,..
after the years since she made them from gunny-sack cloth
The Singer, long idle, now gathers more dust,
with its needle still threaded and the treadle at rest
As I clear out the room, I think of long hours
of foot-peddled power, and strength in her soul.
She would unroll the fabric of roses and flowers,
with determined resilience in dark circled eyes.
But prudence, endurance, would salvage a way
Abandoned and left in a sea of lost dreams
She picked up the pieces, of patterns and hems
Making a living, and raising her kin,
didn't come easy, but she had to win
A life left unraveled, she must sew up again.
Working past midnight. Spindles would spin. Somehow rekindled
to live once again.
Making ends meet. Selvedge edges and hems
Sowing her heart, sowing her skill, and sowing her soul
Sewn together again
______________________________________________________
4/20/18
Categories:
peddled, courage, endurance, family, nostalgia,
Form:
Free verse
She remained silent amidst the squeaks of the bats
Sleeping on the hostel bed, she dreamt of winging like a dove.
Her tears were blended with the blood of her chopped childhood.
Her mother's lap seemed to be the only place away from humiliating world.
Rain drops never fell on her umbrella and her feet never peddled a bicycle.
The winter snow never kissed her blanket and her only companion was her mom.
When she cracked jokes, her back was badly bruised.
Relishing the taste of her favorite chocolate made her starve that night.
When her friends danced in rain, she feared the thunders.
Watching her favorite TV show turned her a dark room prisoner.
The telephone in the boarding house never sang her name.
Saturday evenings never welcomed her into the visitor's room.
Her honey dipped concerts never sweetened the souls of her beloved.
Bed time stories never quietened her panicked breath.
Her questions were unanswered
Her screams were unheard
Her jokes were uncelebrated
Her pains were unattended.
Slowly,
Her sensitive heart was replaced by a sensible mind
Her unsung emotions turned into powerful words.
Her immense thirst for affection ended as she embraced and drank the juices of self love.
Years of her inner struggle finally endowed her with buoyant wings.
That innocent soul who was once called a thief,
Now stole a million hearts with her ink.
Categories:
peddled, child abuse,
Form:
Free verse
While we sit with our coffee and poetry,
The Fear Frenzy Makers burn the midnight oil.
Digging up lies, just anything man!
To stuff up your brain like cement in a can.
They've succeeded in making you believe the
world is ending and...
That only chemicals sold by a fracture led
pharmacy nation
Will lead you to be a health sensation.
The Frenzys have determined God to be
extinct!
You can replace him with shrooms, ganja
hash or a drink?
Try Don Lemon at CNN, inhumane and so
vicious, the latest god on the street.
Worse, get your news from social media,
Driving the country nuts!
With our Congress making a new law
(I had to guffaw)!
That we don't need lawyers with integrity,
Just let mob rule take over this country.
(Oh,yes...and everything free)
The hatred of police is growing.
The rise of criminals is so revered and
spreading.
The body count of innocents is growing,
The murder of Jews is spreading.
Frenzy Feeders are nothing more Hitler
youth.
Spying and lying on Americans who
have done no harm.
Envy driven monsters...
It doesn't matter whose life they will
ruin.
We face a very formidable foe!
Big Brother is here- following you with
your cell phones everywhere.
Cameras on streets in dressing rooms.
As poets we can alert others to the
manure being peddled by fear smugglers.
Not all of us, but a few, may remind people
hard.
That God is in charge of when the world
ends not them.
Hate to tell these scientific brains, that
God created the world not them.
We cry over the extinct animals!!
But have not a thought nor remorse
to murder a baby.
66.000 babies were aborted alone last
year!
If we support murder, we have plenty
to fear.
5/8/2019
11:39 pm PST
Categories:
peddled, abortion, america, anger, perspective,
Form:
Political Verse
PEDDLING HOPE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
a small pill, solace in a blister pack
legally dispensed by a white coat
promises relief, a cure, a return to normalcy,
a life unburdened from pain and disease.
the ache returns, however, louder and more insistent
another pill, then two
the dosage creeping like a vine.
a pressed white powder, a crystal shard
illegally peddled in a dark alley
promises escape, temporary reprieve, abnormality,
a life numbed from pain.
the craving returns, however, the gnawing need
the body screams,
desperately clawing for the next fix.
addiction cares not about legality~
the hungry monster gnaws the same
whether fed by doctor’s script or dealer’s promise.
Big Pharma, a sanitized name
cartels in suits and white lab coats
pushing their product with glossy ads.
the cartel’s hand, a brutal fist
deals death blows and ruin,
pushing their product in seedy places and backstreet alleys.
one wears a suit, funds politicians,
smiles on commercials, promises relief from disease.
the other whispers in shadows
creates transactions based on desperation and fear.
Big Pharma’s towers gleam, untouchable
built on prescriptions, on the fine print no one reads.
cartels hide, their dens and caves obscured
built on blood, dead bodies, and broken dreams.
how many lives line the pockets of pharmaceutical giants,
legal drug pushers in suits peddling hope in blister packs?
how many lives line the pockets of backstreet cartels,
illegal drug pushers in hoodies peddling hope in powder?
Wait! don’t tell me about regulations, about quality control
when the end result is the same:
bodies chained; minds enslaved
lives bartered for fleeting highs and ephemeral repose.
Categories:
peddled, 12th grade, drug, meaningful,
Form:
Free verse
I learned on a relic...quite bent out of shape,
rusty and dented..... and not even quaint!..,
An rattle-trap, hand-me-down, that had seen better days
A ten year old's wishes, had faded away....
But, then on my birthday, as I opened my eyes...
There sat a beauty, my birthday surprise
My very first bike.....shiny and red!!
My dreams had come true.....as I jumped out of bed!!!
I tore off the ribbon, to take a good look
No time now, for breakfast, no time now, to groom
I jumped into my clothes, and then burst from the room
Onto the sidewalk, and into the street
Shouting to everyone.. "Will you come, look at me??!!!"
With legs long and tan, I began peddling fast
The sun hid it's shine, the cold wind was brash
Breeze blew through my hair and into my face
With time on my side, I was winning a race!
We were sailing along, I could hear the wheels spin
Over the hills, where often I'd been!
Clutching the handles, pumping my knees
I flew past the graveyard, as I peddled with ease
Far down the lane that circles the fields
With rows of tall corn stalks, all waiting to yield
Passing the warehouse that sold Daddy's seed
I flew past the postman, and the church near the square!
A turn 'round the corner, the train depot there!
Splashing through puddles along the bumpy old track
My legs kept on peddling......with no looking back!!
Didn't notice the dark clouds or storm in the sky
The air was so sweet as I held my arms high
Was I dreaming? I didn't care...as I glided in time
All the happiness I felt, all the joy of that I ride!
I remember that birthday....that's been hidden inside..
Look at me!! Look at me!! On my red bike, it's me!!
Don't you see??!!! Don't you see!!! ... That young girl was me!!
Like a clock that's unwinding..!! That is me that you see!!
I remember....I remember....How happy and free
As those wheels spin beneath me
Look at me !!!!!!!!! Do you see??
Free as a bird....it is me, it is me!!!
Wheeeeeeeee!!!!
Categories:
peddled, childhood, fantasy, happinesstime, me,
Form:
Rhyme
Long Long ago so Long ago nobody knows how long ago there lived an
old widow by the side of a jungle. Since nobody is there to take care of
her she has to win her daily bread. Every day by evening she used to sit
by a large tree making pancakes. She sits there till all the pancakes are sold.
Then she goes to the market buy flour, oil and other things and with the
remaining money she buys her food.
One day when she was making pancakes a crow came. It was hungry.
It was there in the tree looking for the right time to take away a pancake.
At one point of time the widow was too drowsy which was the right time
for the crow. It was so quick to take away a pancake to the other tree.
The widow started abusing the crow and peddled stones.
By that time a fox came. It believed it won’t take much time for him to
steal from the widow but for thrill and fun it decided to get the pancake
from the crow. It went near the tree and tried a trick by asking the crow
“Hey crow people say you sing well please sing a song” believing the
pancake will fall when the crow open its mouth. But this crow was a
clever one. This crow removed the pancake from the mouth held it beneath
its legs and started crowing. The fox was shocked but it is not prepared
to give up hence tried another trick by saying “Hey crow people say you
dance well please dance for me” believing when it dance the pancake
beneath the legs will fall. This clever crow placed the pancake back in its
mouth and started dancing. The fox was taken aback. Fox thought “you
bloody crow you want to fool me”it tried another trick by saying “Hey crow
people say you dance to the tune perfectly please do it for me”. The crow
stopped for sometime thought “This is too much” and said “please wait a
minute” ate the pancake said “husk busk hoi” and flew away.
Moral: Learn to keep the stolen things for yourself. Hahaha….
////This story was written 5 years back and told to my son and students
with the moral "Don't under-estimate others"//////
Categories:
peddled, humor, humorous,
Form:
Free verse
"American Grafitti" took me back again to High School in the 1960's
"Back to the Future's" nifty hot rod took me back in time and almost left me!
"City Slickers" took me way out west, to rustle cows and ride a horse
"Da Vinci's" code, did not bode well, the Vatican did not endorse!
"E. T. " turned out to be my friend, we peddled bikes far past the moon
"Forrest Gump" shared my lunch, and shared his chocolate just past noon
"Groundhog Day" is darn confusing, is it Monday or is it Tuesday?
"Hannibal" is one cruel dude,..........he sharpens teeth so he can chew me!!
"I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" invited me to toast their wedding
"Jaws" invited me to take a swim! Those who did, were soon regretting!
"King Kong", was one poor ape who climbed too high for past mistakes,
"Lincoln" had too much at stake, but ended war between the states
"Mummy 1" and "Mummy 2" made me cry for Mommy,...PLEASE!
"No Country for Old Men"...but young dudes look, and want to leave!
"O' Brother Where Are Thou?" escaped their chains to play like Ringo
"Psycho's" bathtubs scare me silly, my next motel will be Flamingo's
"Quarantine" because I'm sick? If I stay in bed, they call me lazy
"Rosemary's Baby"...yikes that kid? Babysit....?? Are you crazy?
"Superman" claimed that he could help me, but flew away with no advice
"Titanic" hit a piece of ice, (that Superman was not so nice!)
"Unforgiven" (now is Superman)...Clint Eastwood is the slicker guy
"Valkyrie"'s plot has thickened...Let's all poke Hitler in the eye!
"When Harry Met Sally" I was jealous....her cafe' scene has made me blush
Xanadu had me roller skating.......racing faster, while I'm dating
"Young Sherlock Holmes" was just a kid, I kid you not, he met his Watson
"Zoolander" 's slacks were Cuban made.. I borrowed some and they were awesome!
(and I'm exhausted!)
______________________________________________
For Cyndi's exhausting ABC contest!! Whew!
Categories:
peddled, funny, me, me, high
Form:
ABC
Seems each time I visit my doc he recommends more pills for my health!
I'm not sure they're effective but this I know, they're depletin' my wealth!
And with all the side effects, I'm really concerned about my early doom!
"He expired from excessive medications!" might aptly be etched upon my tomb!
The list is endless - Diuretics, Beta Blockers, Nexium, Advil and Tylenol,
Alpha Blockers, Vitamin D, Zantac, Zocor, Micardis and a bit of Timolol,
Carisoprodol, Hydrocholorothiazide, Alphagan, Moltrin and Fosamax,
Hydroxyzine, Caltrate, Phillips Milk of Magnesia and some Atarax!
The black-box warnings say I could suffer everything from dehydration,
To blurred vision, dizziness, diahrea and a serious case of constipation!
My Pa seldom saw a doc and lived to the ripe old age of ninety-four!
He survived by sippin' SSS Blood Tonic and usin' horse linamint for
His aches and pains and other such stuff peddled by the Watkins Man!
I may toss the bottles and use his home-remedies to increase life's span!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved
Categories:
peddled, funny,
Form:
Couplet
The nit-wit and the nincompoop
cordially bowed on the concert hall stoop.
Greeting the doorman, quite gaily
who nodded back, though more grayly.
And nobody dared to complain or bemoan
that fools were ruling the cobblestone
streets, where urchins peddled faux-wares
beneath the stoop, out in the square.
And the nit-wit offered a hearty wave,
but clearly knew not how to behave
While the nincompoop seemed a tad more at ease,
his pants were quite low and his crack in the breeze.
And nobody wanted to ask or inquire
whether they should pooh-pooh or if they should admire
buffoons, so clueless, off-putting and addled
for climbing the stairs in their outfits all raddled.
Yet, there they stood with their tickets in hand
eager to root for the symphonic band
as though it were some highfalutin sport
of which they knew nothing, but they would not abort
the notion that they have a place 'bove the masses
or anywhere other than out on their...well, you know.
10/27/16
Categories:
peddled, celebrity, character, class, clothes,
Form:
Rhyme
Ebony and ivory, noted for sound,
Digital playback, sleight of hand.
Songsters echo, vibrant pound,
Upright, organ, cottage, grand.
Strings attached, taut with suspense,
The Master Key hammers home
Letters of note; chords of tense,
Past and present; timed metronome.
Naturally played with flat and sharp
Sweeping the board. Ayre of nonchalance.
Orchestral manoeuvres performed with harp
Brass and wind; counter balance.
Peddled depression, ayer lingers on
Distant wave; caressed...pianissimo.
Emotive conductor, under the baton
Chorused voice harks, keyed to the piano.
Categories:
peddled, music,
Form:
Light Verse
Your frequent absence made me question,
your existence and your importance.
I contemplated your possible ingredients to my growth.
I gazed at the stars at night, feeling the connection.
Hoping that you were watching, the same star lite sky.
Hoping you were seeing, the same images, that I was.
where ever you were.
You appeared.
Then disappeared.
Like the light of a blinking fire fly. I tried to grab that firefly,in the nature of a baffling night,but when I opened my palm, there was nothing in sight. I couldn't fathom your inconsistency of light.
I know you and my mom didn't agree on certain things. Thus you spewed words that you both regret now. Since you left, I became a ball with out air, under clouds that cried nails and chunks of glass.I pleaded with mystical nature, like freshly cut fingers of grass,pleading to hold sunlight of spring again.My vision obscure. Questioning your love and fatherhood all the more,and SURE that could change.
Like season, if you gave me a reason, for your absence and you did.I was walking to the supermarket.With my head down,hands in pocket,rotating change,to cheer mood, with ***** sounds, of rhythmic jingles.
A hand roughly touched my shoulder,following with the words hey son!!!
where you going?
With perplexity I stopped. I turned slightly startled. A giant with facial hair,and a smile and a look, that some how made me forget, he was gone all the while. I gave him a hug. He gave me a bike and said hop on and look straight. He pushed and I peddled.After awhile,I looked behind me, he no longer had his hands on me,I was ridding alone.
Good job son! Keep going straight!
I laughed and did exactly that.
I rode my way to a happier day.
He ran next to me smiling with watery eyes.
That explained every thing,
that needed to be explained.
Then I realized he was guiding me,
with the absence of his hands,but
remaining the presents of his fingerprints!!!
His prints left instructions.
I CAN RIDE!!!
HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!
Sponsor:Destroyer ~ Poet
Contest Name:Any poem
Written by:Elliott Bowe
Categories:
peddled, dedication, uplifting, words, me,
Form:
Narrative
A leprechaun’s pot held no gold
Just vaccine of value untold
He peddled injections
Stopped Covid infections
But still has no shot for a cold
February 24, 2021
For Milton's St. Patrick's Day Limerick contest
Categories:
peddled, holiday, humor,
Form:
Limerick
Beachfront condos shrouded in the early mist
of morning. Seagulls hanging on the breeze,
their screeching waking sleepyheads
before their coffee, it's July the 4th,
the holiday is here!
Sailboats daubed in milky opalescence
growing clear, as sunlight nibbles at the sea wall.
Artists set their easels, hot dog vendors
primed and waiting, T-shirt boutiques
ready for the avalanche.
Parking-lots are full, it's getting hot now.
Suntanned beauties modeling string bikinis
scramble for position.
"Let's get the best spot on the beach!"
they cry, toting towels and frisbees to the sand.
Flags and beer are peddled in profusion,
smells of barbecue and pizza fill the air.
Suntan oil for those who need it,
all those fair-skinned redheads seeking
rest and refuge from the blazing sun.
Painters competing for the famed Grand Prize,
trying to catch the essence of the ocean.
Could be the next Monet! Muted pastels
smeared on canvas. Hold on, Claude,
you'd best not give up your day job!
Para-gliders soar in gay abandon,
floating through the sky like eagles hovering
they lay it on the line. You ask me,
it's sheer recklessness,
all those crazy people cheating gravity!
Musicians making ready for the concert,
violins and tubas tuning up.
People find their beach chairs
and get comfortable to listen
to the melodies of vintage Broadway songs.
And then the fireworks - woosh, boom, crackle! -
shock the heavens with their iridescent light.
'The Star-Spangled Banner.' Couples cuddle
up in blankets to watch the rockets
paint the sky 'Red, White and Blue!'
They make their way contented to their cars,
young and old alike loved the festivities.
Stop to get some Rolaids, (too much pizza,
fun and frolic!) but the day will last forever
in their memories.
Categories:
peddled, holiday,
Form:
Verse
Ouch, to cut my finger...
Pain and blood spills and does longly stay and linger.
To give my sliced appendaged digit a much needed bath...
I won't cook for a living, or go to school for typing or even take math.
Math and onions i do not like...
I'd rather have a tooth pulled or be super glued to a seatless one peddled
down hill travelling brakeless bike.
I'll only eat onions that are totally cooked...
I wont go to a restaurant and look on a menue to oder it from the waitress,
it will never be booked.
Categories:
peddled, on work and working,
Form: