Best Prettied Poems

The Noose is tightening.
The 5’s and 10’s yanked from our hands and aching backs 
Are spent on band-aids:
A last stand effort to plug the holes in our hearts
When the price of drowning is only getting higher
So we turn to tiny acts of thievery
Taxes prettied up,...

Continue reading...

Once was a folk singer back in the sixties
It was surely my time to shine
Along with the great Peter Paul and Mary
They seemed like good friends of mine

A group of six, The Canadiana Folksingers
Appeared on Canadian TV
A couple of albums and two or three shows
Played...

Continue reading...

Well, if for nothing else, I'm good for a chuckle
Each day you can count on me, before you remove your stubble
Okay ladies, this doesn't mean you
Means before you get all prettied up, woo hoo
But take care, too much strain on the giggler is not advisable


©...

Continue reading...

Ode to Heathens
For Bob Atkinson

Tree bark never minds
that it is not smooth,
or is peeling,
or bears the scars of two stranger’s names;
It stands against the wind
and lifts its leaves to the light.
Trees never fret
that their limbs are not set straight;
they flower;
they fruit;
they invite the nest,
and give...

Continue reading...

A busted boys heart

Beaten black and blue

His bloody hands pray for help

A cowering child

Shaking by the door

Lowers his head and wonders if anyone can help

A woman in fear

She knows her husband will be home

She speaks to the wall that broke her face if anyone will...

Continue reading...

Paperless dolls and run-less runs –
Roller coaster rides and fun-less fun.
Hopscotch and blisters; banana-seat bikes –
Hand games and shout-backs too.

Quiet-less walks at 3:00 in the morn –
Virtual stranger rides with indecency.
Cracker-jacks and white wine spritzers –
Early morning-midnight bizarre.

Hellish targets for our holy aims –
Lipsticks red...

Continue reading...

Well, darn--I wish bushes grew faster.
That might help me avoid a disaster.
What is a buzz-maestro supposed to do
when a Hummer takes nectar from you?

I've buzzed by all my usual haunts.
They're out of stock--what about MY wants?
When nectar comes in, price is sky-high.
(I think it's price...

Continue reading...

Many years ago, I was in a down-heartened funk, after deciding to get a little bit drunk. 

Beer guzzling queens won’t tell you, but liquor tastes bad going down and coming back up is truly no joy.

Some will tell you how great drinking liquor makes...

Continue reading...

He lived to strive toward the light
He reached to touch her halo of glory
His solace and compass in coldness of night
Flighted companions in moth to flame story
Headed by perfect though blinded ambition
Placed on pedestal compound clouds
Left to be burnt beyond recognition
Grounded by hurdles and shadows...

Continue reading...

A memory is like a rock in the river
The longer it drifts the smaller it gets
Possibly distorted by the waves
Like a memory over the course of time
It gets whittled down and fades
And eventually you wonder if you just made it up
But perhaps the idea is...

Continue reading...

And, he loves me,
with no make-up on.
Locs a mess, jeans & sneakers,
my shirt.....is anyone's guess.
And, even though I can't see it,
he tells me that I'm beautiful.
And, even when I get 
"prettied up" for him,
it never feels the least bit "dutiful".
And, that's why I do it...
'cause...

Continue reading...

An opinion falling like rain
Cascading over everything
A center point of chaotic felony
Delete your voice
They're coming for you again
Pound the pavement
Pound on the walls
There's nowhere to go
They know the way it flows
Paste pastel words over your mouth
When everything goes south
Those words aren't your own
They're prettied up...

Continue reading...

Little Fanny McFluff was of eight years and so very bright
She’d take a book and flashlight and read through the night
She would awaken when the sun kissed her high on the brow
And smile for her mother when told to milk the cow
Her chores were done...

Continue reading...

Virtual peace is a tempest
Filter flipped image betrays
Surreal people can tempt us
Validity is a mirrored maze

Fake befriends us flimsily
Roller coaster emotion cued
Midday in minutes celebrity 
A million likes acrewed

Instagram's grimy agenda - 
Tempting tid bits to imbibe
Sponsor is content moulder
Trends with which to abide

Facile images...

Continue reading...

Well, if for nothing else, I'm good for a chuckle
You can count on me before you remove your stubble
Okay, ladies, this doesn't mean you
Means before getting prettied up, woo hoo
But take care, too much strain on the giggler is not advisable...

Continue reading...