Best Print Poems
I see that Bubba’s so forlorn.
He’s too depressed to talk today.
Two months in a full-body cast
can keep one’s cheerfulness at bay.
He donned his super hero suit
and took a header off the roof
(two-story!) Nothing broke his fall.
He lies now, silent and aloof.
He’d failed to read the tiny print:
“This suit can’t really make you fly.”
If he weren’t forty-five years old,
I’d feel compassion—even cry.
Date Written: January 29, 2018
Contest Title: Shoulda Read the Fine Print-2
Sponsor: John Lawless
Should'a Read The Fine Print
I am intrigued by all computer tasks,
and competent and skilled in every scheme
from word process and graphic arts design,
to spreadsheets, database and all between.
But, I became too confident last week
when I downloaded upgrades that were bad
for programs that I use...I acted quick...
and what a sad computer crash I had!
You see, the upgrade versions were not right;
computer froze with dreaded screen of blue!
Technician came and, for a hefty price,
it was repaired and set to go as new.
The moral is, I thought I knew it all
and cut some corners...shortened up the stint.
I learned a lesson I will not forget...
I really should'a read that dang fine print!
Sandra M. Haight
~10th Place~ Premiere Congest
Contest: I Really Should'a Read the Fine Print
Sponsor: John Lawless
Iambic Meter: 10 syllables and 5 feet per line
Judged: 04/28/2016
True story - This happened April 2, 2016, and I got my computer back a week later.
Thank goodness I had all my documents and important files backed up on an
external hard drive (done every day) whereby I hooked it up to an older computer and could proceed with my work - especially for Poetry Soup!!
"Be careful about reading health
books. Some fine day you'll
die of a misprint"
- Markus Herz.
Once,
I had a particular problem;
fear of falling. Desperation
drove me to a library,
and found a book talking about
a cure. It read
"cure for falling......" with some
words missing. I blended
together some herbs written in the book,
which produced a concoction whose
color hadn't been given a name
in the dictionary.
I took the drink and slept.
The following morning I woke up;
dizzy. I felt like a balloon
in space. I was afraid of falling
from my bed. Doubting the cure,
I went through the book in the Internet.
My foot!
It was a re-published version of an 18th century
spell book,
which advised on the cure of fear
of falling in love!
I didn't have a shaman's advise on taking
the nasty drink.
I wish I went through the book my counselor
gave me,
rather than healing myself in a cheap,
costly way....
Contest Finalized: 28/4/2016
Publishing Date: 12/4/2016
revelers in sleigh
moonlight on fresh snow powder
Currier & Ives
What are these lines? that are drawn on my palm
what significance do they carry ?
why are there contours on my fingers
and why do they vary ?
I hear people call them finger prints,
and heard them say they are different for all .
They signify my uniqueness and all that I am made of.
But for me these are the love lines of God ,
which He inscripted on my palm .
Reminding me of my uniqueness ,
of His concern and His love.
It conveys me of how wonderfully,
I am made and that there is no one else like me ,
who in my Father's eyes is the same .
These fingerprints are my love letter that I read
every day ,reminding me of a love story that always will remain .
I really should’a read the fine print when I bought a ‘micro pig’
For this porker is enormous, surely it’s not meant to grow this big!
I really should’a read the fine print when I brought an old motor car
It broke down on the way home ...oh dear it didn’t get very far
He really should’a read the fine print when his bright pink condom split
Money back if not completely satisfied – I don’t believe a word of it!
I really should’a read the fine print when I joined a get rich quick scheme
I sent off all my bank details … and found my account has been wiped clean!
Contest – Should’a read the small print Sponsored by John Lawless
04~11~16
In the catalogue picture I saw
Such a gemstone that filled me with awe.
Oh, but I should have known
That ring’s smaller than shown -
At least SEVEN times tinier. BAH!
Written April 17, 2016 for Contest that closed 4/28
Nww used for the Second Chance #3 Poetry Contest of Broken Wings
It's pretty much all I have to enter this time!
I REALLY SHOULD'A READ THE FINE PRINT Contest
Sponsor: John Lawless
Looking through old photographs with stacks of papers,
Reading long lost love affair letters from my sweet,
If only I could’ve been strong enough to save her,
For she is my soul saving wonder who made me complete.
No longer will she be a versifier inside my heart...her words saved me countless times and now she is gone, and so are her journals.
When the cancer came we were utterly shocked. She was so healthy and happy and we made a marvelous life together in a span of over twenty years.
She had suffered through treatments and died while trying to survive. It was too late…she was gone and she took her love letters with her…
Piles of paperwork and days full of sorrow; I just couldn’t live without her. My essence died with her and my existence shattered.
I found our wedding certificate and started weeping. Vows sworn under oath and a matrimonial kiss shared on the alter. For we were finally bound together through sickness and health.
I stopped and read the certificate. On the day of our wedding, nowhere did I see it stated if one shall die the other must move on. If only I had read this before. If only I had known what I was getting myself into. I slowly read the fine print…
“When two souls are united as one, if one shall pass away the other must keep living a life of dreams in honor of the harmony of their sworn commitment.”
Looking through old photographs with stacks of papers,
I saw the affirmation of the sacred vows between best friends,
she is now gone as I struggle to move on and be greater,
But the fine print never mattered…I’d marry her all over again…
Date Written: April 18, 2016
Should have read the fine print when I ordered my Thai bride
My doorbell rang, there she stood, said "Can I come inside ?"
"Come in" I said, "I'll take your bag and would you like some tea ?"
" Yes please" she said " But please kind sir could you make that three ?"
She saw my puzzled look and thought she'd better explain to me
"On Thai Bride Dot Com, you order one and you get two free
When you place your order, It isn't only me
You also get a mother in-law and my old granny".
Rice and fish is all we ate for breakfast, dinner and tea
I did detest, tried to protest but they just laughed at me
They loved to shop and sight see in my hometown, Baltimore
On our return they'd rush for seats and I'd end up on the floor.
Night was worse, four in a bed, it was quite a squeeze
I couldn't sleep, scratched all night, one of them had fleas
I shouda read the fine print, wanted a bride not family
Life was hell, they drove me mad ,I knew i had to flee.
I was heading for a breakdown or worse I'd end up dead
And as I lay in bed one night an idea came in my head
Next day before the sun was up I fled and left the scene
I'm going to sign up for twenty years as a U.S. marine.
Written on 30th Of January 2018
So many years ago, in my teen years,
our mom received a gift, her newest 'toy',
a Presto pressure cooker added to
her kitchen to create meals we'd enjoy.
Split pea soup recipe she'd planned to make,
to cook for sure in minutes, not in hours.
Excited we had gathered round to watch,
and knew fine soup for dinner would be ours.
At once, the pressure cooker went berserk!
It started hissing, shaking...gave a hint,
as soup shot up to paint our ceiling green,
that momma shoulda read the darn fine print!
Sandra M. Haight
~7th Place~
Contest: Shoulda Read The Fine Print - 2
Sponsor: John Lawless
Judged: 02/18/2018
True Story!
I should'a read the fine print
when into the hairdresser's I did go
no guarantee that the shade or tint
won't end up indigo
I looked like a parrot
all they said was with a laugh
better than looking like a carrot
asked if I wanted to buy a scarf
I should'a read the fine print
after I hit her with my shoe
when they called the police
asking what caused the to-do
said I wasn't supposed to look like parrot
a golden blonde was what I wanted
you should'a read the fine print
is what the policeman quoted.
I am sitting in a cell my mind is awhirl
I look like a blue parrot in a cage
first person who says what a pretty girl
will be the victim of my rage.
Penned 12/4/2016
I have had a black and white print on my wall for years
it is by Karl F. Halder from his photo portfolio
it is a calico kitten perched on the edge
of an old wooden window with white lace curtains
it takes me to a time and place in my life
when I was lost, alone and in total poverty
I first saw the print in a second hand store
but did not have the money to buy it
I would visit the store and look at the print
and the lady at the cash would smile at me
something about that kitten ready to leap out from that ravaged
building
called to my soul and gave me hope for myself
one day, I had the money to purchase it
but when I went to the cash, the lady took off the price sticker
and handed it to me with a smile
we have been on a long journey, this print and me
__________________
January 19, 2015
Poetry/Free Verse/the black and white print
Copyright Protected, ID 01-634-573-19
All Rights Reserved, 2015, Constance La France
Submitted to the Standard contest, A Strand (1071)
sponsor, Brian Strand, Judged 02/12/2022
First Place
when I met him I was dizzy with love
swept off my feet in a cloud of pure lust
I had butterflies in my tummy
totally discombobulated
I think he used some hocus-pocus on me
oh I abandoned all self control for this man
those deep brown eyes had me drowning
his sublime deep voice was captivating
it was hopeless to fight
I really should'a read the fine print
he whispered sultry sweet things in my ear
he caressed my hair
and I told him I loved him hopelessly
and I am pretty sure he felt the same
because he soon asked me to marry him
I do- we both said
we promised to love each other forever
till death do us part
well I really should'a read the fine print
because forever was only a few years
it seems God had another set of directions
and our love was to be erstwhile and fleeting
it was written in the book of life
and it was sudden and sorrowful
then he was gone
only a name engraved in stone cold to be
now I am left in a labyrinth twisting and turning
my forever is a forever grief
I really should'a read the fine print
but would it have made a difference
could I have turned away from my love
even if I knew the ending
in that fine print that needed a magnifying glass
to read- no
would have loved him anyways
I carry red roses to his tomb
under an infinite motionless blue sky above
I walk a path that winds like a river
in dreams I hold him to my heart
and weep for what was in the fine print
_____________________________
April 12, 2016
Free Verse
For the contest, I Really Should'a Read The Fine Print,
sponsor, John Lawless
First Place
Shoulda read the fine print - 8 Feb 2018
Binary code can only be understood
by those who look closely under the hood
The fine print of human DNA
the crux of reproduction per se
The fine print so small and very well hidden
the knowledge of such, to many, forbidden
Evolving from ‘God’ only knows what
to intellectual beings, self-taught!
Upgrading the human fine print in time
for that one day when the stars do align
And then when we take to planets anew
to breed DNA without further ado
These poor ET creatures will begin to think
“Shoulda read the fine print, *now we’re extinct!”
SHOULDA READ THE FINE PRINT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
in bygone days I did the football pools
and always hoped my X had marked the spot?
making sure that I had read all the rules
an agent did the post ere I forgot.
for years not one single problem, until
my draws came up, I had marked the right spot.
on paper, I'd won a fortune! the thrill!
sadly the agent to post had forgot".
oh yes! it went to court, I'd win I thought,
all I got, for what its worth, my stake back.
yeah! so much for rules, taking it to court.
onus, on me, to see it in the sack!
I was wrought, I had read all the rules, but
I shoulda read the fine print, adjudged, shut!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Composed 17th January 2018
Entered in 'shoulda read the fine print' Poetry Contest, sponsored by John lawless