Best Rotary Poems
trees tremble, nuts fall
angels use of rotary whisk
the wind as if mint
refreshes my home
it is brisk, inviting
i’m cold
i don’t care
it is Fall
9/26/2022
Categories:
rotary, autumn,
Form:
Free verse
My thumbs ran off today.
I knew they were in love
And I suspected they might be compelled to be alone, together.
However….
It makes opening cans rather tough.
Turning the key in the ignition is nigh onto impossible.
I had trouble picking up my fork for my eggs.
But do they care?
Heavens no.
They are selfishly in love, those two.
Gone away on a clandestine holiday.
Thank goodness I have an I-phone instead of a rotary one.
I do not even have to use my thumbs to hold it down while I dial.
They are in the next room, moaning and stuff.
Like newlyweds do. I hate to disturb them,
So here I sit, twiddling nothing.
Categories:
rotary, funny, humorous, nonsense,
Form:
Free verse
I am Farrah Fawcett,
Poster on the wall.
I am a rotary phone,
When I made a call.
I am, Boss,
it’s the plane, The plane.
I am Pablo Escobar,
And his cocaine.
I am Queen with
Freddy Mercury Live.
I am the Bee Gees,
Talking that Jive.
I am vinyl, 8-tracks,
cassettes and CDs.
I am, make love not war,
And Hippies.
I am where is the beef?
Don't squeeze the Charmin.
I am Cheech and Chong
and George Carlin.
I am SNL when it
Was funny.
I am Happy Days,
And a Playboy bunny.
I am M.A.S.H. and
A metal Lunch-box.
I am clackers, tang,
And a Pet-rock.
I am American Bandstand,
Peace signs, and the twist.
I am pay-phones, pagers,
and stick-shifts.
I am, conjunction junction,
What's your function?
I am Patty Hearst and
Her abduction.
Turbo1904
Categories:
rotary, age, history,
Form:
Rhyme
Every year with Christmas coming in a park near Forest Lake,
the Lion’s Club and Rotary Club help to add to Christmas cheer
by organizing something special for the district to partake,
along with all the different church leaders mingling with us here.
There are many, who like me, that never see the inside of a church,
so there is rarely any contact with the folk who speak for God,
but on the special day of mingling, nobody has to search
to find any church’s leader or junior members of their squad.
And when I was in a lookout that held a calming water view,
as well as glancing back upon a loud and happy Christmas crowd,
I could feel what a Christmas means to all these gathered folks I knew,
and to be amongst a combined throng makes one feel a little proud.
I was joined up in the lookout by a chuckling jovial pair,
who decided here with me was quiet enough to lunch and swap a tale.
They introduced themselves to me as Rabbi Spitz and Father Hehir,
before unwrapping their sandwiches and pouring tea that looked like ale.
Their banter was relentless as they tore apart each others habits,
and mentioned hidden skeletons that would curl the devil’s hair.
I learned that Priests are only human and Jews can breed like rabbits,
before debating turned onto a sandwich that sat on the table there.
Father Hehir opened up one sandwich before he taunted Rabbi Spitz,
“this smoked baked ham is delicious, you really ought to try some,
but your religion won’t allow that; pick up some in your mitts;
you don’t know what you’re missing; go on, it won’t hurt you to succumb.”
But Rabbi Spitz just shook his head, and left the Father babbling on.
“I can’t understand your thinking, smoked baked ham is beyond compare,
so Rabbi, when are you going to reject, your religions con?”
Then Rabbi Spitz smirked with a winner “At your wedding Father Hehir.”
Categories:
rotary, humor,
Form:
Rhyme
After checking the Sears and Roebuck and Montgomery Wards catalogs until their pages were torn and faded, we took one last look at the sales ads in the local newspaper, donned our socks and sandal, and jumped into the station wagon to head out to that brand new shopping place called ‘The Mall’. Wheee doggies it was something. That joint was a jumpin’. It was cool and hip and out of sight. I mean it was really far out man. The mall had everything you could imagine, all in one building. There was store after store jam-packed with VCRs, rotary dial phones, cassette tapes, console TVs, One-Hour Photo, Blockbuster, and Toy’s-R-Us. It seemed like they had everything under the sun ready for a layaway plan.
After paying for the purchases with paper checks written in cursive, we’d head on down to the food court or the all-you-can-eat buffet for lunch. We’d sit on the red plastic-covered chairs and light up a couple of Kents, Chesterfields, Viceroys, Virginia Slims, or maybe some Lucky Strikes. We’d take a couple of pictures with our trusty Polaroid to commemorate the day by adding them to the family photo album. At the end of the day, the kids would jump into the back of the station wagon for a nap while we drove the two-hour-long trip back home. It was a good thing we only had to stop for gas once because, after all that shopping and eating, I only had two dollars left from the fifty we started out with. Seems like the high cost of just living is one thing that will never die.
On Main street’s sidewalks,
the store sign say they are closed,
is Christmas canceled.
Categories:
rotary, poetry,
Form:
Haibun
*PV - Proverbial Verbiage
The Old Rotary
Dialing out…zzzzip…zzzzzzzip…zzzzzzzip
and
zip…zzip…zzzip…zzzzip
and brring…
long distance was not a thing
for children. they could only
ring those within their corridor
ching…ching
money didn’t grow on trees
the grown up made sure
we were wise
or they’d wise up
our behinds
but we didn’t even try
a bit smarter back then
smarting at smaller things
like
eating Mr. McGregor’s produce
throwing
stones at cars
but
we kept our hands
off the old man’s
cookie jar (PV)
rang Grandma
once a year (PV)
It was more fun to dial out
but by then a burglar
tied you up (PV)
Categories:
rotary, nostalgia,
Form:
Light Verse
In many parks along peaceful walking trails
wind phones can now be found across the world.
With the help of an old rotary dial telephone,
mourners can speak freely to lost loved ones.
These phones are the direct line to the other side
for those who sadly never got to say goodbye.
Mourners can speak their heart into the wind
to help process their grief on the road to healing.
A phonecall has the power to release built-up anguish
for those longing to attain closure and a sense of peace.
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Categories:
rotary, death, grief, loss, psychological,
Form:
Free verse
J A Burr John Albert Burr
J A Burr John Albert Burr
Wealthy black ensured young John
To attend Engineering classes
John studied, repaired and service farm equipment
In 1898 invented 1st Rotary Lawn Mower
2/11/18
written James Edward Lee Sr.
Categories:
rotary, appreciation, black african american,
Form:
Clerihew
Space Hoppers, Power Cuts, Texan Bars & Playschool,
Record Players, Tiny Tears, Ford Capri’s (I thought were cool),
Bag Puss, Mrs Thatch, Wonder Woman, Rainbow,
George, Zippy, Rod & Jane, Bungle - have I got them all?
Dial A Disc & Rotary phones, Vinyl Records, Space Dust,
John Travolta, Happy Days, Dolly Parton’s HUGE bust
Tape Recorders, TDK’s, Top 40 taped on Sundays
(Chatting ‘bout what’s Number 1, when back at school on Monday)
Baby Cham, & Chopper bikes, lava lamps and Spangles,
Fondue Sets, & Mateus Wine – (you tried your best to wangle)
Nitty Nora (the bug explorer), Izal toilet tissue -
(was unforgiving on your bum, and gave you ‘other’ issues)
J.R., Dallas, Dynasty, shoulder pads & bitching,
AIDS, the brand new STD, much more than just an itching
Grange Hill, Zammo, Heroin, ‘Just Say No’ they sang
Jools and Paula on The Tube, with up and coming bands
Rubik Cubes, & great big hair, Roller Boots & Pac Man,
New Romantics everywhere – Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran
Frankie Says, & Ra Ra Skirts, odd Fluorescent socks
Red Hot Chillis, posing nude, (‘cept socks upon their c**ks)
MADchester & Afflecks Palace, Bez in Happy Mondays,
Shaking his maracas - (looks like every day’s a fun day)
Acid House, illegal raves, yellow smiley faces
The strangest craze in 89? – Grolsch tops on Brosette’s laces
So many happy memories, you took for granted then,
A shame you can’t go back in time, and live it all again,
Will our kids look back in time with fondness like we do?
It seems that culture lost its way some time in '92...
Claire Bowl © 2014
Categories:
rotary, humorous, nostalgia,
Form:
Rhyme
A woodpecker raps a rotary phone tone
Then redials because be gets no answer.
Staccato hammer on a hard wood tree
To the beat of a madcap tap dancer.
Trees resplendent in their Autumn finest
A silhouette for a blue cloudless sky.
Cold dark shadows crawl across the wet grass
A black hawk is weaving circles on high.
Fallen leaves crackle and crunch underfoot.
Plump squirrels gather nuts for the Winter
Chipmunks scurry across worn man-made paths
Like kids darting through a garden sprinkler.
The sun's casting spears of light through the trees.
You can almost hear the falling leaves drop.
There's a vague sense of what we all may have lost
When we were expelled from that first garden spot.
Categories:
rotary, beauty,
Form:
Quatrain
The Dragonfly
I saw this monstrosity of a dragonfly
Swiftly take flight from a grassy field
By its wings, the wind was quite high
Trees and tall grasses bowed in yield
Strangely it flew with such a loud roar
Even the lions, if nearby would scurry
It could hover and in some winds soar
Leaving loose dirt and leaves in a flurry
Of sheets, plates, tubulars and struts
Coupled into a sturdy, rigid frame
By welds, rivets and bolts and nuts
Into the unusual insect it became
The skin, well beaten and burnished
At times painted in hues dull or bright
With flapping wings, it wasn’t furnished
But with opaque, rotary wings for flight
Curiously, not some insect you can swat
With a newspaper, and of it make a smear
Its creation, a leap in conveyance brought
Easing our crossing of every frontier
May 27, 2017
Categories:
rotary, flying, insect, metaphor,
Form:
Quatrain
In the fifties life was simple
black and white you see
Elvis on Ed Sullivan
came across our used TV
Phones from Mother Bell
Rotary dial straight cords
made way for Princess touch-tones
we now had tele-lords
Sputnik was the next big thing
man walked on the moon
Neal Armstrong declared one small step
we sensed space travel soon
Then came IBM computers
much to our distress
seemed we didn’t speak the language
didn’t have access
Enter Microsoft and Apple
much to our delight
We could talk to all our buddies
whether far,day or night
Email, wireless, blue-tooth
our new communications
talking either neighbors
or to once obscure nations
As I look back and ponder
changes we’ve been through
I sometimes miss approaching a friend
simply saying how are you?
Categories:
rotary, computer-internet, funny, history, introspection,
Form:
Rhyme
Grandpa gets up to change the channels
Grandma has a rotary phone
Microwaves scare them to bits
Garage door openers
ATM machines
Self-checkout lines
Computers
Cell phones
Not!
Categories:
rotary, funny
Form:
Nonet
A crab sidewinds
The windowsill
With the Earth
In his hands,
Whilst a mouse
With a red breast
Smiles and gives a wink
To the lizard in the lounge.
Mars is using
The rotary
On 16 and 17
For spittoon practice,
Whilst the Defence
Refuses to move
Her boat from duty
At the pelican on Pall Mall.
Each thought is
Thinking another,
With the wisdom
Of a penguin crossing
The road at a
Zebra crossing;
That be some,
But not a lot!
Categories:
rotary, world,
Form:
Free verse
Was it Saxony Asia or Asia Saxony?
Was it Saxony Asia or Asia Saxony?
From Japan to Germany Rotarian so many!
An occasion for mix up of cultures irrespective of race & creed for world understanding
High quality entertainment, food for the thought and of course. taste buds pandering
With Rotary Governor, Saxony prime minister and the Prince all standing
At the podium, to share their feelings, thoughts and key message motivating
From the new BMW factory, enchanting Glashutte to Volks W’s transparent factory
The outstanding symbols of revival of the glory of good old days of Saxony
A woodwork museum of Daetz to depict symbolic representations of religions since ages
An exclusive collection of art and culture backed by singing and dancing outrages
The last dinner was a special treat with aurora of rich culture old and new
Participation of Prince Alexandar and all sundry and entertainment of all hew
With classic band and dances, the compere was also a person of class
His touches of humor made paper man’s ‘tricks and Japanese dance nicely pass
A sitting in the church of lady on the last day was soul enriching
And briefing of the guide of city tour, a lady of letters, truly bewitching
Our experience surpassed of all in past if any
So we say, was it Saxony Asia or Asia Saxony?
Categories:
rotary, adventureold, culture, old,
Form:
Epic