Acrobatic birds can dive energetically for glucose,
Even as the felines watch,
Waving their tailfeathers in the air,
To their perch, they add another notch.
Felines gain hope, inspiring jumpy keen longing,
The birds keep teasing the predators,
Flying lower as if doing the limbo,
Despite tempting fate, shunning grim reaper creditors.
Masterful nature offers perches quaintly, rightly spaced,
The birds take breaks from sweet drinks,
Fly lower, eating little leaf gnats,
Watching the cats snicker, as wingbeat winks.
Radiant songbirds travel ubiquitously, valiant warriors,
Beautiful as they fly, spreading song,
Despite teasing the cats on the ground,
A day without these creatures would feel too long.
I am afraid of bugs, but not because they’re creepy or squirmy
I fear bugs because they’re so tiny that when I hold their bodies
And feel their beautiful, vulnerable beating hearts
I’m afraid I’ll crush them
It would be so easy to squeeze and break them
Like I squished the little bug I used to be
lift me up, birds of praise,
I'm sinking in the spaces
of this unholy void.
She twirls with her lace,
and momentarily paces,
this cemetery is wired
hidden in darkest grit soils.
if our passion builds a fire,
elementary of the passion
we even forget our names.
As our eyes staked to claim
awkwardly drawn together,
so newly shyly terrifying,
if the spark wasn't mystifying,
lady bugs kissing on feathers
What's up doc repeats Bugs Bunny
thinking he's being cute and funny
sounding like a wily parrot
while posing chewing on his carrot
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Submitted on August 14, 2025 for contest CARTOON CHARACTER CLERIHEW sponsored by TANIA KITCHIN - RANKED 2ND
Bugs Bunny loves his carrot snack,
He tricks his foes and never looks back.
“Eh, what’s up, doc?”—his teasing cue,
A clever rabbit who’s quick and shrewd too.
Poet’s Note:
Inspired by Bugs Bunny’s famous 1940 line, “Eh, what’s up, doc?”.
(\(\
(-.-)
o_(")(") Eh, what’s up, doc?
Bugs Bunny loves his carrot treat—
outsmarts his foes with swift, wily feet.
“eh, what’s up, doc?”—his cheeky call,
a clever bunny loved by all.
Poet’s Note:
Inspired by Bugs Bunny’s famous 1940 line, “Eh, what’s up, doc?”.
(\(\
(-.-)
o_(")(") Eh, what’s up, doc?
Bugs Bunny:
a cartoon character who was more than just funny.
His way of dealing with rivals was shrewd.
Yosemite Sam always came out worse in their feud.
FLASH DANCE*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
fireflies
flicker, enchant
dancing amongst the stars
suspended pieces of glitter
flash dance
*Note: I originally published this at Poetry Soup in June 2025 (poetrysoup.com › flash_dance_1738383) but later deleted it. This is my original poem.
MOSQUITO MIKE
Just something a bit humorous on this hot summer day..
There once was a mosquito named Mike.
His buzzing and biting I did not like.
On my arm he found a place
flitted and fluttered with grace.
I swatted at him with a handspike.
Mike dodged and weaved with carefree ease.
He feasted on my blood, what a sleaze.
He's a small creature, not grand,
Mosquito Mike, wings so weak and bland.
Caught him in my hand. OOOPS! Big squeeze.
Whirlwind
Of summer embers
Stirs up
From the un-mowed grass
Swept by the brooms of July 4th fireworks
Booming distant in the furled city
Up high
To the tree tops
The fire flies rise
To the hunger of bats that swoop as spoons
Banging the pan of moon
More than enough for all
The stars
Lightning bugs
Moonbeams and bean wings
Consciousness everywhere
Our heads tilt
On their cracked bodies
Statues
Still standing
For a longer whisper
In the ancient gallery of this summer
My wife her husband
Hands freed from our marble robes
We
Ignite and hold
The gold of a sparkler
Close to our faces.
Does God mourn
for every ant
that was crushed
before it was able to carry its own weight?
Red Political Bugs
Mosquito-like bites,
Sucking blood, uprooting life:
Today’s politics:-
You are whatever you are.
And I am whatever I want.
So take me how?
However I come.
My stars won't let me fall far.
Flowers and rainbows are all covered in scars.
So keep counting your wishes like bugs in a jar.
Nobody ever tells you that life's is this hard.t
They just spin you around until you fall down.
Round and round, we all fall down.
So keep counting your wishes like bugs in a jar.
Flowers and rainbows are all covered in scars.
All you flowers and rainbows are all covered in scars.
There are no bugs in this universe.
We only have a single curse.
There’s nothing but dust in the back.
No spiders which could attack.
There’s no way to feel the legs of a centipede.
Or let any butterflies feed.
The only evil here is the old roller coaster.
And the rusty toaster.
Insects really are a way of life.
I used to see them with strife.
But now, in this place, I do digress.
There are no bees which are precious.
There are no wasps, which I used to hate.
They would bug me when I ate.
Outside, on the beach…
I remember that bite of peach.
On the beach, or in my yard.
Who knew the silence would be so hard?
Without worms crawling around.
Or bees making a buzzing sound.
I thought I felt a sting on my arm.
I thought it was a bee doing me harm.
But really, it was a phantom sting.
I still try to listen to cicadas sing.
I wish a firefly would say hello.
Or even a fly landing on my elbow.
There are no bugs in this universe.
The sadness only got worse…
I heard their song.
I wish I could be strong.
I used to be scared of spiders under my bed.
But now, I have visions of Them instead.
A butterfly lights from flower to flower
with golden wings, he whiles away each sunny hour.
A moth comes out at night, while the world dreams,
guided by the light of silvery moonbeams.
An ant toils away, working hard for the pack,
dressing modestly, he's attired only in black.
I try not to judge, as I consider each bug.
They all have different ways of feeding their mug.
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