You had to be there. Literally, there.
Just hearing it removes the third dimension.
Necessity's the mother of invention?
Idea-whose-time-has-come must be the père.
But how can you replace the footlights' glare,
the acrobats' contrived, but visceral, tension?
You can't. So much is lost in a mere mention,
that wings its way to us through colourless air.
They once were princes. Now reduced to strugglers.
What use is wireless to ventriloquists?
Where did their future go? There are no answers.
The dole can never compensate the jugglers,
or anyone whose acumen consists
in sleight of hand - snake charmers or tap dancers.
Squirrels running pacing dashing affably
Elegant fancy coattails in their black attire
Classy dressers these astute charmers
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Some of the most charming people in the world
are trolls with mean dispositions they hide for months at a time
They like to date lively, joyful, women
These charmers are lovely; saying the right things
Tricking these women into falling in love with them
After they capture these women, they attempt to isolate them
Doing their best to keep them from their families and loved ones
Stating their friends are not “good enough” for them
Making fun of their woman if she wants to see her “mommy” or “sisters”
Beware of anyone who wants to isolate you.
They might smile, and you might have seen charm from them
But beware. Abusers and trolls smile too.
I wished to find the words for you - so beautiful and dear,
The pretty ones that you would be so happy just to hear -
And when I found the very bestest, selected just for you,
I’d put them into a poem’s lines, so they would ring so true.
It took time to find these charmers that like to hide from me.
“Queue up in a line”, I said, “so my beloved can see!”
But these dumb clods never do what I command them to.
This is the silly way they lined up to prepare for you to view:
“Soft like silk, a lullaby, a rainbow, an azure sky,
Verdant woodlands, a butterfly, snowy peaks, apple pie.”
“You must tell her what she means to you and what is in your heart.
I’m afraid this is not good enough, it’s only just a start.”
“We’re walking out”, said these dopes, “of your love poem, I’m afraid.
What you are asking of us stiffs is over our pay grade.”
It was then I thought, with these mad guys, I should make amends.
If I cannot command them, then perhaps we could be friends.
And so, my dear, it’s time I fear, to pause and to regroup.
Because these words have turned on me and turned this poem to poop.
Build a padded wall around the entire earth.
We've become one giant insane asylum.
For which there's no cure.
While you're at it.
Hang a neon vacant eyes sign.
For everything has turned the deepest shade of blind.
Right has turned into wrong/wrong spliced into right.
We've become the galactic idiot-a universal blight.
That's what happens when you replace growth.
With a quick-fix prick, Charmers and anorexic influencers.
When mountains of youth are glazed with victimhood.
Unearned accolades -no accountability balm.
There's no longer social sedimentation.
Between the saint and psychopath.
God is flipping us the dirty bird.
While searching for his misplaced wrath.
Every evening, I could witness, in my childhood,
Beggars, going from home to home, for daily food;
Fear filtered into my heart, as though from fountains,
I could see, within me, many terror mountains...!
Visits of soothsayers, snake charmers, and vendors,
Magic, jugglery, witchcraft, and comic blenders;
Each one was considered a guest and was well-homed,
Each, as though members, wherever they wanted, roamed...!
Foreign visitors, often those with skins milk-white,
Made my heart pump very fast, increasing my fright;
Men sent on the query of a vivacious kind,
Set blaze, like volcanoes, firing fears in my mind...!
All these, yet, I feel now, had shot up like mushrooms,
Age and experience swept these away like brooms;
Xenophobia is a phase of growth, I learn,
Some humans, yet, in this urn, eternally burn...!!!
28 April 2023
Rhymes Checked At: Rhyme Zone
Syllables Checked At: How Many Syllables
When you hear a voice in the wilderness
That's tempting you in hours of loneliness
Remember the strength that was shown by Christ
In the desert those forty days and nights.
Demons are alert when you're at your worst
They'll come along when you hunger or thirst
When you feel that life is losing sparkle
They quickly jump in, dodgers are artful.
Rogues are charmers who appear day or night
And we are tempted when a demon strikes
We're only human and induce mistakes
Throughout life's journey goodness is at stake.
Coming along with evil will at heart
Their aim is for fine folk to fall apart
Devils in disguise is what demons are
Feeding off the meek alone when it’s dark.
We’re all aware who the evil beast is
So why do some find it hard to resist
Refuse and stay strong, be thou not a fool
For fools rush in and forget all God's rules.
When you hear a voice and there’s no one near
Pray to God and He’ll allay all your fear.
MALES DON’T HAVE MONOPOLY
Those reading my poems should know,
He too, can be a She.
Not talking about transgender,
narcissist both … can be.
Males don’t have monopoly on,
emotional abuse.
Females seen as cruel as men.
when anger … they let loose
Both hate everything we stand for,
and quick to let us know.
Disrespect what we believe, for
friends and us ... contempt show.
Both appear to be real charmers
through mask won’t let folks see.
When not being observed reveal,
how demeaning … can be.
April 5, 2023
Once upon a distant dream, you were fit and lean.
Could eat almost anything.
Slam drinks until the vampire's sunrise
But still make the whistle on time.
Now your bloated mirror is the alpha enemy.
You need more naps than a preemie baby.
Even the flats seem like a steep climb uphill.
Your countertop is flanked like a mountain of pills.
Some for the mind phantom.
Some for the real ailments.
Piggybacking doctors who don't interact.
It's no longer a balancing act.
It's a swarm of bloodshot-eyed jackals.
Waiting for your collapse.
This didn't happen overnight.
It was a slow decline down a barbed-wire slide.
A concoction of snake oil charmers
Big pharma politicians.
Slippery salesmanship...lack of discipline.
Let us not forget about that sinister, sadistic, -
unforgiving time.
Mr MrsManipulators agents and schemers,
Hustlers prying on individuals emotions, trust
and finances. Merchants of manipulating a fraud Mr Mrs instigators scheming lies charmers and influencers of deceptions plotting one's downfall to gain popularity and notoriery.
When the snake charmers walk along the lanes,
The excited kids follow them in chains.
Holding their snakes in round baskets and pots,
The charmers search for the suitable spots.
Wear specific attire for they have flair,
Grow handlebar moustache, long curly hair;
Keep hoop earrings, zari turbans on heads;
Put blobs on foreheads; hung bead chains with threads.
Sitting cross-legged in front of those pots,
Grabbing our attention, untie the knots.
Carry their flutes made of dried bottle gourds,
Play their music notes, expecting rewards.
The serpent rises from with its hood up;
They move knees to the snake; a right set up.
It sways hood and makes hissing as if charmed,
Charmers too believe the same and affirmed. .
How do the charmers run the show freely?
Are they not afraid of them really?
The backdrop secret is ignored and skipped
The poor serpent’s fangs are almost ripped.
A STRAND (1066) Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Brian Strand
Date: 04-02-2022
Placed : 1st
You know I really love my computer
Coz all my poet friends are in it!
Since the advent of the computer generation
Can't list them all, time doesn't permit
Youse guys are all so close to my heart
Each one has your own special place
From countries near and across the globe
A fabulous way to start my day
Feel all mushy with a tear in my eye
A sentimental old geezer for sure
Never before have I felt so much love
Even gentlemen have your allure
To clarify you male dudes, it's strictly platonic
So in case you get any ideas
Squish 'em right now, I only love ladies
As well as pussy cats and cheetahs
Where in the world did “cheetahs” come from
They'd sooner rip me apart, than smile
So don't try snuggling up to one of these charmers
They're not swayed by your cunning guile
Chubby little penguins,
Some with hats, some with out,
Sparkling, dainty snowflakes,
Dancing all about.
Welcomed winter charmers,
Brought great delight.
Added warmth and comfort,
To long and chilly nights.
But now that Spring is here,
It's time for them to go,
To hibernate until next year,
With other winter clothes.
3/21/21
(I was wearing my penguin pajamas this morning and this silly poem popped into my head)
Bell-shaped English Bluebells
Violet face of lilac landscape
Charming tints of scarlet
Exuberance of Maple Red
Red, white, upright Tulips
Preening of vibrant spring
Whistling breath of wind
Kisses swaying Daffodils
Laden droplets refracting
Gleam of rose-petal gems
Bluebird’s pine-needle nest
Home of blueish green eggs
Crocus purple flowers
Amethyst glory of jewels
Scented Lilly of the Valley
Blooming white charmers
Rainbow colors of Hyacinth
Jewels glinting window sills
Spicy fragrant Dianthus
Apex of prized decorum
July 4, 2020
Placed 1st: Strand Completely New Poetry (5) Contest
Sponsor: Brian Strand
Butterflies,and little boys
puppy dogs,and lots of toys
wild hair,blowing in the breeze
scraped elbows,and scratched knees
worms,and fish and little bugs
dimpled smile,and eyes of love
little charmers,every one
open hearts,like the sun
giggling laughter,boy all thru
dressed in jeans,and baby blues
running,skipping all around
for all the world,like a clown
mother's answer, to her prayers
father's,let me keep some hair
in and out,the door will swing
little treasures,that he'll bring
a stick,a stone,or maybe a toad
anything his hands can hold
love,eternal he gives to me
when, he's not up climbing trees
up and down,and all around
a smile,a laugh,or maybe a frown
just one of life's,little joys
to sum it up...he's all boy....
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