Left in the wake of destruction,
this mother is called to action.
I am going to shed light on
an infraction, an infraction.
You knocked a single domino,
there is nowhere for us to go.
Forcing us out of our borough
with no crossbow, with no crossbow.
Basic instinct pushed to the brink
no fresh water remains to drink.
In your yard before you can blink
you didn’t think, you didn’t think.
Eskimo Joe took a liking to Nebraska Flo
His bro said, oh, no, not her, no, no, Joe!
When Joe was with Flo, they each had a glow
Bright as flashing bulbs at a Kansas light show
Love for each other continued to grow
Joe helped Flo plant, weed, garden, rake and hoe
Their romance was fast, it was never slow
Flo showed Joe how to use a crossbow
He refused to kill a buck or a doe
But their love was intense, there was no kind of woe
His friends and her friends, his foe and her foe
These lovebirds got married in Tijuana, Mexico.
Traveling far, far away from home
Leaving family and friends to roam
Did not expect changes it would bring
To a life feeling apathy’s sting
Had much pity from which to borrow
Saw no bright future into tomorrows
Never thought to make goals or form dreams
Caught in a trap of daily routines
Knew nothing beyond my locale
Blind to the avenues I had
Just going along with old pals
Digging cars, music, and gals
Trying to hide distress was not smart
Shielding the anxiousness in my heart
I feigned joy but was acting a part
No one knew the deep sigh in my heart
Then one day to my utter delight
When out of the dark came a light
Circumstance and good fortune teamed
With opportunity to redeem
From plateau low to mountain heights
Life beyond the status quo plights
Came like a shot from a crossbow
Hitting with a decisive blow
Now have traveled from shore to shore
Lived in six states, flown over more
Earned three degrees along the way
Proud of my military days
This is the tale of young Polkahontus.
She lives in the forest; her aim is to taunt us.
The squeezebox is ancient; it’s lacquered and red;
she communes with the spirits and plays for the dead.
She gives the accordion a little squeeze;
the raspy sound out of it’s more like a wheeze.
She dances and prances and plays in the wood;
I’d drop a tree on her if I only could.
At dusk she gets started down there in the vale;
I’ve fingered my crossbow with thoughts to impale.
In the rain, in the snow, even bitter and cold,
she’s playing that polka; Good Lord, it gets old.
I’m at my wit’s end, so I get down the rifle
with murderous thoughts of a squeezebox to stifle.
I aim through my scope with the polka red dot,
but I won’t pull the trigger, ‘cuz that polka girl’s hot!
Life Beyond the Status Quo
Traveling far, far away from home,
Leaving family and friends to roam,
Did not expect changes it would bring,
To a life feeling apathy’s sting.
Had much pity from which to borrow,
Saw no bright future in tomorrows,
Never thought to make goals or form dreams,
Caught in a trap of MUNDANE routines.
Thought hiding my distress very smart,
Shielding the anxiousness in my heart,
I feigned joy but was acting a part,
No one knew the pain was so distraught.
Then one day to my utter surprise,
When out of the blue an answer came,
Circumstances and good fortune teamed,
With opportunity to redeem.
From plateau dim to mountain glow,
To life beyond the status quo,
Like an arrow shot from a taunt crossbow,
Hitting the target with precise blow.
I rested my eyes and I heard a bell ringing
I wondered what this afternoon might be bringing
I gathered my wits and peered out through the blind
Frankly, intrigued to know what I might find
There’s children stood there and they look so unruly
I sense that they’ve all got it in for yours truly
I think to myself with a shortage of mirth
The lot of them should have been throttled at birth
That bell is still ringing, it’s donging and dinging
I’ve got a sore head and my eardrums are stinging
And would you believe that those kids are now squealing
You’re likely to find me soon… clung to the ceiling
Will somebody please silence that flaming bell
I so want a crossbow like William Tell
I feel myself shaken and then shaken faster
Then… “Lunch time is over; please wake up, Headmaster.”
A stem sprouts leaves two
Holding cute bud new
Grows free
Unfurls charming hue
Makes a flower blue
Blooms glee
Unframed scene sticks to
Pleased plant, shines with dew
Silky.
Bridge the two banks see
Standing on strong knee
Crossbow
Structure so crafty
Makes closeness lovely
Somehow
Bonding seems to be
River’s sole trustee
To show.
Longing two hearts grow
Desires in spate flow
Find clue
To bloom life nouveau
Paired love’s floral glow
Debut
Dear link two lives know
Living brings rainbow
In view.
_____________
March 18, 2023
Syllable count checked at HMS
Contest : Write Me A Virelai
Sponsored by : Kim Rodrigues
Like the North Wind,
Sent by Boreas
to lay driven snow, pure
and white, an ivory
whirlwind blows
through my living room.
The rodent, pink as
embarrassment, flies
with the speed of a
crossbow bolt loosed at
full tension. It’s woolen
body, firm but pliable.
The ashen animals
bear claws sharp as
thorns, attacking with the
ferocity of a defensive
rose garden. They strive
for the kill, dilated pupils
take on the shape of
fully waxed moons, the color
of pitch; an eclipse of
bloodlust. Eagerly, but
methodically the blanched
aggressors approach the
rosy mouse and with
muscles tensed, as taut as
moorings, they leap.
Their lithe, slim, dextrous
bodies fly through the
air. In a blizzard of ferocity
the rodent is struck down
and the ivory whirlwind
abates back into a pile
of freshly driven snow.
1/12/23 for “Metrical Tale”
Sponsored by Hilo Poet
I walked up his creaking steps
To the world’s most cluttered front porch
Kicking aside a chair, I knock
I hear some scrambling from inside
The door whips open. My friend smiles.
“Welcome to my humble abode,
You really made it just in time.”
I walk in and take off my shoes
He points to the cat, crouched, quiet
“You really made it just in time.”
Like a crossbow bolt, the cat darts
But the moth flies up and away
The cat let out a sad yowl
Looking defeated, slinks away.
“I really made it just in time.”
A neighing through wind-swirled waves.
Frozen hooves branch,
a neck cranked tight in a crossbow of fear,
a horse being swept away!
No! I miss-saw...
just a chunk of tree in the white running water,
A momentary delusion,
yet alarm took flight,
became a moth gone crazy
on the light of my skin.
Not a drowning horse -
not what I perceived there
in a quick moment of terror.
Yet for an instant,
my mind threw a saddle
over what was never there.
Show me something beautiful;
Silent snow as it lies in deep forest,
Silent stars aglow in midnight sky,
Silent forever the banjo after you die,
Silent strike of life's crossbow.
Pauly’s Bank Deposits
Pauly’s passkey
Pickup hiccups
Passbook Facebook
Payload payroll
Honey money
Crossbow bankroll
5/18/21
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2021 ©
His Aim
A Shame
Narrow
Arrows
Find Hips
Miss Lips
Forego
Crossbow
Next Year
Try Spears
If Cupid has an arrow let him put it's down and reach for a gun to slay me like prey let him have an iron fist to put me on a list of those who come to past relevance instead of wings let him have daggers for my deep wounds a crossbow tipped by venom for my deep wounds have no cure let it be poison that consumes my body
Have I ever told you?
I was smitten with you then
when we first met.
A quiver ran down my body
by your single look.
Your fine archery
couldn't have missed the shot
as your crossbow-eyes
aimed at me
and your piercing sight
like an arrow wounded my heart
with venom of your lethal love.
I couldn't have survived
your fatal attack
if you didn't aid me
with your skilful nursing
infused with adoration.
You almost healed me
with your romantic treatment
and medicines made of love
but residue of that venom
still runs through my veins
in my blood and fills my heart
with unruly passion for you.
I was too ignorant
to know then but I know now
that I am captivated by you
and your tricks forever.
You know how to make me
suffer for your love.
You are the one to make me ill
and you are the one to cure me.
Darling, you are my malady
and you are my only remedy.
I am still smitten with you
and will be forever.
Date: 11/12/2017
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