Every day we are ushered as the school bells peal
To inaugurate the start of the next school day’s zeal
Everyday we pledge allegiance to our flag
And to our nation, and to our God we appeal
There is teaching and learning going on
As the custodian passes by each class
Removing black marks from the hallway floors
Cleaning finger smudges from the glass
He knows the goings-on and those coming and those going
He knows what to do in the heat and after every snowing
He is the surveyllerist and purveyor of them
He’s behind the scenes to keep the school year rolling
As soon as the school year starts, there is a period at the end of the sentence
And the adventure of summer cleaning commences
And the kenopsia of a school vacated
Eerily all cries and sighs and laughter as echoes have faded
Children deserve a better world
We need to fix our planet's problems
It's our duty as custodians
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 3rd place 2025
Zookeeper doing his morning rounds
Making sure all animals were fed well
Growls turning to contented purrs
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 2nd place 2025
They, the idols who have the right given by you to dispose of your own soul, offer to admire their wise reflections, but do not offer to share their wisdom with them. They don't want you to be on the same level of insight. This is the real culture, derived from the word "cult" - you are allowed to admire, but you cannot touch it, or even come too close. It's a temple value, and it's not for everyone. Only for initiates who know the unwritten rules and rituals. Protected by the state, this plug is invisibly nailed to every object of worship, be it music or painting. But the state is not the best custodian, so only the maniac collectors can provide genuine guarantees of safety that last as long as they are alive. When there are no passionate lovers, both passion and its once adored objects disappear.
As long as they're slobs
We have jobs
Mom, our custodian
The house, cleanliness observe
Punishment deserve.
My son Jacob, he follows traditions
Religious, he has certain ambitions
He prays to God three times a day
I think he even knows what to say
Straight as an arrow, and square as a box
Jacob took a liking to bagels and lox
Sister snitched: Jacob prays right before he eats
~ that I don't slip a slice of pork in his daily treat
Custodian of Apostrophe's Apostle
Who done it, steed?
Who said what's read
between the lines marked
with ad hoc diacritic dashes?
THE CUSTODIAN
The husband never forgave me
I'd given him a slim five hundred
He cashed his ticket in on a stormy day
I could not enjoy the song and dance of rain
No nostalgia!
I swayed like branches blown by wind
But not once did I fall
I could have had a ball with sudden wealth
I said, 'Your half would be yours
Mine goes hither and yon.
*
The technological era we live in
As
The "Blasphemous One" will be recorded in the annals
Of human history
Because Man,
Instead of acting as the custodian of life on earth that
God intended him to be,
Unwisely,
Was transformed into life's merciless annihilator!
© Demetrios Trifiatis
26 January 2019
The dead roach with its upended crinkly legs
has been lying in the windowsill for at least four weeks.
I would get rid of it, except...
nothing has amused me for years half as much
as people's horrified reactions when they notice her.
This poor ugly black dead thing.
I have decided to have a tiny plaque made, and a little glass coffin.
I will put her into the coffin, and glue my "snow white" plaque on the side,
ever so sweetly.
I will caution the taxidermist to make sure the legs remain up, as it is the cutest thing.
I will then pay him to stuff and stand seven little dead flies or ants.
His choice.
I will put little hats and vests on them and label them too.
Grumpy will really look grumpy.
This will bring the dead roach to a whole new level.
It might even embarrass the custodian,
but as she clearly has not noticed this dead roach in four or five weeks,
perhaps not.
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