Day Late And A Dollar Short Poems | Examples


List of Member Poems

Premium Member Summer's Paradox

"Another day, another dollar;
a day late and a dollar short."

Here summer comes early.
Mostly, it never really leaves.
Here there are fresh-faced
children -- but they will change.

Boys will ripen to close 
copies of their fathers --
those many sullen somber
silent men. Girls will mimic 
still their mothers, aging 
early in summers' petulant,
pervasive, potent green.

Here hopeless men will not
expose, in words, their griefs --
since there will always be only
the harsh monotony of each
tomorrow's changeless green.

Around sun-reddened weary necks
hang heavy burdens, weighty worries
never lessened, the endless summer's 
cruel paradox:  how such paucity 
of hopeful human spirit festers 
in the midst of profligate abundance,
this all-enveloping, overgrowing green.

Premium Member 1459

Shy Henry is hung like a horse
The ladies love him of course 
Little did they know
He prefers a beau
Day late and a dollar short

Let's Name Him Jerry

A subtle whisper into my mother’s ear
by my 15-year-old brother Lawrence Dean 
and she proclaimed me Jerry Wayne Brotherton
the prettiest baby boy she’d ever seen

Okay, okay, I hear what you are saying
I might have stretched the truth just a little bit
But in my mind, that’s exactly what she said
and it’s my story so I’m sticking to it

Jerry is old English in origin and 
diminutive of Gerald (The ruling spear)
In 1941 the name reached its height
but then slowly it started to disappear

Sadly, the name grew less and less popular
until it very nearly became extinct
Unfortunate that I was born sixteen years
after this great name had climbed up to its peak

Alas that set the very tone for my life
whenever it comes to money, fame, or sport
the never-ending motto that will begin
to describe my fate “day late and a dollar short”


Premium Member A Man of Magnanimous Soul

A man of magnanimous soul
Wakes up in the morning, sighs 
Parts the curtains, picks up a call 
Which is a bit unwise 
Mephistopheles calls for a lunch
Somewhere in the Regent street  
Sorry I’m in a time crunch
The man says, but thanks for the treat
I don’t think that I can afford
To accept your invitation, sir 
It’s a day late and a dollar short 
So bye-bye, little devil, adieu 
Then a man of magnanimous soul
Stops the call, and feels rather sad
His woman appears, asks what’s going on
Nothing special, he says, I’ve gone mad.

He's a Bad Man

Never get caught in his sight
If u are, u're in for a fight
Don't mistake him for a fool
Listen up! I'm about 2 take u 2 school
Run as fast as u can!
Better watch out he's a bad man!

Heed my warnings
If not, u will see no more mornings
Pushing up daisies
He doesn't come off as crazy
Keep an eye on both of his hands
Or u might find out why he's a bad man

He's kept the evil at bay for a long time
But now, vengence is on his mind
A day late and a dollar short
U better come up with a plan of some sort
Silent and deadly
His hands r always steady
U r going to find out firsthand
Why I keep telling u he's a bad bad man

Eyes in the back of ur head
Red dot on ur forehead
Hide under the covers in ur bed
U will never see his style and swag
Think fast or u'll end up in a body bag
On ur own 2 feet u will have to stand
Square up cuz he's a bad man

Silver tongued devil
He functions on a deadly level
Always gets his target by any means
U might catch him rockin jeans
He might be wearing black slacks
Let just cut to the facts jack!
Run as far as u can!
Goddamn, he's a bad man!

Designer Products

nike ,polo ,gucci and such
designers are almost everywhere
and we go out and buy their product 
only to make them millionaires
running to the malls constantly spending
so that we can fit in 
and as soon as we think we're trending
they come out with a whole new trend
trying to keep up with the newest fashions
so we can look the way they feel
(think)
if we had put our ideals to action 
we could feel that way for real
but while they were out there movin fast
we sat around watching soaps and sports
now they're sitting back counting their cash 
and we're a day late and a dollar short,,,,,,


A Day Late and a Dollar Short

Have you ever heard the expression a day late and a dollar short.
Because when it comes to this girl I was and this is how it goes.
A day late and a dollar short.
A cluster of feelings I’m still trying to sort.
Still thinking I have a opportunity to cross the threshold to her heart.
But if I try it will be her and my best friend I depart.
 I Know I cant do that because I am a better friend.
But if I don’t our friendship might soon end.
I cant fight the feelings for her I still contain.
All this pressure will soon make me insane.
Most people in  all probability would crack and take their life.
Not knowing the one’s they will leave in strife.
If making them both happy means being together.
Then I guess God plan for my life is even better.
Just a day late and a dollar short.
Knowing there together they’ll have my support.

Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.

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