Leaves dance around the maple, complaining
Grumbling that autumn’s breath is too near
And, I remember times that don’t need explaining
Leaping in piles of crunchy leaves, without fear
Melodies, graceful as a prayer in the soul
Glorifying the Creator of this gentle fall
Winds and rain couldn’t stop – we felt whole
Because of the wonder in that autumn’s call
We soared through the air toward the pile,
Mountains of leaves buried us in their scent
This is what it means to be a child with a smile
Playing in leaves with autumn’s quiet consent
It felt like a psalm was being read by this day
Our hearts knew the melody of such grace
This is the meaning of heaven sent, I pray
That everyone discovers autumn’s sweet embrace
On the hills, and in the valleys, there are leaves
Just waiting for a child’s laughter and mirth
It only takes this memory and my soul believes
Nature offers solace to the children on earth
Losing one's lunch
is not so hot
but dropping your dinner
when a fish dish wish was the plot
could be your worst nightmare
as not a morsel will pass your lips
as meals go it's now toast
and you've had your chips
Spirit-starved
sate my hunger if you will
humour me with comedy
'til I'm full and had my fill
for if music be the food of love
and laughter music of the soul
feast me on a funny song
nothing serious but something droll
tickle my funny bone with a tone
to make my toes all wriggle
and nourish me on melody
let me have a heartfelt giggle
With apologies to William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616)
a cheerless chase is impracticable in twirlingly barometric whirligig whispering tunelessly into foaminess
(Weekly Magnetic Poetry Challenge • September 14–20, 2026)
In this age of greed and weed
~ so much fun to watch America bleed
When that cold winter comes
and the chilly wind does blow
best stay indoors
as it's freezing down below
but enquiring minds need to know
who ploughs the roads
so the snowplough man can drive to work
and plough the snow?
Dice black and white
Not looking for a fight
Lucky hands, grip tight
Wanting a winning sight
Put pair into flight
Fist raised, power, and might
Snake eyes say good night
Every week, my dearest day
is when my buddies and I partake and play
our regular contest of cards.
What's great about codgers and cards
that would make an old duffer's day
and inspire pensioners to play?
I dunno, but I think I will peacefully play
with these jokers, and cut ups, and cards,
and these goofballs till my dying day.
It's our day - time to play cards - goodbye!
September is busting out all over,
leaves with pretty colors,
fill the cool air.
A new sweater for the cool morning air,
will keep me warm as I pick up pretty leaves over and over.
I love the red and orange colors.
Birds of many colors,
are singing as they are flying through the air,
they keep going to the bird feeder many times over.
September will be over with new colors to fill the winter's air.
A summer of smiles, a paradise of play,
lively, lighthearted laughter, each delirious day -
I clobbered all contenders in ping-pong.
I sought and I seized every fly ball in the field
in the picturesque park where I wheeled.
The charms of childhood’s recreation revealed -
I reach back and recall a sweet summer song.
In its special serpentine style too deep to fathom
while submersed beneath I was surprised to see
the world's second most venomous reptile
a striped Dubois' sea snake swim by me
when forewarned of dangers quirky lurking in the deep
altho' arriving suitably attired with fins mask and snorkel
it was sufficient to almost scare me out of my diving skin
so severe as to make my heart skip flip or turn turtle
but being bold brave of heart and fleet of flippered-foot
swiftly did I surely doggy-paddle safely away
tho' no harm was done to me a close call or so it seemed to be
which I survived to recount alive here on this another day
An avocado is not a vegetable,
botanically, it's classified as a fruit,
specifically, a large single-seeded berry,
although it's a fact you may wish to dispute,
your opinion is neither here nor there
as, take it or leave it,
it's what's known as a 'pear'.
And yet, should everything go pear-shaped,
don't blame the avo, it's not at fault,
for, whichever way you slice it,
it still tastes good with pepper and salt.
In Devon, Gina was mad at Sarah and so
Took Sarah's kitten, to the kitchen did go
Put it the microwave, pushed the button in
Kitten died in pain, I'd call that a sin.
Two teens in Juniata did the same as a prank
For them its fun, but to me it stank.
Is it something missing in the mind, or converse
A dark side that drives their morals in reverse?
Two teens in Alberta broke into a home, so brave
Smashed it up, put the cat in a microwave
Listened to it scream in pain before it died
Painted two mocking messages on the side.
Two teen girls in Maine put a cat - guess where:
They made a video on social media to share
Sharing cruelty is not very bright
Not every agrees that such deeds are right.
These humans got into trouble, because not all agree:
That fun with cats goes with humanity.
And yet, I eat animals every day
I put out mouse traps, throw dead mice away.
I guess the difference is that I don't want to cause pain
But some people do, though not clinically insane
Its part of the human condition that they are out there
Know your surroundings, take heed and take care.
There are times when nobody can save
You could be that cat in the microwave.
Altho' his feelings
he chose to suppress,
human and Vulcan,
yet, so as to process,
when overwhelmed,
in need of time apart,
and not upset
the apple cart,
to get things off his chest,
emotions, thoughts
and personal challenges,
of all kinds and several sorts,
on board the starship Enterprise,
the First Officer they'd have to replace,
when Spock told Captain Kirk,
'I need my space!'
The day I arrived
in my own good time
(not at all shy)
neither early nor late
13th July
I remember it well
t'was a memorable date
as a present from my parents
(their pride and joy a baby boy)
a Wednesday I recall
some time in the morn
the best day of my life after all
for it was the one
on which I was born
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