As I walked along Old Rine Road
I walked on by a grumpy toad
Ribbit, ribbit he croaked to me
Please move along and leave me be
If you want to see a frog
There, he lay... beneath that log
Feed him a fly or a tasty gnat
Or feed him both to get him fat
Ribbit, ribbit... he croaked his song
Ribbit, ribbit... just move along
Walk on by- leave me, alone
As I rest upon, my comfy- stone
Millions need us, whether we are
calmly fragrant, or have no smell at all.
We decorate mountains brilliantly, especially in fall.
Fragile, sprouting, sick, or meek,
we are here for a reason and all unique.
Bumpy, prickly, smooth,or lumpy,
Unlike humans, we are never grumpy.
Thick smooth, velvety, short and tall.
With a trunk, branches and leaves very small.
I can hang nests built with mud or soft hair,
feeling their tenants tenacity and feathered flair.
Beaked bodies, those with protective shells, acorn hunters with balancing tails,
sleep in my bark, or hide in my hole for a Meadow Lark.
Around the globe, please don’t let them cut us down, whether young, old, brittle or bold.
To our species with their own trunks, faces and feet, we feed you with liquid and skins of different shaped treats.
Coffee beans, bananas, coconuts, fruit, nuts, bitter or sweet, we provide all with something to eat.
So keep us alive, you and others need us to survive.
robins, toucans, or the melodic thrush, need to be protected by all of us.
Deep within the city park
stood Barnaby, a highly
grumpy, semi- sentient apple
tree.
He absolutely despised
when children approached
with fawning, goofy faces to
steal his fruit.
Whenever kids giggled and
reached up, Barnaby would
furiously shake his wooden
branches.
THWACK! A barrage of ripe,
juicy red apples went flying
like heat- seeking missiles.
He pelted the screaming kids
right on their bottoms, chuckling
a low, creaky laugh.
The children thought it was a
hilarious game and ran through
the park intentionally.
They made ridiculous,
exaggerated kissy- faces just
to trigger the tree's flying fruit
defense.
Barnaby snorted woodchips,
launching a rapid- fire green
Granny Smith straight at a
nose.
The park echoed with loud,
joyful snorts as apples
bounced harmlessly off
targeted bellies.
The grumpy tree finally
smiled, realizing his thrown
treats made everyone incredibly
happy.
You look out of sorts.
What's got you hot and bothered today?
Cheer up, it's friday afternoon !
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 3rd place 2026
Feminine wiles have no effect.
This grumpy old man will not budge.
Attracts misery like a magnet.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
Ever have real dogged days?
Sometimes I'm happy to wake up grumpy.
I decide to stay grumpy.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
a warm cup of coffee
the best ointment to waking up grumpy
~ we've all got our vices
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 2nd place 2025
Had a rather shadowy pitch,
she stirred her bubbling pot,
and caused more trouble than you thought!
* *
* * *
( )
)(
( ) ~ ~
/----\ ~
| | ~ *
| ~ | ~
| ~ ~ | * ~
\____/ ~
| |
| |
|__|
?
. * .
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
) ( ) (
( ) ( )
) ( ) ( *
________________
| |
| CAULDRON |
|________________|
a witch with a grumpy face,
grinning in her shadowed place.
“Fire burn, and cauldron bubble,”
she cooks up mischief-- trouble, and trouble!
* . * .
Poet's Note:
Inspired by timeless folklore and Shakespeare’s famous chant, “Fire burn, and cauldron bubble,” I wanted to bring out the fun and eerie sides of witchcraft.
Brownie, elf, faeries, pixies and small root sprout
In this meadow are twirling, whirling, and dancing about
Showing the green dragon a magical escape route
Leading him to freedom, without a doubt
They left behind a grumpy gnome in a pout
He was angry because his left foot had the gout
Suddenly they heard him give a gigantic shout
He had caught an enormous rainbow trout
The trout’s head was huge, his wiggling body stout
He thrashed in the water, but had not clout
Gnome struggled all day to pull that giant fish out
Could not wait to show it to his friend, tiny root sprout
Two days before Christmas
Finally, it is near
I’m so sick of the chatter and all the cheer
Smiling faces, warm hearts, and hugs
I can only think of one thing,
Bah Humbug
Everyone joyous and being extra kind
One would think they have lost their mind
Red and green decorations everywhere
Gold or silver tinsel, I don’t care
Houses all covered in lights
Attacked by holiday parasites
Radio playing nothing but Christmas songs
Honestly, I find it all tiresome and long
Hustle and bustle for a gift of something dear
I never get what I want anyways,
Slowly, counting down the days until it is over next year
Cinnamon sticks and gingerbread cookies what a stench
I despise it all like the Grinch
Some may say I seem a bit Scrooged
With my cup of hot cocoa and a cold-hearted rouge
Who knows in the midst of it all
Something may spark and I could have a ball
But for now, I look out the window
Gazing at the hideous Santa and reindeer across the street and shrug
The only thing I can think of is,
Bah Humbug
lovely lively lithe Louise Lampford
grew a grainy greasy grumpy gourd
believing beyond belief in Baker’s board
she said she’d been searching for a grumpy gourd.
We thought this would delight Louise Lampford
But she could not cut the beast with machete or sword.
Grumpy Bird could find new issues daily.
The weather, politics, religion, they were all his fodder.
He could find something to be grouchy about.
Maybe on an hourly basis.
People either gravitated toward him
Or moved to another limb when they saw him fly in.
My cousin loved to sit and listen to his grumpiness.
He is so funny! He said to me, he is a riot!
I was one of those flying to another elm when I saw him land.
When she was young she was her own critic, bad.
She had a stormy face and tried to always be mad.
She thought her world was awful, and was determined to be sad
Now she is older, frumpy and grumpy, and in no way happy or glad.
It was morning when my cat Fluffy meowed a warning for on our porch was a
stray cat his fur a tattered mat but his one blue eye spoke to me . . . and my
heart broke. Oh, how he growled and hissed too late, for my soul had been
kissed and each day "Grumpy Cat" was on my porch waiting yet, I could not
catch him and that was very frustrating ! Finally, I was able to catch him and
bring him inside my home. He never left. A bath revealed a brown tabby. We
developed a bond so deep and meaningful and I have lots of stories to tell.
The years passed too quickly and soon Grumpy was a very old cat, feeble and
weak, until his last day in my arms and with tears and a kiss I had to let go.
I was cold and scared, rejected by the world, shivering on your covered porch;
but you did not chase me away but you brought me food, at first I hissed a lot,
so you named me Grumpy cat ! Eventually, we shared unconditional love each moment. You cannot save me mommy, I suffer from old age. I love you. Will
be waiting at the end of rainbow bridge ! As I draw my last breath I am within
your shining love ... First Draft 2012, Been trying to write this since.
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