The neighborly thing to do would be
to ask them over for a drink, those
four lovely blondes living next door.
But I know they would refuse - it
may not be Christian of them to
drink alcohol. Perhaps I should offer
them lemonade. No Kool Ade, thank you;
ever since Jim Jones I never mix it
with religion.
Anyway, they look
more like the Perrier types. I'll
put out my Bible and tune the radio
to the inoffensive Muzak station.
As long as the conversation on
religion stays generic, it might actually
go ok. I may get on quite well with
the flour blonde-haired Jesus girls.
I doubt there will be any real close
encounters between the sinner
and the saints, but you never know.
I'm gold God works in mysterious ways.
"Mama, look at me"!
Girl, newly awoke
Sweetly inoffensive, to
Pride of achievement.
Twirls a 'great dancer'.
Girl, newly aroused
Joyously and simply, by
Life; with full consent.
All that's designed, with that hunger's need
Sharpest grasps to hide, lurk in
Overshadows, for mountain, rock, tree
Frail, inoffensive meek me!
Imagine! I do. And tremble not.
True child; and a free spirit.
Danger for wonder, exchanged. At
Needless care's expense. Take that!
A Good Clean Slam
Let us investigate the process!
HOW…..HOW…..shall we make
a MUD PIE……without getting dirty???
We shall polish up the words,
buff them to an acceptable finish,
weave them into an undecipherable web
of double entendre, tongue in cheek malapropisms,
drape it sensually in Freudian Slips,
conceal its intent in a Slamming Trojan Horse.
We shall protest – but not too much,
Shout – but not too loudly,
We shall rant – but briefly
stay within the confines of the PC Police lines.
How then shall I tame this rage,
this hard boiled anger?
Contain these tears of fear,
smooth the edges of my life
into a gentle, inoffensive, song?
Would you have me ride into battle
on a doe, carrying a feather?
Offer flowers to those who need cold steel?
Must I rein in my vitriolic vengeance,
curtail my caustic tongue,
creep – snake-like….hissing - balloon-like
spewing my venom in lost droplets,
burning an already scorched soul??
John G. Lawless
5/24/2014
For A Poet Destroyer
Slamming Season contest
Worn down by migration's perils;
Worn down by Neolithic spears -
They survived.
Though sabre-tooth gnashings stayed them;
Though Dire-wolves pack-savaged them -
They survived, they survived.
Though pursued by pharaohs for sport;
Though hannibalised by the armies of Zama -
They survived.
Through the ravaging of ivory coffles;
Through Tippu Tib's and Karamoja's lustings -
They survived, they survived.
Through Mutesa's and Lobengula's slayings;
Through the fauna annihilation of the Boers -
They survived.
Through King Leopold's bloody harvests;
Through trophy accumulators on safaris -
They survived, they survived.
Civilization had not yet flickered;
Its embers may have long faded -
They survive.
One thing to learn from them:
Inoffensive sagacity -
They survive, they survive, they survive.
Note 1: this is an imitation of the format of a beautiful poem “Trees” by Ondra Lysohorsky
Note 2: Tippu Tib, Karamoja Bell, Mutesa and Lobengula were all involved in the nineteenth century ivory trade.
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