It ends with the dogs of war being let loose,
Licking their bloody lips.
Karen overthrows and bestrides her enemy in the bloody fray,
Ignoring the loud exclamations of murder roared forth.
But it is impossible to discuss arrangements with
An impulsive man who has tears
In his eyes and both his
Arms round your neck.
I listen to BBC Radio 4 on a Wednesday morning with breakfast -
Listeners are encouraged to meet the highly
Intelligent, bright yellow blob,
That doesn't have a brain.
Where are you Madame Chrysanthème and your experiments?
Dirty. Loud. Brilliant.
,Save me a seat at the foot
of the Ngong Hills
in Southern Africa
where the Maasai once lived
on the meat, milk, and blood
of their cattle
Lions hunted cattle,
only tearing meat apart
May I sit with you Karen,
under the Umbrella Thorn?
Ngong means rhinoceros spring,
but I can't see the water
or the mud-wallowers
The soil is red weathered clay
that decides for itself what will grow
and God is in the roots
My grandmother Hanson
gave me her grandmother’s
bracelet from Denmark
of white and yellow
metal flowers
She too was from Ringsted
She too was a woman
of the tougher earth
My grandmother ate lettuce
sandwiches during the Depression,
and butter and sugar on bread
when there wasn’t meat
Coffee is expensive, now
My grandmother never told me
how you and I are related, Karen
My mother assures me
that we are
Either way,
I don’t know the land
beneath my feet
anymore than I know Africa
There once was a lady name Karen
Delighted her womb was barren
Menopause is a treat
Except for the heat
And pursuit of a creep named Baron
Heart Hymns
By Karen Jones
She is always playing victim, seeking validation desperately.
She is not woman enough to handle conflict without her attorney.
Her bitter heart seems to hate more successful women who seem to have it all.
Whenever she feels triggered, the manager will get a call.
She hates seeing these kinds of women smile, it brings tears to her eyes.
Like a scared little girl she clings to her doofus husband like he is some kind of prize.
It grosses her out to see me happy.
She has tried turning friends against me to make my life crappy.
But in those attempts she did not succeed.
Most people know she is a miserable crybaby indeed.
She can't stand the sight of me so whenever she comes my way,
I smile and wave and shout, "See you next Tuesday!"
Granted, Karen was on Top of the World,
her passionate voice brought her Close to You,
We've Only Just Begun, her gems hid pearled,
her Rainy Days and Mondays changed our view.
Bless the Beasts and Children, expressed warm peace,
The Night Has a Thousand Eyes, sleep awhile,
to being Solitaire, Walk On By, please,
Make It Easy on Yourself. Rest a spell.
Called the yard to buy a Ticket To Ride,
Beechwood 4-5789,
from San Francisco to LA, Cal's south side,
it was 1980, a younger time.
So long ago, it's Yesterday Once More,
Karen's Goodbye to Love was my top score.
Karen keeps it all
she has buttons and bows
her very first doll
there are sixteen drawers in her closet
none of them close
some are full of ruined old panty hose
Karen is a crafter, she throws nothing away
her husband keeps quiet, he has no real say
for she might need this and she might need that
she has a a rubber chicken and a Frisbee hat
she has an entire dresser full of patterns and stuff
if you suggest purging, Karen runs off in a huff
She might need that piece of cardboard or that old barrette
Try to sneak something into a garbage, she will most certainly fret.
She keeps it all, it is clutter she values the most.
She is a terrific crafter, but not ever ready to host.
Who is Karen?
Or what is she to cheer?
Is she a mother, or a friend, or a whisper in the wind?
She is the realtor ,the banker,
In the courtroom as a thinker.
She is the teacher, that cares, the politician, that fares .
The voice the hurts my ears.
The terror that brings us to tears.
The electricity that flows through the chair..
Question her if you dare.
These cold but, hard stares
For these are the truths that I share….
For the world is a product of the insecurities that she
wears….
Marriages to flames ,in exchange for her fame, shallow as a feather, yet we are to blame.
For the world she has shamed.
The false mother has come, the devil in a dress , yet hero to some….
Swift as it will come, we will not see, for she is the nectar that poisoned the tree…
There was this old lady, drinking soup
She was also knitting, loop by loop
She ran out of yarn
Screamed and said- "Oh Darn!"
Started dunking needles in ball hoop!
In the realm of my heart, there resides Karen Cook,
A love that enchants, like a well-written book.
Her grace is a melody, a dance of pure bliss,
Her smile like the sun, warming every abyss.
A love story painted with hues of devotion,
Karen's presence alone sparks an endless emotion.
Within her, a spirit of strength and gentle grace,
A soul that embraces love's every embrace.
With her, I've galloped through life, hand in hand,
Our hearts entwined like a rider and a horse in the sand.
Together we've weathered storms, braved the unknown,
Karen, my compass, my rock, my own.
Her eyes, like diamonds, reflect a love so true,
A bond unbreakable, forever we'll pursue.
Through meadows and valleys, we've traversed with ease,
Karen, my muse, the wind beneath my dreams.
And when life's trials mount, like hurdles in our way,
She becomes my stallion, guiding us each day.
Through hurdles and fences, we leap side by side,
Karen, my love, with you I'll always ride.
So here's to Karen, my love and my muse,
The one who brings light when life's shadows confuse.
With you, my dear, I've found a love untamed,
A love like a horse, forever unchained.
Usually,
I know how to keep calm
But not that day.
That day anger took over.
I lost awareness.
It happened so fast
I felt my heart and my voice rising.
I did nothing to stop.
After the incident,
I felt terrible,
My heart ached
It was that bad.
I was shocked with my own self
I'm not proud.
I knew better.
There is no excuse.
Let them push me to the edge.
Yes, there was another option.
Sadly, this time the rage has won.
I know more situations will come.
I should be more prepared.
Focus on my breathing.
Don't listen to the voice of anger.
Who will be the winner next time.
Nonchalant, the leaf whirls without care
On the wind it rides to somewhere
Tree-free, it flies with bird-flare
A swinging light feather
Kite without its string
Airy last fling
Roaming to
end in
new…
…new
trip where?
Heaven knows
Eagle eyes watch
wandering winds blow
on leaf’s air-current show
Released, rides to an unknown
Leaving its toils, freed at long last
Departs, dancing for the next recast…
(1/3/23 For Feel Free contest inspired by quote 7)
The BritBox show Karen Pirie
has good characters, nice scenery.
The sleuthing’s hardcore,
toned down on the gore,
hitting all the right notes for me.
You broke your back at your home in January of 2016 when you fell.
You were the last surviving cast member of "On The Buses" but now you have died as well.
You also starred in "Beautiful Thing" and "What's Up Nurse!".
Breaking your back was bad but your death was far worse.
Because of your talent, receiving fame was what was bound to transpire.
Sadly, you died on February the 22nd because your house caught on fire.
It was very sad to learn that your life ended, your fans are grieving because you didn't survive.
You were a British actress who entertained millions and you have died at the age of eighty-five.
[Dedicated to Anna Karen (1936-2022) who died on February 22, 2022]
I took my dog for a walk on the beach.
Ran into Karen and she started to preach.
Plastic bags times three; filled with doggie debris.
People polluting the beach she decreed.
I smiled politely turning to continue on my way.
Apparently, she had a whole lot more to say.
I listened disinterested and mostly ambivalent.
Thinking, how could anyone be so ignorant?
When a seagull swooped by and did something magnificent.
It was the perfect rejoinder to this entire incident.
Without displaying too much emotion;
I wondered, how much of that gets dropped in the ocean?
Karen’s face was filled with disgust.
Now a parting shot just was a must.
Imagine if we tried to bag the lot of it.
Could we fill our oceans with all that plastic?
I tipped my hat and headed on my way.
Wishing Karen, a most wonderful day.
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