Covered deep in
Poison Ivy
A rash that spreads
and burns
Its toxic mass
left festering
With younger minds
to churn
What used to be
a noble cause
Malingers
in disease
Whose vines grow wild
to trap the dark …
That once were climbed
—to free
(The New Room: December, 2023)
Male bees are useless layabouts
Gather no nectar or pollen
Can't feed themselves
Have no stingers
Yet World War III
Will be fought with a swarm
Of a billion, billion drones
Some made of cardboard
Mind how the malingers
Have risen, supplanting
Planes, ships, tanks, missiles and subs
Buried in the leaves of a Fall gone by,
memories wait for Spring
Entombed in hope as Winter reclaims,
till birds return to sing
Cold and dark, the seeds of change,
lay dormant ill disposed
Snow is falling, the wind blows hard,
escape routes all but closed
Hearing new footsteps walking above,
the weight compressed and strained
My sentence malingers, time frozen deep
—the cold to ease the pain
(Dreamsleep: February, 2021)
His point-blank, most promising laurel lost
Long, long his e'er-lasting longing lingers
His muse becomes bedridden under freezy frost
Yet his nikhedonic mindscape ne'er malingers
Surging from mood's winters and merging its splinters
Ramrodding illusion-edified effulgences into his emulous edacity
Without knowing whether with reluctance or with alacrity
It snowed last night
and spring’s nascent shades
were hidden under a sky of lead,
the cedars, green, cloaked
by a blanket of snow white
framed by tree trunks black.
The swollen stream ran brown not clear,
but the dogwood glistened shiny red
and the Red-winged Blackbird
flared his epaulets of scarlet and yellow
and with his conk-la-ree! loudly proclaimed
his territory in hopes of attracting
a frumpy female who yet malingers
in warmer climes.
I know a man by his clothes,
A woman I know also;
Do I recognise the baby?
Of course, I do by its torso.
I know bright weather from stormy,
I recognize rain from snow;
Do I notice sleet?
Of course, I do it comes down on show.
I know a liar by his words,
i see truth from within;
Do I detect evil?
Of course, I do by committing a sin.
I know an apple from an but its shape,
I identify a peach from an apricot;
Do I comprehend a snowberry?
Of course, I do it a poisonous crop.
I know workers from malingers,
I know success from failure;
Do I know Christ?
Of course, I do he’s was the Saviour.
I know healthiness from disease,
I know strong cheeks from pallid;
I know dead devours all,
I know also being dead is being invalid.
I know all there is to know,
I know a dwarf from an elf;
I know a fool by his face,
I know everything except myself.
Note. A snowberry is a Symphoricarpos, commonly known as the snowberry, waxberry, or ghostberry, is a small genus of about 15 species of deciduous shrubs in the honeysuckle family.
Songbird singing
Morning lullaby;
Awesome mystery
~~~~~~~~~
Picture portrait
Sexy scenes;
Fiery flowers
~~~~~~~~~
Newsy headlines
Sensational scandal;
Hyper sales count
~~~~~~~~~
Acid rain
Foggy conundrum;
Sick malaise
~~~~~~~~~
Knowing heart
Grief beyond brief;
Defying commotion
~~~~~~~~~
Pain malingers
Salt on wounds;
No escape plan
~~~~~~~~~
Walkway movement
Busy feet dash;
Rushing prescriptions
~~~~~~~~~
Septuagenarian plus
Minding your own soul;
Wonder speaks well
~~~~~~~~~
Sun-drenched rain
Mad concoction;
What else is new?
~~~~~~~~~
Joy sings the blues
Why cannot tell;
Paradoxical
~~~~~~~~~
Feisty neighbour
Too much adrenaline;
Another syndrome
~~~~~~~~~
Shadow play
Bold silhouettes;
Vivid imagery
~~~~~~~~~
Leon Enriquez
29 September 2016
Singapore
HAIKU MOMENT 14
Old hostilities
Ancient violence;
Terror re-enacts now
~~~~~~~~~
Human nature
War of violence;
Paradise lost
~~~~~~~~~
Friendly enemies
Deceit malingers;
Crafty exploits
~~~~~~~~~
Human tragedy
Mocking comedy hurls;
Pain conspires revenge
~~~~~~~~~
To all our hurts
Love heals;
Forgive and forget
~~~~~~~~~
Joy awaits
Here and now;
Decide freely
~~~~~~~~~
Love abounds
Peace illuminates;
Heart feels light
~~~~~~~~~
Bleaching grey sky
Raindrops misty;
Windy wet flush
~~~~~~~~~
Heavy traffic
Winding road congestion;
Slippery accidents
~~~~~~~~~
Evening exchange
Cars horning impatience;
Silly anxiety
~~~~~~~~~
Grand lottery prize
Big plush winnings;
Happy windfall
~~~~~~~~~
Leon Enriquez
03 September 2016
Singapore
Sudden windy gust
Plays havoc with hair;
Air pregnant with rain
Torrential rain falling
Sky oozing water;
Viscous as oil
Long long queue
Taxi stand centipede;
No cab in sight
Common complaint
Common folks echo;
Too little time
By reservoir park
Bench wet with dew;
Curious eyes detect
Morning jog
Wilderness feeling;
Reservoir park circuit
My darling sleeps
Sweet dreams attend;
Angelic smiles decorate
Here I sit vivid:
Sculpt turn of phrase;
Poem emerging
Some long
For the good old days;
Fresh change intrudes
Anniversary thoughts
Think upon yesterdays;
Nothing much said
Needs and wants
Adversarial anti-climax
No solution yet
One more minute please
Morning wake-up call;
Sleepy feel malingers
Leon Enriquez
25 July 2014
Singapore
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