I like friendly, friendly is nice
The wave, the nod, the smile's the fuel we use to get through life
Restores faith in humanity, reduces the insanity of social fabric fraying
Courtesy and manners, just like your mother said
Aren't less important now, just because you got ahead
Payback is reciprocal and karma's always cyclical
Cynical's inimical to the prosper you can foster if you follow her advice
The wave, the nod, the wink's the link, the lubricant of life
It shortens all the miles and trials, the troubles and the strife
The longer that it takes to learn, the more you let the candle burn
Clock's been ticking, what's been licking soon's been licked
No wick is going to outlive its turn upon the wheel of life
Oops... do excuse my manners.
I didn't mean it, just came out.
Excuse me please... so sorry.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
Heart of Gold he says,
Dependable Metaphor
Manners Maketh Man.
Three girls who drank from grey troughs
cried hard and rasped with loud coughs.
Cold cops raced to swoop
The girls took a poop
On top of their heads with scoffs.
Yet, if I lend it to you
Fairly, I need lend it to everyone,
Or have my motivations called into question
Acknowledging with conscientious grace
Always offering a kind smiling face
No brow beatings when someone nears
Cheerful greetings alleviate fears
Let those through the doors before yourself
Retrieve the book, the higher shelf
Pipe the answer they fail to see
Feed the fires of waning glee
The wind blows; so bends the tree
Fulfill the needs that fall to thee
A goodly mission,
But what pay is my part?
A kinder disposition,
A compassionate heart.
The premise goes everyone knows
before entering the premises
while still outside yet on the mat
it's no gentleman who forgets
to doff his cap or remove his hat
if dining out or at a private party
for a particular person
it's impolite at most
to sip slurp or slink a drink
before the toast to a hospitable host
and when beside the table laden
confronted by the salsa bowl
biting then re-dipping chips
the most unmannerly of all
is he (or she) who double-dips
Hello how are you
How've you been
Things we need to hear again
Thank you. Please. Appreciation
Have disappeared from this nation
Manners and more pleasantries
Need returning. They have fleed
From the hearts of me and you
We need to really undo
All the damage we have caused
With our mean and hateful flaws
It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human. We make men at it, we make women.
Joy Harjo her poem Perhaps the World Ends Here
Supper Table
There was a time when the supper
table was a gathering place.
A time when children and parents
sat down together.
A time when television, computers,
cell phones didn’t interfere.
A time where open and honest
discussions were held.
A time when manners and social
skills were taught.
A time of laughter and tears and
sometimes discipline.
A time when children learned what
it meant to grow up.
That time has passed.
Lamarck’s ‘Theory of Use and Disuse’,
By giraffes seems subjected to misuse.
They learnt the table manners,
Eating through gaps of manors.
This photo of theirs gets million reviews!
Quietly waiting
at the table
legs swinging…
Then, Aunty Jean
brings in
green soup.
Mother-glares at me,
sister-stares with me
at the cold green soup.
Is it medicine,
pond slime,
mushed frogs?
...at least twenty
spoonfuls long.
Silently I say, “Ugh!”
Quietly waiting
at the table…
Aunty Jean brings in
passionfruit cheese-cake,
cream dessert.
Is it more slime,
frog spawn,
tadpole eyes...?
Oh no, it’s a giant slice.
I take one bite…
“Oh,” says Uncle Ron,
“Don’t you like it?”
“Not really,” I murmur.
“All the more for me,”
He smiles,
turns goggle-eyes,
leans across,
adds my slice to his.
Cauldron bubbling,
mixture squelching
sauces oozing
gases belching…
“A glass of milk?”
“Yes please, I’d like
a glass of milk.”
“...and a chocolate frog?”
“No,
No thank-you,
Aunty Green.”
I gave a gift, he took it, and then he set it aside.
Maybe it is too narrow, or maybe it is too wide.
The flu is going around, so maybe his voice is hoarse.
Maybe it needs a bow. Then he'd know it's a gift, of course.
Perhaps he doesn't like it. Then I'd give it to another.
I was hoping for a smile. He doesn't even bother.
If I had found a bow, I could attach it with some glue.
And if it looked real pretty, maybe he could say "Thank you".
I worry about a deep scratch,
That is on the glass, not the hatch.
On couch, keep a clutch -
Your blow’s a bit much,
When farts, with a stain, do dispatch.
I've refused to quite believe it
The first thing I'll cast into pit:
A man keeping a grace feline,
Whereas he quaffs a lot of wine;
Better than all of us name signs,
Fine Table Manners as he dines;
In the streets makes no careless call,
Steady strides while The Sober fall.
Keep I shall taxing my poor wit:
An endless search for answers fit...
Until then, to God the Glory:
Let Him this surprise make hoary.
SOCIAL MEDIA
I don’t know much about social media
I need help from an encyclopaedia
Social media has its place
I would rather talk face to face
Although, I do like texting and emailing too
They are the easiest things to do
But, you can’t get a hug via text or email
You could try but you would fail
You could even write a letter
But, hugging in person is so much better
Go out and hug someone right now
I hope you haven’t forgotten how
If you go on social media, please be kind
That is the best way I think you’ll find
Social media does have its uses
Please don’t use it for your abuses
I don’t want to hear your excuses
If you use social media, use it for good
Treat people the way you know you should
Everyone just wants to be understood
People are not made of wood.
manners maketh man
as time slips by
men in short supply
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