Old MacDonald had a farm
With some noisy critters on it.
They mostly mooed, or neighed,
Or clucked, or brayed,
But some stayed
Resolutely mute,
I'm afraid.
It wasn't his equines,
Or bovines,
Or fowls,
Or anything lodged in his barns or corrals,
But a couple of rather recalcitrant vowels.
The "e" and the "i" and the "o"
Answered the call,
While the "a" and the "u"
Stayed conspicuously AWOL.
Home at the Ranch
Once, I had a big ranch in, Oregon, technically it is still mine
but I have no way to prove it
one day and far from the ranch, inspecting fences, sudden
cold storm hit, to survive, I shot my horse
cut his stomach open, crept inside, and quickly fell asleep
Awoke, when the storm was over, looked for my horse was gone
maybe a wolf pack had taken its carcass
I walked, or trotted, home to the ranch
the ranch hands were glad to see me and gave me a carrot
although I neighed, they put me in the corral
with the other horses, who knew and shunned me
My widow cried as I stood under the window, brought
tears to many eyes, the widow gave me an apple
Now that she was the owner and had much reasonability
she rode me to get around.
with her sitting on my back, I was careful not to show any
unbecoming excitement.
tragedy struck the widow, got a boyfriend,
a man, I had thought of firing
My intense jealousy made me furious
one day when
they were making love under an oak tree by the river
I kicked them both to death and galloped to the far blue
mountain, I know from experience that there is no justice
for wild horses.
Headless horseman came in the dead of night, but he made no sound.
His stallion did though – it neighed and whinnied and twirled around.
You must have been in Sleepy Hollow a relative said.
He is more unimaginative than a skeleton dead.
my grandparents are from the old stable, he whispered to my head.
I pretended to understand my friend, but he can be weird, Ted Fred.
they are a bit long in the face, but colorful and they are oat-fed.
they arrived, and I was surprised, for I had not realized he was a hybrid
So are they horses then? I asked, for they certainly looked like them.
They were dressed in human clothes, but their faces were rather grim.
When they laughed they neighed, they were lanky, tall and slim.
Yes, Fred said, and if you give them an apple you’ll see the best from them.
I sat on the back of a burro
The little fella brayed
Then I tried a quarter-horse
The big guy neighed
Did I mention we were on the moon
Thought I was a jockey for a day
“Prairie Storm”
The air turned
Deadly still,
The trees no
Longer swayed,
The horses neighed,
The church bells rang
Rabbits ran
For their caves.
Old men rushed
To close their doors.
Storm on the Rise!
Storm on the Rise!
Twister but a mile!
Be here in a while!
Hurry, grab the kids
To the cellar quick.
We haven’t the time
To worry.
It’s coming with a fury
The clouds grew deadly black
As deadly black can get.
Whipping and churning,
Rumbling and growling,
Twisting and swirling,
A tail was coming
With a vengeance it came:
Bolting and striking,
Snapping and crackling,
Exploding and blasting,
The tail kept churning.
The roof from the
Barn was thrown.
The windows in the
House were blown.
The trees ripped
From their roots.
The horses ran.
The rain
Came pounding.
The hail
Came battering.
The wheat field
Turned to straw.
Up from the cellar
The family rose.
The mother poured tears.
The father fell to his knees.
The little ones clung
To mother’s skirt.
There was little left.
His dreams disappeared.
The neighbors
Came calling.
The storm unkind.
He lost his mind.
The church bells rang.
There was a boy
Named Rancho Roy
He had a horse
Whose name was Force
They loved to ride
Out far and wide
Force used to take
Him to the lake
Where he sat long
And wrote a song
Called "Rider's Hill -
Ride to your fill"
When they came back
He had a snack -
Fresh cake and tea
And cream cookie
Force his hay ate
Happily neighed
Rancho took rest
His life was best
04.21.2021
For Eve Roper's "Nursery Rhyme 5" contest
(Quick off the top of my haid)
Da dibble go down to Georgia
A town in Texas, who knew
He went on de run
He took his six gun
Lookin' for to doo wacka doo.
He comed across a young sure-shot
Targetin' a hickory stump
Dibble feelin' sly
Slithered up to this guy
And patted him upon the rump.
"What you doin' mistuh?
You hyeh lookin' to die?
We'll duel then you'll
End up a dead fool
For layin' yo' hand on my thigh."
Dey faced off and Johnny drew
But de dibble had drawn his too
They pissed in the wind
They humped and they sinned
And de dibble got his koo koo ka joo.
Swish tailed Hamish, gloss black Stallion
Proud prize show hero bore blue medallion
Champion head turner tenacious steed
Lonely hoof stomper longed for a companion
Incidence of coinciding reserved to imagine
Narrow minded owners oblivious to his need
High knee haughty mare trotted by his enclosure
Temptation's waft overcame limited exposure
Hamish neighed a friend request, - she agreed
Lake rippled muscle, alpha outraged neck tossed
Winner's whinny recognised chance may be lost
Breaking barriers now became a necessary deed
Chest of windswept lake assisted stable escape
Charging through victoriously, gate swung agape
Asked lady to dance, she daringly took the lead
Dust distubed finesse surpassed usual manuevres
Hamish whispered happily, " Forever, the two of us."
Most cherished equine paradise known while freed
28th July 2020
Written for Contest: Tail End Stanza
Sponsor: Emile Pinet
Grandma Gertie knocked back more than a few
When, of a sudden, she heard herself 'moo' --
I can hold my liquor!
She burped, and then snickered --
She 'neighed' ~ Off to the factory for glue
HUMPTY- DUMPTY
Sat on the wall, funny fatty Humpty-Dumpty.
In egg-shaped uniform he was king’s sentry.
Eating butter and bread,
taking needle and thread
repairing shiny white dress quite pretty.
All the king’s men under Humpty- Dumpty
served prompt fifteen cups of green tea.
Humpty-Dumpty took sips
With broad wide soft lips
asked for more food and snacks from king’s pantry.
Humpty-Dumpty wanted ride on road side view.
All the king’s horses were standing in a queue.
Humpty-Dumpty chose one,
In the last race that won.
All the king’s cats and kittens started calling mew-mew.
Horse neighed loud running on stormy speed
Humpty-Dumpty had great fall but did not bleed.
Egg-shaped armour broke.
He wore a wooden cloak.
Humpty-Dumpty, King’s sentry good in deed indeed.
06/29/18
Third Place
'The mystery of Humpty Dumpty' Contest by Faraz Ajmal
Tall tale conveyed
A little like a charade
Was about a mermaid
Partook in a parade
Long golden hair in braid
Eyes brilliant of gems inlaid
Seated on a throne of jade
Draped in seaworthy brocade
She was beautifully portrayed
While her graceful horses neighed
They passed by a colourful arcade
Enchanted was she by a serenade
Suddenly craved a wild exotic escapade
Ran off with an attractive mate in mascarade
Thought he’d treasure her heart soft as suede
But quickly the wondrous fantasy decayed
Realizing she’d been misplayed
Heartbroken and betrayed
She’d been remiss and overstayed
With much reason to be afraid
Perilously parched if further delayed
She urgently made her way through the glade
To the closest waterfall cascade
Moral of the story aptly made
When you’re a mermaid
Guest in a parade
Whether paid or unpaid
Do not cross the barricade
Submitted on October 3, 2020 for contest SECOND CHANCES NA POEMS of 2020 sponsored by CHANTELLE ANNE COOKE - RANKED 6TH
and on October 2, 2020 for contest YOUR BEST UNCLAIMED POEM sponsored by JOHN HALMILTON
Originally posted on February 20, 2018
On my way to the pub
I was walking to the pub at sundown
when I reach my destination the last pink rays
on the sky was vanishing,
a promise of a sunny tomorrow.
On the road, I was overtaken by a horse
that neighed politely,
on its back, a crow sat using a foul language.
On the way back home I was late had
been playing poker with matches,
I lost a box.
I met the horse it offered to
take me home the foul crow hade gone.
I stabled the horse in the garage
gave it bread and water.
Next morning it was gone.
The crow sat on the window ledge
demanding a silver soup spoon and
an assortment of nuts.
The oppressed
It was twilight mist hung over the valley when I saw the big horse
on a knoll was a warrior, a charger, looking toward the east.
I mounted, and we flew to the land of hatred, the mount neighed
stamped its hooves ready for battle.
When the soldiers, who’s moral had become rancid, saw us two,
they throw weaponry away fled to the silent fortification and wailed
in terror, for the first time in 70 years there was peace.
The store- keeper soul, of the enemy of concord, wasn`t happy there
were murmurs in the ranks, they had wanted a higher percentage.
I was standing by a yellow sandstone rock, dreaming the impossible,
it is the only future the hassled people have, for now, but are patient
and will never leave their beloved land
You could see the lone figure in the pale, fading light,
Bedding down the doggies for a restful night.
He had been in the saddle since early morn',
Now feeling the aches of the drive that made him feel "worn".
The three other horses he had taken from the remuda that day,
Were now being tied and fed, as they whinnied and neighed.
"Woh, cattle...Woh, cattle", he sang softly to the steers,
Another six weeks on the trail and he would be filling his night with beers.
When the herd was quiet, the first 'Nighthawks' came,
He sighed with relief, as he tugged on the reins.
In just a few minutes he was putting his saddle and bedroll aright,
the grub made...biscuits, beans, and salt pork for tonight.
Then he unbuckled his gunbelt and laid down in his place,
Knowing full well, he'd be up before dawn to relieve the man on the trace.
It was hard work but he loved it, or so he said,
More of the Chisolm waited for them up ahead.
Yet it was the cows, the horses, the danger, and freedom he dared,
And those few other comrades whose journey he shared.
Yes, it was this "Cowboy Life" full of its highs and lows,
It was all that he needed, and was the life he chose.
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