we waited all day for the temperature to go down
from ninety-six to eighty
at seven-thirty p.m. I brought the dogs to their play yard
they sit in the grass like enormous lazy lumpy elephants
looking up I see a gorgeous pink sky
can dogs turn their heads and look at the clouds?
I like to think that they can
This is a gorgeous sight
I do not want them to miss this
When she starred in 'Keeping Up Appearances', she did a great job.
She starred as Hyacinth Bucket and Hyacinth was a snob.
Patricia was a British actress and she was a Dame.
Now that she's gone, England won't be the same.
When she starred as Hyacinth, she was ashamed of her sisters.
Patricia was very talented and all of her fans sure will miss her.
She was ninety-six years old and it's so sad because she had to die.
All of her fans are unhappy because they're having to say goodbye.
[Dedicated to Patricia Routledge (1929-2025) who died on October 3, 2025]
Grandpa Elephant had a new lady friend on line.
He invited her to meet him at Scarsdales to dine.
Dressed up in his Sunday best along with his Derby hat.
Don’t you look spiffy! His grandchildren said, so phat!
Grandpa was given six or eight pieces of advice.
From youngsters he was older than six times twice.
I am ninety-six he told his grandson Roy.
I know what to do, so leave me alone little boy.
Goal? Leave withdrawals;
A minute taste of kismet;
Ninety six short hours,
make every one count today;
Memories can last four years.
It’s your station, Bolton FM,
the place to find out what’s on when,
with all the local juice and jive,
24/7, broadcasting live,
thanks for listening, tune in again.
Find your station, Bolton FM,
ask Alexa or phone a friend,
we’re here on ninety-six point five,
it’s your station.
Community station, Bolton FM,
for news, views, music, travel gen,
to get you through the nine to five,
and don’t forget the Wanderers live,
thanks for listening, tune in again,
it’s your station.
Chief John Smith was a learned chief
revered by some, respected by many
he had taken over the Chippewa as a young man
his peers were all gone now, for he was ninety-six
he figured he might have a year or two left
he lived to be one hundred and thirty-seven
surprising many including himself
He consulted a warlock, a wizard, a priest and a witch.
The witch finally asked “did you pick up something you shouldn’t have?”
He thought about this and remembered.
He had collected seashells, sticks, rocks, and soil from a national park.
"Kind of", he admitted.
“From Volcano National Park?” the witch asked him.
He nodded yes.
“You have to send it all back. Then your luck will change.”
He had not taken anything important, but his luck had changed.
His child had nearly succumbed from Covid-19, his wife left.
Sales were down by forty-six percent since he returned to the mainland.
He refused to do what she asked at first.
Then his mother and two uncles died.
A voice in his head said “send it back; send it back.”
When the box arrived at the post office in Hawaii they loaded it into a truck.
Heading for the beaches and the forests, to return all ninety-six boxes together.
After his items were returned to the national forest, order was restored.
His business perked up, and his wife returned home.
He decided to never pick up souvenirs again.
The witch had been spot on.
because she had done the same thing
years earlier....
1641 Main is the spookiest house ever we all said to each other.
I said it to my husband, my children, my nephew and my brother.
It’s not spooky to me said my elderly ninety-six-year-old grandmother.
She is not frightened of anything because she is the ultimate mother.
She has raised fifteen children to maturity and seen a whole lot.
Has buried three children and two grandchildren in our unique family plot.
We are not sure what would scare her, the answer is not plain.
But she surely would not fear a little house like 1641 Main.
Andy Griffith found success when he starred in "The Andy Griffith Show".
That Sitcom is still popular today and it was created over sixty years ago.
It was one decade ago today when Andy Griffith took his final breath.
Andy didn't have a funeral, he was buried immediately after his death.
He starred in "Matlock" from 1986 to 1995.
Andy would be ninety-six if he had survived.
Ten years ago today, a famous man died.
Andy had charisma and talent and that can't be denied.
[Dedicated to Andy Griffith (1926-2012) who died ten years ago today on July 3, 2012]
My friend Dawn always trash talks in a mean way
To hear her you would think she is the world’s largest bully.
All of this fierceness is blatant fabrication on speed.
She is one who cannot do confrontation.
Except on the phone in a braggadocio way.
That brother trucker! She says. I should have followed him.
I should have bumped his white Chevy truck with my car.
I should have….
I smile, picturing her contorted ninety-six-year-old face.
I should have…..
I ordered a metal bat, she told me.
It will be here tomorrow.
I smile at this too.
The last twelve things she has ordered on line
She has returned, totally dissatisfied.
mel
...flows low waters still...
brooks
...in valley pastures...
spring waters
...to ponds and back...
have carried
...creations for ninety six years...
stans sand
Two hundred ninety-six seasons have passed
since I first appeared on the earthly scene,
and with luck this season won’t be my last,
and thus with aging I won’t contravene.
The fact that my hair has turned grey and thin,
and aches and pains are the battles I wage,
like roadmaps these wrinkles now line my skin,
I now must admit, to myself, my age.
But aging is like a mountain we climb,
alternatives to growing old are few,
and not one that I wish for at this time.
So now this birthday thought I offer you…
the passing year is not something to shun,
it’s just another trip around the sun.
December 13, 2021
My thoughts reflecting on my birthday last week.
My son told me it was just another trip around the sun.
Thanks for giving me this line, Ron.
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD...
WE SIT IN REIGNS
OF ONCE GLORIOUS DAYS.
A RULE OF RIGHTEOUS RAGE,
BUT THE KING IS DEAD
LONG LIVE THE PAIN.
WITH A BLADE OF MOONS SHADES
AND DEVIL'S LIVE IN
OUR SOUL'S DEEP DARK MAZE.
WE WAITE FOR THE RETURN OF THE ONE.
THE YEARS IN THE SUN.
WANTING ALL FOR SOMEONE
THE SIGN OF THE HOLLOWED SON.
THE GOD BURNED OF FLESH
AND MONEY SPENT AS A TOKEN FOR ZION'S GRACE.
THE WRITING IS ON A DIRTY WALL.
OUR SINS RUN DEEP
THEY DISTURB THE SLEEP
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD,
TWO THOUSAND AND SOME FOLD.
AND HIS REIGNS RETURN...
TWO THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED NINETY-SIX
Lumber Jack likes his pancakes with kernels of sweet Iowa corn
Freshly picked out of his Great Grandma Nora’s garden
She spoils him by warming up his maple syrup and melting his butter.
He is a forty-six-year-old great grandson who lives at home
With his mother’s grandmother,
a kind hearted woman whom he carries from room to room
because at ninety-six her legs stopped working.
She does for him, and he does for her.
It is the best relationship he has ever had.
They are looking out tiny boxes
traveling toward the city from the suburbs
wearing tennis shoes on their tired feet
Many have left their dress shoes at work
Some stop at a gym on the way,
these are the high brows who do not punch in
It is Chicago, nineteen ninety-six
My husband is in one of these jam trains
looking out his tiny box, as trees and cows fly by
Upon arrival, the gritty of the city meets them
Gray concrete is their first welcome mat
They are careful to not fall into the trenches
Some race by, but most march as robots
staying in order until they reach Union Station
People stop being human here
The stores are expensive, so most cannot shop
Their lunch sandwiches are tucked into hot baggies
inside the briefcase they hold onto as they march
a line of unsmiling creatures
who have left their mommy and daddy cap forty miles out
being an employee or an employer, less than human now
Sub Categories
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.