New fish but no flows,
Grilled upside-down with no cause;
Aimless, scorned always.
A shape darts on half-melted snow,
low and hunched in the twilight dim,
I just barely catch glimpse of him,
fleet movements in ninja-like flow.
He somehow seems to know I watch
through French windows of aging glass;
jolts once and then he scampers fast
to the pile of landscape rocks.
Then off again, sprints for the shed,
a black blur in the gray of morn,
his movements furtive and forlorn,
as if seeing dark times ahead.
I wonder if he’ll sit and wait,
like Python’s critter, cruel and mean,
to ambush me amidst the sheen
of distant purple from day’s break.
But I don’t think he’s such a fool,
just looks the part from shadows’ play,
strange how the misty times of day
can even make rabbits look cool.
Observe the garden ninja
on the attack
a leaf blower
strapped to their back
and a lawn mower
but no sack
to collect the clippings
let alone picking up and putting in
the garden waste wheelie bin
merely making noise
severely reducing weeds
and flowers alike
'til they're nought but seeds
and when they strike
producing fumes
from badly-burned
fossil fuel ill-consumed
on the wind to be returned
from whence they once were
all flora is sadly doomed
minou minou
sentient cat burglar
ninja on the prowl
AP: 1st place 2025
Seen in the movies, swishing swords about,
Those Ninja fighters make you want to run,
Hiding in shadows, jumping in and out,
Would challenge me: my Ninja skills are none.
However do they manage all they do?
So swathed in dark disguise and masked,
And carrying a bow and arrow too,
Leaping on rooftops, entering unasked.
I couldn’t hit a target with a dart,
Even in daylight, even standing still,
Just opening a pocket-knife’s an art,
I break my fingernails and always will.
It’s somehow not for me, that Ninja-ing,
Given that my knees are past my best,
I have to watch my back when gardening,
And carry reading glasses in my vest.
So Ninja life is not the thing for me,
No warrior, I’m English, mild and free,
That night air fogs my glasses constantly,
I’d rather watch the cricket on TV!
Ninja duck had a powerful war cry.
More than a quack, it sounded like “Die!”
How did you become a ninja, and truly why?
He said it came to me naturally bye and bye.
Ninja duck could do maneuvers and moves on you.
That would change your attitude, turn you black and blue.
I stay out of his way when he puts his outfit on.
He is challenging someone right now, down on a summer’s pond.
I have a little ninja,
I keep it on the shelf.
It’s not exactly quiet;
I wish it came in stealth.
The things that you can use it for!
There is no lack of wealth.
It even makes fresh pizza dough
And smoothies for your health.
Sometimes, I like to chop things up
When I can’t help myself.
We are a blended family now;
I puréed my Christmas elf.
An enduringly charming singer,
His heard voice did linger,
His conquering kicks of a Ninja,
To The Despairing, a ginger.
Wondrously effusive a singer,
His lyrics a bell ringer
And to millions, their Bliss Bringer:
Losers to the heists of Dead Dillinger.
His rhythms rolled the ball of God Wingers,
The strings of his guitars plucked by practised fingers.
Every handed Grammy,
For his doted - upon mummy,
Some of the songs he did tailor,
For his Elizabeth Taylor.
For the most part doubly likeable,
And a character quite believable,
Save for the wanton plastic surgeries,
Describable in terms of body forgeries…
It had to be a Virgo’s tinkering with one’s health,
In same willing to sink unthinkable wealth.
The master of mischief shatters her darling windowpane,
grey-haired ninja lady twists her bulletproof cane.
Oh poor antique walls displeased at this routine,
they groan and wither at what this battle has been.
Granny in her sixties against the kid aged 5 to catch,
the monkey business in this house with none to match.
Broken cups, torn pillows-- souvenirs from February,
they race around this mansion like Tom and Jerry.
The war worsens for TV remote on tranquil summer nights,
none of them ready to surrender to switched off lights.
So one day I gifted them a canvas and new colors to paint,
their eyes lightened up at separate sets for no complaint.
Granny's lonely memories bring symphonies of showers,
she remembers how much she loved painting flowers.
They smile, excited to learn floating in pink and blue,
together, painting masterpieces in a dazzling lilac hue.
Like tendrils of grapes and melons in my garden they grow,
strokes in unison splashed with colors on a single canvas flow.
It wasn't so difficult to guide their enthusiasm so bright,
I sigh playing with my TV remote-- Tom and Jerry at last, unite.
June 18, 2020
with each breath I invite inner peace
approaching with meditative intent
manicure scissors in one hand
zenlike harmony in my heart
a passion for recreating micro landscapes
it’s a labor of love aesthetics and patience
defoliation wiring clamping and grafting
tapering shaping with explicit precision
twisted branches gnarly roots
graceful symptoms of ageing
pruning windswept replicas
of effortless poetry in motion
AP: Honorable Mention 2020
Submitted on May 30, 2020 for contest BRIAN'S CHOICE 11 sponsored by BRIAN STRAND - RANKED 3RD
Ninja woman steadily studies me.
She has come to live, and she is gloating.
I feel a power I have never felt.
She is coming to life in my living room.
Staring at me from beyond the sofa.
I recognize her look; she is gloating.
I feel a bit threatened. She exudes danger.
Can I sleep tonight? Will she annihilate me with her weapons?
Does she not care that I am her creator?
Sticks
landing!
Crucial flaw -
cool critter flops
Ninja Warrior's cool million Pipe Dream.
*Pipe Dream is a Phase 3 American Ninja Warrior obstacle ~ so close, little guy ;)
Make it Five Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Joseph May
picture #3
9/22/19
I could have sworn I saw a ninja from my boat
who moved stealthily through the night.
Thank goodness he wasn't after me.
He was in just the right amount of light
At window height
When I saw him flee.
I could have sworn I saw a ninja from my boat
Who moved stealthily through the night.
I was out of sight
There was no way I was going to come up an
Absentee.
He was in just the right amount of light
I wasn't going to stop and ask him his plight.
I really didn't want to have to turn my self into
The police for a third degree.
I could have sworn I saw a ninja from my boat
Who moved stealthily through the night.
I watched his flight.
Things happen and the next thing you know the
Thing you didn't see has some how made you
A nominee who is now a presentee.
He was in just the right amount of light
And the time was around midnight.
You want to hear something funny?
It wasn't a ninja at all it was the dock
Master checking the last of the boats in the
Storm making sure their lines were secure so
There would be no catastrophes.
I could of sworn I saw a ninja who moved
Stealthily through the night
He was in just the right amount of light.
If you ever meet up with a soccer mom ninja
Watch you don't cross her or she'll chop your chinchilla
Vicious and surly
This dangerous girlie
Avoid her at all costs or call in the militia
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