There yonder lay the seemly miniature town.
My mind had first to offload its anticipations,
the mental pictures I had long labored
in vain to piece together.
The image had always been incomplete
without the first sight.
Now there was another burden to bear:
the opposing forms of affection
that demanded reconciliation.
I wrestled with solidity and vagueness,
and together they shaped the culture.
I stood there like a pedestal,
motionless.
The compass had missed its pole,
demanding an overhaul.
I had to assemble the scattered events
of childhood and manhood.
Yet I suppose childhood
claimed the day for itself.
Too many hours on line...... confusion!!!!!
Not sure if I do need to upload,
Perhaps I need to download hmmmmm????
Ah ha ! at last there's no confusion peristaltic movement in the colon
Gotta run!!!! It's not an upload or a download, it's an offload
Whistle echoes in the tunnel
then smoke belches upwards
as the train halts at the platform
Disgorging its passengers
before porters offload baggage
Cases, trunks, sacks – all claimed
But no
There on the platform two suitcases
Side by side, travelling twins of no fixed abode
Ace of Spades on one, King of Hearts on the other
Unnoticed
Porters distracted as the cavalcade announces its arrival
Guard of honour, red carpet, bowed heads -
trappings of power and privilege
Gliding through the booking hall
onto the platform
Glancing left not right
Two suitcase stand forlorn
Something stirs within
in an instant, carnage
No train
No platform
No power
No privilege
The end of monarchy
The start of republic
Suitcase slaughter
Suitcase solution
ahhh... the crisp feel of the new notebook
its spine never cracked open
its pages of virgin white perfectly aligned
awaiting their marching orders
eager for all and any pen markings
from sunday best handwriting to doodles
inviting playful interaction
your creative élan of spontaneity
random thoughts splashed on a page
scripted lines scribbled to offload
a mind seeking clarity, peace or absolution
seeking a semblance of order
of profound clarity or silly mischief
one page then another
the daily journal of a busy mind
in search of something
through self-expression
hoping to find it between
the whites of pages
and the ink of a ballpoint pen
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Watch how you go
As you rush home from work
The speed of your ride
Spawning dangers to lurk
The curve of the bend
As you screech to your goal
The curse of Diablo
Is taking its toll
The bus up ahead
Holding valuable souls
Has stopped at the sign
To offload them home
Your thinking is quick
The braking is harsh
The vehicle careers
Into the slow cooling marsh
Today’s perfect one
Tomorrow will let you drown
Deep into a well of depression
Just because you embraced first impression
Before you say I do
Search your soul for clue
Of eternal affection
To stand their imperfection
Marriage is a long marathon
It’s a walk in rough path
It is a journey to an unfamiliar terrain
Do check the sun before taking the road
Before you say I do
To all those dark jokes bid adieu
Offload the past with grace
Create space for the future you’ll embrace.
(sing it to the tune of "Cruella DeVil" from Disney's 101 Dalmatians)
There was a Govenor named
Kristi Noem De-Vil Oh
Kristi Noem De-Vil
Her own dog she’ll harm
there's nothing more cru-el
Kristi Noem De-Vil
Kristi Noem DeVil
She hated her puppy Cricket
with wired haired charm
Her own doggy she'll harm
Her own doggy she'll harm
deemed he was useless
like her goat valued less
So, she took the poor pup out
Not sympatico—Not even a pout
She’s made her boss proud
she shouts out loud,
Kristi Noem De-Vil
Kisti Noem De-Vil
with whom she’ll share
the Presidential ticket
Out of her mind with excitement,
chasing all those birds
and having the time of her life
was poor fated Cricket
We need strong leaders who can
do these sorts of messes
She'll bring her own doggy harm
Ranting that it’s just another day on the farm!
The Govenor may be watching too much Netflix
Perchance Wentworth an Australian series
An unhinged system for women's prison
Chicks! Chicks! Chicks!
Chorus...
If anyone out there is looking to offload
an annoying puppy or jerk-face goat
there are many rescues out there
Better again
On get quote this
Stopped wi the wrangles
Complex focus
Offering angles
Left with the hurt
Top wi the spin
An ethic of work
Offer a win
It’s got to be
Say as it lives
This prophecy
Takes and it gives
Dealing on maps
Frames require
Feeling with contrast
Same desire
Haze is exciting
Earning the list
Phasing the writing
Turn wi the twist
Just stay wi the round
Got so to holler
Upstaging the pound
Offload the dollar
Sign so fantastic
Then it left
Rhyme show and classed it
Treble cleft
See the plans
Show the plate
Kilograms
Overweight
Try to decipher
Things that arise
Cry when you’re hyper
Sing with the eyes
When they close
Scream with it shake
Mention those
Dreams are awake
Put on a list
Be jotting
Sure, from the gist
Keep spotting
Watch the heroes
Set it a gem
Stop the zeros
Better again
Sometimes get stuck on a solo mission
As the only ticketed passenger in sight
But alternative routes are available
We just need to book our return flight
Begins by checking in with ourselves
To take inventory of our baggage
Choice in claiming what we keep
Option to offload damaged luggage
Purposely piloting our own plane now
Pulling levers to navigate any weather
Time to maneuver back into formation
Since life is better when flying together
Let me cry
Offload my pain
Take away my grief
Redeem my heart with peace
Chi mu free me yes chi mu free me
Wash away my shame
Clean me up with love
Sweep away my death from near days
Replace my life with courage
Chi mu free me yes chi mu free me
Let me cry
My community is dying
Who cares
Despite our obvious reality
Life goes on in a land
Were survival means forced royalty
Your opinion don't matter
So I call on my God
Chi mu free me yes chi mu free me
Free me from unmerited brutalities
Of my community
Free me from the oppression
Of powers above my elbow
I need peace ??
When you feel darkness setting in, look to the east each morning the sun will rise again
At the end of that day look to the west and it will wave goodbye till next morrows begin
When you doubt it ever shines on you
Think about all of us that love you true
Take from us all that we give
No matter how close or far we live
For in helping you see your self worth
We fight back against all the hatred on this earth
Every one of us bares the weight of scars
So if we take the time to shoulder others, then maybe just maybe, someone will help shoulder one of ours
You don't have to save everyone, everywhere,
Just offload one, from someone, whom you already care
The flood never did subside, each person became an ark.
Now the creatures have shrunk,
mixed up until one species carries the genetics of all the species.
Fantastical beasts have arisen in a thimble of water.
The great flood is now a teacup, an ocean of tears,
but who’s tears?
God has long since dried Her eyes, The lamb, and the lion,
(Her onetime time emotional support animals),
have become so intermingled
that their parts are unrecognizable.
When all was said and done, we were all animals together.
The leaping waves toss we arks over the moon and back again,
leaks spring leaks.
We are all looking for a mountaintop somewhere,
so far, only a few have returned with that long expected news.
The rest of us drift on looking still for that special place
to offload our cargo, our menagerie of leftovers
from an ancient truth.
The flood never did subside,
each person became an ark.
Only now
the creatures have shrunk,
mixed up
until one species carries
the genetics of all the species.
Fantastical beasts have arisen,
in a thimble of water.
The great flood is a teacup ocean of tears,
but who’s tears?
God has long since dried Her eyes,
The lamb and the lion,
(Her onetime time
emotional support animals),
have become so intermingled
that their parts are unrecognizable.
The leaping waves toss we arks
over the moon and back again,
leaks spring leaks -
the drowning drink.
We are all looking
for a mountaintop somewhere,
so far, only a few have returned
with that long expected news.
The rest of us drift on
still looking for that place
to offload our cargo,
our menagerie of leftover souls.
In the rice field, the elder farmer knows what he has to go through every day,
Every time he hides the fatigue of years in a smile,
His fez speaks for him,,,,
The routine in his time is scandalous;
Hiding in his big hat from the sun so he can skip the admonition,
The rain is healing what the medicine couldn't heal,
Sometimes with a pause, he takes a break to offload the traffic in a shortcut in an Island,
He waits for the smiles of gratitude to feel a bit precious.
Charming in his capotain, and
Christmas-red cape, alongside
His plain-costumed puritan wife.
Maritime tall masts,
Snow-capped spruce,
Blushing-white clouds.
Sailors offload merry assortment —
fancying their Claus-like chores.
Old New York spectates by the shore —
The “blue eye” of the Santa-sea,
Brings old-fashioned fillers
For pudding-plum stockings.
Hard-packed snowbank under their coal-black boots.
Twinkling behind devoted eyes —
Treasure trove of memories to offload to their progeny.
11/25/2019
Based on N.C. Wyeth painting “The Christmas Ship in Old New York”
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