What is going to take for our legislators to put in safe gun laws
The ones we have on the books in most states are so deeply flawed
Everyone should have the right to defend their homes
But assault weapons we do not need to own
We will never get all the guns out of the hands of bad actors
But hopefully, we could change the minds of some of our gun backers
Tougher gun laws will never end these mass shootings
What it will do however is lower the number, of which I think we would all salute
A lot of the people who commit these crimes have made threats online
People who monitor these sites need to report these individuals in record time
My heart goes out to everyone who has lost a loved one to gun violence
Think if it was one of our loved ones, how long could we remain in silence
Categories:
on the books, life, violence,
Form: Rhyme
Understand that you’re loved
Gracious goodness…I am beloved
Hated, jaded — I get it…but I love you, my other beloved…other, ugh, you’re beautiful just the way you are and no one looks at the looks, but always on the books is important!
! Wyd? What are you up to now? Behave and be brave somehow… I gtg ttyl!
Categories:
on the books, emotions, for teens, how
Form: Acrostic
The readjustment was the hardest part
Not leaving the war zone
Or coming home back to his country
And to his wife and family and friends
But actually readjusting to the fact
That fact that he had no legs
He left them back in Iraq
Not as a war victim or injury
To a vehicle accident instead
His Hummer left the road and rolled
He was lucky to escape with his live
The medics took him to the hospital
It was touch and go but he made it
The army will pay for his recovery
And give him a pension
Plus a pair of tin legs
And keep him on the books
An advisory role for future wars
He did ok from his accident
But readjusting is still hard
This is his new normal...
Categories:
on the books, conflict, military, soldier,
Form: Free verse
Don't bury memories at Wounded Knee
that legacy is an ingrained part of history
and workers prize should never have been slavery.
How many new tribes came
the English, the Irish, the European rain
to this country of Americana fame.
Freedom, hope and dreams of change
obsessed and blinded us with gain
to take away, imprison the land we chained.
Somewhere deep in the darkness of the heart
is forgotten reasons that set for new starts
and reason and dreams became mere farce.
In self centered endeavors
stolen land, life, a history un-measured
on the books and truths severed.
Don't bury me, erasing who I was and what I did
each soul sought only to live
and in my sorrow, yes, I do the past forgive.
Categories:
on the books, america, anxiety,
Form: Rhyme
When I was a child
I was often there
Cuddled in Mom's arms
In our rocking chair
The cats would join us
As Mom read books to me
Purring and jostling for
Position on our knees
I felt so warm and safe
I knew that I was loved
As the cats on the books
Their whiskers shoved
I would gaze up to Mom's face
She was so pretty to see
And give thanks that she
And my Dad had adopted me
Categories:
on the books, mother,
Form: Rhyme
If your gas tank is empty,
Unless you're inept,
You can fill it yourself
In all places except...
Oregon and New Jersey
Where you're not allowed.
If you tried, you would certainly
Be disavowed.
It's a mystery why
Such a law's on the books.
Likely some politician's
In debt to some crooks.
So when I'm in New Jersey,
In gas lines I'm stuck.
Though the prices are better,
It's not worth the buck.
Categories:
on the books, car,
Form: Rhyme
Like to be back in the work force again
Contributing my talents to the fray
Never wanted retirement to come along
Sure wish I was still active today
Nothing's changed except for my age
It doesn't make me any less valuable
Mind didn't freeze, become useless or such
Making me any less bankable
Actually still worked at seventy-five
One reason was because I freelanced
Surely was able to still hold my own
In advertising could still dance the dance
Most people get the “golden handshake”
And are sent off to pasture toute suite
No evaluating this “end of the road” person
Like age gave him two left feet
Business should change this age old practice
New rules should be put on the books
If one's still a viable entity in the company
Age should be totally overlooked
© Jack Ellison 2015
Categories:
on the books, age,
Form: Narrative
It would take more than 150 years
To drive your car to the sun
At the price of gas you'd need two jobs
A cashier at Walmart could be one
A law on the books in Kentucky states
You must bathe at least once a year
Next time I'm heading down Florida way
It's a state I'll avoid going near
The actual energy of everyone's farts
Immediately upon time of emission
Creates an extremely powerful force
Enough to launch a lunar expedition
Truman Capote's strange middle name
Believe it or not, was Streckfus
His parents shoulda done time in prison
Without dinner, lunch and breakfast
It's said, to have your picture taken
By the first camera ever made
You'd have to sit still for eight long hours
I'd wet my pants I'm afraid
Some of the water that all of us drink
Has at one time already been drunk
By someone else at least once before
Eeew, wish that was a lotta bunk
You would think everybody's eye lids
Would need replacing clearly
Blinking four billion times in a lifetime
Decided to change mine yearly
They say it's impossible to kill yourself
By holding your b-r-e-a-t-h ........
© Jack Ellison 2012
Categories:
on the books, funny, time, time,
Form: Quatrain
Ignorance of the Law is No Excuse
By Elton Camp
Weird laws are on the books in every state
Some abuse they at one time tried to regulate
For violations we aren’t likely to be arrested
But in the courts, very few have been tested
Alabama won’t allow a mustache that is fake
If in church any irreverent laugh it should make
Alaska says there’s to be no whispering in an ear
If with a moose hunt it should somehow interfere
If in Arkansas you fail to pronounce the name right
t is a crime and theoretically can get you in a tight
In Florida, if you tie an elephant to a parking meter
The laws requires that just as a car you must feed ‘er
In Georgia, to eliminate the chance of police raids
To change mannequin clothes, you close the shades
Since in Hawaii, you may well need to be able to float
Residents can be accessed a fine for not owning a boat
In Kentucky, offensive body odor you need not fear
Every citizen is required to take a shower once a year
In Massachusetts, the law may not let you go very far
If you are carrying a gorilla in the backseat of your car
Categories:
on the books, funny, may,
Form: Rhyme
its a dream
an its clean
its has theme
its seen
you get hook
on the books
in the cart
its
PURE ART
Categories:
on the books, art,
Form: Light Verse
Funny how we speak with two tongues
How we sing two tunes to the same song
We claim that all things God made are good
Yet, we condemn when they're not understood
Marijuana, the herb is not of itself, bad
It is man’s greed and indiscipline that is sad
I bet, the corporate drug lords will now lobby the hill
In the rush to enlarge their bank accounts, still
Soon the old, sick and depressed in some states
Will have to pay triple! Yes, that is their fate
There has to be more research, new laws on the books
To cut off the street gangs, pushers and such folks
Make a difference in the crime rate, clean up the streets
If buying cigarette with carcinogens is legal
Makes no sense, for all the fuss, let’s be real
Left as is, soon more twelve year olds will sell!
Did you say, ‘Not in my hood?! Wait! What's that smell?!
Categories:
on the books, life, people, political
Form: Rhyme
Something for my lady, gettin that money by any means.
Who get with the player type, a thug, from the hood with good dreams,
Who kick it in high heals, plenty tank tops, camouflage, fatigues
Her thongs clear to the vision, so you can see some good things
Stretch marks, body smoother then Marble floors in Hamptons
Lampin' large in a condominium or mini mansion
Sidekick mobile phone, three flip like kirk
I'm very religious, superstitious, and like David I ain't scared to flirt
I'm from the dirt, root and soot. Came up on my own foot.
Used to hang with the crooks, But now I'm legit don't ask where I work just know keep a job
on the books.
I took my chance with many girls, but until I looked for a woman.
I got one thats crazy, sexy & cool. Waterfalls, good lookin'.
I can remember back in school, being judged by chicks,
People hearing I have some money, suddenly I'm the sh,
Past baby's mama, drama, karma, dillemas and problems
got me writing this jingle, ready to mingle, Holla, holla, holla, holla.
Categories:
on the books, love
Form: I do not know?
Blue air
on the streets and in your hair
seeping into blood still traveling
oxygen lit and sweet
Blue tears
on your palms and past your years
wept on a whim from things you've seen
slipped into cornea vaults
Blue words
on your lips and wings of birds
attached with wire as they waited
to fly your sorrow hence.
Blue day
still on the books until flown away
to the land where sadness inherently dies
and memory markers remain.
Categories:
on the books, loss, people, sad, sorry,
Form: Free verse