Rumple Stein lit a single
flickering candle, casting
long, spooky shadows across
the cold stone walls.
"High upon the jagged cliffs
stands the forgotten castle of
Blackwood," he told the
shivering children.
"Inside its drafty halls roams
Grimtooth, an evil ghoul with
glowing green eyes and
razor- sharp claws."
The wind roared outside,
rattling the windows as if
Grimtooth himself were
trying to break inside.
He glides through the castle
dungeons, searching for
intruders who dare to touch
his cursed silver."
Suddenly, a low, scraping
sound echoed from the
fireplace, making the children
jump in terror.
"If he catches you, Rumple
Stein whispered, leaning
close, "he freezes you into a
solid stone statue!"
He mimicked a frozen face,
his arms locked stiffly in the
air, making the kids gasp
loudly.
"Only the bravest souls can
outsmart his traps and
escape the castle before the
morning sun."
With a sudden POOF, Rumple
Stein blew out the candle and
laughed, "Sleep tight, little statues!"
Page left blank wins, wins
if I never start a line
I can't get it wrong;
with no ending left to find—
the start can't falter; unwind.
A blank page is bliss—
white space an endless delight
with no trace of ink
left half-done to reek and taunt
its pristine incompleteness.
I outsmart "The End"
with no "In the Beginning"—
nor any "Meanwhile"
to divert from emptiness
echoing sheer vacuum-ness.
Silence quakes with guilt—
words foreclosed are blocked at source,
nothing's left to fail;
nothing to erase or fix;
with a deft dab of white-out.
Astray, I pray the day
Will stay the way I say
My heart to start the part
Compart, outsmart my chart
To rise, eyes on the skies
Revise, apprise the prize
And blest with zest to wrest
My quest to crest the test
To share my flair with care
Aware repair is there.
Death defying, Wile E Coyote
Was never a real hero unlike Don Quixote
Wile E couldn’t outsmart Road Runner’s tricks
Not surprisingly he always ended up in a fix!
Passion lies not in fear towards cheer,
To conquer unknown gestures behind
Some rare laughter, but so insincere..
Those words, tongues twist around; disappear
Until tears grow no link to being blind.
Fear of long awaited hope shapes care,
Set to beat tricks, lust stages alright
With pure intentions to outsmart stare...
That could lay hold on twists playing fair,
Till laughter couldn't shine bright; its light
And clinch onto tears that caress pain;
Driven by proposed fear's turnaround.
Will choosy purpose does actuate gain?
To cover up a seeming less stain
Not enough to stop laughs, tears expound.
Laughs powered by prospects of lost fool,
Timing brainy approaches cum risk
Of growing fearless life goals on pool,
Dim laughs could rarely survive by rule-
Sets standard fitness, fear barely whisk.
I do enjoy verbal tennis
wordplay may be a game
outwit outsmart the opponent
is the only aim
lobbing phrases across the net
volley and rally back and forth
no one's a loser and yet
those precious few
who think on their feet
will always win have you beat
Shakespeare is the all-time champ
merely a player with poem and sonnet
through thick and thin he'd go for a spin
and put some English on it
it's fun for all with no balls or calls
and if your serve is up to scratch
unless words fail
at the thought you quail
it's word game set and match
Pete could not decide whether to outfox or outwit
His sister said, “why not outsmart?” That hurt him a bit
Their brother was not easy to bamboozle, fleece or befool
Their mother suggested, why not first try the golden rule?
Pete could not decide whether to outfox or outwit
His sister said, “why not outsmart?” That hurt him a bit
Their brother was not easy to bamboozle, fleece or befool
Their mother suggested, why not first try the golden rule?
RoBo Calls
Miracle Man
4/25/2025
I’ve a strong dislike that now borders on hate,
toward those unwanted calls that won’t abate.
I get perhaps ten or so of these calls every day,
thinking I’m an “Old Codger” they can sway.
Its often about Medicare and always a scam,
her sweet voice has for me some new program.
I appreciate her having my interest at heart,
but I’m not a sucker that she can outsmart.
Calls interrupt my meals and also slumber,
once or twice they’ve came from my number.
These I always answer without undue delay,
for I’m always curious as to what I might say.
“There’s a sucker born every minute” Barnum said,
and many minds have chosen his quote to embed.
In this world
No one is truly stupid
You can outsmart one person
Or outrun too many
But you can't deceive
The whole world forever
What will come will come
Karma does not spare anyone.
As the yellow-orange sun slowly rises
Memories of your class's fun flood my heart
Thoughts run to your teaching and enterprises
You brought those tiny guppies to our class
A creative shiny diorama's great art
Sunshiny person and dedicated lass
You lifted us up when you said
All the gifted books available we'd outsmart
Sad you to your death drifted from your sickbed
Bob Newhart…
hope you find a good part
for your expression of deadpan
in heaven since you kicked the can
Bob Newhart…
perhaps I meant the bucket, ye old fart
made new
in your stellar light debut
Bob Newhart…
Your a little elf in the queue, start
your cloud nine life
without Big Bang strife
Bob Newhart…
you know how Sheldon would outsmart
Professor Proton bring him back
from beyond for advice, not his knack
Bob Newhart…
lastly woke up in the sack, back at the start
with his first wife, of all the dreams
now the actors dead, for real, it seems
Let us lose our hearts, within the heart of Nature, my love,
Let Eros and Aphrodite protect us from above;
These green leaves of the white jasmine trees whisper new romance,
Their shy buds, bloomed overnight, stealthily lay their first glance...!
The chain of blue hills and mountains embracing day and night,
Inspire us to walk together in our lasting love flight;
The evening sun hiding betwixt these spreads its golden rays,
Invite us to, midst hide and seek, must not miss our love ways...!
Red apples that tempted Adam and Eve quietly call,
Cherries and strawberries, and pomegranates attention haul;
Pigeons, parrots, and peacocks passionate night secrets share,
Mares and hares and foxes love their partners and, for them, care...!
Down the hills gold black blue blended sea waves and twilight kiss,
Drifting clouds their chats with the costume-changing sky don’t miss;
What could be a better date spot than this dearest sweetheart?
What else could our handheld walks and fervid embraces outsmart...???
09 February 2023
My Dream Date Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Anoucheka Gangabissoon
The Moon knows never to gossip,
keeping secrets close to the heart;
Buttoned up tight whispers don’t slip,
nothing pries what’s sacred apart;
Never one with an aimless dart,
brazen wishes know where he stands;
A loaded plan cannot outsmart
credence the cosmos understands.
Have you noticed how technology
Is more pervasive in the world of sports?
From the equipment to the playing fields,
Even their shoes ... and look at the shorts.
I can remember the days when basketball players,
Showed all legs from snug-fitting wear.
While today, high-tech fabrics surround them,
Like loose sheets that won't impair.
And now baseball players are much more athletic,
Rarely will you see a physique like Babe Ruth.
As they seek to train harder and consume the best
Nutrition, far less partying, and that's the truth.
Also now, we can see the rules of football evolving,
Seeking to be safer and more humane.
To the point where touching a quarterback is practically
Criminal, and using your head may damage a brain.
Yet athletes will always compete and seek that
Elusive leverage to be the best they can be.
Though the rules may provide fewer tools,
As they try to outsmart technology.
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