Black king seeks a pawn, the hour ... ink affects,
pleasures acquaint of camouflage tactics,
pleasures game on, decent for chess, black tux,
meet in a square, grassy looks seemed protects.
Hopes for one more nights ... hopes this be the night.
Former spokesrat; the lamb, sized a rat.
Latter spokesowl; Spotted, laid placemat.
Mirage sways the assured and fates the trite.
Sole cousin of Barn Owls, they're world-renown
as true owls. They're cool daredevil cliffers,
and foresters as their declining numbers
'Near Threatened' by ICUN, useless stare down
as other fauna group waits screaming crimes ...
paints and films of death grow; signs of our times.
Categories:
placemat, allusion, analogy, animal, appreciation,
Form: Crown of Sonnets
I burned your placemat.
A sunny yellow flower.
I used it at my desk.
It was ANOTHER thing I had ruined.
You emphasized ANOTHER.
Another thing I can't do right.
Another thing I took.
Another mistake.
It left a mark on my pristine, white desk.
A caramel brown.
I tried to get it out,
But it stained the table.
My scars are all too close to the ones on the table.
Both marked by their mistakes,
Both marked by other's mistakes.
Bruises that won't fade.
Scars that won’t heal.
Paint over the desk.
Sew the placemat.
Let’s do some surface-level cleaning.
Categories:
placemat, 10th grade, anxiety, body,
Form: Free verse
Autumn’s table set
with one less placemat this year,
dad loved pumpkin pie..
sweet slices of reminisce
satisfies our grateful grief
Susan Ashley
October 23, 2021
Categories:
placemat, appreciation, family, father, grief,
Form: Tanka
First it was only a joke.
Something to poke fun at.
After all it wasn’t in our habitat.
Then it crept into our country like smoke.
Not a bother we thought quietly,
And vowed to pray and act piously.
But it started to intrude into the Midwest.
Still a joke, still something to roll our eyes about
Until the schools took it seriously and decided to take a time out.
So we never got to say goodbye to the best.
Because as we left for break we were told
We would be back and to go enjoy our household.
Break started, concern and slight worry of what was to come.
And then the axe fell
We would not get to say our farewell.
A feeling of going numb.
No more nights staying up late just to chat?
No more complaining about food over the placemat?
Classes, dances, final days all gone.
How to say that it feels as if time has been taken.
And all of a sudden I realize that each day is a gift and I must not be mistaken.
For although I want to grab and hold on,
What cannot be must be realized
And what is must be held dearly and prized.
19 March 2020
Written for Coronavirus COVID-19 Cash Prize Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Team PoetrySoup
Categories:
placemat, appreciation, confusion, emotions, endurance,
Form: Rhyme
Brat cat scat pet
look at black rat
Muskrat packrat
Cool cat placemat
Coon cat d'etat
Does that true cat
... slouch hat snaw at
11/10/19
Written by James Edward Lee Sr
Categories:
placemat, adventure, analogy, animal, anxiety,
Form: Footle
COMBAT
Look at the placemat, land sat
Begat of that play nothing prevails
I place my hat on a hook
Threw it didn't take a first look
Muskrat Nebat fell on the bell
Trip and fell down the wishing well
On that,pack rat Larrirette he can hardy find his belt
My, oh my he needs it to hold his pants up
Palm cat drinking non-fat milk
Mcnatt the rat cooking Decon pelets in a cast iron skillet
I myself with Nebat, Larrirette and Palm running around the kitchen
All this drama, no carma
Display does that doormats down at this address
All this drama going on in my small house
So I open the door as we all ran out
Someone hollered --------------------COMBAT
5/7/18
written words by James Edward Lee Sr.
Copyright © 2018
Categories:
placemat, adventure, anxiety, endurance,
Form: Free verse
Today was Special Person’s Day
At pre-school, for the 3’s.
One guest per child and I was picked,
An honor I did seize.
Each child announced his person
Then we hunted for their names
On a placemat on the table
Where we sat and made some frames.
There was fruit to eat and cookies
Which the children helped to bake
And some marigolds in plastic cups
For all of us to take.
Then a teacher took our pictures
So the frames will get some use
And the kids performed a song and dance
To shake their sillies loose.
Though I’m one of several people
Henry loves who love him back,
I am thrilled that he decided
To select me from the pack.
Categories:
placemat, child, grandson,
Form: Rhyme
Mother, did you mind whenever I lose
patience at your antics? When I frown and
get mad whenever you aim your blue
slippers and hit my face right
on target? When you don't have anything
more to throw because they're all by
my side? When you made all
Sorts of noise because nobody's
looking at you? Have you all counted now
the bulbs at the ceiling and the sunflowers
painted on your placemat?
Do you call me by my name now?
Should I put this fresh Ylang-ylang by your
ears or this single Sampaguita?
Carry on with your song, Mother.
Yesterday I brought home a slice of your
favorite bread and rushed to give you. I didn't
find you at your sofa. The lump in my
throat took time to subside.
...and Mother, I miss you. Yes, I sincerely do.
Categories:
placemat, bereavement,
Form: Free verse
So you want this so bad?
Incorrigible lad
Your excesses will come back to haunt you,
But we may do a deal
Under this seal
Unless common sense doth daunt you.
Should push come to shunt
You’ll bear the brunt
Of an outlying cost that may shock you,
A bribe? You dare say
And ask me a game to play
For which the police will surely up-lock you.
Me too? Oh joke on,
You son of a swan,
They’ll never catch me this millennium
For my name is quite clean
By all I am seen
As the pillar upholding nobelium.
My bribe price, you ask?
I’ll take you to task
For using a term disrespectful
I’ll write it down here
… stop looking so *****
Or I’ll change my tone to neglectful.
When I’m gone on my way
You can see my say,
The paper is here ‘neath my placemat
And if you agree
My lawyer you’ll see
To comply you’ll be sporting a lace hat.
He'll sort you out,
You son of a trout
And see that we both get our wish met
But don't try to pump us
Or he'll cause such a rumpus
That you'll want soon to face your Kismet.
So farewell for now
Oh son of a cow
We’ll not see each other again
For I’m off to travel
And mysteries unravel
Along the Brazilian main.
Categories:
placemat, fun, relationship, silly,
Form: Rhyme