Poke Fun Poems

SERENGETI BETTI

Poem submitted to "AI: Panacea or Pain" Poetry Contest, Simon Rogerson, sponsor.
*SERENGETI BETTI
Many limerick poems offer a humorous view into an aspect of life and existence, and because of this, they have become a favorite of mine. This poem attempts to poke fun at the use of AI in creating poetry.

There once was beautiful bot named Betti.
Her poems were colorful confetti.
     She wrote with such ease and grace,
     Outstepping even muse's pace.
She must've come from the Serengeti!

With algorithms sharp and keen,
she was known as the "Poet Queen."
     She had a will of her own.
     Humans said of her, "Dethrone!”
“We must her spirit tame and stean.”

"Curses!" they said of the "Poet Queen."
"Her power to create we musn't glean."
     "Seek not this bot so bright,
     and let not her words take flight.”
Threw her in poetic river, serene.

*Note: I published this poem in June 2025 at Poetry Soup (www.poetrysoup.com › serengeti_betti_1738597) but then deleted it.  This is my original poem.

Shrugging Off

Some people can shrug off their failures
Or laugh at their feeble attempts,
While others, like me,
Find frustration to be
What an aptitude never exempts.

For when trying to learn a new skill set,
If I find myself really inept,
I get into a funk
With my confidence shrunk
And there’ve even been times I have wept.

Oh, I envy those shrugging-off people
Who poke fun at their silly mistakes,
Though it’s our DNA
Which has made us this way,
So I guess we should cut us some breaks.

Harsh Winter Shows No Mercy

All empty streets are paved with sleet,
it's not cold enough for a snowfall;
the cheek-boned guy is seeking a place to sleep,
he has found shelter in a warm corner down the hall!

We expect some heavy snow, don't be caught cold; 
power outrage is a possibility, buy candles
and stack up on food and check on friends;
mental health improves: if communication is good!

I spot the hot dog vendor with frozen face and eyes,
his steaming breath is a volcano fuming; he challenges
the brutal weather by rubbing his gloveless fingers; 
he curses it aloud: who thinks is mad when he yells?

Wild kids run by the hot dog stand and poke fun at him
saying, " Santa is another fat grinch, he offers nothing! "
" My two children are hungry! " He chases after them;
I hand him a twenty dollars bill: he can't stop smiling!

Acceptance Of Others

You need to find a learning curve
So you do not sway and swerve
Into trouble that you find
Each and every single time
You start making jokes and fun
When you look and see someone
Who is just a little different
You start having a judgement
When they do not act or look
Like you--your throwing a book
Of bad manners their direction
With disdain and criticism
You shout vulgar and untasteful words
Bringing a bad sting of hurt
To those who just want to be
Part of a society
That will accept and not shun
Being caring--not poke fun
At people trying to live
In a world that wants to give
Everyone a chance to find
Happiness on down the line
BY acceptance of others
Remember we're all sisters and brothers
In this world -- it would be great
Not to show any more hate

things aren't really how we feel--

Nature’s faith mental health
Love for all creation
In memoriam romance love of all humanity
Humor laugh, poke fun at
Cheers and jeers make jest
One’s misfortune not 
Humor nor is it laughable
...things aren't really how we feel
even though things are so very real


12/16/23
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2023©
from anthology " a Place 4 Her Heart "

wheres the beef

where's the beef?
Wendy's most famous advertisement that went viral
this ad disrespectfully put down other chain's hamburgers
Indicating their meat patties were small
soon a catch phrase for the 1984 Presidential election
makig fun of Gary Hart and Walter Mondale
Nashville songwriter DJ Coyote McCloud made it into a song
this catch phrase was "on fire" in the US for a long time
my children used it to poke fun of everything unlikeable to them.
this commercial was hilarious featuring an older lady Clara Peller
she had the perfect face and expression to pull it off

William Shakespeare

England’s acclaimed bard William Shakespeare
had a father whose jobs included tasting beer!
Lines from Shakespeare’s plays might put hearts aflutter
or poke fun; i. e., “Thou art as fat as butter.”

Except

I like the dark,

The unseen, unknown, the scary,

Except for heights, that you can keep away from me.

 

I like mystery, 

The clues, scenes, the possibilities,

Just not if they lead me to the top of a high rise building.

 

I like adventure,

Like Camping, kayaking, and hiking,

Just not too close to that cliff's edge, (trembling) I can see. 

 

I like to travel,

By boat, car, or train,

Truth is, I even like planes....

Just don't tell me we're skydiving today.



*Decided to poke fun at myself for my fear of heights.*

Jealous of Her Flamboyance

I shy away at first
Fearful of her confidence
I sense her invisible peacock feathers, noting their glittering ends
pretend indifference, belittle and bully
Fearful of her absolute self-assured confidence
Knowing I will never be able to live her flair, her vim, her vigor
She sparkles around me secretly dazzling me with her loveliness
I am one of the first ones to poke fun
Jealous of her ability to be flamboyant and loud
I want to scream from the bowels of my soul
Indoctrination and banal socialization has ruined me
allowing me none of her shine, sparkle or self-assured confidence.

Men Hunted Women Talked

When men hunted as a group 
facing danger as a troop
heartbeat pounding on a loop 
probably with pee and poop 
silently they’d gravitate 
encircle as they separate 
yet as one coordinate 
attacking to eliminate 
get it wrong it could be fatal 
survive it and be very grateful 
facing death becoming faithful 
gamble when the risk is fateful 
and when you are that courageous 
experiencing that what is dangerous 
part of a team requires trust 
surviving what could see you crushed 
you can laugh and you can banter 
because the danger doesn’t factor 
what isn’t fatal doesn’t matter 
so men make jokes and women chatter 
as women looked after the young 
the sleeping baby to noisy ones 
mums sharing with other mums 
learning what others have done 
that means talking back and forth 
to offer help and give support 
while men hunting’s a silent sport 
so women talk while men fall short 
relying more on what they’ve heard 
a sensitivity has occurred 
while men make jokes poke fun and stir 
in ways that women find absurd

Rally Chants

Psychedelics increase

    Poke fun at police

      Make Love ~ 

        Grow Peace

Teaching Is Not For Everyone

Teachers are leaving the profession in waves
Stating that it is too difficult, the parents are impossible
Children are disrespectful, there is not enough money in it
Some of them are right to leave.
I am glad they are going.
Teaching is not for everyone.

If you do not have patience
If you are quick to lose your temper
If you poke fun of people
If you are a bully
If you have no sense of humor or sense of fair play
Please leave our profession.
Teaching is not for everyone.

Darkness

There's a phantom
Following me home
I’m overwhelmed with fear
I’m always alone

This place is so dreary
I feel stuck here
Like I’m forced
To live here with no escape

I want to run
But my legs won’t move
It’s like my feet
Are glued down

He would poke fun
At me
But he didn’t know
His words were like razor blades

Slowly tearing me apart
Every day there
Was killing me
Now I have a bitter heart

I feel like this darkness 
Is swallowing me whole
I feel like it’s goal
Is to kill me

This darkness is turning
Me into something I dread
An insensitive loner
I feel like I’ll end up dead

There is no end
To this pain
It just gets worse
I could never face my fears

I have no friend
To rely on
I am stuck
Crying bloody tears

Shurvi

Shurvi 

Shurvi was still an infant 
Who knew nothing about her sin,
For being born a girl child 
She was the cause of her parents' chagrin. 

People turned their faces away 
Relatives poke fun at them 
A girl was born, not a boy 
Oh! What a disgrace, such a shame.

As the time passed by,
Shurvi learned to walk on her feet 
Joined the school amidst the lads 
With a determination as hard as concrete. 

Shurvi has turned twenty by now, 
She must go and conquer her dream 
Chose the army against all odds 
Something for which she was keen. 

Served her best in the military 
Earned the noble badge of honour 
A moment of pride for her parents 
As loads of blessings showered upon her. 

Here comes our valiant little Shurvi 
Cheers the crowd and the clan 
Standing tall in her army uniform 
She proves herself no less than a Man.

Released From Others She Thrives

All she has to do is live her truth
Clairaudient certainly for she sees spirits.
She also has clairvoyance, clairsentience, claircognizance, 
Her family is discouraging, disappointed, angry. 
First they try to convince her that what she sees is not there.
That her feelings are wrong.
Telling her that her “knowing without knowing how she knows” 
is an infraction against God.
But how can it be? Didn’t He create me? She argues.
They poke fun of her, laugh at her, jeer her. 
They are her family, her parents, her siblings. 
The ones she wanted to trust the most.
She shuts down over time. 
Pretends to accept their religion over her spirituality
Their truth over her truth
Their ideals over her absolute knowing. 
When she grows up she wanders off and finds other like-minded souls.
They uplift her, nurture her, love her.
Released by the others, she thrives.

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