Rikers Poems | Examples


List of Member Poems

A Small Surprise

On my morning walk, which is
Adjacent to the river,
A small surprise is sometimes what
The city does deliver.

So yesterday, I heard a thump,
Metallic, so I slowed,
Expecting that a hubcap flew
From somewhere on the road.

Instead, I saw a sewer cover
Quaking as it rose
And crashed back down above a spot
Where the East River flows.

Thought number 1: a creature
Would be rising from the deep
And then his scaly self into
My neighborhood would creep.

Thought number 2: a prisoner
(Like “Shawshank”) would break free
Because from Rikers Island
There’s a chance that it could be.

Thought number 3: the river (high)
Would suddenly erupt
And shoot that cover skyward
In a manner most abrupt.

In any case, I hurried on
Without a backward glance,
Not willing, having had those thoughts,
To take the slightest chance.

Patty-Cake President

Written By:  D. Collins 12/19/18

Patty-cake, Patty-cake, baker's man.
Things didn't happen the way you planned.
Now the subject of investigations galore.
Soon, Mueller will be knocking at your door.


Patty-cake, Patty-cake, it does not look good.
You'd take it all back, if you thought you could.
Mr. "High I.Q." isn't very smart at all.
Rikers Island will be your new "Border Wall".


Patty-cake, Patty-cake, this is not "Fake News".
Justice is coming after all of your crew.
Your offshore accounts will soon come to light.
And, there'll be nothing left for your current wife.


What Nixon did cannot compare to you.
You'll sport a custom-tailored orange jumpsuit.
Jared, Ivanka, and Junior won't be far behind.
Then, America will be great, one more time.

New York City

I live in the city that never sleeps
Time square lights shine
While the sun creeps.
Homeless men rush to the big tin can 
Of left over meals
Teens vamp through the night,
No sleeping pills.
My fellow citizens
Shop so late
Club stays open in Brooklyn
Way past eight.
Catch a ferry to Staten Island
Or a nice boat ride in Manhattan
A Broadway musical
Staring Jasmine and Aladdin.
A Yankees game in the Bronx
On a nice sunny day
Mr. Softie drives by 
While all the kids play.
A booster on the street
Selling expensive bags for cheap
And Knock off shoes
While he watch out for police.
Knicks game at Madison square garden
Carmelo Anthony hits 30 points
A Rikers island bus 
Releasing inmates from the joint.
New York City is my city,
The city everyone wants to meet.
It stays awake as the sun creeps
My city never sleeps.


Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.

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