in the bushes underneath a torn-up vine
I found Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum sublime
They did not speak to me, but spoke to each other
I told them I was going to tell my mother
Tweedle Dee bit me on the shin, and his brother jumped in
They were devil dervishes, then they took a chunk of my chin
I was screaming away for someone to save me that day
But a hole in the ground opened and they whisked me away
Why do I feel the tears wet my inside lids?
It’s not the pain but then again it might be.
The tender mind’s so easily stabbed with pins.
In motion, can’t be undone by cup of tea.
Lingers at my side, devotedly. I hurt
for my shin, calf, ankle, thigh I can’t exert.
It’s psychological as well as throbbing.
It’s not anyone’s fault, I feel like sobbing.
What to my wandering eye did appear,
But a grape—violet, juicy, and dear—
And a small purple envelope right near.
I found the grape tempting, stretched forth my hand;
Surprise! On the envelope it did land—
A conundrum I could not understand.
The envelope twisted beneath my palm,
Quickly shattering my internal calm.
"How can that be?" said with decided qualm.
Again, the paper shell quivered so slight,
Giving my fingers a terrible fright.
My quick twitch sent the grape into the night.
Now alone with the envelope’s mischief,
I said right out loud, “Enough of this stuff!”
And stepping back, I squished the grape—too rough.
Then, slipping on the grape’s broken skin,
I most brutally barked my left shin.
Jumping about, I bumped the table—and then...
Knocked the envelope up into the air,
Where, to my sudden alarm and despair,
It vanished—gone, like it was never there.
So, as to the meaning of envelope and grape,
I’m afraid we’ll never know... or at least be in for a wait.
Violet Grape Purple Envelope Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Robert James Liguori
9/24/2025
When I arose one day, I could barely walk.
Had to drink my coffee before I could talk.
Before I was done, the bathroom would call,
I held the grab bar, but still managed to fall.
The shower beckoned me, so I went on in.
I slipped on the soap, and bruised my shin.
Later I was hungry, so in the kitchen I go.
I screamed a bit loudly, when I stubbed my toe.
My dog started barking, and looking quite mean.
He then bit my leg, it was a real bloody scene.
I made it to the fridge, and looked inside,
There was nothing to eat, so I sat down and cried.
I ordered a large pizza, and thought "oh well".
But when it arrived, it was burnt as hell.
I tried to take a walk, but my feet were still sore,
Instead of feeling good, it was becoming a chore.
I made it back home, after slipping in the mud,
That's it, I thought, this day's a real dud.
I thought tomorrow will be good, like it's always been,
I laid my head on my pillow, then the ceiling caved in.
Goodnight!
If my head bone's connected to the...neck bone,
And my neck bone's connected to the...rib bone,
And my rib bone's connected to the...back bone,
And my back bone's connected to the...hip bone,
And my hip bone's connected to the...thigh bone,
And my thigh bone's connected to the...knee bone,
And my knee bone's connected to the...shin bone,
And my shin bone's connected to the...ankle bone,
And my ankle bone's connected to the...foot bone,
And my foot bone's connected to the...toe bone,
And my toe bone's connected to the...pay phone!
Wish I was connected to the...wish bone!
Contest: Cartoon Character Clerihew
Judged: 8/17/2025 6:29:00 AM
Sponsored by: Tania Kitchin
Placement: First
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse
Still struts through each media house,
With hose stretched tighter than his grin,
And yellow shoes too big for his thin shin.
The grandkids are heading to sleepaway camp,
Their clothing all labeled and packed,
Plus all of the extras they may or not need -
Way too much, as a matter of fact.
They bring pillows and blankets and flashlights and fans
And shin guards and sandals and cleats
And towels and bug spray and sunscreen and stamps
And shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste and sheets.
They need rain gear and sleeping bags, books and canteens,
A laundry bag, backpack and socks,
Plus sweatshirts and jackets and underwear (lots!)
And their sneakers and rain boots and Crocs.
Of course there are bathing suits, t-shirts and shorts
And sweatpants and PJ’s and fleece,
But there are no iPads or Switches or phones
So some wonders, I guess, never cease.
The days spent at camp will fly quickly until
All that stuff gets repacked to go home,
With some missing or ruined or filthy, but that
Is a topic for some future poem.
Whoosh, the wind through olive trees,
tugs my dress with gentle ease.
It brushes neck like whispered breath,
soft and quiet, light as rest.
Flit-flit, white butterflies fly,
soft as ash, then say goodbye.
Chirp-trill, birds sing wild above,
messy songs full of love.
Buzz of heat on sun-warm skin,
wind curls slow around my shin.
Agolli spoke of roots and rain,
but I was born of sky and pain.
Let others burn or sink or drown,
I float where silent dreams fall down.
My breath is light, my heart is bare,
you’ll only find me
in the air.
sans caffeine feasting, sans water; thirsting
growl of stomach - a rumbling roar
e
p
i
d
u
r
a
l
stabs me in the back by noon
will it serve me snacks
after patient endurance
of
walking through water by weeks
to strengthen the core; waiting
by wades back and forth,
forwards, backwards, do the course
r
a
p
i
d
heartbeat, hush
Great Physician heal
the ankle, shin, calf, thigh,
the source
When you feel stressed and things are awry
You feel you could scream and your blood pressures high
Get out of the city, go for a ride.
Take the train out to the countryside.
Fields full of corn see how they glow
Countryside farmers reap what they sow
Wonder the woods see the trees green
Cast your eyes round, there’s lots to be seen
Stroll by a lake,dip your toes in
If you feel daring go up to your shin
Don’t be afraid to leave bustle behind
A walk in the country will help you unwind
The man who a Pharaoh would be
Must dress for success to the T.
The hair 'neath his chin
Must wrap round his shin:
It cannot be just to the knee!
Don’t kick my shin
Lest I grin and
Your chin gets kneed.
Don’t touch the ball
Not at all or
The call will come.
Don’t pass the line
Tis a crime, you’ll
Do time for this.
Don’t hog the ball
Share with all and
Stand tall for team!
This is…..well
I live close to an airport
and a factory just exploded near
a bit of me was a bit disappointed
If this is my intro
Duck shin
It gets worse
What do you think And drew
a breath
thought when he looked upon
William is WIll.I.AM without
spots clouts spouts
Can you be blem or is it just ish
Do they
make prince shaped hand
Cuffed
Is just cuf well fed
Zombie symbol in his purpled stilleto boots
pierce the pedo Prince you disgraced
My name is
slime covered babies
Just a question are you sure
you didn’t give me the after
birth death the mess betw in een
I know what comes after death.
just a full stop
See I am sure there is more of me’s in hear
and if you think
I used the wrong hear the rest of me’s
are listening
in case
The me that’s
Righting escape
messages to you
Need to go their starting
to form groups
In the shadows
A giant lived among the trees
a woodland home of oak and elm
of birch, of sycamore, a roof of leaves
but treelings bothered, pestered him
did run amok, did taunt and tease
play and run around his feet
did kick a shin, too tall his knees
go treelings in their raucous fun
but temper fraying, he, of them
and anger growing, angry on
picked and grabbed all one by one
raised them up with giant arm
shout and cry he threw them far
so far away, so far to land
but land they did where little lived
and there be strewn amid the fern
and that is why, dear all, you see
a clump of trees seem randomly
growing where no others come
a curious copse of trees alone
because a giant threw them
far from home
Humorous Patter Sayings
Bow to your partner now let's begin
Lift your skirts and kick his shin
Hold it tight and jump and cuss
Don't worry you can't offend us
Get her back gents, catch her quick
Snap her bra lickadee split!
Ain't she red now but comon let's dance
If you never now’s your chance
Got two left feet so you can't walk straight
That's OK cause you can promenade
Promenade up and promenade down
Your the purdiest girl in the whole durn town
Slap your knee and holler an’ wail
Bend on down and shake your tail
Tail, tail, pretty little tail
If you pull it I won't tell
I won't tell no sir yes ma'am
Do-si-do, do it all again.
Sub Categories
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