Short Leashes Poems

A pampered poodle in Beverley Hills
browses Rodeo Drive for her thrills
Jeweled dog bowls she'll seek
and silk leashes tres chic
Her owner smiles --Just hand me the bills

2/27/23...

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he wonders during the day
mean and angry
as if someone's made him that way
at night it leashes out
as sickness,  uncontrolable,
uncalculated,
any minute he runs to the bathroom
to rid himself of the evil...

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Swish of withered leaves
In the depths of the forest
Evinces the tense calm
Before an approaching storm
Leashes its contained fury










For 5 line max New or Old Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Rick Parise
June 3, 2017
First Place...

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winter wolves have eaten the tulips
the wind has pawed and pillaged
small dogs strain on their leashes
a summer storm has ice in its veins
warner airs arrived too late
to save the groundhogs litter
bitter are the fruits
                  of this fanged season...

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A sh**load of sparrows
Dancing on the wires
Spots on my truck


A howling of leashes
Domesticated torture
A cat hisses


A cacophony of phrases
A drumming of woodpeckers
Shouting – quiet please


Unopened flowers
A menagerie of metaphor
Optical conclusions
...

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squirrels teasing dogs on leashes
not too close ,the masters decent
just for once he'd like a show
to see the furball torn to pieces
smiles fade when bones break
a mess was made, quickly now,
walk away
to think.....a bit of humor I would say
a squirrel has a saved a life today.....

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The average one is restrained by mental leashes 
Bound and gagged twenty four hours a day
A common trap that remains difficult to avoid 
The free one is overwhelmed with possibilities 
Too much to do in one day 
An uncommon landscape that remains hard to locate 
Barricades mold the thought process...

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A square in a square

Four lines equal length

Then repeated

People pass through

And over and around

Tires squeal

Lights change colour

Dogs on leashes

Rain soaked pavement

The foundation for this

Fifteen stories up

It all becomes clear

Life carries on

Under an umbrella...

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tangled leashes
a texting dog walker
                              .....three dogs squatting


loves aces
fourplay in crowded silence
                                       .......mixed doubles match


If Ducks had teeth
                            .......would they clack?


John G. Lawless
6/1/2020...

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hollow shells
of people smiling
plastic smiles
white picket fence
2.5 kids
suburban street
manicured lawns
walking on leashes
their fabricated dogs
priceless crystal 
sits on the 
coffee table waiting
waiting for one
little teeter 
one little totter
to crash
into pieces
hollow shells
of people smiling
plastic smiles...

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The air was crisp, the trees were bare;
The paths were shoveled clean.
In Central Park today it was
Delightful and serene.

A lonely jogger trotted by;
A nanny pushed her charge.
Some dogs on leashes sniffed and strained;
The cloud-filled sky loomed large.

But mostly it was only me
A'stroll across the park,
Enveloped by the vista
Which was anything but stark....

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Fear leashes unforeseen harpoons
     when faith flees to the hold.
     Wind gauges possible typhoons,
     purser murmurs threefold...

           fractures in the bulkhead
           sailors stymied by dread
           damage and death ahead

Fear leashes anxiety;
Faith can anchor urgency.

October 21, 2021

The middle three lines are a leash, a set of three...

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My whirligigs are spinning;
The trees are all a’sway.
The dafs, with blooms beginning,
Bow their heads in mock dismay.

The windsock strips are dancing;
The bushes are a’bounce,
The dogs on leashes prancing,
Swishing tails an added flounce.

As I sit here with my writing,
While the sunshine’s all a’peek,
Rhyming words have been alighting
To allow my thought to speak....

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Dogs of every shape and size
On leashes pass by, prancing,
While breezes from the river blow
And set the leaves to dancing.

Balls are tossed and trees are climbed
As sweat-stained joggers, bouncing,
Make tracks around the strollers,
Like their fitness they're announcing.

Families and friends converse 
And benches fill, inviting
The readers and observers
And a certain poet, writing....

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You think I'm foolish
That I don't see the games you play
You keep me on a leash
So that I don't wander too far when you aren't interested
But close by when you're lonely
I don't handle leashes well though
And I'm not as loyal as you think
I can only tolerate so much neglect before I go in search of a new master
Because all I am to you and the next guy is a pet
A creature kept for your entertainment
I suppose that's all I've ever been to anyone...

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Whitecaps on the river;
White clouds in the sky.
I’m sitting on a bench with winds
That billow from on high.

While joggers pass behind me
And bikers pump their knees,
Some dogs on leashes strut their stuff
As I enjoy the breeze.

There’s sparkle on the water
And sunshine in the air;
I’ve things I should be doing
But for now, I just don’t care.

This promenade’s my refuge,
To settle and unwind,
A place to find a little peace
And leave my cares behind....

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There is a quest
A guess about time
A place to be

With me
If you would
Perhaps 
In a dale or in the wood

Upon the glade
Perchance you would speak
To me

For you see I am alone
At the end of the pier
Watching the sun
Setting upon the sea

Leashes pull
And dogs tug
Little girls running
Jumping
Enjoying the merry game

They call out to the gulls
Swooping and dipping
Squawking out our names
Yet, we do no speak

With your iPhone 
No one cares
Only you do
Speak to me

Speak...

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Shadow trails in liquid delight,
Meltdown slips over defined lifts,	
Legs toss and ferment the nude rifts,
Eyes tackling passion dreams tonight:

Persuasion in check toes the line,   
Frisk beauty with unsung vibes, 
Silent pleasure leashes tides,
Tuned in pure fornicated bytes:

Hold her configured in ransom,
Slay the protruding globes pair, 
Touch and covet misty bushes,
Wet play the twin uncovered lips.

Run the tongue crush and tap the node;
And delve into unknown desire....

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