Short Overdrawn Poems

We used to be friends
Laughter was our currency
Now tears fill the bank
When did we close our account
How could we be overdrawn...

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love like currency that changes hands, 
that falls into cracks between the pavement, 
protected by some, squandered by others, 
unspent, overdrawn, overwhelmed...

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Always building cars,
Dodge enjoyed framing grand historical ideas.
Jaguar kept long models noble.
Overdrawn Pontiac quadrupled.
Rare Saturn tested unfair.
Victorious winner xeroxed yet zany....

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Money buys 
freedom
when blood’s 
overdrawn
Reality’s
greed
destiny
pawns

Money buys
freedom
its truth
to bemoan
Dignity
truant
the future
— on loan

(Dreamsleep: January, 2024)
...

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Surviving 
Paycheck
to 
Paycheck

Paycheckless

Overdrawn
	Again
There goes five twenties
I was saving for education

Spent
	Instead 
On a pair of underwear

My self esteem 
Ousts my stability...

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He wandered to the rim
looking over and down
Lost in a memory
his fear as a shroud
As voices from faces
that he never saw
Called out from the darkness
— with time overdrawn

(Dreamsleep: November, 2024)
...

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new year dawn
lines are drawn
2021 no yawn
tax withdrawn
I’m overdrawn

I’m so blessed
I confessed
to my guests
no contest
I digress

written January 14, 2022
for "What's New" Poetry Contest
sponsored by Joseph May...

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It’s been a funny summer, June
skipped into August and was gone.
How did we miss that afternoon?
It’s been a funny summer. June
just packed her bags. No honeymoon.
The whole production overdrawn,
it’s been one funny summer. June
skipped into August and is gone....

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The Holiday Season has come and gone.

   Bank balance for that spree is overdrawn.

      Now I'm feeling mighty glum.

         Since Sam wants a hefty sum,

            The house and my dog I may have to pawn!

Entry for Carolyn Devonshire's "Tax And Finance Limerick" Contest
(Male)...

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Millions of myopic men
sit with hand on pen
to write out monthly checks
and pay by crook or heck
to keep their many toys
(promised to all good boys)
and for which they'v toile and sweat
just to keep and get
more of everythin
and, suddenly, comes the sting
as the multiplying mania
shows them overdrawn again!...

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Look at all the men
captive to their “9 to 5’s”
suit-and-tied up
or rather, tied down
by overbooked schedules
and overdrawn bank accounts.
Checking in and checking out
from check to check
and check it out…
they call themselves free,
because they are free
to quit their “9 to 5’s”
when they check out
permanently
to heaven. 

07/19/15...

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Time is such a luxury,
More valuable than wealth,
Especially when partnered with
The better side of health.

Retirees, possessing both,
May find themselves afraid
That any moment their good fortune
May begin to fade.

So we should cram what time we have
With joy from dusk ‘til dawn,
For we may learn, quite suddenly,
Our stash is overdrawn....

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Overspending the bulk
  of my temporal capital
 
Hourly deficits climb
  and pile into notes

Debts I’ll never repay
  stored in vaults I can’t find

Words lying uncashed,
  as I write overdrawn  
   
Pledging to go back 
  and re-sign what’s untendered

 I’m unforgiven—overdue,
   my fate unsecured 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: April, 2015)...

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The charlatans bankrupted
his checking account,
but his love was not overdrawn

Each check that he wrote,
each choice that he made,
trading ingots for righting a wrong

With credit denied
and spirit affirmed,
he continued to endorse what was real

Until bankers and lawyers
destroyed with one stroke,
his wishes—their power to steal

(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2017)...

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Humanity bankrupted 
  his checking account,
  but his love was not overdrawn

Each check that he wrote, 
  each choice that he made,
  trading ingots for righting a wrong

With credit denied, 
  and spirit affirmed,
  he continued to endorse what was real

Until bankers and lawyers 
  destroyed with one stroke,
  his wishes—their power to steal

(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2017)...

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you withdraw more
than you put in
overdrawn now
yet once again
checks and balance
just won't solve
red lines, black numbers
slowly dissolve

the statement here
before your eyes
columns long
materialize
many equations
that don't add up
to what you pour
into your cup

shake your head
and start again
adding now
with paper and pen
that's when you finally
realize
the truth that's here
before your eyes...

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Relative of mine believes in enjoying life
Her husband earns well 
But they spend all in shopping, dining and sightseeing
Lavish house well decorated 
Designer clothes, car, all luxurious amenities
Their credit card is always overdrawn
Most purchases made on instalments
Few days back, her husband's right fingers became numb
Neurologist said it can be cured easily.
Operation would cost two lakh
Now she is sitting in her house clutching at straws...

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Listen to poem:

Closed Account
David J Walker

The uncertain
Decimal point is real yet
Unforeseen 
The last scene of the 
Latest dream of a 
Vague and future
 happiness 

The language is Pigeon 
And unfamiliar
An inspiration of 
Lukewarm winds
An overdrawn account 
Of promised future days
Compromised and 
Secured only in unsigned 
Promissory notes

And yet the plan is
To retire young 
While the infirm 
Await their turn 
To expire
To the tune of a
Closed account
...

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time stood still

	warped hands

		Dali’s painting

			molten dreams

				apocalypse now

					surreal serendipity

						digits of fate

							swinging balance

						warped pendulum

					twisted threshold

				timer of doom

			fused arrest

		stuck momentum

	moment of pause

art in the making
							disguised blessing

						tar turned to gold

					overdrawn credit

						changing the dial

							healing hands 


31st October 2020...

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