Short Playpen Poems

Tonight, I became my youngest son,
my oldest son now gone
My youth reframed, new joy proclaimed,
a lost returning song

Tonight, I became that little boy, 
whose playpen sets me free
All toys reclaimed, no further blame
—to enter joyfully

(The New Room: January, 2022)...

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He scratched at his chin and gave a broad grin -
Wondered where he'd been to wind up so thin.
Then he recalled when he'd dabbled in sin,
And he had loved gin more than other men.
He'd thought he could win in the world's playpen-
But found himself then in the Devil's den

1/5/2017...

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Leave me alone you beautified 6itch ;
Oh ghastly and ghoulish playpen of a witch.
Vases of roses are covering your deeds;
Eloquent verses describe your sick needs. 

Many come calling but none ever leave; 
Even my dumb heart now wants a reprieve.


written 04.02.2016...

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Mary’s behavior is bizarre to most
not to me, her favorite earthly host
bread on your nose is what aliens do
as is painting dark elm tree limbs light blue

her planet is seen at two a.m.
She likes to watch it from my son’s playpen
her actions might seem odd to little old you
but she does what all good aliens want to do...

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Five little fingers keep me “occupied” as I crawl on Persian rugs,
four little fingers toy with model trains my eldest brother scorned,
three little fingers learn to tip and tap on  gadgets oddly-named.
Two little fingers wrap around felt pens that scribble “telltale signs.”
One little finger now a playpen pal in my
“let’s pretend” home!...

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We ride the sea of blue,
as the wind blew.
Mounds of white grew,
it is soap not glue.


Have you meet the three men?
Bill is a writer with a pen,
John is with businessmen,
Tom likes to watch TV in his playpen.


Three men in a tub,
plus one child in for a scrub.
They belong to a club,
the bath time dub-dub....

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