Short Signaled Poems

In the year fourteen-hundred ninety-two
Indigenous Peoples, Columbus screwed --
  He gave them worthless trinkets
  So now they've 'rethinked' it --
Virtue-signaled Chris' moral turpitude...

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Winter in Canada was once a joyous time
Back then, it signaled igloos and snowsuits divine
So cute and cuddly
Faces all ruddy
A joy to live in the north no matter the clime...

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rain tease

flashing lightening
signaled its coming
like gabe’s horn
roaring thunder
announced its approach
but the fork in the sky
became the victor once more
leaving us low and dry
beneath dark blue clouds
stepping aside—
rain passing again...

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Silently signaled,
Eagerly early
Spring overtakes
Not left behind
I hurry to find
Clippers and rakes.
Each bud and blossom
Quits playing possum
Appearance makes.
Responsive resurgence, 
Fixed on fast forward,
Nature awakes.

By: Joyce Johnson


Won 2nd place...

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His name was Brown, his face was black
he walked alone outside a shack.

A siren sang across the track
and signaled clear the next attack.

A man in blue (a maniac?)
took aim and made the morning crack .

Like stones around a cul-de-sac,
six bullet holes frame Michael's plaque....

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Die twice exclamation mark.
Torment signaled basilisk
farce. 

Die twice rolled, 
freezing my snake eyes!

What a Soul you have!
And all your body a slit in 
my perception,
a cut to deepen my ignorance
of what little I see of you.

Better I get a taste
than swallow you whole....

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What is that mama?
Sun was in mama’s eyes but there was no mistaking the polka dots.
It was a leopard, about thirty foot off the ground slumbering in a tree.
Mama lifted her child off the ground and signaled for silence.
Tiptoeing her away from imminent danger.
Glad they had made an escape....

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In soft whispers and loud shouts
In confidence and moments of doubts
In shallow words and hollow voice
In giving up over snatched choice
In clenching of heart and spreading of wings
In forgotten bonds and broken rings
In signaled truth and spoken lies
In secretly finding each other’s eyes
In every way we wanted to see
Wasn't it all always about you and me??...

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I watch them fly
Past the sign
Didn’t slow down
Didn’t stop
Then down the road
At reckless speed
Past the sign
At the end
And go on
Very fast
Right through the light
Which wasn’t green
And I wonder
From far behind
How each time
They signaled their turn
Won’t stop for signs
Won’t stop for lights
And their speed
Is a reckless thing
But they still
At every turn
Signals use
Every time...

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He had asked me out on a date today
"Restaurant I know,but not the time",I sigh.
So standing in the corridor, signaled him in class
He threw me a paper and we waved bye.
There was number six written on it ,I rush 
To get ready quick and look beautiful to surprise.
I get there, wait until patience crossed the line,
Then angrily call him up when he doesn't show up.. 
Just to hear him say,"Baby,I meant nine!"...

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I stood before your grave
mid whispers of the breeze,
and 'neath the midnight moon, 
observed the garden maze
of lovely leaves and blooms 
'round your eternal bed;
each faithful guardian 
supports your lifeless rest.

Then I looked up and saw, 
in clouds, 'neath moonlit sky,
an angel there above 
had signaled not to cry.
Your soul glowed in her arms
beneath soft wings of white.
My heart was filled with peace; 
to heaven you took flight....

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I use my toaster oven almost
Every single day.
A toasted bagel starts me off
In just the perfect way.

But lately, it’s been taking
Way too long to get things hot
And to close the door, you have to
Give it everything you’ve got.

This morning signaled its demise;
The door is stuck ajar,
The final culmination proving
It’s not up to par.

But there’s no need to wallow
In a crumb tray filled with sorrow,
For Amazon will send a new
Replacement by tomorrow!
...

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