I heard they sent
for a royal fool
to make them laugh
until they cried
Now there's a pool
made of tears
& forced smiles
on the side
They're feeling blue
with red eyes
& black hearts
front yellow backs
You know the rules
of silly games
always produce
funny acts
It was a trap all along
meant to bait the
greedy flies
A pest will pest
til the end
attracting counter
to what is wise
Awakened rudely
by the fool
whom they assumed
was sound asleep
The crown it fits
a suited king
adorned from head
to rooted feet
The branch grows
full of leaves
& bears the weight
of coming fruit
Who knew the fool
could plant seeds
that would grow
through shallow roofs
You'll know the tree
by its fruit
& what it endured
and came to bare
Sometimes the weeds
are necessary
for what's the wheat
without its tares?
It's fair to say
what's in the cards
will soon require
a show of hands
Sometimes a fool
plays a fool
knowing what cards
are in its hand
“Let’s have a show of hands now
Who’s voting for McFeely for dog-catcher?”
“And, guess what, Marvin is here with us tonight. Wow!
Let’s put our hands together for the next neighborhood dog-catcher himself
~ Marvelous Marvin McFeely
Backstage I reflect… If there’s a ‘show of hands’
Shouldn’t it involve seeing both the palms and the back of the hands?
And if we 'put our hands together' for someone
Aren't our hands stuck together
Do we need help pulling them apart?
The iceberg of language-melt yet sends shivers down my spine
A part of the upper crust of society
I have never been
Methinks “down to earth” more accurately
Describes this old homosapien
No airs, no talking big, no flamboyant flair
Just little old simple me
Now that word “simple” can be misleading
I don't think I've ever been considered simple
In terms of brain power
But at the other end of the scale
Certainly never classified myself a genius either
Somewhere in the middle... an average joe
This is my comfort zone
In my teen years, I floundered around
Wondering what life had in store for me
Until I realized I had a flair for creativity
And in particular “graphic design”
I have never ever regretted my decision
To head off in that direction
In fact in my 80's I was still active
With a show of hands...
How many of you enjoyed the profession
To the degree that you never wanted to retire
Let's see, one, two, three... oh and another!
lets double
check our gear
heavy duty
helmet topped with
a light an underneath
chin strap as well as
a body
harness
check
at least fifty yards of
rope with ten pitons
each and as many
carabiners comfortable
for one to
carry
check
now gather round
and take a look at
where we're hoping
to climb and yes i know
we are known as spelunkers
but this is more an orifice trip
it seems there is some
dissent about our descent
i assure you some of these
orifices are seemingly endless
dangerous but satisfying so by
a show of hands how many are we
just me
i see it's that
way that no one
truly wants to explore
just to stay safe and do the
usual two minutes in then out
but i i'm
going to give
her a go simple
foreplay in the shallows
of her bellybutton surely
to be taken in by the sheer
awe of
the unknown
but a sense of
fleshy familiarity yet
not knowing the feeling
of loneliness but that of being one
There are some people that will try to pick your brain
Just to make themselves look better and then call you a name
Yes we know you have so much sense
So you flood our brains with your arrogance
Sounding like a narcissistic antagonist
Leaving us all with a low tolerance
For all of your arrogant ignorance
We thought you were optimistic
But you are more like pessimistic
Open up your mouth sounding like a lunatic
Your crab mentality
Causes death & fatalities
So far away from reality
Nothing you do or say shows originality
What kind of style is that?
Your high demands
Require a show of hands
We don't need an audience
To define my ambiance
You have been identified by lies
Your hideous cries
All because you want people
To realize and recognize
your Bull
We are not interested
So please don't share it
If you have created it
We don't want to hear it
I've stood on mountains high
Swung the valley's low
Kissed the starry sky
Spoke of what I know
Swam the oceans deep
Walked the desert sands
Calmed the savage beast
Made up my demands
Seen the city streets
In the city's fog
Heard the jungle beats
Coming of the dawn
Conclusions that are drawn
In the dead of night
Point to all that's wrong
A day in the life
Walked the narrow path
The one less traveled on
Seen what it is I lack
A soul that's tired and worn
Heard a distant call
A whisper on the wind
Of what it is I've done
Of where it is I've been
I stood to gain it all
In the latter days
Then I made the call
To give it all away
With a show of hands
Show us where you've been
Show us what you have
Then show us all again
Stood on mountains high
Swung the valley's low
Kissed the starry sky
Spoke of what I know
Now doc assured Cindy that all would be fine
and finished the abortion at a quarter to nine.
The partial birth process was a total success
and as Cindy recovered, they disposed of the mess.
By one O’clock doc had a wood in his hands
and drove down the fairway in a civilized land.
Bill was a businessman of imported goods
that he sold to the junkies in his neighborhood.
All sales were final as Ben realized
when he shot up the load, flickered and died.
By this time Bill had a drink in his hand,
extremely uptown in a civilized land.
Brett talked finances and the future to Sue
she invested, retired then wanted her due.
But the money was gone and so was Brett
So with an overdose Sue canceled her debt.
And Brett was in Vegas, dice in his hand,
when Sue crapped out in a civilized land.
Now, the eyes of the world are all focused here
at the cities and streets filled with blood and with tears.
At all of the grief and at all of the pain
that somehow never seems to get explained.
But if you were to ask for a show of hands
millions would flee to this civilized land.
I think when all is done and said
I could use a nap
How many by a show of hands
Like me are down with that
I feel like I am zombiefied
One of the walking dead
Just need a simple place where I
Can lay this weary head
If I'm forced to do one more lap
In this crazy daily race
Where I take this longing nap
Will be my final resting place
How many like me do you think
By a show of hands
In all honesty do belive
They too could use a nap
We find you guilty
Of making a mockery
Out of poetry
(You talking to me)
And must insist
You cease and desist
In your writing of this
(Insanity)
You must take to heart
That this is an art
Not some shopping cart
(To fill your needs)
Take it back to the top
Before it all got
More crazy than not
(Could you please)
Here's a list of demands
By a show of hands
Come back to dry land
(For your lobotomy)
By the show of hands, how many wonna attend my funeral
not that am joking but doctors have proved am suffering from success
they said its a strange disease coz its only symptom are blessings in excess
its not communicable nor viral its acquired spiritually.
I don't rock Versace but my worn out t-shirts reveals my healthy body
sometimes I walk naked but am blessed coz I always afford to wear a smile
my name don't appear on the phobes list but God is the author of my story
I don't dine with kings I dine with the king of kings am sorry
Love in Helvetia?
A show of hands requested here.
(Searching for love's basis)
(Would lead to basic truth.)
Small beer to ask,
(But wherefore shall we start?)
A beer for those responding.
(The heart won't say...)
And three cheers for the great healer, love,
In mountains far away.
-----------------------------------
Intermingling of my poems,
1) "Love in Helvetia" - 2/27/15
and
2) "Love's Basis" - 2/28/15
Contest - Screwed
Sponsor - rob carmack
A win
Love in Helvetia?
A show of hands requested here.
Small beer to ask...
A beer for those responding,
And three cheers for the great healer, love,
In mountains far away.
2/276/2015
A part of the upper crust of society
I certainly have never been
Methinks “down to earth” more accurately
Describes this old *****sapien
No airs, no talking big, no flamboyant flair
Just little old simple me
Now that word “simple” can be misleading
I don't think I've ever been considered simple
In terms of brain power
But at the other end of the scale
Certainly never classified myself a genius either
Somewhere in the middle... an average joe
This is my comfort zone
In my teen years, I floundered around
Wondering what life had in store for me
Until I realized I had a flair for creativity
And in particular “graphic design”
I have never ever regretted my decision
To head off in that direction
In fact, at 79, I'm still active to a small degree
With a show of hands...
How many of you enjoyed your chosen profession
To the degree that you never wanted to retire
Let's see, one, two, three... oh and another!
© Jack Ellison 2014
Spring has arrived, her cycle of life beckons
As she thrills us with greened anew
Buds grace the light as if blinking in the sun
Bulbs of many play peekaboo through the softening soils
As days grow into weeks, vistas explode all around
Colours aplenty bloom into a plumage of petals
Choruses of birds chirp, igniting patterns of lure
As pending partners charm and delight as unions are discovered
Natures carnival of blossoms and greens highlight her art
Whilst gentle breezes caress them as they drift down and carpet
Hours and evenings stretch allowing rays of warmth to radiate
Fruiting plants start on their journey of harvesting joys
Summer knocks on Springs door declaring seasonal appearance
As we look around and applaud, ripening is natures show of hands
http://www.thehighlanderspoems.com/nature-7.php
I presented my idea of a PoetrySoup convention to the Soup people- they thought
it was a good idea...We, Soup members, would bear the costs, but I think I have
a plan (if held on Long Island, N.Y.) that would make those costs reasonable. I
just need a show of hands on who would be interested. We spend a lot of time
together...why not face to face once in awhile? Maybe every other year or so...I
suspect it'd be a blast...if on L.I.- I'll provide the band (free), and if so desired, will
do a stand-up comedy routine. (no tossing tomatoes, please!) So email me at
[email protected], and lets see if can open our first "Soup Kitchen"
Imagine all that talent in one room!!! I might even have it video-taped!!
Best regards, tom bell
Sub Categories
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.