Each day is the same; we all sit here and wait,
listening for the sound of the chains on the gate.
You see, that’s our signal; that’s our cue;
that’s how we know what we're to do.
We all soon learn what each sound is for,
even before someone's open the door.
We get excited when the laundry is clean,
the high point of our week is the day we get canteen!
For an hour of TV, we all rush to line up;
even to take a shower we have to sign up.
Everyone gets quiet when they're doing mail call,
maybe good news for some, but not for all.
Yes, each day is the same, we all sit here and wait;
listening for that sound of the chains on the gate.
One day soon, they'll be sounding for me,
and I'll walk out these doors, finally free!
I had to change
email addresses.
I couldn't keep up
with the alt accounts—
ten helpings
of the same subject.
you know they're automatic?
after you sign up
you have to go to settings,
unenroll—
seems like too much.
I'd miss
dopamine's dinner bell—
notifications.
Only to remember:
I was the commenter.
It's a rush
worth the risk—
a chance,
to re-visit myself,
dressed
in your jumper.
We left our Nation's sign up on the Moon,
with footprints clear, and flag still standing tall.
A stepping stone to future times in space?
Or wars to claim the Moon- never to share?
Our footprints live- these years have not erased
the glory of that day we etched its sand.
Some have placed flags- but not by human hands,
and woe the day they fight to seize the Moon;
to change it from the Earth's celestial scene-
to victory, they'd seize through cosmic wars.
Now, this framed poem I would send up there
as my heartfelt memento on the Moon-
pray that my words inspire countries to share
its vantage point to leap from and explore!
Ambience
Ambience wants to
sign up garden plants with collections of
not big white flowers to
work for
free as
ATM security guards. But it’s too shy to
do it.
You’re taking a stroll (more like speed walking) down the street,
And if you’re anything like me,
You’ll most likely trip on thin air
And bam, you’ve fractured your leg
(No, I’n not an anorexic with osteoporosis)
As it is with accidents, so it is with love.
Just as you may fall and hurt yourself on a run,
Getting hurt is part of the deal when you sign up for intimacy.
You’ll hurt people you love, and they’ll hurt you too.
And before you know it,
They become a language you are no longer fluent in, but still remember how to read.
(I’m talking about you Sanskrit)
It doesn’t take being a doctor to know, that wounds take time to heal.
Broken bones and broken hearts are akin.
In the meantime, how do you hold on to the hope that you’ll run again after a fractured leg?
What if you’re left with a permanent limp instead?
A haunting reminder of only what was, every time you take a step.
Some call it courage, and others a fool’s venture,
The cycle of rupture and repair ensues,
Time begins to work its magic,
Limp as you may,
You’ll muster strength to take a stroll once again.
Life goes quickly growing up from the use of a commodore 65.
Perforated print paper
Really takes your energy.
Fold and Tear!
Fold and Tear!
Every so often the edges
With the holes placed every millimeter amuse me for atleast five minutes.
Jump to ten years later as I sign up for my first email through AOL.
Still my main for sure contact or solid way for anyone to reach me, I stand firm in its support.
Life trickles down into o the earth’s core where warmth and safety from the information super highway can be found.
Wait, so what happens if polarity introverts?
Oh the earth shoots a bunny
In seventh grade I should have known better
Than to sign up for dissecting in this kind of weather
It was stormy and dark, the sky was gloom and doom.
In the lab, I fished my frog out of his box-like tom.
I poked him with my knife to make a little slice.
His eyes popped open, which was not incredibly nice.
He stuck out his tongue and ran around the table.
Whose frog is that? Asked the teacher, named Mable.
The chase was on. He was quicker than light.
I grabbed him again and tried to hold on tight.
I ended up letting him go, that Halloween day.
Frog who refused to die on a day that was gray.
If you want to sign up for the Jupiter mission
Here is the catch: you have to be serious.
And you have to have $100,000 you are willing to lose
Because if the space ship blows up,
Or if the expedition is cancelled,
Of if the sponsor takes the money,
There are no refunds.
Only two people signed up.
A mother and son.
Who could not read the small print
Where all of this stupidity was printed.
It seems I've been sick again.
Got hit by a car last Jun.
Got no broken bones,
Was told to go home,
And sign up for physio soon.
Massive muscle damage diagnosed.
Pain pills, heat treatments, massage.
Special excercises needed,
My headaches are treated,
The treatments seem one big collage.
These treatments don't come cheap,
And each time I go I must pay.
Thank The Lord fir insurance,
To give me the assurance,
I need to get by day by day.
I saw a lawyer about it.
He said, NO PROB, KEEP IN TOUCH."
He's now a bill I must pay.
I'm hemorrhaging money each day.
This helps later but now not so much.
So bear with me my friends,
I been sick.
I'm sorry I've been so sporadic.
You all much think me nomadic.
I'm here and then gone and here and then gone,
You must think that I don't care a lick.
Prison is more than what meets the eye,
Her beauty is more than what meets the eye.
I don’t want to be a third wheel, just you and I.
No one can type without pressing you and I.
Prisoners we all are despite being free.
Some might be behind bars, some in bars.
I say again prisoners we all are despite being free.
Age is not a qualification to be a prisoner,
So is masturbation, when one is addicted to it.
So is a disease, cult and finally death.
All which can’t be controlled by drugs which are taken hourly.
I say again prisoners we all are despite being free.
Marriage, by choosing to marry, we commit our lives to one person,
We sign up for a life sentence.
I say again prisoners we all are despite being free.
Careers we choose dedicating our time and energy to,
Building and constructing its foundation day and night.
Through blood and sweat we pump our energy.
As staff, corporate members, politicians, innovators, artists and many more.
Our career clocks tick from seconds to minutes to years to decades.
I say again prisoners we all are despite being free.
Underestimated or appreciated but we don't care, We sign up for the thrill of heights with an extra scare Hot wires down and homes a'flare, We show up when others wouldn't dare When storms roll through taking power out, Is when people wonder where our lineman are at Leaving loved ones behind and kissing little ones goodnight Lineman head out in the dead of night Through cold or hot Long hard days Danger lurking at every phase We stick it out because we know our ways There's nothing we'd switch or change in the end, As long as you have power again
old age can never get me I said
Putting on my roller skates
I don’t need a helmet I said.
Bam. Crack. Break. Smack.
guess I am not as young as I thought
No problem, a broken leg, big deal.
Not really, I assured myself.
I will heal in an hour or so.
Like when I was twenty
Three hours later my leg is bigger than my house
I have to live in the garage
until the swelling goes down
which takes a couple of weeks
old age will never catch up I said
I did a few jumps off the roof of the garage
breaking bones and tearing my meniscus
what are you trying to do? My children ask
she is just grandma, being grandma, said the grandchildren
now I have arthritis in both legs
shingles, and asthma.
they are following me around like crazy
has old finally caught up?
I sign up for hang gliding lessons.
A real treasure who gave off himself,
impart joyfulness into people's lives
always worried about lifestyle forms
other than ourselves
his wit helped many win rewards.
No idleness looking for applause
he taught artistry in a split-second style
as a bonehead with a golden heart
he seldom takes a breather
and he was grammatically consistent.
His heart scarcely wavered from the truth
however, it gleams akin to gold in the display
in the sight of historic or fresh devotees,
the dude is an expert on how to age gracefully.
Written: January 05, 2022
In Honor of Milt - An Un-contest Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Andrea Dietrich
Wouldn't it be nice to order
the weather on line?
All of the days could be
filled with sunshine..
Must I sign up for Amazon clime?
Days would be warm.
People would feel fine..
I had the easiest time letting go of my oldest.
She and I were not getting along any more.
I had to drag her to college and help her sign up.
I stood in line after line, to get her enrolled.
She who acted like I was a devil begged to return home.
The answer was no. I wanted less trauma and drama.
The middle daughter had pretty much left us at age ten.
She was an easy let-go. We barely knew her now.
The baby was ill the day we got her into a car for college.
She had to be on campus that day, so we took her anyway.
She had a temperature of over a hundred and two.
Made no difference, by then I was into my new hobbies.
Things I could not do with them around – cartooning and painting.
They would have made fun of me for it.
I ended up adopting dog after dog after dog though.
So I could take care of something after they were gone.
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