Nature appeared to take her time,
summer stretching into September October days,
the warm filled the landscape with colors bled
shades of lemon yellows, pale green limes ahead
a mix of russet orange and cranberry reds;
every breath a distant pleasure
recalling hot sunny summer treasures
bowing slowly in transitional escapades
to a hint of November slipped parades
drawn memories of Thanksgiving masquerades;
stuffings, turkeys, hams
sweet mashed potatoed yams
waiting for the moment to gather family and friends
while the sky clouds play behind the darker grays again
and winter skies slowly snow us in.
Categories:
stuffings, nature, seasons,
Form: Rhyme
Dam these holidays
eating carbs by the spoonful
season of regret
Categories:
stuffings, food,
Form: Senryu
“O Honey, the brute bear, straddles the box.”
The saxophonist stares. “Music unlocks
the stuffings out of the dread growling beast.
Bear’s tongue does round his lips. Am I his feast?”
Goldilocks laughs. Saxophonist funny
and a great storyteller. “Now the bunny!”
His daughter points gleefully at its tail.
Dad closes the box, locking both in jail.
“The animals stuff their ears with their paws.
waiting for the whale to open its jaws.
Lo! They hear the great musician and hope
that the conductor will throw them a rope.”
Golden curls bob, “You make no sense, you must
unlock the box before the waters rust!”
“Suddenly roars, a quake - the box growling,
bunny scratching…” Dad and his muse rolling.
7/28/2021
Brian Strand’s Couplet Contest
Categories:
stuffings, animal, childhood, father daughter,
Form: Couplet
CRIB OF BETHLEHEM
Do all pets go to heaven? Do they all cross the rainbow bridge?
Do you have to love the stuffings out of them? Pay the toll bridge?
Are they puppies or full grown crops? How will we know it’s them?
Will they be found by our Savior’s side — by the crib of Bethlehem?
Will we find ours, intact with an appetite to be our playmates?
Did they follow the light? Did they make it through the pearly gates?
Those sucker-punched, bruised and broken - surely God them?
Surely your cross trembled in the woods next to the inn of Bethlehem?
Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, parrots - do they have souls?
Turtles, fish, snakes - do some face the fiery coals?
Do all pets go to heaven? Are they purehearted blessed?
Surely Lord, as the royal tables laid, they’re found in your rest?
8/17/2020
Contest: All Pets Go To Heaven
Sponsor: Constance La France
Categories:
stuffings, heaven, pets,
Form: Couplet
don’t call him a baby...
don’t make fun of his tears...
his soul’s tender —
he runs and hides,
under a chromatic beanbag
with a dark emotional spectrum.
when he returns to play Sleeping Queens,* he
sniffles, wipes tears on his sleeve (and yours)
“You hurt my feelings.”
you find yourself not unlike the Road Runner**
sailing off a cliff —
suspended in animation.
the reward of leaning in,
hearing what this little soul has to say,
realizing your fool mistake,
this time taking the time
to explain what his limited mind
can take,
then you hug the stuffings
out of the little ruffian***
but only if you can catch him.
10/24/2019
*Card Game
**Cartoon
***Here ruffian is used as a term of endearment
Categories:
stuffings, child, feelings, games, love,
Form: Free verse
Say goodbye to the land of Oz in dismay
where knowledge and logic fall away
like the scarecrow's inner stuffings filleted,
first one strand, then two or three until
all his common sense has spilled;
say hello to the witches of the west
lost in their self-interest, done their very best
all but forgotten about the majority at rest;
see the lion lose his courage
slip-sliding in the congressional forage
where voice, common sense lay in permanent storage;
hug the tinman, his final sigh in search of his heart
when love to hate is split in part
and nothing seems left from America's start;
Emerald City crumples to ash and rubble
as the sun rays burn the earth in trouble
and embers rise and smolder the pseudo bubble;
even the Wizard with all his tricks
is cashing in all his chips
and succumbs to the politics;
while Dorothy and Toto too
into the basket of the balloon flew
to escaping the nonsense coup.
A brief look back and futures questioned
is this the wonderland for which we're destined?
Categories:
stuffings, analogy, angst, political,
Form: Ballad
a brain
a heart
COURAGE
a broom - to swoosh away witches, smother fires, trick the wizard
compact hot air balloon - a buffoon might leave you behind
straw - in case you get the stuffings kicked out of you
oil can - or alcohol to get the tinman talking
sneakers - ditch those heels. brick is hard on feet
Kansas apples - for eating or battling the trees
small dog - used to frighten jungle lions
crystal ball with microchip - replays the melting of a wicked witch
treats for the munchkins
note: practice clicking heels together three times, last time was awkward, couldn’t get out of bed for days
6/30/2018
Categories:
stuffings, humor,
Form: List
On Saturday or Sunday B-4 the fourth of July ,
Paperboys wood deliver the day of the dead book & I doent know why !
It had the names and addresses of everyone hoo died in the last year !
But Yude have 2 check the sales papers 2 see if thair was a sale on beer !
It's hevvyest thing in the paper ever And it could take all day !
And thay diddint even give us inny extra pay !
The sun times let us deliver that stuff on Saturdays
Win the paper diddint have inny wayt ! But the tribune diddint
Bring those stuffings until Sunday's so it felt like frate !
Sum of us wood get 2 the offices at ayround midnite !
So we could be thrue by 8-A.M. , win we could bie
4 ice cream boxes 4 a dollar at walgreens &
It wood ease the pane , so people wood be less likeley
2 go insane !...
Categories:
stuffings, america, analogy, art,
Form: Bio
There is hope in wishes;
Blessings in hoping,
true value in being a blessing,
secured with each prayer,
answers waiting for every tear.
merry humility shown with a smile,
holiday greetings for every child.
days of celebrating,
good news of untold sharing.
gift of each other's presence,
worthy presents to be presented to each other.
with a warm glow deep inside;
tears of joy every time you are happy,
new Christmas meaning no one can hide from.
merry jingle under the mistletoe,
for every tingle that you should know.
sentimental feeling when you hear,
rocking bells around the Christmas tree.
never ending carolings just for you,
gifts and stuffings opened just by you.
watching hearts melt as snow does, too.
Just for you............
Categories:
stuffings, christmas, family, imagination, inspirational,
Form: Free verse
Doodles and dabbling
Pillow stuffings in the hall,
There is toilet paper
Colliding in and out of each stall.
Perusing and cruising
Space shuttles standing tall,
There are sprockets and things,
In each hand, ready for the belle of the ball.
It is time for school,
Paper planes turned into sails,
Spelling bees to be won,
From the war of words and its tales.
The air is sweet,
Smelling of confections,
And sugary-decadent treats.
The children leapt in wonder
Of a sail going down
Its fragrant wind down asunder.
The rain fell down,
In quiet sheets upon its reeds,
Its fiercest storm, colliding into golden deeds.
The hurmphs released,
The liver tards rise to the air,
In bursts of laughter, bright and fair.
Laughter, rises upon her stare.
Its starlit beauty to the sky,
And she chimes a song to the air.
Calling the children back to school,
In shirts, crisp and clear,
She was my bus driver, both loved and dear.
Categories:
stuffings, children,
Form: Verse