Today,
nothing terrible happened.
Suspicious.
I waited for the plot twist,
but the sun just sat there,
warm and stupid,
like it loved me.
How does one be happy?
Does it look like
not being snappy?
What is being glad
supposed to look like?
A little less mad?
A little less sad?
What does it look like
to be joyful?
Nothing rhymes with joyful.
That’s not helpful.
Maybe happiness
doesn’t need
to look like anything.
Maybe it doesn’t need
confetti,
a punchline,
or proof.
Maybe it just sits there,
warm and stupid,
until you stop
asking questions.
I didn’t.
It stayed anyway.
Looming over us watching our every move
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
in the land of northeast west Gable
a wily witch name of Mable
pushed away from her dinner table
annoyed by a red car on a cable
she thought these sky cars were a mere fable
had this one come from the wizard’s stable?
did it come begrudgingly, or was it willing and able?
staring it down, she appreciated its pretty label.
On weekday nights when it grew
too quiet
Alex the angry barman
would strut towards the machine, somehow
disable its need for money, and
select a batch of Elvis songs
And when the first one came on, he'd be scanning
the few customers for signs of disrespect
'There, that's proper music, none of
your punk rock nonsense'
A beckoning hurt hand
Something to understand
And then try to withstand
Or, else, vacate one’s stand…
‘’See, I’m badly bleeding,
My ignorance pleading,
That it be told the truth
And nothing but whole truth
About this grave of Ruth!
That had caused Frank a tooth!
‘’Does grave wish to be dug?
We could off the stuff shrug,
I leave with what I have
Cleanly sure I won’t starve!
Soon, a self-pitying head
Wanting pillow and bed,
Not Greg’s guiltless bloodshed….
Greg, who shall next week wed.
Wait! I say before my husband can get out of the car.
The guy in the next car is wearing all black.
He looks suspicious.
Maybe he is going in to rob the store.
I watch him put on a mask.
He’s okay, I say, getting out of the car.
Realizing I am wearing all black too.
Rustling leaves I see
Echoing behind me
Twisted branches in a frenzy
Shiver my spine instantly.
Is that a mysterious face
Hiding inside an arboreal place?
Do I stay or do I flee?
Is that something I fear in the tree?
Will it follow or will it watch intently?
I am still with curiosity.
She could jump to conclusions and knew it
But hoped she would be able to do it
Just as she feared
Suspicion leared
She got her nose out of joint and blew it!
Suspicious of Being Repetitious
Some people started being suspicious,
And really had been rather repetitious;
We thought;
With brought;
What did turn out to be their wishes.
Jim Horn
Suspicious of Being Fictitious
About Trump have become suspicious;
Nothing about him was ever nutritious;
Fatty tissue,
Is an issue;
His weight and knowledge are fictitious.
Jim Horn
This Do Want To Discuss
With you this we do want to discuss;
Poor guy had been run over by a bus;
Were confiding;
Bike riding;
About tragedy friends did raise a fuss.
Jim Horn
Trump Said He Is a Sage
Had heard Trump say he is an old sage;
All of his lies we read page after page;
Was big and bold,
When stories told;
Now obsessed displaying own outrage.
Jim Horn
None Ever Above the Law
Was another rule which we say;
No one should be above the law;
Think are God,
With beautiful bod,
Or take golden shower in the raw.
Jim Horn
About Trump We Are Craving
Things about Trump we are craving;
Sure wish he would start behaving;
Always knowing,
Basket overflowing,
So bad things about we are saving.
Jim Horn
Endure and Cure for Sure
Trump always truly have to endure;
Drastically dumb do know for sure;
Infection got,
After shot;
Now if we only could find a cure.
Jim Horn
Suspicious Performance Was Permiscious
We surely seemed to become so suspicious;
Trump did peel off clothes as if deciduous;
With pillow plush,
On had crush;
Was part of his plan of being promiscuous.
Jim Horn
Coast Guard Suspicious Officer
Plot about officer seemed to be intense;
For years he had been held in suspense;
Ammo and arms,
Always alarms;
Now there is a prevalence of evidence.
Jim Horn
Trump with Suspicious Smell
If Trump is bright then how can we tell;
Each time on supporters castes a spell;
Stars collide;
Death defied;
Golden shower with a suspicious smell.
Jim Horn
Since he was a rake, and rambling man
To meet the "one" was not what he planned
She knew not his past
So was left aghast
When he removed her bra with one hand!
He saw on her face, she was set back
On the verge of a brutal attack
For their love to last
He had to think fast
He said, "I practiced behind my back!"
Have you checked your mailbox for incendiaries
Watch out for suspicious looking packages from radicals
Could be a warm welcome
Filled with incendiary venom
The political climate has emboldened these crazy nationals
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