A cloud from the sky
plopped down on my knee
Said, ‘Do you realize
all my rain is for free’
Not only that
for the cloud was not done
asking, ‘Are you aware
I shield folks from the sun’
Taken aback, I kept my mouth shut ~
relaxing under a shady chestnut
When I was younger, I thought that in retirement I would take pictures of or paint beautiful clouds situated so vividly above us.
Clouds more often appear as wonderous displays in the canopy.
Clouds sometime seems so ominous and threatening.
Clouds often hover above us like a band of darkness and at other
times, they are white and crystal clear. Some clouds are blown by
the winds and descend in tornadic ways that are too close for comfort, twisting in rotations of destruction.
Casual observers of clouds may be filled with fright. Living in a region where clouds change so suddenly, never have I observed clouds as I do presently. I think that real farmers are not taken aback when grey clouds appear. If they dared to be frightened by troubling clouds, perhaps they would never sow seeds.
Perhaps someday I will follow through on what I once wanted to do. Perhaps I'll begin to paint beautiful clouds as I sit under a shady tree.
Through the beige isle, veins of green holler aloud
Lush foliages of maple, yet I pick upon a rosebud
Mists of sentiment brabble, springing whistles of reminiscing
From the floor, they call out to me, unrelenting
I kept at it, pacing across the vast meadow
Lights begin to dim, even so, I shall escape under the nightly glow
Along the paths, I turned over, my gaze fixed on a lonely, yet luminous flower
Gasping for its life, each breath drew me closer, soon after, I saw it flicker
Taken aback, with these bare hands, I gave it my company
As it swayed, we fell in harmony
The fickle daffodil bathed in silence, hapless, it let out a thud
Gently, sunlight veiled its charcoal petals, a light breeze blew, and I too shall return to mud
Out of nowhere it seems, he appeared to me.
He had the eyes of an eagle; the heart of a lion.
He had the strength of a bear, but he was a man.
He posed questions to me in the tone of a teacher.
My curiosity ran high when in a gentle voice
He said to me, "The answers are for you alone
To find". Taken aback, I stared and waited.
He then asked me the following 8 questions:
"What is your vision?
What is your mission?
What is your plan?
What is your passion?"
"Without vision, where is your hope?
Without mission, where is your destiny?
Without plan, can there be victory?
Without passion, do you really care?"
And then it seems, he drew pleasure from
My staring eyes, my pounding heart, and my
Feeble strength dripping down my spine. He then
Stepped back into nowhere and quickly disappeared.
To the best of my memory, the word brainwash
has been used in reference to me only twice.
The first time happened more than 50 years ago.
The second one occurred less than a year ago.
One referred to my religious involvement.
The other was connected to social ideology.
The first one came from a stranger
The other came from a relative.
When told that I had been brainwashed
in reference to my beliefs about Christ, I felt
nothing amiss about such assessment.
In fact, such a veiw of me was acceptable.
However, when charged by a relative that I had
been among certain people and allowed myself
to be brainwashed by them, I was taken aback
and deeply hurt.
I took offense by my relative's accusation and
told him so. He apologized for how it made me
feel, and I have forgiven him. Notwithstanding,
although the subject has not risen again, there
is a very thin wall between us regarding that
encounter. We are close friends, but I cannot
deny that something 'not good' happened that day.
It was on the 7th of May.
It was in the early part of the day.
He appeared but was never invited.
Upon seeing his kind, I was not delighted.
There were smaller ones I had seen,
But not this size since I was fifteen.
Slowly, around the corner, I saw him glide.
He then settled into his curl as if to hide.
I called a friend and learned that he was out of town.
I then called a relative who could not be found.
Years ago, I touched a large one as it lay in a hedge.
"He's harmless" are the words that my coworker alleged.
Now, 60 years later, a large one had glided onto my patio.
Of this I was certain: He could not stay but had to go.
I then quickly reached for a hoe and a stick for my defense.
That snake was in the wrong place; Of this I was convinced.
Indeed, I was a little afraid and taken aback;
But my fear quickly switched into a mode of attack.
050325PS
As she drinks nectar from a flower, sweetness from heaven falls like dew
anointed with a gentle rain amidst sun showers she appears as if on cue
Lifting her wings she lands on a Zinnia beneath a tinted sky of April blue
flight of fancy fanning fast, fabulous marvel, she is beauty true on true
A delicate design, gently painted are white ink spots on each wispy wing
polka dots align her spine, O what a sight for sore eyes in virgin spring
A fancy moth is what some say, an insect with a marbled brown fringe ‘til they're taken aback by flair’s array, iridescent cerulean and teal tinge
A thousand miles she will fly, against Fall's tender cool azure sky
golden rays her solar compass, to orient her pathways—alas
Her journey comes to an end, up the coast where time she’ll spend
Vanessa flutters by, a painted lady, a butterfly
It's funny. The mind goes there and back,
Switching between lyre to inspire -
And the sober thoughts of black.
If all I love is theory,
And if all I know is fiction,
Then why do eyes get teary,
To the tune of my prediction?
I could dream a thousand times,
And play the songs that flow.
If nothing else at least it rhymes,
With my heart and face aglow.
It's funny. The mind goes there and back,
Switching to inquire and tire -
All the sober thoughts of black.
It's far more fun to forget,
And to sing for what excites.
In ignorance it's nice to get,
A chance to see the lights.
Even if these words won't last,
I don't mind their stay for now.
Lyrics should be slow not fast,
We don't have to wonder how.
It's funny. The mind is taken aback,
Switching inspire to quiet fire -
And smoke's sober thoughts of black.
Well, there is someone for me now-
I thought as I bought him home from the pet-shop,
My boy had left me last week,
Now I have him to kiss my cheek
Ah! What a company!
I took him in my lap,
And showed him my house's little map,
Which I had made for the rose now faded,
Which was seen by the Fresh Rose whose company greatly to me aided.
I named him Abel,
By hugging whom I could now sleep-well,
I forgot all about my past,
For he loved me truly- Without looking for beauty, creed or caste.
Yet one day when he was hungry,
He bit my newly-purchased skirt's hem-being now violent and angry,
When I pulled it back,
He tried to bite me as well- I was now taken aback!
Then did I sadly realize,
That Gold cannot be replaced just by painting your favorite object Yellow,
I then went to my room and closed the door,
For I realized my folly and did not expect from him favors anymore!
as my dog and i were on a walk
he said
we have to have a talk
about the way we are constructed
it was then
that he instructed
when you say
top to bottom
about things that we've both got 'em
what you mean is front to back
i'll admit
i was taken aback.
he said
just as night follows day
when you open your mouth
to say
back to front
in a kind of flip-flop
what you mean
is
bottom to top
he barked i believe our walk's complete
can i now have my doggy treat
BAD SANTA
Christmas Eve Santa went to a party
And got drunk on wine, beer and aged
whisky
He slept all through Christmas day
To Mrs clause's dismay
Poor kids were left crying round a bare tree...
FROSTY'S DEMISE
Frosty was in a bit of a muddle
Started melting and knew there was trouble
Santa said "It's a great shame
And climate change is to blame"
The next day poor Frosty was a puddle...
RIP SCROOGE
Scrooge caught an elf who was taken aback
Bound his hands and then put him in a sack
Watching was Jacob Marley
And he abhorred cruelty
So he gave Scrooge a fatal heart attack...
Barking; I harken
Almost darken
Need to be free
Underneath the tree
I wonder what ye will find
As I dig within the tree
I fill my stomach with pebbles
Unfazed and bewildered
The smells make me shiver
Sounds unbeknownst to me
I hither and wither
Taken aback
My owner retracts
I make my attack
I harken and say to thee
We will meet underneath the tree.
She chapped my door
Said she was a whore
She was in the area
Offering discounts and more
I was a bit taken aback
Usually it was double glazing, broadband and that
Or Jehovah's witnesses
Into the night
She even took cards
Explained the APR
Extras and all
S&M on a Saturday night
Would I like a call
I must admit
Impressed I was
She was a woman with a cause
Sadly, the good lady screamed
Who’s at the door
I told her a whore
Bloody Jehovah's she swore
A yak and a yeti made a bet
To see which one was the hairiest.
The yak was an ox,
And the yeti, no "fox",
Had already won as the scariest.
Neither had the allure
Of the latest coiffure,
They were unkempt and creasy and craggy.
Then a monk passing by
Judged the bet was a tie
For their coats were both equally shaggy.
Well, the yeti and yak were quite taken aback,
Each proclaiming that she was the winner,
Until Hetty the yeti settled the bet
By having al dente lama and yak for her dinner!
It's an agony that assails and assaults.
It's a state of indecision that boggles the mind;
It's a heart and soul that's off track and taken aback.
It's a sleepy boredom fighting hard to stay awake.
It's a darkening cloud of unholy irritation whose
remedy calls for more than a sacred getaway.
It's a sinking ship in need of new and better sails.
Not yet lost, but weary with the toss and the turn.
It's where change is brewing at the crossroads.
Where guidance to leave or to stay, is our humble prayer.
It's a change that, although not set in stone, yields
A sense of siege and renders a holding pattern.
It's a holding pattern having neither staying power
Nor authority to determine decisive landings.
It's a landing which, if unrealized, could delay or
even halt new seasons and dim anticipated visions.
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