Tally Poems | Examples


List of Member Poems

Premium Member Sum total

Unkind thoughts and deeds tallied
Demerit points implicitly accrued throughout a lifetime
Belated guilt at heaven’s gate



Wordku: 5-7-5 words

AP: Honorable Mention 2025

Premium Member Keeping tally

It hurts to say goodbye
It’s never easy to leave someone behind
~ Another notch to my heart



Wordku: 5-7-5 words

AP: Honorable Mention 2025

Premium Member Keeping score

Day after day the tally
good or bad ~ doing what we can
strike a balance for peace


Wordku: 5-7-5 words

AP: Honorable Mention 2025


Tally of Rally Vacated in Valley

tally of real rally
had been vacated in valley
submerged by sally

(evaporated in valley)
(a vagrant ((virgin)) in valley)
(very variable vaunting veracity vibrantly voiced in valley)
(got eaten in gally)
(took God for granted in galley)
(has a lot of gall by gully) 
(murdered in Mali)
(was sort of smelly)
(would have big belly when in valley

blood of poem runs thin
were great after they had been
famous and free from sin voiced

what I have believed
a great Horn poem you received
now I am relieved 

latest and greatest
read Horn Haiku would suggest
have won a contest

he had been haughty
should see her beautiful body
news would be naughty

when we persevere
have a great happy new year
wish you had been here

incorrectly would do steer
my bad news will appear
car was not in gear

Do have a horrendous Horn Haiku
humorous numerous happy day on
display while I will plan to play and
start to pray

Toll Took Tally While in the Valley

was an incredible parable
which made life bearable.
when we were down in valley
heavy toll had taken a tally

Tally Ban

The Taliban all took a test
To see who would govern the best
If Win, Place or Show
Muhammad will know
Exactly which ones to arrest


More Tally Tea

Our morticians are thanking their god
For a year where they all earned a wad
Though some were burnt
Many more weren't
Still, their best work lies under the sod!

Tally Tally Ho

2 + 2 – 4 = Freedom
Black + White – Gray = Vision
He + She – Them = Anguish
Yes + No – Doubt = Prescience 

(Dreamsleep: April, 2021)

Tally Ho

2 + 2 - 4 = Freedom

(Dreamsleep: April, 2021)

Premium Member The Crippled

THE CRIPPLED

Walking toward foreshore
I saw the devil seated on a fence
Fishing
Next day I heard he got a thrashing
It was intense
Blood trickled from his core
He would fish no more
Baby and Mommy shark were out to score.

*

Toll and Tally Taken On Valley

Toll and Tally Taken On Valley

What Trump did  was to dilly dally,
When he had been at the big rally;
Those supported,
Were all shorted;
Tossed trash took its toll and tally.

Jim Horn

Premium Member Tally-Ho

Tally-ho, the young steeplechase rider cried
As his horse stumbled over the barrier he up and died
The rider went flying
He heard as he lay dying
“Welcome cowboy” he heard a voice from the other side


© Jack Ellison 2015

Took a Tally

Of poem soup poems, took a tally
Found this to be right down my alley
When I had read poem every time
Was similar to mine and did rhyme

Dashdashdashdotdotdotdashdashdash
Which is S-O-S and hate to be brash
I'd rather be smart and never dumber
There is Morse code for each number.

Read poem and it seemed to signify
Care for things or we soon will die
After allowing our attempts to fail
Air is bad and no longer can inhale.

Response to poem of the day on 
October 26th, 2014. Also, noticed that 
nothing religious has ever been poem 
of day or week.

Tally Ho

Another day in paradise; where all the ladies sing;
With their honey tasting ruby lips; and their garments that do cling.
    And Jimmy sings of unknown soldiers; to the timed and the weak;
    And Edgar speaks his darkest lines; on a mountain of Twin Peaks.
A tiny little field mouse; gathers scattered crumbs;
Then takes it to its nesting place; where mothers never done.
     And the blue jay takes his shinny things; the ones he likes the best;
     And it turns to watch the night come round; as the sun sets in the west.
As we live here in our cavern’s where fires the only light;
It casts its shadow on the wall; and we deem that to be right.
    No one ever climbs the ladder; that could take them to the sun;
    Where the clarity of light it brings; could be a freedom when we’re done.
And in the master chambers; on a bed with satin sheets;
The lady with her chains and whips; will help you feel complete.
    Living in the darkness; where the only light is fire;
    Burns away our better parts; that will turn into a mire.
And it’s another day in paradise; and the summer does its thing;
And such a lovely day it is; when you hear the song birds sing

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.

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