People used to be so dedicated to their work.
They took pride in and had passion for what they did.
It was understood that a job well done had its perks.
That work ethic was instilled in me as a kid.
So, as I got older and found something I enjoyed,
I honed my skills and perfected my every move.
I was careful and knew exactly what to avoid,
But, like everything, there’s always room to improve.
I work at night, when hardly anyone is around.
But, once in a while, you might see me coming.
As I come up behind you and take you to the ground,
The only thing you’ll hear is my taser humming.
There was a tiger named Tony
his passion was for tasty macaroni ~
For some obscure reason, the powers that be
decided bowls of frosted flakes it would be
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
There once was a man named Tony
his stories were a bunch of baloney,
though he seemed quite sincere
yet a bit cavalier
because his stories changed every year.
Well funny as this may sound
Tony's friends all gathered round,
for his stories when told
were outrages and bold
quite funny was Tony's baloney!
Strumming along to a troubadour's lament
tears pool and flow while I press
the strings playing out the notes
forcing myself as
I struggle to forge forward
overcome with a sorrow beyond sorrows
and a grief with no relief
Through the rhythm of the music
my heart relaxes
the timing, the tempo
measured with intimate design
the lyrics vibrate softly
streams of colorful patterns
hues of indigos and yellows
suffuse my mind
resonate within and through me
soothing the jarring cacophony
unblocking the dark kaleidoscopic roots
strangling my bright spirit
and writhing aspiring soul
It’s times like these
I know I’ll be calmed
as I cradle my guitar
and let the tears fall and wash away
this incessant tempestuous scourge
with the prayerful affirmations
It's time to put it away
rest its strings
along with the gnawing merciless
uncertainties
On a warm August day we sent Tony out to see his pet.
Found them snuggled up asleep. Loud snoring? Oh, you bet!
We left them there for a couple of hours enjoying the sight.
Two happy babies, enjoying the day, it felt so right.
Yet another funeral
Another old friend gone,
Not many of us left now
As time grinds on and on.
This was goodbye Big Tony
Of the last five years of
My indisciplined wild life
Before I was rescued by
Marriage and a loving wife.
Days of weekend long parties
Starting Friday nights in the pub
With just snatched hours of sleep
Until a Monday morning cold scrub
To freshen the face, and on to work
To somehow endure the day
Boosted by strong hot coffee
To help it on its way.
Then our lives parted as he
Assumed his new way of life
Travelling the wide world
Absentee husband, lonely wife
While I travelled locally
Away for weeks on end
And so I saw less and less
Of my good living friend.
Over the years we would meet
Nearly always by pure chance
Friends still but parted by
Life’s changing circumstance.
Eventually I heard
Just end of lifecare
And all too suddenly
He was no longer there.
Today it was fitting to stand
To remember at his life’s end
To think of him for a while and
Say goodbye to my old friend.
Cheers Big Tony
When Tony Bennett sang
With Lady Gaga, a duet,
The entertainment level
Was as cool as it could get.
The difference in their ages mattered
Not one little bit
Since their voices, both exquisite,
Did magnificently knit.
But best of all, their friendship
And their mutual respect
Had, on everyone who watched them,
A most powerful effect.
News of Tony Bennett’s passing
Means that golden sound is gone,
But at least his voice and videos
With Gaga will live on.
In the wee small hours of the morning, that's the time
you miss her most of all, I'd give her my last dime;
where do you go to my lovely when alone in your bed,
tell me thoghts that surround you, I can look inside your head.
The very thought of you and I forget to do, the very
ordinary things that I ought to do, I'm living in
a kind of daydream, I'm happy as a king, even tho'
it may seem that to me you're really my everything.
Why do the birds go on singging, why is the sun
in the sky, don't say no, it's the end of the world,
it ended when I lost your love; here in my heart
I'm so alone and so lonely, but then I have love for you only.
Now I shouted from the highest hill, even tho' golden daffodil,
once I had a secret love, my secret love's no secret anymore.
Tony the tiger you are sassy and loud
You make us happy with Kellogg, completely proud
You dance your way into the hearts of children galore.
Making their mothers take them to the cereal store.
Tony the tiger, you have been around for some time.
You like taking dollars from people who used to buy with a dime.
You have been touting corn flakes since 1954.
Isn’t it time for a respite for the tiger next door?
Tony was four when he stayed with grandma and grandpa.
He had never had bacon.
I started out with four pieces.
But he wanted more.
Was six too many?
Eight?
He ate the entire package.
Why did our daughter never give our grandson bacon?
Isn't that child abuse?
He gained twenty pounds in the week he was with us.
Beautiful San Francisco
In Northern California,
By the Bay,
There it is,
That beautiful city,
It’s the city Tony Bennett
Sings of
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco”
Those lovely trolley cars,
Make it so unique,
Nob Hill, a street we all know,
Fisherman’s Wharf, an interesting
Array of shops,
That famous Golden Gate Bridge,
My Dad told us he sailed by it
On his way to Korea,
During the Korean War,
My whole family got to see
San Francisco,
For my Dad, it was special,
Home to the 49ers football team,
Beautiful San Francisco,
In Northern California,
By the Bay,
There it is,
That Beautiful City,
It’s the city Tony Bennett
Sings of
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco”.
Celine Rose Mariotti
Tony said he was managing waste
When in fact, it was folk, he erased
He did see a shrink
But without a blink
He continued and hid them, untraced
The Sopranos
On A Lim Poetry Contest, placed 1st
Sponsored by: Joseph May
Date wrote: 3rd April 2022
He was an English actor and Gina Sellers was his spouse.
He guest-starred in "The Avengers" and "Bless This House".
He was a very talented man and he starred in some hits.
He starred in the classic Doctor Who as "Sabalom Glitz".
He starred as one of the criminals on the boat in "Superman: The Movie".
He starred in four episodes of "The Bill" and thirteen episodes of "Mulberry".
People loved to see him on both the small and big screens.
He died on September 5, 2021 after contracting Covid-19.
[Dedicated to Tony Selby (1938-2021) who died on September 5, 2021]
Sheila and Tony were friends at work, nothing more.
Discussing silly things, exchanging quips and tips with each other.
They had their own peculiar gestures and funny looks.
It was noticed by the others, but they were mostly older women.
Wise sages who understood the leaning in language before they did.
They are so young! The crones thought, amused.
Wisely kept the leaning in to themselves, noticing but not commenting.
For every person must discover their own love story in their own way.
Noting things often ruins them, and these were experienced women.
When Sheila shyly told the crones she was thinking about dating Tony
Entire floor of employees heard, remembering their own love stories.
Money exchanged hands, for bets had been placed months ahead.
Nighttime, the muse is tangled in the talon of riots.
catching bricks to the head- mace to the eyes-
Come morning, it sips unholy cups of politics
heavily sweetened with the latest deadly virus-
Noontime it wears a brooding- grimacing mask
its very breath under the most vicious attacks-
It's spending more time in its darkened cave
9 mm alpha dreaming of an omega escape-
Now it'll only listen to T. Robbins and B.F Skinner
slowly become a braying-blue ribbon beggar.
Sub Categories
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.