Toughy Poems | Examples


List of Member Poems

My Neighbor's Toughy

It is sheer hyperbole
To call him so,
A creature much different 
From Van Winkle’s Wolf, 
Who would snarl at his own master.
Or the proverbial Marcus, 
Almost always sleepy.

Maybe a year old,
He is,
The softest canine 
I have ever come upon,
Of a creamy color,
Cherry-red nose,
And lips of the same shade—
Pleasing features, in short,
A cleanly creature
With a red collar that suggests
That he is my neighbor’s possession.

Anyway, always eager to please,
Even as I am easy to please:
His moan, his wag, 
His rock, and shake,
Even on the very first day
We met—
Love at first sight,
as it were.

But…the iron gate—
Always between him and me,
Strong, well-painted, accursed gate.
With of course gaps between the bars
For me to insert my fingers,
For him to sniff at them,
Grab them with his pearly teeth
Touch them with his tender paws.

But the iron gate—
That ironically reminds me
Of Frost's line:
Good fences make good neighbors!

--R. V., Ram

A Beautiful Day

24 Sept 2014  10:08 AM

A very beautiful day indeed.

I feel the heat of the sun as it radiates through the walls.
I hear the bird songs so lovely as to their mates they call

A gentle breeze refreshing my place
My Toughy playing and putting a smile on my face

Not hurting or worried nor afraid
Just feeling the heart with in me that God made

Yes a beautiful day indeed

2 April 2014 8:00 Am

2 April 2014 8:00 am
The stars have dimmed and the moon is saying good morning to the sun
My Father woke me with a whisper and I giggled in reply
I stretch and thank my God wrestle my dog and have some fun
Start my coffee and open the blinds then rub my eyes

I take care of business then go for the joe
Turn on the puter and check friends on facebook
Think of what I must do and where I must go
Open the door to the world and take a look

Let Toughy out then shut it quick and shiver a bit
Thinking of the friends I have and the friends I will meet
Hoping to see them and a good visit
Make my breakfast then take my seat

Thank you Father for another day
Thank you for your blessing and love
Thank you for friends who are here to stay


Roughy Toughy Test

once day night i sat and thought 
how is my test with broomy gruff
i have to write the three passage
within the time of ten minutes 
i thought its easy ,no need
of study ,
i can manage at least of my own
tomorrow at my test i saw the paper
with too many questions
i didn't understand so what to do
the test was roughy for me then i thought was 
no goodies rot 
after the test my friends asked me 
have you been studying  the three passage grugg?
i reply no for me mean time no
that test gave me a shame of
roughy toughy face

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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