on hot summer days
rich maple walnut ice cream
~ bliss to waffle cone
when they treat you like a dog
you start with the tail-tucked shame of it,
the low growl under the ribs
that nobody hears—
not even you,
at first.
they talk to you like you’re furniture
with teeth,
like you’re something half-wild
and half-worthless,
and soon enough
you believe them.
you act the part—
pads worn thin
from pacing the same four walls,
head down,
doing tricks for scraps
of counterfeit affection.
and then—
of course—
they beat you for being
exactly
what they made.
this is the miracle of cruelty:
it shapes the clay
and curses the sculpture.
but listen—
a dog can remember
the scent of the open road,
the wind that doesn’t belong to anyone,
the night that has never once
asked for obedience.
so one day
you stop bowing,
stop begging,
stop believing in hands
that only know how to strike.
you walk out—
limping maybe,
scarred surely—
but free,
free in the way
only the once-broken
can ever be.
A trick or treating little tot
asked, "It's Halloween, is it not?"
I answered him politely, "Yes".
To this, he said, "I must confess,
I fancy your bowl of sweets.
I'm growing tired of these streets.
Would you mind parting with your swag?
Please empty it in my bag."
Pumpkins laugh under dark skies filled with bats
While ghosts seek to find delicious treats
And Halloweeners roam about in cute masks
Funny and frightening monsters chit-chat
About sweets and treats they would like to eat
But pumpkins laugh under dark skies, praised by cats
Neighbors try to stuff candy in big bags
They have gathered lots of colorful treats
While witches roam around in pointed black hats
Halloween Goblins sit on the doormat
Trick-or-Treaters in costumes do compete
As Pumpkins laugh under dark skies filled with bats
There are so many fairies to look at
And children all like to shout, "Trick or Treat!"
While merry Goblins run around with cute hats.
Halloween Pumpkins are cute to look at
With their big grinning faces that compete
With Pumpkins that light up the dark skies that hide cats
While Halloweeners go 'round with cute masks!
Halloween is on its way,
Who shall we meet today?
We are up for trick or treat,
Spooky people we can meet,
Witches fly in, superior,
Wizards floating from exterior,
Goblins, ghouls, creepy ghosts,
Pumpkin parties eat their host,
Wiccans are all here to stay,
Halloween is on its way!
Kalua pig and cabbage
Kalua means roast
Boil cabbage till mildly soft
Plus, the roasted pork
Add rice and just ‘grind’
means—Hilo
—'Eat'!
I Am a Mango Tree
I wear a shady crown of greenish leaves
That sing a sweet song with the gentle breeze
Provide shade from the sizzling summer sun
With playful children staging ample fun,
Birds free to pitch their nest oft and anon;
After springtime bloom, mangoes start to grow,
At outset, small with a green vibrant glow
Ripened to reddish gold, hanging so low
Youngsters and adults pick my fruits for free,
The sweetest juicy treat, enjoyed with glee.
Yes, I invented “trick or treat”
so you could fill your mouth with sweets.
Candy bars and lemon drops,
marshmallows and Tootsie Pops,
butterscotch and bubble gum —
hold out your hand, they’ll give you some.
Chocolate kisses, Jujubes too,
sourballs and jellybeans for you.
Have a cake, some cookies too —
take a couple, grab a few.
Peppermint sticks and Mary Janes,
licorice whips and candy canes.
Slurp some soda, munch some pie,
don’t let those M&Ms go by.
Chew that toffee, munch those treats,
get that caramel in your teeth.
Then come see me, I’ll be near —
I’m your friendly dentist, dear.
Trumpet at three;
Crumpet, chai tea.
acorns for squirrels
classic apple crisp for me
forget pumpkin spice
chocolate covered
strawberry bite ~
sweet indulgence
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
If You Could
LISTEN
To It All
It Would All
Be Too Much.
-Gray Squirrel
07-24-2025
Summer Joy Hiku
a sweet cold treat
melting softly in the mouth~
summer joy in hand.
e
r ~ ~ a
a s -w -e -e -t c o l d t ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ t
m ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ y in the m ~o ~ u ~t ~h~
e ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ l
l ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~t
t ~ ~ ~ ~ f
l ~ ~ ~o
n ~ s
g
s ~u ~m ~m ~e ~r j -o -Y in h ~ a ~n ~d.
All I am asking you
That you treat God right
And don insult him
He needs you respect
So respect God
Also God is the man
That create you
With his holy hands
If wasn't for God
You would not be here
Also God is waiting
For you to pray to him
Every single night
Before you go to sleep
It only takes a couple
Minutes to do it
Then you can go
Straight to bed
Tomorrow will be
Another day
That will arrive first
Thing in the morning
You also need to
You also need to
Live your life to the fullest
Because you only
Live once
Yes every year you are
Getting older
And you can't stop that
Because God made life that
Way
Yes you also need sleep
Don't stay up too late
Because that is no good
For you
Written: April 23, 2025, for contest sponsored by Tania Kitchen
************
Chocolate, cinnamon hug,
Steam ceramic mug
Creamy smiles of cozy love
Smoothy delivered
Sweetness from her lips
Ruck sweet kiss
Treat!
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