Spring Morning
today, waking up, it was warmer, the winter
had been cold at times, freezing electric heating
is not for those with a slim wallet
Today, we will write pleasant poetry
not like the boy at the edge of his bed, his feet
not long enough to reach the floor, crying
for yet again losing his home because his mother
has tuberculosis, has to go to a sanatorium
his has to go living among strangers, he has to
be nice to and not be boisterous
Yes, pleasant thoughts, not letting bitterness seep
into this day with its mild breeze and clear light
thinking of the dog he had walking in the woods
Heck, the dog died, that was sad, so let us think
of something else, buying red wine and cheese
Getting pissed and playing music too loudly is not funny
when you are the only one in the room
Two things on offer to gladding the day go for
a walk or sit on the terrace soaking up the sunlight
tell jokes about my life at sea, forgetting long
nights, somewhere on the Pacific Ocean
So, let us embrace old grudges and enjoy life
of not laughing, we know a giggle is short-lived
Outbreak of tuberculosis
Out and out ridiculousness
Outcomers who refuse inoculations
Outgrowth of a new pandemic
Outlandish selfishness and self-importance
Outrageous and intolerable
Outside of common sense
Outstandingly self-absorbed and neglectful
TB in Kansas
has now spread to Ohio ~
the caring Canuck
Cough and he will show us
POTUS halitosis
oil and conquest focus
his loyalty is bogus
when what they do not notice
sows tuberculosis
i've just been reliably informed that
the manchester united dressing room was bugged
before their match at aston villa
it is a shocking security breach
but classic sci-fi can be a bit hit and miss
like my pancakes
but we soldier on
we have tickets for the opera
as we still await to see on stage the essentials;
making a cup of tea
reading the newspaper
putting on a pair of socks
but there's a character on stage dying from
tuberculosis, which according to Wikipedia is an infectious disease.
that causes
significant damage to the lungs
and she's singing her heart out
i whisper to my wife, "this is fun."
that italia '90 fella was good
you'll be in tears
William Charles Lunalilo
First King, chose by the people
Grandnephew of the Great King, as the people vote, was unanimous
Next year, King Kamehameha the Sixth died of tuberculosis
Hawaiian marriages are coconuts
Apple's eye, orchard nigh--girls uppercuts
Bees concede and confess
Honey is not the best
Lunalilo stings in-laws -- blood and guts.
Pacific divides paradise from lies, pulpit denies, missionary connives, fleece, devise hoax, and shanghais,
The native's supplies for whalers, all dives. At times, pearls for wider eyes, command contrives to control their lives.
Kings II & III foresaw their greed, the lands were a need to wed and achieve access was their way to succeed,
Lunalilo was short-lived, the people he decreed, as past kings agreed, a land trust deed, 'ere his life concedes.
Rendezvous
The youngish woman sitting near the window
in the train, looks pale and too slim
Stroking her throat, I think she has tuberculosis
on her way to the sanatorium
"The Camelia dame"?
Her lover will sit beside her as she coughs blood
into a silk handkerchief and whisper words of love
As the train slows down, she looks into her hand
mirror, apply lipstick and rouge, and pick up her bag
She looks beautiful
The woman cast me a look, I nodded my head in
approval, every journey begins with a dream
"Born William Henry McCarty, Jr. AKA, Billy the Kid or El Chivito, (Billy Goat/Kid). He had a younger brother named Joseph, and they both had an older sister named Bridget McCarty. Not much is known about the family other than the widow Catherine raised her son Billy before dying of tuberculosis. Also, him and his younger brother Joseph were arrested for an infraction (charged with stealing, that they claimed were items of necessity)," [A fictional parody] ... by Poet.
Famed Billy the Kid had a sister,
She dated his rival, who kissed her,
When asked if it's true,
Says what's it to you,
He took out his gun, shot, and missed her.
Now Billy the Kid's reputation,
Sees at risk without hesitation,
Hand still holds a gun,
Aimed own head shoots one,
Then, cried out in humiliation.
Sissy saw and ran off with her mouth,
Everybody in town heard her out,
With Billy, cash rolled,
Without him, no gold,
Town thought it best to put her lights out.
The Kid grabbed some dirt and had it thrown,
Fell on her coffin o'er a blank stone,
You folks ... you're to blame,
Her stone has no name,
We named the town after her, "Tombstone?"
just 50 years ago
i was very sick
no school, no play
couldn't walk alone
I came and went between life and death
due to pulmonary tuberculosis
in our neighborhood
No pharmacy pharmacist
No hospital or doctor
There was no health center
Only
Unlicensed pharmacist and doctor
there was a woman
Afraid to get her shot, I even fell down
She hugged me every time
and she cured me completely
Traces of it still remain but
no one called her to be pharmacist or doctor
rather chatted
50 years after that
I met her again with someone's help
cannot be expressed verbally or in writing
she passed through hard times
We met in a shabby diner
enjoyed light meal
Her fork was busy carrying me food.
we sat down at the table
started eating
we had a pleasant conversation
I reminisced about the past with a friendly heart
enjoyed the meal
But the one who sat before me
Couldn't tell the story coherently
the message is truncated
scattered into the air
Uncle next to me whispered
--I was cured of tuberculosis
by her in a town
where there were no doctors and nurses
which was severe in childhood--
"she has out of my mind."
Throughout the meal Time,
she was busy bringing delicious food
in my bowl.
They can't kill me
Although many have tried
All disappointed by the results
When they discovered
I had survived
The Police and gangsters,
Mexican and Colombian
gangs
And even Drug Dealers I failed to pay
Ex-husbands of women, Ex-girlfriends that felt betrayed
Car accidents and a plane crash
But I walked away
I've lived through Earthquakes Hurricanes Volcanic eruptions
Even Tornadoes that caused devastating destruction
I've been bitten by Scorpions
a Brazilian Wandering Spider
A Rattlesnake and Jelly Fish
All painful reminders
Survived Prostate Cancer
A Sepsis Infection
causing a 30 day coma
Tuberculosis when I was just a kid
Two heart attacks and Double Pneumonia
Maybe now you'll understand
And may possibly believe
They can't kill me I'll never die
Due to my immortality
JSB
They can't kill me
Although many have tried
All disappointed by the results
When they discovered
I had survived
The Police and gangsters,
Mexican and Colombian
gangs
And even Drug Dealers I failed to pay
Ex-husbands of women, Ex-girlfriends that felt betrayed
Car accidents and a plane crash
But I walked away
I've lived through Earthquakes Hurricanes Volcanic eruptions
Even Tornadoes that caused devastating destruction
I've been bitten by Scorpions
a Brazilian Wandering Spider
A Rattlesnake and Jelly Fish
All painful reminders
Survived Prostate Cancer
A Sepsis Infection
causing a 30 day coma
Tuberculosis when I was just a kid
Two heart attacks and Double Pneumonia
Maybe now you'll understand
And may possibly believe
They can't kill me I'll never die
Due to my immortality
JSB
A wooden flute,
I glimpsed among my mother’s treasured keepsakes,
Often Wondered.....
Why it seemed the most precious than everything else she cherished!
A pathos lurking underneath the saddest smile, she told me...
The flute was the only thing she had of her brother,
who, in their childhood, played music when she sang,
He passed away from tuberculosis, in his twenties ..
the two efflorescent roses on the same branch…
one fell and perished, when it could have blossomed and
charmed the earth with its fragrance!
The other one clung to the tiny piece of memory he left..
A Symphony Of Love!
FIRST PLACE
Edited " Last Sigh" on September 24, 2021
For "P" Old or New Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Constance La France
It's nine years in a row of continuous crisis
lost in the wilderness of a dry Oasis
on all long bones is the constant emphasis
for a condition which began as Tuberculosis.
The pain and discomfort, too much to bear
she is too ready for the worst to worry and fear
the weather smells nice but will mock and share
neighbours always smile but absolutely don't care.
The body fights just to prove it's a weaker host
medications and herbs, wholly trusted to do the most
yet, her days are numbered, she now communes with a ghost
the traffic light turns red and Earth, no longer her post.
For a forty year old, this shouldn't be the end
I hold back the tears, I cannot pretend
my Aunt's life, God, please extend
all the Angels you have, oh Lord, gather and send.
Counting in weeks, she may not have two more
misfortune slowly acts on eventuality's rumour
a silent killer eats, evident by a weaker femur
a terrible relapse and this time, it's more than one tumour.
9th. August. 2021
This or That, Vol 5 Poetry Contest- Holding back Tears.
Sponsored by Edward Ibeh.
4th Position
my mother had two tokens she never parted with -
a book containing music notations,
and a flute, made of brass.
her favourite book had her name handwritten on the cover,
and the unadorned flute had a name engraved on it.
she lost her brother when he was in his twenties,
to tuberculosis,
it was he who wrote her name on the cover,
with calligraphic dexterity.
he played music on the flute...
mesmerizing audience with cadence of the melody
while she sang
and danced like a captivating fairy,
until the disease took over,
and one fateful day, he was gone.
the flute remained with her....
the day she passed away.
she asked me to open a sandalwood box,
and there it was! The Flute!
she touched it, caressed the name with her frail fingers,
and closed her tired eyes.
April 1, 2021
Inspired by " Last Token" Premiere Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Mystic Rose Rose
Placed Third
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