Spent spirits bend; grasping grips slip.
Bent backs bear what numb nails can never mend.
Frail fingers fail; bent bones break.
Weary wrists wrench as tired tendons twist.
Cold claws clutch sore shoulders.
Rust rasps hard; battered palms pull back.
Hammered hands hang; tired tools fall still.
Nine thirty A M both dogs fast asleep
up all night barking and now not a peep
Sassy looks so cute sleeping on her side
Cosmo on his back with legs spread wide
Silly dogs get excited by nightly sounds
always looking for something snooping around
Hear a car door slam or a cat meow
run around barking dogs on the prowl
Tuckered out early good for a morning nap
wake up from noise something to bark at
For most part relax throughout the day
begging for a snack and with each other play
But both dogs actually mellow and at ease
they like their dog naps resting comfortably.
Whew ~ I'm all tuckered out
from doing my day-to-day spellcasting business,
conjuring this and conjuring that,
bewitching this and bewitching that,
I hate to say it but I'm not
the young enchantress I used to be.
It's time for a break and have some brew ~
what I need next is to summon my charming warlock
to make me feel those long gone days of youth once more.
AP: Honorable Mention 2025, Honorable Mention 2025
My older self gets tuckered out
Before the night has started.
The energy I used to have
Has quietly departed.
And toss some jet lag in the mix,
Plus days a’broil and sunny,
Add extra-rich vacation food
And I’ll bet lots of money…
That I won’t make it through the day
(Since I’m opposed to napping),
Without a few espresso shots
To boost my pep that’s sapping.
Had a wild dream just the other night
Was a ruler of a distant planet
With forty-two slave girls to do my bidding
All gorgeous with naughty habits
Customs were quite a bit different to ours
But one thing remained the same
They liked to snuggle and do naughty things
To say no, would have been insane
So I suffered through this difficult ordeal
And satisfied as many as I could
I was plain tuckered out after twenty-eight
Apologized then collapsed where I stood
Woo Hooo! What an amazing reverie
I'll try to dream it again tonight
Some of those girls had real strange customs
No worry talk about a strange plight
Took my dead dog for a long walk today.
I like to think that some that passed by
glimpsed the whisk of her bushy tail
or heard her cheerful panting,
as she strained at the leash.
I was reading a book about Shelties,
how they were bred to be working dogs,
sheep herders,
and won’t ever be lapdogs.
Back home, both tuckered-out,
I glance down,
she is asleep already,
no doubt chasing my legs,
around a bunch
of lampposts and fire hydrants.
Got to fix the car’s flat tire
the grass needs to be cut
All the gutters need to be cleaned
and fix the gate that won’t stay shut
Winterize the doors and windows
wash the grime from the car
Clean off the garage shelves
just to find where all the tools are
Pull the weeds out of the garden
test the water in the pool
Change out the furnace filters
make sure the condenser is running cool
Repair that leaky faucet
find out where the dog is getting out
Go across the road to the neighbors
to see what his digging is all about
Run down to the hardware store
buy tools for a project I’ll never start
Cut down that vine out back
before it tears the siding apart
The roof needs some new shingles
I have to watch some football with the friends
Nascar, basketball, fishing, and hunting
it seems that a husband’s work never ends
Count all them chores a husband does
adds up to be about one thousand and two
It’s no wonder I’m so blamed tuckered out
by the time the weekend is through
There's my lil kitten!
Sittin' cozy in my mitten
Too tuckered out to play :)
Don't think she'd fit in a glove
(And I'm too gentle to shove)
So I'll go without mittens today
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jan. 11, 20223
To the rhyming tune of "Little Miss Muffet"
(This cat caper is purely fictional, not based on an actual event)
"Of what use are gloves to fingers that only understand mittens" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: John lawless
Carols chiming on the village green
Light snow adding to the atmosphere,
Bustling shoppers complete the scene
It’s easy to see the holiday is here,
With children laughing, anticipating
A midnight visit from jolly old St. Nick
In the park young folks are ice-skating,
So many activities, take your pick.
Sledding down a slope is my choice
Then, hot chocolate and a huge bonfire,
While happy carolers raise their voice
All tuckered out, I’m ready to retire.
Written December 8, 2022
Cardio-Rehab is an exceptionally good thing to do
I keep up with machines better than walking with you
With the newfangled treadmills I can see the world
While I am getting nowhere fast, my sails unfurled,
Yesterday, I walked a gorgeous park in old Indonesia
Finished, I thought they should give me anesthesia,
For I was completely tuckered out and needed a nap
My blood pressure told them to give me another lap.
I so enjoy the camaraderie of the old fellows like me,
Who are exercising together instead of taking tea,
If I had equipment at home, I’d likely not touch it
It’s always so relaxing to grab a good book and sit,
But now, I look forward to our gang at the center
Working the machines until I’m forced to surrender!
Written August 1, 2022
I remember Memorial Days from long, long ago
In the mountains, there was still a chance of snow,
But we took our flowers to the old cemetery
Where we honored the dead, lauded our military,
It was the time of the year for families to gather
Kinfolk came from far and near despite the weather,
Generally, high school bands played patriotic songs
And picnic baskets were a buffet for the throngs,
I remember playing games amid the old tombstones
While drinking sodas and munching on sweet scones,
It was the beginning of summer, school was over
We searched through the grass for a four-leaf clover,
We left the cemetery awash in beautiful flowers
The monuments all shining like marble towers.
When the long day was over, we felt mighty good
All tuckered out, but bellies were filled with food.
Written May 29, 2022
Sit-ups and jumping jacks are in my past
I knew my overworked knees wouldn't last.
Time was I could run a mile in twenty
But now the walk to my rocker is plenty.
They used to say "no pain - no gain,"
If you don't mind, I think I'll use my cane.
Years went faster'n I thought they would
Mind if I rest, I don't feel nearly so good.
My joints are aching, I'm all tuckered out
I'm feeling an onset of arthritis, no doubt.
The cat is telling me she wants my lap
She's right, it is time for my afternoon nap.
written July 21, 2021
i am more handsome then I was
the zit has gone
the elastic is back in my neck
being no longer a stiff
nip to the shops on two bouncy feet
soon got unbouncy though
too soon
got a lot less flouncy
had to sit on a large dog
we huff and puff together
back in the lazy-ass den
penned an exhausting thing
tuckered out
evening crumples my blank moon face
brain is stiff
it runs out of ink
toss the pen –
zit back again
The bleak dreary days of a cold December
Were anticipated already in early September
So, I talked to my boss, begged on my knees
And added days to a long weekend in the Keys.
Left for Miami on a snowy Thursday eve
Arrived in warm sunshine, hard to believe,
Rented a small compact and headed south
Found lodging in a quaint little German Haus
All tuckered out from the long day of travel
I took to the bed and let all my cares unravel.
For four solid days I behaved like a tourist
Poking into whatever caught my interest
I sunbathed, scorched, and aloed my burn
Took in some intellectual lessons I learned
At Truman’s resort and Hemingway’s home
Jotted down a few notes to use in a poem.
On Tuesday I experienced a rude awakening
Arriving back at home late in the evening
My hiatus over brought an unforgettable conclusion:
A long weekend can become a refreshing intrusion.
SECOND PLACE WINNER
Written January 28, 2021
For Hiatus Contest
Me and my fellow buckaroos have had a real rough day.
Plumb tuckered out, we still are not ready to hit the hay.
Our bacon, the beans and biscuits have all been gobbled up.
My coffee now is growing cold inside my old tin cup.
Sitting around the fire, it feels good to just lean back.
A harmonica my friend is taking now from his "war sack."
melancholy is his tune. Two cowpokes who have guitars
are joining in with my friend Jake. I look up at the stars.
I want to liven up the scene, so I sing them my new song -
the one I wrote a month ago. The others sing along.
I love this life and being on this current cattle drive.
Not married yet, I'm saving up. At least I can survive!
It's time to get our sleep in. My bedroll's spread out. By and by,
I'll be deaming about my gal Sal beneath this starry sky!
Jan. 27, 2021
Jan. 27, 2021 for Line Gautheir's 'Cowboy Poetry' Poetry Contest
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