Oscar and I
Today, I drove to Faro, In the Algarve
I wanted to eat a tunny steak at a café
I used to go fifteen years ago
The place had gone upmarket, as had
prices
The server remembered me, but not
my wife and took an instant dislike to
the man said he was effeminate
Oscar Wilde entered, or someone who
looked like him
He was of the expansive sort, told jokes
and recited poems, the other guests
and my wife liked him
I decided to become gay for the day
and after a few glasses of wine, stood
up to read my poems
she tugged at my sleeve and told me to
shut up.
Oscar Wilde looked at me with deep
sympathy in his intelligent eyes
I had my moment to gain, if putative
fame, she had to spoil it all
My chance had gone
Categories:
tunny, adventure, cheer up, cinderella,
Form: Blank verse
A small lake
There was a lake not far from the white-washed hamlet
in the interior of the Algarve; on hot summer days, witnessed
by my dog, which shuddered at the thought.
It was a small lake surrounded by hillsides, modest
almost unobstructed, just water, no big deal
One day when driving past the lake had disappeared
a dent in the ground full of thistles and tine of tunny
Oh, come think of it, a rowing boat that once had been
optimistically blue, but now sad dried teardrops.
The plane between the hill where the lake lived
is a center for helicopter services; not that much I mind
but I would rather see the lake again in the moonlight.
Categories:
tunny, color, devotion, history, romantic,
Form: Blank verse
A mountainous town
Lalitpur is a charming town among high mountains
the air is pure; no need to take a shower every day.
I was going there but, in Rome, I lost my passport
had to drive home to get a new one, which took
time and losing money.
Nepal is a small country often used as a tennis ball
by bigger countries in the region, for conflicts
killing thousands and condensing palaces to dust
covering mountains into a clock of sadness
Cry my lovely, I can only offer my understanding
when tourists evacuate on your sacred top
filling valleys with empty tunny tins, condoms and
the toilet papers flapping in the wind.
For tourists falling off cliffs, I only offer contempt
tourists that bestride and befoul a holy mountain.
Categories:
tunny, confidence, devotion,
Form: Sonnet
A Friday of Gayness
Today, I drove to Faro town wanted a dinner of tunny steak
with onions at a café, I frequented fifteen years ago.
The place had gone upmarket so had the prices.
One waiter remembered me, but not my wife who took a dislike
of the poor man with failing eyesight, said he was effeminate.
The café used to have two parts one part was a wine bar
I mostly sat there when Oscar Wilde walked in if it was
not him in person was someone who looked like Oscar.
He remarked what he had observed this morning
at the railway station and could recite his poems beautifully.
I decided to become gay too to be frivolous and happy
But avoid the sex part, the thought of this made me shudder.
Alas, I had to drive my wife home.
I tried to translate some of Oscar´s remarks into Portuguese
she didn´t think it was clever or funny,
this, was my fault telling jokes is not my metier, so I was back
being my pedestrian self.
Categories:
tunny, age, anti bullying, blessing,
Form: Burlesque
Where can I go to buy some excitement
Is there a shop where I can get a new alignment
Would pay big money
In fact dollars by the tunny
To experience the joy of a little refinement
Categories:
tunny, love,
Form: Limerick
Shoplifting
At the supermarket, my wife pushed the trolley
While I walked around in the hope of finding some
Unboring food found a tin of tunny in hot sauce
I could make a breakfast of this (diabetes).
But the tin in my pocket to hand to my wife
And forgot about it.
We paid and left.
Outside I froze we hadn’t paid for the tin!
What to do know? Go in and pay for it, the line
To the till was long, forget about it she said.
I was a shivering wreck when driving out of
The parking lot and no guard tried to stop us.
Ok, I ate the tunny for breakfast, but if I had been
Caught stealing, how to explain it and be believed.
Categories:
tunny, bullying,
Form: Blank verse
Fishing boat
A man bought an old fishing vessel
it had a steering house, but the door was rotten
he got a new door a painted it sea green.
Sometimes he forgot to close the door and a sea lime wave
swept him on to the deck, when tried to find the handle
a flounder hang on it he slipped hit his head on the ladder
on the step leading into the steering room.
He painted the door black but when he after navigating
rough sea he turned and found the colour ominous, so he
painted the door in rainbow colours, this made the head spin he opened
the door, but the emerald sea came in.
washed him back on the deck.
And I have no idea how to end this story ends, but his boat
was full of tunny fish.
Categories:
tunny, wisdom,
Form: Blank verse
Where can I go to buy some excitement
Is there a shop where I can get a new alignment
Would pay big money
In fact dollars by the tunny
To experience the joys of a happy retirement
Categories:
tunny, retirement,
Form: Limerick
The seagull that loved me
The seagull which lives beside the chimney
knew me since I fed it from the deck of a ship,
and it remembered me by waving its left wing
it had seen I am a lefty when throwing it dinners
not eaten by a crew who wanted cakes& ale
it had lived on the most easterly rock for
thirty years but had done to it advanced age
been threatened younger males, it gave up
its kingdom and by luck or instinct landed on
My roof. We ate breakfast together, it by
the window ledge outside eating sardines I had
bought the day before, I, a tin of tunny
I went for a walk when the sea-gull circled high
near the coast until its wings got tired and it
slept in the nest in had made beside the chimney.
During a fierce winter storm, it took to the wings
and I have not seen it since.
Categories:
tunny, beautiful, betrayal, birthday,
Form: Blank verse
The Last Day
When he comes for me
I will argue with the man in black
Open a bottle of wine.
When he tells me to hurry I will ignore him
I will open a tin of tunny fish
Never drink on empty stomach.
I will walk to my funeral
Criticise the flower arrangement
Give the last orders burp and die.
Categories:
tunny, absence,
Form: Blank verse
Where can I go to buy some real excitement
Is there a shop where I can get a new alignment
Would pay big money
In fact dollars by the tunny
To experience the joy of a little refinement
© Jack Ellison 2015
Categories:
tunny, stress,
Form: Limerick
Beggars of California
With their tattoos and their piercings, I don’t give money to beggars in California. Up on the Haight with his honey, not really in need, this beggar of California.
At least in New York you get some song and dance, perhaps the tickle of a tenor sax ?and they’re out in the rain, not just when it’s sunny, like those beggars in California.
Near my apartment in Pacific Heights, know them by name. It’s funny; frown when they see me: two brothers, one on either side of the street, these yuppie beggars of California.
I offered to pay the pawn on Runny Nose’s instruments out of hock, but his sign was a true ploy. Another’s sign: “Sailor needs a ship”; it’s war time!? Beggar of California!
I offered one a berth and a meal of tunny. I still see him, but he begs no more.
I think he’s on the dole with a cot. His words were foggy, this beggar of California.
I begged Jackie Paper, since the eighth grade: run for California, head west young man.Education was free. Was I cunning or just another beggar in California?
Categories:
tunny, allegory, city, education, environment,
Form: Ghazal