The home-grown potato
Came flying across the long country kitchen table.
It flew by me before I saw it.
Mom had just boiled two dozen.
We were a big family.
Dad once said he could have
Been a major league pitcher.
The potato smashed in my older brother’s face.
Suddenly I believed my dad.
I never believed what he said,
Not because he lied, but because he was angry
Most of the time.
I was only six, too young
To make such distinctions. I still doubt angry men—
Woman less so;
Hard to see the truth through enraged eyes.
The bicycle had a flat tire for days
Dad said leave it—I got it.
Seven days in a row
Only bike we could afford.
“Dad, let me fix it.”
Really, Dad!
Toss a hot potato for that?
I kept my mouth shut
Told myself, “You are only six.”
Fool or coward?
Next day I rode the bike
Over to my friend’s yard.
Picture a room with a mirror-type wall
And two dozen women, with tap shoes on all.
In front is the teacher, who’s showing the moves
As all of the dancers get into their grooves.
Listen as taps rat-a-tat on the floor,
Increasing in tempo and hard to ignore.
In back are the newbies or those a bit shy,
All doing their best to keep up and get by.
Feel the good spirits, the joy and delight
Of all kinds of women who chose to unite
To indulge in a one hour tap-dancing spree
And if you couldn’t guess, one such tapper was me!
Construction has been going on
Right by my river walk,
Where workers dig and man machines
As seagulls swoop and squawk.
This morning, though, I came upon
An unexpected sight,
Unusual enough to fill me
With a strange delight.
For, clad in hard hats and in vests
Of safety neon-green,
Construction workers exercised,
A gym-class-like routine.
There must have been two dozen men,
The foreman in the lead,
All striking poses, looking
Pretty good, I must concede.
I watched them for a minute,
Then they broke to start their day,
Their early morning workout
Like a macho man ballet.
ancients believed time lends...
any-chance for anything
anywhere that science be correct...
so its manifestations not crrrack
however two dozen ancient pyramids sank
into the sands unlike the boats of plank...
that carried the stones across distances
to the desert locale of historic instances...
of stone creations built to float on sand...
ancients science and mathematics was something grand
stan sand
John's a diabetic
And should avoid eating anything sweet
I found it pathetic
And made some biscuits for a treat
I made two dozen biscuits
And put them in the oven on a tray
After I cooked them
John ate a dozen straight away
The Chicken
One hen can lay
over 500 eggs in her lifetime.
If each egg was brought to adulthood,
and then allowed to do the same,
the whole world could be fed
in nearly no time at all.
The miraculous, miracle chicken,
is one of the Lord's greatest
gifts to all of us.
She feeds us, and we eat well.
One rooster, and only one...
can whoo... two dozen chickens easy.
He is a proud fellow indeed.
He minds the yard
and protects his turf.
He has a lovely crown and
a very wide girth.
His feathers are beautiful,
and he would make a fine hat.
He is everything he is
supposed to be.
The wonders of birds,
that fill the sky on high,
and those that simply live in the barn,
full of charm,
are truly proof,
God loves us in the morning,
and he loves us thru the night.
Chickens
toothy grin, downcast eyes
hidden by two dozen
sunset roses, a great-big
box of choice-chocolates
‘tis a good thing she doesn’t see
his flaming breath, the ring
on his butt-naked-finger
…this once
10/27/2022
I’m back in my book of tricks.
Dragon Fodder given to the wife
after a husband’s bad behavior.
An ostrich looks skinny
But if one fell you, you would feel it.
What do you think she weighs?
One hundred? Two hundred? Two fifty?
Would you believe over three hundred pounds?
One of her eggs weighs more than two dozen hen’s eggs.
Give her some respect, and do not step on her foot if you can help it.
***My Day Yesterday***
Woke at 5 a.m., but oddly then forgot
To gaze alert to the sun’s rising.
Went for my bi-yearly do at the beauty
Salon where a young woman tired her arm
Waving a wand over me for nearly three
Hours. I emerged mesmerized, merry,
But of course, not like I once was,
For the once-and-future dreams don’t
Endure, tho do abide other ambits.
I opined on my decline as I pet the pups, passing hours
Choosing fabrics while I listened to TV
News to be sure Europe was still there;
Had sweet potatoes and salmon for
Supper, which I think I thought was luncheon;
Handled emails with friends; heard
Two-dozen scam phone calls ring on unanswered;
Looked out my window, so sad as I’d missed
The fall of dusk; sighed; reached for
A pastel at midnight — too late to begin
— I sent hushed regrets to my canvas;
Pulled over my blanket with a prayer
Unable to recall closing my eyes.
——————————————————————————————
(c) sally youngeslinger 2/11/22
Thanks be to God…
What can I say, you just took my breath away. Two dozen beautiful pink roses in a vase, your love went all over me like a warm embrace.
Date Written: 10/9/2021
With My Hand On My Heart Poetry Contest Sponsored by: Mystic Rose Rose
THE TOILET PAPER CAPER
Oh my goodness, oh my gosh
We're totally out of toilet paper
Someone broke in and pilfered it
Known as the toilet paper caper
It's really not a laughing matter
So wipe that silly grin off your face
The FBI's Stolen Bum Wipe Unit
Was called in to take the case
Went around from door to door
Searching for a lead or a clue
Except for a couple of possibilities
Wound up wearing out their shoes
As the leads started growing cold
Up pops this suspicious event
A race being staged at the university
Likely no criminal intent
But the first across the finish line
When they rang the final bell
Was awarded two dozen 3-ply rolls
By the makers of Cottonelle
He is rich, but willing to share
Sending two billion dollars
Yes that is billions, right there
To non-profits with no collars
Yes, no strings attached.
No formal vetting or restrictions
Jeff Bezos, the head of Amazon
Sent money their way with happy convictions
His theory was that since they worked with the homeless
They would help them with things they really did need
So his crew got together, did research, and asked a few questions
Then he sent a hundred million to two dozen for working day seed
He started out born to a teenage mom in 1964
His parents did not get along, and his dad left when he was four
Jeff was a brilliant guy, went to Princeton and worked on Wall Street
But at the age of thirty he started an on-line company so sweet
He is one of the richest men in the world today, has to be….
But does that mean he’s heartless? Absolutely not, as you can see.
He gives this money freely with no restrictions or big oversight.
I am sure he sleeps soundly when he turns out the light.
‘Twas supposed to be just a one shot deal.
Share my tribute poem, and away I’d steal.
But two dozen disparate folk,
Quietly attended the words of not one but two poems I spoke.
Unaccustomed to public speaking,
I felt safe revealing my feelings in their care taking.
Their eyes reacted to my verbal images,
Affirming heads nodded at phrases placed to advantage.
Then they charmed me with their emotions and imagination,
Tossing their poems’ honest words and phrases with abandon.
A rare safe haven for an extraordinary everyday population,
Whose courage rises to the needs of a poetic avocation.
They’ve already had a good effect on me,
For another poem from my mind is suddenly set free!
M. Renee Taylor
2-22-13
As My Town Goes Sinking
My town goes sinking, sinking
Beneath a sea of shopping malls
As I sit and ponder, drinking
Staring into merchandise stalls.
Each mall boasts two dozen stores for shoes,
Providing fashion for Yuppie feet,
While all I can do is feel confused
As I watch the disappearance of my streets.
Now it's 300K for every tiny townhouse
For the foreign invader and his spouse
Come to commute, born to shop,
To drain the town's spirit to its last fatal drop.
Seems to me my memory of a nice little town
Used to exist here, before the glitterdomes;
A place where one felt up when things were down,
Sensible people in sensible homes.
Now I just sit sometimes, and watch it all sink
As I help myself to another drink.
Now Bart Simpson, over across the way,
Advises me, as he did yesterday
Not to get worked up, or "Have a cow";
But on reflection,
At the risk of rejection,
If I could, I would - right here and now.
A wonderful fellow was Lance
Always acting with utmost vigilance
By day drove an ambulance
By night stayed home to water his plants
Never expressing much exuberance
Or given to any extravagance
Then one day by the oddest of circumstance
Lance attended a workshop on the topic of finance
Him that is, with two dozen other participants
Who wanted to learn more about grants
The speaker was lecturing with much arrogance
And the topic seemed to lack much relevance
But there she was at the entrance
She had the loveliest stance
And her voice had the warmest resonance
For Lance it was love at first glance
Without hesitation he made his advance
He discovered her name was France
And that they both loved to dance
Instantly they developed a steamy romance
It was only later that Lance learned by chance
All along that meeting was concocted by his two aunts
Both gifted with the power of clairvoyance
Now all are happy Lance has ants in his pants
And his nights no longer lack luster and radiance
AP: 1st place 2021, Honorable Mention 2020
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