Frugality with economy of words
hoping you will read between the lines
silence dishing out the obvious
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 3rd place 2025
As more than a few
flew to Peru
to peruse the view
who knew
or had a clue
what a man's to do
in the cerulean blue
but stand in the queue
to use the loo
and if you go too
or tootle on through
in lieu of a zoo
you're due to accrue
sights of a llama or two
in Machu Picchu
I hear every noise and the house stirs
as he lies in bed. His door is shut
but I smell him on everything
he’s touched in the loft.
I listen to the sound of the house
as it breathes.
He allows minutes on his lap
each morning, pats my head
and brushes me away.
Then he is gone.
O how he forgets he’s mine.
He says he’s doing errands
but he forgets what’s important—
Me.
I go downstairs to check
on the others as they
sleep through the day.
I go upstairs and sit
on a box at the top
of the steps.
The room is an empty chamber.
room with a view
eiffel tower in background
~ wiles and whiskers
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
A problem’s never just one face,
it lives in people, time, and place.
So POPIT shows a clearer view,
of what is old, of what is new.
The People side is their needs, their say,
the Process shows the steps, the way.
Information, tools, the streams,
together make the system’s schemes.
Technology may shine or fail,
its edges sharp, its pathways frail.
But when you map them side by side,
the hidden gaps can’t ever hide.
It looks so simple, box and square,
yet clarity is living there.
For every change, both small and fit,
begins by asking through POPIT.
If your choice is to climb the higher hill
You’ll need more supplies and a stronger will
For as you climb supplies will diminish
And some will be needed when you finish
If you’re looking for fun and a small thrill
You’ll find it better to choose a small hill
Choose one you can top in just a short span
With several trails up you won’t need a plan
Remember to stop if you need a rest
It isn’t a race and sure not a test
Also remember to take you a snack
Or you will get hungry when you start back
For those that went higher you paid your due
You topped the high hill you get the best view
Without geography
The USA is this world
Others, mere planets...
Japan is in Russia
Brazil is in China
China is out there in the world...!
Geography is a personal study
of the USA... Others are satellites
best comments written by Maria Williams, Richard Seal, Rowena.
I knew a young girl
just a pretty face
who lost her mind
in outer space
with a celestial body
decidedly racy
out of this world
but totally spacey
not quite the brightest light
it's true (but what a view) and yet
when gazing at the moon
turned loony... a space cadet
and 'twas the lunar orb
(waxing, waning, new or blue)
of that there's no doubt
whose gravitational pull
simply put... spaced her out
You said I never tried enough,
But I thought showing up was love.
I held your hand through quiet storms,
But never knew how deep they cut.
You wanted words —
I gave you time.
You wanted truth —
I gave you signs.
You asked for more than I could name,
And all I gave felt just… the same.
I saw your tears, I heard your cries,
But all I did was memorize
The way your anger masked your ache —
I thought, “She’s mad. I’ll give her space.”
I didn’t read between your lines.
I thought we’d heal with passing time.
But silence grew where warmth had been,
And now I hear you… in your pen.
The book you wrote — it speaks of me.
A ghost of what I tried to be.
You say I vanished, broke your heart…
But darling, I was torn apart.
I wasn’t right, I wasn’t kind —
But I was scared and misaligned.
And when you said you'd tell them all,
I built a wall. I let us fall.
You called it love. I called it pain.
Two hearts that broke beneath the strain.
We both were right in our own way —
But I regret I walked away.
I love when we sit in the hot bright sun,
add some butter or we will get well done.
Sky and water of ice blue,
better than the dull store view.
Oh! look I am popping so I will run.
Before I ruin the view, I see…I see
as a child - the colors meld
in the sky, in the lake, at tree level.
Before I ruin the view, I chew on it,
revel in it, see God in it. I see…
Before I ruin the view, alone with myself,
alone with sights and sounds; infinity.
Before I ruin the view, by adding people,
I grip each petal, each blade, each
coniferous and fanned leaf, each bird,
each squirrel, each…each….
Before I ruin the view…before we ruined
Eden by setting our sights on low-
hanging fruit, perhaps red and delicious,
sweet, juicy like gossip and AI…don’t look -
it’s a sham. there’s a snake under the rock.
Before you and I, ruin anything, everything,
let us be awestruck, illuminated, engulfed
in the allowance of so many good things.
Not everyone sees. Some fish for pictorials.
.
if i
were thuh sand
sliding
down your
rinse
mine stuck
mine stuck
mine
stuck
Mesmerised to watch marvellous Mountain View
with charismatic charms of CASCADE
on continuous free fall.
Sun is down bidding bye to fading twilight.
Evening is slowly merging to turquoise night.
Descent nascent crescent Moon peeps
with shimmering glaze.
A SERPENTINE silhouette spreads over starry tapestry
with a MYRIAD of blue sapphires twinkling on hazy NEBULA
under enchanting LUNAR panorama.
Vibrant waterfall is dancing frolic
in opulence of aqua flow
from chasms of rigid mountain
to LILT in mellifluous tune
as if to entertain night farmament
staying in silent mode.
Small stones broken from rocks to SLITHER.
Serene sublime night to resonate
with rhythmic dynamic waterfall.
Off and on water droplets sparkling
in PHOSPHORUS glow reflected
by soft soothing Moon beam.
Me floating on dream
drinking dormant desires.
A Summers Idyl
warm summer’s day at the lake
inviting my wife and I to sit and enjoy
the water is a cool aqua blue
rich color of relaxation
slight breeze touches the surface
barely a ripple disturbs the scene
the green rowboat rocks at anchor
hoping we will avail ourselves of a ride
my wife dressed in her white chiffon dress
idly sits on the cool concrete steps
her broad brimmed hat perched on her blonde hair
to keep the yellow rays of the sun from her head
at the top of the steps, I have the best view
I can drink fully of the summer scene
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