Lessons learned from my grandmother
Have served me well over the years.
One lesson was about 'haste and pace'.
She'd say, "Go in a haste; come in a pace".
I'd ask, "Was she being poetic, or was she
Wanting us to be more energetic?" I have
Since Concluded that our grandma was
Teaching us about a life of balance.
Make haste if at times you must.
Make a fuss and kick up dust.
But when the dust has settled,
And the race is on the line,
Have a simple understanding
About time and space.
Finish with a plan in a pace;
Finishing, not hastily, but gracefully.
The air clings to vintage cherry wood, scalloped & ruffled as it curves, standing on robust intricately carved lions feet, crafted well over 100 yrs ago, living many years in one of Chicago's many stately red-brick row houses, now watching over me in my small condominium in the heart of Minneapolis where Grandpa helped my parents establish a life that would include room for Grandma & Grandpa to age close to their grandchildren & Mom & Dad, Sadly, Grandpa fell with a heart attack hurrying to find his neighbor in a bar downtown Chicago so he could attend his son's highschool graduation, Grandma lived a very short time here with us, but was encouraged to fly (her first nerve-wracked time) back to Chicago for her 50th. high school reunion, where she too, fell and died from a heart attack, anyway, these hardwood family pieces keep me rooted with memories of all the precious loved ones they served and hope for the future.
4/12/26
Deep in December in Tel Aviv
I get off the bus down by the sea
Temperature well over 80 degrees
Humidity way up there -- geez
Sweat fairly pouring out of me
I start humming ‘O, Christmas Tree’
As I approach an Israeli
He's staring right at me
It’s Chanukah time here, you meshuginah* American Jew
~ True, but I miss ‘Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward Men,’ too
_____________________________________________________________________
*Meshuginah' means 'completely crazy.'
It's insane how vain they've been in the Bazball reign
Disdain campaign won't refrain restrain slain again
Won't explain just say we'll double down entertain
In the Bazball larder one ingredient just go harder
Their riposte we lost because we did well over train
Despaired repeat defeat flared cos were too prepared
Inane taking the pis* our abyss Aussie bliss... Bris Bane
Though it’s still partly cloudy in this street
& everybody follows the king’s fleet,
I’m following you to the ends of this world,
where I’ve replaced everything with your word,
I remain elsewhere like the empty plea
because you’re that fire burning inside me.
Though those agencies that create duets seem
to believe that a system employing well over
2, 000, 000 couples with infusions of bright visions
will need certain clearly specified characteristics
with objectives & noting costs to protect the new moon.
You’re that whirlwind blowing everything away,
that’s why in this play, I pray not to be the next prey.
I’m too late this morning & I won’t catch any bus,
though traders in their market won’t understand us.
To them, we’re actors in a tragic-comedy stage.
& we made a bold decision to try out the phage.
Give me your hands for a warmth of touch
& I won’t be in operational form in that skutch.
Give me your mouth for a kiss
when I listen to your coos.
Give me your whole body for burying me completely
when I pledge fealty.
Time flies by at warp speed
and years go swiftly
Children grow into adults
and have children of their own
I feel like I should still be in my twenties,
not well over fifty.
the woman was in her sixties
she dressed out well over three hundred pounds
her walking is slow
her breathing is labored
I feel sorry for her
even though we have not met yet
she said “hello, I am Frances.”
I stared, wordless.
Her voice was a ...
tiny
itty
bitty
teensy
weensy
baby girl voice
How did that happen?
Met an alien today
on the way up my driveway
He shook my hand, said ‘How-do-you-do’
I smiled, said ‘All’s well;’ hope the same for you too
I asked him his name, where he was from
The alien stood there, suddenly dumb
I assured him I wasn’t from the government
‘Whew,’ he sighed, with my explanation content…
We talked and talked for well over an hour
A budding relationship in first flower
… But as my new friend put it before he had to go
~ ‘Your government will never believe you, you know’
The data is coming.' From the past three years
Its bright and cheerful, dispelling many fears
Much false info, falls by the way.' Reality in this
Land has plenty to say.' They are free of covid
Less than 19 dead today that is ' what path did
They travel the fear load to shed? I think they
Were the lightest hit? Throughout the world yes
No 'b s' I mean thats just it.! Lets add Bulgaria
A jabless land, seens like not planning for a
Disaster, was the winning hand ? So no doom
Sayers, equals an even keel ' no fuss no bother
No death count unreal.' I don't do balony even
My polony i check, I hear some sausages are
In it well over the neck.!
Blow down the snozzle
this windy wild world
is nowt but a hornswoggle.
Giddy are the blue birds
in head and heart,
blithered are the bush-beating
snit-shifters.
A good day to die and live again,
a day for tripping a bright bombastic.
A yet better day
for some nonsensical boggle
that wags words in a
beery muddle.
Fluffy are the puffy footloose
that skip well over a plushy clover,
great the laughter of children
that dance in the minding eye
of an everlasting God today.
Shelly and Melvin had been high school sweethearts
She fell in love with a bad boy from the next town.
Melvin was crushed, and astounded that she was pregnant.
Their love had been innocent for well over two years.
After Melvin’s wife died, Shelly called him up and invited him to lunch.
He intended to be super cautious; she had been married four times.
Seeing her blue eyes, he remembered how much he once loved her.
He saw doves and valentines and began to pursue her in earnest.
Well over half of the body's weight is made up of water.
Doctors think about the body's water as being restricted
to various spaces,called fluid compartments.The three main compartments are
1.Fluid within cells.
2.Fluid in the space around cells.
3.Blood.
To function normally,the body must keep fluid levels from varying too much in these areas.Electrolytes maintain the balance between fluids inside and outside your cells.They Play a role in conducting nervous impulses,contracting muscles, keeping you hydrated and regulating your body’s pH levels.The blood electrolytes sodium,potassium,chloride,and bicarbonate help regulate nerve and muscle function and maintain acid-base balance and water balance.The right concentrations(called electrolyte balance)is important in maintaining fluid balance among the compartments.Ketones upset the chemical balance of your blood and,if left untreated,can poison the body.High ketone levels make your
blood too acidic.This is a serious condition called ketoacidosis.
Note.Fasting results in increased ketone production.(fasting)
They say Adam and Eve pranced around wearing nothing
But fig leafs and the biggest grins the world has ever seen
Imagine NO FREAKING RULES!!!
All they had to worry about were those thorny bushes
And the occasional lightning bolt accompanied by a loud booming voice
Reminding Adam, “You owe me big time for this one, my friend!”
Caine and Abel along with seven other offsprings
Were the result of a lot of hanky panky
Do you blame him??? He was the luckiest dude EVER!!!
My question is, how did they keep those fig leafs in place
Scotch Tape? Elmer's Glue? Velcro?
Also why did they need those damn things to begin with
There wasn't another living soul to be seen
Imagine today, if we walked around naked as a jaybird
The population of the world would soar from 7 billion
To well over 20 billion in a matter of nine months counting twins
I'm not saying we couldn't carry on as usual with our daily routine
But perhaps the routine would be interrupted now and then
I have a suggestion for future generations if this becomes a problem
Think of Drew Carey nude!
Having thrived within love’s protective fence
Secured to abide inside serene hedge
Nourished along care, surpassing word-pledge
My heart bloomed against rudeness-pestilence.
Triumphing well over domestic trials
Beloved home stood by sovereign grace
As parents anchored children with their brace
Defying attacks of hate-betrayals.
With my beloved family’s presence
Virtues have been delightfully nurtured
Midst compassion and kindness, so cultured
To waft scent of good works and faith’s incense.
Cherishing memories of precious bond
With beloved parents and siblings dear
Oh, I long for moments that we be near
Yet such is to come in future beyond.
Now sufficing myself with reaching-out
Grateful to God for loved ones' priceless grip
I keep on treasuring joyous kinship
While sharing its wondrous bliss of no doubt.
*Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
July 27, 2022
3rd place, "Rhyme Rumi Quote" Rhyme Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Sotto Poet; judged on 8/12/2022.
Twenty one years a man grows
To become a full human.
He will battle all life's woes
And must prosper if he can.
Another score and one years he grows
To be now a full grown man.
By this time his role in life he knows
And has honed his acumen.
Yet a score and one years he grows
To be fully confident.
By this time the seeds he throws
And starts to become redundant.
Twenty one more years he grows
And may display highly polished weapons
In things pertaining to mind and soul.
But he is now in expiring seasons!
He may enter another twenty one
To be a hundred and five years,
But he is now but a child of his son
And cowed by all kinds of fears!
A further lease a few may start
But like a child they often cry.
They are simply far from smart!
And in this season they'll surely die!
Six twenty one year leases of life
Is the most anyone can get!
Years are no preserve of the wise;
One needs luck and a lowly mindset!
Methuselah got plenty of leases:
Well over nine centuries of life!
It was closer to man's origins,
When man's body could long survive!
Genesis 5: 27
Sub Categories
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.