Lightverse - just for fun!

Illuminated!

2012-01-27T13:40:00.000-05:00

Image courtesy of Maisa Gonzalez's Portolio

Quidquid

“Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur.”(Anything said in Latin sounds profound). ~Anon

If you speak Latin, you’ll soundsmart,

like Einstein, Plato andDescartes.

But even more, most will not know

what you have said. Just goes to show

that but a few words, known byheart,

proves you speak Latin. You sound smart!

Thus when you postulate, ‘quidquid,”

just say it once. Then say, ‘ibid.”

Or then say, “Bibo ergo sum,”

Some ‘Python’ fans will know, bygum,

your toasts to Latin are so smart!

So, “ergo,” now, here’s THE best part…

To “carpe diem” (seize the day)

use Latin. You’ll be “illiant-bray”

and so profound, You’ll stand apart:

if you speak Latin, you’ll soundsmart.

###

Notes: Dang it! My original notes just got wiped out! Gotta start from scratch now. Grrrrrrrr!

Breathe, breathe...

Okay here goes: The form is called Quatern. I know, I know, dear reader...you are mega-surprised because you were expecting another Kyrielle Sonnet, right? Well, to be honest, the Quatern is similar in many ways to the Kyrielle and the Kyrielle Sonnet, which is why it was easy and fun to write. The prompting for writing this form comes from Walt and Marie, those nice folks over at Poetic Bloomings. Every week, they do something called In-Form Poet, which is all about poetic form - and this week, the form was Quaterm.

Now, believe it or not, I didn't originally set out to write a pun[ish] poem about Latin. Instead, my thought was to write something on 'balance' since that was the prompt word over at Theme Thursday. (Yeah, I know today is Friday.) The goal was 'neco duos pennipotenti per unus calx' which basically means (according to a couple of online translators) to kill two birds with one stone. It's not exact, mind you, especially when you translate it back from Latin to English, but whatever.

Anyway, I started searching for humorous 'balance' quotes, which is actually more difficult than one might expect. Most 'balance' quotes have a more inspirational kinda aura about them (as opposed to funny.) But, one hyperlink (and subsequent website of quotes) led to another - and suddenly, there I was. Latin.

So...did I strike any sort of balance with the above poem? Hmmmm. It's a stretch. But if you put Pig-Latin, Monty Python and certain individuals of considerable intellectual weight (among other stuff) on the scales of life, then perhaps I did, on balance, complete the task.

Okay...okay...Gemitu! (That's Latin for *groan!*)

Ya never know what ya might find when ya make a wrong turn down a road...

2012-01-26T13:36:00.001-05:00


Image courtesy of voodoochili

The Road of Curiouser and Curiouser

“I guess when you turn off the main road, you have to be prepared tosee some funny houses.” ~Stephen King

I once turned left instead ofright

and saw a really oddball sight:

the road I turned on suddenly

revealed a funny house and tree.

Who could have guessed? This house’s hue

was lemon, pink, cornflower blue.

It had a pinwheel balcony.

It was a funny house and tree.

The tree grew tea cups from eachlimb,

just like a scene from BrothersGrimm

or Carroll’s Alice. Could that be?

Uh huh. A funny house and tree.

I made a left instead of right

and saw a funny house and tree...

###

Notes: In continuing with my January poetic form theme of Kyrielle Sonnet, here's yet another one. Poets United Thursday Think Tank provided the prompt of 'The Road' today. After I saw the Stephen King quote, I knew what road I would have to take to get to this poem.

FOAF

2012-01-25T17:22:00.002-05:00

Image courtesy of howstuffworks.com

FOAF *

An urban legend gets its start

by someone who then must impart

a story which may not be true.

Will you tell next? That’s up to you.

You think, perhaps this one’s onSnopes?

You say, “I’ll check it first.” High hopes.

Turns out it’s fiction, on review.

Will you tell next? That’s up to you.

You heard it from a friend of afriend?

It’s such a social media trend,

but if you find it’s ballyhoo

then don’t tell next – that’s whatyou do.

An urban legend gets its start…

Will you tell next? That’s up to you.

###

Image courtesy of sriks6711

Jane’s Who’s Whos

“You’ll never guess what Jane told me!

This is the truth, I guarantee

‘cause Jane is THE best source for news…

all gossip, gab and – yep! – Who’s Whos.

“So, Cynthia broke up with Rick,

who’s now with Carla. And the clique

of ‘rah-rahs’? Theyall got tattoos!

It’s gossip, gab and school Who’s Whos.

“And guess what Jane did say of you…

It’s on her Facebook page. Who knew?!

You’re still a friend I’d hate to lose

to gossip, gab and Jane’s Who’s Whos.

“You’ll never guess what Jane told me!

Her gossip, gab and – yep! – Who’s Whos.”

###

Notes: Okay...okay...so yeah, I'm hooked. On Kyrielle Sonnets, that is. Anyway, for the uninitiated, FOAF means 'friend of a friend.' You know what I mean, right? It's hearing stuff second-hand, and it's the stuff that urban legends are made of.

Bad grammar aside, Robert Lee Brewer of Poetic Asides provided the prompt, which is (obviously!) 'friend of a friend.' Check it out to see some really superb poets' takes on the subject. And tell 'em you heard it from a FOAF.

Kvetch

2012-01-24T09:12:00.000-05:00

Image courtesy of 3fatchicks

Kvetch

I never met a one like you

whose negativity shines through.

This poem’s the salute I sketch

for all you do. You kvetch, kvetch, kvetch.

You criticize, I must confess.

No matter what, you must redress

your point (to death) in acid-etch.

Yes, all you do is kvetch, kvetch,kvetch.

The food’s too salty, sweet orcold.

If someone’s wronged, you’re wronged two-fold.

You sound like an ungratefulwretch

and all you do is kvetch, kvetch,kvetch.

And if you go to see a show,

you will complain, “It sucks, youknow.

The acting’s bad. The plot? Farfetched.

And all you’ve done is kvetched,kvetched, kvetched.

You never compliment your host,

unless it’s qualified, at most.

You whine, you sulk, pretend toretch

and all you do is kvetch, kvetch,kvetch.

But can you take it? No, you can’t.

Constructive words just make yourant.

You are the king of KingdomQuetch*

‘cause all you do is kvetch,kvetch, kvetch.

I never met a one like you…

See, all you do is kvetch, kvetch,kvetch.

###

Notes: The inspiration for today's Kyrielle Sonnet (and then some) came from the prompt of 'complaining' - thoughtfully (and without any whining whatsoever) provided for by Daniel Ari on his Imunuri blog. I just couldn't resist. Wine and cheese, anyone?

Ghosts of the Theater - Acts I and II

2012-01-23T14:02:00.000-05:00

The Majestic Theater

This poem is an ode to what

was once a classic show-house, but

she’s now a ghost of her grandpast

since Vaudeville was not meant tolast.

The famous and the passing-thru

performers would wait for theircue

to grace the boards. The long-gone cast

of Vaudeville were not meant tolast.

The silent films and talkiesturned

the stage show into somethingspurned.

Majestic’s lavish time had passed:

like Vaudeville, she could neverlast.

This poem is an ode to what

(like Vaudeville) was not meant tolast.

###


Image courtesy of shadesofthedeparted

Theda Bara

A siren of the silent screen,

she was ‘The Vamp,’ a movie queen.

Her costumes were once thought ‘risqué’

but Bara, in her day, held sway.

In Hollywood, the Walk of Fame

contains a star for Theda’s name.

‘Though Mary Pickford had cache

Ms. Bara, in her day, held sway.

In more than forty films, sheplayed

assorted roles, ‘til time did fade

her popularity. Today

exotic Bara still holds sway.

A siren of the silent screen…

La Bara, in her day, held sway.

###

Notes: The inspiration for the two Kyrielle Sonnets (yes, I'm at it again!) was Sepia Saturday's prompt of 'theater' along with their posting of the archival photograph of the Majestic Theater (see above.) At first, my thought was to write a poem about one of the old grande dames of the silent era (Theda Bara) but then I decided to pen something about the old Majestic, too.

Dolly

2012-01-20T19:04:00.000-05:00


Image courtesy of pigtailsinpaint

Sis and Molly and Me, 1912

Sis and I said, “Molly, good night.

Close your eyes. We’ll turn outthe light.

Slumber sweetly, dearest Molly.

You’re the bestest ever dolly!”

With the photo of this scene

memories get stirred too keen.

Back then life did sure seem jolly

with our bestest ever dolly.

But now my sister’s gone, and so

I wonder where the time did go.

Dwelling is just wasted folly…

Gosh, I miss Sis and our dolly.

Sis and I said, “Molly, goodnight.

You’re the bestest ever dolly!”

###

Notes: To finish out the week, I decided to do one final Kyrielle Sonnet. (Okay - I admit it - I'm kinda hooked on the form.) Anyway, Sepia Saturday provided the prompt for my poem, which is 'dolls.' I wasn't sure where I was going to go with this one, since my parents have most of the old family portraits at their house, but when I found this vintage photograph online, I started thinking about memories, and the rest - well...it just happened.

A Thin Veneer

2012-01-19T20:25:00.000-05:00

Image courtesy of paintingsilove

Veneer

To say goodbye is difficult:

I want more time. That’s one result.

Another is my sense of fear.

My face is but a thin veneer.

So, au revoir, auf wiedersehen.

Our memories are what remain.

My cheerful smile is not sincere.

My face is but a thin veneer.

You wave your hand and I’ll wavemine.

We’ll tell each other we’ll befine

since hope will always persevere.

My face is but a thin veneer.

To say goodbye is difficult:

My face is but a thin veneer.

###

Notes: Once again, the form I chose to use is Kyrielle Sonnet. The idea for the poem was inspired by Poets United Thursday Think Tank, whose prompt word is 'goodbyes.'

Fried

2012-01-18T12:14:00.000-05:00


Image courtesy of Marijke's Blog

Fried

There’s nothing that can get arise

from folks like crispy (ummm!)French fries.

That über tuber tater tot?

It’s one fast food we like alot.

And yes, in Britain, ‘chips’they’re called.

No matter, since we’re stillenthralled

by shoestrings, crinkles andwhatnot.

It’s one fast food we like alot.

They even made a stamp (above↑)

to honor fried potato-love.

With burgers, it just hits thespot.

It’s one fast food we like alot.

There’s nothing that can get arise…

It’s one fast food we like alot.

###

Notes: I found a cool website called Viridian's Postcard Blog whose weekend post was all about food-themed postage stamps. Although their 'Mr. Linky' was already closed by the time of my 'discovery' of this site (yesterday), I was curious and began searching for a few images of those food-themed postage stamps. In the end, I found a number of them from a diverse assortment of countries. A couple of them had some really interesting artwork, but the stamp above was the one that 'fried' or rather, 'fired' my imagination.

The form, as has been for the last few days, is Kyrielle Sonnet.

UPDATE: Theme Thursday's prompt this week is 'produce.' Since the über tuber tater tot is (in its original form) a form of produce, I'm gonna be lazy and give 'em this one. ☼

The Touchy Tribe of Poets

2012-01-13T20:36:00.001-05:00

Image courtesy of tBlog

The Touchy Tribe of Poets

"I put up with a great deal to pacify the touchy tribe of poets." ~Horace

So everyone’s a critic, eh?

You write your heart out; then theysay,

“Your meter’s off. The rhyme is slant.”

It’s poetry! I won’t recant.

So then you try to pen free verse.

The touchy ones cry, “Yuck! It’s worse

than when you wrote inrhyme.” You rant…

It’s poetry! I won’t recant.

So then you say, “Well, I’ll writeprose!”

but when you try to (arrggggh!)compose,

a poem blooms just like a plant.

It’s poetry! I won’t recant.

So everyone’s a critic, eh?

It’s poetry! I won’t recant.

###

Notes: Yep - once again, I felt compelled to write a Kyrielle Sonnet. (And I won't recant either!) But anyway, in case you were wondering, the inspiration, this time, came from the word prompt of 'tribe' courtesy of Sunday Scribblings.

Keep it under your hat...a conversation piece

2012-01-13T11:08:00.000-05:00

Millinery Mise-en-Scene

“I can wear a hat or take it off, but either way it’s a conversationpiece.” ~Hedda Hopper

Your hat’s a conversationpiece,

accessory of great caprice,

which tells the world thatyou’re so fine.

Your hat is, simply put, yourshrine.

With flowers, bows andfeathers, too,

the hat’s an independencecoup

which says, “Here’s where Idraw my line.”

Your hat is, simply put, yourshrine.

So wear a bonnet or a trilby,

or chapeau, and then you willbe

elegant…so chic, you’ll shine.

Your hat is, simply put, yourshrine.

Your hat’s a conversationpiece…

Your hat is, simply put, yourshrine.

###

Notes: The form is (once again, 'cause I liked it so much!) Kyrielle Sonnet. The inspiration for this poem comes from the above picture (which is a still from a silent film called 'The New York Hat' - from 1912) which was thoughtfully provided for by Sepia Saturday.

A spectral encounter...and more...

2012-01-12T11:01:00.000-05:00

A Spectral Encounter

One wondrous night I caught a view:

bright hues which danced apas de deux

with sparkles trailing likea snake.

Was this a dream? Was I awake?

Yes, glitter, neon, flashinglights:

my vision rose to spectralheights.

Hallucination? A firedrake?*

Was this a dream? Was I awake?

Like Northern Lights, they eddied,swirled.

A thousand stars; a bravenew world.

I thought, “Don’t stop, forheaven’s sake!”

Was this a dream? Was I awake?

A wondrous sight I once didview…

Was that a dream? Was I awake?

###

More

“To be or not to be,” he asked.

I think the meaning’s way toovast.

Existence is the simple route.

I think there’s more; there’smore, no doubt.

We all must face decisions, but

it isn’t just the why or what.

Instead, consider: hereabout

I think there’s more; there’smore, no doubt.

So try to find the humor and

remember, life is seldom planned,

and when that pitch comes, don’tground out.

I think there’s more; there’smore, no doubt.

“To be or not to be,” he asked…

I think there’s more; there’smore, no doubt.

###

Notes: Both poems were written in the form Kyrielle Sonnet. My first poem was inspired by Theme Thursday's prompt word of 'view' combined with the above picture. My second poem was created after the prompt word of 'choices', kindly provided for by Poets United Thursday Think Tank.

* A firedrake, per the One Look Dictionary is "a creature of Teutonic mythology; usually represented as breathing fire and having a reptilian body and sometimes wings."

Sometimes, you just can't let go...

2012-01-11T16:46:00.001-05:00

...but on second thought…

I trust you won’t actsullen, dear,

or shed a tear…

I’m not brutal,

but tears are futile.

The thing is, you’ve grownold to me

and so you see,

we must end this

‘though I will miss

the way you always made mefeel.

Oh, what a heel!

I can’t forswear

my teddy bear!

###

Notes: The form is called 'Minute Poetry.' I discovered the form at Shadow Poetry. My poem was inspired by 3 Word Wednesday's prompt of 'brutal, sullen and trust.' For more cool forms, check out Poetic Bloomings, where they are featuring, in their 'in form poet' section, a really fun form called Rime Couée.

Normal Socks

2012-01-08T16:43:00.001-05:00


Image courtesy of Sodahead

It All Comes Outin the Wash

“Normal is nothingmore than a cycle on a washing machine.” ~Whoopi Goldberg

What

constitutes

normal life cycles

are clean but damp (and mismatched)

socks.

###

Note: The poetic form is the Oddquain, which, under the circumstances, is rather fitting I think. I found the form at Shadow Poetry. This poem was inspired by the word prompt of 'normal' as posted by Sunday Scribblings.

Bunny Tails

2012-01-06T17:11:00.003-05:00

Bunny Tails

A fuzzy critter did intrude

in my backyard to seek some food.

But carrots? Therewere none of those.

Poor bunny’s lost, I would suppose.

He hopped and wandered to and fro

in search of veggies, grass…but ‘though

he found some ivy and a rose

poor bunny’s lost, I would suppose.

I felt bad for this bunny who’d

just wanted lunch, which he’d pursued

into my yard, with garden hose.

Poor bunny’s lost, I would suppose.

So I checked out my crisper bin.

I got a cuke and sliced it thin

and set it ‘fore the bunny’s nose.

The bunny ate the food I chose.

(Now bunny’s happy, I suppose.)

###

Notes: The form is Kyrielle. The picture was avintage (and apparently unattributable) one which I found on theInternet. The idea was inspired buy two things: Sepia Saturday posted apicture of a woman with a very shaggy bunny as their prompt (see below) andalso, my daughter kinda likes bunnies.

Unique

2012-01-05T14:53:00.000-05:00


Two Dancers (Study for Rouge et Noir) - Henri Matisse, 1938

Standing Out in aCrowd

“It has bothered meall my life that I do not paint like everyone else.” ~Henri Matisse

Such a challenge to stand out in a crowd…

Sometimes you want to, but sometimes it’s hard,

but always stand up…stand up and be proud.

And if some putyou down, please don’t feel cowed:

Just let yourself go. All put-downs are barred.

Such a challenge to stand out in a crowd…

You are who you are: Feelgood. It’s allowed.

To all the haters say, “You? Disregard!”

But always stand up…stand up and be proud.

Consider: you’regifted, and you’re endowed.

Secretly, you hold the winning trump card.

Such a challenge to stand out in a crowd…

Let this be your anthem…banish that cloud

and find what is good. The rest? Just discard.

But always stand up…stand up and be proud.

Matisse painted ‘different’, but he was unbowed.

He brandished his paintbrush and shouted, “En garde!”

Such a challenge to stand out in a crowd…

but always stand up…stand up and be proud.

###

Notes: The form is Villanelle. The poem was inspired by the prompt of 'unique' from Poets United Thursday Think Tank. I wanted to find a quote about uniqueness, and when I read the (above) one by Matisse, I knew exactly what it was that I wanted to say.

Now - a couple of other things: first, I am taking part in the January 2012 River of Stones, but so far, I've just been posting my 'stones' (little philosophical and observational writings) over at Writing Our Way Home. It's a very cool concept, so if you haven't already seen it, by all means, check it out. I may start posting my 'stones' here on Lightverse during January, too.

Finally, I am very fortunate to be a part of an insanely talented group of poets who managed to find each other at the Poetic Asides community. Late last year, we got together and created an anthology called Prompted, which has its basis in some of the prompts from PA. I have three poems in this amazing collection. Prompted is available on Amazon, and here's the best part - all the proceeds from the sale of the book benefit LitWord, an international literacy organization.

Stand up and be proud.

A Pebble for Your Thoughts

2012-01-03T10:57:00.002-05:00

Pebble Cast onStill Waters

I cast a pebble on the lake

and watched the ripples it could make:

concentric circles spreading out.

I wondered at this nature feat

since nature can’t be obsolete;

But circles? Pebbles’only route?

And so it goes, just like that thought:

one pebble – and look what is wrought…

a thought, like circles, casts no doubt.

###

Note: The form is Nove Otto. The poem was inspired by the above artwork, as posted for prompt on Magpie Tales.

Labels

2011-12-28T20:58:00.003-05:00


Image courtesy of inhabitots

How to Label a Box When You are Four Years Old

He told me it was a projectfor school.

He needed markers, coloredpencils, glue,

construction paper and astraight-edge tool.

He arranged those thingsneatly for review.

He boxed them up, saying,“There! That should do.”

Phonetically he listed allhis art

supplies for school on asweet little chart.

Then, in big letters, hetitled his gear:

the label on the box was nowtotally clear…

as I saw he had written, “BOXo fART.”

###

Notes: The form is a 'dizain' which happens to be the form of the week over at Poetic Bloomings's In-Form Poet post. When my son (now almost twelve) was around 4-ish, he made a box for his school art supplies and labeled it as you see in the poem above. It's been a running joke with us ever since.

And...since I finally found the time to write a few poems this week (YAY!), I discovered that Robert Lee Brewer's prompt last week at Poetic Asides was to write a poem having to do with a box. So of course, this is what popped into my head.

Anyway, let me take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe and fun-filled Happy New Year!!!

Witty Repartee

2011-11-18T15:35:00.001-05:00

Image Courtesy of The Project Gutenberg

It’s Never TooLate for a Clever Comeback

“Repartee is somethingwe think of twenty-four hours too late.” ~Mark Twain

Higgledy piggledy

Humorist Mark Twain said,

“Repartee’s something we

think of too late…”

Coincidentally,

Twain, like most clever folk

suffered not from this: the

talent’s innate.

###

Image courtesy of Old Fashioned American Humor

Notes: The form is Double Dactyl. The inspiration for the poem was today's prompt of "It's too late," as posted by Robert Lee Brewer's Poetic Asides November PAD Competition.

Poe Poe Me: Once upon a time, I was ravin' about writer's block...

2011-11-16T14:18:00.001-05:00

Image courtesy of EBSQ

Once Upon aKeyboard

Once upon a keyboard, weary, while I pondered word-string theory,
Over verb and adverb pairings, I thought, “What a crashing bore!”
Still I typed, fairly quickly: suddenly I felt quite sickly,
As if something went a-missing, dissing at me, so I swore.
`’Tis distraction,’ thus I muttered, `snapping, ‘cause I sure was sore -
Only this, and nothing more.’

Ah, distinctly I recalled it – it was writer’s block: Work stalled. (It
sucks!) And so my sentence structure wrought its ghost like ‘crime-fic’ gore.
Justified, I sought appeal; vainly I had thought to steal
From some books or other store – of vast knowledge (Could I score?)
For my new, ingenious novel – which my agent will ignore…
Nameless now for evermore.

###

Notes: The form is parody. And it is a obviously a parody of Poe's The Raven. For Robert Lee Brewer's Poetic Asides November PAD Chapbook competition, the prompt for today was 'Once upon a _____.' As soon as I saw the prompt, I knew I had to go in this particular direction. And guess what? No writer's block happened either. I just sat down and wrote the Poem.

"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." ~Yogi Berra

2011-11-02T11:43:00.000-04:00

Poetic Asides is now into Day 2 of the November Poem-A-Day (PAD) Chapbook Challenge. Today's theme is to write a poem (or more than one poem) using an epigraph, which is a quote that speaks to the theme of the work, as well as inspiring or informing it.

As you might guess, I love this sort of thing, because epigraphs are a great jumping off point. In my case, as you might guess, I like to look for funny or humorous quotes because, well...because that is so me.

In fact, my header today is a quote by the Yogi Berra. And just so you know, while a nickel ain't worth a dime anymore, a couple of poems will always hold their value (whatever that might be.)

The form for each poem below is Nove Otto.

Image courtesy of Shirtoid

Pulley Get MeOutta Here!

“If you die in anelevator, be sure to press the Up button.” ~Sam Levenson

I hate that crowded, closed-in space

containing members of ‘Rat Race’.

That demon lift: elevator.

And if I die before my floor

I only pray I’ll have strength for

pressing ‘UP’ initiator.

But here’s the thing: I don’t know if

I’ll do it ‘ere I am a stiff.

Kind of like a late dumb waiter.

###

Image courtesy of Beyond Bounds

Candidates Debate

“Be obscure clearly.” E.B. White

Be difficult to understand.
Speak plainly, on the other hand.
You’ll confuse your opposition.
Ambiguous…the way to go,
but say it straight so folks won’t know
where you stand on each position
as a front-running candidate.
Take this advice: when in debate,
‘stump.’ You’ll be a politician.

###

Block Party

2011-10-30T15:11:00.002-04:00

on an old scarred desk

an IBM Selectric

gathers words and dust

###

Notes: The above picture was thoughtfully provided for by Magpie Tales, for the prompt this week. The theme of Writer's Block is obvious, as is my choice of form (5/7/5 Haiku) but I decided to write a slightly different take on it. Instead, my idea of a block at the moment is watching my kids (in crazy costumes, of course) go 'round the block in search of candy.

Happy Halloween!
Boo!

I don't understand...

2011-10-29T16:51:00.000-04:00

Missed the Bus

Our tour guide pointed out each site

that we should note: “Look left. Look right.”

Confusion did prevail.

That’s because each time he’d cite

a landmark, he spoke Swedish. Quite

a problem: language fail.

You see, Anglais is all I speak,

so Swedish, French or even Greek

are…well... Greek to me. Eh?

When I travel and spend a week

in foreign lands, it isn’t cheek:

just jag förstår inte.

###

Notes: Sepia Saturday provided the above picture from the Photographic Archives of the Stockholm Transport Museum as their prompt. Pretty cool photograph, huh?

The problem is, the signs are written in what I presume to be Swedish (which means that I cannot read them, since I do not speak or read Swedish.)

Of course, if I were going to visit Sweden in the near future (or any other country for that matter, for which English is not the native/spoken language) I would try to learn a bit about that country's language and culture in advance so I could actually appreciate what I was seeing and experiencing. That would make it so much more of a gift, dontcha think?

Anyway, the form is Rime Couee. And while I am sure that some folks who read this blog entry will 'get' the final line, for those who don't, the words are Swedish and in translation, mean, "I don't understand."

And now, for a little ghoulish humor...

2011-10-26T19:36:00.000-04:00

Image courtesy of Anguished Repose

Can U Top This, Vampire Style

Old Vlad, he was telling atale

of the folks that he likedto impale.

“…but that Bathory chick?

She is more bloody sick

than yours truly: she’s so offthe scale!”

Then the Countess politely demurred.

“Dear Vlad – that is simply absurd!

We both love the blood sport

of ‘la morte’ at the Court.

It’s a tie for the folks we’veinterred.”

###

Notes: The form is a double limerick. The inspiration comes from Mad Kane's Humor Blog's Limerick-Off Monday, where the brilliant Madeleine supplies the first line of a limerick each week and then those with a doggerel sense of being contribute his or her own personal take (or takes) on the theme. One lucky contributor will get named the weekly prompt contest winner and several runners-up are announced as well. It's fun - so give it try it!

Drive By

2011-10-25T09:51:00.002-04:00

I don’t have to look

through the rear-view mirror to

know where my past is

###

Notes: Magpie Tales posted the above photograph (Lee Friedlander, from America by Car) as this week's prompt. What added to the idea of this particular poem was another prompt provided by Imunuri, who said to write about, "...a place you loved as a child."

This does not look at all like the neighborhood where I grew up, (N.E. Philadelphia, in case you might be wondering) but I liked the idea of NOT looking in the rear-view mirror. Why? Because I'll always know where I came from anyway, and I like the idea of that memory.

The form, obviously, is 5/7/5 Haiku.

Take the Picture!

2011-10-22T16:20:00.000-04:00

Class Portrait – Connemara,Ireland, 1892

Come, wee bairns. Please. Concentrate.

This will just take a minute.

Lads, lassies: Co-operate!

It’s not so bad now, init?

While you stand there a-wigglin’

and squirmin’ and full o’laugh,

look up…No more a-gigglin’.

Flash! And then a photograph.

###

Notes: The above picture was the prompt thoughtfully provided for today by Sepia Saturday. It is a portrait of school children in Connemara, Ireland, from somewhere back the 1890s.

Because of that, I decided I needed an Irish poetic form to compliment the photo, so I chose the form Ae freslighe (pronounced 'ayfresh lee'.)

If you are interested and would like to find out more about the form, check out The Poets' Garret.

A moment in time/A timeless moment

2011-10-15T17:50:00.002-04:00

Inscription on theBack of a Snapshot, 1915

Conditions are a little grim,

but what can one expect?

Our rations are…well, they are slim:

we use what we collect.

We get by on our wit and whim

but with all due respect,

in war it’s all just sink or swim.

May peace soon take effect.

###

Notes: Sepia Saturday posted this snapshot of some World War I soldiers cooking a meal out of a helmet. The field behind them is wasted and desolate. When you look at this photo, you are almost glad it is in black and white, and not color - although the starkness, by virtue of the lack of hues, is probably more powerful in the end.

The form is Hymnal Octave.

Double Meanings

2011-10-13T14:05:00.001-04:00

DoubleMeanings

Thetiny king said, “What’s the news?

Withmorning cup, I’ll read the views

ofall my loyal subject folk.”

Thepaper told a tale of spoon,

ofdish and cow, of magic moon,

oflittle dog and artichoke

anddainty princess and a pea.

Heread some more and sipped his tea

andsaid, “It’s all an equivoke.”

###

Notes: The form is Nove Otto. The above picture is byMichael Sowa from The Little King, and was used as the prompt from Magpie Tales thisweek.

In keeping with my love of learning cool new words, Idiscovered the word 'equivoke' today, which means an equivocation, a pun or adouble meaning.

An Epicure Din-o-sperience (Not)

2011-10-08T21:41:00.000-04:00

Image courtesy of Bella's Website

I Like My Steak Rawr!

Don’t dine, O’Saure

at Cretaceous Pub.

The food will vex;

the sweet tea wrecks.

###

Notes: This is a quick-n-cute one, because I am in a sleepy/punchy frame of mind. The form (thanks, Sal Buttaci!) is Pun-ku.

In other news, my poem, Missing the Point, was Walt's pick for Bloom of the Week at Poetic Bloomings (thanks Walt and Marie!) and my limerick, Bizarre Foods, got an Honorable Mention this week at Mad Kane's Humor Blog (thanks, Madeleine!)

-♥-

Lightverse - just for fun!

Illuminated!

Ya never know what ya might find when ya make a wrong turn down a road...

FOAF

Kvetch

Ghosts of the Theater - Acts I and II

Dolly

A Thin Veneer

Fried

The Touchy Tribe of Poets

Keep it under your hat...a conversation piece

A spectral encounter...and more...

Sometimes, you just can't let go...

Normal Socks

Bunny Tails

Unique

A Pebble for Your Thoughts

Labels

Witty Repartee

Poe Poe Me: Once upon a time, I was ravin' about writer's block...

"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." ~Yogi Berra

Block Party

I don't understand...

And now, for a little ghoulish humor...

Drive By

Take the Picture!

You Are Here

A moment in time/A timeless moment

Double Meanings

An Epicure Din-o-sperience (Not)