The April PAD (Poem-A-Day) Challenge is designed to help poets do one thing and one thing only: Write more poems! The process of revision may go on for weeks, months, and years later, but this challenge is all about getting that first draft. Please poem along with us–either in the comments below or silently at home.
For today’s prompt, take the phrase “In Case of (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write the poem. Possible titles could include “In Case of Emergency,” “In Case of Oversleeping,” “In Case of Snoring,” or something else.
Here’s my attempt:
“in case of forgetting”
remember the day & hour
remember the way he laughed
when you told him who
when you told him how
you could love a man
& he was the man
& he said no way
i don’t fall for dames
i don’t fall at all
but you did
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Writing poetry is exciting, but the hard work of poeming is working through the revision process. The best way to work through this process is to workshop the poems with other poets, and that can be done with the Writer’s Digest 6-week course, Advanced Poetry Writing.
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Follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer
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Quick note on commenting: Please always save a copy on your computer. There have been moments in the past in which comments have disappeared, and I don’t want anyone to lose their work. Heck, I’ve lost some of my work here in the past, and it’s not a great feeling. That said, commenting here is a lot of fun, especially in April. If you’re completely new to the site, you’ll be asked to register (don’t worry, it’s free), and your comments might not appear initially until I manually accept them. However, after that initial phase, your comments should appear without my help.
Want some more poeming fun? Check out these previous Poetic Asides posts:
In Case of Contentment
In case you settle in,
in case you find a modest job,
a modest income that satisfies,
in case you decorate your apartment
to lose sight of the mildew stains
and arrange your furniture in a way
that pleases you, in case
you meet your neighbors
and their dogs
and like them
despite their hours of barking,
their slamming doors, their low-brow
taste in beer; in case you forget,
in case you forget your aspirations,
your goal to live in luxury—
a long lane leading to your three-car garage—
look out your window.
There’s Elisha Potts
digging through your trash again.
IN CASE OF HEARTBREAK
In case of heartbreak,
Fill up the glass.
Drown my sorrows,
No need to ask.
Keep the bottle close,
Right here on the bar;
Use it to fill up,
My broken heart.
In Case of Fire
I suppose you could watch
as everything you possess
in the form of me, myself,
my body, catches fire, like
spontaneous combustion,
soul-deep, in your arms,
especially late at night, but
most people know better
than to watch flames burn.
I suppose you could feed
the flames licking at our
entwined selves, because
I know you know that
fire grows in proportion,
directly, to the oxygen
that feeds the hand it bites,
but I should think you
also know better than that.
Then again, I supposed
that you were ready
to catch me when I started
changing against you,
sparks and cinders instead
of flesh and bone, but you
fled before me, and
I could only weep ashes
afterward, unlike before.
“In Case of (blank)”
-KB
In case of a (blank)
it’s simple to just give up
and write a haiku.
In case of fun
In case of fun
Do research
Something is not right
Fun is not allowed in the work zone
Do research
Focus eyes on the scroll of numbers
Fun is now allowed in the work zone
Make your quota send more emails
Focus eyes on the scroll of numbers
Take callaftercall
Make your quota send more emails
With a smile
Take callaftercall
In case of fun
With a smile
As you know – something is not right
In Case of Case
If you find you don’t like
the actual state of things
as may be the case
then write a political poem
If yours is a sad case
then try to be happy
or just be happy
there’s no use just trying
If yours is a case of hardship
hang in there
adversity builds character
so I’m told
If it’s a mystery case
then go investigate
you won’t find it
if you don’t look for it
If someone presents a strong case
then yours has to be stronger
and by stronger
I mean wiser
If it’s a severe case of the flu
stay home from work
take care of yourself
watch bad daytime tv
If it’s the nominative case
then flip it around
make the noun a verb
Google it if you don’t know how
If it’s a briefcase
carry it
If it’s a legal case
hire a lawyer
If you’re the case
hope you have a good doctor
and you’re in a good hospital
and they don’t mess up your chart
If it’s a case of conscience
listen to that little voice
it’s saying the right thing
so you’ll do the right thing
If someone’s on your case
tell them to back off
maybe you need
to get off their case
If you’ve got a case
for the girl next door
or the boy next door
just ask them out
In any case
another stanza can be added
if this is not the case
for you
In Case of a Tie
Decision-making was not my forte,
Back and forth I would swing,
Maybe yes, maybe no
I’d let someone else choose -
I was fine with anything.
What to wear for the day,
Back and forth I would swing,
Blue print skirt? Denim pants?
I’d call a friend for advice -
I couldn’t wear just anything.
On the daily drive to work,
Back and forth I would swing,
Highway? Scenic back road?
Alone in the car, no one to ask -
Oh, I could be fine with anything.
At lunch in the café,
Back and forth I would swing,
Chicken soup or salad?
Someone order for me please –
I could eat just about anything.
Decision-making was not my forte,
Back and forth I would swing,
Until one day I heard a referee say:
In case of a tie
Flip a coin!
So…
I no longer swing back and forth,
Decision-making is now my forte,
With a coin in my pocket,
I can easily say:
In case of a tie
I’ll flip a coin.
Lorraine Caramanna
in case of panic
if you find me on the floor
fetal position
afraid to open my eyes
don’t panic.
lie down and curl yourself around me.
if you find me in the bed
face ashen
buried in blankets
don’t panic.
sit down next to me, massage my aches.
if you find me on the sofa
green sick
bucket next to my face
don’t panic.
bring water and a cold compress.
if you find me in the kitchen
dancing ridiculously
to exciting music
don’t panic.
just join me.
also published on hcfitzpatrick.com
In Case Of Sickness
Call my friend Theresa. She will
sit with you, stay long enough
to match your pace and breathing.
She’ll rub your hands and feet like
there’s nowhere else to be.
Call my sister Karen. She will
bring you homemade soup and a poem
or, more likely, a joke. She’ll sing
if you want her to, or not.
Call my friend Lisa. She will say
Poor, you and Oh, honey and if she’s near,
she’ll stroke your head until you feel
the pain melt away.
Call my friend Becky. She will know,
scientifically, what you need to do
and how to get rid of germs. She’ll make
you feel good about going to bed
on a work day.
Call my brother Mike or Dave. They will
feel so sorry for you, you’ll start to feel
better just for them.
Call my aunt Margo. She’s a nurse
and always on call. She will listen,
advise and check back with you.
She will never hang up before she says
I love you.
Your poem made me stop and think about the people I could call – thank you!
Thank you! I appreciate knowing that. I hope you have a good list!
you’ve got to wear
your prettiest knickers
make sure they’re clean
no holes or loose threads
mum said
in case you get hit by a bus
LOL… and here I thought it was only my mom who said things like this. Thank you for sharing!
In Case of Sobriety
Get off the floor,
raise the shades,
take a shower,
eat,
go to work,
and contribute
to society.
In Case Of….
It was an old wooden box, with no key. She found it at a yard sale in a small town fifty miles away and paid too much for it. Back home, she placed it on the kitchen table and smashed the lock off to see what the box held.
Inside were bits of paper, handwritten, full of advice, contingency plans, exit maneuvers. She sorted them into piles, dividing them by types of paper. Each kind of paper, she soon discovered, had its own flavor of advice.
There were blue squares, with roosters in the corner, shopping lists on one side: apples, milk, roasts, white bread. On the back of the lists, in the same flowing script, motherly advice: In case of rain, unexpected company, wrinkled linens. Another stack: Blue-lined notebook paper in childish handwriting, shaky Palmer script advising her what to do in case of lost homework, bullies, bad lunches. There were index cards with neat, blocky printing and instructions on what to do in case of problems with furnaces, rain gutters, flat tires.
Finally, at the bottom of the box, a few strips of thick, cream colored paper. Some with no words at all, only tiny sketches of trees and flowers that had never grown in this world. The advice, if there was any, tended towards what to do in case of infestations of fairies, how to manage elves who came to visit and wouldn’t go home, plans in case of dragons. The very last slip of paper said, In case you are lost….with a hand-drawn map on the back.
At last. She nearly cried with relief. Practical advice, at last.
In Case You Didn’t Know
The lady in front of you, crawling,
intensely tight, lacking a gas pedal
is not attempting to make you late
for work. She had eye surgery two
weeks ago, and not one of her four
children was willing to take her
to the doctor today, that the boy
presently trudging across the bridge,
looking up as if looking for a space-
ship is not contemplating suicide
by jumping off the bridge as you have
concluded, mostly because you
have never seen someone walk
across that bridge and he does look
spaced and gone from this world,
that when you are thinking you
are a failure, you might be wrong,
that when you also feel gone from
this world, you are here, and some
slice of fucking goodness makes
you persist in this increasingly
futile activity, that sometimes, no
matter how hateful some may seem,
sometimes, some people like you,
that they are battling demons and
they grip tightly to prevent you from
seeing this in them, but you don’t
talk and no one talks to you,
so in case you didn’t know, you are
not alone, but life is the loneliest
plot created by those before us.
.
Wow! Powerful.
In case of Boredom
Read that book, try to cook!
Click a picture, money’s not a stricture.
Ride your bike, or opt for a hike,
Paint a scene, play that game, go fishing.
Paste that stamp, walk the ramp,
Jog to the nook, swim down that brook,
Dance to your tune,
Sing those notes, play that beat,
Hit the garden to prune!
Walk the road, talk to them,
Hobbies from such pastimes stem.
Great advice. Boredom is definitely a choice. Dylan Thomas once said, “Someone is boring me, I think it is me.”
In Case of Edgar
In case of Edgar,
first rule of thumb:
avoid opiates,
though I would steer clear
of hallucinogens
as well.
Steer clear of foggy lanes
and cemeteries,
particularly
on late night strolls.
When searching for that once
in a lifetime love
Lenore and Annabel Lee
are two names that tend to be harbingers of tragedy,
though Virginia certainly
swims in the pool.
Avoid pits, pendulums,
old creepy houses and
letters from old friends,
gold bugs and unsolvable puzzles.
Be well aware that everything has a price.
Oh, and
don’t kill cats,
converse with the dead,
or ridicule crippled midgets—
just a good rule of thumb.
I love it, particularly the title.
Yes, I love this, too. It took me a minute to figure out Edgar, but then it all fell into place.
In (the) Case of Those Meddling Kids
(How to foil four teens and a dumb dog)
Don’t put the lever for the secret passageway
in the wall, especially not as simple as pulling
down a candlestick or grabbing a book.
They may look like a bunch
of hormonal teenagers, but they’re sharp.
The Vampire, Witch Doctor
and Phony Fortune Teller thing has
been done. Find a new schtick.
And for pete’s sake, no zombies.
Cue the mummy.
Coooooin. Coooooin.
Now that’s some scary $%^&.
Put nails on the mansion’s driveway.
The Mystery Machine looks groovy,
but its tires are as vulnerable as any.
Whaddaya mean, you left your scary mask
out in plain sight?
Ruh-Roh.
.
Love this! I am SUCH a Scooby fan. You definitely got away with it.
Roooooby Rooooo! (Me, too.)
So fun! Love the, er um, groovy, style! You definitely get a Scooby Snack for this one!
In Case of Music
In case of music,
dance!
Dance on toes
Dance and twirl
Dance anywhere
Just dance!
In case of joy,
sing!
Sing loudly
Sing in harmony
Sing off key
Just sing!
In case of music!
It made me smile.
In case you were wondering, I like your poem.
In light of all of those suffering poems from yesterday, I just had to post this one:
In Case of Joy
In case of joy,
Relax in garden’s glory,
inhale honeysuckle’s breath,
let breeze ruffle your hair,
splish-splash in the rain,
reconnect with old friend,
welcome a stranger,
touch a baby’s soft cheek,
hug someone you love.
Treasure joy in your heart
and let it bubble out to others.
YES. Perfect, perfect.
In Case of Emergency
“emergency emergency
please to get from the street”
Every day the headlines
scream the sky
is falling we have to get our guns
so there can be armed
guards in every school
no place to hide
from factories being dismantled
and stiff tax hikes.
Sex trafficking is on the rise
keep your kids inside!
Deadly storms sweep
the midwest. Stay off
bridges, out of tunnels we’re advised
our infrastructure is crumbling
and our legislators take bribes.
Did I forget the missile launch
by North Korea? Fracking?
Death zones near high pressure pipelines?
The list goes on and on.
Is there no way out I cry.
Still, ever the optimist,
I sit here
and write poetry.
alana
Poem a day #11 is a response to prompts from NaPoWriMo and Poetic Asides: (1) Write a tanka, a poem based on syllables, with the pattern being 5-7-5-7-7 and (2) write a poem beginning with “In case of…”
In case of tigers
appearing at your back door
with wide toothy grins
remember some old dirty joke
that blushes pride into silent awe.
IN CASE OF JOY
Pinch yourself.
Real hard.
Figure life
is a dream.
But if you
are awake
assume
joy will end
when you do
at last
dream.
In Case of Attention
In case of someone paying attention
to the woman who lives here
please remember to linger on
who she is, rather than what she does
Tread softly over her many inadequacies
and concentrate on her better ones,
like her writing and her big heart.
And whatever you do don’t try to
change who she is.
If you pay her attention make sure
you are doing it for the right reasons.
Don’t call her name when you want a
drink or want her to fetch and carry for you
Ask for her time with kindness and
concentrate on her and not the TV or
your music station
Gush over her novel and drool over
her food lovingly made for you
Appreciate how she opens her
heart for the needy and how she
slips into the lives of the children
she teaches trying to pry open
their brains to fix the wrongs
In case of attention please remember
the above and gently stroke her ego
when it is crying out in pain from the
inattention it receives.
IN CASE OF NEED
in case of
hell
or high water
I’ll bring
an
extinguisher
and
boat.
In case of wiener dogs.
Prepare to have your blankets burrowed off your shivering body
if you let them sleep with you.
Get used to every bird and squirrel and shadow that moves
being the subject of prolonged yapping.
Know that if you walk them past a Great Dane or an elephant
your dog will think he’s bigger.
And be aware that when they lay their head on your chest
your heart will melt.
(when my husband wanted the first one i said “why would you want a hard little dog?” but then i fell in love with them– and now we have 3.)
Amen !
In case of unexpected runaway
If ground burns your feet
Your head dreams with new landscapes
Make an ink river
‘In case of…’
In case of forgetfulness
I leave you this key
Use it to unlock memories
and then think of me
We had some good times
but some were also sad
I’ll cherish the little things
our love wasn’t half bad
We have both moved on
we each have a new life
I wonder what would be
had I made you my wife
Looking back on it now
I surely have no regret
I will always love you
and I will never forget
Wayne Murphy
4/11/13
sweet
Thank you Linda.
In case of a predetermined life, just add a dash of chaos
Introspection doesn’t get you far in this business especially when you’re running from the Boss and without two dimes between us our options are few but no matter how downright awful it seems we’re never really screwed as long as the stars can be aligned and I just so happen to carry a pocketknife with that curly q thingy
So I flick daylight at you only to make you howl and without so much as a word you nod your head and wiggle your nose as a sign of acceptance of the overall plan that balances time, space and styrofoam peanuts and for the next forty nights we plot out every detail except for the one we’ll leave to chance
When the clock flashes 12:00 and we pull the celestial masks over our heads we realize that there’s no turning back now so we go for broke and send shockwaves across the constellations, take hostage of the moon and negotiate not for one, not for two, not even for three seasons, but for four, count em four and we laugh with the knowledge that we can toy with man through rain and sleet and snow
But we realize that circadian rhythms and total eclipses don’t mix well and the wrath that we strike down, with the locust and African bees and tsunamis aren’t as amusing as they once were and so we wait for hunger strikes and picket lines and fiscal cliff diving to satisfy our need for disruption knowing that in the end it’ll eventually work out as planned.
But hey, you can take a joke, right Zeus?
I like this a lot. Great flow, rhythm, thought, spirit and humor.
IN CASE OF TIME
in case of not enough showing you
in case of wanting to be heard
in case of not seeing who I am
why did you choose to see the worst?
we spent so many years in each other’s lives
I would have thought you’d know me well
but in the end it came down to what you read
between lines not even there
I thought that with enough showing you
I thought that if you really heard
that if you could see me for the woman I’ve
become, it’d be enough—and I’D be enough
but in the case of time
we’re out
and I’m sorry Mom….
How sad ! mother and daughter relationships are often difficult.
I combined this prompt with the one at NaPoWriMo… http://hopefuljo.wordpress.com/2013/04/12/creativity-project-year-two-day-93/
IN CASE OF HUNGER
Two big boys are rocking
the snack machine like its
a terror suspect with vital
intel. They slam into its frame
again, again in hopes to dislodge
a pack of hung-up candy.
They stare nose-to-glass,
the Tantalus twins, fogging
the surface with their
desire, until one writes
Why? with the tip of his finger,
then delivers one last
whack with his fist
while in
a distant place devoid of soda,
honeybuns, and chips, a child
lies in the dust, his stomach
bloated not from chocolate but
want. He breathes slowly
while flies touch and go his face.
And back in the First World,
where food is fun, the boys
grumble, like their stomachs,
wonder if they should break
the glass: after all, they’re starving!
Wow.
Yikes. Nice.
In Case of Heat
This heat between us
curls up, asleep in its turmoil
blowing spits of recycled air
at our toes. This heat manages
a space that should not exist
between the narrow flanks of a single bed,
but yet weighted we boil, stirred by
a breeze conditioned to burrow
and tarnish the hollow ground
on which we totter.
This heat beats our words
in a tongue-race, pushing silence
and miscommunication into our night
time prayers, blanketed with layers of
the unsaid –snug, content, complacent–
it lies here between our backs
as they face each other a bedtime standoff
after a passive disagreement, though we
should not call it that. The heat allows
no combat or fireworks to identify
where there may be bleeding,
but blood is here, sweltering between
our parallel spines as this unbearable heat
conceals our withdrawn weapons in sweaty sheets
and releases murmurs about the morning maintenance.
The heat reveals no fix this malady, no wrench
to lessen this wedge, no ice to calm its destruction.
In Case of Lying
Wounded souls carry entitlement
Puncture easily
Eyes bleed vengeance
Authority is the enemy
Fabricate whirlpools of deception
Plummet deeper into
Sinkholes
She wishes they would
Avoid mocking an accuser
Plead for redemption
In Case I Forget
In case I forget, I love you
In case I forget, you’re my everything
In case I forget, I can’t image life without you
In case I forget, you’re my bit of perfection
In case I forget, you’re my strength
In case I forget, I’m so happy you stepped into my life
In case I forget, I really never want to fight
In case I forget, I love you
In case I forget, I thank you
For yesterday, for today, for tomorrow, for forever
In case I forget.
So-o-o-o beautiful!
In Case I Pity Myself
you never scold.
I vent.You wait until the tempest subsides.
You list my triumphs.
Forgive my defeats.
Hold up a mirror, smile
and say,
Look.
So lovely!
In Case Of A Temper Tantrum
If
you
walk on
eggshells, scared
screaming will ensue,
you need to make changes, or leave.
Poetic Asides
April Challenge – Day 11
In Case Of______
Truth indeed….
Robert’s “In case of” in tanka form, per NaPoWriMo.org.
In case of mosquitoes:
I’m tempted to not
go out. That’s no way to live.
An aunt’s immune to
them, she always brags, but I
connect the dots, make pictures.
In case of spying the first robin:
Farmers say three more
snowfalls will follow. Prepare.
Stash the shovels, sit,
watch the quiet coming down.
It, too, has a migration.
In case of a mooner:
One who wanders off,
dazed as if struck by something
hard, only it’s gauze,
this nighttime light, the softest
drapery across an arm.
In case of a torpedo:
Depends on what is
flying at you. A mallard?
Then duck. A rabbit?
Hop over it. A song bird?
Join in and croon your heart out!
In case of a thunder mug as gift:
What is it, you ask?
My uncle, then age ten, once
took a pot, filled it
with beer and hotdogs, wrapped it:
“Happy birthday, Dad!” He laughed.
B Peters
In Case of Tears
The tears inside
Ball up into a super-storm
Needing release
But remain hidden
Behind eyes so dry
They close
To watch movies play
Over and over
Inside a mind
Confused
By a complicated being
In Case Of Obituary
A message to
my family
don’t let me go
ungracefully
prepare a private
memorial
a written
editorial
of
who I used
to be
and despite what
I was ever worth
committ me back
to Mother Earth
i love “don’t let me go ungracefully”–
Just in Case (We Have a Plan–Really)
This is the evacuation route; make sure you have plenty of gas
and provisions for three days, prescription medication, insurance
card, birth certificate, family photos, proof of rabies vaccines.
Do you have a motel reservation? Will they allow
your dogs and cats? Did you even check?
And, really, is it out of the path? Who can know. In 2004
everyone fled the coast, for inland towns, but Charlie
drove right up the middle and wrecked all shelters in its path.
Whole towns lay in piles of glass and timber and twisted Holiday
Inn signs. I was too dumb to leave and so stayed safe.
But just in case you’re ordered away, this highway is the path.
Everyone must take it, avoid panic, avoid road rage, avoid
fender benders, avoid pedestrians, avoid dying.
In case of evacuation, in case of hurricane, tidal surge,
flying trees, just in case, in the wake of the storm,
you can still read signs, this is the road you must follow.
Unsolicited and Not Very Sound Advice
In case of cliché, put that pen away.
In case of cheesy rhyme, see above.
In case of adjective overload, take a walk.
In case of hollow descriptions, telling not showing, dangling participles
grab a glass (or 2) of wine.
In case your writing becomes tedious even to you, give up.
…until tomorrow.
Thank goodness for tomorrow. There are worthy lessons here. Thank you.
I wrote two short poems today and the first one follows this prompt: http://natasa-summerblues.blogspot.com/2013/04/two-short-poems-for-day-11.html
“In case of rain …”
Run
Or maybe don’t run just walk and
Marvel at this gift from the god above
Bring for the cleanliness of air and
Earth sprouts newest growth
Filtering dust and dirt and lingering heat
Bringing forth welcoming puddles
And the rainbow that makes eyes sing
Songs sound so much better
When the percussion comes from above
Dance and frolic
As the sky shows so much love
Walk
Relish as heaven makes even soul clean
Face the sky
Drink in the sweetest nectar there is
A Case of Confusion
I reach down into my depths
Needing to decide what to do
Do I follow the road less traveled?
Or stay the beaten path?
Do I tramp down the golden avenue?
Or cling to the mossy lane?
Excitement lures from left and right
Stability trudges forward
The unknown beckons like a whirlwind
The known is peaceful and calm
Which road do I follow?
Which one do I choose?
My heart tugs one way
My senses shove the other
In Case of Cabin Fever…(we are storm-bound today)
In case of cabin fever when the gate is barred
To sun-splashed trails or dappled yard
I cherish the comfort of the common quill
Where footprints of fantasy roam at free will
…and there, in the clutch of tardy spring’s ice-fist
I have been rampantly, recklessly kissed
With laughter of lilac and twinkling mischief
Caught in a dew-drop on thought’s summer leaf
I’ve touched with mien of scribbled ink
The faint horizon-lines mute brink
And defied laws of gravity
To fly where feet can never be
I’ve held you close; suffered the bliss
Of farewell’s wild and pleading kiss
And in the thrill where ink-drops bleed
Its foot-prints spill in poetry
In Case of Bears
One panda- black and white, slight bamboo stains
Three black bears- traditional black, smell of berries
Two Polar Bears- from the set of Lost, looking for work
Six koala bears- grey, a bit clingy, may not be bears
Two teddy bears- one pink, one blue, neither used
In Case of Failure
A project designed
with unclear vision in mind
is doomed for multiple mistakes.
He didn’t ask how
he must have known that somehow
he’s in line for major headaches.
The going gets tough
dragging himself through the rough
shedding tears every now and then.
In case of failure
stay calm, remain composure
learn from the past and try again.
I really didn’t like forcing that awkward title on my tanka, so here’s another poem for Robert’s prompt:
In Case of Fire
In case of fire, break glass.
In case of glass, repair windows.
In case of windows, hang curtains.
In case of curtains, let in the sun.
In case of sun, stay in the shade.
In case of shade, trim back the trees.
In case of trees, chop down for wood.
In case of wood, build a fire.
In case of fire, break glass.
I love it!
Fun!
Fantastic! My initial reaction on today’s prompt this morning was to wind it through a pantoum that would circle back around, but then I kept getting stuck between where all the flowers have gone and mama’s mockingbird purchases, so finally had to settle on my little banana thing for my friends’ babies. But your cycle is perfect! If you make a pantoum version, I will, if but to thank you for your good poem.
Beh. I meant if you don’t make a pantoum version, I’ll honor you with one. (Not the first time I’ve gotten myself messed up with a dropped “don’t” — in case of missing “don’t”…)
A round chant. Enchanting.
Nice one, Bruce.
“In case of rejection”
“No”
means “What
will be so,
will be so; but
find a different flow.”
No class of rebuttal
denies further rebuttals.
No means should be considered shut
to your purposes. A waterfall
meets solid stops of rock and yet it goes.
Dimensions of yes splinter from refusals,
countless liquid globes shiver and arc through sunlight.
Yes means look how possible rivulets splash pell-mell.
Among bone-dry rebuffs, you can feel wetness in your lungs.
Yes means eat your piece of the cake when the rest of the cake is cut.
If no is simply off, yes is more than the light getting turned on.
Look what mathematicians have done with the square root of negative one!
This is wonderful, especially that ultimate line.
TY PressOn
This is for all of us who submit work…
In Case of Love
Be still.
Don’t over think.
Don’t question.
Don’t answer.
Accept those
first smiles.
Return them if
you dare.
Hold hands
in the movies.
Don’t eat
all the popcorn.
Don’t laugh.
Laugh all the time.
Don’t yell about
socks on the floor.
Don’t leave your socks
on the floor.
Don’t imagine
what if’s.
Don’t stop imagining
the possibilities.
Don’t look
over fences.
For God’s sake,
don’t screw it up.
Very true and very good.
In Case of Being Watched, just stay calm.
Maybe this won’t last long, and he’ll be gone.
He’s always on that roof just watching me.
Maybe I should tell someone he’s stalking me.
It’s only at night, never during the day.
I should tell someone but what would I say?
There’s a man on a roof that watches me at night.
“Ma’am, I’m sure it’s nothing. You’ll be alright.”
Typical response when you ask for help.
I guess I’ll just have to handle this myself.
From a distance, he kind of looks a little familiar too.
Even some of his mannerisms seem a little similar to….
No, no, it just can’t be, because you see,
My husband went missing quite recently.
If it was him, he’d surely come to me.
I’m his wife after all, so why wouldn’t he?
I do think he’s gone, but also still with me.
It’s hard to explain and even harder to believe.
Perhaps he is gone and his spirit is haunting me.
I could feel comfort in knowing he’s still watching me.
Something tells me to a certain degree,
That we can never be together completely.
So I’ll live out this life missing him dearly.
And remember daily, my lonely hearts plea…
In Case of Being Watched, just stay calm.
In Case
In case I don’t come back
the bed sheets are in the bottom drawer
and I sometimes use bleach
To make them smell fresh
In case the swing at the county fair
flings me out to the stars
give my jewelry to the girls
but Dad’s wedding band is for E
when he grows up
In case I take a wrong turn
and the highway leads me away
give the dog her pills once a month
and a hug from me
In case I float out to sea on the tide
one salty, summer day
remember how I loved the beach
and build me a sandcastle
This is lovely.
Oh, yes.
i love this.
IN CASE OF LAPSE
Memory, I mean. I mean
the pizza take-home box that I perched
atop the car while I loaded the important
stuff – books and papers, the poem
that occurred to me over pizza and a mug of beer.
I was thinking about the poem and forgot
the leftover pizza on the roof.
I drove on home.
The pizza haunts me – cold
breakfast, lunch. Dumped on the road.
Lost forever, to become
a poem. A carmen: song, a magic spell.
I imagine a man in faded jeans
Wondering how he’ll get supper. And there
just out of the lane of traffic – pizza!
The crusts I was saving for my dog
of course he gives to his own,
a clever little terrier with one brown eye,
one blue, who thanks
with those mismatched eyes.
They’ll sleep behind the quick-stop
dreaming poetry. A poem
can do this, can feed the hungry.
this is wonderful!
I love this!
Your imagination doesn’t just leap; it transcends.
In case you forgive me
Sorrowed eyes of sadness
gaze upon me,
thoughts of pain
shame, sorrow.
How do we leave this place,
leaving anger,
leaving blurry days behind.
Hope of eternity in red eyes
hope of shared dreams in tired minds.
Just In case you forgive me,
remember warmth of kindness,
once again laughter, and a
hope to breathe together as one.
In Case Of ____________
A water landing,
kiss your ass
buh bye,
’cause these suckers
sink like a rock.
Emergency,
run around like
a chicken with its
head cut off;
beats worrying.
Zombies,
you’re gonna regret
giving up that
scatter gun.
Geese overhead,
hide,
they’re on a
bombing run.
Fire,
duck.
Rain,
rejoice.
Love,
surrender.
In case of starting a new romance
Just remember,
you’ve been down that way
several times before.
You know the score.
You’ll fall for the wrong guy
for ever more.
Just understand
what will happen.
It is preordained.
You’ll fall deeply
and irrevocably
in love again.
Just mark my words,
you’ll jump in with both feet
and will ignore all advice
from those that love you
and have shared
your sad defeat.
Just think again.
Do you want all that pain?
Do you want to spend hours
waiting for him to phone,
waiting for him to come
home with flowers?
Just take a while
to consider.
Do you really want all that
ephemeral pleasure,
coupled in haste,
repented at leisure?
Just imagine him
ten years hence.
What do you see?
Will he still love you
or will he want to
be free?
In Case of Writing…
The perfect poem to inspire my day,
To brighten my spirit in every way,
To share its message with a kindred soul
Its meaning simple, yet profound in whole.
Will I be remembered in the days to be
For the words I write in harmony.
The thoughts I present for all to read,
My legacy in print, my writer’s creed.
In Case of hunger pain or a poetic block
In the case of a poetic black out
The rhythm and rhymes are hiding out
Not a single stanza or line to write
The mind is blank nothing sounds right
I sit at my desk out the window I gaze
Across the way poor people congregate
The sky very gray soon it will rain
It’s the sacred heart way
Food pantry Thursday
Must feed the hungry it’s the Christian way
Pallets of bread line the driveway
Soggy and wet it will soon all get
The people they gather in hope it don’t rain
Four lines they form before one doorway
Within the church bagged groceries a-wait
For all in need of their daily bread
Both men and women young and old
Stand in line they patiently wait
They hope for a morsel their family be fed
Donations been low most recently
All must be rationed equally
A little for everyone hopefully
Better a little for everyone
Than not enough and none for some
Should our food if it run out
God forbid let us find more to pass out
So these poor hungry souls
Not walk home empty handed
Hungry in the rain
To the Father the people pray
In the case of a poetic black out
The rhythm and rhymes are hiding out
Not a single stanza or line to write
The mind is blank nothing sounds right
I sit at my desk out the window I gaze
Across the way poor people congregate
The sky very gray soon it will rain
It’s the sacred heart way
Food pantry Thursday
Must feed the hungry it’s the Christian way
In Case Of Dying
In case of dying
Pick up a new weapon
A health pack
An extra shield
Some back up
(If they’re not already dead)
A good dose of luck
A swig of bravery
And try again soldier
Try again
We’ll win this war
Or die trying.
(We’ll get past this level.
Eventually.)
LOL!!
In case of mummy turtles
Mummies, we know, attack mercifully
slowly. Blood hungry tortoises also
can be outsprinted at a walk. Mummy
turtles, well. They’re scary, of course. And, oh,
they’re coming. So after that DVD
let’s have a snack, change shoes and maybe go
to the next town. We’ll be safe there a month
or two. I’m truly afraid, you should know.
Those demons are more deadly than anthrax
because getting complacent is easy.
We’ll neglect the calendar. On the Nth
day of the siege, as we’re baking muffins,
the sliding back door will break in thunderous
cascades of glass, wood, embalmed beaks and wind.
We’ll be cornered in the kitchen with no
way to escape their inching destruction.
We have time for a couple rounds of gin.
A tanka, in response to the NaPoWriMo prompt:
In Case of Over-romanticism about Nature
By the daffodils,
a hawk catches a squirrel
and tears out its throat.
Nature, I love and hate you
for your horror and beauty.
Oh yes i do agree!!
A tanka in response to the NaPoWriMo prompt:
In Case You Get Too Romantic About Nature
By the daffodils,
a hawk catches a squirrel
and tears out its throat.
Nature, I love and hate you
for your horror and beauty.
In case of big ideas,
Stop -
unless you are some college
kid getting high or buggering
your way to a higher degree
of pay grade in same said
environs.
Stop. Listen.
Remember to breathe
from your belly.
Burping the alphabet like when
you were a kid
might not be a bad idea.
Stop reflecting on worth
and merit.
Let your body move.
Be flexible like grass.
The way that can be named
is not the Tao.
Damn! What’s the big idea?
Caught in my own
trap.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
In Case of Capture
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀—a ghazal, for A
We’ve given you a new name to assume in case of capture:
your given one, quite fitting a nom de plume in case of capture.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Nothing’s random. All’s got its own meant reason and purpose,
so we’ve penciled in your ultimate doom in case of capture.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You’ve been taken before, yet they were never seriously on to you,
so a great disgiuse’d be to play the back-up groom in case of capture.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Baptists aren’t commonly known as decent double agents,
but your secret’s safe: we’ll burn your costume in case of capture.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It’ll never be over with, never, no matter what you’re cut off from,
so say now the parts you’ll not want’em to exhume in case of capture.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Your whereabouts and whatabouts have sparked no sign of concern,
so your final wishes should get sent to whom in case of capture?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Which other actuary’d show so discriminating a taste as to choose
a miracle’s empty cradle for marking his tomb in case of capture?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Your worst sin’s been believing you might once get believed…
at least your dream’ll make a lasting kaboom in case of capture.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
In Case of Growing Too Old
He hunkers as he walks—
his back gets hitches now,
a wretched ache,
but he will play with younger men
trying to prove he’s young again.
He’ll drive all day and fish all night,
cracking his jokes and sucking in his gut,
wrestling and running down a ball,
pretending he’s still thirty-two
at twice that age, plus ten.
His young friends, younger than his son,
think he’s a prince; imagine
at his age, still tough and sound,
they think, for he reserves his groan
for wife and family.
Why don’t you hang around with men your age?
his wife suggests, massaging his bum back.
But he can’t bear to hear the old men talk,
reading scars, reciting surgery, line and verse,
waging pity parties countless hours.
A bunch of dead men waiting for last breaths,
he tells her. He mimicks a few
for her amusement, each challenging another
to outdo tales of pain and woe.
I’d rather fun killed me, he says.
Such a wonderful vignette; such a funderful person.
I love this. And it is completely understandable. <3
I think we all know this person. Very nice.
Thanks, friends.
HAH! When we siblings went to one grandmother’s house we’d call it “the organ recital.”
In Case of Faces
Going to sleep,
In a new house,
Arriving late at night,
Not seeing,
All things present,
By light of day,
Careful inspection,
Most recommended!
Otherwise,
Morning brings breathless moments,
Huge face peering around the door,
Before recognition,
It is an art piece,
Left in place by the owner,
An artist who owns each canvas,
Surely meant for,
Appreciation, uniqueness, beauty and reflection!
Not heart-stopping,
Mind racing,
Dumb struck fear,
Early morning panic,
Oh. My. God effect,
Or the horrid tremble of shock and awe,
Rather a calmer, “Ah, it is just a painting . . .
And, you know, I like it!”
Well, that’s one way to make certain you’re really awake. ^_^ I hope you keep it!
Great to see you here, Domino! Too funny! Thanks for stopping by! I think she’ll notice if it is missing!
In case of over ripening
additional sugar
and time won’t help
about the only thing you can do
is go all christ like
on his ass
and make bread out of him
In case of not finishing what ……..
I’ll begin at the end of the story and then work back to the beginning.
I can start a new, better life again and I feel that I am now winning.
Now it is all finished at last, and he has gone away for good.
Our romance was all over, and I’d done all that I could.
What a shame that it had come to an end that way.
There seemed nothing more that we could say.
He was positive that he really did love her
when he told me he had met another,
but then I started shedding tears
We were fine for several years
It was a whirlwind romance.
we fell in love, by chance.
…………… and then
………………
I’m in awe of this. It’s a stunning feat, to me at least.
It is truly wonderful. And has a (sort of) happy/bittersweet ending.
What a unique way of telling the story!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
In Case of Removal
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀My metaphors’re atrociously sloppy,
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀my rhyme’s wrecked, my meter’s all choppy,
so I’ll not come here seeking nor expecting your approval.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Nevertheless, I’ve kept me a floppy-
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀disked offline backed-up saved-as copy
in case of the event of any of my poems’ posts’ removal.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
teehee!
In Case of Fire, Think Twice
=====================
“In case of fire,
don’t use the elevator –
use the stairs.”
Funny, I thought
we should use the
fire extinguishers
first.
That would be my first thought. ^_^ Good one, Anders!
I thought you scream fire, run around in circle and get smoke inhalation?
Good point! LOL!
In the case of cliches
it’s like plaque
you can’t avoid it
but at least get the damn
stuff scraped off
remember they’re
remembered
for a reason
thick coating
of original meaning
lost
it’s only natural
to keep falling into it
going down with a slip
of the tongue
over and over again
torpedoes be damned
your whole life long
In Case of Loss
In case of loss,
look the last
place you
would expect,
the one
you would say
“Why on
Earth there?”
Always works.
Yes. In the freezer, oven, or under the pillow. On top of the television, under the bed, next to the dryer. Beneath the car floor mat, slung over the shower door, or, my favorite, in plain sight. ^_^
Yep!
In Case of A Long Boring Meeting Where You Do Not Know the Context, Don’t Understand the Jargon and Do Not Have Anything Invested In the Outcome
Write a poem.
Lol . . . great idea and a perfect solution! Wonderful!
What a brilliant plan. *making note to self*
Too funny!
“No Giggling Allowed”
In case you giggle while in church;
(my friend elbows me way too much)
You dare not look or glance her way
lest sinful howl; disastrous day!
Your mom has half-turned in her seat
her eyes now dare you sound or peep!
You swallow hard such loud guffaw;
and inside feels like buzzing saw!
O, world I cannot hold you thus;
the laughter from my belly thrust.
With hanky to my bleating throat
I exit quickly ‘fore I bust.
Why isn’t laughing allowed in church, I ask you. Isn’t it supposed to be a place to make a joyful noise?
Maybe somebody could loose a few hares and start some March madness.
i know this feeling!
In Case of Rain
While the bride thought she had considered
all possible contingencies, she simple chose
to ignore the weather, certain that her day
of all days should be perfect. Why worry?
She had backup plans for music, cakes,
deejay, dropped rings, forgotten vows,
but she had no plans in case of rain.
All day she sent runners back to the house
for mascara, her big hoop slip, the ring.
She started early on her hair and nails,
tiptoeing into the sanctuary to be sure
the flowers, the candelabras, the bows
marking the family pews measured up
to all her teenaged fantasies, her dreams.
She silently made a head count: ring bearer,
two flower girls, six bridesmaids—
the groomsmen were not her concern.
The minister arrived on time, license
in his breast pocket, ready for witnesses.
The photographer conspired with her
to take as many pictures as he could
before “Her Comes the Bride,” keeping
the groom from catching a glimpse
of her, not before her grand entrance.
She managed to situate the old folks,
her frail granny with his Uncle Ned,
together for safe-keeping, corsaged,
and kept his mother, speaking her mind,
armed with a volume of Amy Vanderbilt,
brandished like the King James Version,
on the far side of the church from her own.
As she stepped into the dress, arms aloft
as her swarms of pastel maidens buttoned
and patted and spritzed, she heard the rumble
unmistakable, rolling in from the east,
and pulled the curtain aside to behold
a boiling thunderhead’s advance.
,
Mustering her forces, she headed up
through the church’s only inside passage
along darkened corridors, rarely used unless
by teenagers sneaking the communion wine.
Swathed in silks and tulle, she climbed
narrow, twisting metal stairs to the foyer
just in time to duck inside the nursery,
watching through old Venetian blinds
that clanked as she released them,
as everyone who ever knew or loved
them both, entered dripping, bedraggled,
on the arms of gallant, tuxedoed boys,
still queasy from revelries the night before.
Good one, Nancy. Once you plan an outdoor wedding (my first in the orchard), you never take weather for granted again. Nice detail here.
“and kept his mother, speaking her mind,
armed with a volume of Amy Vanderbilt,
brandished like the King James Version”
My favorite! i’m sure i’ve met her….
In Case of Stuff
Oh where did I put that thing?
No, it was not my favorite ring.
I will have it when I sing.
Sometimes it looks like bling.
Did I lose it in the rough?
Is it hidden in your cuff?
One can never have enough.
Is it in my case of stuff?!
That case of stuff was big,
It’s where I kept my pig,
The one that wears a wig.
Don’t worry, he won’t dig
I found it in my case
right next to the vase.
Now I must find a place
It won’t vanish without trace.
And now my thing is back!
I will keep it on the rack,
Or maybe in a sack,
So I cannot lose track.
Sounds like someone is feeling Seussian!
In Case You Didn’t Know
Unlikely, not impossible
I’m not the one for you
Unlikely, not impossible
You’ll find somebody new
Unlikely, not impossible
There’s other fish to catch
Unlikely, not impossible
We’re not a perfect match
Unlikely, not impossible
That I will break your heart
Unlikely, not impossible
That me from you can part
Unlikely, not impossible
I’ll let you walk away
Unlikely, not impossible
We won’t be wed one day
In Case Of Hunger
By: Meena Rose
Open heart
Take plunge
Explore world
Drink knowledge
Wield pen
Sharpen mind
Whet wit
Soften gaze
Relax posture
Embrace world.
Still hungry?
Share, love, interact
Nourish self feeding another
Reward self teaching another
Respect self helping another
Love self celebrating another
Trust self befriending another
Share self trusting another
Empower self respecting another
Value self loving another.
Mine is in jpeg form at http://miskpad.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/in-case-you-miss-me/
Robert, I loved your poem today
In case of implosion
Clear out the baggage from behind
the screen, from in the closet.
Throw out the fraying panties
piled in the wooden chair with
three legs. Kiss everyone goodbye
with arsenic on your lips.
Send post dated letters detailing
your slow and steady demise.
Explore those last, repressed
fetishes bookmarked on your laptop.
Keep a jar of your breath on your
dresser, keep a crow bar on night stand.
In Case of Banana
—for Zoë & Iggy (a few years from now)
Close your eyes and
pick an orange out.
In case of banana,
we’ll scream and shout.
Close your eyes and
select a peach.
In case of banana,
we’ll go to the beach.
Close your eyes and
find a plump plum.
In case of banana,
we’ll bang on a drum.
Close your eyes and
choose a ripe melon.
In case of banana,
we’ll buy it for sellin’.
Close your eyes and
pick out the lime.
In case of banana,
we’ll make something rhyme.
Close your eyes and
pick up some cherries.
In case of banana,
we’ll fly off like fairies.
Close your eyes and
locate a pear.
In case of banana,
we’ll go to the fair.
Close your eyes and
find some green grapes.
In case of banana,
we’ll wear masks and capes.
Close your eyes and
grab a red apple.
In case of banana,
we’ll wed at the chapel.
Close your eyes and
find a tangerine.
In case of banana,
we’ll be king and queen.
Close your eyes and
pick out a pickle.
In case of banana,
we’ll give you a tickle!
Too fun! i’d buy this book (i can totally see it!)
Actually, a book is in the works, although presently just a private version for Zoë’s and Iggy’s parents. I got a friend to do the illustrations for me. Looking fun. Thanks for enjoying this first draft.
In Case Of Hording
Please remind me that:
a dozen shoes should get me through every situation,
being cute is not enough reason to buy it,
a sale is not a sale if I don’t really need it,
that when my cupboards & fridge are full
perhaps no additional food is needed,
someone can only consume so much chocolate in a day,
another wall hanging, decoration or trinket is too much
walls and counters are meant to be seen,
the refrigerator gallery, calendar center is still a refrigerator,
despite Kindle and its offspring, hard and soft cover books
need not fill every bookcase two deep.
No thing can gave joy
like doing a thing that impacts another and yourself.
In Case of Disillusionment
Are you having a bad day?
Does everyone you meet
appear to be rude, greedy or self-centered?
Does the quality of the news stories
go from bad, worse to downright depressing?
Does the world seem to be going down in a spiral flush?
Then live in a bubble.
Or…
You could accept you’re having a bad day
and try to change it
by being polite, smiling and sharing.
You could skim the headlines (so you’re not completely ignorant)
and search for something positive, uplifting.
You can be the best you can be, as often as you can
and perhaps, one person at a time,
the world will find some equilibrium.
Or…
There isn’t an ‘or’, except for that bubble
and I’m afraid you would go insane –
so forget the bubble.
Reminds me of some advice I once got about playing water holes in golf: “Just don’t see water.”
In Case of Pessimism, See ‘Pencil’
“The average pencil is seven inches long with just a half-inch eraser – in case you thought optimism was dead.” ~Robert Brault
Behold the pencil’s cool façade:
a ratio of hopefulness,
‘cause even if you do transgress
with errors, you are not a fraud.
You just erase: your work’s not flawed.
With one half-inch, you can address
a ratio of hopefulness.
Behold the pencil’s cool façade
with seven inches for Ballade
or Haiku that will so impress
an editor, with great finesse.
An optimistic little rod:
behold the pencil’s cool façade.
###
Funneee, especially the “optimistic little rod.”
In Case of Being Watched, just stay calm.
Maybe this won’t last long, and he’ll be gone.
He’s always on that roof just watching me.
Maybe I should tell someone he’s stalking me.
It’s only at night, never during the day.
I should tell someone but what would I say?
There’s a man on a roof that watches me at night.
“ Ma’am, I’m sure it’s nothing. You’ll be alright.”
Typical response when you ask for help.
I guess I’ll just have to handle this myself.
From a distance, he kind of looks a little familiar too.
Even some of his mannerisms seem a little similar to….
No, no, it just can’t be, because you see,
My husband went missing quite recently.
If it was him, he’d surely come to me.
I’m his wife after all, so why wouldn’t he?
I do think he’s gone, but also still with me.
It’s hard to explain and even harder to believe.
Perhaps he is gone and his spirit is haunting me.
I could feel comfort in knowing he’s still watching me.
Something tells me to a certain degree,
That we can never be together completely.
So I’ll live out this life missing him dearly.
And remember daily, my lonely hearts plea…
In Case of Being Watched, just stay calm.
(Click here for Day 9′s poem, Part 1 of this poetic saga.)
(Click here for Day 10′s poem, Part 2 of this poetic saga.)
IN CASE OF MISCOMMUNICATION
Instinct clouds judgment
Casting clarity by the wayside
Imploring strategically awkward
Perspectives that give way to
Misunderstandings.
Comprehension is a difficult
Mistress
As it is anyone’s call how they
Decipher meaning and guide
Learning.
Taking so much for granted
Gazing upon oneself with doubt
And longing
For simpler options and
More deliberate measures.
Using the tanka form prompted at NaPoWriMo–
In Case of Miracle
Kneel down, raise your hands
in thanksgiving for the gift,
show your joy with praise.
But don’t forget, watch your back.
The devil will be jealous
In Case of Snow
In case of snow
in April –
Bury your head
under the covers
and don’t come out
until it melts.
In case of love
there’s nothing you can do.
No number you can call
no way to put the fire out;
your heart is going to get a rout.
In Case of Dire Straits
There’s no such thing as sanity,
after all the violence and double talk.
That’s the way the story goes
and you you’re always the same:
dedication, devotion,
maybe get a blister on your little finger.
And then the man he steps right up to the microphone,
money for nothin’ and chicks for free.
There’s just a song in the trouble and the strife
and that’s the sanest fact.
You do the walk of life,
fade to black.
(Actual lyrics © Dire Straits.)
In case of a short attention span due to allergy-induced fog…write PI(KU)…
IN CASE OF VISION LOSS
Open your
mind
to a new path.
IN CASE OF RAIN
Take off your
shoes
and start dancing.
IN CASE OF A HOT FLASH
If not yours:
keep
a safe distance.
IN CASE OF A BROKEN HEART
Remember
where
you can find glue.
I like this.
i like this a lot!
(Oh funny–i just looked at Andrea’s comment above and it looks like i’m trying to outdo her! LOL!)
LOL
Simply elegant
Thank you, all. <3
In Case of Having to Eat Your Words
“Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.” ~Anonymous
In the normal course of a day,
you may want to use invective
when nothing else seems effective.
Don’t do it! Beware what you say
because a small profane display
may not be your best objective.
You may want to use invective
in the normal course of a day
but if those words aren’t tasty, nay.
Think it from food perspective:
eating words should be selective,
like a soft and sweet buffet
in the normal course of a day.
###
Masterful. Gives us something to chew on, too.
In the Case of the Wandering Clue
My motto has always been,
“Don’t let others’ behavior
change who you are,”
which is a good motto.
Unless the other person
relies on your trust
to betray you again
and
again.
Unless the other person
relies on your innocence
to turn the tables
and make you feel that
you are the one with
the evil mind and unfounded
suspicions.
Unless the other person
relies on your refusal to be sneaky
to be sneaky in return,
to hide things in plain sight
(the long blonde hair in the shower;
the emails never read;
the love letters unfound;
the secret bank accounts;
the receipts for restaurants and hotels).
So now, my motto is only a little different:
“Don’t let others’ behavior
change who you are,
unless you have a bad feeling about it.
In that case, trust your feelings.”
Diana Terrill Clark
Ooh–thought provoking for sure! i especially relate to the third stanza.
When one has had to learn the hard way, one generally is familiar with it. My condolences, Julie. :/
In Case of Love, Break Heart
Another four letter word
escaped my lips
but you blanched like never before.
I haven’t heard from you since.
Could it be something I said?
Diana Terrill Clark
Oooh. Poignant and pointed. Wonderful
All too common, as well, if my dating-single-bff is any clue.
In Case of the Apocalypse
In case tomorrow never comes,
let’s draw the sun’s arc above
and watch the diamonds dance on
water’s plane, content with our existence.
Let’s inhale sweet spring’s heady scent
of budding trees and renaissance.
I want to feel new grass between
my toes, lest it be gone by morn.
If we should wake to nothingness,
let’s fall asleep with fingers laced
and if we hold tight enough, perhaps
we can spend eternity fused in dreams.
In case there is impending doom,
let’s clear the air of triviality;
for destiny does not discriminate
and pride is malleable, indeed,
in the face of Armageddon.
“… destiny does not discriminate / and pride is malleable…” I love those phrases; the latter, especially, conveys a fiery or molten image. Superb.
April 11: A Case of Blank
I tried to buy a case of blank
but when the clerk inquired,
what color blankness I’d prefer,
and what else was required.
I said that any blank would do,
but I would like it empty,
because if my new blank were full,
the smell would surely tempt me.
Alas, the only blanks she had
in stock were red or yellow,
and full of little bits of this
and that and smelled quite mellow.
I thanked the clerk for all her pains
but said I would not buy it
because the blank had been filled in,
and I was on a diet.
Margaret Fieland
Nice one!
LOL!
In case you forgot
Quickly now!
Hide away the crumbs, and sweep the leaves and grass and
Miscellaneous items underneath the rug.
Toss the paper plates and Styrofoam cups in the trash
Send the silverware flying
Into the depths of your sink.
Delete the browsing history,
And replace it with college seminar videos
Throw out the garbage
And wash the laundry monster-
That lurks atop the stairs
So Go!
Run! Hurry!
You must have forgotten,
There is no way this was intentional
In case you have forgotten
Your spouse comes home tonght
In Case of Meeting a Giant Gorilla
My sis at twenty-one and I at fifteen,
prepared to visit a friend in Maryland
about a five hour drive from P-A.
As we loaded our luggage
my mom, meanwhile,
stuffed the back seat.
Battery cables, jugs of water,
blankets, extra food, first aid kit,
a fist full of change-“just in case.”
“Let’s take a bunch of bananas,
in case we meet a giant gorilla.”
How did I make it to sixteen?
We didn’t use most of Mom’s supplies,
but the water came in handy
to wash the windshield.
Incase of Love.
Incase it might rain.
I want you to know.
I’ll be there for you.
Come rain or come snow.
So incase it should hail.
I want you to see.
I’ll be there for you
Whatever may be.
In Case Your Cowboy Boots Drool
Wipe them on the welcome mat;
march in to where all walks of shoes
are gathered: the swanky, funky,
casual, corporate and vintage pair.
The pace to pace journey of every
heel in the room cannot be copied.
If surrounding walls can handle the click
by squaring the sound of your stride,
cannot the One who ordered your steps
repay your efforts to walk on?
In Case of Emptiness,
fill up -
Fill up on the glory of a sunrise,
allowing the gold and peach to melt into your soul.
Fill up with laughter,
giggling, guffawing with young and old alike.
Fill up on the scent of flowers,
breathing in the sweet reminder summer’s glory.
Fill up with song,
humming, whistling with utter abandon.
In case of emptiness,
fill up.
You have it SO right!! Those things do fill me up.
In Case of Boredom
I take my toys everywhere with me—
a book or two, a tablet and black pen,
a crossword, gum, and mints, because I know
that death by boredom is no way to go.
For years I’d grade papers or meditate
to make good use of time while forced to wait,
but there’s no mantra that removes the sting
of useless blather clouding everything.
I sit in meetings, traffic, waiting rooms,
watching life leak away. We’re staring drones.
I write a poem filling time with fumes
of purpose, wondering when my life resumes.
I wonder if society has pledged
to dull citizens’ intellectual edge
by representing boredom as delight
making “intriguing” suspect in our sight.
My mother taught me to sit quietly,
not fidget, throw no tantrums, hold my tears.
My boredom kit perhaps would make her proud
of the lengths I’ve taken not to scream aloud.
Delightful!
I should expand that response. My delight is in how you penned the poem, not in the stultifying reality you paint.
Thanks, William. I’m waiting for boredom to become delightful, but it only ever is in a story of falling asleep in a lecture and falling out of a chair or being delirious with boredom, long after the fact.
I want to tell you how delightful I find it that you are encouraging so many poets here. You’re a fine writer yourself and your comments mean the world.
Why, thank you. I’ve wondered if I was being too presumptuous, being new to this whole thing. I should say, new to sharing on-line.
Not presumptuous at all. It’s what we all aspire to do here, I think: write, read, share, enjoy and encourage one another. Your comments are most welcome and lovely.
i know i love it when someone comments, especially when it’s encouragement.
In Case of Writer’s Block, Break This Poem
I collect words,
abandoned syllables
of overheard conversations
tucked away for a rainy day,
stashing “itinerant” and “furtive”
in empty pickle jars in the pantry,
“mercurial” carefully folded and slid
between boxes of winter clothes
in the top of my closet
next to “pedantic” and “demeanor,”
“serendipity” carried in my pockets
until threadbare and tatty,
files and notebooks overflowing until the day
I recycle those collected words into poetry,
something to touch the dreams of another’s soul
by exposing my own.
Wonderful!
I wonder if anyone could patent a parts drawer for poems. Your imagery is vivid. I love this piece. Thank you.
You’re so funny! i think you should work on developing that parts drawer.
Thank you both so much!
i love this whole idea and how you put it together. Clever and fun!
In Case Of Unknown
Why make life so complicated
Where you can be suffocated
Why hide in unknown name
Anything to be ashamed?
I did not ask you for wealth
Nor did I ask you for fame
All I ask is complete honesty
So we may start a beautiful journey
Time is passing and here I am
Standing still to your guessing game
The day you unmask your face
Will be the day I rejoice and praise
In case that day will never come
I will always stay as calm
But I know that God has a way
For you to find me on such a day
No more disguise but full of trust
For a lifetime love that will last
IN CASE YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND
When you use your brain,
you’ve got to be good;
when you nurture your health,
you’ve got to be good;
when you work at your job,
you’ve got to be good;
when you invest all your money,
you’ve got to be good;
when you praise all your friends,
you’ve got to be good;
when you cross off your enemies,
you’ve got to be good;
when you concoct a lie,
you’ve got to be good;
when it’s time to make love,
you’ve got to be good,
and if you can’t be good,
be careful.
The last two lines are what my mother always said to me! Good one!
In case I don’t wake
Remember all the good times
Forever my love
Don’t worry; she will.
Amen!
SO sweet!
Does poetry have to rhyme?
In case I fall in love again
I will remember not to feign
I shall let the new consume my soul
till I am floating in the air of her breath
In case I fall in love again
I shall present her to my gods
asking them to allow us peace
in a world so ridden with strife
In case I fall in love again
my tears will be ready to flow
not the ones that hurt the heart
but the ones that happiness allows
In case I fall in love again
there will be no lies or stories told
they never helped anyway
so away with them they go
In case I fall in love again
I will want to ride it till the end
this will be my third time out
and that will be enough for me
In case I fall in love again
has already come
we share our truths together
and talk about the sun
In case I fall in love again
the beauty of its being
it has saved me from my eternity
with just a flick and a sigh
I enjoy this poem. Thank you. As far as rhyming goes, no, poems don’t have to rhyme and I think most poems, these days, don’t. I use rhyme a lot, but that’s just me.
thanks for enjoying it, I intentionally did not rhyme it this morning, just the mood I guess, I think I will go back and do it again with rhymes the second time.
al
I apologize. I’m new to this and thought you were too, and were asking the question as a newcomer. I should’ve known better, judging by your fine work.
ahhh don’t take me wrong, I am so new at this it is ridiculous. I have written things before but mostly of of pain and desperation. I do not in any way over think what I write, I just barf out the words and hope they work. So there is no need for your apology, just write and enjoy the work of others, and thank you again, just the fact that you read something of mine and enjoyed it means so much to me…
In Case of Emergency, Break Heart
In case of flame,
invoke the rain, invite its healing spill.
In case of flood,
forget the mud, drink deep and get your fill.
In case of breeze,
forgive these trees their ardent rebel sway.
In case of bruise,
ignore my blues, and hold me anyway.
.
I wish I could write a blues for this. It seems to fit. The rhyming is arresting: clean and simple. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks, PressOn. I’ve actually got some blues lyrics on a back burner, so this is so encouraging to me. Thank you.
This is a keeper, De! Love how it rolls of the tongue!
Thanks so much, Linda.
AWW. love this.
Thanks, Julie.
You planned your life
Saved money
Set goals
Life is funny
You met the right one
The wedding delightful
Children played
Home sweet home so comfortable
All the bills got paid
Pets and flowers
Relatives came and said
You sure have it made
Friends look up to you
Everything you planned came true
But now you are lost
The plan fulfilled
You can’t think of anything else to do
Life is funny
In case you get what you desire
You better plan another plan
Find a religion, get a hobby, volunteer
Maybe pen a poem
In case of emergency
…please be advised that we don’t ever use
THAT WORD because of the effect it has
on the passengers. Your primary task
is to stay calm and point at everything
with two fingers. Should the oxygen masks
suddenly deploy, you are to look glad
to see them. If you hear drunken singing
from the cockpit, try doing magic tricks
or a lightning round of karaoke.
When all else fails, there’s nothing like a game
of twenty questions to take people’s minds
off the sight of military fighters
flying alongside the plane. Remember
to check the bathrooms for people smoking
and to remove all writing implements
from the lawyers sitting in business class.
Keep your uniform buttoned at all times.
Smile a lot. Hand out frequent flyer forms.
Chuckling, chuckling, and more chuckling!
!!!
OH that was fun!!
In Case….
In case of hunger
Eat slowly and drink water
Chew, swallow, and rest
In case of bloating
Baking soda and water
Just don’t lie down flat
In case of upset
Antacid could do the trick
Belching also helps
When you overeat
Your body will let you know
In case you forgot
© 2013 Earl Parsons
In Case of Emergency
Run, do not walk,
to the nearest escape.
Row far from the undertow
that is sure to follow this wreckage.
Don’t scan the other rafts
because I won’t be there.
Don’t pretend to call out my name,
I know it tastes wrong on your tongue
like everything else about me.
You will get out alive.
That is why you sleep so close
to the deck, so far from me–
in case of emergency.
I will not leave a vessel
that we built together
and filled with wide berths
of promises, even though
they are empty now.
I will go down with the ship.
This is a bit painful to read, for the emotions you create, I mean, not the writing. The images are vivid, and they make me want to call out, “Damn the ship; full life ahead.” I don’t mean that to be flippant, but this piece of writing reached me emotionally.
Thanks for your comments. I agree that it is painful, and I don’t judge either the one who stays or the one who leaves. Sometimes, there is honor in hanging on to something till it dies. Sometimes, the best choice is to walk away with your life. Either way, there is a cost. Thanks again for reading!
I always look for your poems – ever since the tattoo poem!
I am literally laughing out loud!!! Thanks for reminding me of that one!
Catherine, your poems are standouts so far this month. Keep ‘em coming, classy lady.
i love your poetry.
Wow, thanks for the encouragement y’all. It’s unexpected, but totally wonderful.
The Umbrella Kept In Case of Rain
I spent time pressed against the aquarium
envying the darting parrot wrasse.
She left. Hands too full to carry them.
Emergency underwater. Break the glass.
Kept in case of rain she gave us a kingdom
which she had never meant to last.
The wooden chair, a symbol of it all
upside down and in the madman’s hand
was set to smash until it could understand
every inch of the problem, the seawall.
Unaware of the coming storm we stalled,
Heavy with action and poised to crash land.
Then it was clear. I took the damn chair and
I left. My hands too full to break my fall.
In Case of Delight
In case of delight,
be careful.
Soon there will come
darkness
to hold your hand.
Delight,
which you cannot escape,
is followed
eventually
by the shadow —
attached, it seems at first,
so tenuously,
it might almost be
separate,
a different thing.
It is not.
Be careful,
in case of delight.
This is delicious, partly for itself and partly because I can’t resist punning “delight.”
LOL
In Case of Love
A Quinzaine
Love is a gift from above
Real love comes from God
God is love
Love is forgiving and kind
Love has no limits
Love is good
Love is happiness and pain
But worth the effort
And the risk
Love is what the world needs now
A world without love
Would be dead
Love is elusive at best
It hides in plain sight
Be alert
Love is most painful when lost
But if it must go
Release it
Love is the best of all things
If you can find it
Hold it tight
Love makes the world spin around
All you need is love
Love, love, love
© 2013 Earl Parsons
Oh, the poems so far are great! Thank-you all.
In case of discontentment
I keep a mental list
Of sweet and simple blessings
For I am heaven-kissed
Beneath the crumbs of living
Beneath its muddy tracks
The peace of simple blessing
Atones for what life lacks
I think I detect a whiff of Emily Dickinson here. Some of that is the common meter, but some is the imagery. I like this. Thank you.
sweet and simple blessings – yes!
Simply sweet and engaging… just like you!
Thank-you all so much!
i agree! Noticing our blessings and the things we’re thankful for is a great antidepressant.
In Case of Arnold Jack
Arnold Jack, a lovable chap,
sat in his house one day.
He wore his favorite cap,
had in his hand an old map,
and wondered how he’d get away.
He could smell the bucks now,
plus a million more (he’d allow),
for his plan was quite simple,
like popping a pimple,
and no one would dare ask him how.
The bank vault had been ajar,
just like he imagined before.
He dangled around,
and hung upside down,
and then fell fairly far.
The next morning he held his head
as he laid on a foreign bed.
He asked, “Where’s my money?”
He heard, “You’re my honey.”
Arnold Jack thinks he’d be better off dead.
IN CASE IT RAINS
Sing sonnets with it
Hear music from it
Picture Zeus aboard it
Watch the wings amongst it
Sit, besides it
Unleash your mind across it
Soften layers under it
Witness wonder around it
Touch the wetness inside it
Prance, towards it
Drench your worries in it
Feel the power behind it
Live a moment of it
Write a poem about it
Just enjoy it as is.—
Lovely! i like the way this poem feels when i read it (if that makes any sense.)
In Case I Forget To Tell You
I’m thankful for you
not for the little things
that you do
although I do appreciate all of them
but I’m thankful that you came into my life
when you did
or I wouldn’t be here
back then I had nobody
to guide me
to ask how I was doing
and meant it
if not for you
I would have ended it all
badly
crashed my car into a concrete barrier
or drowned on my own vomit
in an alcohol-induced coma
or ended up in a mental ward somewhere
not even aware I was pissing myself
but I’m here
and a better man
because of you
I love you.
In Case Of Rapture
Just in case you look around
Or hear it in the news
That thousands of us disappeared
Gone without a clue
Just in case you can’t find me
I don’t answer my phone
And when you come to visit me
I am not in my home
Just in case you look and look
But me you do not find
It could be that the Rapture came
And you’ve been left behind
Just in case I disappear
And you’re left all alone
Get on your knees and seek His face
He is your only Way home
© 2013 Earl Parsons
In Case I Go Before You
You don’t have my permission to remarry.
You won’t need it.
You have my full blessing.
But this I ask of you:
Wait for the right one …
The one who looks at you
As I do
Who respects you
As I do
Who loves you with all her heart
As I do.
Who understands you
As I do
And this I ask of you:
Treat her with tenderness
As you do me
Look at her
As you do me
Take her hand
As you do mine
Hold her tight
As you do me
Accept her
As you do me
Give yourself to her
As you do to me.
Know that you are loved this much,
And that love
Never
Ends.
Oh Marie, you’re gonna make me cry. :\
Aww .. you’re so sweet, Jac.
I believe that God makes one man and one woman that are meant for each other. I also believe that it’s rare, unfortunately, that many of these God-made couples get together. But, for the one’s that do, it’s Heaven on earth, even with the injections of human junk that come with the union.
I’ve seen a lot of your writings and your Facebook, and it is my belief that there will never be another you for your husband, or another husband for you. But, that’s just my observation. Love on, Marie.
Earl, that’s so touching. Thank you so very much for the lovely sentiment. I wouldn’t trade Keith for the world. God has blessed me richly, as he as you and your wife.
As one who has been widowed and re-married, this strikes home. Excellent, and thank you.
I’m glad it touched you, and somehow affirmed you as well. My best to you and your wife.
Oh wow. tears. at work. love this.
Thank you so much. I’m glad you found it touching.
beautiful!
Thank you so much.
This is so, SO touching and beautiful…oh wow!
In Case of Intimacy
In case of emergency, break glass
In case of intimacy, break heart
Douse him with icy words
Call him with silent rings
Hold him with your stone cold hands
That will put the fire out
POWERFUL PIECE.
Brrrrr…..
BTW I have no idea where these words came from. I marvelled at what I was writing
Oh, that is just the best! It doesn’t happen often to me, but it has happened once or twice. Can’t be beat.
IN CASE OF DISCOURAGEMENT
Walk in the sage;
wait for the rain;
watch while a thrasher
frolics again;
gaze at the mountain;
look at the ground;
listen while one
sends the other its sound;
note that the sky
melding blue to grey
heralds, not darkness,
but rain on the way.
When the rain comes,
breathe deep as you dare
while the sage in the rain
is perfuming the air.
You and the thrasher
are now eye to eye,
reluctant to let
this rainburst pass by.
With thanks for renewal
from sage and the rain,
you and the bird
can proceed once again.
You pen such excellence so quickly. Very impressive in content, cadence, and rhyme.
Thanks. I appreciate it, especially since I think the same of your work.
Wow. Thank you!
I love the dance here, the rhyme and meter; it’s a sure cure for discouragement. Thanks.
In Case of Hunger
In the night stillness
your infant cry shatters
like a lamb bleating for the shepherd
and I am instantly
awake.
“Mama’s here,” I sing
sweeping you into my arms, and you frantically nuzzle, mouth open,
searching.
I guide you, and you gulp desperately,
holding my gaze and my breast
intently.
I watch your contented eyes
roll and close, and rub your back
to awaken and nourish you.
The rhythm of your suckling
lulls us both to sleep.
When I awaken,
you are still clutched in my arms,
tiny lips parted in a relaxed circle
for another four hours.
Oh … be still my heart …
Lovely, loving, and oh the flood of memories…
I blinked, and she’s losing teeth. Bittersweet…the oldest is counting the years until a driver’s license. (sigh)
That time in my life was a sort of magic. Beautifully written!
IN CASE OF ENNUI, CONSIDER THIS:
children’s eyes
do not despise
the width and wonder
of surprise:
with glee they plunder
my bluff and blunder
and see in clues
all torn asunder
the brightest news
and clearest views,
and so imbue
the deepest blues
with joy so true
that truth will do.
In children’s eyes
all worlds are new.
love this.
I can’t envision a more enjoyable read today. Thank you!
In Case You’ve Ever Wondered
She lives, breathes,
Has had her share of heartache
But
Enjoys life to the fullest.
She is married (happily)
Christian (joyously)
Nonna (blissfully)
Aging (gracefully?)
Content (mercifully)
And yes, you were her first
Kiss.
P.S. She no longer wears braces.
A wonder, and nothing less.
I’ve been enjoying your Nonna title
Awww…the sweet awkwardness!
Aww! Thanks SO much, you guys!
Marie, this is so nice!
Thank you so much, all. So kind!
In case the sun does not rise
Over Taos Mountain
The day will remain dark
Hard to see
In case I do not return
My chair will remain empty
My words unspoken
My thoughts unexplored
My bed un-slept in
My house will echo
My absence
In case I do not return
There will be a tiny hole
In the fabric
You might need a microscope to see
There will be something missing
For I will no long be
Glad your words are still here. Nice write.
Sad yet thoughtfully lovely.
In case of malfunction, please consult the manufacturers
I went back to factory
I spoke the guy in charge
He said to speak to the Lady President
But she hardly heard a word
I had to say
they said it wasn’t their fault
they said the product was mis-used
they refused responsibility and passed
the buck to me – but I had no idea
no idea how to fix it
no idea how it works
no idea what to do next
or where to turn for help
they sent me away empty handed
my confusion was complete
but didn’t they understand?
It was all down to them
the were the originators
they had put it together
the user couldn’t be expected
to run it without backup
I sat in café thinking
coming up with a plan
but I was empty headed
still at a total loss
as to what to do
I shook my head and
wept a little
I walked away dejected
I never consulted them again
I had to go it alone
do what they had advised
make a plan and stick to it
make a new start
reboot from factory settings
but it was those that were wrong
I struggled on
I ignored the calls
and letters
they wanted to know
how it was going
but it wasn’t
it wasn’t going at all
and without parental guidance
my life would remain a mess
Iain
Loved this. You have my head still spinning with that line “without parental guidance.”
EXCELLENT WRITE. WOW.
Thank you Dini & Marie
IN CASE OF MANIA
Days like today
are days of inner fluttering,
when no thoughts light;
all is on fire,
crackling with excitement
that burns
without consuming;
but for all the brightness,
there is no heat,
only light that flares briefly,
then is gone.
On days like today
douse me with blankets
soaked in reason,
place pills on my tongue
that taste of despair,
rein in the passion
you can’t understand
that ignites fear
in your heart.
Sedate the crazy person,
calm the mad girl,
extinguish the blaze
you find too bright
then huddle in the darkness
and the cold.
Forgot to put my name on this. Susan Dean Wessells
Very expressive !
Dear Moosehead,
In case of rain watch both the Mets
and the Sox getting their butts kicked. Best
plan you ever came up with. I’m amazed
considering you’re a half-wit. Speaking of
half-wittedness, Jimmy the Greek is dancing
the dance and crowing the crow after the Braves
win last night. I got nuffin’ against his heritage
– still can’t figure how I have a half Greek cousin
tho, I just hate his ass for being an Atlanta fan.
Your sis seems to think I’m out with the ladies –
do me a favour and put her straight, would ya?
And call ya mom, you selfish rat! So hopefully
Cleveland will be dry tonight. Pick ya up at 6.
Bring receipts for anything – I need to boost
my deductibles.
Yours planning something in case of rain
Ringo the Howler
As soon as i see the “Ringo the Howler” show up as i scroll i grin!!
“In Case of Gray”
This first hard spring rain
has washed away my blue sky,
leaving mottled gray skies
where tendrils of melancholy
reach down
trying to touch my smile.
I fight back
with a yellow daffodil
clutched in my hand like a sword
and a running start across a field of
verdant green
sliding in
to cover my knees in sorrows mortal enemy-
grass stains.
I smile.
Victorious.
Perfect grey, spring day!
Oh, the perfection you achieve each time you pen a poem. One of my all-time favorite poets (and persons).
You’re making me blush. Thanks.
I like the progression in this Jerry. From gray skies to verdant greens and smiles
It’s the only way to fight the blahs. Thanks.
I never would’ve thought of grass stains that way. Thanks for the poem and the insight.
When I was a kid, I counted grass stains and destroyed tennis shoes as trophies. I guess I still do. There’s nothing better than seeing the look on my wife’s face when both our daughter and I come in from playing in the dirt.
Thanks.
In case of a fire
come to the river
on the west side of town
by the old hickory tree
within the veils of musky cattails
come meet me by the river
and we’ll sit
with our tired legs
dangling in its rippling depths
and I’ll tell you how I survived
my own fires
heartbreak and other
unnatural disasters
as the quiet of the river
soothes your burns
and you remember yourself again
BEAUTIFUL…
Indeed.
thank you!
This is so lovely.
Nicely done…I love, heartbreak and other, unnatural disasters.
Thank you for this.
This is written as soothingly as the river you describe. Thanks much.
In Case of Drowsiness
The lecture was long,
without grace and style.
Dreary.
Whatever lesson
may have been hiding
among all those
words,
phrases,
paragaraphs
and pages
of content,
were lost in
a boring diatribe
about something
both uninteresting
and uninspiring.
In case of drowsiness
I took another sip
of Starbucks
and called it good.
Nicely done. A complete and moving story.
love this.