EXERCISE 1
When we cleaned the kitchen
I should have known
That when my mom texted me
I shouldn’t dare touch my phone
Dinner was so hard
Because I am a total wreck.
I let a serving spoon touch the counter top
And now it’s an unfixable mess.
I often lose sleep
Over that fateful night
I applauded a live band at the restaurant
And I should’ve known that wasn’t right.
And when someone insulted me
How dare I say they were rude
I never should of stood up for myself
What an awful thing to do.
Forgive me for my evil ways
I will try to be better.
I’m so sorry for being
The worst guy ever.
LIVING IN METAPHOR
My grandfather taught me maintenance
How to change the tires
How to check the oil
How to add wiper fluid
Your vehicle is as good as you treat it
Check on it
See how it’s doing
We as people are no different
Take care of yourself
FREE VERSE WITH A RHYMING SCHEME
We are asked to write
Today or tonight
A poem that will rhyme
So I best not waste time.
It’s going well so far
Faster than a speeding car
Better than sitting in a chair
Without a care
I’ll make it quick here
Because time is what I fear
I hope everyone gets it
Or sees it so I get credit
FREE POEM #2
No life is complete
Without all the greens
The utensil to serve
Or the plate to hold
Maybe sometimes it’s good
Maybe sometimes it’s bad
Ready on time
Or saved for later
Perfect one day but
Missing elements the next
No ones is ever the same
But no one truly ever
Understands another
But when it’s going well
When the flavors mix
As the great Dennis Eckersley said
I guess I got the whole salad
PANTOUM
Early morning, sun still rising
Arrive for the day ready to work
I am nervous but ready for the challenge
Let’s see what today brings
Arrive for the day ready to work
I meet with the others
Let’s see what today brings
I set down my belongings and settle in
I meet with the others
We rant about our troubles from the previous day
I set down my belongings and settle in
And check to ensure everything is in working order
We rant about our trouble from the previous day
I am nervous but ready for the challenge
And check to make sure everything is working order
Early morning, sun still rising
Free Poem #3
Scrap everything I said
Before
If I try to to fight it let me
Go
Where do you draw the
Line
Of selfishness and self
Care
Is the problem really
There
Or do we create them
Ourselves
FREE POEM
My greatest struggle
Is knowing I can not help
Those unwilling to take it
If I could move a mountain
If I could dam a river
I would for them
But some don’t wanna see the sky
Some would rather drown
Maybe it’s me that’s the problem
IN CLASS POEM
The greatest trick life plays is
Making us believe in
Happiness in the wrong spots
We seek the big moments
Search for the expensive things
And strive for unneeded attention
But where would be
With the absence of our close friends and loved ones
There by our side to find the subtle joys life offers
A warm day
Imagination and Laughter
Is perhaps all we really need.
Haiku
Freedom is not free
An expense too large to count
Reward like no other
PANDEMIC POEM
I would love to leave my house
But they say it’s unsafe
The stress is overwhelming
Get me out of this place
Bare faces are at risk
Leaving us is masks
But it’s not even legal
To do our normal tasks
Eating out is a danger
Business are closed
TV and social media
Disaster is all that shows
We wait for a cure
But one seems to agree
How do we handle this
And it’s not up to me
Be lucky you are not here
For this is a lot to bare
2121
I’d rather be there
Suppose
That we stopped trying to impress
and worked on ourselves
for ourselves.
We put away our need
for constant attention
and validation.
What if we simply
just tried to be
happy.
Perhaps
there will be days
we have a setback
Or trouble of some kind.
But maybe
those days will be too rare
to count.
Free Poem #4
Far from perfect
But yet I wouldn’t have it
Any other way
I have failed
Time and time again
But I grow better as the next day comes
I’m still learning to forgive
Myself and others
With the helping hands of time
I no longer ask
For money or fame
Or even fortune
I ask for the path
Even if its tumultuous
At least I’ll know my way
