Sitting at the grill this eve
and it comes as no surprise
no matter how I dodge and weave
the smoke always gets in my eyes.

Boy, those cheap steaks sure smell good
as they cook and sizzle on the fire
and I reckon that they should
to offset evening's heat and ire.

Damn! A gnat flew up my nose!
just as I swatted a mosquito
even though I've sprayed my clothes
with the best repellant that I know.

Infant Sorrow (submitted by Rula)

My mother groaned, my father wept:
Into the dangerous world I leapt,
Helpless, naked, piping loud,
Like a fiend hid in a cloud.

Struggling in my father's hands,
Striving against my swaddling-band
Bound and weary, I thought best
To sulk upon my mother's breast.

stripped version :
Mother groaned, father wept
into the world I lept

Struggling in hands
striving
I thought best
to sulk

I want to be a Bukowski bandit
surreptitiously purloining
his immediacy and gruff

I want to sit in my room
gloating, "yeah!, I've got them fooled",
as I glare at ink stained fingers
from a monstrously old typewriter
while punching out forgeries as clever as "Bluebird"

wondrous words
rolling easy,
ordinary as those in a comic book
or a weekly tabloid.
yet, strung coolly as polished pearls
while still able to singe the heart stings
of the hardest of men.

I can hold my breath
I can bite my tongue
I can stay awake for hours if that is what you ask
be your number one

I can fake a smile
I can force a laugh
I can dance and play the part if that is what you want
give you all i am

But im only human
I bleed when i fall down
Am i even human?
but i crash and i break down

Words in my head
knives in my heart
you build me up
but i fall instead
i don't know if im human anymore

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
Sailed off down a river
Into a sea.
"Where are you going, and what do you wish?"
The three were asked
"We have come to fish for the herring
That live in this sea;
We have nets,"
Said Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.
They heard laughing and singing
As they rocked in the boat;
And the wind that sped them all night long
Stirred the waves;
The stars were the herring
That lived in the sea.
"Now cast your nets wherever you wish,—

The sword was from its scabbard drawn
and thrust into the air.
The knight was now a foolish pawn
in taking up this dare.

He stood alone against a dragon
to save a pretty maid,
without suspecting aught was wrong,
the trap was so well laid.

The village knew it would not wait,
the monster had it's price.
The maiden purely used as bait,
the knight, the sacrifice.

worse than synchronized swimming,
a crowd of nasally,
rhythm barren
ingenues and ingenos
bleating
hyperbolic sap and drivel
parading as saviors
cameras held high
archiving
forever
their inescapable foolery

The morning shapes
When we awake
but we don't want to
wake...

the sun's rays show
the dust the grit
as it enters
through old torn curtains
slits

last nights visionary
position missionary
and act as a warning
want to miss
the bus

she is waiting
idling twiddling
her thumbs
o when will you come

be a sweet butter
fly
if you will
take all my pollen
and
spread it
if you will
then upon my soil
you may till

From the silk route boom
Peace, prosperity mushroom
Thousand flowers bloom