The Renku Sessions: Tawny Jacket – Week 10
I am John Stevenson and I will be your guide for a twelve-verse renku, in which we will compose one verse per week until completion. A longer session, with a different leader, is being planned to follow this one.
This time we gathered one-hundred-seventy-six offers, from thirty-one poets. A wonderful, almost bewildering sample of possibilities for this verse. Here is a large, and still truncated, sample of the many verses that I especially enjoyed:
just a hop
skip and a jump
from fascism
Autumn Noelle Hall
yet another war
brewing
in the Middle East
Autumn Noelle Hall
banging a nail
deep enough
to burst
Robert Kingston
consommé served
in a fine
china bowl
Carol Jones
the booming
ghost town
of Jerome, Arizona
Laurie Greer
Sioux still standing
their ground
against Keystone
Laurie Greer
a black pen
to fill in
the absentee ballot
Kristen Lindquist
her sense of self
slowly fading
invisible ink
Terri French
“first there is a mountain
then there is no mountain
then there is”
Mary Stevens
this item
on backorder
until further notice
Mary Stevens
police officers
pull over
a driverless car
Maureen Virchau
that long pull
of whiskey while
court’s in recess
Berry Shropshire
is there
a spare dollar
in the farmer’s account?
Pauline R. O’Carolan
a calendar
of mountain top views
at the gift shop
Laurie Greer
another veteran
feeling the old ache
of a phantom limb
Betty Shropshire
childhood tv memories
of Iran/Iraq troubles
some sixty years ago
Nancy Liddle
filings
in the kaleidoscope
changing form
Robert Kingston
paint pot’s signature
left to dry
on the table
Carol Jones
they turn up
the car radio
for breaking news
Debbie Scheving
Our ninth verse is:
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
Patrick Sweeney
This verse takes up the topic of liquor, from the list I provided last time (borrowed from Professor Fukuda). It also offers some hints of other topics, at least for me. And it succeeds in transforming my prior sense of verse eight. While verse eight tells us that the day moon will be “there” when it becomes visible, this verse’s reference to the game of horseshoes invokes the saying, “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” And this is a double reference to sports and games because this saying is widely believed to be the creation of baseball hall-of-famer, Frank Robinson. The quote appeared in Time magazine (July 31, 1973).
At another level, Patrick Sweeney’s verse offers a contrast to the imminent appearance of the moon in verse eight. Here, the horseshoe player is making his beer disappear. Although, when it comes to intoxication, he may be “almost there.”
For our tenth verse, these will be the requirements/considerations:
- a two-line, non-seasonal verse
- connecting in some way to the ninth verse and in no obvious way to any of the previous verses
- transforming our sense of the ninth verse
Note: I am repeating Shinku Fukuda’s list of “topic” areas (from “Introduction to World-Linking Renku”). These examples may be helpful in this final non-seasonal verse, before we finish with two spring verses. Consider writing about: mountain, store, job/profession, politics, economy, education, military, history, nation/place names.
Our renku, so far:
Tawny Jacket
autumn leaves
she sets out in
her tawny jacket
Andrew Shimield
the still-warm hollow
where the deer slept
Kristen Lindquist
cigar smoke
lingers
in the empty room
Pauline O’Carolan
seraphim song
of a glass armonica
Autumn Noelle Hall
ice-skating
with my hunka hunka
burning love
Lorin Ford
a kiss for luck
at the STD clinic
Maureen Virchau
rediscovery
of the starry night toad
after all this time
Linda Weir
summer day moon
almost there
Wendy C. Bialek
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
Patrick Sweeney
Please enter your verse offers in the comments box, below. I will be reviewing these offers until midnight on Tuesday, January 21 (New York time zone). On Thursday, January 23, there will be a new posting containing my selection for our tenth verse, some discussion of other appreciated offers, and instructions for composing the eleventh verse.
I look forward to seeing your offers!
John
This Post Has 241 Comments
Comments are closed.
Hello everyone. I’ve really enjoyed following this Renku, Tawny Jacket, but I haven’t been able to join in until now. On the faint hope of “better late than never,” I’d like to put out these offerings all in one go (since the deadline looms over me in an hour or so). Thanks for understanding.
.
.
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
(Patrick Sweeney)
*
*
our energy drained
from those bombastic tweets
*
*
our energy sapped
by those bombastic tweets
*
*
bombastic tweets aimed
everywhere and nowhere
*
*
empty rhetoric
and drained energy
*
*
Taps’ plaintive notes
for another soldier
*
*
new names chiseled
on the war memorial
Correction:
our energy drained
from those bombastic tweets is wrong. “From” should be “by.”
.
our energy drained
by those bombastic tweets
.
.
(my apologies)
Correction:
.
our energy drained
by those bombastic tweets
.
.
(my apologies)
crushed crisps
at the silent movie
or even, crunched.
The irritation of it, but like the contrast of the verse.
Who put the first line in my post?
going to the boneyard
in Bagram
***
stationed between
IEDs
***
I’m stuck on games and military deployment this week lol
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Patrick Sweeney
***
her little black legs
straddle the carousel
.
the black girl balances
on the carousel
.
she rides the carousel
with help from dad
.
for the first time
she climbs the carousel
.
.
no celebrating results
that add up to disaster
so many broken hearts
in a small town at sunset
all the fairground folk
start speaking Polari
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
our town’s elk sculpture
sports the local team colours
Or
.
our town’s elk sculpture
sporting the local team colours
in search
of the lost chord
If that’s too close to ‘discovery’ then:
.
the lost chord forever
seems elusive
.
And if that is too musical:
.
wordsmiths fitting keys
in eternal locks
I don’t think it is discovery or related. Poetry is rather devious in its ways , don’t you think ?
I like the 2-liner
Agree,
love the wordsmiths
wordsmiths fitting keys
in eternal locks
.
marietta
*
wonderful…..marietta!
A gem!
dancing doll
still on showcase undusted
I like how you use -still
I have one too And the people on horses. How very beautiful that hand craft. Now a days, the faces la k a something. Charisma. Mass produced in moulds …
Hundreds of pigeons
Heard my street musician concerts
****
While a grad student at UNC Chapel Hill I enjoyed busking and playing the banjo, flamenco guitar and blues harmonica, but not at the same time.
are corporate tax cuts
trickling down?
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
*
Patrick Sweeney
.
battling another
infection
.
seeking change
for his windfall dollars
.
gathered for eight
at the Menin gate
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menin_Gate
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
*
Patrick Sweeney
.
gathered for eight
at the the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
*
Patrick Sweeney
.
gathered for eight
at the Hangoartpoort
.
Interesting to find that there are eight recipients of the VC (Victoria cross) listed on the memorial. Still trying to find if this has a link with the timing of the nightly 8pm last post recital.
Sorry folks, not sure how the double entry cameabout. Wasn’t present when I hit post.
Hello Robert. My impression from the deeply moving ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres/Leper was that the Last Post was played every day from 1928, following the inauguration ceremony in 1927. The 20.00hrs time marked the traditional close of day when that fanfare was played. http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ypres-salient/memorial-menin-gate-inauguration.htm
Hi Marion
Thank you. I knew this much.
Finding for the first time the piece about the 8 VC recipients created a question I will hope to solve. Militarily I believe a significance will exist as to why the ceremony was set at 8pm.
Armistice we all know was at 11a.m.
My search will continue.
Best regards
Robert
Dear Marietta
My apologies.
It appears I have been caught out by the auto text on my phone.
cold day in Washington DC, thank you dear
wife for warming the toilet seat
two mountains
hug a sky
.
wendy c. bialek
another deployment
to Afghanistan
***
aiming is easier
than pulling the trigger
***
reshuffling the cards
at Binion’s
***
shuffling a new deck
at Binion’s
***
tanks gain traction
in an oil field
***
an impeachment
trial begins
God Spot, how I found you
in my …bowl of ramen
.
,
—
( Gaaaaaaawd Spot, Haaaaaaaw I found you
in my bowl of Raaaaaaaaaaamen )
—
fooling around as usual with music and methods, Katajikenai
—–
singing it to the tune of this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-L6rEm0rnY
we moved to Amsterdam and lived happily
ever after in the fairy tale
too many cannons
not enough peace pipes
***
cannons outnumber peace pies
one hundred to one
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
a luck child scrapes
the bottom of the barrel
gun owners rally
on King Day
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
*
Patrick Sweeney
*
naming the VPs who’ve been
acting president
*
maybe sounds better:
*
the two VPs
who’ve been acting president
*
factory town
a quiet falls
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
*
Patrick Sweeney
*
scuba diving
at the Liberty wreck
*
scuba diving
in Flower Garden Bay
*
a quill pen
dipped in ink
*
*
hot tub
with a mountain view
*
*
a neon headdress
lights up the casino
one eye down
the barrel of a gun
Oblio’s banishment
to the Pointless Forest
irrational exuberance
for a housing bubble
teens over the state line
for a lower drinking age
that little train’s chant
“I think I can”
another round
of high-stakes testing
.
This one might be too close to the STD clinic verse, though.
two fingers above
the wingers head
.
a thumb and finger
on the winners forhead
L for losers
on the winners forehead
to what good will these
Bill of Rights confer?
– Betty Shropshire
clangers whistle
from the little blue planet
I LOVED The Clangers, Carol! 🙂
🙂 me too, Marion, still do. Such curious and happy little characters.
Vietnam in the cards
for those draftees
– Betty Shropshire
worn bUmper sticker still
says virginia is for lovers
another draft bound
into the “Kolyma Stories”
– Betty Shropshire
Never surf near sharks or
ask a starfish for directions
dan…then again:
***********************
you can’t go wrong asking
directions from a starfish
Dang, I never thought about that, thanks!
lolol!
Countries can also die
from a broken heart
“when he first came to the mountains
his life was far away”
( from John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High”)
*
“we are in the mountains
and they are in us”
( John Muir)
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Patrick Sweeney
.
a repetitive squeak
from the fireside toy
.
a second dinner
for the dog
.
axe chinks
high above base camp
.
a makeshift home
beneath the arches
press gang shilling
at the bottom of the tankard
sand dunes
along the Texas coast
dust in the wind
one more time
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
*
Patrick Sweeney
*
no 12-step for kicking
the fossil fuel habit
*
still not minding
his own ps and qs
*
liquidating assets
to offshore accounts
– Bett Shropshire
liquidating assets
to Singapore
– Betty Shropshire
when company warfare
broke out at the Royal Gorge
– Betty Shropshire
.
tossing tails in protest and
raising “call us merpersons” signs
.
wendy c. bialek
Most mermales joined in
by splashing their tails
dan:
.
thanks for sitting up
for the merpeople’s republic
Mermaids and their
thirty two words for tides
I read somewhere that Eskimos have dozens of words for snow
at least, and that’s not counting flakes!
**************************
.
tossing tails in protest and
raising “call us merpersons” signs
.
wendy c. bialek
Merpeople?
Mythical, half fish half human. What’s this all about, then?
sea foam taken
by the off shore squall
clockwise or anti-clockwise
Down Under?
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Patrick Sweeney
.
wanted! – a new player
for the Queen’s head
.
a brief whistle
and the bluebird was gone
..
after-burn
in bluebirds wake
Or
a new player needed
for the Queen’s head
blues and twos
on the road ahead
.
would this link to the hokku?
Anything relating to a journey might be looked upon as linking to the hokku. This has been a reason for me to pass on a number of otherwise wonderful verses.
Thanks, John.
If you don’t ask…:)
high winds
across the Sahara
minasan arigato gozaimas…
ITASHIMASHITE’, pat
thank you both for the lesson! No telling where these renkus will take us….
Faith is tossing your last
dime into a wishing well
Loan applications
for the wishing well
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
a borrowed quarter used
on the scratch-off card
cool!, terri!
Target in the shifting sand shifting
Close enough
how the wind funnels
through the back alley
how the wind drifts
through the back alley
making it strictly cash
on the barrelhead
*
paid under the table
and stiffed on wages
*
ticking calendar
“ oh ! me “ he says
special forces less one
at Fort Bragg
– Betty Shropshire
Special Forces less one
at Fort Bragg
– Betty Shropshire
Kavanaugh confirmed
as the life of his party
*
open auditions
for Henry IV
*
I really dig the Kavanaugh verse !!
the Outer Banks cleaned up
except for me
– Betty Shropshire
Thank God I’ve lived, worked
and loved in shithole countries
(A response to t-Rump’s comments about Africa)
thanks, dan….you made my day with this one.
here’s one from me:
on his gold throne
he google’s “impeachment”
wendy c. bialek
Good one Wendy, I hope he’s sitting on a prison throne someday!
swindled into buying
the whole shebang
One connection I saw in Patrick’s verse was the foam on the side of the glass looking like a day moon. I like it, Patrick!
And the shape of the horseshoe and a possible half moon.
Thank you for sharing, Mary. Your insights help me to appreciate Patrick’s clever verse even more.
essential oils and lye
in Rhode Island soaps
– Betty Shropshire
a loaded question
from the back row
i like this…maureen
Thank you, Wendy! ‘Tis the season.
the worlds strongest man
sqiashed onto a canvass
a mohel heads
out for the bris
.
wendy c. bialek
a loaded gun
seized by the police
last on i promise
*****************
poured out for the
stupidity of the world
sponsorship deals await
from Coors Bud and Miller
********************
issued a red card
for littering the field
***********************
details available
on film at eleven
Thank you John for the mention in your comments.
*
the family hurriedly packs
to leave Taal’s shadow
Thank you, Patrick, for an interesting verse – I’d never heard of horseshoe playing.
…
Cool and calm in Cobargo this week. Thank you all for your best wishes.
…
Pauline
…
for want of a nail
the war was lost
…
gulping sea water
while drowning
…
communion cup raised
by the parish priest
…
no one will shake
the Prime Minister’s hand
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Patrick Sweeney
.
not drunk enough
for the Sama ceremony
.
out too soon to see
the bow twirling ceremony
.
a maybach
reveals the dignitary
quick release valve
speeds up the air flow
revise-
.
quick release valve
turns up the air flow
.
quick release valve
opens up the air flow
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Patrick Sweeney
.
too many bells
at the morning service
.
blue pins
and bell bottom pants
Or
blue pins
in bell bottom pants
.
all bets crumpled
bus ticket home
*
I never liked
froth in beards
*
will it still be called
the north pole?
*
fresh crusty bread
better than cold kisses
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Patrick Sweeney
**
stakes are high
fearing iron curtain
.
wendy c. bialek
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Patrick Sweeney
**
stakes so high
almost iron gates
.
wendy c. bialek
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
*
Patrick Sweeney
*
clamps on crampons
in a bid for Basecamp
*
(clamps in the verb sense here, to follow Patrick’s pattern)
*
~Autumn
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
*
Patrick Sweeney
*
dizzily spinning
the greeting card racks
*
Migrant Child
by Banksy
.
.
https://www.designboom.com/art/banksy-migrant-child-mural-venice-05-27-2019/
political ads
generating buzz
another high tide floods
Piazza San Marco
… or maybe not as the moon has effect on tides…
nicely done!
.
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
-Patrick
.
view of Mt. Fuji
from the Shinkansen
My mighty castle
Washed away in the tide
embracing the stick in the shifting sand
close enough for now
twenty-one guns
confiscated by police
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Patrick Sweeney
*
here we go
loop de loop
.
wendy c. bialek
pain killers dissolve
in a mugs of water
think I need some myself :/
.
pain killers dissolve
in mugs of water
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Patrick Sweeney
*
a clipity-clop
circles central park
.
wendy c. bialek
Heineken makes me philosophical, Budweiser
Makes me miss the urinal
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Puerto Ricans
struggle with quakes
after head bath
towel outside – fritters
a face lift
for major Toms capsule
limca often-
edge of my writing novel
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
*
Patrick Sweeney
*
hosing down the street
where the homeless camp was
*
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-clears-longtime-homeless-encampment-near-union-station/2020/01/16/27344240-37a4-11ea-a01d-b7cc8ec1a85d_story.html
*
rabid extremists
foaming at the mouth
*
thrown for a loop
by the chain of events
*
gas mileage standards
on the way down
*
Love the” rabid extremists” entry
it seemed a natural. Thanks!
“Heey-otoyoo” somehow
cleanses the spirit
– Betty Shropshire
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
*
Patrick Sweeney
*
a full tank
in the driverless car
*
all his earthly possessions
crammed in a U-haul
*
cards maxed out
and mortgaged to the hilt
*
Chief Justice Roberts’
swearing-in on “The Hill”
– Betty Shropshire
or:
swearing-in on “The Hill”
by Chief Justice Roberts
Congrats, Patrick! Yours is a very clever verse. So glad to see it included in the renku. Cheers!
.
Thank you for another thoughtful and insightful commentary, John.
proof of the d not
the e in evolution
*************
unfinished business with
the democratic process
**********************
at the end of the day
America loses
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
*
the president orders
a retaliatory strike
*
the Tour de France riders
hit the mountain stretch
caught out between
the privy and two trees
*********************
like a thousand pound weight
hanging from the coccyx bone
*************************
the practice of
medicine just that
and a link before I disappear until the next verse:
http://www.2hweb.net/haikai/renku/Link_Shift.html
luv to all
buhybhuy
great link…ty.
are you off for vacation? enjoy what ever…Pratima?
Been reading this, Pratima, an excellent link.
plant pots displayed
on the smithy’s anvil
.
more pots sorry
.
plant pot display
on the smithy’s anvil
straight shooter
diagnosed with pd
.
wendy c. bialek
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Patrick Sweeney
.
two bikie gangs
roar into Walhalla
.
(Walhalla is a small, obscure town in Victoria, Australia that was a ghost town for ages and now is a touristy ghost town:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walhalla,_Victoria
.
as well as being the name of a place of Norse legend (see Wagner etc) where Valkiries live, which is probably the reason the bikies have been going up there since at least the ’60s. )
.
The link? Beer, which always has been and still is, as far as I know, consumed in quantities by ‘motorbike clubs’.
Couldn’t help but have a giggle at this one,
Reminded me of the ‘The Black Widows’ in the
Any which way but loose, film.
🙂 I must make a point of looking out for that film on dvd. Seems a good one.
It’s a funny one. I model myself on his mother 🙂
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
Patrick Sweeney
.
end of the line
for the n c u
centre point
banking on a better year
no shadows linger
in 360º neon of the bistro
all the economical truths
in the carpetbagger’s talk
Love where your verse took this, Pat.
*
changing my money
for Canadian dollars
see saw Margery Daw
which is the way to bumblin’ town
look, the mountain is a funnel
when in downward dog
Hello Patrick,
wonderful verse, it fits in without jutting out.
Thanks Pratima!
i can see sanders
pitching vp escobar
*
wendy c. bialek
*veronica escobar….(D) cogresswoman
(only because a, cortez is too young)
https://escobar.house.gov/
*sanders….is bernie sanders…..(D) running for president in usa.
but bernie would be back-linked to ” burning ” love.
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Patrick Sweeney
.
” Divided by
a common language! ”
quotes our Professor
.
– Lorin
Blame insufficient oxygen reaching the brain.
revision:
:
“Divided by
a common language”
.
– Lorin
Actually, Lorin, I think your:
*
insufficient oxygen
reaching the brain
*
would make an excellent verse in response to Patrick’s!
*
😀
*
Autumn
yes, me too! good obs. autumn!
*
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
Patrick Sweeney
**
a paper airplane lands
on the army ground
Kanchan Chatterjee
Resubmitted after reformatting the same:
*
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Patrick Sweeney
**
a paper airplane lands
on the army ground
.
Kanchan Chatterjee
oh, that is ironic and made me chuckle… nowadays witn drones, even more funny
Great verse–I especially appreciate the subtle commentary about our overreactive security state (as we imagine what the response to that paper airplane might be…). Working on U.S. military bases both at home and overseas in the past, and residing in Colorado presently, however, I find this particular aspect of drones less-than-funny:
*
https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/a-huge-group-of-drones-is-flying-over-colorado-at-night-police-the-faa-and-the-military-all-say-not-us/
*
It is noteworthy that military aerial exercises here in the mountains have stepped up significantly since our President’s decision to assassinate General Soleimani (we are experiencing daily and nightly sorties of everything from fighters to transports to Blackhawk helicopters). Beyond the obvious implications of ratcheting up our war machine, there is the not-so-small matter of the additional carbon output due to increased airline fuel use…
*
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Patrick Sweeney
*
unknown drones
in a U-shaped formation
*
the carbon cost
of mid-air refueling
*
Beyond disturbing…
*
~Autumn
Thanks Autumn!
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Patrick Sweeney
.
the police station
only forty-five yards
from the pub
.
– Lorin
whoops! duh, it should be 2 lines. (It’s all the smoke inhalation/ scarcity of oxygen to the brain.)
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Patrick Sweeney
.
a Little Blue Engine
who knew it could
.
– Lorin
I submitted my verse before reading yours, Lorin! Very glad to be on the same wavelength as you; I like your writing!
General George Patton
Museum of Leadership rules!
– Betty Shropshire
🙂
throwing the book at him
for lying under oath
.
wendy c. bialek
Congratulations, Patrick. 🙂
.
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
.
Patrick Sweeney
.
. . . and she who searches is enlightened. Since I was a publican’s daughter, perhaps I
should’ve known (I knew a lot of words I wasn’t supposed to know but this one is so mild ) To this day, though, the only thing I knew about that chugged was the Little Blue Engine, and by extension, ferry boats and someone’s old car that had something wrong with it and one could recgonise it, unseen, from the sound.
http://www.word-detective.com/2013/01/chug/
.
I suspected it might be something associated with the sound “glug- glug”, but didn’t know. However since this usage seems to have arisen in the USA in the 1940’s, it’s not so strange after all that I wouldn’t know of it. ( I wonder if the Japanese use the term in Japan, Patrick, following the Americans? I know they like their beer. And some very good beer it is that they make, too,)
.
“Chug-chug” is probably the equivalent of “Glug-glug”, which is/was used here, and which certainly evokes an image of a serious and thirsty beer drinker. I like the humour of the guzzler being “almost there”, in quite an other sense than the moon in the previous verse. 🙂
.
– Lorin
Very interesting comments, Lorin. I had never heard the verb “to chug” used in this way either, but guessed it was what we might refer to as “slugging” beer meaning to drink it quickly, or when my mother used to tell us off for taking “a slug” of milk or lemonade directly from from the bottle rather than pouring it into a glass. 🙂
.
marion
protesting the ump’s
partial call
.
wendy c. bialek
wow
Love it, Patrick!
•
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
– Patrick Sweeney
•
as investors pump
millions into bitcoins
– Betty Shropshire
Congratulations, Patrick–a thirst-quencher of a verse! Many thanks to John, too, for including my political attempts along with so many notable picks!!
*
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
*
Patrick Sweeney
*
as usual, the Dems field
some real ringers . . .
*
(Just in case my tone is in doubt, think facetious–and for my fellow Americans, follow the money and vote Third Party, for goodness sake!! Help stop the insanity of our “fake” two-party corporatocracy!)
*
Potus tweets
#anyoneforagameofmotorboat?
*
still flipping burgers
for minimum wage
*
gutting
the EPA
*
(that’s Environmental Protection Agency, which is being beer-gutted even as I type this…)
*
a mug
only a mother could love
*
right-side-up
or upside-down for luck?
*
as Bodexpress runs
the Preakness sans jockey
*
(it’s history. . . although might it connect with our absent deer?)
*
I’ll stop there–at lucky seven. 😀
*
~Autumn
on an evolutionary scale
barely three out of ten
**********************
Spuds Mackenzie tattooed
on an eighteen inch bicep
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
your average convenience
store clerk by stock and trade
a dead ringer for Bolton
when he was that age
returning to go
on the monopoly board
breezes turn empty
beer bottles into birdsongs
lovely one…dan….
https://www.etsy.com/listing/233883855/wind-chime-made-from-recycle-aluminum?ref=listing-shop-header-0
Thanks Wendy, have a wonderful weekend, that is one cool windchime!
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
*
Patrick Sweeney
*
barista proclaiming
“death before decaf”
*
three sheets to the wind while he
tacks up the posters
*
Lyft driver making an illegal
U-turn
*
Love your last verse offering here, Laurie! The horseshoe-shaped U-turn is brilliant! I like the enjambment of “illegal” on L1, too–because it lead me automatically to “turn,” the “U” packed even more punch.
*
Lots of room for thoughts on the legality or il of fair wages, cabbies being put out of business (and in too many cases, driven to suicide as a result), and corporate employee abuse here, too.
*
Great offering!
*
~autumn
My Appalachian grandpa
Drank moonshine under the moonshine
It’s heartbreaking to hear a beautiful
bartender call everybody ‘sweetheart’
🙂
wipers set
for the heavy deluge
.
honed to perfection
the ghurka’s dagger
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
*
Patrick Sweeney
*
removing more mounted
Confederate brass
*
waiting to see who’ll be
tapped for VP
*
good one, laurie:
waiting to see who’ll be
tapped for VP
*
laurie greer
me, too!
stinging bubbles for kids
on the south bank
.
stringing kids for bubbles
on the south bank
.
a new dome
for nostradamus
.
rollerdex calling
the wrong Shapiro
Just to ask would the mention of wave/s related words, as in sea, be regarded as seasonal?
Not generally.
Thank you.
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
Patrick Sweeney
.
a handful of empties
for the milkman
.
hot boomerang on the tail
of the Aussie pm
.
salutes from above
for the VC rookie
.
another gold
for the front crawler
.
Congratulations, Patrick, a fine verse, I like how John as made the reference to, almost there 🙂
It is always of interest to read what others see.
.
Thank you for placing my verse in the list, happy days.
.
No, not on your own, ladies, just warming up after a very cold, wet, blustery day working outside. No doubt there are some, here, who would just love a bit of this weather.
Just gone back to have another read of the verses along with the comments, and what is required for the next verse-
Two in the line up, even happier days.
I am particularly proud of my paint pot’s 🙂
So you should be, it was a good verse.
Thank you, kind sir!
they ((((paint pots)))) left an indelible mark
on my mind!
please accept my congrats! carol!
Thank you, Wendy, glad you saw what I saw.
yes, the paint pots left you a good memory 🙂
Thank you, Pratima. We get such inspiration from our neighbour 🙂
Congratulations Patrick. Thank you John and everyone for the inspiration.
Hi, Wendy–are we the only ones playing?!
**
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
*
Patrick Sweeney
*
dressage novice
already putting on airs
*
clip-clops of hansom cabs
echo around town
*
preschool class practicing
their bubble-blowing techniques
*
political bubbles
shimmering with rainbows
*
foam containers hold
plant-based meatballs
Clever, wendy 🙂
thanks carol….glad you caught it.
No kidding–just ran into these at our local supermarket!! Beware the Johnny-come-lately “plant-based” profiteers who are shoving no end of GMO’s, lab-prefabbed protein and chemicals into plastic-wrapped styrofoam molds in an effort to garner some of our $green$. Word to the wise–read the labels!! (And if they say “Tyson” or “Pure Farmland ™–aka Smithfield,” just . . . no).
*
Thanks for shining the spotlight with great irony, Wendy!
*
Autumn
thanks for chiming in on this, autumn.
i have a lot of pet peeves in this department.
.
congrats, autumn, on your wonderful political verses….included with john listings.
No surprise, there, Autumn, have had an insight into how this stuff is made (gruesome) and I for one will NOT be having it in my diet. If people want to be herbivores eat the real thing.
I just can’t for the life of me, understand why some, so called vegans, want to eat plant based food that has the texture and taste of meat? Seems to me like a double standard, here.
YUK!
.
totally agree! I haven’t eaten meat in decades and have not missed it! Awful that they take real food and make something fake out of it.
Both meat-based and plant based food have many additives and preservatives we have been encouraged to avoid foodstuffs that have then. Where are we going with our food, or should I say where are ‘they’ whoever they are, taking us. I’m out 🙂
congrats to pats…..we have our first rhyme! and what a great commentary john provided….did not know about that quote of f. robinson…..makes pat’s poem much more meaningful.
.
i included mine here first…..so you all can see the rythme:
.
summer day moon
almost there
Wendy C. Bialek
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
Patrick Sweeney
Congratulations, Patrick! And thanks, John, for another great selection–and for highlighting a few of mine.
Already having fun with this one.
*
the horseshoe player
chugs the rest
of his beer
Patrick Sweeney
*
what looks like a hiccup
might be recession
*
economic hiccups
making things rough
*
popping the bubble wrap
accidentally on purpose
*
china shop staff carefully
saving the bubble wrap
*
mountains of bubble wrap
waiting in the dumpster
*