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A Good Samaritan An athlete, who cleared hurdles with great ease, Got ready for the most important race Of his career by streaming melodies On board a bus to take him to the place Decided on. But he relaxed too good! Soon he was miles from where he should alight And, if he took official guidance, would Miss any chance of setting matters right. And then a Good Samaritan appeared, Re-routing him and stepping in to pay ... In life, for certain hurdles to be cleared, The stranger's kindness proves the only way, As this man, with Olympic gold to own, Now tells. He did not win his gold alone! (Prompted by this article and first published in the New Verse News on August 15, 2021) |
A Panda Turns One A year ago, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian's trysts Produced a little miracle: a son— According to esteemed zoologists, Not one percent of such old couples' fun Delivers baby giant panda bears! At National Zoo, devoted keepers say This cub is fond of apples and of pears, Unhurried but creative in his play, Remarkably observant, and astute: Not built for muggy metro weather, he Skedaddles for the nearest AC chute On dog days—so he proves himself to be No dummy! ... Now it's time to join DC, Exclaiming: Happy Birthday, Xiao Qi Ji! (First published in Light on August 23, 2021 as one of the Poems of the Week) |
Larry Landtrain Low tide drew pilgrims to the hallowed isle An abbot, Aidan, founded long ago, Recruiting souls with missionary guile, Redeeming those once bound for down below ... Years later, Lindisfarne's a tourist trap. Last week it met Walt Disney in disguise: A garish green and yellow landtrain chap Named Larry, whose new shuttle enterprise Dishonoured Lindisfarne—a place of peace, Tranquillity and awe, not Disney fun, Riled locals screeched! Their squeaky wheels got grease, And Larry's froze, his trial run undone ... It seems the locals still share Aidan's goal: No landtrain's welcome if it has no soul! (Prompted by this article and first published in Light on August 30, 2021 as one of the Poems of the Week) |
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Posthumous Wrap Pourquoi? ... We avifauna who reside On L'Arc de Triomphe ask why sleep at home Should be disturbed by scaffolding, applied To wrap our city home in polychrome! Have we not heard it from a little bird Up here, last year, that Christo passed away? Must we, despite that, still endure this herd Of loud disruptive engineers, all day, Unfurling fabric over our high-rise, Surrounding it with silvers, reds and blues? ... We birds can drop some hints to teach these guys Respect—for our abode, and right to snooze! ... And that's why, once the wrapping crew are through, Parisian birds rewrap the wrap—in poo! (Prompted by this article and first published in Light on August 30, 2021 as one of the Poems of the Week) |
Sex-Crazed Irish September's when a spider colleen's mom Exhorts her nubile daughter to beware— X-rated movies, not a sweet rom-com, Could be what spider lads show in their lair! Red-blooded male arachnids on the prowl, As August ends, are in a mating war: Zoologists see all means fair or foul Employed by sex-crazed Irish males to score! ... Don't bother spiders on the make tonight— In Ireland, in your house! They may be dead Reluctant to attack you, but they'll bite If you disturb them mating on your bed! Soon all the males will die, and when they do, House spiders will return your house to you! (Prompted by this article and first published in Light on September 6, 2021 as one of the Poems of the Week) |
Perfect Lullaby Push gently on the cradle. Coo some tunes. Expect your child to fall asleep, and soon! ... Regret you over-sugared Baby's prunes? Find Baby wants to dance to any tune? ... Examine why your soporific song Can't lull your child to sleep: the tune? Your voice? The rocker that the cradle's on is wrong? ... Let science find your perfect rocker choice: U2's lead singer, Bono! He's your man— Lab data linked to Spotify now prove LP track "One" from Achtung Baby can Arrest your baby's late-night urge to groove! ... Be mindful of some vitriolic rhyme— Yet play "One" all the same. You need down time! (Prompted by this article and first published in Light on September 13, 2021 as one of the Poems of the Week) |