Caterpillar (poem and Photo, Charlie Parant)

Rain

walking in the warm summer rain
I smell the fresh clean air
tiny droplets running down my cheeks
like tears of happiness
rejuvenated, I return home where I am quickly reminded,
“you realize the rain is just a metaphor, right? ’’

Freedom

Even though the sign declared they were “free”
the used stove, the washing machine and a box of books
remained together on the front lawn.
They had nowhere else to go,
this was the only life they had ever known..

Photographers of Long Ago (Villanelle)

through shades of gray from light to dark
photographers of long ago
in black and white they left their mark

a slice of time, they stopped the clock
and left a record so we’d know
through shades of gray from light to dark

as fire burns a city block
a captured image through the glow
in black and white they left their mark

the dedication of a park
they document life as we grow
through shades of gray from light to dark

a winter scene so cold and stark
of horses plowing through the snow
in black and white they left their mark

a hint of an artistic spark
perhaps a point of view to show
through shades of gray from light to dark
in black and white they left their mark

Poets, Photographers and Others

Grab your paper and a pen
to capture the range of destruction
as a small fire breaks out in the trash can.
Everyone must know of the hunger of the flames
that quickly try to devour the curtains, furniture and walls.

Personally, I would have reached for my camera.

Others would have reached for a fire-extinguisher.

Under the Bridge

beyond the edges of sobriety
pass a bottle, take a turn
with the dredges of society
light a fire, watch it burn

no one left who cares
nothing left to lose
long since out of prayers
will soon be out of booze

trying to dull the hassle
underneath a blanket heap
living in a cardboard castle
numb enough to fall to sleep

Eat A Sandwich (Villanelle)

eat a sandwich at Chick fil a
tell yourself God’s on your side
bring up children the Christian way

life-long member of the NRA
parade your guns around with pride
eat a sandwich at Chick fil a

show support this special day
by all God’s rules we must abide
bring up children the Christian way

it’s black or white, no shades of gray
your son's secret, he just can’t hide
eat a sandwich at Chick fil a

said he’s going to the range today
took his gun out for a ride
bring up children the Christian way

authorities would only say
appears to be a suicide
eat a sandwich at Chick fil a
bring up children the Christian way

Save the Poets

for as little as twenty-five words per month
you can help a starving poet
right here in America
that’s less than one word a day

maybe you have words you seldom use
verbs that are no longer part of your everyday language
terms that have fallen out of style
perhaps you could spare a simple conjunction

it doesn't have to be a big word
it doesn't even have to be a good word
to a hungry poet
any word could be the word
that makes all the difference

Won’t you help?

No Words Today

no clever words have I today
no point of view must I portray
no catchy phrases to display
no thoughtful quotes have I to say

no witty words I want to write
no sentiments of pure delight
no brilliant thoughts of clear insight
no fires I feel I must ignite

no hidden secrets to unlock
no peaceful boat I need to rock
no pressure from the ticking clock
no stress to end this writer’s block

Celebrities

celebrities die and it’s a shame
must be the doctors are to blame
but regular folks get hooked on drugs
well they’re just gangsters, crooks and thugs

when superstars get in a mess
it’s because their lives have so much stress
but you and I, our lives are cake
when we fuck-up it’s our mistake

we go to court and pay our bail
come up with cash or go to jail
the famous people get more chances
to go to five-star rehab ranches

massages, gourmet food and spas
there’s everything except the bars
thirty days and they’re released
keep messin’ up ‘til they’re deceased  

As Seen On TV

I know my teeth aren’t white enough
my laundry’s just not bright enough

my dog has fleas and ticks and worms
my mouthwash isn’t killing germs

my eyelashes are much too thin
my soap is drying out my skin

a simple strip and I won’t snore
one click to find my credit score

more women would look my way
if my hair had just a touch of gray

I should adopt a rescue pet
Am I paying too much for internet?

I could enjoy a peaceful slumber
if I only knew my true sleep number

time’s running out to buy a Toyota
shoe insoles control foot odor

my cell phone’s slow and makes me wait
my credit card’s too high a rate

so to be the best that I can be
I must get rid of my TV

Your Undivided Attention (Villanelle)

has the outcome been decided
are disagreements so profound
in a country so divided    

once the rhetoric’s subsided
why can't we find some common ground
has the outcome been decided

everything seems so one-sided
when will a compromise be found
in a country so divided

are the people just misguided
the ship of hope has run aground
has the outcome been decided

all the tools have been provided
to try and turn this thing around
in a country so divided

left and right wings have collided
our nation struggles to rebound
has the outcome been decided
in a country so divided

On a Mission

grab the bible and the forty-five
it’s time to go out preaching
it’s a real strange world
and you never know what sort of crazy psycho
might be on the other side of the door
ready to confront you and challenge your beliefs
so you have to protect yourself
because not everyone understands Jesus
and some folks just have to be shown the way

The Crazy Cat Lady (Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty)

The fire department was called to the parking lot
out behind Wal-Mart today
to rescue a middle-aged, white, woman
who became stuck in a storm drain.
She was stuck for several hours
and said she climbed in to rescue a kitten.
With the help of the firefighters, she did rescue the kitten.
It was on the local news, she was a hero
and Wal-Mart donated a years supply of cat food.
I didn’t say anything,
but I saw her climb into the storm drain
right after she called 911
with the kitten already in her arms.

Empty Houses

rows of empty houses
rotting to the ground
totally abandoned
since the Navy Base shut down

while homeless veterans sleep in streets
or out beneath the stars
some single moms with tiny kids
are living in their cars

officials say, “it’s crazy”
and want the homes torn down
“there’s too much unemployment
already in this town”

still homeless veterans walk the street
with nothing left to lose
searching for a meal to eat
in ancient wore out shoes

politicians say, “let’s do a study,
let’s first get all the facts.”
while more forgotten warriors
keep falling through the cracks

All Thumbs

I’m ready for whatever comes
and I will take it all in stride
thankful for opposable thumbs

trapped in the house my mind succumbs
I turn the knob and go outside
I’m ready for whatever comes

while picking apples, pears or plums
I hold a basket by my side
thankful for opposable thumbs

I reach to pick up tiny crumbs
from off the floor where they reside
I’m ready for whatever comes

strumming guitar or playing drums
or when my shoes become untied
thankful for opposable thumbs

to grab a boob or pinch some bums
if opportunities provide
I’m ready for whatever comes
thankful for opposable thumbs

The Good Old Days

it was a simpler time
we didn’t have cell phones
or the internet
we got our exercise
running from the bullies
who had to confront us face to face

we played outside
and breathed fresh air
then went back inside
to breathe second hand smoke
everybody smoked back then,
even the doctors who let us play with mercury

we had plenty of energy
from the dyed, sugary, breakfast cereals
with sweet surprises
that were “Magically Delicious”
and we drank Tang

moms liked doing dishes back then
because the dish washing liquid made their hands soft
they wore dresses and smiled
vacuum cleaners had just been invented
so women actually enjoyed housework

our school desks were made in the USA
from sturdy American hardwood
strong enough to hide under
in case the Communists
decided to drop an atomic bomb on us

we collected pennies
to feed the poor children
who were starving by the thousands
in Third World, under-developed countries
while in our First World, over-developed country
children starved alone, just one or two at a time

political correctness wasn’t popular yet
it was still okay to make fun of fat people
and the Blacks were just beginning to start trouble
so we put them on busses
and tried to mix them in with the rest of society

we were at war with the Soviet Union
but it was a “Cold War”
which meant that whatever country
won the race to get to the moon would win
and the other country had to disband
it wasn’t even close
we beat the Commies by over 238 thousand miles

it was a simpler time

Invasion

the robot invasion
we waited for
so many years ago
while wearing our Dick Tracy decoder rings
has arrived
but I have no way to contact you without tipping them off

as we were watching for armies of large steel men
shooting lasers from their eyes
the clever little bastards slipped
Androids disguised as cell phones into our pockets
keeping track of where we’ve been
and what we’ve bought
and who we were with

they ingeniously distracted us
with innocent games of chance
or killing zombies
or angry birds

while we text and tweet and photograph it all
becoming increasingly dependent on these machines
still desperately trying to remain human,
they are getting into our bank accounts,
our medical records and mapping where we live

so I enter my observations into this mindless device
and send them off to strangers
hoping someone out there
still has a Dick Tracy decoder ring

Reality TV - (That’s Entertainment)

American Choppers
Wife Swappers
Gold Miners
Moonshiners
Jersey Shores
Storage Wars

bad boys, bad boys, what you gonna do?
“click”
bidding on people’s misfortune and broken dreams
“click”
so, are you looking to pawn it or sell it?
“click”

Swamp Loggers
Lady Hoggers
Base Jumpers
Bible Thumpers
Big Shrimpin’
Ride Pimpin’

while men with few teeth fight over logs
“click”
and men with fewer teeth catch alligators
“click”
and celebrities go to rehab
“click”                                                          

Pumpkin Chucking
Ice Road Trucking
Drag Queens
Pregnant Teens
Extreme Hoarders
Skateboarders

I had no idea I was even pregnant....
"click"
moms dress their toddlers like little hookers
and scream at them to smile
“click”
real housewives call each other whores
and pull each other's hair
 “click”

Saving Lives
Sister Wives
Giant Tumors
Hollywood Rumors
New Inventions
Interventions

the B-listers and has-beens compete at dancing
“click”
folks with talent or so they think
compete for the chance to become celebrities
“click”
while the real celebrities go to rehab
“click”

House Flippers
Vegas Strippers
Dream Vacations
Restorations
I Shouldn’t Be Alive
Diners, Drive-ins and Dives

out at sea they fight with the weather and each other
for crabs
“click”
or shrimp
“click”
or salmon
“click”

Road Rules
Family Jewels
Kate Plus Eight
Beyond Scared Straight
Say Yes to the Dress
Iron Chef

one enormous pile of crap makes you a hoarder
“click”
multiple piles of crap makes you a collector
“click”
one piece of crap at a time makes you a picker
“click”
and celebrities go back to rehab