Category Archives: poetry by author

Clog in the cog of life

I’m just a clog in the cog of life,

When things back up, I get nothing but strife.

Whether at work or at home with the wife,

I’m only a clog in the cog of life.

Remodelers came and ripped out my throne

In the last room where I could be alone.

Now all I have is a slop jar and a phone,

And for a cushion a piece of foam.

I’m just a clog in the cog of life.

I get nothing but toil and strife.

Some days it feels sharp, like the stab of a knife.

I’m only a clog in the cog of life.

Even at work I get no peace:

A place for my tensions to find release.

I look at my paycheck and want to yell: “Police!”

To demand they look for my missing piece.

I’m just a clog in the cog of life.

Nobody cares about my struggles and strife.

Not even heaven where they have their slice

Of the piece of the pie in the afterlife.

Oh, God in heaven, how can this be?

Why, oh, why have you forsaken me?

I’ve always tried to serve unto thee,

But you cut me off like a branch from a tree.

I stand on the ledge of total despair.

No throne. No money. In tattered underwear.

People down below, they don’t even care.

They just don’t want me to land there, there, or there.

I’m just a clog in the cog of life.

I’ve said my prayers, left a note for my wife.

When I land it will end all my strife,

Unless I don’t make it into the afterlife.

I’ve endured war, death, and disease;

A boss, a wife, and a bum knee.

Can’t I have just one thing for me?

Is my life “to be or not to be”?

I’m just a clog in the cog of life,

Suffering the outrageous fortunes of strife.

The slings and arrows carve me like a knife

Into a piece of gristle for the cog of life.

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Filed under 2016, poetry by author

Photo finish Friday: “Heat wave”

Some things you shouldn't let slide.

Some things you shouldn’t let slide.

Oh, poor mannequin
let things slip again.
You say because you’re thin
that they just slide.

You stand there headless
and couldn’t regret less
if you create a mess
because of your body pride.

But dear mannequin
though the times are thin
we can’t let you begin
to leave nothing to hide.

So, pull up your bottoms
or starting this autumn
you’ll only flaunt them
in the dumpster outside.

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Filed under 2016, Photo by Beth Booker, Photo Finish Friday, poetry by author

Haiku to you Thursday: “Places”

Fear lives in those places /

where hope has died and love /

withers in the sun.

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Filed under 2016, Haiku to You Thursday, poetry by author

Monday morning writing joke: “Adverse”

There once was a crude poet of verse, /

Whose rhymes would always end with a curse. /

Then a woman walked by /

And gave him the loving eye. /

Now his verse has taken a turn for the adverse.

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Filed under 2016, Monday morning writing joke, poetry by author

Ring leader

Ring leader

Phone, phone has rung, /
but you were not among /
those who heard the sound /
as from the phone it bound /
searching for your ear /
but, alas, it is clear /
you were not here to hear /
oh, dear, oh, dear, oh dear.

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Filed under 2016, poetry by author

Haiku to you Thursday: “Passing seasons”

Winter, quietly. /

Summer, intensely. /

Fall and Spring, without regrets.

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Filed under 2016, poetry by author

Photo finish Friday: “Chicken”

A special delicacy, if you can stomach it.

A special delicacy, if you can stomach it.

Chicken

by David E. Booker

Boneless Skinless Children’s Thighs.
Picked up a pack and to my surprise
The taste just hit me right between the eyes:
chicken.

Didn’t matter how I had them made:
Sautéed, fried, or in a marinade.
One small taste did all to persuade:
chicken.

I even tried eleven herbs and spices.
Mixed in rice, lettuce, and tomato slices.
It did not matter what culinary devices:
chicken.

I consulted a cannibal from a foreign land.
Who said such boneless thighs would not stand.
Children were not on his diet plan:
chicken.

Boneless Skinless Children’s Thighs.
I saw the ad right before my own eyes.
I handed the neighbors’ kids over with no good-byes:
chicken.

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Filed under 2016, Photo Finish Friday, poetry by author

Haiku to you Thursday: “Tastes”

Without your whisper /

my ear hears only stale words. /

Summer tastes empty.

[Editor’s note: This is a variation on the Haiku posted last Thursday, entitled “Silence.”]

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Filed under 2016, Haiku to You Thursday, poetry by author

The King’s Burden

The King’s Burden

by David E. Booker

The king sat high upon his throne, /
A tear upon his eye. /
He shook his head in a sad, sad way /
And asked himself, “Oh, why?” /
His quest had failed, his journey ended /
Without the Holy Grail. /
He searched for reasons in his wounded heart /
But his search was to no avail. /
Try as he might, his burdened remained /
And haunted him day and night. /
He had done his best, better than the rest /
But still his heart wasn’t right. /
He raised his sword, struck down a gourd /
Ready for one last try. /
Yet returned the tears and the dark fears /
And doubts and cries of “Why?!” /
O’ let this be a grave lesson learned: /
Beware charging up Death’s ridge. /
With sword in hand, you may march into a land /
Only to cross over Failure’s bridge.

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Filed under 2016, poetry by author

Haiku to you Thursday: “Silence”

Silence tastes empty. /

Without your whisper, my ear /

hears only stale words.

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Filed under 2016, Haiku to You Thursday, poetry by author