Instructional

Today’s prompt was to write an instructional poem. This is already day 8 of the April Poem-a-Day challenge. This gets more fun each year. ^_^

How to Raise a Rebel

Dance.
Show up.
Have pets.
Give hugs.
Learn CPR.
Laugh. A lot.
Lead by example.
Unconditional love.
Be their superhero.
Show her museums.
Take them on vacation.
Never talk in baby-talk.
Make him earn that car.
Watch them in the water.
Make her think for herself.
Take time for yourself, too.
Teach him to follow recipes.
Challenge his belief system.
Don’t say, “Because I said so.”
Let her be sad when she’s sad.
Make time for one-on-one time.
Show them how to forgive freely.
Teach him to do his own laundry.
Don’t let her show too much skin.
Punish appropriately to the crime.
Let her pick the music sometimes.
Don’t give him everything he wants.
Give him chores; make him do them.
Make him sign up for teams or clubs.
Hold her when she has a broken heart.
Be willing to compromise occasionally.
Give her extra money if she works for it.
Give an allowance, not based on chores.
They need reasons for things. Give them.
Let him choose his own clothes, crazy or not.
Yes, your teenager has to go on vacation, too.
Never allow the word “hate” to be flung about.
Let them choose their own drinks at McDonalds.
Stand up for him to his teachers, but be realistic.
Have meals together every day, and talk to them.
Know who their friends are. Invite them to dinner.
Listen when they’re talking. It could be important.
Teach them to know what they want and how to get it.
Talk about your past; they need to know you have one.
When you criticize people, they learn to be critical too.
Talk about their future; they need to know they have one.
If you pay her cell phone bill, she has to answer your calls.
Teach her to change her own tire and jump start her battery.
They may complain, but secretly, they want you to be strict.
Take them to the funeral; they need to know that life is finite.
Even if you do everything right, sometimes you fail. Forgive yourself.

Give (Quote of the Day)

Enthusiasm is the best protection in any situation. Wholeheartedness is contagious. Give yourself, if you wish to get others.
- David Seabury

The Truth About _____ – November PaD Day 24

I wrote two truth poems today – one about TV and the other about Black Friday, both topics having much to do with the past holiday.  ^_^

***

The Truth About TV

Yes, if you have a cable
or Dish package
(or even basic cable, to be honest),
there is always something
for everyone
at any time of the day or night.
TV has a huge
variety
of network and cable shows
and one could spend
twenty-four hours a day,
seven days a week,
finding something
they enjoy at least a little.

But the truth is,
it all depends on
who holds the remote.

***

The Truth About Black Friday

I have a theory
that all of those folks
who participate (willingly)

In Training

in the Black Friday
festivities
are actually quite aware
of what may or may not happen
regardless of the wide-eyed
expressions of horror
and dismay.

I believe they know
exactly
what they are getting into,
much like those who choose
to run with the bulls
at Pamplona,
and those who dive off cliffs
and race fast cars,
they know they might be
trampled,
bloodied,
bruised,
or may even be
arrested.

It’s all part of the sport.

April 22, Judging

The prompt today was to write a judging poem -either you being judged or judging, or the judging of others. And Robert made a point to ask everyone to play nice. I appreciate that. And I hope I don’t offend anyone by today’s poem about judging.

###

Virtuous

“Oh yeah,” I thought
as I sat amidst the ladies
at the baby shower.

“This is what this is like.”
Nice ladies, all as thin as a stick
and smiling so kindly
and I pull my shirt down
a bit
to camouflage that
extra bit of tummy
that never quite goes away.

And then the chatter begins:
One is talking about her new clothes,
so elegant,
bought as a bribe by her husband
so she would accompany him
to a marathon
across the country.

And how lovely the weather was
in Boston
and how he made such a
fine
showing.

She’s not boasting, not much,
but she is subtly
judging
those ladies who don’t
have the wherewithal
to fly cross country
for a new outfit.

And then the topic changes
to college and
higher education
and how one lady spent
a semester at
Cambridge
they were so glad to have her
and though it is boasting
a little
it’s all so virtuous
because it’s all about
e d u c a t i o n
and how important that is.

And so I quietly get up
and go sit by the
tattooed lady
alone
in the corner.

Yes, I am judging,
in my own way.
But I find the conversation
much more to my liking.

 

An Ode to Poetic Asides

Well, it is sort of an ode, though not an official ode in “FORM,” but more of an homage to the folks on the PA “street”, as we like to call it.  A nod to the way it feels (to me at least) to have one regular place to go to poem and read other poems and give and receive feedback, and  just enjoy it all. This is my take on the place.

###

Life on the Street

Oh, it’s usually pretty quiet here
on the street,
not a lot of fuss or fury.
but it’s kind of fun that way,
and we regulars enjoy the
peace and serene
enjoyment
of each other’s
words and
thoughts and
mere presence.

There are weekly
hello’s and a
little bit of chat
and support
and all that.
It’s fun, in a quiet kind of way.

But twice a year,
in April and November,
our quiet street becomes
a seaside resort,
or Swiss spa,
or amusement park carnival.

And we regulars?
We like it that way too.

^_^

Non-Apocolypse

I heard a parody song on the radio this morning titled “Where Were You When the World Kept Turning” referring, of course, to last Saturday’s non-event. Mr. Camping was so certain, and I feel a little pity for his confusion, but had he read more scripture, it would have helped him realize that we aren’t supposed to know the day, that we need to be living our madcap lives and doing as we normally do to be properly judged, not getting all ready and saying our prayers and finally, finally helping and loving our neighbors.

Silly guy. But then, maybe that’s what it takes for him to live the way he should, making a fool of himself for the world is the way he feels closer to his God.

On the other hand, he may just be an attention whore who had his 15 minute in 1994 and has always wanted to get that attention back again. Well he had the world’s attention, I’d say. Now, he is saying October 21 is the end times, and I imagine when that day comes and goes, there will be another date. But the attention will have drifted off him by then, don’t you think?