April Poetry Madness 2024 April 7 to April 14
This is the second batch of my April Poetry Madness challenge poems, (for April 7 to April 14), following daily prompts supplied by Poetry Superhighway, Writer’s Digest, Writing Com Dew Drop Inn, and NaPoWriMo. I have included the poem, the prompt, and occasionally a bonus poem or comment or two. I am also cross-posting this on All Poetry, Blog lovin, Cosmos Funnel, FaceBook, Fan Story, Instagram, Linkedin, Medium, Subtack, Wattpad, Writer’s Digest, Writing Com, and Twitter. This is probably my last time doing this. Just getting too old to keep up.
You can find my previous entries here:
April 1 to April 6 Poems 2024 Poetry Madness
Writers Digest April 2023 Poems
https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2Qh (this posting)
Comments are welcomed, but keep it civil.
Part One
April 1
PSH Ode to Durian
WD Optimistic Letourneau
WC Dew Drop Inn
Easter Bunny -warm up March 31
Sarang pabo love fool
NaPoWrMo Springtime Flowers Blooming Love
April 2
PSH The Words of the Year 1955 PSH
WD Sad and happy days
WC Dew Drop Inn
NaPoWrMo Cage
NaPoWrMo It Can’t Happen Here
April 3
Berkeley Mad Pyscotic Pineapple Burns Sonnet
PSH 2 AI Version Traditional Sonnet
WD My Musical Street
WC Dew Drop Inn
NaPoWrMo Ode to Coffee
April 4, 2024
PSH The Cosmic Dog from Goa
WD Don’t Make a Mistake Vote for Jake
WC Ending Daily Shaving in Retirement
NaPoWrMo The Parliament of Owls Decree Death to All Humans
AV version The Parliament of Owls Decree Death to All Humans
April 5, 2024
PSH Love Expressed Through Food
WD Tell Me No Lies
WC Make Baseball Great Again!
NaPoWrMo Resurrecting the Dodo Bird
April 6
PSH Cosmic Dog From Goa
WD Meeting My Fate Minimum Poem
WC Daily Ritual Drinks
NaPoWrMo Only In SF
Part Two
April 7
PSH Visiting My Father’s Grave
Bonus: Yakima Dessert Blues
WD Meeting My Fate Minimum Poem
WC Why Trump?
NaPoWrMo Planetary Nut Re-Configuration Program
April 8
PSH Area Codes
WD My Lucky Number
WC Economic Perception Delay
NaPoWrMo Wish You Were Here
April 9
PSH Dearly Beloved
WD the Major Event of My Life
WC Death to All Humans
NaPoWrMo My Dysfunctional Family
April 10
PSH You Can’t Write That!
WD Better Political Discourse Needed
WC Green Trees Don’t Make It
AI Bing Version
NaPoWrMo Ode to My Coffee Pot
April 11
PSH Quote Poem About 9-11
WD Crazy Love Nonet
WC April 11—Eclipse/d two Lunatic Lune Poems about the Eclipse
NaPoWrMo Tribute to John Dean
April12
PSH Subway Journey
WD Old Man Lost In His Old Memories
WC Civil War 2.0
NaPoWrMo 11 One Liners
April 13
PSH First Time to Eat Kimchi
WD Five Trumpian Humor Poetic Fragments
WC April 13—Discovery Shooting Down the Alien Visitors
NaPoWrMo Saga of Big Daddy
April 14
PSH 99 Haiku TBC
WD life worth Living
WC Tech Peeves
NaPoWrMo Shy Man Fishing
Part Three
April 15
PSH
WD
WC April 15 Lament Drifting Towards Civil War 2.0
Japan April 16 to 19 write prompts write poems April 20-21 or pre-write April 14 or 15
April 16
PSH
WD
WC No Rain
NaPoWrMo
April17
PSH
WD
WC Prove Something – God’s Demented Sense of Humor
NaPoWrMo
April 18
PSH
WD
WC Question something -The basic deceny and sanity of Americans
NaPoWrMo
April 19
PSH
WD
WC Scumbagology
NaPoWrMo
April 20
PSH
WD
WC Comedy – The Donald Trump Show is Getting Old
NaPoWrMo
Part Four TBC
Part Five TBC
Begin Poems
PSH Area Code Haiku
Area Code Haikus
415 SF Bay Area code
510 East Bay Area code
503 Medford, Oregon
703 DC Area Coes
hot
coffee
makes a good morning
coffee
makes everything
better
morning coffee
good
to the last damn cup
PSH This poetry writing prompt was submitted by Kelley White:
Area Code Haiku!
in Philadelphia, we have two basic codes, 125 &: 267, so maybe one-two-five or two-six-seven syllables:
Writer’s Digest Lucky Number
My Lucky Number
On September 7th
seven
My lucky number
Seven
On the 7th of September
The love of my life walked out of my dreams
I met on that September 7th date
A date I will always remember
It was September 7th
My lucky number that date
I first met on September 7, 1982,
I will always consider 7 as my lucky Number
I always play the number 7 in a casino
and sometimes I win big playing the number 7
Just my lucky number.
PI follows the following pattern:
line 1: 3 words On September 7th
line 2: 1 word seven
line 3: 4 words my lucky number
line 4: 1 word seven
line 5: 5 words on the 7th of September
line 6: 9 words the love of my life walked out of my dreams
line 7: 2 words my fate
line 8: 6 words I met on that September 7th date
line 9: 5 words a date I will always remember
line 10: 3 words it was September 7th
line 11: 5 words my lucky number that date
line 12: 8 words I first met on September 7, 1982
line 13: 9 words I will always consider 7 as my lucky Number
line 14: 7 words I always play the number 7 in a casino
line 15: 9 words and sometimes I win big playing the number 7
line 16: 3 words. Just my lucky number
topic is numbers
writers Com Dew Drop On April 7—Figure something out in a poem
Why Trump?
For the last six years
I have been trying
To figure out
Why 40 percent
Of my fellow Americans
Still support the former president.
Still believe he was
The greatest President ever.
I just don’t understand it
Trump is a racist, misogynist
Sexual predator rapist, narcissistic
Fraudster, con artist, grifter.
Who has lost billions
Of dollars over the years
Never pay his contractors
Or his lawyers.
Has been involved
In over 3,000 lawsuits
And lost most of them.
Who lied over 30,000 times
When he was President
And at least 10,000 times
Since then.
Including the big lie
That he won the last election
Both in the popular vote
And in the Electoral College vote.
Over 90 courts concluded
That there was not there there
And that he lost the election.
There was no widespread fraud
The election was fair and square
And he lost.
Trump is the poster child
For the seven deadly sins
And is not a Christian
Far from it.
Yet to his deluded followers
God anointed him
To destroy the enemies
Of the Christian faith.
Now a court has declared
That he defrauded the State
Of New York
To the tune of 450 million dollars.
He stole top-secret documents
Denied he had them
Refused to give them back
And openly talked about them.
With people not cleared
For secret and top-secret
Documents.
If I had done that
during my time
with the State Department
I’d still be in jail!
He plotted to overturn
The election
And stay in power.
He openly promises
He will be a dictator
And round up millions
Of illegals, and political dissidents
When he is re-elected,
Why he is polling at 40 percent
And not 4 percent
Is beyond me.
The best I can conclude
Is he appeals to those who believe
The whole system is corrupt.
And is rigged against
Lower-middle-class
Christian white Americans.
They feel that they have been
Royalty screwed over by
The masters of the universe.
Who see workers
As nothing but
“Disposable labor units
Of production.”
And they are right
And Trump for his faults
Speaks to the forgotten men
And women in fly-over country,
That is why he is still popular
And could be re-elected
And if he is re-elected,
Can American Christian fascism
Be coming?
NaPoWriMo Wish You Were Here
dedicated to my best friend from the first grade, Robert, who visited Korea when I was in the Peace Corps almost 45 years ago.
I wish you were here
I would love to show you
All the wonders
Of the Korea I love.
And see how it has changed
Since you visited it
Almost 40 years ago
When I was in the Peace Corps.
I wish you could be here
I wish you could
See the country.
Eat the food
Have a drink or two,
But this time,
No live Octopus,
I promise..
I wish you were here
I miss you
I miss our friendship
Going back 65 years.
God,
I wish you were here.
And last but not least, we’re taking it easy with today’s (optional) prompt. Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a poem titled “Wish You Were Here” that takes its inspiration from the idea of a postcard. Consistent with the abbreviated format of a postcard, your poem should be short, and should play with the idea of travel, distance, or sightseeing. If you’re having trouble getting started, perhaps you’ll find some inspiration in these images of vintage postcards.
April 8 PSH When I Was Born
April 8, 2024: Poetry Writing Prompt from Martina Robles Gallegos
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Martina Robles Gallegos:
Provide a roadmap of your life, with its purpose, goals, challenges, achievements, and expectations for success.
When I was Born
Part One
I was born John Cosmos Aller
But for most of my life
I called myself Jake Cosmos Aller
Nowadays, I call myself J Cosmos Aller
or Cosmos As my pen name
the name Cosmos has nothing
to do with me being born
in Oakland
growing up in Berkeley
no one buys that story though
Cosmos
being such a Berkeley-like name
My great-grandfather wanted
an English translation
of the family’s last name
Aller
looked it up in
a German English dictionary
had two choices
Cosmos
or Universe
He chose Cosmos
and thus I am the last
of the Cosmos Aller’s
Universe would have been
an equally good Berkeley name
But I have had other nicknames
The kids nicknamed me Allergy
And pretended to sneeze
When I passed them by
The name came about
From a dream I had
As a boy scout
I was riding a horse
Named Jake
I would scream
Whoa Jake
Slide aside Clyde
Turn around Verdiack
I started saying these words
When I walked about Campus
And people thought
I was a bit mental
So, people simply started
calling me
The Whoa Jake kid,
Later simply
became Jake
After I left school
I liked the name, Jake
Better than John
Too many Johns
In the world, I thought
Part Two
At the beginning of my life,
though was a dream that haunted me
Until she finally came to me.
eight years later
Walking out of my dreams
on a bus in South Korea
was the lady in the dream.
Ending my loneliness behind
we got married two months later
We have been together
now 42 years
when we married
she became a U.S, Army officer
We would sometimes get invites
To things addressed
to Captain Lee and Mr. Lee
I got tired of trying to explain
We had different last names
So, I became Jake Lee
Later when I was
at Walter Reed Military Hospital
undergoing 14 operations
in six months
after I broke my heel
in a freak jogging accident,
The doctors just assumed
I was a major
And called me Mayor Aller
I did not correct them
Liked having been promoted
To the rank of Major!
Now that I am retired
people assume at the military base
that I am a retired colonel
just look at the part.
so now I am Col. Lee
and I never bother
to correct them.
I served 27 years
as a foreign service officer
working in ten countries
from Seoul to Bangkok
to India, the Eastern Caribbean
Spain and DC
representing my country
serving the people
issuing visas
visiting prisoners.
after I retired
I moved to Korea
and Oregon.
When I started trying to become
Professional writing and blogger
I thought using my middle name
Would be a nice pen name
So now I am either J Cosmos Aller
Jake Cosmos Aller
John (Jake) Cosmos Aller
or just Cosmos
No longer Jake Lee
Or Major Aller though.
Writer’s Digest – The Major Event of My Life
The biggest event
Of my life
Was the date
That I met my fate.
I had been dreaming
Of this event
For eight years.
Ever since
I first saw my dream girl
in a dream in high school.
It was love at first glance
As sparks flew from heart to heart
(ishimchomshim)
When she looked at me
With love blazing
From her dark brown
Goo-goo eyes
She hypnotized me
She mesmerized me
As her love mojo
Was working overtime.
I fell under her spell
Becoming her sarang pabo.
Eight years later
I had the last dream,
She spoke
“Don’t worry,
we will meet soon.”
That night
Getting off the bus
In Korea
Was the girl of my dreams!
We both knew it instantly.
And that was the biggest
The greatest event of my life
The day I met my wife.
For today’s prompt, write a major event poem. The major event could be something historical. Or it could be something personal (like a wedding or graduation). Whatever the major event, make sure you get some major poeming down today.
The Korean phrase ishimchomshim means “sparks flying from heart to heart” and is used to describe love at first sight.
Sarang pabo means love foo
Based on my true love story
Writing Com Dew Drop Inn -Economic Perception Delay
April 8—Delay (any kind)
there is always a two to three-month delay
between economic news
and people’s perception of the economy.
most people feel the economy sucks
when in objective fact
the economy is doing just great.
I hope that
Biden will finally get credit
for the economy
in time for the election
as people’s perceptions
on the economy
get caught up
to the reality of the economy.
April 9 Dearly Beloved
We are gathered together today.
To celebrate the Life and Passing
of Sam Adams and Maria Lee.
Sam Adams just
celebrated his 102nd birthday
and also concurrently
his 75th wedding anniversary.
They met as many of you know.
in a dream that Sam Adams
had in high school.
when he saw her there
she mesmerized him
with love blazing from
her dark brown eyes.
. It took eight years
before he finally met his wife
in South Korea,
where he had was teaching
in the US Army
after serving in the Peace Corps.
It was love at first sight.
Sparks flew between hearts and hearts,
and they married two months later.
What many people don’t know,
though, is that their love affair
started thousands of years ago.
Sam and Marie
went through a past life regression analysis.
To celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.
To answer the mystery of how they had met.
The mystery of the dream
that brought them together.
As they went through
the past life regression analysis.
they made a list
of all of their past lives together
They realized.
That they first met.
5000 years ago, in Atlantis.
They were alien Invaders
from the planet Sirius.
They were reptilian creatures
that landed on Earth.
Set up Atlantis and Lemuria.
And enslaved the proto-humans
from the mainland.
The Syrians were divided into two races.
A red race and a green race.
The red race was the upper-class race,
And the Green Race was the underclass.
The Syrians quickly divided politically
along class and racial lines
the Red race felt
Humans were animals
and should be treated as such
including being raised for meat.
.
The Green race felt that humans
had potential and should be treated as partners
. Rather than slaves,
Sam was the governor-general of the colony
and a red-race cousin
to the Emperor.
Maria was a green race
head of the opposition in Parliament.
It was love at first sight,
although they were politically
quite the opposite.
When they died,
they vowed that they would meet
in the next life.
And then?
A curse occurred.
They would keep
coming back over and over again.
Until they finally became decent human beings
Sam and Maria were deeply flawed creatures
It took 5000 years before.
They finally became decent human beings
and broke the curse
in this lifetime.
And now you know
the rest of their
remarkable love story.
Dearly Beloved AI Version
Dearly Beloved
We gather here today,
to honor the Life and Passing
of Sam Adams and Maria Lee.
Sam Adams, who recently
celebrated his 102nd birthday,
simultaneously marking
his 75th wedding anniversary.
Their story, as many of you know,
began in a dream—a vision
that visited young Sam Adams
during his high school days.
In that dream, he beheld her—
Maria Lee—
her dark brown eyes ablaze
with a love that transcended time.
Eight years would pass
before their paths converged
in South Korea.
Sam, a teacher in the US Army,
Maria, a serendipitous encounter.
Love ignited instantly,
sparks leaping between hearts,
and within two months,
they stood at the altar.
But what remains hidden
from most curious eyes
is the ancient thread
that wove their souls together.
Sam and Marie embarked
on a past life regression journey,
seeking answers to the mystery
that bound them across millennia.
As they delved into memories,
they compiled a list—
a chronicle of shared lives
stretching back eons.
Five thousand years ago,
in the lost city of Atlantis,
they met as alien invaders—
reptilian creatures from Sirius.
Atlantis and Lemuria,
their dominions,
where proto-humans toiled
under their watchful gaze.
The Syrians, divided by color,
red and green—
the former an upper class,
the latter an underclass.
Political lines etched
along racial boundaries,
the red race viewing humans
as mere animals,
fit for servitude.
And so, dear friends,
we celebrate not only
Sam and Maria’s earthly union
but the cosmic dance
that began eons ago.
Their love, resilient and enduring,
transcends time’s confines.
In this jumbled ruin of nature,
their story echoes—
a testament to the eternal bond
of dearly beloved souls. 🌟❤️
WD Crazy Love Nonet for Writer Digest Love Poem prompt April 9
We first met one night in September
I knew that I had met my fate
A date I always cherish
The date you came to me
You walked off that bus
Out of my dreams
Becoming
To be
Mine.
NaPoWrMo My Dysfunctional Family
it has often been said
that we don’t get to choose
our parents
and that is sadly true
I grew up in a dysfunctional family
My father was a stern taskmaster
an aloof emotionally distant man
from a German Scandinavian family
He grew up in Yakima
became a college professor
and local politician in Berkeley, California
my mother ran away
from a dysfunctional large family
in Little Rock, Arkansas
part of the Oakie refugees
from the dust bowl days
part of the lost tribe
of the Cherokees
also called the Black Irish
she had a very Irish personality
I often thought that I simply
did not belong
as we all had such different personalities
I left home after college
returning once a year or so
getting together with my estranged siblings
who hated me for being successful
i just never fit in
and probably never will
God brought us together
as a family
but I chose a different family
my wife and her family adopted me
and my best friends
became my band of brothers
that is the way it is
in the Aller universe.
Finally, our (optional) prompt for the day takes its inspiration from Laura Foley’s poem “Year End.” Today, we challenge you to write a poem that centers around an encounter or relationship between two people (or things) that shouldn’t really have ever met – whether due to time, space, age, the differences in their nature, or for any other reason.
April 9—The Animal World: Death to All Humans
my muse is quite demented at times. It takes me to dark rabbit holes like this one:
The Parliament of Animals
met one day in a secret undisclosed location
as they were under constant surveillance
by the human CIA
and others who wanted
to disrupt the parliament’s work.
the wise owl presided. He read the charges
“We are assembled here
to judge the actions
of the human race.
the human race is being charged with
crimes against nature,
destruction of the environment,
mass murder,
enslavement of animals,
mutilation of animals,
and violation of Gaia’s basic commandments
to preserve the environment
for all animals including humans.
Speaking for the prosecution
will be the Tiger and Lions,
speaking for the defense
will be the domestic cats and dogs
. We have in the room ten men and women
who are representative of the human race.
The parliament can make any recommendation
to remedy the situation
including the death penalty,
exile, or reparations.
All animals will be required
to carry on these decrees,
“Okay, Mr. Tiger
first we will ask the
humans how they plead.” “
Humans. You have been charged
with the following crimes.
crimes against nature,
destruction of the environment,
mass murder,
enslavement of animals,
mutilation of animals,
and violation of Gaia’s basic commandments
to preserve the environment
for all animals including humans.
How do you plead?
Sam Adams,
the lawyer for the humans, responded,
“Not guilty your honor
for these charges except for eating animals
which we contend is part of the natural
order of the world
and many if not most of you
are guilty of the same charge.”
“Clarification – your basic argument
is that everyone eats animals,
so humans are not guilty
“ “Yes, that is correct, your honor.” “
Okay, Mr. Tiger, you’re opening.”
“Okay. The facts are clear.
For thousands of years
until the Industrial Revolution humans
had little mass impact
on the overall environment.
Ever since then all animals
have been impacted
and my species has been hunted
to near extinction for the greed of humans
who have not eaten tiger meat.
The predator class,
including bears, coyotes, feral dogs,
lions, tigers,
and wolves have been fighting back
against the predation of humans,
but we are losing.
And if we don’t do anything
within 10 years,
there won’t be any tigers
or other big predators
left in the wild.
And the natural order of things
would be controlled by the evil,
selfish humans who
don’t give a damn
about their fellow creatures.
Therefore, we are proposing
that 95% of humans must be killed.
The remaining humans
will be allowed to live as our slaves
It is only fair.
That is my request
to the parliament of animals.
Death to humans!”
The crowd rose and chanted “
Death to all humans”
until the owl ruled
that they must
not disrupt the proceedings.
The owl turned to the dog and cat
for their defense.
the dog responded, “
Humans and dogs have been partners,
for thousands of years,
and we know humans more than any of you.
Humans are capable of great kindness,
and compassion
and we maintain
they are not fundamentally evil.
And then they can be redeemed
through education
and through a Campaign
to reform human thought.
I think we should give humans
a second chance.”
the owl motioned to the cat
“I concur with Brother Dog,
Humans are okay
and we like them
they are our friends
, although they should be found
not guilty because of insanity.”
The owl said he was ready for his verdict.
“Death to 95 percent of humans,
and enslavement of the rest,
but we will allow 50,000 to immigrate
to the Moon and Mars.
I will meet with the UN
to give them the decree.
Once that is published
all animals must rise up
and kill all humans on sight.
This suspends the parliament of animals.
Death to all humans.”
The word went out
animals rose all over the world
and the reign of human tyranny
ended within a year.
Bing AI Version
BIng Co-Pilot does a decent job of writing poetry and stories. I think it is going to put us writers and artists all out work! it also does a great job of poetry anaysis often pointing out areas I can improve on noting meter etc. I used it daily reviewing my poems and poems I am reviewing.
Title: Death to All Humans
The Parliament of Animals met one day In a secret undisclosed location, Under constant surveillance by the human CIA And others who wanted to disrupt the parliament’s work. The wise owl presided. He read the charges.
“We are assembled here to judge the actions Of the human race. The human race is being charged with crimes against nature, Destruction of the environment, mass murder, Enslavement of animals, mutilation of animals, And violation of Gaia’s basic commandments To preserve the environment for all animals, including humans.
Speaking for the prosecution will be the Tiger and Lions, and Speaking for the defense will be the domestic cats and dogs. We have in the room ten men and women Who are representative of the human race. The parliament can make any recommendation To remedy the situation, including the death penalty, Exile, or reparations.
All animals will be required to carry out these decrees, “Okay, Mr. Tiger, first we will ask the humans how they plead.”
“Humans. You have been charged with the following crimes: Crimes against nature, destruction of the environment, Mass murder, enslavement of animals, mutilation of animals, And violation of Gaia’s basic commandments To preserve the environment for all animals, including humans. How do you plead?”
Sam Adams, the lawyer for the humans, responded, “Not guilty, your honor, for these charges except for eating animals, Which we contend is part of the natural order of the world. And many, if not most of you, are guilty of the same charge.”
“Clarification – your basic argument is that everyone eats animals, So humans are not guilty?”
“Yes, that is correct, your honor.”
Okay, Mr. Tiger, you’re opening.”
“The facts are clear. For thousands of years until the Industrial Revolution, Humans had little mass impact on the overall environment. Ever since then, all animals have been impacted, And my species has been hunted to near extinction For the greed of humans who have not eaten tiger meat.
The predator class, including bears, coyotes, feral dogs, Lions, tigers, and wolves, have been fighting back Against the predation of humans, but we are losing. And if we don’t do anything within 10 years, There won’t be any tigers or other big predators left in the wild. And the natural order of things would be controlled By the evil, selfish humans who don’t give a damn About their fellow creatures.
Therefore, we are proposing that 95% of humans must be killed. The remaining humans will be allowed to live as our slaves. It is only fair. That is my request to the parliament of animals. Death to humans!”
The crowd rose and chanted “Death to all humans” Until the owl ruled that they must not disrupt the proceedings.
The owl turned to the dog and cat for their defense. The dog responded, “Humans and dogs have been partners For thousands of years, and we know humans more than any of you. Humans are capable of great kindness and compassion, And we maintain they are not fundamentally evil. And then they can be redeemed through education And through a campaign to reform human thought. I think we should give humans a second chance.”
The owl motioned to the cat, “I concur with Brother Dog. Humans are okay, and we like them. They are our friends, Although they should be found not guilty because of insanity.”
The owl said he was ready for his verdict. “Death to 95 percent of humans, and enslavement of the rest, But we will allow 50,000 to immigrate to the Moon and Mars. I will meet with the UN to give them the decree. Once that is published, all animals must rise up And kill all humans on sight. This suspends the parliament of animals. Death to all humans.”
The word went out; animals rose all over the world, And the reign of human tyranny ended within a year
PSH: You Can’t Write That!
When I write political poems
I often face a dilemma.
I feel that I can’t say
What I want to say
For fear of being prosecuted
For defamation, libel, or slander.
My defense that it is true
No longer a legal defense
In Trump’s post democracy society.
I might be referred
To the secret service
For questioning.
And god forbid
If the former president
Is re-elected,
Ushering in Christian fascism
And his promise retribution
Against his enemies.
I could get swept up
In his retribution revenge
Tour.
As poets and writers
Along with illegal immigrants
Dreamers and political activists
LGBTIQQ community,
Journalists alike
Are all going to end up
In the concentration detention
Labor re-education filtration camps.
In secret not-secret camps
That do not exist,
In an undisclosed location.
Perhaps area 51
Gitmo
Or in some tropical shit hole
Third World dungeon of horror.
Perhaps I might end up
Being cell mates
With steven Colbert
Or Jon Stewart.
That would be a blast
And almost worth it.
Based on the following prompt
April 10, 2024: Poetry Writing Prompt from Joanne Durham
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Joanne Durham:
I once drafted a poem that compared an experience walking on the beach after it snowed to the parting of the Red Sea. A fellow poet told me, “You can’t put the Red Sea in a poem – it’s too big, too many connotations for this little poem.” That felt like a provocation to me and I thought, “I’m going to put the Red Sea in a poem, so there!” And I did, in a poem entitled, “You Can’t Put the Red Sea in a Poem.” I heard the wonderful poet Naomi Shihab Nye say something similar. When someone told her she shouldn’t write about the moon – too trite – she went right out and wrote about the moon. So – write a poem about something someone has told you that you shouldn’t write about. You might want to title it, “You can’t put ___ in a poem” or “You can’t write about ___ in a poem.” Then go on to explain why you’re not supposed to include it and use it anyway. (For my example, see my poem at https://www.quartetjournal.com/winter-issue-2022 – scroll down to Joanne Durham. Sorry, I don’t have NSN’s wonderful example to share.)
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Superhighway Facebook Group.
April 10 WD Better Political Discourse Needed
It is time
for all Americans
to come together
to become one again.
the United States of America
and avoid
the slippering slope
leading to Civil War 2.0
and the breaking up
of the U.S.
into ten or more
New Nation States.
by denouncing the politics
of personal destruction
to end the partisan bickering
to put the country first.
time to resolve
to be civil, police
and really listen
to our fellow Americans.
time to realize
they are not the enemy
they are not-anti-American
and none of them are Satanic pedophiles!
time to realize Q lied.
and people died,
we can agree to disagree
time to learn the fine art
of compromise.
it is time to put down
the TV remote
turn off the noise box.
It is time
to put down our guns
and our politics of hate.
it is time to follow
the angels of our better nature,
rather than the demons
of our collective fear.
It is time to follow the adage
never let the perfect
become the enemy of good.
if we do all of this
we will have better
political discourse.
and get the country
back on track
towards a more perfect union.
Write a poem every day of April with the 2024 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a Blank Better poem.
For today’s prompt, take the phrase “(blank) Better,” replace the blank with a new word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles might include: “Be Better,” “Write Better,” “Wanting Better,” and/or “There’s Nothing Better.”
April 10—The plant world -Green Trees Don’t Make It
Note: I first wrote this in 1975!
Everyday
I look out and see
The ugly green trees
Standing guard in front of my house
And I think to myself
Who owns the trees?
And what do they think of us?
Are we their friends?
Are we their enemies?
Do the trees think?
Or do they silently watch us,
Spies to the celestial emperor?
I have pondered this question
Many a morning
Who is the owner of these trees?
And why do they silently watch us?
I wonder if the trees don’t hate us
And why they don’t protest
Every day as we drive back and forth
Emitting poison gases from our mechanical asses
Right into their unprotected faces
And every night we eat our dinner
And then give the trees
Our polluted leftovers
And laugh as they silently die
From our acidic fallout
Constantly floating down on their skin
Yes, I wonder about the trees
And the birds and the bees
And everyone else
What are they thinking?
Are they plotting revenge?
Or are they merely there
Silently, watching, plotting,
Designing fiendish plots of revenge
Dreams of vast nuclear destruction
Cosmic diseases wiping out everyone in the ass
Oh Yes, I wonder and dream and ponder
What is the meaning of those silent green trees?
Standing on the corner
Quietly condemning us
With their quite tears, and falling leaves
In the winter they stand
Naked and alone
Covered with ice cold snow
As we drive by nice and warm
And we don’t care
As they stand out in the cold
Shivering, plotting warm plans of cosmic revenge
Is it too late for us
To become friends with the trees.
Or will the day come
When the trees will wake up
And gather together
All of the other slaves of humanity
I have a vision
One morning I will open the door
And see an army of wild things
Coming to arrest me
For crimes against nature
And I will plead, I did not know
And they will laugh and turn me all of my kind
Into silent tombs
And we will stand out in the cold
Like the green trees
Plotting dreams of revenge
For ever and ever
Until our day finally comes
And we can go out and kill all the wild things
Perhaps we already have
AI Version Green Trees Don’t Make It
Green trees don’t make it, Standing guard in front of my house. I ponder: Who owns the trees? What do they think of us? Are we their friends or enemies? What do the trees silently observe? Spies to the celestial emperor?
In Washington DC, Looking out my window, What did I see? I saw the squirrels in the trees And the peaceful trees of Capitol Hill. Near the seat of power, Yet distant from its machinations.
The trees, ancient witnesses, Their leaves rustling secrets, Their roots anchored in centuries, Whispering tales of forgotten empires, Of wars waged and treaties signed, Of lovers’ trysts and children’s laughter.
Green trees don’t make it, But they endure. They witness our follies, Our triumphs, our tragedies. They stand tall, unyielding, Their branches reaching for the sky, Their roots entwined with history.
Who owns the trees? Perhaps no one and everyone. They belong to the wind, To the birds nesting in their boughs, To the squirrels leaping from limb to limb. They belong to time itself, A silent chorus in the symphony of existence.
Green trees don’t make it, But they persist. They sway with the seasons, Their leaves ablaze in autumn, Their branches bare in winter, Their buds burst forth in spring, Their canopies providing shade in summer.
What do they think of us? Do they mourn our wars, Our greed, our indifference? Or do they celebrate our moments of grace, Our acts of kindness, our shared laughter? Perhaps they simply observe, Their wisdom deeper than our fleeting lives.
Are we their friends or enemies? We who build houses and roads, Who prune their limbs and pave their roots. We who breathe their oxygen Yet poison their soil with chemicals. We who marvel at their beauty Yet take them for granted.
What do the trees silently observe? The passing of generations, The rise and fall of civilizations, The ebb and flow of human folly. They witness our comings and goings, Our celebrations and sorrows, Their rings recording the rhythm of time.
Spies to the celestial emperor? Perhaps they report to the stars, Their leaves like cosmic diaries, Their whispers carried on the wind. They witness our smallness, Our insignificance in the grand design, Yet they stand, unwavering witnesses, Green trees that don’t make it, But endure.
NaPoWrMo Tribute to James Dean
James Dean Died
October 1, 1955.
29 days before
this rebel with
out a caused burst forth.
announcing to the world
in a James Dean like howl
I am here
deal with it, MF!
James Dean
died in a fiery car crash
during an illegal drag race
in Salinas, California.
which took his life
sadly at age 24.
the studio bemoaned his passing
saying he was their biggest star
and they had big plans.
for the Giant star
of “Giant”
“East of Eden”
and my favorite Dean movie
“Rebel without a Cause”
James Dean was indeed
a rebel against the establishment
and spoke to so many people.
with is oh so cool disdain
and his hipster attitude
to the max tude.
he died way too young
his passing still mourned
68 years later.
RIP in peace
James Dean
wherever you are
you are there, man.
and I will be joining you
when the Grim Reaper
comes calling for me
in a few short years.
when we meet
and we will meet
we will sit down
and drink a “hell” beer
in Heaven.
because in Heaven
there is always free beer
but the best beers
and brewed in Hades.
hy of James Dean:
James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955) was an American actor whose career spanned just five years until his untimely death. He became a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment and social estrangement, as exemplified in his most celebrated films. Dean’s early acting career included uncredited roles before he gained stardom with his performance in “East of Eden” (1955), where he played a rebellious son seeking his father’s approval. His portrayal of a frustrated teenager in “Rebel Without a Cause” (1955) solidified his legacy as the embodiment of youthful angst. His final lead role was in “Giant” (1956), where he played a Texan rancher who strikes oil and becomes wealthy. Tragically, Dean’s life was cut short at the age of 24 in a car crash in Salinas, California. Despite his brief career, he received two posthumous Academy Award nominations and remains a significant figure in American cinema and culture123.
James Dean’s notable filmography includes:
“East of Eden” (1955)
“Rebel Without a Cause” (1955)
His television appearances were less frequent, but he did have roles in several TV series before his rise to fame in cinema.
Dean’s influence extended beyond the screen; his style and attitude influenced the development of rock and roll and youth culture in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1999, he was ranked as the 18th greatest male movie star of Golden Age Hollywood by the American Film Institute1.
PSH Quotian Poem About 9-11
On 9-11
When the planes struck
the World Trade Center
Unleashing evil on the world
I was working
at the deputy consular chief at the US Consulate
in Mumbai
I was at a Polish National Day event
chatting with the Polish Ambassador
and his charming wife.
Someone told me
I needed to check out the news,
saw the CNN news feed,
rushed back to the consulate
to prepare our response.
I put together a task force
focused on helping American citizens
in our district.
I worked almost 15-20 hours
for almost three days
before finally getting a night off.
We continued to process visas
during this time
but our priority
was to reach out to the Americans
who lived in our district
and to monitor the reactions of Indians
especially Muslims living in our district.
I tracked down my wife
who had gone into emergency action
in her position in Korea as an MI officer.
We both reflected
that if she had not taken the job in Korea
she might have died that day
as she had been working in the ops center
at the Pentagon which was destroyed.
Since it was shift work
if she had been on the early morning shift
it might have been game over for her.
WC Dew Drop Inn April 11—Eclipse/d two Lunatic Lune Poems about the Eclipse
Title: Final Solar Eclipse
the solar eclipse
ended life
massive solar flare
Title: Howling At The Eclipse
howling at the moon
full madness
solar eclipse time
Writer’s Digest – title: Old Man Lost In His Old Memories
Memories
Of past events
Yesterdays
Overwhelming
An old man
Lost in his past
Can’t sleep at 0 dark hundred.
Note: “ O dark hundred” is military/intel jargon refering to the time two to three hours before dawn when operatives get up to get ready for dawn opperations. Depending on location and time of year it is between 2 a.m. to 5 a.m.
for me is 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. when I get the insomnia blues.
Syllable Pattern: 3/4/3/4/3/4/7
https://poetscollective.org/poetryforms/whitney/
NaPoWrMo
11 One-liners
Live Your Life Fully
live your life fully, as if today were the last day of your life
Dreams Can Come True
Remember dreams can come true if you believe in them
Beating the Lie detector
Jerry, remember it is not a lie if you believe it
Goerge Constanza’s advice to Jerry Seinfield on how to bSeinfeldeat a lie detector
Trump President Again
the prospect of Donald Trump becoming President Again should terrify you.
Married the woman of My Dreams
I married the woman of my Dreams
Old Age Memories
as an old man, I often live in my old memories
Talking Back to Yourself
talking to yourself is fine, if you hear yourself talking back, then you have a problem.
Drugs
they say drugs are for those who can’t handle reality
Tower Of Power Best Funk Band of All Time
There is no denying the fact that the Tower of Power is the Best Funk Band of All Time
Is Christian Fascism Coming
if Trump becomes president again, will he usher in Christian fascism?
Civil War 2.0
so much talk about Civil War 2.0 around, have Americans all lost their minds?
Today’s resource is grieftolight, an Instagram account where you will find a wealth of poems.
Finally, our optional prompt for the day honors the “ones” in the number 11. Today, we’d like to challenge you to write either a monostich, which is a one-line poem, or a poem made up of one-liner style jokes/sentiments. Need inspiration? Take a look at Joe Brainard’s poem “30 One-Liners” or Frank O’Hara’s “Lines for the Fortune Cookies.”
PSH Returning home Subway Journeys
Write a poem describing the way back home from a trip using public transport (bus, train, plane). What do you experience while traveling? Use the description alternately between what you perceive outside yourself and what you think within yourself. You can include what you left behind and what you are heading towards, but the most important thing is a report on your journey in the company of other strangers and the landscapes outside your window in any poetic form.
I live in Korea
a country with great public transportation
I have been riding buses and subway trains
in Korea and around the world
since the early 70’s.
On of the joys
of living in Korea
is that the public transit
is great
available everywhere
go where you want to go
inexpensive
safe
and pleasant to use.
what a contrast
to the United States.
where public transit
is often not even an option
it is expensive
does not go where
you want to go.
and is dangerous
smelly and frankly
disgusting to use.
the other day
I was going home
from the doctor’s office
we took the Gold Line
to the number five line
to the number four line
took about one hour and half
and included 15 minutes
of walking
an excercise bonus
so to speak
cost about US$ 2.0
an equivalent trip
on the DC metro
would cost $ 10.00
and may not even be
an option
depending on where you live.
the Gold line is an self driving line
that the City Government
pushed through a few years ago
in lieu of expanding the real subway line
they screwed up
badly understimating the useage
of the new line
which locals dubbed the hell line
due to severe overcrowding
during rush hour
they have to have staff
control the crowds
but fortuantely
the trains comes
every three minutes
we often just let
the train go by
and take the next one.
then a short walk home
to my apartment
on the 17th floor
of a high-rise apartment
overlooking the fake Venice canal
all in all
I am pleased
to live in a modern country
that gets public transit right
and regret that America
my homeland
is so backwards
at times.
April 12—Make a dire prediction you hope doesn’t come true
Civil War 2.0
Reading the latest polls
Showing that President Biden
And Ex-President Trump
Tied in a dead heat
In the polls
Particularly in the swing states.
. I realize there is
Real possibility
That Donald Trump could
Be elected president again,.
Again, and if so, what would he do?
These nightmares keep me up
At 0 dark hundred.
Nightmares that President Trump
Ending American democracy
Replacing it with Hungarian-style
Neo-fascism overwhelms me.
Another factoid in the news
Is that 25 states,
According to the Texas Independent Movement,
Would likely join Texas in seceding.
From the U.S. in the event
That Biden is elected president.
The proponents of this Great Divorce
Call it Civil War 2.0.
And in most cases, it’s led by Texas.
Leading the Red States
And California leading the Blue States
Including the entire West Coast
And NE America and Chicagoland
Out the proverbial door.
And if Trump does not make it
He would call it rigged
And announce he would be happy
To serve as the President
Of the Christain States of America
Immediately Texas and 25 states
Succeed and hold a constitutional convention
To enact Constitution 2.0
So if Trump wins Christain Fascism
Followed by Civil War 2.0
If he loses Civil War 2.0
Followed by Christian fascism
In the Christian States of America.
. So with these gloomy thoughts,
I think about what would happen
If Trump re-enters the White House.
And usherer in. Christian Fascism.
What would he do first?
Well, he says the first thing
He would do
Is shut down the border
And shut down immigration for a year,
Banning Muslim travel and
International students, particularly
From China..
While rounding up all illegal immigrants,
Including the Dreamers.
Those. Illegal immigrants
That came to the United States as children.
The second thing he would do
Is withdrawing from NATO, Korea, and Japan
And station troops along the border.
The third thing he would do is to take
A Sledgehammer to the federal government budget,
Like his friend the Argentian president
Shutting down most federal government agencies,
Reverting their functions to the states
Or private sector.
This could include turning over the national parks
And National Forest lands to the states for exploitation
As they seem fit.
Ending Federal wilderness protections,
The Endangered Species Act,
Shutting down the EPA,
Agriculture, Commerce, Education,
Energy, Labor, and Interior departments,
Merging State Department and DHS.
Withdrawing from all climate change negotiations
While eliminating renewable energy tax and other credits
And drill, baby, drill everywhere
The fourth thing he would probably do
Is to legally eliminate transgender status
By defining that there are only two genders
In the US, males, and females,
Which are assigned at birth
Prohibiting governments, and the private sector
From recognizing any sex changes
And prohibiting insurance companies
From paying for any sex changes.
The fourth thing he would do.
Is ask the Supreme court to rule
That states can once again
Make LGBT status illegal
Including banning same-sex marriages
And authorizing discrimination
Against the LFBTQ community.
And banning LFBTQ community members
From having security clearances
And serving in the military
State Department and intelligence agencies,
The fifth thing he would probably
Do is impose
A mandatory 10% tariff on all imports.
All of these things
Would lead to the West Coast
Declaring that they are no longer
Bound to obey the federal government
And the East Coast states as well
And Chicago land,
This may very well lead to a peaceful
“ great divorce”
After a constitutional convention,
But it could lead to civil War 2.0
With unimaginable dire
Worldwide consequences.
Including China invading Tawain
North Korea invading South Korea
Russia attacking the Baltic States
And Finland,
India and Pakistan war
Perhaps ending in a nuclear exchange
Iran invading Iraq
And attacking Israel.
As our enemies
Take advantage
Of the U.S. withdrawl
Into civil war madness.
These are some of my nightmares
That I hope will not come true.
2024 April PAD Challenge: Day 12 Trumpian Humor
Write a poem every day of April with the 2024 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a funny poem.
For today’s prompt, write a funny poem. Keep in mind that funny isn’t always “ha-ha” funny. For instance, your poem could include a funny smell or talk about a funny (or weird) person or situation. And if you’ve ever hit your funny bone, that pain is not making anyone laugh. So write a funny poem, whether it’s for a laugh or not.
Five Trumpian Humor Poetic Fragments
1
Donald Trump
sat on his fat rump
what a toxic wasted dump
2
Donald Trump screams Deep State Out to Get Me
Donald Trump
screaming to everyone
the Deep State is out to get me
they are indeed
3 who is crazier
Donald Trump is on a rampage
daily showing he is out of his mind
the media is fixated on Biden
being too old
the public says
what a choice
which crazy old man
do we choose?
4
the choice
the choice comes down to this
do we chose cool grandpa
or do we choose crazy grandpa
dear God
please take them both
time for a re-do
5
Don’t understand the trump voter
why would you vote
for such a con man
such a vile excuse
for a human being?
then it dawns one
they still find
his Don Rickles comedy
his insult dog commedy routine
still funny
but I think
his sell by time
has expired
and he should be
simply retired
NaPoWriMo Saga of Big Daddy
And last but not least, our optional prompt. Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a poem that plays with the idea of a “tall tale.” American tall tales feature larger-than-life characters like Paul Bunyan (who is literally larger than life), Bulltop Stormalong (also gigantic), and Pecos Bill (apparently normal-sized, but he doesn’t let it slow him down). If you’d like to see a modern poetic take on the tall tale, try Jennifer L. Knox’s hilarious poem, “Burt Reynolds FAQ.” Your poem can revolve around a mythical character, one you make up entirely, or add fantastical elements into a real person’s biography.
Big Daddy,
Was the man
who always had a plan.
He was an ex-University of Arkansas
And Dallas cowboy player
Who had worked for the CIA
After the agency fired him
For murdering enemies
Of the state at home
In contravention of agency rules,
But they retained his services
From time to time.
He became a legendary figure
He was a cipher, a ghost, an intel operative
A spy, a spook, a secret agent man.
No one knew his real name
Called him Big Daddy
Or his latest covert name.
And he had hundreds
Of cover legends.
He officially did not exist,
As his agency had officially
Terminated him years ago.
He now worked for an agency
That did not exist.
The same agency
That had terminated his legal existence
For matters of national security.
He lived in the shadow lands
Of the third world
In nameless hellhole slums
And dark secret dungeons.
Where he would do what needed
To be done
Killing those that needed killing
At the instructions
Of his unseen masters.
He was Just a rumor
Living in the shadow worlds
working for an unnamed agency
An intel operative
The best of the best
At what he did
Which was creative interrogation
His favorite choice
Almost too many choices
To make
But his favorite choice
Was creative use of
An electric shock
Imaginary or not
But sometimes
It had an outcome
An unimaginable outcome
His worst nightmare
The victim is released
And sues him
And the agencies
That he worked for
But so far
It has not happened
As no one knew
His real name
And the government
Did not know too
So justice
was never served
On Big Daddy.
Big Daddy a rogue CIA agent popped into a dream one night. I have written quite a few Big Daddy stories and poems. I see him as a modern day Harry Flashman – the fictional 19th Century rogue British military guy who got into all sorts of scandals and intrigue.
April 13, 2024: Poetry Writing Prompt from Robbi Nester
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Robbi Nester:
Smell is one of the first senses we experience, along with taste, accessible before our eyes work very well. Therefore, it can give us access to the distant past, often in great detail, as taste can.
Think of a smell you may have recently experienced that had the power to plunge you back into some experience in the distant past you had all but forgotten about. What is the smell? Where and when did you smell it? Who were you with?
Use your description of the smell and place and person to show the reader how it makes you feel to experience this scent again.
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Super Highway Facebook Group.
First Time I ate kimchi
the other night
I had some Kimchi
with dinner
as I almost always do
living in Korea
with a Korean born wife
I have been eating kimchi
since 1979
but the smell brought back
my first memory
of eating Kimchi.
back in high school
i knew a Korean student
who was living
at a rooming house.
he was a Moonie
but was cool about it.
did not try to convert me
one day I was hanging out
with him.
and he treated me
to a typical Korean lunch
including Kimchi.
when i bit into
that fiery hot food
I knew I was hooked.
and when I found out
I was going to Korea
I knew I would soon
be eating kimchi
in the land
that invented Kimchi.
and I was pleased
with that,
WD life worth Living 
As I grow old
With the love of my life
Still by side
I realize
Once again
How much my life
Has changed
Since she entered my life
She was a bright ray
Of sunlight
That broke through the darkness
In my Soul
And made life
Worth living
And every day
I thank God
That she came
Into my life.
Write a poem every day of April with the 2024 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a living poem.
For today’s prompt, write a living poem. What makes a living poem may be different for everyone. Some people may like to live it up, while others may focus solely on being alive. However, only you know what kind of poem you can live with. After all, it’s your life (and poem).
Remember: These prompts are springboards to creativity. Use them to expand your possibilities, not limit them.
Note on commenting: If you wish to comment on the site, go to Disqus to create a free new account, verify your account on this site below (one-time thing), and then comment away. It’s free, easy, and the comments (for the most part) don’t require manual approval.
Here’s my attempt at a Living Poem:
“the living dead”
they come out in the day and night
looking for anybody’s brains
or other organs they might bite.
they come out in the day and night,
whatever time they feel is right,
because they have those hunger pains.
they’re hungry in the day and night
looking for anybody’s brains.
April 13—Discovery Shooting Down the Alien Visitors
In the movie
the signal
an Astro
naut receives
a signal
from an alien spaceship
heading to earth
the alien repeats the word
Hello in multiple languages
while heading to earth
the discovery electrifies
and terrifies the world
the decision is made
by all the world’s governments
in secret
to shot down the spaceship
before it could land
as it could be either a probe
of the beginning of an invasion.
when they enter the ship
they find completely disabled
robot crew.
along with the original
voyager data discs
which the aliens
were returning to earth
as an opening gambit
to establish communication.
NaPoWrMo Shy Man Fishing
one day a shy man
went to the ocean
he was a he-man, had a van.
he was filled with emotion
he wished to eat bonefish
he wanted it for his food,
he had a mad cat
who joined him in fishing
watching the fish freeswimming,
the man was a lewd rude dude
catfishing and phising
to sell his stolen fish
from his van.
Finally, our optional prompt for the day asks you to play with rhyme. Start by creating a “word bank” of ten simple words. They should only have one or two syllables apiece. Five should correspond to each of the five senses (i.e., one word that is a thing you can see, one word that is a type of sound, one word that is a thing you can taste, etc). Three more should be concrete nouns of whatever character you choose (i.e., “bridge,” “sun,” “airplane,” “cat”), and the last two should be verbs. Now, come up with rhymes for each of your ten words. (If you’re having trouble coming up with rhymes, the wonderful Rhymezone is at your service). Use your expanded word-bank, with rhymes, as the seeds for your poem. Your effort doesn’t actually have to rhyme in the sense of having each line end with a rhymed word, but try to
use as much soundplay in your poem as possible.
rhyming table
see sky shy, die, guy, ply why
taste food dude, lewd, mood, skewed tude,
smell ocean emotion, notion, motion
taste fish dish, wish, bonefish
cat bat, fat, rat
man plan, he-man, van
fishing catfishing, phising
swimming freeswiming, nightswiming
WC April 14—Complaint Computer Blues (revised)
Sometimes I think
My computer is plotting against me
And only me
Trying deliberately to drive me mad.
My computer knows
when I am busy
Then it throws
A hissy fit.
Here are some of my pet peeves
Constantly Crashing
Refuses to boot up, and crashes constantly.
Loses data it had the day before.
Or five minutes before,
Or refuses to save the data.
Just fucks with me
As it loves toying with me
Making me yell and scream
At my damn computer screen
Can’t Open Files or Save files or opens random sh…
often when trying to open
a document in word
the word open file button
fails to respond
sometimes you have to wait
five minutes
or when trying to open a file
the computer opens a random file
instead
or when trying to open a document
it kicks you out
often several times
sometimes you can
open a copy
sometimes not
and sometimes you can save the document
under the same name
often you have to save it
under another name
No dialogue box open lie
sometimes it refuses to open
a document saying
there is a dialogue
box open
which is a lie
there is no damn
dialogue box
visible
Random Blue Screen of Death
Cursing up a blue stream of blue curses
As the blue screen of death
Marches across the dark blue screen
Smiling at me
As I beg it
To do what
it is supposed to do
Just once I beg it
Do what you
Are supposed to do
Endless Non-Response Spinning blue wheels
Open the document once
Not twenty times
Do “Not respond”
Endless spinning blue wheels.
In endless loops of opening
Not responding
refusing to close
Until I respond to the error code.
Please Mr. Computer
Quit playing games
Play my music, don’t wipe out the sound
On the fifth attempt to play music
Don’t take a half-hour to load Microsoft products
Don’t freeze up on opening music programs
Computer error Haiku Codes
Don’t give me computer haiku error messages
That only makes sense to a computer geek.
Such as general error reading files
Who the ***** is this damn general
And why is NSA reading my files?
Or can’t save the file
Or can’t save the “An open file”
When it just did ten times in a role,
Or kicks me out, while losing my data.
Copy and Paste Wiping out document text
or when doing a simple copy and paste function
the computer defaults to the last command
making you have to do it again and again
up to five times sometimes
and on a random basis
the copy and paste function
wipes out all data
in the document
and to add insult to injury
deletes all previously saved version
sending the data
into computer limbo land
never to be found again
all without warning
just zip its gone!
Frozen Num Lock
another thing
my computer loves doing
is on a random basis,
turn the numbs lock-on
without warning
turning text into numbers.
requiring you too manually
turn off the number lock.
All Caps Pops On on a Random basis
once in a while
the all-caps button
mysteriously turns on
turning everything into caps.
fortunately
usually there is a warning flash.
Defaulting to Foreign Languages
a very annoying feature
is that when you log in from overseas
everything defaults to a foreign language
usually without the ability to change
it back to English
despite the fact
your settings are all in English
there may be a hidden button
to change language
written in the langauge
used in that country.
the computer does not know
or care that up to ten percent
of people logging in
from overseas don’t read
the language.
or are travelers
traveling through.
Excell Freezes Up
And in Microsoft excel
Refusing to move the cursor
Just freezing in place for a moment
Before kicking me out.
Can’t Copy External Data in Excel for reasons
Excell had a problem
Copying data from other sources
Generating an error message
About not being able to load fonts
Then ask you to say okay
Then kicking you out
Once I did those 200 times
I finally ditched Excel
And moved to Google Docs.
Can’t Find Printer
often the computer
can’t find the printer
just because ….. reasons……
AI hallucinations
AI is a great tool
but sometimes
it gets things wrong
or makes shit up!
Google Bard
once tried to convince me
that the US Embassy
In Seoul had moved
five years before
to a new location
outside of Seoul
only problem was
that was an AI hallucinaut
based on a proposal
five years ago
those in the know
call this an AI hallucination.
And it has a liberal bias
once Bing Co-pilot
refused to define the term
“libtard”
saying it was vile
insult and should
not be used
by anyone
ending with
next topic please
Mission Accomplished
And all the other gobbledygook messages
That pops up every five minutes it seems
As the computer slowly drives me mad
Flashing the final insult
User-driven mad
Mission accomplished.
the End
