Month: September 2022

from dance to romance

Ian Hunter3 Comments
Photo by Nikita Korchagin on Pexels.com

I remember so well our first dance

That led to our steamy romance

It started with a mundane conversation

Your voice gave me a strange sensation

Your words were dancing in my ear

Your intentions became ever so clear

I led you to the crowded dance floor

A place you had been many times before

The rhythmic squeezing of your hand

Totally in tune with the band

Your feet were smoothly gliding

Your inhibitions no longer hiding

Our bodies twisting and turning

My heart beat out the yearning

The evening flew by ever so fast

I wanted it to forever last

Then came the last slow number

Your head on my shoulder in a mock slumber

Your breath felt like fire on my neck

Your lips planted a discernible surrendering peck

My grip on your waist went tighter

We both knew this would be an all-nighter

Change of direction for Cheeky Monkey Poetry

Ian Hunter8 Comments

Cheeky Monkey Poetry started publishing daily poems on May 31, 2021

Since then I have posted 500 pieces of poetry and short stories

This represents one piece of writing per day for almost 500 days

Going forward, I plan to post less frequently but hopefully maintain the same level of creative writing

Please take some time to browse through the archives

We plan to redesign the website so that archived poems are easier to access

Thank you for all your support and feedback

Stay Cheeky!

Self-prime on days that end in Y

Ian Hunter2 Comments

Early generation combustion engines would never start without priming

You had to push a button a few times

Or squeeze a rubber bulb to get some fuel flowing to the engine

Then it would start the first time and run perfectly

We can all do the same for ourselves

Your day will go so much better with self-priming

Start your morning with some positive thoughts

Focus on your known strengths

Reflect on your great achievements

Anticipate positive outcomes for the tasks of the day

Be optimistic that you can navigate any obstacles that come along

There is a good chance your day will go better with self-priming

It’s the same with your body

Athletes do not perform well without priming

They do stretches and warm-ups before taxing their muscles

So why not prime your mind before entering the world

It’s also good to prime yourself throughout the day

Before an important meeting

Give yourself a few minutes alone

Think about the character strengths of those you are meeting

The outcome will probably be much better

Than if you entered with negative thoughts

When it comes to making an important decision

Take a few moments to decompress

Relieve the tension and anxiety surrounding the outcome

Think about a really good decision you have made in the past

One that had a very positive result

The chances are you will probably get it right this time

But if you do make a wrong decision

Be honest about it and forgive yourself

Prime yourself by treating it as a learning experience

I just checked and Today does end in Y

Fallen green warriors rescued

Ian Hunter1 Comment

In the dead of night

An angry wind blew strong

Rushing around the building

His constant roar

Warning of his strength

Perpetuated by occasional short whistles

Signaling his mischievous intent

His deeds went unseen under the cloak of darkness

As the dawn approached he drew a breath

The eerie calm contradicted the visible damage

Tree branches severed and thrown to the ground

Outdoor furniture haphazardly rearranged

Loose objects torn from their homes

Carried to distant hiding places

The losses of their saddened owners

Become the surprise gifts to their finders

Plant pots unceremoniously toppled over

Like the fallen statues of historical figures

Who stood unmolested for decades

Until it was suddenly time for them to experience

The gale force winds of political correctness

The plants just lay there helpless

Soil scattered on the ground

As blood spilled in battle

These green wounded warriors

Silently waiting for an intervention

From their green-fingered owners

Soon to be upright with fresh soil and water

A few comforting words

Restoring their courage to bloom in floral beauty

Their flowers are free from discrimination

Producing a fine display

In any political climate

We have a lot to learn from them

How do you deal with your reality?

Ian Hunter1 Comment

Reality is there

All around you

Staring you in the face

Sometimes it is hard to accept

You may not like reality

You can try to ignore it

You can create your own version

To convince yourself it is different

But reality stands firm

Unwavering

Unimpressed by your fantasy version

You may decide to wage war on reality

Plunge yourself into a constant battle

It is a futile exercise

Reality reigns supreme

Reality will never change by your will

Reality totally ignores your fantasy

If you simply accept reality

Embrace it for what it is

Accept that it is never perfect

Acknowledge that your version was just a fantasy

Your fantasy will whither away and die

Reality will certainly forgive you

Welcoming you back

Without any hard feelings

Reality can become your best friend

Then comes the bonus part

You will have found peace

You only have 56 seconds to guess this 80’s TV show

Ian Hunter3 Comments

Pink flamingoes running

Flying low over the bay

Windsurfer dips in the water

Pretty girl in a parade

Jai lai player throws a ball

More low flying over water

Horses leave the starting gate

A line of Rolls Royce cars

Waterfront high rise condos

Two parrots head scratching

Greyhounds racing on a track

More high rise buildings

Two bikini clad girls step outside

Speedboats race across the bay

Miami skyline at night

Extra points if you can hear the music now

Why do…

Ian Hunter1 Comment
Photo by Ann H on Pexels.com

why do we always clean the house before the cleaning lady comes

why do I brush my teeth more than usual on the day I visit the dentist

why do we put on clean underwear every day just in case we get hit by a car and have to change in front of the nurses

why do we judge the quality of the food by the number of people in the restaurant

why do we think it fun to stand in a long line to buy concert tickets but get annoyed when we are fourth in line at the supermarket checkout

why do people spend an entire afternoon going from shop to shop to get the best grocery bargains then finish up at Starbucks and willingly pay an exorbitant price for a cup of coffee

why do we take so many selfies knowing we do not like looking at them

why do we assume that giving an expensive gift is better when we all know that the pleasure of receiving is not at all related to the value of the gift

why do we press our floor button on the elevator multiple times when its already lit up

why do I only talk to my phone and computer when they are not doing what I want

why do men insist on carrying 23 items to the checkout while women will use a cart to buy one small thing

why do I read the word Wednesday and hear a voice in my head yelling Wed NESS Day

Intersection reflection lesson

Ian Hunter1 Comment
Photo by Aleks Magnusson on Pexels.com

At that intersection

Pause for reflection

Focus on perception

Make an inspection

Notice every imperfection

Ask the question

Examine their expression

Spot any deception

Make an intervention

Present your rejection

Request a redirection

Hear their confession

Respect their profession

Accept their correction

Forgive their transgression

Learn a lesson

Cross that intersection

My DNA time capsule

Ian Hunter1 Comment

Owning an old house brings many challenges

Trying to figure out how it was originally built

Looking for clues into modifications done by previous owners

Tracing the lines of hidden plumbing and wiring

Each home improvement project takes on the mystery of an archeological dig

Giving insight into the lives of those who touched these spaces before

Wondering why they laid out the basement plumbing so bizarrely

With some sections of drainpipes sloping upwards

You question if previous owners knew what they were doing

Left to their own devices in times when there was no Youtube guidance

They just fumbled in the dark with no respect to codes and ordinances

Sometimes you just have to start over again and redo entire systems

The demolition hammer makes quick work

Tearing down structures that have been around for decades

Canceling out the sweat and toil of years gone by

Did the original owner ever imagine his work being dismantled one day

A few years ago I was framing in an old basement

Part of a remodeling project to upgrade a bathroom

I carelessly cut my thumb while working

A minor cut but enough to bleed all over the framing

I looked at the red-stained wood

Soon to be covered by new drywall sheets

My spilled DNA would be hidden for decades

It could be part of a time capsule

I left a note inside the drywall

Beneath here lies the blood of Ian Hunter spilled on this day of 2020

This framing was done to upgrade the toilet waste pipes

Here is a diagram to help you figure out how it all works

When you demolish, please do so with the utmost care and respect 

Stuff stuff stuff

Ian HunterLeave a comment

Be complacent and allow your stuff to grow

Be neat and stuff your stuff into the draw overflowing with stuff

Be untidy and stuff your stuff on top of your pile off stuff stuff

Be lazy and leave your stuff all over the place

Be creative and make artistic stuff with all your old stuff

Be generous and give all your stuff away

Be entrepreneurial and sell your stuff on eBay

Be stupid and use your eBay earnings to buy more stuff

Be sneaky and stuff your stuff next door

Be extravagant and pay somebody to take your stuff away

Be organized and make detailed plans on what to do with your stuff

Be predictable and never implement your stuff plans

Be sensible and stuff your stuff into the garbage

Be environmentally conscious and recycle your stuff

Be inventive and make a hovercraft from your stuff

Be smart and haul your stuff away in your stuff made hovercraft

Be famous and post your hovercraft stuff on social media stuff

Be an author and write stuff about your hovercraft stuff

Be melancholy and add your hovercraft stuff books to your stuff pile

Be evasive and refuse to accept any more deliveries of stuff

Be philanthropic and start a stuff foundation

Be sensible and bequeath all your stuff to your kids

Be submissive and let people stuff their stuff alongside your stuff

Be untruthful and tell folks all your stuff is very valuable stuff

Be paranoid and hide your stuff in case it gets stolen

Be romantic and tell your stuff you love it

Be a germaphobe and wash all your stuff clean

Be obnoxious and tell your stuff to get stuffed

Be stupid and get caught stealing stuff from somebody

Be ridiculous and plead not guilty to stealing stuff

Be crazy and write love letters to your stuff from jail

Be stuffy