Category: poetry

irony

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

don’t take life so seriously, its just a temporary state

as soon as you make it idiot proof…. along comes a better idiot

stupidity is a privilege but some people abuse it

talk is cheap because the supply far exceeds the demand

you should not worry about what people think because most people don’t think often

if you believe in love at first sight you must love a lot of people

there is no way I can agree with you because then we would both be wrong

keep lowering your expectations until they are met

creativity is all down to stealing other peoples ideas

those who laugh last are very slow thinkers

the grass is greenest on the other side because you don’t water yours enough

If you always do it right then you will never learn anything

a wise man looks both ways when crossing a one way street

temptation is irresistible

you cannot beat a boiled egg 

irony is an adjective for something that behaves like iron

The chocolate cycle

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it all starts with a yearning

fantasizing about your favorite chocolate

imagining how delicious it tastes

next is the expedition phase

traveling to the store with anticipation

browsing all the options

discovering new flavors

making your selection

securing the deal and taking the chocolate home

chocolate date phase is next

deciding the right moment to consume it

inviting somebody to share it

arranging the right drink to pair

now there is the ritual phase

You bring out the chocolate after dinner

pour a glass of your paired beverage

show the chocolate to your chosen one

you both touch it and smell it

sipping on that beverage as the excitement mounts

now is the consumption phase

party in the mouth time

you both banter about the exquisite taste

searching deep for the best superlatives

alternating sips and bites

repeat slowly but often until its all gone

now is the guilt phase

why did you eat it all in one sitting

think about all those calories

as you pour two more drinks

finally the binge phase

you grab another bar of chocolate

tear open the wrapping

pass half to the other person

chomp away until its all gone

bellies full and sated

sugar high kicks in

perhaps a little queasy

now the coming out phase

you both own up to your addictions

admit that you lost control

but you are both proud of it

and you will do it all again soon

not ready for chocolate rehab yet

Bargaining with your soul

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Chronic pain is so hard to endure

Carry it like a curse

Impossible to ignore or forget

Medication might dull the effects

But it still keeps you tensed up

Reminding you that you are the victim

Teaching you a lesson the hard way

Scolding you to avoid doing whatever it was causing the pain

Be it a careless injury or a sickness from your bad lifestyle 

Often its neither and you have nobody to blame

You start to ask why me

You become envious of those who live pain free

People are sympathetic but they cannot feel your pain

Its not something that can be shared around

You are stuck with it 

Your cross to bear

Your torture to suffer

Sleep brings temporary relief

Nothing worse than waking up in pain

You start to bargain with your soul

Making deals if he can eliminate the pain

The penance will be worth it

Keep bargaining

Landscape painting

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On a beautiful summer day

An artist set up an easel

Arranged his paints

Studied the landscape

Slow deliberate brushstrokes

Outlined the rolling hills

The green foliage

And the bright blue sky

He went into a trance 

The brush welded to his hand

Moved autonomously

Without any thought

Muscles in his hand

Controlled by unknown forces

Reproducing the landscape

Onto the canvas

He stopped to admire

His finished work

A passing family

Looked on in awe

Their youngest child

Pointed to a lonely cloud

In the blue sky

You missed a bit he said

The artist smiled

Handed him the brush

Just close your eyes

And imagine that cloud

With closed eyes

The brush danced

The missing cloud appeared

His family gasped

To the family the artist gave

That landscape painting

And to the boy

His easel paints and brushes

Business as usual

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when I lived in England

wherever I was living at the time

I always had a local pub

one where the bartenders were like friends

they knew all about me and what drinks I liked

pouring my favorite drink as I walked in the door

picking up the conversation we had from last time

it was almost like an extended family

no matter what the weather was like outside

no matter what political drama was going on in the country

no matter if my team was winning or losing in the Premier league

no matter if I came in straight from work or late at night

no matter if I came in alone or with a friend or lover

no matter if I had not been in for many months

no matter if I came in for a quick drink or a long session

no matter if I just had a drink or ordered a meal

no matter if I was tired and grumpy or refreshed and happy

no matter what day of the week it was

as soon as I walked in that pub

it was business as usual

the beer always tasted wonderful

and the conversations were great

Sleep problems

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Normally I sleep well

Waking up feeling refreshed

But today was something unusual

I went to bed at the normal time’

fell asleep with no problem

then I woke up at 3:30am

tried so hard to go back to sleep

tossing and turning

breathing and seething

I kept checking the time

after an eternity it was still only 4am

I tried laying ever so still

holding my breath and waiting

sleep evaded me for some unknown reason

I began to think what may have caused this

no excess of food or drink the night before

no crazy caffeinated drink near bedtime

no particular thing worrying me to stay awake

the clock ticked on ever so slowly to 4:45 am

I tried counting sheep but the numbers were too great

yawning at 5:20am

I wanted so hard to fall asleep

making deals with the sleep gods

promising to be a better person

it made no difference at 6:25AM

light was peeking under the curtains

morning was beckoning but I was too tired to get up

I finally gave up at 7:30AM

no chance for more sleep in bed

I got up and made some tea

calm but weary as I drank it

I struggled through the morning

I waded slowly through the afternoon

laying down for a desperate nap that never came

wondering why my sleep was stolen from me

bedtime came around ever so slowly

tossing and turning for another eternity

eventually I fell asleep

a long dream filled welcome sleep

I woke up clearly remembering those dreams

but soon forgot about them

it was 7:30am and I felt so much better

I said a big thank you to the gods of sleep

please do not deprive me again

my magic carpet ride

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two hours and twelve minutes after sunset

a glow appeared on the southerly horizon

suddenly the tip of the moon crept into view

slowly she climbed above the tree line

a full strawberry moon in a clear sky

she seemed so much bigger than when up high above

on such a quiet night the wind respectfully stood silent in awe

the still waters of the bay became a nocturnal mirror

while low in the sky she seemed to pause briefly 

reflecting a broad orange moonbeam onto the bay

this perfect carpet pointed directly towards me

inviting me to walk its path towards the moon

come visit me she whispered come visit me

I closed my eyes and flew over the bay

my magic carpet ride to the moon

Empanadas and salsa music make luxury high rise condos

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Another high rise building has been topped off in Coconut Grove

A peanut shaped tower of concrete and glass

It will eventually be luxury waterfront condos

Designed for the tastes and the wallets of Miami’s super rich

Today it belongs to the construction crews

Dangling in cradles slung from the rooftop

All sporting high visibility vests and hard hats

Safe clothing disguises the most risky jobs

They arrived at the job site before seven am

Hard working men each carrying a lunch box

Dangerous dangling deeds fueled by empanadas 

Grinding exterior concrete smooth to the rhythm of loud salsa music

Today they are pulling off protective plastic from the huge windows

Unwrapping this three hundred foot gift box for the most wealthy folks on the planet

Eventually it will be home to fine art marble and private chefs

I wonder who really needs a seven thousand square foot penthouse

Grinding tools chatter away filling the air with concrete dust

No alfresco dining this morning on the adjacent tower balconies

Their owners paid millions to have water front property

Until this new monster appeared to block their view

High rise buildings going up all along the water front

Leap frogging each other to steal the best views of Biscayne bay

Those bringing the biggest pile of cash get the best views

So sad that the poorest millionaires have to face inland 

Setting intentions

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its early morning

the sun is just about to rise

everything is quiet

a great time to sit and think

I start with an empty mind

setting my intentions for the day

trying to avoid my mistakes of yesterday

its not easy to keep everybody around you happy

sometimes those you love don’t meet your expectations

sometimes you don’t meet their expectations

disappointment can lead to frustration 

all you can do is try to be better yourself

and hope the ones you love be more forgiving

people often forget that life is just a transient thing

these times together will not last forever

they should be treasured 

I will try harder today

sunrise brings hope