The second of my collections of poems written for "Express It In Eight." |
As usual these days, I choose blog format because it offers more space for the work. |
A Sunny Day A sunny day in August cold Cola on our verandah savour such tanning rays sprawling in a plastic chair watching rabbits play too young to mind us and cicadas to sing daily music to this roasting day. Line count: 8 Free verse For Express It In Eight, 09.10.25 Prompt: Write a poem without using the letter E. |
A Mackerel Sky A mackerel sky, striated ripples above, silver grey stripes and rain on the way. So flashes the school, bright sides in unison, there in the deep, echoes in the sky. Line count: 8 Free verse For Express It In Eight, 09.08.25 Prompt: Write a poem about strange-looking clouds overhead. |
The Illustrious and Universal Order of Vegans United Cabbage and Cauliflower High up they tower Emblems of Greenery Above the scenery Veggie power unleashed The house of the priest In proud display But answers? No way! Line count: 8 Rhymed aabb For Small Talk, 09.07.25 Prompt: Picture of large vegetables on the roof of a house. |
Encapsulated In stone enshrined my captured mind to chip away free hands today. The past released my fortunes eased freedom foretold escape I hold. Line count: 8 Rhymed aabb, four syllables per line For Get The Picture? 09.07.25 Prompt: As per illustration (figure in concrete, only head and hands free). |
Blabber Mouth Loose lips lisp and mouths do chatter, some to gossip and others to flatter, truth to twist and honour to scatter, too many words and silence shattered. Over the fence and in the news, everyone has to spout their views, all of them falling for the ruse that words will win and wisdom lose. Line count: 8 Rhyed aabb For Express It In Eight, 08.25.25 Prompt: Write a blabber-mouth poem. |
Monolingualism To dream of life before the Tower of Babel when understanding all each of us was able, no need then for hours spent in language school, in broad agreement we all shared, even the fool. No coded conversations quiet in the pub, no circumlocutions, we’d all know the nub, no wars to fight, no differences to air and cite, boredom rife and individuality beyond our might. Line count: 8 Rhymed aabb For Express It In Eight, 08.23.25 Prompt: Write an archaic poem. |
Yesteryear “Giddy up!” cries the coachman, strident in the morn, forward leans the dray horse, lurching in the dawn. Creaking and groaning its stays, rumbling of the wheels, a flash of history arisen, the quality we feel. Line count: 8 Rhymed abcb For Express It In Eight, 08.21.25 Prompt: Write a poem that includes these words: Giddy up, Quality. |
Old Flat Top Old Flat Top, buzz cut, crew cut, runs secondhand shop. Tanned like a nut, with voice stentorian and gaze like steel, he’s an aged centurion and the past made real. Line count: 8 Rhymed abab For Express It In Eight, 08.20.25 Prompt: Write a level-headed poem. |
Astronomy Nonsensicus Saturday and the rings of Saturn, another place for things to happen - gaseous giant of broad acclaim and plenty of moons to view the game. Voyager visitor passes by, astronomers peer and wonder why, Titan, Tethys and Hyperian, none of them known as Iberian. Line count: 8 Rhymed aabb, 9 syllables per line For Express It In Eight, 08.16.25 Prompt: None. |