Ed Ahern: Grandparents Day USA 3 Sept 18
I am still waiting for
five urchins with cell phones
to call,
offering vows of service
and genealogical thanks,
or at least
recognition that their spoiling
is being handled with flair.
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Brian Allgar: Family Tree
My family tree will be stopping with me;
No children, acknowledged or not.
Though my sister, it’s true, has produced quite a few;
Three nephews, two nieces . . .
Well, each one increases
Her grandchildren stock, and it comes as a shock
When I count them – at least twenty-two!
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Joanna Bird: A Thorny Issue
A purple peony was picked by Penny.
Its pleasing perfume pervaded her nose.
Its pointy prickle pierced her pinkie
With positive proof it was really a rose.
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Julia Griffin: Silk
The happy silkworm extromits
Its precious spool in little bits,
Too insubstantial to conduce
To any sort of human use.
Regrettably, extended thread
Requires the silkworm to be dead;
An outcome which will not surprise
The soul that sees through artist’s eyes.
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Georgina Titmus: Siren Call
A mole underground
Lost his way and found
A subterranean river.
A mermole bade him hither.
He drowned.
(Prizewinner in second LVU competition)
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Barbara Lydecker Crane: Rising Misses Sizes
I wear size six (no longer eight–
I’ve only gained a little weight).
Unless I gain a good bit more,
likely soon I’ll be a four.
Numbers shrink as waistlines grow.
The makers think we do not know;
we do, but still take secret pride
in smaller sizes, double-wide.
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Tracy Davidson: Wake-Up Call
Our quiet village was once quite boring
Till Miss Whiplash moved here to Much Snoring.
Some called her a tart, and others a trollop,
But many booked up for a Nether Wallop
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Bruce McGuffin: The Silence of the Giraffes
You think giraffes don't make a sound?
They don't when anyone's around.
In truth, giraffes can be loquacious,
their conversations wise and gracious.
It could be more than just a joke
to make us think they never spoke.
Perhaps they'd rather not discuss
why they don't want to talk to us.
θθθθθθθθθθ
Damian Balassone: Pets
I chose to take it up a level
and bought myself a Tassie devil,
But though I love my wild marsupial,
I’m not so sure the feeling’s mutual.
