We Do Not Ask! Comical poem 776 by Angela Lansbury

We have never asked to be born

Nor to start young, nor end up old

Yet we can choose to stay timid

Or brave the cold and to be bold.

-ends-

Please share links to your favourite poems.

Words & Signs Warn On The Bus And Train. Comical poem 775 by Angela Lansbury.

One of the joys of modern life

Robots nag like an alert wife

Phone's to do list says: Mow the grass

In five minutes your bus will pass.

ZOOM

Up pops a message about Zoom

Requesting, 'Ma'am, please join the room,'

The word Ma'am tells me caller's Delhi,

Like Bollywood on the telly

BUS

I won't say, 'No. I'm on a bus.'

I never like to make a fuss

I quickly mute, I have no choice

Can't broadcast bus's robot voice

TRAIN

Then next I'm sitting on a train

With groups I'll never see again

Their clothes boast about where they've been

Who they are, and what sights they're seen.

Sweatshirts promoting a group. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Roller shoes. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

When not on trains some like to run

On sunny days jogging is fun

I saw roller shoes on that train

Which took me out then home again.

-ends-

Please share links to your favourite poems.

How Are You? Comical poem 774 by Angela Lansbury

Angela Lansbury with Union Jack umbrella. Photo by Angela Lansbury. 

 When the English ask, 'How are you?'

They really don't want to know

Everything that's wrong with you 

From left to right, and head to toe

The Brits don't want to know

About short sight and wonky teeth

Miscarriages, car accidents

Skin problems, troubles underneath

Nor morning sickness, a blocked nose

Nor vomiting and diarrhea

Dandruff. Sore throat and hammer toes

Lost weight, lost socks, and broken nose

'How are you'? is just a greeting

So answer, 'very well,' 'great', or 'all right'

Then add, 'how are you?' But neither of you

Should  list aches and pains all the night

I've heard that Russia's different

They tell the truth and want to know

So if you want to tell your troubles, 

That's the place where you should go

Long ago I went to Russia

And I hope I've got this right

'cause when my date asked, 'How are you?;

I talked throughout the night

I told him troubles Brits don't know

Aches and pains, again and again

From left to right, right through the night

From left to right and head to toe

Old-style British are so polite

They'll listen while you talk all night

At dawn, yawn, 'To put things right

Next time, when you're in distress, don't tell me, please call the NHS.'

-ends-

NHS stands for National Health Service.

Please follow my blogs share links to this post

With all your friends and colleagues, both oh them. I mean both friends and family, or friends and colleagues, hundreds of them, or the two of them, if you have only two.

Is This Poetry Or Prose? Comical poem 773 by Angela Lansbury

 Who knows, and do you really know

If you wrote poetry or prose?

If you've read lots of poetry

When you write prose, strong feeling shows

But is it really poetry

With rhythm and with proper rhyme?

Did you count feet or syllables

Make sure each line took the same time?

A poem can be short, sharp, swift 

Be a piece of propaganda

Unlike a smart, reasoned essay

Which should be an even-hander

I often see so-called poetry

Religious rant, or political

It doesn't sound quite right to me

Cut lines are verse, not poems at all.

Some people write a quick, loud rant

Whilst others moan and groan all day

if you've got no rhyme nor rhythm

Maybe you should write sn essay

If you are so fraught with strong thought

But lack time for punctuation

Don't foist muddled struggle on us

Send words to another station.

-ends-

Do you look your age? Comical poem number 772 by Angela Lansbury

 

Angela Lansbury.

Do you sincerely look your age

When you're out having too much fun?

When you're so drunk you tell your age 

Kind strangers lie  - 'You look so young!

'Your birth certificate told lies!'

You know you're old when your dog dies

When grandpa dies and no-one cries

Great grandchild shrugs, the widow sighs

Babies are born wrong years and days

Babes should smile, sleep all the time

They don't behave in baby ways

Ungrateful, cry all night, wake, whine

Some of them look like old bald men

When you undress them, fountains go

Some babies small like opium dens

How would I know.! Just guessed - don't know

Then when teens grow and want a drink

They lie about their real birth age

They do not look the age you think

Drive, accidents, get in road rage

Then when they reach the age of thirty

People say they still look twenty

When they reach the age of forty

People say they look like thirty

When they reach the age of fifty

Nifty people say, you look forty

When they reach the age of sixty

People say you look like fifty

When you reach your seventies

People say you look like sixty

If a few do not believe it

They never say it's like it is

Then when you reach seventy nine

You're still having a great time

But when you reach the age of eighty

Your new stage is 'past my bed time'

Sadly the mirrors do not lie

And you do not fit in your clothes

Too fat to walk, belly balloon

Or skeleton thin, gone 'too soon' friends die

Your hair falls out, your legs give out

You need to wear reading glasses

You grow deaf, people say, 'Don't shout'

Younger folk stop making passes

And ageless singers who took drugs

Have faces like maps, full of wrinkles

Now look like bugs living in fugs

Can't keep it up, keep needing tinkles

Fond grandchildren will run away

When they need you on reaching teens

It's time they heard what you should say

But you daren't tell them what you mean.

-ends-

The Cup On the Saucer Went Round And Round THE FISH ON THE DISH. Comical dinner Table poem number 771 by Angela Lansbury

 

Round Nespresso saucer with square centre. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

I was inspired to write a parody of The wheels on the bus. But instead of simple repetition, for pre-schoolers, the poem took another direction. 

It became more like an ironic ballad. Such as, A hole in my bucket, Dear Liza. 

Another influence, is the exaggerated cautionary tale. For want of a nail the battle was lost.  Humorous examples are The Lion And Albert, and Matilda told such dreadful lies. 

My poem tells a tale of endless dining disasters, and constant disagreements. And how we tried to cope and cover up. 

I started with the title The Cup On the Saucer Went Around and \around, but changed the words 

THE FISH ON THE DISH

On the day we dined up in town

We arrived soon, late afternoon,

First had water, black or green tea

Hubby, rich son, wife, Teeny-tot, poor me

The balcony table was round

It was the largest one we found

But cutlery fell on the ground

With a dreadful, clattering sound

The cup's saucer was square on round 

The cup on the saucer went up and down

Up to my mouth, I made slurping sound

My husband's hand waved, 'Tone it down!'

's

My coffee was strong, it sat too long

My cream was white the sugar brown 

I twirled the spoon in my cup round

It made a dreadful squeaky sound

The water jug was passed around 

It got lost and was never found

Somebody must have put it down

On another table or on the ground.

The sugar lump bowl sent around 

I sighed, 'I've put on half a pound!'

I took two lumps, put a third down

Dad shook his head, tutted and frowned.

The mixed fish cake dish went around 

'Is this cod?' 'Salmon.' 'Tuna.'  'Trout?

'It's monster fish - it's been renamed

All doled from the same tin no doubt!'

To go with fish, the chips went round 

The tomato ketchup bottle went round

Dad shook it up, and down his shirt

He said short words, 'Fish!' I looked hurt

The plate of pizza passed around

So everybody took one slice

The pineapple pizza looked so nice

That I took two, nobody knew

The birthday cake had candle flames

The chef had mis-spelled both our names

I said, 'Never mind, Grandpa's blind, pass the cake around!'

The sponge, jam, cream all soon went down

(

The waiter said, 'Happy Birthday' to me

I said, 'It's our anniversary

For last week's birthday, an anniversary cake

'Sorry, Ma-am. A mistake.'  'Three mistakes!'

The box of chocolates passed around

But 'baby' knocked them on the ground

You can't eat chocolates when they fall.

(At home I washed and ate them all!)

I ordered coffee but got tea

I complained, 'both taste the same to me

Both taste like coffee-tea, the same

Where's the manager?' 'Gone home. Not to blame'

I asked, 'Why is this bill so large?'

They said, 'It's our high service charge,'

Son smiled, 'That's fine, I understand -

There's always something underhand.'

-ends-

True story: Our Happy Birthday cake was given to a couple celebrating their wedding anniversary at the Alpine Restaurant, (in Bushey, London) - which later closed down.

Coffee-tea was a story told about some airlines. I thought it was a joke. But somebody who worked in the industry said it was true, to save time. 

 (More verses later on salt, pepper, bread, olives, ice cream, coffee, juice, milk, sweets)

Make up tea or dinner related words.

Please share links to your favourite posts.

Much too long was a parody of all day long.  

Here Is The Barn. Comical Poem Updated From Old Nursery Rhyme 770 By Angela Lansbury

 

Here Is The Barn

Here is old the barn, let's open doors wide,

Let’s all look inside where animals hide. 

Left are the horses, and right are the cows, 

They’re eating dinner and drinking right now. 

They’ll sleep here till night turns into day light. 

When we open doors, they’ll all trot away. 

Out in the pasture, they’ll eat grass and hay. 

Cows will moo loudly, glad horses will neigh.

-Ends-

Here Is The Barn is a secular version of the old nursery rhyme, 

'/Here is the Church, here is the steeple, open the gates and see all the people, Here is the person going upstairs, here is the person saying his prayers.'

The updated version of the poem, The Barn, either the original or my version, is one you can recite to children at dinner in restaurants and coffee shops. It also fills in time and amuses everyone when you are  seated waiting for transport and on long journeys on planes.

What did I change?

Line 1 I added 'old'. I changed 'it; to 'doors'.

Line 2 I deleted 'the' before animals and added 'all'

Line 3 I changed 'here' and 'here' to 'left' and 'right'.

Line 5 I added 'light'

Line 6 I added 'trot'

Line 7 Line 8 I deleted the word 'the' twice, in order to add moo, and glad.

You might prefer the version I originally saw, being simpler, easier to remember, easier to understand for younger children. However, I thought that my version was more visual and therefore clearer and easier to understand.

It really doesn't matter which version you remember, of if you accidentally or deliberately make up another version.

Useful Websites

Wikihow

Wikipedia

Please follow my blogs on poetry, travel, and fashion. Share with your friends, family and colleagues the links to your favourite amusing and useful posts.

Performance Poetry

Strictly speaking, this is a piece of performance poetry. But it is only suitable for close up around a table, or at a bedside. On stage the performers hands would be rahter small, unless enlarged on Zoom, or using a large screen.

First Dolly. Comical poem 769 by Angela Lansbury

 Our child's daughter had a dolly

And First Dolly's friend was Polly

When our dear child went out to tea

Photos showed so dollies could see.

The doll's house has lots of dollies

Our doll Polly's friend was Molly

When we took Polly out to tea

Photos showed so Molly could see

We've wooden plates and plastic cups

A plastic knife will cut cake up

A fine tea pot with lid and spout

We pass it round and pour drink out 

Sometimes we drink more, sometimes less

A paper napkin, I confess

To wipe up when we make a mess

To dry what we spilled down the dress

We and dollies enjoyed our tea

Thanks. Bye. Let's go. It's getting late.

Now we've finished and gone you see

There's only crumbs left on the plate.

-ends-

Please share links to your favourite poems and posts.

Guilty -The Young And Old. Comical poem 768 by Angela Lansbury,

 

When you are young everything's fun

You start then leave most things half done

But when you're old everything aches

You're guilt-tripped eating birthday cakes

You lay awake for half of the night

Wondering if you got things right

Worry about tax, fines, mistakes

You try to shrug when a cup breaks

A broken cup is not a war

There's more, others, sold in the store

Though things aren't like they were before

Just sweep up, shut up, close the door

When there's a bully, what you do

Is take a train to somewhere new

Look for new friends and in a while

You'll smile, they'll smile, a world of smiles

Bad things are omens, we must speak

In worst cases, mourn, just one week

Then play music, and sing and dance

When all else fails, see Spain or France.

-ends-

After writing this, I remembered that in traditional Jewish custom, after a death you sit 'shiva', which means seven, seven days and nights. Don't cook or work. After that, carry on with life.

Please share links to your favourite poems and posts.

A Letter From Angela to Angela. Comical poem 767 by Angela Lansbury.

Queen Elizabeth II postage stamps, no longer usable.

 Though you and I are far away

I think about you every day

When I wake up, my hair's a mess

So I think of you smartly dressed

So colourful, matching and grand

Although your clothes were second-hand

Nowadays pre-loved's what we say

Best clothes like us are packed away

I think of wise words you would say

For questions you had smart replies

No good friend grows old nor dead

They live, still young, inside my head

We've been apart for quite a while

I wish that I could make you better

I thought I'd send a poem or letter

Send you my smile to make you smile.

-end-

It looks like I've written this poem for myself, looking at myself in a mirror. Or even to my mother. However, it was actually written to my namesake, Angela Hook, a former member of HOD Toastmasters, who was very active in finding us new venues when our group had to move. She also performed poetry at our club meeting and at larger multi club area contests. In 2025 she fell and is now in bed and cannot attend meetings, although she has been visited by busy club President Martin Doe.

Please share links to your favourite poems and posts.

A day of Journeys on Trains on the Underground. Comical poem 766 by Angela Lansbury.

 

Sherlock Holmes tiles on platform wall of the underground railway. Baker Street station. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Green Park underground railway station. Tiles on platform walls, showing leaves. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Lift guide in the lift. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Stairs to the underground to down

Escalators and lifts go down

The trains on the underground go round

On the circle line, round and round

On platforms, trains stop and start

Only statues sit admiring art

Tiles show boats, floats, churches and steeples

Queens, kings, Sherlock, famous people

Brunel statue at Paddington Station.

Commuters rushing everywhere

Foreigners calculating their fare

Children stare at Paddington bear

Brunel sits, calm, on his chair

Confused tourists go round and round

Excited laughter, guitar sounds

Standing, swaying, laughing, shout

Riding up lifts, pushing in and out

Long skirts, short skirts, old jeans, smart shirts

Ear-rings, nose rings, large tattoos

Posters, poets, tiles, mosaics

Accents, 'Move along,' high heeled shoes

Rushing back with all day tickets

Off to football, on to cricket

Off to opera, after high tea

Riders entertain you and me

At the end of the day, back again

Running to catch the very last train

Free newspapers, read in the deep

Last stop. Wake them! They fell asleep!

-ends-

Please share links to your favourite poems and posts.

Fusspots Stop At The Door. Comical poem 765 by Angela Lansbury.

Door knocker. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

A fusspot knocks, stops at the door

She said, 'Sorry, I won't come in

I've seen enough of your clutter 

Half of this should go in the bin

Shelf showing old books, certificates from speech contest, and awards. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

'Your hallway makes me feel ill

It looks like you've been in a war

Shelves of ornaments.' 'Vital bills,

Prizes.' 'Shoes all over the floor.'

My spouse said, 'Our milk's become cheese

I've swept the floor, cleared up the dirt.

Vintage? Dated jackets and skirts!

Why are you looking cross and hurt?'

I'm tired, sick, the house still a mess

It takes an hour to shower, dress

I've tidied the desk, I'm doing my best

On teaching days, ignore the rest

After meeting fusspot, I'd felt depressed

Next day, gone noon when I got dressed

Five! Welcomed small pupils inside

One girl, so sweet, I nearly cried

Large red fan on wall. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

'My goodness,' she said, 'a huge fan!

'What a house, full of foreign stuff

There's so much to see and discuss

Just an hour here isn't enough

'I love your smiley door knocker

The pictures and hooks in the hall

You've more books than a library

You did those paintings on the wall!

Self portrait by Angela Lansbury. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

'Colours like a birthday party

Like Christmas day in a toy shop

A doll's house, so much to touch, do

I  won't stop coming to see you

Tall dolls' house. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

'My home is clean, empty, and dull

When my homework's done, I feel bored

You've always time to talk, listen

Mum's so busy, I feel ignored

'Your house is just the very best

Every room is full of treasure

It's fun, exciting, yet a rest

Visiting you is such a pleasure.'

-ends-

Five means five o'clock. After school tutoring.

Please share links to your favourite poems and posts.

Preventing And Moulding Mold. Comical poem 764 by Angela Lansbury

THEN - FIFTIES HEALTH

A single widow in the Fifties

A German refugee, with white hair

Europeans open their windows daily

She did, too, each morning, for fresh air

Took tea outside in the open air

Left a mould-free flat to unheeding heirs

Her Fifties beds and chairs had space below

Advantages Brits forgot, didn't know why nor care

NEXT - HOUSES LIKE GRENHOUSES

Then came the joys of central heating

Double glazing, and big meetings

Cold floors, draughty homes, we'd rather forget

Buy thick drapes, duvets, and wall-to-wall carpet

Outside, rainwater pours down ivy leaves

Inside, you breathe out water when you breathe

You exercise, cough, blow your nose

You wash lots of the dishes, bedding, clothes

Every adult, child and cat

Each wet umbrella, raincoat, rain hat

Around the bath, under the bathmat

Around the sink, that dripping tap

We bought a big, noisy, dehumidifier

List in inventory. Plug in to check it's working

Overnight fills with water - tenant's shock!

Can't keep emptying it. Unwanted. Storage stock

NOW

Well after the Millennium

The occupants had changed again

Two bedrooms, two tenants became a family of five

Suffered mould. Why? That was a surprise

The law has changed yet again

A child's death governments mention

The landlord must: fix problems fast

Advise tenants on prevention!

CAUSE - OBSERVATION - EVIDENCE

The cause of mould is no mystery

Water, in the buildings' history

Black ceilings, from gutter leaks overhead

Skirting boards - rising damp from leaning flower beds

Builders long gone, might have done their best.

Let's walk round, observe, an easy test

Blocked drains and flooding bring more pain

Report quickly. Landlord paints. All do your best

You're spreading water everywhere

Every time you wash your hair

Every time you flush the toilet

Under the rim, how often d'you clean it?

You shut the windows when it's cold

Windows steam up, water makes mould

The mould will give you colds and coughs

Asthma, worse, carries small kids off

OUTSIDE MOULD CAUSE And COURSE

A damp course, horizontal line

Walk outside, foot high, you'll see it

Unless the plants touch bricks above

Gardeners should cut, agree it

ANALYSE & DECIDE ACTION

What causes moisture and mould? You must decide

Is it from outside, or inside?

If you see drips or mould, warn landlords, don't delay 

The longer it's left, the more landlords pay

The leaking radiator burst, turns into a flood

The hall floor mould looks like a river of mud

The maintenance will rise, the exhausted landlord dies

At the end of the day rents rise and drive tenants away

INSIDE - MOULD CURES

Proverbs say a stitch in time saves nine 

Is all that mould their fault - or mine!

Even though nobody's looking

Put lids on saucepans when you're cooking

Duvets and cushions away from walls

Clothes in cupboards in a basket

Buy a wall moisture detector

Is it too much to ask it?

I known skiers keep warm in snow

So warm clothes are the way to go

Save money to dispel the gloom

Heat up the person, not the room

Dress for the outside, take a walk

Even the old won't feel the cold

But what if you lot only slouch?

Buy electric blankets, for bed - and couch!

INDOORS CAUSES

You breathe out water through the night

Open the windows in daylight

And keep them open half an hour

Before, during, after a shower

Either banish water, or make spills vanish

Ban wet clothes on the radiator!

Kettles, covered coffee cups, big dinners

A warning sign, misted windows and mirrors

From hot countries, other nations

Aren't prepared for so much rain

Causing so much condensation

Global warming, yet more rain

The Moist Millennium

Double glazing, central heating,

Extended families, big meetings

Instead of people living alone

MOH, and working from home

Paranoid, put lids on glasses of water

Cover coffee, like a lurking Turkish bath attendant watch mirrors for mist

Buy a dehumidifier for each room

Keep adding to the minimise mould action list

INDOORS MOULD CURES

We can't fix the sloping grounds

Rebuilding walls costs thousands of pounds

But now we're wiser, now we know

The simple, cheap answer - open the window!

 

-ends-

Easy rhymes, observation, observe.

Please share links to your favourite poems and posts.

Grammar. Police Traffic Lights. Comical |Poem number 763 by Angela Lansbury

 I am very fond of grammar

For just a wee dram shows my skills

Glad to correct stranger's for free

Send thanks, but help teachers pay bills

I am proud to be a teacher

Of the words from yesterday

I try to save words from the past

Which naive newbies throw away

Yet I do not speak like Shakespeare

I admit fashions change, move on

Scatter poems like confetti

Words which will stay when we've moved on

Like graffiti from poor Romans

Near 3D trompe loeil on rich walls

Everyone shouts out their message

To leave love, hate, pride from their falls

A child starts with grunts, screams, and smiles 

Pets wants attention, food, walks, love

Patterns predictable like day

But varied like the clouds above

We find pleasure in stillness, rest

Yet like adventure, news, movement

Common sense, from experience

But also novelty, improvement

You must know the rules to change them

Like Tarte Tatin, upturned cake

There's a place and time to break things

But I love to build, make and create

The joy of language and grammar

Is not to kick and hurt the fools

It is like offering a paintbrush

The rules are simply tools

I am not a cat chasing a mouse

I wear a smile, give praise, not grouse

Like ordered shelves so you find things

In your brain's big cluttered house .

Each day I expand my dictionary

List new words I didn't know

I add a page of glossary

Add slush, to fifty words for snow

Build a house with a hammer

Like planning walls, pillars and beams

I will help you build with grammar

So you can express your dreams.

-ends-.

Please share links to your favourite poems.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_to_the_West_Wind

About Angela Lansbury - my books of poetry

Poetry Pets & Pests

Angela's Alarming Animal poems

Poetry Workbook

 My latest book, Embarrassing Moments, is on Amazon, at a bargain price of well under ten pounds

My books are on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, and Lulu.com

Take a look. You might like to buy one for yourself or a friend. 

See my other blogs on Travel, Wine and dine, and Dress of the day Angela. Please share links to your favourite blogs and posts.

Please follow me and share links to your favourite poems and posts.

Alive or Dead In Bed comical poem 762 by Angela Lansbury

I wake, there's silence in the room

I feel a dreadful sense of doom

Right now snoring would be relief

Hearing a grunt or something brief

 There is a body in the bed

Still sheet over body and head

I cannot see the body breathe

I wonder if I ought to leave

It's not a murder, there's no knife

We're simply at the end of life

I know this news is rather dire

The time you die's when you retire

I stand and watch, there is no sound

I try to pull the sheet right down

But it is tightly wrapped around

Two empty slippers on the ground

A tickle or a gentle stroke

Hurray, he turned, at last he woke

He's wide awake and he is cross

Much better than a total loss

Grumpy has a cup of coffee

I prepare a cup of tea

I am smiling, I am happy

I've got him back alive with me.

-ends-

Please share links to your favourite poems.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_to_the_West_Wind

About Angela Lansbury - my books of poetry

Poetry Pets & Pests

Angela's Alarming Animal poems

Poetry Workbook

 My latest book, Embarrassing Moments, is on Amazon, at a bargain price of well under ten pounds

My books are on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, and Lulu.com

Take a look. You might like to buy one for yourself or a friend. 

See my other blogs on Travel, Wine and dine, and Dress of the day Angela. Please share links to your favourite blogs and posts.

Please follow me and share link

The Wonderful Will. Comical poem number 761 by Angela Lansbury

 What can  I leave you in my will?

Wonders, warm words which soothe all ill

A silver spray of sweet perfume

To help you breathe deep in each room

From pink and pine trees in the street

Glimpse gleaming treasures, sweets and treats

Windows with shutters open wide

So from the garden peep inside

A garden filled with red flowers

Where you sit and snooze for hours

In a hammock, or bamboo chairs

Dream painted tower's spiral stairs

Flowers feed bees and butterflies

Gently swaying weeping willow

Frilly white clouds, drift pure blue skies

Soft cushions, embroidered pillows

By a curved path of rainbow brick

Snug on rugs, sharing a picnic

Grapes, dates, almonds, currants, carrots

Watching the watching parrots

And in the house a small gold frame

My photo smiling, Italic name

By a comfy, carved old chair

So you can dream that I'm still there.

-ends-

I have tried to re-order the lines so that you go from the house where you read the will, out to the springtime garden, and back to the house with the photo. A circular poem, with the first and last verses framing the wandering thoughts.

I have used vivid, pictorial images, the humour of the hungry parrots enticed by the vision of the food, and the happy memories.

It is a picture of my bungalow in Hatch End, with parrakeets in the trees, but the imaginary tower, a Disney image, to rhyme with flower.

Tree in Hillview Road. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Please share links to your favourite posts.

The Yin and the Yang 760

 

Yin and Yang from Wikipedia.

The symbol so succinct, the black and white

The contrast so clear is like day and night

The Chinese call it the yin and the yan

A circle, or sphere, ends where it began

It's like a school year, back home, then back here

Or a holiday, places far away

Let's try something new, an expensive game, 

Spice makes it taste nice, it looks just the same

Like breakfast and lunch, I have a hunch

The Trap Of Old Rhymes In A Draught. Comical Poem 759 by Angela Lansbury.

 I'm struggling hard to find escapes

From traps of old and well-known rhymes

Dictionaries delay, like big capes.

Pick words which echo modern times!

So let's chuck old rhymes in verse two 

June, moon, tune, noon, protected

Start verse three with a shock that's new

Misheard, absurd, unexpected

From classic poets, much to learn

But I shall censor 'thee' and 'thou'

Like them, make do with modern, 'you'

Invent new similes somehow

Although I always do my best

I start excited in a tiz

A bad start can leave me depressed

I'm not Shakespeare, only one is

No muse can help us pass life's test

Though AI edits all the rest

The way to pass life's daily test

Is starting early at one's desk

Your first draft has cliches, mistakes

But editing is all it takes

Thought can start or follow action

Just start, both bring satisfaction.

-ends-

Please share links to your favourite poems.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_to_the_West_Wind

About Angela Lansbury - my books of poetry

Poetry Pets & Pests

Angela's Alarming Animal poems

Poetry Workbook

 My latest book, Embarrassing Moments, is on Amazon, at a bargain price of well under ten pounds

My books are on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, and Lulu.com

Take a look. You might like to buy one for yourself or a friend. 

See my other blogs on Travel, Wine and dine, and Dress of the day Angela. Please share links to your favourite blogs and posts.

Please follow me and share links to your favourite poems.

Don't Stare, Children! Comical poem 758 by Angela Lansbury.

 

Girl with coloured hair, by mural inspired by poet Shelley, in London, England. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Don't stare, children, It's rude to stare

Even if they have purple hair

Look at the floor, or sky, or tree

In your mirror, or book, or me

Don't stare, children, it's rude to stare

Though they are nude, have six foot hair

Pretend you neither see nor care

Ignoring them, just talk to me

If they look odd, their words absurd

Just act as though you never heard

Do not let the outside affect

With things you don't need to inspect

Act like you did not hear nor see

Do not react, nor disagree

Just concentrate when you're with me

They're free to be how they must be

Don't look nor hear bad things they say

Just hope and pray they'll go away

Just act as if they are not there

Don't share but have a happy day.

-ends-

Please share links to your favourite poems