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April~~Poem-a-Day~Day 30~~Calling it a Day

1/5/2014

For today’s prompt, write a “calling it a day” poem. Some people might call this “Miller time,” others may refer to it as “closing time.” Just remember: Don’t call it a day until you put it in a poem.

“CALLING IT A DAY”
By John Yeo

Our poetical musing is over and done, and we finish by calling it a day.

April dawned with the challenge,
We met to ponder and think.
April showers brought showers of words
Poetical showery verbose days,
Followed by more time to ponder
On things that matter to poets.

The war is over, the battle is done,
Thirty pieces of art composed.
A month of prompts have been tackled
With our poetry to build and complete
The month of April is over.
Now is the time to call it a day.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo.
All rights reserved.

April~~Poem-a-Day~Day 29~Magical Realism Poem

30/4/2014

Day 29~A~MAGICAL~REALISM~Poem

The final Two-for-Tuesday prompt for this month is:Write a realism poem. A poem that is rooted in the real world. Or…Write a magical poem. A poem that incorporates magical or fantastical elements.Or write like Gabriel Garcia Marquez and do both!

Monday
By John Yeo

I drifted freely in a magical sky
With my wings outstretched I began to fly,
From cloud to cloud through the intense blue
I drifted and danced my way to you.
I passed a magical fish flying by
Swimming in the Cerulean Sapphire sky.

A voice broke into my high journey
From across the shores of the sky-full sea.
Half aware and still flying free
I wondered who could be calling to me.
I was rudely brought back to reality.
When I awoke from my magical reverie.

Get out of bed! It is getting late!
Breakfast is ready and it will not wait.
I crawled out to face another cold day
On my bike in the rain, and on my way,
Soaked to the skin, in the heartless city,
From a magical dream I faced harsh reality.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo
All rights reserved.

AprilPoem-a DayDay 28~~Settled Poem

28/4/2014

For today’s prompt, write a settled poem. Settled can be a good, relaxing thing; settled can be an accepting something that wasn’t your first choice thing; settled can be coming to a stop; settled can be pioneers in a strange land; and so on. With only three days left, don’t settle for less than your best.

SETTLED POEM
by John Yeo

The forgotten argument is settled
The war is over now,
Peace in our time
With many lives lost
Much blood has been spilled
To establish the peace
Has been settled.

A butterfly lazily drifted
From flower to flower in the field
Then stopped to taste the nectar
From the blood-red poppies there.
The butterfly settled to feast.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo
All rights reserved

April~Poem-a-Day~Day 27~Monster Poem

28/4/2014

For today’s prompt, write a monster poem. There are the usual suspects: zombies, vampires, werewolves, and mummies. But monsters can take any form and terrorize a variety of victims. So have fun playing around with this one, because we’ve only got a few days of April left.

MONSTER POEM
by John Yeo

Mild-mannered Mr Smith was a monster,
He always raised his hat to the ladies
As he passed them by in the street
A well respected man in the town,
Never once did he speak out of turn
The quietest monster you ever could meet.

The mild-mannered monster, Mr Smith,
Always raised his cup with his left hand
When he joined us for afternoon tea.
His finger raised in polite etiquette
His polished shoes were shiny and neat.
The infamous monster Mr Smith

Mr Smith was a polite, mild monster,
He wore a white coat had a friendly grin
As he opened his door and ushered us in
His hands were always spotless and gloved
As he asked us to sit in his torture chair.
When he welcomed us into his lair.

The bloodthirsty monster Mr Smith
Was always full of good cheer
His drill and his tools shining bright,
Instruments of torture neatly laid out
Always polite and brimming with care
He knew his victim was trembling with fear.

Mr Smith was a well-loved monster
After he had drilled and pulled
With patience to remove the pain
After the bloody operation was over
Goodbye he smiled through perfect teeth
You are welcome to come again.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo
All rights reserved

April~Poem-a-Day~Day 26~Water Poem

27/4/2014

DAY 26~WATER POEM

For today’s prompt, write a water poem. Life depends upon water, so there are any number of ways to write this prompt. A few thoughts that jump to mind include pollution, rising water levels, hurricanes, fracking, and more.

PRECIOUS WATERS
By John Yeo

The frozen ice on the mountain peak
Began to thaw and flow down
A trickle at first. then a tiny stream.
Then a flood cutting through the rock
A life-giving force on the move.

Cataracts and rivulets, snaking through
Mountain passes and steep stark canyons
Bringing the clear precious waters
To the arid parched plains below.
A life-giving force on the move.

Water the essence of life,
Flowing sustenance for cultivation,
Mighty rivers of moving life
Bringing the life-blood to the land
A life-giving force on the move.

Great rain-forests taking nourishment
From the pure clear rain,
In the rising sun-kissed clouds.
The essence of the life explosion,
A life-giving force on the move.

The river of life-filled liquid,
Races, then lazily rolls along.
An unstoppable flood of beauty
Flooding to join the clear blue sea.
A life-giving force on the move.

Copyright © ~Written by John Yeo
All rights reserved

April~Poem-a-day~Day 25~The Last Straw

26/4/2014

For today’s prompt, write a “last straw” poem. Everyone encounters situations in which they decide they’re not going to take it anymore (whatever “it” happens to be). It could be a loud noise, an abusive partner, someone taking the Pop Tart but not throwing the box away, or whatever. Write about the moment, the aftermath, or take an unexpected path to your poem.

The Last Straw

A Scarecrow made of straw
Stands here, arms akimbo.
Carefully constructed,
Made to measure
To frighten the birds away.

A wise old rook
Cocked his head to one side
And cast a beady eye
On the straw man’s chest.
Then pulled out a piece of straw.

He flew to the rookery, fast,
Bearing the bounty to build a nest.
Soon many rooks came to explore
This treasure chest of straw.
The word spread fast among the flock.

Soon the handsome Scarecrow was no more,
Spread over the branches of the rookery.
He was part of a hundred nests
All raising families to feed
On the generous farmer’s fields.

There was just a sad shadow left
Of our magnificent fearsome friend,
A battered hat, an old pipe
A cross made out of wood
And flying away in the wind.

THE LAST STRAW.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo
All rights reserved

April~Poem-a-Day~Day 24~Tell it to ~~~??

24/4/2014

For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Tell It to the (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write the poem. Possible titles include: “Tell It to the Hand,” “Tell It to the Judge,” “Tell It to the Six-Foot Bunny Rabbit,” and so on.

TELL IT TO THE CAT
By John Yeo

The loneliness of city life is sad,
Surrounded by millions of folk
The mind wanders as I sit alone
Wishing the phone to ring, someone
To talk to, someone to share my thought.

A bundle of living breathing fur,
Sits on my lap as I think
The television programme is boring,
I pray for a living human link
To share my thought and chat.

A gentle stroke, a nuzzle,
A deep rumble of a purr,
A playful claw, an outstretched paw,
When I am sadly alone with my trouble,
Heart full of care, I share it with the cat.

My troubles are brimming over and I need
A friend to be somewhere near,
I get so incredibly lonely here,
I try to express myself in prayer.
Then I tell it to the cat.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo
All rights reserved.

April~Poem-a-Day~Day 23~Location Poem

23/4/2014

For today’s prompt, write a location poem. Location could be physical–like the laundromat, a public park, a glacier, flying saucer, etc. Or location could be emotional, psychological, metaphysical, or some other kind of word that ends in -al. Or surprise everyone!

FRUSTRATION
A Villanelle style poem~By John Yeo

Where am I? How did I get in this situation?
There is something I desperately need to know,
I must find out where I am! My location!

I sit soul-searching for a solution,
My mind slips in and out of the flow.
Where am I? How did I get in this situation?

My thoughts are the centre of my meditation,
The answers are there and they come and they go,
I must find out where I am! My location!

I search hard to get control of the motion
Of the patterns of thought fast and slow.
Where am I? How did I get in this situation?

I am paralysed with mental frustration,
The clues are there and I know as I follow
I must find out where I am! My location!

My memory was good once, no interruption
Instant recollection, free from sorrow,
Where am I? How did I get in this situation?
I must find out where I am! My location!

Copyright © Written by John Yeo
All rights reserved.

April~Poem-a-Day~Day 22~Optimistic Pessimistic Poem

23/4/2014

Day 22~Pessimistic Poem~Optimistic Poem

Today is a Tuesday, and you know what that means: Two for Tuesday Prompts! Write one, write the other, and/or write both!
Write an optimistic poem. The glass is half full.
Write a pessimistic poem. The glass is half empty.

AN OPTIMISTIC~PESSIMISTIC PUZZLE
By John Yeo

The Weather forecast is dire ~~~ I am sure the weather will get better.
Continual rain will never stop. ~~~ We will probably not get a drop.

The crops will fail, we are set to starve ~~ The predictions are overstated.

Global warming is taking it’s toll. ~~ We will all eat well and survive on a roll

The world will become a gigantic desert ~~ Our scientists are all very clever

The soil will dry and become sand. ~~ They will find ways to defeat the threat

The oil will run out, we will grind to a halt ~ We will discover new fuels to survive

The Earth will become dust millions will starve. ~ New foods to feed our young

We will all take a trip to outer Space. We are in this thing together.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo

AN OPTIMISTIC~PESSIMISTIC PUZZLE
By John Yeo

The weather forecast is dire
Continual rain will never stop.

I am sure the weather will get better
We will probably not get a drop.

The crops will fail, we are set to starve
Global warming its taking its toll

The predictions are overstated
We will all eat well and survive on a roll.

The world will become a gigantic desert
The soil will dry and become sand.

Our scientists are all very clever
They will find ways to defeat the threat.

The oil will run out, we will grind to a halt
The Earth will become dust millions will starve.

We will discover new fuels to survive
New foods to feed our young.

We will all emigrate to outer Space. We are in this thing together.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo
All rights reserved.

April~Poem-a-Day~Day 21~Back to Basics

22/4/2014

For today’s prompt, write a “back to basics” poem. For me, back to the basics means jumping to the fundamentals. Maybe it’s me re-learning (or practicing) fundamentals–like running or writing–but it could also be a child learning how to tie his shoestrings, which can be a unique experience for both the child and the adult trying to give instructions and advice. Back to basics could also be re-setting a state of mind or getting back into a routine. In a way, spring is a season that gets back to the basics.

Back to Basics
by John Yeo

To get back to basics is easy,
Everything comes off with a wipe
Except the mascara which can be a pain.
Then the picture taken with care
She took a back to basics, Selfie!

Basically she said, I will
Clean the mask and re-apply.
The foundation first, is a must
Powder, then blusher next of course,
Very close attention is paid to the eyes,
Eyebrow pencil, eye shadow, mascara,
Lipstick is always the last to apply.
Her appearance had dramatically altered.
Then she smiled for the camera again.

Copyright © by John Yeo
All rights reserved.