Blog Entries by d.knape | Write Out Loud

Are a real pain

when you have them

you can't get rid of them

try drinking water

try deep breaths

try a bag over your head

try any remedy but

they refuse to go away

they are stubborn hiccups

and put up a good defense

so acquiesce to hiccups

consider yourself

a hiccup in life

you came along unexpected

but there you are

son of a ...

🌷(4)

Saturday 12th March 2022 12:00 pm

The Path Of Least Resistance

There is a trail

the grass worn down by steady use

you can see it clearly

as it winds into the woods

there are tracks here in the dried mud

of the animals who travel by night

the deer the bobcats the coyotes

they use the trail to get to a road

which is easier for them

they wildlife prefer the road

it's a clear shot for a mile or two

and all they have to do

...

🌷(2)

Friday 11th March 2022 12:41 pm

SICK

I'm sick

and cannot write

bear with me

Thursday 10th March 2022 1:12 pm

Now That I Am Old

Now that I am old

I wish that I could talk to them again

just one more time

and take the time to listen

Now that I am old

I wish I could ask them

about their lives

and write down their stories

Now that I am old

I wish I could sit down with them

and for once listen

knowing now all they said was true

Now that I am old

I wish I ...

🌷(6)

Wednesday 9th March 2022 12:11 pm

Role Reversal

As we grow old

we become more passive

more submissive

our kids are now smarter

than we are

how do we know?

they tell us

they have taken over

our role as parents

now correct us

in our thinking

tell us what to do

and how to do it

and so we go

into second childhood

with our kids now

the adults in the room

we, just hoping not to offend

hoping ...

🌷(2)

Tuesday 8th March 2022 12:40 pm

Plastic Bags

When the wind blows

you see the plastic bags

snagged in trees

hung up on fences

bags clustered in piles

shouting their insults

some people notice

others don't care

they skip along the streets

they pile up in corners

they tell us which way

the wind blows

flags of our culture

banners of commerce

of convenience

people get used to ugline...

🌷(4)

Monday 7th March 2022 12:42 pm

Newsboys

I remember when there were Newsboys

on every street corner downtown

they made a living hawking the paper

yelling out the Headlines to get your interest

they were our broadcasters

creating curiosity with their sensational shouts

they made you want to buy a paper

to read the rest of the story

young boys and grown men

did this thankless job

getting up at 4am

stak...

🌷(3)

Sunday 6th March 2022 2:39 pm

MOSEY

What a nice word

friendly

agreeable

easy on the tongue

it has its own pace

so easy

no rush

it takes its time

we wave to it

with a smile

as it slowly saunters off.

🌷(3)

Saturday 5th March 2022 12:31 pm

GOLD

Glitter of Gold
causes mayhem

Passion and lust
drives greedy men

What is Gold's worth
if only sin?

What's in the earth
should be left in.

🌷(4)

Thursday 3rd March 2022 12:07 pm

Reclining Fortunes

Old people get set in their ways

they save newspapers

they save their breath

they save money by not going out

they watch birds

they watch the weather

they see doctors only out of necessity

they take their vitamins because

they know they are declining

that's why they Recline

reclining is free

and easily accessible

reclining is their regular Health program

...

🌷(2)

Wednesday 2nd March 2022 12:34 pm

Reclining Fortunes

Old people get set in their ways

they save newspapers

they save their breath

they save money by not going out

they watch birds

they watch the weather

they see doctors only out of necessity

they take their vitamins because

they know they are declining

that's why they Recline

reclining is free

and easily accessible

reclining is their regular Health program

...

Wednesday 2nd March 2022 12:34 pm

People still wear masks
you see them all the time
despite the fact
masks are no longer mandated
and have been proven ineffective
some people still cling to their masks
like Linus to his blanket
they cannot let go
it is their security
their thumb
they still need that mask to function
the would not know how to behave without one
they desperately want it
it is now like an appendage
an...

🌷(4)

Tuesday 1st March 2022 12:44 pm

Waiting For The Bus

Clumps of kids

sit on the grass

with books and backpacks

and their ever-present phones

always staring at phones

they do not see the other

right beside them

they do not care

they just wait in a trance

blankly staring at screens

waiting for the big yellow school bus

to take them away

remember the day

when we rode without phones

and were so excited to be...

🌷(3)

Monday 28th February 2022 12:41 pm

War Games

How can there be a war

without America?

we are always there

ready to volunteer

our blood and treasure

our sons to die

while politicians grow rich

back behind borders

it is what it is

we add and they subtract

a zero sum game

our fine young men

the zeroes.

🌷(2)

Sunday 27th February 2022 12:50 pm

One Day Closer

One day closes

the sun goes down

too little accomplished

reality dawns,

just an observation

regret is left

another day closer

to coming death.

🌷(2)

Saturday 26th February 2022 12:44 pm

The Center For Disease

The Center For Disease

promotion and distribution

has now agreed to relax its guidelines concerning masks

and states that effective immediately all masks can be dropped

along with the pretense that they ever did any good.

New data has come in from wherever the Center keeps it

showing that people who wear masks are usually criminals

and that ordinary people do not need t...

Friday 25th February 2022 12:51 pm

Old Fools

You cannot fool

an old fool

they've lived here

long enough

not to be fooled

the young

are prone to foolishness

they consequently make mistakes

the old lean on experience

they can't be fooled twice

if you need advice

ask an old person

don't be fooled by

their appearance

they know things

you have never even heard of

the young are in hurry

the...

🌷(1)

Thursday 24th February 2022 1:03 pm

Pain And Suffering

When we are together

our Health is the main topic

we describe our aches and pains

their locations

their intensity

whose misery is worse

we share these conditions

in communion with each other

we speak of surgeries and doctors

and medications and labs

our diagnosis and our prognosis

this is our common denominator

it drives our conversati...

🌷(3)

Wednesday 23rd February 2022 12:39 pm

Anger Management

I am past my prime

I am an angry Old Man

ornery and cantankerous

like most old men

little things upset me

like stupidity

conformity

diversity

I have been placed

in Anger Management therapy

but even that makes me mad

I hate doctors

I hate couches

I am not managing it well

I still believe crankiness is a virtue

I use it on my poor wife

with spotty...

🌷(3)

Tuesday 22nd February 2022 12:28 pm

Adopt A Poet

Old Poet is ready to be assigned to his new family! His former family gave up on him as he was uncontrollable. Since then he has gone through intensive training where he has learned to obey his wife and can now sit and stay on her command.

Despite the fact he was abandoned and left by the side of the road, Old Poet remains happy and lovable. He loves being patted on the head and...

🌷(2)

Monday 21st February 2022 12:44 pm

Clutter

It comes when we collect

when we never throw anything away

we don't see it

because we are in it

we are surrounded

we make it we own it

it grows like fungus

increasing incrementally

so slowly

we do not notice

until it possesses us

every closet is full

every drawer every shelf

every nook and cranny

so

we move.

🌷(4)

Sunday 20th February 2022 12:36 pm

Hugs

To be a tree

I wish I was

simply because

trees get hugs!

🌷(1)

Saturday 19th February 2022 12:44 pm

Half A Poem

Read and leave comments (3)

This is only half

a poem

but a half is

better than nothing

if you want

write the other half

make up

your own poem

you can call anything

a poem these days

just like this.

🌷(4)

Friday 18th February 2022 12:37 pm

The Alliance For Tired Senior Citizens

We are working hard to ensure that

Tired Seniors get enough sleep

we recommend taking a nap

once every two hours

naps refresh you

and keep you safe

if you're sleeping

you can't get into trouble

most seniors wear out around noon

but with our sleep plan

you will be able to make it to 1pm

eat and then take another nap

double up on your naps if...

🌷(3)

Thursday 17th February 2022 12:56 pm

The Lizard Story

Every little boy loves lizards

the fact that there is something wild

roaming around on the doorstep

a creature fast and slippery

the fun is in the chase

and when the little boy does catch it

it is a victory of sorts

he has found a friend to talk to

and feed and take care of

so of course out comes the plastic tub

the little bottle cap of water

then leaves and...

🌷(3)

Wednesday 16th February 2022 12:42 pm

Sign At The Post Office

"Practice Social Distancing"

you don't actually have to do it

just "Practice" doing it

follow instructions, obey

arms folded, mask secure on nose

stand on yellow footprints

get nervous if someone

gets too close

keep a watchful eye out

for anyone who might

creep into your space

do they look like carriers?

behind those masks

there are secret...

🌷(1)

Tuesday 15th February 2022 11:35 am

The Glade

A little pond

hidden far back

in the Cedar Breaks

water trickling

music of the woods

silence pervades

this little glade

a green jewel

a found place

stumbled on by chance

a tranquil place

so quiet and still

alone with

quiet thoughts.

🌷(2)

Monday 14th February 2022 12:37 pm

Under Bridges

There is more junk under bridges

than in most junk yards

all left behind by people too lazy

to put it in a trash can

or give it to Goodwill

there is no goodwill anymore

that's an old concept

now it's only me me me

the new generation prefers

to just throw it out the window

let the wind carry it away

let someone else worry about it

our bridges become con...

🌷(2)

Sunday 13th February 2022 12:38 pm

No Two Alike

Poems appear

like shells on a beach

we are excited when

we find them

we hold them up

to our ears to listen

words roar with

beauty

poems are personal

discoveries

no two

alike.

🌷(4)

Saturday 12th February 2022 12:51 pm

CROW

The Crow

bold & black

bandit

pirate

thief

tracks in the snow

caw conversations

eyes in the treetops

echos in the woods

eking out

a living

eating leftovers.

🌷(4)

Friday 11th February 2022 12:36 pm

The Treadmill

There's another one

sitting so lonely by the curb

another Treadmill deserted

gone the way of broken promises

with no one wanting it or using it

another resolution cancelled

good intentions gone awry

it was supposed to be the answer

the way to exercise and health

but after a while the routine grew old

the excuses came

and the treadmill fell into disus...

🌷(2)

Thursday 10th February 2022 12:55 pm

Neither Here Nor There

The saying is

its neither here nor there

so if it's not here

and it's not there

where is it?

it could be somewhere in between

but then if it is

it's stuck between two opposites

it can't get loose

so let us help move it along

with a little nudge

to get it to make up its mind

so finally

for once a...

🌷(3)

Wednesday 9th February 2022 12:36 pm

Killer Freeze

The freeze killed off

the plants I had

those I planted

all by hand

brittle to touch

the plants gave up

yet still in all

I am

The pipes got froze

so did my nose

now it's silent

as a lamb

bones turned stone cold

freeze took its toll

yet still in all

I am.

(not sure why the spacing is like it is. Not my doing.)

🌷(2)

Tuesday 8th February 2022 1:18 pm

Hurt Feelings

Sadness comes
and feelings get hurt
when there is no acknowledgment
no response
just the dead silence
of nothingness
it wears on the soul
it troubles the mind
as if you do not count
as if you do not matter
how cruel it is
to not say something
even a one word reply
would suffice
give solace
but to ignore completely
as if one does not even exist
that is the lowest feeling of ...

🌷(5)

Monday 7th February 2022 1:30 pm

Bugs Under Rocks

Bugs seek shelter

crawl under rocks

roof over head

and there they flop

their cozy home

as temperatures drop

being in a hole

should not be knocked

when weather warms

they adjust their clocks

come back to life

pulse never stopped

back from their basement

we are dumbstruck

how they survived

to run amuk.

🌷(1)

Sunday 6th February 2022 1:07 pm

Snow Day

Snow covers all

the tall grass along the side of the road

looks like little animals with white tufts puffed up

the dead trees are covered

with white icing

and the houses take on a fairy tale look

as snow builds on their roofs

it is a magical time

when snow falls

the ground snaps

the roads slip

the car windows fog up

but people still go...

🌷(1)

Saturday 5th February 2022 1:03 pm

The Sun Calls In Sick

The sun

got up this morning

and felt the extreme cold

then went back to bed

despite its never missing

a day of work

it just called in sick

let somebody else do it

the sun said

I have a good record

surely I can get a day off

once in awhile

if they don't like it

they can stick it where

the sun don't shine.

🌷(2)

Friday 4th February 2022 12:17 pm

Power Outage

Lost power for an hour

wind not turning blades on towers,

under blankets now we cower

the power always theirs, not ours!

🌷(3)

Thursday 3rd February 2022 3:03 pm

Free Thought

I make no trouble

I don't bother anyone

I just spend my time thinking

and I think it's important we share our thoughts

because that's called conversation

Free thought used to be common

you could find it everywhere

but free thought now gets you in trouble

If you have an unauthorized thought

they will come after you and

get you fired or i...

🌷(3)

Wednesday 2nd February 2022 12:15 pm

Masked Men

Everybody has to mask

except those in power

who don't have to mask

because they are better than us

they don't like masks

any more than we do

but still they mandate masks

and we comply like sheep-

with masks.

🌷(5)

Tuesday 1st February 2022 12:31 pm

Bee Strike

If we would work

as hard as bees

what improvements

would come naturally

still there's always

a propensity

for some to feed off

of their greed

Poor workers slave

and constantly feed

the queens desires

and vanity

As selfish as a Bee

can be

maybe a Strike

is what she needs.

🌷(7)

Monday 31st January 2022 12:46 pm

The Thing You Are Looking For

Is not here

it was here but only for a brief time

and then it got ugly

worn and wrinkled

it had been a beautiful thing before

how it shined in the sun

and thrilled you with its brilliance

but now the thing you thought

would last forever

has been lost somewhere

along the road of life

Youth you see

is as temporary as a moment

like color fades

like coppe...

🌷(4)

Sunday 30th January 2022 11:34 am

Taking Tests

If you took a test in school

you either passed or failed

but you knew one way or the other

now you can take a test for Covid

and still not feel comfortable with your grade

so you have to retake the test

but the problem is they are OUT of tests

you can't find them anywhere

so just take the booster the teacher says

and then another booster after that

until you are ...

🌷(2)

Saturday 29th January 2022 1:09 pm

Cat's Company

Quiet paws

and so soft hair

a cozy throw

a comfy chair

cat's company

we often share

I care for it

it doesn't care.

🌷(3)

Friday 28th January 2022 12:47 pm

Lot For Sale

Read and leave comments (3)

One lot

surveyed and plotted

has shade

and water

is in gated community

adjoining lot also available

has view of lake

and golf course

inquire at cemetery office.

🌷(5)

Thursday 27th January 2022 12:43 pm

Breeds Of Poets

There are two distinct kinds of poets

the long-haired and

the short- haired

The long-haired is the most common

the one seen in most coffee-houses and libraries

while the short-haired poet is wiry and energetic

and will happily shake hands with anyone

Both kinds love to perform

at poetry readings and circuses

and both love attention and ...

🌷(6)

Wednesday 26th January 2022 12:49 pm

Rest In Peace

Walk between them
walk among
these rows and rows
of silent stones,
they mark the place
where we came from
forefather's graves
we are their sons

Tipped over stones
fall into ruin
so seldom do
the kinfolk come,
this holy place
too far for some
the pace too slow
for those who run

Yet drawn toward
these silent stones
one still walks
between, among,
the memory of
soon over...

🌷(5)

Tuesday 25th January 2022 12:42 pm

Pondering

I like to ponder
I cannot resist

I ponder life's questions
my major interest

My mind tends to wander
sometimes it trips

Yet the pleasure in pondering
is the answers I get.