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Wednesday, April 22, 2026

the duke in the jungle

by nick nelson







he duke rode into the jungle
on a horse made of tin
with a box of chocolates under his arm
and was never seen again

the horse showed spirit
and thew the duke off
he awoke in a feather of moonbeams
and heard a discreet cough

what have we here?
a smooth voice enquired
he looks fairly respectable
but his contract has expired

i would like some refreshment
the duke heard himself say
bring me a cup of sparkling sunshine
on my favorite silver tray

not so fast, fellow
the voice reproved
you are my prisoner
and must get in the groove

you must put on this yellow bow tie
and this suit of pepper and salt
but whatever happens after this
it will all be your own fault

how has it come to this?
the duke cried in despair
all i wanted was to be free
and all i wanted was my share the voice grew silent
and the door clanged shut
and the river went on running
beside the little hut

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

apple banana

by nick nelson





apples are red
bananas are yellow
chistopher columbus
was a stout fellow

he sailed the ocean blue
when the world was new
and in a crowded space
planted the flag of the white race

grapes are purple
grass is green
daniel boone
made the woods his scene

he lived with his dog
in a hollow log
and did not trifle
with his long rifle

from mandalay
to hindustan
they said hercules
was a mighty man

tyrants trembled
magicians dissembled
emperors fled
to the land of the dead

samson and delilah
sitting in a tree
living life
and reciting poetry

sam woke up and son was gone
golden horde on the horizon
salome waved her silver fan
holly wood, but genghis khan

Monday, April 20, 2026

indigenous meaningful

by nick nelson





indigenous

what did you say?

you heard me.

it sounded like foaming

i did not say anything

which is it? first you say you heard me then you say you didn’t say anything - it has to be one or the other, it can not be both

that is what they all say

excuse me?

fred wants the rent

then pay him

i paid him the whole thing last month - now it is your turn

is that how it works?

how else would it work?

he did not do a good job this month - he does not deservet o get paid

that is not how the system works

oh, so now you are defending the system

i deeply resent that.

meaningfful

what did you say?

Sunday, April 19, 2026

sonnet

by bofa xesjum





a revolutionary new development
and an extraordinary counterdevelopment
were walking down an important street

a privileged upstart took notice
he was indigenous to the particular situation
and loved freedom with every ounce of his being

a definitive account will be forthcoming
because it is only natural
bad dog

what exactly is groundbreaking about it?
it portends to be subversive
the power went out

more meaningless meanderings
can we get back to normal sometime this century?

Saturday, April 18, 2026

19th century

by bofa xesjum





adam smith wrote the wealth of nations
sitting in a railway station
nietsche wrote the twilight of the gods
he was an unhappy sod

cafes and public parks
were not conducive to karl marx
he preferred the library’s quiet
maybe we, too, should try it

tolstoy wrote peace and war
because he knew what life was for
dostoevsky wrote punishment and crime
but never threw me a lousy dime

dickens wrote our mutual friender
because he was a solid sender
he also wrote house bleak
but never really got on his freak

jane austen wrote prejudice and pride
and down country lanes did glide
on endless carriage rides
but never was a blushing bride

mrs henry wood
thought life was good
but mrs oliphant
was afraid of elephants

mr thomas hardy
to church on sunday was often tardy
he wrote the obscure jude
on monday in a surly mood

Friday, April 17, 2026

outcast

by anonymous





i have been in this place
i can not remember when
they would not let me in before
and will not let me in again

i have wandered in the blazing sun
i have wandered in the dark
i have wandered in the wilderness
and in the tended park

i hear a name called
it is not my own
is the voice from the sky
or from an underground throne?


clouds gather in battalions
the sky begins to burst
of all creatures
why am i cursed?

this is my kingdom
i long to cry
but i have been outcast
and do not know why

Thursday, April 16, 2026

the art of poetry

by rhoda penmarq







i can write a poem every day
so can you
your brain does not have to be active
your heart does not have to be true

one word at a time
like a step upon a stair
a rabbit runs through the bushes
a bird flies through the eair

words follow each other
like sands upon a beach
the last word is forever
always just out of reach

mary had a little lamb
johnny filled out a form
the world would be a better place
if you know who had never been born

people are nasty
things will be better tomorrow
they should learn to be nice
after another rol of the dice

see how easy
see how easy it is
it will all be revealed on tuesday
because that is show biz