I’ve tried
to write a poem
for the solstice
this winter come,
for the shortest day;
the beginning of the end…
I failed
to find a start
carve a middle
coup de grâce
weave a wordy way;
the beginning
of the end…
I set my traps
the night before
made all the best laid plans
I chose the bait
and lay in wait
and all seemed well in hand;
the beginning of
the end…
patience
that’s the key
so it seemed
but easy said
is rarely easy done;
the beginning
of
the end…
as light became
less light
my eyes
shuttered wide
to closed
and into sleep
I dribbled deep
from yawn to drowse
to doze;
the beginning of the end
came when I awoke
and found
nothing much to find
but pins and needles
muscle cramp
a spider hanging
from my hat
but not a rhythm
not a rhyme
nor any useful line,
nothing fine
that could be used
to light a fuse
or bold enthuse
to glean a verse
to break this curse,
not epic,
blank,
not villanelle,
not idyll,
even terse.
[sigh]
I’ve tried
to write a poem
but despite
my best attempts
I wrote
a shopping list instead:
coffee
tea
turnips
tomatoes
crackers
crisps
and cheese.
by ROBERT GREIG
© All rights reserved 2018
buy these
some coffee
and green tea
turnips flowers
fresh tomatoes
on crackers
crisps potatoes
and cream cheese.
(it’s a crime that rhymes)
(c’est un crime, qui rime)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Taking notes now… 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aaahhh. I’ve had that feeling you expressed, usually at 4:00 a.m. when I am wakeful but not totally alert and engaged.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The worst possible time for such feelings, I’ve found. I totally get you on that one, Rae. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
much thanks Tony, really appreciate the guest spot 🙂
LikeLiked by 4 people
Your poem is so good! How could we not share it? 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
I have often started with a shopping list and finished a poem instead. I bet you get all the chores done very quickly Robert. Your wife must be in awe of you.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I bet she is too! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll pass on the turnips … all else okay for me!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Aw, but turnips can be fun too! 😛
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awesome 👏
LikeLiked by 4 people
We quite agree! Robert’s a great writer!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Beautiful writing, thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for reading it! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Made me Google villanelle. So that’s something, at least.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Another cool word to add to my personal vocabulary! 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yeah, but if you offered me a lot of money to accurate describe a villanelle, I would probably say a form of poetry with a torturous construction that inspires one to either drink or commit felonious assault on its creator.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oh my! 😮
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hey, a solstice poem just in time for the vernal equinox! Like it muchly. 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
We’re all about the timing here at Unbolt Me! Ha ha!
LikeLiked by 2 people