Poems From the Porch 3
Introduction
Well, what can I say? In the first Poems from the Porch I invited readers to give me ideas or subjects that they would like to see written as poems and said if the idea proved popular enough I would turn it into a series.
I must thank everyone who has read the first two parts of this series. I had already received enough suggestions, just from the comments in the first article, to keep this series going for around six weeks, and the suggestions just keep coming. It looks like I will be able to do about three requests each week at the rate I am going so far, though some poems may prove more difficult than others.
I am keeping a list of the prompts in the order they are posted in comments and the poems I create will be in the same order. So, sit back, put your feet up (as I did writing these) and hopefully enjoy poems requested by your fellow writers.
Elijah A Alexander Jr
"I don't know what you would call a poem of, in my case, eight line with the 1&8 rhyming, 2&7, 3&6 and 4&5 rhyming I would like to see you do of any topic. Another one I did of 12 lines has the first and last words in each line rhyming, see if you can do one like that on any subject.
You asked so you get!"
Elijah, you certainly issued quite a challenge here. I didn't realise how hard it would be, but I did manage to come up with a couple of poems that meet your guidelines
This is That and That is This
*This poem follows the rhyme scheme: ABCDDCBA. This follows The scheme that Elijah requested.
This is that
And that is this,
But what's there
Is not here,
And so I fear
It must be where
Dr.Seuss left his
Cat in the Hat.
A Place So Far Away
*Elijah's second request was to write a twelve-line poem where the first and last word in each line rhymes. I admit this one sure tested me.
They sailed to a place so far away
In a boat made of wood and tin.
Around the Cape and past the Sound,
Rough the seas, but the men were tough.
There, all the natives had dark fuzzy hair,
Skin tanned and their bodies so thin.
Money no value, they barter in honey,
And shells that they find on the sand.
Food was shared, and the crew found it good,
Dance told a tale of romance.
Leaving was sad and some are still grieving,
Though it's back to the home that they know.
Bill Holland
challenge for you...."hummingbird"
I was a little surprised how popular a subject hummingbirds are, and how many poems have already been written about them. They are an amazing creature though, so why not one more? I felt that short, quick lines would suit this subject.
Hummingbird
Hummingbird
Small as a bee,
Sipping nectar,
Hard to see.
Mighty muscles
Power those wings,
Beating swiftly,
Dew-drop kings.
Emerald plumed,
Scarlet breast,
rarely stopping
For a rest.
Tiny legs
Can't hop or walk,
Just help move
Up a flower stalk.
Created to
The highest point,
Co-evolved
With flowers to suit.
A hummingbird flock
Is called a tune,
Hover, shimmer,
Bouquet too.
Eric Dierker
"Seemed to me you should be writing another chicken chronicle. Maybe just a poem about them per week.
Old friend reading glasses struck me as a subject. And being me I thought about funny limericks about love."
Seriously, Eric... three requests? Oh well, I asked for it didn't I? I thought of splitting these up and doing in separate articles but it's easier if I do them all together. So,the following three poems are for you.

The Cackleberry Farmer Revisited
A cackleberry farmer of some renown
Left his farm and moved into town.
He took ten hens along for the ride,
To lay eggs and keep the grocery costs down.
He bought wire and pickets and built a "chook" pen,
It was a vitual palace for hens.
But, stray dogs did strike under cover of night,
Only one hen survived out of ten.
The fencing now fixed to prevent more foul deeds,
The farmer has three hens, they're all different breeds.
They free range by day but are locked up at night,
And lay enough eggs to pay for their feed.
Reading Glasses - My Old Friend
I have an old friend
Quite special to me,
My trusty eyeglasses
That helps me to see.
If I need to read
Or work at something close
I balance my glasses
On top of my nose.
I take my friend with me
Wherever I roam,
If I'm in my office
Or away from my home.
Sometimes I misplace them,
And I feel so lost.
If I never find them
I so dread the cost.
Funny Limericks About Love (Well Sort Of ...)
I don't think these were exactly what Eric expected when he asked for funny limericks about love, but it's what my muse came up with. Sometimes her sense of humour is a little bit questionable :)
Elevator Dater
I met her in an elevator,
I asked if I could date her.
She didn't speak,
Just gave a small squeak
As I pulled out the plug to deflate her.
Love Dove
The perfect symbol of love
Is the snow-white dove.
The dove said, "coo-coo,"
But before it was through
An eagle swooped down from above.
Until Next Week
I hope you enjoyed this edition of Poems from the Porch. Thank you for reading my interpretation of the poetry requested by you or your fellow writers/hubbers. I am about a third of the way through the list of prompts so feel free to challenge me further if any new ideas pop into your head.
So, that's it from me until next week. I decided not to publish this series on a certain day, so whenever the next part pops up will be a surprise. The next few poems should be those requested by Peggy Woods and Ruby Jean Richert. Until then, keep writing and smiling.
© 2019 John Hansen