Poems From the Porch 31
It's a Beautiful Day
It is a beautiful day outside. Oh, it is overcast and very windy, but still beautiful in my book. It doesn't matter what is going on in the world, if we can wake up feeling healthy and refreshed and looking forward to what's ahead of us in the next 24 hours, then it's a great day.
So, welcome to the porch once again. I know it's been almost two weeks since the last collection but I have been trying to intersperse these with some poems/stories/articles of my own choosing as well. I hope you don't mind. Anyway, the kettle's on, so coffee and tea will be served soon. Pull up a chair, relax, and let's get on with this weeks poetry, shall we? It is quite an interesting and varied selection this week, or so I think anyway. I hope you do too. Oh, and I may have got carried away with the videos, but hey, we can all do with a little extra entertainment at the moment.
Rinita Sen (Senoritaa)
"Now, as you are short of topics for now, maybe I will suggest an idea. How about countryside living? You could include the landscape, the simplicity of life, the down-to-earth people, and some of their struggles. Of course, you are the poet so you'll know what goes best with the topic when the words begin to flow,"
Green Acres is the place to be,
Farm livin’ is the life for me.
Land spreadin’ out so far and wide,
Keep Manhattan, just give me the countryside.
— Eddie Albert..Green Acres theme songGive Me the Countryside
How I love the countryside,
I adore the peace and quiet,
Waking up to sweet birdsong,
And counting stars at night.
No noise of constant traffic,
Or deadlines to attend.
Life moves slow at country pace,
It bucks the city trend.
There’s wildlife everywhere you look,
Poos right outside the door.
I listen for the jackass’ laugh,
And crows familiar “caw.”
The only shop’s the general store,
But, it’s 15 miles from here,
And once a month the Fire Shed meets
To train the volunteers.
Life is a challenge in the bush
For amenities are few,
But people help each other out.
It’s just what “bushies” do.
One neighbour’s a mechanic,
Another has a mill.
You barter with what you can do,
You’ll soon realize your skills.
There may be no town water
So you need your own in store,
Water tanks to catch the rain,
Dig a dam or sink a bore.
So, if you want a tree change
There are benefits galore,
Nature, fresh air, friendships,
For those not easily bored.
But, if you enjoy the fast-paced life
Like clubs and food to go,
Then city life is more your style -
You’ll find country life too slow.
Greg Cain (Boxelderred)
"John - I'm not sure this is how this works, but I did see you were asking for suggestions on things to write about in your poem collection.
What say you try to put something together about airplanes and/or the advent of flight? I do think that could be fun."
The Advent of Flight (Condensed)
The first to fly were insects,
Then flying-fish and bats.
Pterosaurs once ruled the skies,
But now birds hold that status.
The Chinese first invented kites,
Then came hot-air balloons,
But many early plane designs
Were created by buffoons.
Da Vinci sketched machines of flight,
But none were ever built.
Imagine if these actually flew,
Then who should bear the guilt.
Man harbored deep desire to fly
And envied those with wings,
But, he tried to copy birds in flight.
That pipe-dream hindered things.
The solution was a fixed-wing craft,
Designed by Brothers Wright.
They never gave up on their dream
Until they got it right.
Nithya Venkat
"I would love a poem on being fearless, John."
Nithya, in fact, I just recently wrote a poem on this subject (since I received your suggestion) It is called "What Waits Around the Corner?" Therefore, I will direct you to that poem if you don't mind. I see you haven't commented on it yet, so I hope it suffices to fill this request. Here is a video that is relevant as well.
Li-Jen Hew
"Hi Jodah, I hope I came just in time to suggest you another poem to create! Have a poem with the theme laughter is the best medicine and talk about seeing the bright side of things or funny scenarios and make it as though you are giddy and high from taking medicine because it makes you laugh. Write humorously of course. Or write in any way that makes you feel comfortable."
Laughter's the Best Medicine
“Doctor, Doctor, have you seen
If there’s hope of a vaccine?
I think I’ve got the virus bad,
It makes me angry and quite sad.”
“Relax dear patient, don’t you stress,
I’ll just give you a simple test.
You say you’re angry and you’re sad,
I think it’s clear what’s made you mad.
You’ve caught the MORBID-19 bug,
It can’t be cured by any drug.
But I don’t want you to sit and mope,
There is a simple antidote.”
“I don’t know how I caught this thing,
I used to always joke and sing.
But now I’m in a morbid state,
Please cure me before it’s too late.”
“There’s only one sure cure I know,
My recommended way to go.
You need to smile instead of frown,
Not let the stresses get you down.”
“But Doc, that’s easier said than done,
This virus really is no fun.
I can’t go out, I’m stuck at home,
And I hate talking on the phone.”
“You once were obviously a clown
So, I understand why you feel down.
Surround yourself with funny memes,
As crazy as I know that seems.”
“Okay, I’ll follow your advice,
I’ll even watch some cat memes twice,
And even though it’s out of place
I’ll force a smile upon my face.”
“Believe me when I tell you true,
By doing that you will get through.
It doesn’t take a Thomas Edison
To realize laughter’s the best medicine.”
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2020 John Hansen