Not Poetry. Quatrain Verse in English & Swedish. Dagsverser. On the Mundane & the Arcane.
Poems in English
Voluble words shall lack poise
leave little trace, fade as noise
Words may strain as if in shrunk costumes
when trying leap high in ballet
While aggrieved faces express volumes
of what purloined words can’t convey
Words may sparkle while their essence
get lost midair in senescence
Below blown sea fowl
ship with ardor
tossed in storm’s howl
steers for harbor
Of shelter beseeching
to dock in snug port
though shore leave but fleeting
if crew doesn’t comport
So here’s your lonely life, sailor!
The open ocean: Your jailer!
Since morning’s crisp elation
we walk, head down, in daze
Tangled up in frustration
lost in Life’s dead end maze
Yet another day wasted
in mean meanderings
too lightly smelled & tasted
on wobbly wanderings
Are we too mired in anguish
to grasp our heart’s warm language?
+)
-mean = here: small-minded; ignoble
In space planets callously align
silently encircle, rotate
Some hearts may beat warmly and benign
while others coldly desolate
While Universe’s dark frozen space
stolidly shows no emotion
compassion may help us humans face
our continuing commotion
It may not lead us anywhere
but provide solace while we’re here
When to others’ hardship resistant
aren’t we failing in compassion
when just on own comfort insistent
ain’t our empathy on ration?
Our eyes glazed, as fear we smell
we act disdainfully
of all those faring less well
rather than humanely
Thus we dismiss them indignantly
while blaming others malignantly
Children’s laughter eternal
planting enchantment’s seed
spout in those moments vernal
in resplendent light freed
Nourished by Spring showers
youth sprinkled in joyous deed
bloom as Summer flowers
only to fade as Fall’s weed
Then Winter storms shall harshly howl
our death draws close as starved wolves growl
I just don’t like to stoop down
to place my dog’s fresh poop
(risking stains on hands or gown)
into a bag by scoop!
So I let it lie where left ad hoc
malodorous, right on the sidewalk
But my neighbors got it handled
as dog poop sticks bit like glue
When they get home (here I’m candid)
they just scrape it off their shoe
I allow my neighbors
to do me kind favors!
We ‘commune’ by bumper stickers
and by thought-ending cliches
Feebly democracy flickers
in such debased a malaise
Ever sillier, who’d thought?
Uninformed we get out of sync
society’s bonds worn fraught
Civil discourse gone down the sink
Now in anomie mired
entertained on apps agile
In fantasy conspired
reality’s grip fragile
But what a way to go
when wishing not to know!
To logic & hard facts
I’m recalcitrant
They may hinder my acts
when I gallivant
When finding pliable ‘facts’
I’m thus salivating
as they justify my acts
Aptly stimulating!
Civil or in brawl
I’m the victim
Watch me whine & bawl
here’s my dictum:
Between ‘wants’ & ‘needs’ little daylight
Furthermore I ain’t contrite, all right?
Are we rushing headlong
hearing no birdsong
all unmindful days long
until sounds swan song?
Entitled like baby boomer?
Whining like left waiting dog?
Offended like gypped consumer?
Fawning like corporate cog?
I’d rather live present & cheerfully
than elbowing airily sneerfully!