Not Poetry. Quatrain Verse in English & Swedish. Dagsverser. On the Mundane & the Arcane.
Dog eat dog
while cats scratch cats
frog jump frog
rats rat on rats
While animals are absolved of blame
might not humans gain from owning shame?
Humans to humans inhuman
nefarious plots thicken
Stirred by uncaring acumen
from rectitude we chicken
Through infallible perversity
humans create own adversity
May a crackling fire roaringly warm our chilled hearts
thaw our icicles of brittle self absorption.
A gallant gale scatter the heavy thoughts
howling through the dank caves of our darkness.
A brisk river douse our seething anger
firmly sweep it out onto the calm sea.
A gentle swell cradle our gnawing fears.
A hot summer sun dry our soggy soul.
May we not toss in anxiety and constraint
but float lightly in the restful peace of restraint.
Strive for the role of the avower
who explores the Truth together
Shun arguments to overpower
which makes us our lost bellwether
Don’t throw in that red herring
surreptitiously non-glaring
diverts the discourse, erring
away on fallacious bearing
Such a disingenuous hoax
throws off good faith dialogue
like the stick thrust in bike wheel spokes
leaves our quest crashed epilogue
Been losing our sweet tooth
for what erstwhile was Truth?
While in erstwhile hushed times
we were allowed to slow down
sounds of lingering chimes
listened to with smile, not frown
Those were the days of reflection
by humans of circumspection
Where trampling consumer herds graze
among shrill sales pitches sclerotic
with perked up ears, their screens on face
stampede in commerce idiotic
With grasping hearts ice pack cold
snagging shiny contrivances
by acts as quick as they’re bold
in persuasive connivances
While they barely break in sweat shopping
still being on a track all sopping
“Just ride it out”, says my cheery wife,
“watch a video, write a verse
enjoy your late life without the strife!”
Until carted off in the hearse
But spared suffering, struggle & strife
how can humans live well in life?
If trivial coasting til last breath
we’re not alive before our death?
And how to pretend Life is smooth sailing
while throwing up bent over the railing?
+)
railing = here: a ship’s (hand) rail
The frazzled frayed old man
in light breeze shivers and creaks
Sensing end of lifespan
fuzzy his thoughts, paled his cheeks
Did he ponder too much about human history
rather than enjoying his life’s daily mystery?
Do our character flaws
whatever the cause
detract like tearing jaws
or mere scratching paws?
Flaws shall keep us estranged
make us seem deranged
and while feeling shortchanged
still persist unchanged
Human Nature unruly
which we ought but abhor
it keeps us ensnared cruelly
Just doesn’t work to ignore
Keeps persisting immutably
while doing so inscrutably
Polluting & depleting
we’re fouling our own nest!
A planet overheating
but hey, we’re on a quest!
Whether by plain obliviousness
narcissistic dereliction
or shackled by lasciviousness
must end with species eviction
Yeah but, won’t our mindlessness be excused
as we’re by snappy ‘yeah but’ quips bemused?
+)
-‘yeah but’ quip = such as: “Oceans rising? Yeah but, won’t we all get waterfront property then!”
Piercing, plaintive
shrieks of lone seagulls
faint, complaintive
such eerie earfuls
Beneath graphite clouds
on fierce waves metal grey
we’re tightening shrouds
while drenched in lashing spray
Rolling, pitching pinned
on old ship rusty
drifting sideways, downwind
in gale bursts gusty
With hollow hope, we wail
hearts pounding, bones chill
frantically we bail
while bilges still fill
Thus we’re crossing our own Atlantic
getting worn out in pumping frantic