Squirrel

Have you ever taken the time to watch a squirrel.  Those little guys are seriously pretty funny.  And can be entertaining.  Although, I do know that they are somewhat hazardous to drivers when they attempt to run across the road and then suddenly change their minds midway through the street.  :-P  Been there and done that!  I always liked the story of Squirrel Nutkin by Beatrix Potter too.  It was cute.  Anyway, here is my poem about a squirrel.  Which, I think is pretty accurate of what they are like.  Let me know what you think!  :-)

Squirrel

A squirrel is a creature

With a feature

Where he chitters

And he chatters

Proclaiming to all

What is the matter

With tail shaking

And tree top quaking

This squirrel is making

Sure no one forgets

That he’s upset

More Ogden Nash

Did you enjoy my previous Ogden Nash Post?  I really like his poems.  He's so clever and is definitely one of my favorites.  :-)  I found this other poem by him when i was looking for something to share on Poem In Your Pocket Day.  You guys should look into doing that next year if you didn't this year.  Or just spread poetry to others any day of the year.  Whatever works for you.  Now, back to Ogden Nash. I really liked this poem that I discovered.  It made me laugh and I can certainly relate to it.  Have any of you lived in a dorm or apartment and your neighbors above you were incredibly loud or had other slightly annoying problems?  I've had some loud neighbors, so this poem made me remember that situation but in a more funny way, I guess.  I hope you enjoy it.  I know I did.

The People Upstairs
By Ogden Nash

The people upstairs all practise ballet.
Their living room is a bowling alley.
Their bedroom is full of conducted tours.
Their radio is louder than yours.
They celebrate week-ends all the week.
When they take a shower, your ceilings leak.
They try to get their parties to mix
By supplying their guests with Pogo sticks,
And when their fun at last abates,
They go to the bathroom on roller skates.
I might love the people upstairs more
If only the lived on another floor.

Don't you love Ogden Nash?  :-)  Oh, and by the way, I will certainly be sharing more of his works.  I hope that you liked it!

Barn Owl

My sister has slowly, over the past few years, grown an obsession for owls.  So, this poem is kind of for her and kind of a fun project for myself.  We also have a barn on our property.  Last summer we had a family of about 5 barn owls living in it.  They were rather entertaining during the evenings.  They had a screeching talk that sounded as if they were saying "rat rat rat" over and over again.  Which, if you think about it, would be appropriate considering that could have been them asking for dinner.  Hopefully those owls will be back again this summer.  :-)  I like to picture the owl in this poem as a grumpy old man in a barn owl's body.  He would much rather be left alone.  And if you bothered him, he would for sure let you know about it.  Hahaha Enjoy.

Barn Owl

Barn owl. Barn owl.

A creature who is fowl.

Do not tease or taunt him

Or upon you he will scowl.

He’ll squawk and screech

And he'll hoot and howl.

So please don't mock

The old barn owl.

He'll fluff up his feathers

And he will click his beak.

He'd probably scold you

If he could, of course, speak.

Barn owl.  Barn owl.

He is a strange old bird.

He has the loudest screeching

That I have ever heard.

So my suggestion to you is

To leave this old owl be,

Unless you want to be shrieked at

By a bird banshee.

Here's an image that my sister did of an owlie.  :-)  I think she did a great job.  Check out her blog here: hannahtuohyillustrator.blogspot
She's got some wonderful drawings that she has done.  Go look and see for yourself!  I know you won't regret it and it won't take but a moment of your time.  :-)

The Video Game Killed My Boyfriend

I'm sure that there are many couples where the guy plays video games/computer games.  My boyfriend certainly does.  But, how often is it that you see the girl being the better of the two at gaming?  At least it's not normally thought that way.  :-P  I thought that this would be a fun poem and originally I actually had started it to make fun of my own boyfriend and his game playing.  The only thing is that I certainly am NOT is being good at gaming.  That's the only difference.  Plus the games my boyfriend would be playing are Star Wars and Star Trek.  Also, he's corrected me on the fact that the games I listed in the poem actually don't have "high scores" either.  I'm dating a nerd.  But, I'm alright with that.  :-P  Anyway, here is my poem.  I hope you like it.

The Video Game Killed My Boyfriend

I’d like to tell you of my boyfriend who is really a nerd.

He plays all day on his computer.  It’s rather quite absurd.

How can games be so addicting? Tell me, someone, please.

I don’t think he knows the difference of fiction or fantasy.

Halo, Skyrim, Grand Theft Auto, Donkey Kong, Gears of War,

Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed, Minecraft, and many more.

He’s at his computer all day long as though he is glued.

He’s stuck inside his bedroom unless it’s time for food.

But I do not nag, tease, or complain.  No, not anymore.

Why you ask? Because I feel bad.  He’s trying to beat my high score. 

For now, it is fall.

It was 78 degrees yesterday.  If it weren't for the wind it would have been a little too warm.  Today it is in the low 40s, cold, windy, and wet.  I guess that I shouldn't question nature considering I live in Oklahoma.  I do love winter and the fall, but it's the middle of April.  The warmer spring weather needs to get started.  I thought that since there are winter/fall like conditions today, it would be fine to post this poem.  It is one I wrote last semester during that poetry course.  It's another one without rhyme.  I think that I will have to try some more poems without rhyme.  I feel as though a lot of my newer ones I've been coming up with have mostly been that so I'll try working out of my comfort zone a little more.

For now, it is fall.

Leaves are changing colors, before falling from the trees.

There is a cornucopia of reds, oranges, and yellows.

Nature is modifying its foliage to greet the new season.

The wind blows with a cool, brisk speed.

It is as though it is in a hurry to get here.

Telling us, that summer is over,

And a new phase is beginning.

Nights are longer.

Days are shorter.

Temperatures are declining.

The air is filled with the smells of autumn. 

Soon winter will be on the doorstep,

But for now we will have to be content with nature's current appearance.

For now, it is fall.