Sense Sonnets

Monday, July 28, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Apple Incident


The Evil Queen tempts good Snow White

With a bad apple, "Here my dear,"

"This apple's yours, please take a bite."

An apple chunk does disappear

Down Snow White's throat, then she does say,

"Thank you so much, you are so kind."

The Queen replies, "This makes my day."

Then fog comes over Snow White's mind.

"I don't feel well," she moans as she

Into a deep coma does fall,

Making the Evil Queen happy.

But Snow White survives this close call.


Furious, the Evil Queen does shout,

"This fairy tale is wearing me out!"

Sunday, July 27, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Coffee at Sunset


Coffee at sunset, some like this

Choice of beverage to sip on

While enjoying the color bliss

Of this daily phenomenon.

Most of these folks enjoy this time

And place as day turns into night.

But just as night comes is when I'm

Also thirsty and so I might

Come upon such a folk alone,

Fresh to satisfy my desire

To sip the choice drink of my own,

The favorite of this vampire.


Coffee at sunset, not my drink.

At sunset, for blood my fangs sink.

Saturday, July 26, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 For My Friend


We've not been together too long.

She's young and pretty, sweet and kind.

Lately, something seems to be wrong,

Seems to have a lot on her mind.

A sad and tired look on her face

Makes me want to instinctively

Assure her in our time and place

That a true friend she has in me.

So as she sits at her desk, I

Slowly crawl up her bended arm,

Kitty on a mission to try

Make her feel better with my charm.


Upon her shoulder by her ear

My "purr"fect comforting to hear.

Friday, July 25, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Doggone Adventuring


At a fancy skiing resort

Four pups sneak out of doggie care.

Buffy and Max and Jazz and Sport

Looking for adventure, find where

A toboggan has been left, so

The four pups quickly jump aboard,

And down a snowy slope they go,

All having fun, till they look toward

A big pine tree they are heading to.

So four pups lean far right and shift

Onto a bush, and launch they do,

Landing in a rising ski lift.


Back to doggie care the pups go,

Tails wagging when their humans show.

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 I'm the Big Bad Wolf


Fairy tale character I would

Sure be the Big Bad Wolf who is

Prime in Little Red Riding Hood,

Being good at bad villain biz.

Of course a wolf likes to eat meat

Just like the humans like to do.

Who says humans can't be a treat?

For me they're quite tasty to chew.

So eating Red and her Grandma's all

Part of Mother Nature's food chain.

And I am just heeding Mother's call,

Doing duty, simple and plain.


Original tale I like best.

Ending has me in bed to rest.

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Words by the Bank


Dysfunctional family we're not.

I'm watching Dad and the kids fish.

Besotted beyond trout be sought

To take the bait as hopeful wish.

Internal surroundings 'round Mom

In the house making marmalade

For the first time but keeping calm,

As it's a weird translucent shade.

One truth for me is not obscure.

These loving folks do sure treat me

More than just a pet to ensure

Great fondness for my family.


As any reader here detects,

This dog's vocab is quite complex.

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Matter of Honor


Antebellum South, early morn,

In the year eighteen thirty one,

Two gentlemen, each feeling scorn

For the other, hold pistol gun

At side, while standing back to back.

Begin to pace to count of ten,

Then turn to fire in shot attack,

One man to lose, one man to win.

What was the reason for this duel?

Question of two spoonfuls or three

Of sugar be the proper rule?

The gentlemen did disagree.


The matter of honor at stake,

Perfect mint julep, how to make.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Passing Some Time


Ladybug on my arm I spot,

Then hear, "I'm glad you spotted me."

"I seem to get spotted a lot."

Ladybug talks, how can this be?

The ladybug continues on,

"Of course, I don't always talk to"

"Everybody I land upon,"

"But my first impression of you"

"Is that you are a friendly sort,"

"And I'm safe landing on your arm,"

"Cuz you are a good contact sport,"

"And will not cause me any harm."


"I must fly home, and cannot stay."

And the ladybug flew away.

Monday, July 21, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Next Christmas


Last Christmas you gave me your heart,

You sing about in a sad song.

Day after Christmas we did part.

I never meant to do you wrong.

You sing I gave your heart away.

I did  but gave it back to you,

Keeping it just last Christmas day.

Give you my heart I could not do,

Because in my own heart I could

Not give to you what you gave me.

I felt no future for us good.

Last Christmas was all we could be.


Next Christmas I hope your gift of

Your heart to one giving back love.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Lost Cat Found


A leaflet stapled to the pole

Showed the picture of a cute cat,

Lost, and it was the writer's goal

For return to home habitat.

A phone number and reward sum

Were on the leaflet with a plea

That any help would be welcome

On finding this beloved kitty.

I had no phone to make a call

That I had some good news about

This lost cat, because after all

I sure could find myself, no doubt.


And so this cat will end my roam,

Bet there's great treats when I get home.

Sunday, July 20, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Wars Wage On


Decades ago Ike warned us that 

Industrial/military

Was where the true power was at,

And now today that truth still be.

The more the war, the more big biz,

The more the money the haves make.

The have nots suffer more, that is

Just the way that the dice does shake.

Powerful exploit powerless.

Threat of all out nuclear war

Turning to real is now best guess.

Powers for peace convince no more.


Eisenhower like warnings be

Just in peace seeking poetry.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 King Queen Butterfly


I am a butterfly called queen

By the humans, I don't know why.

Female mating, a daily scene,

Makes me a very busy guy.

Right now I'm taking a lunch break

At a favorite bloom type to

Stick my proboscis in and take

A healthy slurp of nectar brew,

And containing an alkaloid

With pheromones allowing for

Me to smell hot, later deployed,

Attracting the females galore.


Finish my lunch, then do my thing,

Fly to the gals and be their King.

Saturday, July 19, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Blow Up


He called me Miss Clean, don't know why.

I made his heart beat dynamite,

And told me he was a down guy.

That was when I turned on the light.

Beautiful tan he said I had.

Not the best come on line I'd heard.

But not enough to make me mad,

A harmless sort I felt assured.

He wanted me to dance with him.

When I said no, he threw a fit,

And suddenly his mood turned grim.

I guess a fuse in him I lit.


Miss Dirty now is what I be,

Cuz he blew up all over me.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Falling for Foolish


You sing you're not the kind of fool

To sing to me about the stars.

So many singers are fools who'll

Strum such romance on their guitars.

But then you continue to sing 

And strumming your guitar about

The stars at doing a weird thing,

A bit of irony no doubt.

You say that all the stars had gone

Backwards because of all of my

Magnetism, the stars be drawn,

Such come on from a foolish guy.


Whatever kind of fool you be,

I feel you are the fool for me.

Friday, July 18, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 For Better and Worse


The better days we say we've seen.

Others say worse were those same days.

The truth is somewhere in between

What others scorn and what we praise.

Where we are going, where we came from,

Other's comings and goings be

Quite different in go and come,

Never have, never will agree.

While better days for us seem right,

For others, same days worse and wrong,

Continues forward from hindsight,

Whether future is short or long.


Better and worse, always combined,

That's just the way of humankind.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Showdown


My grown son does still live with me.

He has the basement to himself.

I worry what he's come to be,

Hate on his mind, guns on his shelf.

He does not talk to me too much,

But seems excited when there is

More church and school shootings and such.

I ask, he says mind my own biz.

Today he catches me go through

His journal of killing spree plan.

I am his mother but know true

He's become a dangerous man.


He smiles and aims at me his gun,

But I shoot first and kill my son.

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

 Just Visiting


My son-in-law does not like me

To come and visit them at all.

So with my daughter I do be

Content to give her a phone call.

So on her birthday I called her.

When she answered, she was in tears.

My son-in-law had wronged for sure.

Hung over on too many beers,

He'd completely forgotten that

It was my daughter's birthday, so

My daughter planned to show up at

My home, but I gently said, "No."


"Learn a lesson he needs to do."

"I am coming to stay with you."

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Tyrian Purple


Tyrian purple I was named

For Tyre in Lebanon where I

Was first made and did become famed

As most valued color supply.

I was associated with

Wealth and power of church and state,

Donned by folks who in fact and myth

Wore me for better or worse fate.

Prized because my color did not

Easily fade and turned more bright

As the elite wore me a lot

Through all weathering and sunlight.


Not widely known is one detail,

I was made, thanks to a sea snail.

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Malice Done Alice


A smoking caterpillar who

Did really ask me, "Who am I?"

As in my face some smoke he blew.

I wasn't sure how to reply.

I knew I was Alice who be

The main character in the book.

How dare this insect question me!

And so I said, "Time out," and took

To Mr. Carroll my concern,

Who gently pleaded with me to

Not let this bug bug me, in turn

A disappearing act he'd do.


Shame on Mr. Carroll, cuz the dude

Turned it a butterfly, still rude.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Beloved No More


I know beloved I be by you,

And once beloved you be by me,

When we were young and neither knew

That love can oft no longer be,

When one of them fall out of love,

Which happened to me, and so I

Left you for good and in search of

Another someone to give my

Love to, and wished for you the same.

I'm sorry now to hear you're old,

Still loving me, I won't take blame

You're feeling more the winter cold.


Beloving me perhaps will cease

With your death, may you rest in peace.

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Out of My Mind!


In a forest clearing I gaze

At the branches of a dead tree.

What comes to my mind does amaze.

The face of a tiger I see.

Top branches form two tiger eyes,

Staring as predator does prey.

Low branches, nose and mouth arise,

Along with whiskers on display.

Such impressive illusion, I

Must get a picture, so I take

Out my phone and focus apply.

Strange sound! A growl the tree does make!


The illusion turns too real there,

As it springs at me through the air.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Rose Ruse


A dozen red roses he sent,

My cheating hubby with a card

Saying how much he does repent.

His strategy was not too hard

For me to see through that he sought

Forgiveness from me, but he be

Sorry only that he got caught.

And now he could expect from me

Raking over the coals of course,

Making most of his assets mine.

He'd feel the heat in the divorce.

Watch hubby squirm will be divine.


Barbecue his roses, my whim,

Next to barbecue will be him.

Monday, July 14, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Pelican Legend


Legend has it pelicans do

Use beak to open up our chest,

Running blood of the wounds used to

Feed the young offspring in the nest.

As a Mom I stuff in my beak

All the fish a pelican can

With beak against my chest I seek

For my young'uns a feeding plan

To have all my chicks close 'round me,

And push in each beak a fish share.

Often my chicks excited be,

And peck small wounds in my chest there.


But peck myself for blood to feed

Is just a human myth indeed.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Shameful Filth


Through the tall bull rushes I row,

Snapping the stubborn with the oar.

Then across the dark lake I go,

Drenched sopping wet from rains that pour.

All alone with myself am I,

On a final journey to take,

In time and place of choice to die,

My birthday on my favorite lake.

I can no longer bear the pain

That my bad habits made me bear.

Maybe lake water and the rain

Will cleanse the filth inside me there.


Regrets for life I might have missed,

With rusty blade I cut my wrist.

Sunday, July 13, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 That's the Point!


Two pointillists, we chose to start

Up a relationship that be

A hit and miss as work of art.

But we both determined that we

Could strike a balance to succeed.

Too close to one another and

We seemed to make no sense indeed.

And too far, we'd not understand.

Unlike Goldilocks, we do find

The distance and angle just right

For bonding of heart, soul and mind,

Giving us sensual delight.


We don't see eye to eye a lot,

But do see success, dot to dot.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Obeyed the Prompt


A picture of a red squirrel, cute,

With sign, "Red Squirrels Drive Slowly," be

Seen while I'm in driving pursuit,

Causing chuckle to come from me.

But then a thought of sadder note

Came to me, as I figured it

Reasoned that this picture with quote

Was because red squirrels had been hit

By traffic driven through too fast.

And so there be this attempt to

Appeal before such traffic passed.

This driver knew what I should do.


So this red squirrel, when sign I saw,

Slowed down my car, and waved my paw.

Saturday, July 12, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Columbus' Syzygy Trick


Chris Columbus, as story goes,

Marooned in Jamaica with crew,

When trouble with natives arose,

On stopping the food supply due.

An almanac Chris had, told of

A lunar eclipse in three days.

So Chris threatened, the moon above,

He'd take away, if food displays

Weren't brought him by the natives soon.

The natives balked, the syzygy

Began, earth between sun and moon,

Earth's shadow making moon dark be.


When Columbus "brought the moon back,"

The natives cheered and brought forth snack.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 This Mouse Forward


A mouse on a mission am I.

Sailing upon a leaf I be

Using the North Star in the sky

To make my way across the sea.

I leave my family of mice,

My Mom and Dad and siblings all.

Security I sacrifice,

And go alone to heed the call

To venture forth to the unknown,

To the uncertainties to face.

With trust and hope I'm on my own

For a new life sometime, someplace.


With all my heart and soul and mind,

I seek my destiny to find.

Friday, July 11, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Genes of Prince Harry


Prince Harry, red haired and blue eyed,

Was gossiped to be fathered by

Major James Hewitt who'd confide

Princess Diana and this guy

Had been involved in an affair.

Prince Charles and family were not,

Like Hewitt, known to have red hair.

Debunk of the rumor was brought

When Hewitt said Harry was born

Two years before Diana and

He met, but still was met with scorn

By some who wanted gossip fanned.


Prince Harry's red hair, blue eyes be

Genes from Diana's family.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 I'm on My Way


I am discussed on planet Earth.

I've picked up transmissions of such.

So curious, for what it's worth,

I've made my plans to get in touch,

Make my way to the Milky Way,

And gobbling all as I pass through,

Cuz all I meet is easy prey,

Cuz that's what a black hole does do.

Earthlings think you are safe from me,

Cuz you don't find my kind around,

But you don't know how quick I be.

I'm tripping out to be Earthbound.


Of course for me you're a small bite,

But that's okay, cuz I eat lite.

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

 Mailman's Advice


I was leaving my home when I

Met the mailman on the sidewalk.

He gave me my mail and said, "Hi."

The two of us had a short talk.

He said this was his final day

Delivering mail on his route,

Retiring and moving away.

I replied I'd miss him no doubt.

I asked where he was moving to.

He said he was moving to Spain.

"Parcelona?" I asked him, who

Gave to me a grimace of pain.


The mailman had advice for me,

Try for better delivery.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 U.S. Freedom of Assembly


Revolutionary War done

And independence was achieved.

U.S. government had begun,

Needed improvement some believed.

They felt free to assemble, so

Met in Philadelphia and

To Independence Hall they'd go

For the nation's future they planned.

At last a written document

Went to the states and ratified,

Setting forth what government meant,

And still today is the main guide.


From freedom of assembly came

U.S. Constitution by name.

Wednesday, July 09, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

 My Summer Camp Grab


When I was eight years old I went

To my church sponsored summer camp.

The snack table was the event

I liked best, being a snack scamp.

When allowed, to the snacks I'd run.

By the apple bowl a sign be,

"God is watching, take only one."

So that was incentive for me

To head to where the cookies were,

Which somehow had not any sign,

And was for me divine for sure,

That any number could be mine.


God was watching the apples, so

I grabbed lots of cookies, who'd know!

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 They Keep Us Apart


I was there above where you lay,

My hands digging the soft brown earth,

Taking whatever time it may.

My life without you has no worth.

So back home I was taking you.

But somehow they knew where I'd be.

Keep us apart they've come to do.

And quickly they grabbed hold of me.

I screamed at them that they were wrong.

Then by them I was gagged and bound,

Dragged away I could hear your song,

Sadly echoing from the ground.


Separated from you is hell.

They've locked me in this padded cell.

Tuesday, July 08, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Retake the Power


Ever since Eve turned Adam on

To sin, there's been power in she.

But when Eve and Adam were gone

From Eden the world went to he.

Even Eve, mother, could or would

Not change even when her son, Cain,

Killed her son, Abel, Eve just stood 

By and watched him's go more insane.

Because Eve used her power less,

The future she's were cursed to fate

Of having to live in his mess,

Ever beneath his heavy weight.


She's of the world, it's time to make

Change in his power and retake.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 A Cynical View


Power of eminent domain,

Politicians and bureaucrats

Use and oft abuse to attain

Goals to benefit their pal fat cats.

Those who lose property this way

Decide to go to court and sue,

But attorneys they'll have to pay.

Fat cats have more money, they do.

The Golden Rule in business deals

Is really not a useful tool.

Making money wins most appeals,

And those who have the most gold rule.


So whether there's justice or not

Depends on by whom it is bought.

Monday, July 07, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 An Off Game


I was a cheater on my wife.

Seven Minutes in Heaven be

The game that let my party life

Find sexy mistresses for me.

So into a closet I went.

My host said that already there

Was a gal for time to be spent

To seal a future tryst to share.

Both in the dark, I heard her voice,

And knew I'd heard that drawl before.

My host had made an awful choice.

Each minute pained me all the more.


My wife, my mother-in-law would tell.

This game, Seven Minutes in Hell.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 The Salk Vaccine


Dr. Jonas Salk was of mind

To do research on polio,

Rid this disease for humankind.

In 1948 he'd go

To work on finding a vaccine.

He found in 1952

From animal tests which did mean

Testing human children he'd do,

Including his own children, and

By 1955, success.

The whole world came to understand,

Prevent polio in progress.


Hailed a miracle worker, he

Chose to give his discovery.

Sunday, July 06, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Help Line


"Help me Rhonda," I hear you sing

That same old song you've sang before.

No matter help I tried to bring,

You always sang you needed more.

Again you sing I look so fine

Which worked on me a time or two.

But now it's just a worn out line

That I expect to hear from you.

But, hey dude, this time Rhonda is

Not gonna help you forget her,

Latest in string of helping biz

That's left me frustrated for sure.


When I helped you before I found

You are helpless on the rebound.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Cliff


A village on the edge of Earth

Was visited by Cliff and who

Told villagers for what it's worth

Flat Earth was false, round Earth was true.

The villagers were not agog

And took Cliff to the edge to show

Over the edge nothing but fog.

Cliff grinned, said the village should know

The edge was of a canyon deep

Where dense fog did accumulate.

The village judged Cliff full of "bleep,"

So deserved a good riddance fate.


The villagers, flat Earthers all,

Threw Cliff over the cliff to fall.

Saturday, July 05, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Limit Reached?


Today some tyrants still exist.

Too long tyrants have ruled Iran.

Last time the people did resist,

Shah overthrown but then began

Tyrannical theocracy.

For decades the people endured.

But now the latest war that be,

Change of power may be secured.

If so, another tyrant could

Come to power as done before.

But maybe not, which would be good.

Let Iran know tyrants no more.


Oppressed people of Iran may

Soon choose to live another way.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Hoped for Love


During the '50's each week I

Would go to Dodge City to see

Matt Dillon, the most handsome guy,

I could hope to find on T.V.

Law and order marshal who spoke

In such a calm and caring voice,

Killing bad guys in his gun smoke.

Who could hope for a better choice

To fall in love with as he rode

Tall in the saddle, Mister Right!

Captured my heart each episode,

My go to on Saturday night.


Matt would be mine I'd surely know,

If somehow Miss Kitty would go.



Friday, July 04, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Mismatched Musk


Elon Musk, the world's richest man,

In dollars terms, but little sense

How peeving President Trump can

Bring unprofitable laments.

Musk must have got bug up his butt,

Maybe over the Trump backed bill.

Musk doesn't think does enough cut,

So can't swallow such bitter pill.

And so talks trash about Trump for

Some reasons only known to him.

But this rich guy made a choice poor

For acting out on such a whim.


When under personal attack,

No doubt Trump will get a payback.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Flight Pattern


I fell in love and then fell out,

My feeling  for each falling be

One of up, one of down, no doubt,

But lasting lesson learned by me.

Falling in love I feel that I,

Like Icarus, flew toward the sun,

Like Icarus, could fly too high,

Like Icarus, my pride undone.

So the relationship I let

Go only to a safe point of

Where the good turning bad, best bet,

So change my course while still good love.


Sometimes when changing course is sought,

My lover feels the same, or not.

Thursday, July 03, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 My Shell I Tell


Sea mollusk, nautilus, I be

Especially proud of my shell,

Strong, pressure resistant 'round me,

Multi chambered in which I dwell.

Dark top, hard to see from above,

Giving it a dark water blend.

But shell bottom camouflaged of

White, a surface water pretend.

So threats from above or below

Most often don't become aware,

Since to them as water I show,

Go their way, leaving me safe there.


But if attacked I can retreat

Inside my shell and close it neat.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Our Visit Cut Short


It's boring here in Cabot Cove,

Had no recent murders to solve.

So thought of you in Pleasant Grove,

And booked a trip which will involve

A couple of planes and a cab.

I know of course that seeing you

Could trigger a killer to nab.

So many killed who I once knew.

But there's no need for you to fret.

We will have some time to catch up

Before whatever's coming yet,

Which could be a best seller, yup!


Coming to visit you and I

Will solve the crime after you die.

Wednesday, July 02, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Shapeshifter


A drunk killed my child on a binge.

To the devil I sold my soul,

So on drunks I could take revenge.

My hatred for drunk men is whole.

As a beautiful woman, I

Lure the drunk man into my bed,

Then transformation I apply,

Clawing the victim till he's dead.

A giant owl I turn into,

With talons sharper than a knife.

There is nothing the drunk can do

But watch me cut away his life.


With each victim corpse I then deal,

By consuming it as a meal.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 The Nature I Know


At times I've heard passersby tell

Of pleasure in the pathless woods.

There's nothing like that where I dwell

Here in these busy neighborhoods.

A rapture on the lonely shore,

I hear talk of, but still late night,

Lake Michigan's music may roar,

But always some folks in my sight.

The nature that I know does be

So ever mixed with humankind,

So to exist, instinctively,

I must make do with what I find.


The city life in Chicago

Is all this coyote will know.

Tuesday, July 01, 2025

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Unnegative


Into a big sinkhole it fell,

The U.S. Capitol with all

The Congress people. Gone to hell?

It was bipartisan downfall.

Rescue efforts to no avail,

A swamp the sinkhole fast became.

And draining it of course did fail,

With finger pointing who to blame.

Public opinion went from shock

To maybe for the best indeed.

Cool quiet where had been hot talk.

Leave the space as is was agreed.


Unhotaired Washington, D.C.,

As underground unCongress be.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Cherry Blossoms Place and Time


We met under the cherry tree

In spring when cherry blossoms were

Abloom in pink and white, and we

Let the romance of them occur.

Each day at lunch time we would meet,

Brown bagging from offices near.

And under the blossoms we'd eat

For an hour to share so dear.

Days turned into a week then two,

And with each day the blossoms would

Fall more and more as blossoms do,

The time and place for us so good.


When the cherry blossoms were gone,

We two decided to move on.