Sense Sonnet - Tickler

 Birds' Words

I am a giraffe of few words,

Lounging on my sofa a while.

Then I'm visited by three birds,

Who take perch on my pillow pile.

The birds, parrots, colorful are

Both in their feathers and vocab.

At first their chatter is bizarre,

Then I get comfy with their gab.

I'd never heard such words before,

And swing my neck to hear them all,

Trying to memorize them more,

To be chattier, my next call.

I give those parrots credit, gee,

Lots of cuss words they're teaching me.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Jack's "Valloween"

Jack O'Lantern from Halloween,

Winter put him in frozen way.

Then Jack thawed out in warmer scene,

Found himself on Valentine's Day.

And this got Jack to thinking of

Calling on Cupid to give him

Shot in the old gourd to find love.

So texted Cupid on a whim.

Later, Cupid showed up and learned

What Jack wanted, but gave Jack blame.

Last Halloween, Cupid was burned.

So in revenge, Cupid took aim.

Cupid, in a chainsaw attack,

Made pumpkin pie out of poor Jack

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 City Dwellers

Chicago is our kind of town,

Me and the Missus living high

On a skyscraper and look down

At people far below go by.

Right now we have an empty nest.

The kids are all out on their own,

So time to do what we do best,

Sight see Chicago, our fly zone,

Circling around buildings, stone old,

And new, mostly glass and steel chrome.

Fastest animal, diving bold,

Two peregrine falcons at home.

Look upward, you may see us swoop,

As we fly o'er Chicago's Loop

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

 Belly Laugh

Jonah was swallowed by a whale,

Was down in its big tummy, so

How did he live to tell the tale?

Of course the Bible let's us know

That the whale was ordered by God

To be a good sport and spit out

Jonah, and so it was not odd

That Jonah did survive no doubt.

But what was Jonah doing while

The whale was getting divine word?

Tummy tickling for a whale smile,

Followed by whale giggling occurred.

Could have been Jonah's epitaph,

"I failed making whale belly laugh."

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Clock's Running

I've turned down the lights and the bed,

Laid down with you, holding you close.

Only voice I hear from your head

Is yours, and dude, you're so verbose.

"I can't make you love me," you cry

Over and over, and I agree.

It is your time but don't know why

You keep repeating this to me.

And patronizing you sure is

Not my intention on the job.

Dissatisfying's not good biz.

I just want to please you a gob.

I have listened to your love schtick,

But I'm just here to turn a trick.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Behavior is Choice

I learned at a very young age,

Obey as law enforcement told,

Not the time for my rant or rage,

Not the time to try to be bold.

In my case I did disobey.

I felt right, so I did not stop

Justified anger to display.

I ended up kicking a cop.

And after my rash act was done,

What would the cop's reaction be?

He didn't shoot me with his gun.

I wasn't charged with battery.

Later in Court, right went my way.

But I was wrong to disobey.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Childhood Choice

Wyoming, I was born and raised,

Lived on a ranch with family,

In a valley where livestock grazed,

Tallest state mountain range, west be.

Even before I walked, of course

I was learning the joy to ride,

Sensing the bond atop the horse,

Galloping through the countryside.

Two allergies, doctors diagnosed,

To sage and to animal hair.

Exposure lots was self imposed,

Joy riding without any care.

So often done and ever pleased,

On horse through sage brush as I sneezed.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 She Holds Me

We first met when I tripped and fell.

Strong but gently, her arms reached out,

Then helped me up, and I could tell,

We would be true lovers no doubt.

And yes we be happily so.

She's been my best of good luck charms.

Times I'm joyful or sad, I know

I'm where I belong, in her arms.

Day came, her duty called, and she

Went off to serve her country, then

Duty over, she's back with me,

Happily together again.

My lover lost her arms in war,

And holds me in her heart the more.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Creeper Peeper

My landlord was a dirty louse,

Having a peephole in the wall

Of my apartment in his house.

I wouldn't have found it at all,

But one day hanging pictures, I

Just came across it, not in use.

Of course so furious that my

Privacy fouled by his abuse,

I thought about what I should do,

And then followed through on my goal.

While he was peeping, I just knew,

Shoved an icepick through his peephole.

Yes, I am very satisfied,

Hearing his screams the other side.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Psalms 6 - 10

David despaired, his enemies,

And especially King Saul would

Prevail, so prayed to God to please

Have mercy on him for his good.

David had faith that God had heard

His prayer, and protection divine

Would be his, and in fact occurred.

God's favor for David did shine.

David could have killed King Saul twice,

But did believe God should decide.

And indeed Saul did pay the price,

Later committing suicide.

His enemies, God put to shame,

And David a great king became.

Sense Sonnet - Steaamer

 Empty Handed Plus ...

I've broken into a rich home,

Hoping for loot to help myself.

Around the living room I roam,

Look behind books on a book shelf

For a wall safe, but finding none,

I'm tuckered out, so a couch

For a quick rest lies this tired one.

But fall asleep, then wake up, ouch!

More than two hours has gone by,

More than enough times, cops to call.

Such a disappointment, I sigh,

No time to search now for more haul.

Hearing sirens, I pee my pants,

Run empty handed, only chance.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Their Walk

Up the hill their walk they began,

The bright sun shining in their eyes.

So the hilltop they squint to scan.

They tote a pail to fetch their prize,

Desire of which gestures them on,

In spite of facing gusty wind.

They dream of water that's upon

The hilltop in a well, walk's end.

But suddenly one does fall down.

The other erupts in laughter,

Even though one has broke his crown.

Other, she comes tumbling after.

They'd worried not, walk up that hill,

What would befall poor Jack and Jill.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Fishing for Love

This turtle going fishing is

A mission for the catching of

My sweetheart turtle who, gee whiz,

Is avoiding my pleas of love.

Deep in the pond, my desired mate,

I hope to catch her with my lure,

On which attached, her favorite bait.

She'll want to take a bite for sure.

So on the dock, I patiently

Await achievement of my goal,

My sweetheart being caught by me.

So far, no pulling on my pole.

If I can catch my sweetheart, I

Be a turtlely joyful guy.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Hear This Moss

Legend has it that moss grows on

The north side of the trees due to

The shadier there phenomenon.

In northern hemisphere, tiz true,

Cuz sun shines down from the south, so

Other side of the tree, moss is,

To avoid sunlight, doncha know!

That's just moss minding its biz,

But in Australia, this moss be,

And so in truth, want you to hear

No north side of the tree is me,

Being in southern hemisphere.

Hear it straight from this moss's mouth,

Down under I'm on tree side south!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Hope Gave Us Will

We had gotten married quite young,

Had a daughter, who sadly grew,

As her parents, with sharpened tongue,

Had more and more fights, which came to

Using our daughter as a pawn,

Till finally came in pained course,

When all love between us was gone,

The two of us got a divorce,

With shared custody of young Hope.

When Hope was to get married, I

Was not really sure how to cope.

Thankfully hard each ex  did try.

And at our daughter's wedding, we

Behaved ourselves quite civilly.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Held Hands

In the hospital one more time,

I've been here many times before,

But in head and heart I know I'm

Not needing be here anymore.

My life, I have lived long and well,

So many friends and family.

Now my time has come, I can tell

That very soon death comes for me.

Next to me I hear a soft cry,

And look over to a surprise.

Such welcome visitor here, I

Watch my old look in my young eyes.

Holding hands with me as I died,

Me as newly born at my side.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Last Laugh's On Me

A late night T.V. talk show host,

Ever since Donald Trump came down

That escalator, I've spent most

Nights scorning him, but backstage frown

When my ratings began to fall,

And viewers were tuning me out.

I didn't understand it at all.

Comedy is what I'm about.

So more and more Trump jokes I tell,

But less and less hear them from me.

Network suits complain, what the hell!

Stuck in a Trump rut I do be.

When Trump's gone, I'll no longer care.

I'll no longer be on the air.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Uncle Mike

Uncle Mike, Momma's older bro,

He came back home from World War II.

I was quite young but got to know

Uncle Mike from fun stuff we'd do.

Oft he had his uniform on,

But would not wear it when we were

Off to  do some fishing at dawn.

He taught me how to fish for sure.

Fish we caught, Momma would fry up

For breakfast, Uncle Mike would tell

The tallest tales of fishing, yup,

Always told by Uncle Mike well.

He died in the Korean War.

Sad, I knew Uncle Mike no more

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Living the Nursery Rhyme

New York City, lived all my life,

And then Mayor Mamdani came.

Now I am facing lots of strife.

Because I'm white, I get the blame

For too much privilege, and so

My nice apartment which I own

Is taken from me, I must go,

Out into the homeless unknown.

So this old woman wanders out

Into the scary cold and dark,

Such feeling of despair no doubt.

I find myself in Central Park.

There was nothing else I could do,

Now I'm forced to live in a shoe.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Let Not "1984" Be U.S.

1984," George Orwell 

Wrote this novel decades before,

Speculative fiction to tell

Of nothing but revolt and war,

With once democracy turned to

A government regime led by

"Big Brother," a dictator who

Rules the people by force and lie.

Now in twenty twenty six be

Too many dictators who reign.

U.S. still best democracy,

We have least reason to complain.

Twenty twenty six, U.S. must

Come together in God We trust.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Lord Hears My Prayers

Lord, I got myself hooked upon

The bad habits of drugs and booze.

My living hell went on and on.

I could not help but drink and use.

Lord, I lost friends and family.

They tried to help, but no one could.

I believed no one could help me

Because I was up to no good.

Lord, I ended up at the lake.

Drowning should end my pain no doubt.

A quick prayer to you for my sake.

You sent strangers to help me out.

Lord, now clean and sober today,

In loving gratitude, I pray.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Rich Quick

I wanted to get rich real quick,

So robbed a wealthy widow's place.

She caught me, so I gave a kick.

Downstairs she fell dead. I did face

Charge of murder when I got caught,

Found guilty, now I'm on death row.

Meanwhile my Momma won a lot

In the state lottery, and so

Momma died today and left me

The lottery fortune she'd won.

She knew rich quick I wanted be.

My Momma always loved her son.

But not much time for my delight,

Cuz I'm getting fried at midnight.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Male Harlot?

The poet, William Blake, is said

To have said, "Every harlot was"

"A virgin once." William was wed,

But wanted mistresses becuz

William was a proponent of

Having lots of sex partners in

Even a marriage based on love,

And such should not be deemed a sin.

However, it's said that Blake's wife

Was so distressed at hearing this,

Blake did not wish to cause her strife,

So mistressed not for wedded bliss.

Still, William was a harlot kind,

If not in fact, at least in mind.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 My Measure of Success

How to measure success I ask

Myself sadly from time to time,

When I'm comparing my own task

To others, and disheartened I'm

Not completing my task as well

As others, and I know not why.

For I think I've worked hard as hell,

While others hardly seem to try.

So measuring success for me

Is that others have so much more.

I admit I feel jealousy,

Losing to others winning more.

Toilet paper is like success,

Not having it, important, yes!

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Mother and Daughter

Mother and daughter holding hands,

Ages thirty and three years old,

Share a moment each understands.

A loved one's not with them to hold.

Mother and daughter now without

Husband and father, soldier who

Died while fighting a war about

Reasons nobody really knew.

Mother and daughter remember

On this day with the setting sun,

His birthday, first of September,

Day he would have turned thirty one.

Mother and daughter pray for he,

Who in their time and place not be.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Relapse, the Stalker

Addictive personality,

I know by hard truth I have one.

Drugs and alcohol consumed me,

The cure for which cannot be done.

But I can recover, and I

Did so with lots of others' aid.

One day at a time I must try

Not let a relapse choice be made.

I've heard it said that some compare

My letting a relapse occur

Is like an attack by a bear.

Both of these happenings I'm sure,

I fret not attack by a bear.

Relapse I must always beware.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

Dandy Jack

After breakfast, Grandpa took me
To meet old Bessie's newborn calf.
It was a friendship meant to be.
Grandpa called us the half and half.
I named my new pal, Dandy Jack.
We hung together in the barn,
Romping in hay from stack to stack,
Playing catch with a ball of yarn.
As time went by and Dandy grew,
All of the farm was our playground.
If I was there, then Jack was too.
The pair of us were buddy bound.

But, the butcher man came one day,
And took my Dandy Jack away.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 My Favorite Place

In urban Chicago, northside,

Near the Great Lake Michigan shore,

Forty acres prime land supplied

With well cared for wildlife galore.

Fauna and flora to be sensed.

Animals, most endangered, are.

Plants, from the Great Plains, here condensed.

Millions visit from near and far,

With entry being free for all,

To visit ambassadors of

Conserving wild of nature's call,

Given to share with nature's love.

My favorite place I share with you,

The one and only Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Picture of My Dear Wife

My dear wife and I, tourists, are.

Paris' fanciest restaurant be

Where we're off to. Why take a car?

A short walk according to me.

My dear wife's dressed in finest style,

Wearing the fine fur I gave her.

But summer heat, she does not smile.

Farther walk than I thought for sure.

My dear wife stops and poses for

Her picture that I want to take.

Impatient she looks more and more,

At last yelling, "For heaven sake,"

"Please take the dang picture, my sweet,"

"These new shoes are killing my feet!"

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Playing With Them

I like to watch them watching me.

I'm a fascination, no doubt.

Sometimes mischievous I will be,

And as they watch me dance about,

I'll make myself as though appears

A figure making gestures, so

To spark within them shock, then fear

As to what, why and how my glow

Has become such an eerie sight,

Accomplishing my set desire,

Their reactions are such delight,

Makes me so pleased that I be fire.

When I am bored, I often find

A lot of fun from humankind.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

"That Bird"

That bird that had a song to sing,

You ask if that bird is still here?

Or did that bird go on the wing,

And now so far when once so near?

That bird did have a lovely song,

With something important to say,

Singing forth loud and clear and strong.

Wanting to sing to you today,

That bird this morning started to

Sing just outside your window, and

Was singing so sweet for you,

When tragedy struck me unplanned. 

That bird, I am now dead, no doubt,

Because you let your darn cat out.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Puppies at Play

We, a six pack of puppies be.

Momma wanted some time alone,

So sent us on a play time spree,

First time we've been out on our own.

Of course Momma's keeping her eye

On us, as in the yard we all

Romp through grass and flower supply,

And finding out life be a ball.

Brothers and sisters having fun,

Exploring this new world we've found.

We're one for all and all for one,

As into doggie life we're bound.

Now, we puppies be hungry bunch,

And Momma's calling us for lunch.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Nessie

When I was young, to Scotland I

Traveled, destination, Loch Ness.

After filled with large ale supply,

Off to see mythical beast, yes!

On the shore of the Loch, my aim

To see for myself, Nessie, who

Must have heard me yelling, she came,

Winked at me, then disappeared, true!

Many years later, I went back,

This time sober, stood on the shore,

Yelled, and then from the waters black,

My Nessie reappeared once more.

Seeing her now, I'm a sad one,

Nessie is just her skeleton

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Silken Touch

When I first saw you I knew that

The perfect coupling we would do.

I lured you to my habitat,

Where I would have my way with you.

Of course you shared with me the lust.

My great expectations you met.

So impassioned your every thrust,

Bringing me to climaxing wet.

And when we'd satisfied our need,

From my web you wanted to be.

But I would not have that indeed.

A tasty meal you'd be for me.

Now ensnared in my silken touch,

This lady spider thanks you much.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Grandma's Kitchen

Grandpa was a very mean guy,

Abused Grandma and the kids and

The grandkids for much too long by

Causing all pain by word and deed.

Even Dougie the dog knew him

As a Grandpa who was the worst,

Inflicting harm on any whim,

So  abusive who hit and cursed.

One day Grandma and Dougie had

Enough Grandpa and hit his head

With a skillet, stripped him unclad,

And stuck him in the oven, dead.

Grandpa, baked and sliced and served, hence

Family ate the evidence.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Snowdrops from Heaven

From Eden they both had to leave,

Forced into winter cold and snow.

Both felt hopeless, Adam and Eve.

From Heaven an Angel did show,

And felt deep sorrow for the two,

So took some falling snowflakes there,

Transformed such into flowers new,

Soft and pearly white, them to share

With Adam and Eve, for to take

With them as they would wander out

Into the vast unknown to make

First human family no doubt.

Exiled from Eden, first mom and pop

Took with them hope, some blooming Snowdrop.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Holy Blood of Christ

They used my wood to make the cross

On which Jesus was crucified.

Then, I understood not the loss,

Just another human who died.

But then when He rose from the dead,

I knew, and small and twisted I

Turned into from the blood He'd shed.

And now each Easter does bloom my

Flowers in form of a cross shape,

With petals having a red stain.

For my part, I cannot escape.

He forgave, but I'm still in pain.

Salvation Christ gave, I ever be

A reminder from the dogwood tree.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

 Something to Sneeze At

A giant panda, I woke up

From a nap and quite hungry, so

Went looking for my favorite sup,

Some bamboo in a patch that grow.

But when I got to the patch, I

Was caught off guard by bamboo throws

Of pepper in a huge supply,

Lots of which flew up in my nose,

Putting me in a fit of sneeze.

Feeling so helpless, I run off,

Never have felt so ill at ease,

Behind me, hear the bamboo scoff.

All the bamboo, giggling at me,

Taunting how bamboozled I be.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 You Could Use a True Friend

I know your wife is mad at you,

And for good reason, I've no doubt.

Lies and excuses to pursue,

Your mind is conjuring about,

All of which complicate your life,

Because none of such worked before,

Never been believed by your wife,

Liar, excuser - you're so poor!

You know, last option I do be.

Use me now and your wife might tend

To give you some grace, using me,

Silence, I am always your friend.

Your wife will scorn whatever you say,

Might as well use me, I'll not betray.