Sense Sonnets

Monday, September 21, 2026

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Win Some, Lose Some


Fell from heaven, I made a deal

With the boss up there that I could

Use any trick, beg, borrow or steal

Folks to turn bad who were born good.

And lots of folks dug their own hole.

I be their wishing well of sin,

And at well bottom, sell their sole,

Another boss loss and my win.

But once in a while a folk is

Able to get a helping hand,

Do gooders minding my bad biz,

Meddlesome, but I understand.


Some leave me in their wishing well,

Find help to climb out of my hell.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Breakfasting


It is a lovely morning, while

I am enjoying breakfast that

Tastes so good, I give cook a smile,

Such a help in my habitat.

My pirate and I both retired.

I had lots of booty saved up.

My pirate had not, so required

That I offer him a job, yup.

I just awoke from sleep, and so

This cup of coffee should help me

Perk myself up, ready to go,

Cuz a busy parrot I be.


I keep my pirate on as cook,

Scrambles up eggs great with his hook.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Withered Rose Bed


When you and I chose to be wed,

Yes, I had so many dreams of

Always be roses in our bed

As often as we would make love.

But now is not as was before.

Too oft alone in our abode,

Losing the game of tug of war

With you, the rock star, on the road.

And now I mostly get from you

Your morning phone call, after night

Of drinking and cheating you do.

I, just shadow in your spotlight.


You sing "Bed of Roses," I cry,

Once was our truth, but now a lie.


Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Glutton for Punishment


A lavish banquet being served,

But I was not invited, so

Pulled fire alarm, feeling quite nerved.

And in just minutes, folks did go.

Now with all the food and drink, I'm

Consuming as much as I can,

Knowing I do not have much time

To indulge my appetite span.

Gallons of drink and loads of food

Into myself I quickly stuff,

Causing my tummy to protrude,

Then popping, telling me enough.


No doubt that guilty I do be

Of deadly sin of gluttony.

Sunday, September 20, 2026

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Beginner Jumper


I've reached the stage in my life, I'm

Instinctively knowing I need

Begin to practice jumping time,

So to excel at this indeed.

First, I lock my back legs in place,

Then energized, spring from my toes,

And up I jump high into space.

Excitement through my body flows.

I am amazed I jump so fast,

Leap hundred times my body size,

Just a second or so does last

From start to end, quite a surprise.


A successful first jump for me,

Just comes natural to this flea.

Saturday, September 19, 2026

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 My Early Success


When first I was assigned to him,

I was somewhat nervous about

Cupid shooting arrows at his whim

For making me, I had my doubt.

But soon Cupid scratched himself with

His own arrow, and fell in me

With a lovely maiden in myth.

Cupid was in me with Psyche.

Then the two went through lots of woe.

Psyche didn't feel me until

Her scratch from Cupid's arrow did show,

And both shared me by divine will.


Happily ever after of

Cupid and Psyche with me, love.

Friday, September 18, 2026

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Darkness


Jake, my three year old son, had

Longed for Halloween to come so

I would accompany my lad,

His first trick or treating to go.

It was nice weather, still light out,

When Jake and I left home and went

Through our safe neighborhood, no doubt

Jake was thrilled with this first event.

Then almost home, when suddenly

Over the sidewalk loomed ahead

A weird dark cloud, Jake ran from me

Into it, filling me with dread.


Darkness, I should have been fearing,

My son Jake, just disappearing.

Sense Sonnet - pumper

 Seasonal Exchange


"Yes, I hear Mother Nature call."

"So are you ready for your task?"

Summer posed the question to Fall.

"Of course, so nice of you to ask,"

Fall replied, "As usual you"

"Have given me such fine reason"

"To take your work and follow through,"

"Passing from season to season."

Then Summer said, "Please take my green,"

"And paint your artwork you do well,"

"To yellow and orange and red scene,"

"Dazzling the senses with your spell."


"You're always gracious, Summer friend,"

Fall praised, "As I start and you end."


Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Darkness Falls on Howard Street


Howard Street, Chicago, at night,

Lake Michigan, the street does end,

And nature presents a delight,

A city park with a good blend

Of plants and animals that call

This time and place as home to share.

Of course the Great Lake beckons all.

The smell of fish be in the air.

The sight and sound of waves on roll.

When sky is clear and moon is out,

The moonlight succeeds in its goal

To spread its dazzle all about.


A gift to find in city dark,

Presenting in this city park.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Ever Lake Ontario


Great Lake Ontario I be,

Derived from Iroquoian word

Meaning "beautiful lake" is me,

For hundreds of years, name preferred.

I am pleased and proud of my name,

Native American acquired,

As be other Great Lakes the same.

We all bear names we have desired.

I hear a U.S. President

Wants to change my name out of spite,

As a trade war dispute event,

A reason that is just not right.


Always I'm Lake Ontario,

U.S. Presidents come and go.

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Element of Final Destruction


The ancient gods coveted me,

Unleased in storms and volcanoes,

Fear instilled in humanity

Whenever my fury arose.

Then seized by humans, I became

A tool for use for good or bad,

And every human knew my name,

And knew the power that I had.

More humans pursued greed and war.

I be star of atomic age,

Increased in deadliness the more,

Until worldwide was felt my rage.


Human made apocalypse, I

Rain nuclear wrath from the sky.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Feeling of Remorse


I am a vampire and long skilled

At hunting out humans as prey.

A husband and wife I've just killed,

Left me in a remorseful way.

The couple reminded me of

A time and place so long ago

When I was capable of love,

Such feeling I no longer know.

Remorse, weird, new feeling I guess,

And I should have known better when

I looked too closely, I confess.

Will take care not to do so again.


Long ago, human life I had,

And these folks looked like Mom and Dad.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Got Out of the Trap


I was on the high school golf team,

Got good at golf and other stuff.

But then my more drinking did seem

That I never drank booze enough,

To fill up all my emptiness.

And so for years I stayed a drunk.

People who cared, cared less and less.

At golf and at living I stunk.

Luckily, I got some help, and

Now living sober day to day,

Hang with people who understand.

Golf with sober friends, I now play.


Each golf shot in sobriety

Better than booze shots used to be.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Fitting Challenge


"If the shoe doesn't fit, must we"

"Change the foot?" the question was asked

By Gloria Steinem, as she

Argued the system too long tasked

All types of folks to fit into

Patriarchal expected role

Of one unfairly rigid shoe,

And mangling feet to fit that goal.

Folks, especially women, need

To take the system shoe as made,

And change the whole of such indeed,

With inclusive fairness displayed.


And Steinem showed how that shoe could

Conform to female feet for good.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Lunch at Woolworth's


1978, a bunch

Of us would leave workplace at noon,

And go down to Woolworth's for lunch,

Inexpensive and opportune.

Each of us sat on counter stool,

Green vinyl topped, some cuts and tears,

Fine seating for us "in" and "cool,"

Surrounded by novelty wares.

Burgers with fries, sodas or Cokes,

No need for plastic menu view.

Waitress, Madge, served all of us folks,

Friendly, efficient job she'd do.


Memories of nostalgic time

Back in the days of five and dime.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 As the Last Human


If the last person on Earth, I

Would stay with my many a friend

Made in life before time to die,

To serve good purpose till my end.

These friends, the animals and plants,

Ambassadors of many kind,

Who afforded many the chance

To be a better humankind.

But for some reason we have failed

To heed warnings of nature's call.

Now the solution's been availed

To return to wildlife for all.


Rest of my life what would I do?

Take care of the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

 Origami Belt


A sheet of paper I did take,

With intention of folding, so

An origami belt I'd make.

And when was done, that belt I'd show

To the wife to prove that I be

Doing well in the diet that

The wife had demanded of me.

So I was motivated at

Folding the paper in such way

As to become a perfect fit.

Regrettably, to my dismay,

I'd been shortsighted about it.


Before the wife I was red faced,

A waste of paper for my waist.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Memory of Mine


It seems the more that I do live,

The more mistakes that I do make.

And it is so hard to forgive

And change myself for better sake.

The devil's in me, Mama would

Often tell me before she died,

And no way for me to be good,

No matter how hard I have tried.

And for me truly what is worst,

My life I remember too well.

With true memory I be cursed,

That keeps my mind in living hell.


A test subject I want to be,

A.I. to change my memory.