Original Poems III

20.  HISTORENGA

FORMAT/ASSIGNMENT:  A historenga is a ten-line poem.  Line three introduces a historical event or period.  Line six cites a nation or location involved with the event/period, and line nine cites a person or figure significant to that nation/location.

Roaring 20's

novel inventions and makes a footprint

in the history of the U.S.

starting up a new era of the 20's 

speakeasies sweep the streets

and flappers slip on their Burgundy lipstick

bankers saturate wall street

and stocks are the next big thing

alcohol became a hidden secret

and Al Capone conquered the collapse of order

marking the 1920's

     

ROAD SIGN POETRY

thank you for telling me the obvious

i didnt know this world needed a sign that warns of the sign

we complain about cutting budgets 

cutting funds

cutting sports

however, this world needed this sign put up

like my mother always said, read the fine print

squint and directs your eyes to the bottom

slow down and stop the car if you need

use a magnifying glass if you need

now that you got the message

pull out and find another pathway, 

this bridge is closed. 

ALTERNATIVE SELF 

FORMAT/ASSIGNMENT:  Make a poem of six stanzas, four lines each.  The second and fourth line of each stanza must rhyme, and the poem must be about a person who is the exact opposite of you.


The New Neighbor


i met a girl last week
blue eyes, fair skin, bleach blonde locks
she listens to country music like no tomorrow
eyes piercing like a hawk


plays almost every sport under the sun
stands of a height about 5 ft one
has pin straight hair
and an allergy to gluten


loves cats with all her heart
she can play instruments but cannot draw
worries about having the best brand names
has pale skin without a flaw


she never wears flashy jewelry
very quiet and shy 
worries about what people might think
wears mac makeup every morning and reapplies


has a dozen pairs of ugg boots
her fingers fly over the screen of her iphone
she is very terse with her responses
her hand never leaving the smartphone


her blood is a purebred
her family consists of about four
they never go out
and just simply quite a bore