[Florence Campi]

If you’re a poet, show it
and if you’re not, so what.
Certainly an alligator’s
not my worst repudiator
For bites, hexylresorcinol
remains the unsurpassed cure-all
But if my poetry you bite,
Brain septicemia you incite.
Though I’ve not studied morphophonemics
I’m pretty good at econometrics.

[This message has been edited by Florence Campi (edited June 17, 2004).]

[Sally Thomas]

If God's a crocodile, can we tell
the rest of the world it's going to hell
not in the familiar handbasket, but in
a handbag, hand-crafted of crocodile skin?

Sally

[Jerry Glenn Hartwig]

If God's a croc, (or perhaps a 'gator)
don't let the thought fill you with laughter;
especially if you like lizard-wear -
it could bite you in the here-after.

Terese - Swagman thanks you for the compliment *grin*

[Sally Thomas]

My theologian husband's raising an eyebrow.
"How many heresies? Let me count them all."
He never knew his beloved had such highbrow
tastes. "Dear, hide goeth before a fall."

(Note: in real life my tastes are low;
I prefer my croc pelts faux.)

[This message has been edited by Sally Thomas (edited June 24, 2004).]

[Donna English]

On a different note, I wonder whose voice you'd lend to your poems. Anyone game to post your own verse letter.
***************************************

Dear Morgan Freeman,
read my poems, please lend your mellow voice to smooth my wrinkled meter and disguise my awful choice of words that fill the pages. When I read they sound pathetic, but you could read a shopping list and make it sound poetic!

I go to see your movies just to hear your southern drawl. I loved "Shawshank Redemption," it’s my favorite one of all. I try to imitate your voice’s pitch and intonation. All I get is laryngitis from my screaming in frustration.

I’m sending you this package in hope that you’ll record your voice on the cassette I sent with what I could afford to pay for your kind services, it’s all that I can spare. I hope twenty bucks will do. (The check is good, I swear!)

The poems are alphabetical. (there should be 34) And when you’re finished with this batch I’ll send you 30 more. You know I have a deadline, so you’ll have to start tonight! Make sure that when you read them that you set the volume right.

Return the package right away, as soon as you are through. I’m running out of time because there is so much to do. I need to practice lip-syncing to match the way you speak, so I can win the contest at the Reading Room next week.

I plan to read my favorite poem, the one I’ve titled “Lotus.” And if I practice hard enough, I’m sure no one will notice that my physical appearance doesn’t match my voice at all. I’m female, white and little, but you’re male and black and tall.

So thank you Mr. Freeman for the prize you’ll help me get.

Sincerely,
Your devoted fan (and poet!)
Lori Yette

[Terese Coe]

By Jerry: Terese - Swagman thanks you for the compliment *grin*


Swagman, is the compliment
that you are zoophilic,
or simply that you are a tease
and I'm an Ozophilic?

[Robert Swagman]

My dear Terese, I must admit
as a teaser, you're terrific-
especially since my claim to Oz
is simply honorific-

yet still you play the game with me
you bloomin' Aussie-phile
though I'm only a faux-substitute;
but you've known that all the while.

So zoophile or Ozziephile?
Neither one is true.
But if I were the former one
I'd surely go for ewe.

*groan*



[This message has been edited by Robert Swagman (edited June 30, 2004).]

[Terese Coe]

Why, Jerry, I had no idea
that you were not from Oz!
Despite the bring-down, thank you, Swag,
for all your kind hurrahs.

The ewe you mention has a true
affinity, my lamb—
though you are not a zoophile,
an Aries lamb I am.

Oh, for Oz! Without these poison
sumac neighborhoods—
my bloomin' East Coast countryside
is lush with toxic woods.

Still there are small mercies, though
the woods I dare not cruise:
this poison sumac can't compare
to oak and ivy's ooze.

Oz without ooze!
That's what I choose!
Any dorm
in a storm.
Any pizzen?
Prison.

[Larry Powers]

I don't know whether you guys, still,
are making conversation,
but I just thought I'd like to fill
a post with my narration.

It's been a couple months, since I
first posted to this forum.
I've found most posters ain't too shy,
to say my poems bore 'em.

Still, shyness isn't what I want,
when someone is critiquing
my doggerel. That's why I haunt
this place. You're what I'm seeking.

I know I haven't read much stuff
that other folks have written
since Poe. I guess it's not enough.
to simply want to fit in.

So if you folks could recommend
some poetry that's recent,
I'll read it, since what I have penned
seems not to be too decent.

You see, I need to figure out
what works. What makes good writing?
What should a poem be about?
Should it be soft or biting?

I thought the only thing I had
to do was give some rhythm
to thoughts I thought about. The bad
news is, I can't word-smith ‘em.

I guess I figure that you know
more than I'll ever hope to
although, by saying that, I show
I'm trying to soft-soap you.

Okay, I see I'm running on,
as is my normal habit.
But if you can suppress a yawn
and name a book, I'll nab it.

-- Larry

[Roger Slater]

Larry, I enjoyed your rhyme.
You seem the sort of fellow
who might enjoy Espaillat or
Catherine Tufariello

or Murphy, Gwynn or Moore Moran.
I do sincerely wish ya
lots of joy in reading them
(and don't forget Alicia).