D. Ellsworth Hoag
Poet
THE BOOKS
Life's Little Handbook
A collection of poem perporting to be wise advie on living.
Sample:
Charities
Money’s the root of all evil
Or so goes the common belief
And thus we have charities
To give us moral relief.
They’ll take the filthy lucre
And put it to good use
At the same time lining their pockets
Or so I deduce.
Wild Words Book 1 & 2
I
IWild Words helps you Beat Writers’ Block! Having trouble thinking of what to write? Sometimes a writer, like an old car, needs a kick-start! We are The Writers’ Kickstart Group! To practice creating new ideas, we write from “prompts.” A prompt is a word or phrase that gives a writer something to think about, to stimulate ideas for creative writing. Anyone can suggest a prompt, and usually three prompts are selected at each meeting. Members can use any or all of the prompts to write a story, article, or poem for the next meeting. Wild Words provides examples of 100 prompts, and the wildly differing stories, articles and poems created from them. As practice, you could select any of these prompts and write your own stories from them. Try writing something from one of the prompts each week. Soon, you’ll be developing your own prompts, and your own stories. Writing Instructors may also find this book useful as an aid for their students in creating new ideas.
I was a contributer to this book but all funds go to the writer's group whose compilation it is.
Haiku, Simple Observations
Japanese poetic style. Verses with modern context. Simple and elegant.
leaves float in a stream
geese honk from a flying vee
air turns cool and sharp
There's No Ducking It
The first collection was so much fun I had to do it again.
Social Commentary
I’m just going to be contrary,
provide some social commentary,
spice it with sarcastic wit.
see if anyone gives a shit.
Just a few terse ditties
applying to the nitty gritty’s.
If you don’t like how it goes
I may be tromping on your toes.
Pondering The Blues
Consideration of the music and the term.
Good News / Bad News
Well, you think you’ve hit rock bottom
but don’t you get the blues,
though moths live in your wallet
and there’s holes in both your shoes.
This is just a little lesson,
a small chance to rehearse;
good news is you’re surviving,
bad news, it will get worse.
Old Timers' Odes
Wiseass Observations On Reaching The Golden Age
Time Warp
Yesterday’s summers seemed to prolong,
like the haunting refrain of a wondrous song,
while warming breezes caressed fertile earth
we were lost in dreams and youthful mirth.
Now father time is doing us wrong
he keeps upping the tempo of the song;
as time collapses he’s having fun,
reminding us we’ll soon have none.
Gifts From Oonagh
Wiseass Comments To The Nature Goddess
Big Blue
The blue whale is big,
as big as all hell,
a wondrous animal,
Ma Nature's saga tale
This creature lives
entirely on krill
which he siphons
from ocean swill.
The male has a voice
that carries for miles,
the only thing known
to make she blues smile.
Destination
Somewhere in the mind
beyond reality's reach
is a special land with
warm coral sand beach.
The air smells of blossoms;
is soft as a mother's kiss,
and the ambience is calm
sometimes redolent of bliss.
There lives the dreams
of things that never were
and things which cannot be
because they are so pure.
This poetry medley
from imagination's river
explains the appellation—
of the place name, Never.
This poetry medley
from imagination's river
explains the appellation—
of the place name, Never.
Pease read them to
small ones sitting on the lap;
give a gift of fantasy
to lull them to a nap.
When they are ready
have them read a line or two
to share their favorites
as a special gift to you.
I've tried to make them pleasing
to the mind and ear
in hopes they'll create memories
with those you hold dear.
The Grind
The hardest thing to master
in this world of care,
the thing that sits upon the chest
depriving us of air.
Not the running of anxiety,
not the jack boot of despair,
but the constant shuffling feet
that eternally are there.
The minutia of mundane
the stealers of time
the tasks that continue
like recurring rhyme.
Fashion Plate
I really dress quite natty,
for I am fashion’s mirror,
and although I may be shallow
I’ve a wonderful veneer.
“Look at me!” I fairly cry
as I walk down the street.
My clothes are pressed, my shoes are
shined, my hair coiffured and neat.
Each item fits together,
a hand in glove affair,
on nineteenth century promenade,
just out to take the air.
A Poem
Some see a poem as intricate
with language highly purple
and kinda thick and cloying
just like mapely syrple.
But me, I see it different,
my language skills are blunted
so my rhymes are jerky
and the sentiment is stunted.
But I tell it as I see it
without flare or decoration
and try to make an art form
out of simple declaration.
Kangaroo
There is a kangaroo
with joey in her pouch
you would think his strong kick
would give her a big ouch.
Bounding through the outback
on strong legs and big feet;
balancing with her tail—
trying to look discrete.
With small forelegs and paws,
she seems a funny mix—
a cross between rabbit
and a short-armed T-Rex.
Preparation
In a charmed circle of magic
the witch laid out her talisman,
bowed low to smoldering incense,
with magic words a chant began.
Called out to Baal and Beelzebub
to prepare for their special night;
round up the baddest of the bad
to deliver the utmost fright.
With dark, solemn incantations
they her message do receive
and swear an oath by fires of Hell
delivery on All Hallows' Eve.
Duologue
We hold
a duologue,
only desert and I,
in hushed voices we talk of life—
of sun.
Of sun
and severe heat,
of short water supply,
with parched tones and o’er heated breath—
we talk.
We talk,
you may listen,
and mayhaps understand,
desert is just indifferent—
not foe.
Humor Me
Oh, silliness, we sing thy praise,
you brighten up our gloomy days
you make us giggle, laugh and snort
sharpen our mind for quick retort
as bright as sunshine’s streaming rays.
So let us raise our glasses high,
a toast to levity's gold haze
and let all of our thoughts cavort—
Oh, silliness.
Troubadours tune their simple lays
in bounteous and varied ways
but absolute best, I report
are the gay and light-hearted sort
that are hilarious forays—
Oh, silliness
There is
a Never tree
grows in a magic land
tended by the mind, not the hand—
bears lore.
Bears lore
from all cultures
within its ample crown
and for its gift of wisdom is
renown.
Renown
for mental bees
that pollinate its flowers
and gardeners who cull the fruit
long hours.
Long hours
of pleasant dreams
that yield ripe and
delicious fruit of fantasy
enjoy.
We're off on safari trek
so lace up your hiking boots.
and put on sturdy khakis,
we'll explore the writers' mind.
Put on a tan pith helmet,
we're off on safari trek
to explore nooks and crannies
of their cranial terrain.
When we ponder on their thoughts
we may find some wild beasties.
We're off on safari trek,
but we're not sure what we'll find.
Out we go aventuring,
will it be out past the norm?
Now step out to the trailhead
we're off on safari trek.
Prologue
Before
the reading,
I pray thee heed a word,
for this is the foremost concern,
the words.
The words
are the reason,
message secondary.
Once the words are understood
‘tis clear.
‘Tis clear
what’s the message,
definitions are included—
for they’re the keys to the cipher,
take heed.