Patricia McGoldrick offers us a list of words from which we can choose three or more to incorporate into a poem. She says her list "is inspired by actual neighbours in our community and life, in general."
I didn't attempt to use all the words in my poem, although I did use several. "These are words that go together well" as a song once said.
Patricia's list may be seen below, after you've looked at the photo I chose (Teresa might like it) and after you've read the doggerel I've written.
.jpg) |
| Wikimedia Commons photo "The Neighbors" by Jeffrey Pang |
good fences make good neighbours, they say,
unless they are nine-year-old boys,
in which case they’ll climb right over the fence
to fight or to argue or play
a handshake will make good neighbours of men
while laughter and tears bond the women
athough if pets like to wander or stray,
men might have to shake hands again
weather is good for discussion;
or hometowns, or parents, or children,
especially if somebody’s teenagers play
loud music with lots of percussion
Kay Davies, October, 2013
Here's the list. Thanks, Patricia!
Neighbor / Neighbours
Fences
Handshake
Barbecue Potluck
Borrow
Return
Garden
Weeds
Trees
Snow
Weather
Laughter
Tears
Children
Parents
Birth
Death
Teenagers
Stoop
Deck
16 comments:
Those last lines cracked me up! This is really well done, Kay.
I especially like the times a pet might force another handshake out of the men.
Small point: I noted two "fors" in line 9 - not sure you intended that.
Great list of words. Sounds like a short story to me.
Nancy
Kay, like your rhymes and wit!
The photo of such beautiful neighbours is wonderful. :)
I loved your ending! YOU brought it home ;D
Yeeees, good neighbours.
You start out nicely, each first line is all sweetness and light and harmony, and then comes the but. . . .
It’s quite often a big but and being a good neighbour is never totally easy.
It's a poem, O Ms. Wit! I like the goats, the wondering pets and kids, and the music.
Makes me think of the line
"there is something about (a fire) wall" and yes we need some personal space to weave our dreams... My respect for you work grows...
This was a lovely, comfy poem. Neighborly!
Really good neighbors sometimes are scarce. We had one where we lived before. Things are pretty hard up when we have to talk about the weather. Politics isn't much better, at least in the U.S.
..
What a fun piece...I need all the smiles I can get at the moment..thank you
I liked what you described as bonding women- how true. And the ending made me laugh.
Well, the boys climbing the fences had my heart (and it is SO true - they see it as a challenge not an obstacle). Fences or a real good tree line are essential, IMO. :)
I am in agreement with Grandmother (Mary. Enjoyed the chuckle
Haaaaa! You're poem is so much fun! I love the social (gender?) commentary with the way men and women greet each other and make friends. My favorite parts are the men having to reshake their hands and the percussion music! Thanks so much for sharing. This made me happy.
So true, Kay! I especially liked the line about fences and 9 year old boys!
Post a Comment