You have your game-face on again;
The don’t-mess-with-me face that comes
With its own combative attitude.
Not pleased with being pleased,
You seem incapable of a smile;
Not a cheek-aching, ab-cramping,
Incontinent belly-laugh,
But something as simple as a smile.
Can you scowl in the presence
Of a four year old wearing
A Halloween costume
With cape?
Can you frown under the patient,
Steady, brown-eyed stare of a
Labrador coveting
Your plate?
Have you forgotten how to savor
The simple strawberry?
The story goes, a man in India,
While walking through the woods,
Encountered a tiger.
Well, being a wise man,
And quite astute,
He precipitously turned
And fled.
The tiger, with his own degree
Of wisdom and perspicacity,
And with a feline sense of humor,
Gave chase,
Until the man came to a cliff and jumped;
No blink, no pause, just a leap,
And falling, grabbed onto a sapling.
Hanging there, feet dangling
(Like a participle)
With one fist wrapped
Around the most paltry of sprigs,
The man spotted a strawberry
Growing nearby
Which he immediately picked
And ate.
It was a most delicious strawberry.
A lovely story Gary, and a pleasure to read. Best wishes, Andrew
I just totally love this poem. Its as delicious as the strawberry and i am taking it with me :) A definite 10 and now another of my favs. Thank you.
Being analytical as I am, I'm wondering which hand he picked the strawberry with, and is he still hanging, or did he trade his life for one last delicious experience? A totally wonderful reading experience, juicy and luscious as that plump strawberry! Linda :)
I have no idea why I am just reading this but I love it! A profound message I think... Dorothy A Poet Who Loves To Sing
Thoroughly enjoyed this cliffhanger of a story. 'Like a participle' made me laugh. -chuck
I wrote a poem about a strawberry once, I'll fish it out for you but liked this poem and especially liked the intro'. There are some people who just scowl at the whole world.... I despise that. Ruthy
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Ah, yes, those little 'sweet things' in life that somehow we miss...and we are the poorer for having missed them! Great write.