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.
Ah, yes, those little 'sweet things' in life that somehow we miss...and we are the poorer for having missed them! Great write.
It was a most delicious poem, Gary. I'm super allergic to strawberries, but your poem makes me almost want to throw caution to the wind and just go eat one, dammit.
Strawberry - or whatever - your poem makes its point very clearly - - savor the last delicious bite, get all out of it that you can...treasure what you have. Brilliantly written.
I have seen this tale penned before, but never with such elegance. And the first half of the poem - which could easily stand alone - is personal and eloquent. My favourite lines are the four year old boy and his halloween costume 'with cape' and the labrador's stare 'covetting your plate' and best of all, the man's feet 'dangling (like a participle) '. Written with a compassionate heart and a twinkle in the eye, I love it. Warmly, Allie xxxx
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
A lovely story Gary, and a pleasure to read. Best wishes, Andrew