Jane Blanchard: Sans Sécurité
Though France no longer keeps a king,
it shows off lots of royal bling –
until a band of ballsy thieves
assaults the Louvre, then quickly leaves,
but drops a crown, which gets a ding,
and ministers start whimpering.
♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣
Alan Millichip: Manual v Automatic
A smoother ride, no gears to grind,
No clutch for my left leg to find;
For years it played a vital part,
Used all the time right from the start;
Progress I think has gone too far,
There’s less fun driving my new car.
♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣
Steven Kent: On Discovering One's Autographed Work For Sale
To Pam and Dave, I signed my book,
Which then to eBay found its way.
(Confession: Now I have to look,
And there it is again today.)
That first book had a decent run –
You think they'll buy my second one?
♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣
Tonia Kalouria: When Trump Reigns, It Pours.
Though Donald's screwy language screams neuroses
To be endured in nano-teeny doses.
yet when he spews some newly-minted 'fact’,
lie, threat, and smear, or F-bomb they redact,
then do be sure you've salt enough in stock
to take them with a mega-saline block.
♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣
Pat D’Amico: The Chair
To this day, it’s called “The Reading Chair.”
It’s been covered three times since it held a pair
Of pajama clad, eager hearts and minds
Transfixed as they plunked their little behinds
On my lap to be held in a pleasant pod
That endures today by the grace of God.
♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣
L.A. Mereoie: Mission Change
(On seeing a sign proclaiming a ‘Giant Tyre
Service’ outside a former chapel in Devon.)
This building, set below a tor,
Is hardly what it was before,
A space to stage the weekly rite
Pray, sing, and spread eternal light
Transporting souls towards the stars . . .
Today, it ministers to cars.
♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣
Alan Millichip: The Bird Feeder
Bird numbers in the garden reached a low,
The verdict was the feeder had to go;
The modern spill proof, mouse proof one was fine,
But didn’t help the figures in decline;
Closer examination found the flaw,
A better menu could be found next door.
