Dennis S. Martin's Blog, page 112

We Are Not Amused

You’re such a jokester, jester, jerkster,

Trying your best to mimic the fool.

So caught up in your carrying on

You can’t see how my annoyance grows.

Perhaps your intent was initially thoughtful,

Wanting to lighten a burdensome load,

Meant to brighten a smile to my lips.

Doubtful, but possible I suppose.

But you are relentless, masochist central.

Back up the dump truck and unleash your load,

Leaving me neck deep in gravel and sand

Pitifully waiting for you to reload.

Now is a good time to give it a rest.

I’m just so tired of being abused.

You’ve done your worst and called it your best.

As for the rest –

We are not amused.

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Pressure

Can you take the pressure?

Will you stand the test?

Will you fall to panic when

The button has been pressed?

Are you wise to recognize

The great chameleon dance?

Will you fail to face

The enemy as they advance?

Weakness folds. It cannot hold

In light of Evil’s charge.

The more he gets, the more he wants,

Intent on living large.

Emboldened by success he will

Continue to excess,

Feeding furious in frenzy

Without pause or second guess.

The question within questions

Is the way we will react

To the pressure of the moment

At the point we are attacked.

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West of the Echo

Here I stand at the edge of Atlantis

Looking east to the ancient shrines.

Bold winds buffet my face as the sun

Sinks over my shoulder to rest on the trees.

I call your name; lift it high over waters so deep

That the measure is more than the open sky.

But there is no answer, not even an echo.

The wind and surf only muffle my pleas.

What craze of wanderlust drew you away from

Peaceful surroundings, so safe, so secure?

How did I fail to tell you my heart?

Would it have done any good to try?

I should have seen from the very beginning

Just how the story was set to play.

You were determined, mindset on destiny,

Dreams at the ready, wings set to fly.

So here I rest, my feet in the sand

Wondering if I should be so bold.

Wondering if you would have me beside you,

Wondering where I might fit into your plan.

Wondering if you think of me

The way that you are in my constant mind.

Wishing to press my cheek to your cheek.

Silently longing the touch of your hand
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Annoy Me Not

In the great and grand scheme of things

There are times when you

Just want to be left alone.

No sad reminders, no heartaches on raven wings,

No heavy responses that soak to the bone.

No tap tap tap tapping,

And oh please! No rapping.

No stupid commercials or

Soap opera crying.

No teasing or taunting,

Nothing so daunting

That skills must be tested.

It all seems so trying.

Please, let me sit.

Just let me sit and clear

The gray matter of cumbersome clues.

It won’t take long to rejuvenate,

Then I’ll be ready for your gruesome news.

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Wet Noses

How can you measure the trust and devotion?

What is the yardstick for loyalty?

Unconditional, follow-you-anywhere,

Quick to defend against friend or foe.

Asking little, save little attention,

A pat or a rub, a quick game of fetch.

A nuzzle of muzzle to garner affection.

Total endearment lost in sad eyes.

How can you measure

When they cannot speak?

The touch of a wet nose

Against your cheek.

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Bring It Home

I’ve traveled half-way round the world,

Yet never really left my home.

Instead, I took it with me on that

Journey to the other side.

Wayward traveler carrying a nation

Slung across my back.

Knapsack filled with old familiar

Memories both deep and wide.

Knowing all from gentle pain of losing

In the game of love.

Seeking more than everything

To fill my eyes to overflow.

Desperate searching – who knows what –

Snatching tidbits from above

The scrambled madness. Who knows

Which direction my direction goes?

In this world of fantasy

You oft-times can’t tell sprite from gnome.

But if your eyes are on the prize

You never fail to bring it home.

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Hustle Up

Mad Hatter is waiting, Dormouse in tow,

Anticipating the festivities.

The party’s purpose uncertain and vague,

A posh celebration of tangle and tease.

You are invited. White Rabbit saw to it,

So don’t act surprised as if you never knew it.

Apologize if it helps you get through it

With magic works ‘thank you’ and ‘please’.

You need to hurry! Don’t want to be late!

Don’t want to miss even one moments joy.

You could be left with an empty plate,

Or worse, subject to the Queen’s wicked ploy.

Sip! Quickly sip your invisible tea.

Gobble a crumpet that you cannot see.

Don’t try to understand what cannot be.

It just doesn’t pay to be coy.

Wandering through Wonderland,

Desperately trying to find my bed.

Hustle! Hustle! Don’t be slow,

Or the Queen may have your head.

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Wot’s–A–Matta–w’you?

You say, “Wot’s-a-matta-w’me?”

I say, “Wot’s-a-matta-w’you?”

Covert sneaking, peeking around

Trying to get a better view.

Just stay simple. Keep your alert.

No need to skulk around looking for dirt.

There’s bountiful muck and mire to be found

For those who keep their ear to the ground.

You seem to want to keep to yourself,

Secrets you used to share, now on a shelf

Hidden behind innuendo and stealth.

I hardly know you anymore.

Whatever happened to truth between friends?

That magical unspoken bond without end.

A matchless cliché on which I could depend.

I feel as though we are at war.

“Truce,” I say. A truce must be.

You mean far too much to me to

Bash our skulls on the rocks below.

Wot’s-a-matta?

I think you know.

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Last Call

First one in.

Last one out.

The barkeep isn’t keeping track.

Just keeps on wiping down the bar

With beer-stained rag, coming back to

Fill each glass with golden wisdom,

Keep the conversation flowing,

Hanging close on every word.

Knowing all but never knowing.

All too soon the room is spinning.

Voices come from far away.

Sweet control is soon abandoned.

Body parts do not obey,

Disconnected from the brain,

Drugged and numbed to disrepair.

Someone took away my keys.

I may have soiled my underwear.

Oh! Dilemma.

Oh! Disgrace.

Such a long and lonely fall.

Can I ever show my face,

Or make it to last call?

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A Battle of Witlessness

Would you like to make a stand?

Would you like to be my friend?

Would you like to make some sense

Out of this crazy world we’re in?

In the mire of dissension

Will common sense prevail?

In the legislative process

Does simple logic fail?

When your best friend begs to differ

Do you seek a common ground?

Do you rant and rave above him,

Or demure without a sound?

When a restless world stops listening,

Tell me, who will save the day?

Who can we depend upon to

Come and put our toys away?

Battles rage on multi-fronts

And you and I alone can see that

We can only stay the course

In this futility.

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