Week 539 (November 1-15). Poems topic: Orchard.

[M]

You have until November 15 to post a poem, and from November 16-22 we’ll vote for which one we thought was best!

Please post directly into the topic and not a link. Please don’t use a poem previously used in this group. Only one submission per person is allowed.

Your poem can be any length.

This week’s topic is: Orchard.

The rules are pretty loose. You could write a poem about anything that has to do with the subject/photo but it must relate to the topic somehow.

Most of all have fun!

[Garrison]

POET: Garrison Kelly
TITLE: My Personal Space Is Not a Free Country
GENRE: Rap Metal Song
RATING: PG-13 for language and politics



CHORUS
My personal space is not a free country
Not a debate where you go headhunting
Not a democracy, not a theocracy
Not pornography with rape and sodomy

VERSE 1
I’m a working class stiff from Port Orchard
I spend my time giving out fast food orders
Don’t like what I eat? Fuck off from the heat
The kitchen’s too hot, but you act like it’s not
Raise your voice at me like a drill instructor
You get double middle fingers, you motherfucker
You’re in my zone, you don’t have free speech
Don’t whine about welfare, you’re the real leech

CHORUS
My personal space is not a free country
Not a debate where you go headhunting
Not a democracy, not a theocracy
Not pornography with rape and sodomy

VERSE 2
Autistic obsessions over trivial hobbies
They’re mine all mine, no point in sobbing
I’ll spend my time doing whatever I want
You call it a waste of time, it’s clearly not
I’m having fun without hurting anybody
I’m not your specimen to probe and study
Never once told you to stop watching football
So fuck all the way off, it’s the only good call

EXTENDED CHORUS
My personal space is not a free country
Not a debate where you go headhunting
Not a democracy, not a theocracy
Not pornography with rape and sodomy
If I hit a block button on the internet app
Don’t come at me with your bigoted crap
My personal space is not a town square
I never asked you, so I don’t really care

BRIDGE
Put your gun away, you won’t need it here
Shelve your holy book, my message is clear
Do all of that shit behind your own closed doors
Don’t treat my house like a base for the Corps

FINAL LINE
My personal space is not a free country!

[M]

I had intended to comment on this yesterday. The title is original, amusing, and intriguing. As soon as I saw it, I said to my wife, “Listen to the title of Garrison’s poem!” Among my favorite lines are “I’m a working class stiff from Port Orchard,” “I’m not your specimen to probe and study,” and “My personal space is not a town square.”

[Garrison]

I'm glad you and your wife got a kick out of the title. Haha! :)

[Brett]

Good job, Garrison. I'm still working on one for this topic.

[Garrison]

Thanks, Brett! :)

[Brett]

Garwood’s Orchard
By Brett A. Starr on November 11, 2022

Starting 1831, Garwood’s has been around
On 350 acres, just west of town
For six generations – now that’s a long time
They have farmed apples of various kinds

Like Zestar, Ida Red, and Pixie Crunch
Blondee, and Pink Lady, are a bunch
Some of these apples may sound familiar
Gala, Jonagold, and Braeburn are peculiar

Then there’s Fuji, Gold Rush, and Red Delicious
McIntosh, Honey Crisp, and Golden Delicious
Let’s not forget Granny Smith, and Ever Crisp
A couple more – Crimson Crisp and Autumn Crisp

But, there’s more than just apples on this farm
Quite a variety to add a nice charm
Peaches, pumpkins, sweet corn, and cherries
Peppers, cucumbers, strawberries, and raspberries

I’m telling you – you just can’t go wrong
You could put these words in a song
Garwood’s in La Porte is a happy place
They will put a big smile on your face

Footnote: I was thinking about doing a poem about the cherries in Michigan, but then I am mostly familiar with Garwood’s apple orchard just west of La Porte, IN. Six generations of one family is outstanding and incredible. My family always likes to go in the fall and ride on the horse drawn wagon out to the UPICK area to gather up some honey crisp apples. Some days they have live music. It is a good way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

[M]

This portrait in rhyming couplets brings the Garwood’s experience to life for the reader. I can almost taste the apples!

[Brett]

Maybe the next topic could be "feast."

[C. J., Cool yet firm like ice]

This was a fun topic! It made me think a lot of wanting to go to orchards because it's something I never think of doing. Now that I'm older I would probably find it fun or at the very least get fresh air and avoid the internet which would be worth it!

[M]

Thank you, C. J.! I try to pick topics that go somewhat with the time of year. I think of good writing as concrete and descriptive, so I try to come up with topics like that. When I review the previous topics, I’m dismayed at how rarely I succeed.