You know how certain songs can grab you
Once some notes are played?
Your ears perk up, you start to smile -
Attention must be paid!
When that occurs, your mind demands
You get to hear the rest
And if you can’t, you hum that tune
As if you are possessed.
This morning, someone passed me by
And from her ear buds came
Those seven most familiar notes
One musical can claim -
The opening of “Hamilton!”
And what a lovely perk
To listen to that upbeat score
While heading off to work.
Slow sleek steps,
Pounces on its paws,
Snow-clad fur,
Brushes off impatiently,
Ears perk up,
When squeals and squeaks are heard,
Steady and slowly,
Merges with the blanket beneath,
Almost at ease,
Confidently it please,
Lowers into its position,
Ready to strike,
Pounces on its paws,
Announces in its jaws,
Mouse struck beneath its claws,
Ounces in vigilant strides as it withdraws.
By Sarah Shahzad, July 2024
Children who can barely keep their eyes open after lunch
Whose feet shuffle and drag, as they cluster into a bunch
Yawners who struggle to not lie down and flat out snore
When class is annoying, dull, uninteresting or just a total bore
rally at the end of the day with a hip hip hooray
Running swiftly away from the building with pep, perk and play!
“Chickery Chick Cha-la Cha-la”
Was a happy little ditty
From days gone by, my how time flies
Those words were warm and witty
“Lamsey doats and dosey doats”
Brings back those days of yore
When life was fun in the morning sun
Who could ask for anything more
“Skimmery rinky dinky dink”
Is another masterpiece
Jimmy Durante sang the words
To this clever little treat
“Abba dabba dabba doo”
A chimp was heard to say
I still remember Debbie singing
In a most delightful way
So when you're down and things ain't right
Just whistle these happy tunes
You'll soon perk up you'll smile and say
“Life's just a big cartoon”
“Chickery Chick Cha-la Cha-la”
Was a happy little ditty
From days gone by, my how time flies
Those words were warm and witty
“Lamsey dotes and dosey doats”
Brings back those days of yore
When life was fun in the morning sun
Who could ask for anything more
“Skimmery rinky dinky dink”
Is another masterpiece
Jimmy Durante sang the words
To this clever little treat
“Abba dabba dabba dabba”
A chimp was heard to say
I still remember Debbie singing
In a most delightful way
So when you're down and things ain't right
Just whistle these happy tunes
You'll soon perk up you'll smile and say
“Life is a big cartoon”
In cozy nooks where sunbeams gleam,
Dwell Meredith and Theodore, a cherished team.
Their whiskers twirl with graceful grace,
Purr sounds echo, a soothing embrace.
Paws dance softly, a rhythmic beat,
Playing games, their joy replete.
With big, bright eyes, so full of wonder,
Their world expands, each spell they're under.
Rounded ears perk up with delight,
Their playful antics, a joyous sight.
Floppy limbs in playful prance,
Their charming moves, a happy dance.
Soft forms sprawl, a comforting mound,
Their snuggles warm, love profound.
A large head leads their curious glance,
In furry elegance, they entrance.
Meredith and Theodore, a delightful pair,
Their love and laughter fill the air.
With whiskers, purrs, paws, and fun,
Their feline charm, second to none.
I water my plants
With my watering cup
And the soil becomes wet
As the roots drink it up.
The leaves, once a‘wilt
On their stems stand up straight
And I’m glad that their drink
Didn’t reach them too late.
Just like plants, we have roots
Which, when starved, make us droop
And at times, we’ll perk up
With some chicken-type soup.
But for humans, some kindness
Can have that effect,
Though it isn’t the cure
We should always expect.
myriad of moons
diurnal round - her blithe eyes
perk up planet earth
1/16/2022
The alarm warns: it’s time to wake,
Time, twelve years of leisure to shake,
Take a look, King of springs has come,
The time has come now to blossom,
And this message spreads all around,
The plants perk up right from the ground,
And nature spreads blossoms of blue,
Nilgiri turning truly blue
On an eerie clock’s unknown clue!
___________________________________
Happenings |04.09.2021| Free verse
Poet’s Note: The Western Ghats of Southern India are all alive at present with blue blossoms of a flower called Neelkurinji (Blue Blossoms) which bloom for miles all at the same time of the season, and once only in 12 years. What alarm might be causing this synchronization is one of the nature’s wonders. Nilgiri is one of the hill stations on this hill range (Western Ghats). The word nil means blue.
Can I tell you I like your brain
Make sense or sound insane
I say I like your brain
Cause talking to you is no drain
You perk up my ears
From every word that I hear
You have so much to say
That my mind molds like clay
The adventures you run
Let me walk in the sun
And feel as I’m there
Right along in your chair
My brain whirls around
When your voice makes a sound
I hang on each word
As though I’ve not heard
Now how can this be so
Could be there’s never a no
I find always encouragement
And a door to enlightenment
Just by listening to you talk
So come now let’s take a walk
H
A
Pressure of dire times on dismal mind
Pushes the listless life in abyss undefined
I
N
E
S
S
A
Perk up, parking the slumped soul on cloud nine
Placate the sagged spirit with holiday sunshine
E
A
S
E
S
December 7, 2020
For Kim's Acrostic Play 2 Holiday Version
Break
Of dawn
Healing rays,
Glinting verdure,
Rumbling stream over the slimy hillocks.
Perk up and life quickens with cozy warmth
Sumptuous and
Vernal charm
Of sun
God.
Double Tetractys 3 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Eve Roper
Picture: 1
Syllable count: poetry soup
Date: 28/09/2020
Placed : 3 rd
The hour's always about, just go and seek,
As the horizon's held up, down, around,
Tune in the air tonight, strength of the meek.
Truth everywhere, it's time to make a sound,
Listen to me, listen to me, please, please,
C'mon now, perk up ears, open up eyes:
All this terror, this horror's mine to ease,
Remember, remember, look in their eyes!
I have returned and there's "nothing to fear",
I will cast down all doubt, now "Just watch me!"
I will "speak softly", just "lend me your ear",
And I will speak of the truth that I now see:
Tomorrow, Today, Forever's in play,
The Future's now, each and every day.
Trillions of stars failed
to dispel the dark.
Opacity pervaded
like a dark blanket.
The routine pursuits of
the fauna adjourned
and they remained
dormant and indolent
except the nocturnal.
A sumptuous daybreak,
healing rays of aurora,
a turmoil and somnolence,
soak in heat and perk up,
pulse of life quickens.
STRAND COMPLETELY NEW (13),
any form, any theme Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Brian Strand
Date: 25/07/2020
winner: 1st place
A chill is in the wind
icy cold chagrin
blowing wild, restless, free
shivering in the pine trees.
Daffodils perk up without fear
spears of green cheer
to be followed with a spring star
yellow friendship from the heart.
Crocus glows in purple, yellowed blooms
beneath the brilliance of a full moon
and now time to jump ahead
the old clocks awakening the dead.
On the outer edge of time
comes the tulips feathered and refined
as we march into spring
grateful for the end of that winter thing.
Related Poems