Wednesday, December 13, 2017

1162 - All fired up.


Haiku Horizon's topic of the week : 

Fire

Where there's smoke there's fire.
If you have a suspicion—
Best buy marshmallows.


Modern companies—
The spreadsheet is everything:
Corporate firestorms.


Flames dance like demons:
Hypnotic, captivating.
Fires—the place of dreams.


You can have your doubts
But climate change means more fires.
Best get used to it.
 .
---
© 2017 J Cosmo Newbery
---

Sunday, December 10, 2017

1161 - Buying The Grinch



Buying the Grinch

Forget the story history tells,
Consumption’s now the game.
So what if your budget’s bust
To avoid that grinchly name?

So buy.
Do not ask why.
You must.
The ads have told us so—
Cash registers play Jingle Bells,
Merchants whisper Ho-Ho-Ho.
 .
---
© 2017 J Cosmo Newbery

---

Monday, December 04, 2017

1160 - Ocean


Haiku Horizons has the prompt "Ocean"


Ocean

We are all at sea—
Swept along by the currents:
Not waving, drowning.
.
---
© 2017 J Cosmo Newbery

---

Sunday, December 03, 2017

Repost - As game as they come.

.
Mad Kane has a regular limerick challenge.
She provides the first line, the rest is up to us. 
Here are my efforts this week:


A woman who always seemed game
Developed spots with a long Latin name.
She'd got infected
After sex unprotected;
But was at a loss to know who was to blame.

---
© 2017 J Cosmo Newbery

---

1159 - For whom the jingle bells toll


Company Christmas Party on Friday.
The music was too loud to talk.
I am too old to put up with it.


For whom the jingle bells toll.

"No man is an island"
I can relate to the meaning inferred
But such wisdom departs
When the dance music starts
And no-one can hear or be heard.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

1158 - What could go wrong?


What could go wrong?

"the spirit is willing,
but the flesh is weak."
- Matthew 26:41

As machine algorithms invade out life,
Translation provides a challenge.

The gin is quite good
But the meat has gone flaccid.
Translation error?
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Saturday, October 28, 2017

1157 - Did I hear the corn jar shake?



Feeding the chickens.
One of life's small mysteries:
How do they smell corn?
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

1156 - Harvest


Sunday Whirl (Wordle #321) presents a list of words
that we must incorporate in a writing piece.  

The words this week are:

possible, pretense, individual, light, challenge, teeming,
route, drug, shock, jump, bulk, dearth


Harvest.

There's no dearth of kindness
In this world of ours;
Only in our blindness
We gather thorns for flowers.
- Gerald Massey

Some individuals prickle,
Spikey and aggressive.
They seem to enjoy it—
As if it is a drug of sorts—
Enjoy the challenge
To get under our skin,
To shock,
To hurt,
Too often.

But on reflection,
Offence is taken,
Not given.
In a day teeming with words
The bulk of them fly past.
Why is it possible 
For some to make us jump
While others go almost unnoticed?
Perhaps the route to a happy life
Is to let them all go past.

But what if it is all pretense?
Paraphrasing Gibran—
If thorns are all they have to give
Then is giving them
Generosity
On their part?
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Sunday, October 08, 2017

1155 - The Starless Night


Sunday Whirl (Wordle #320) presents a list of words
that we must incorporate in a writing piece.  

The words this week are:

road, lift, charge, star, swirl, mystery, 
struggle, fringe, list, sigh, storm, power



The Starless Night

“It is hard for a free fish to understand
what is happening to a hooked one.”
― Karl A. Menninger

Not every road
Is smooth,
Downhill
And awash 
With the warm tones
Of early morning sunlight.

Some struggle on paths
That are littered
With a fearsome list of obstacles,
Strewn with rocks and pits.

They walk on,
Battered by wild storms,
Some of their making,
Others, mysteriously, not so.
Storms that swirl
With oppressive power
Crackle with charged menace
And ominous rumblings.
They seem to attract them.

These are the night dwellers
The fringe dwellers,
Where life has no dawn.
Where living, 
Generously interpreted,
Has no stars.
Even Vincent had stars.
With nothing to lift the eyes,
Or the spirits,
They trudge on,
Stopping occasionally
To sigh.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Friday, September 29, 2017

1154 - Friend or Faux?



Sunday Whirl (Wordle #318) presents a list of words
that we must incorporate in a writing piece.  

The words this week are:

faux, hope, crossroads, brace, chain, rebel, 
pen, quake, chase, ding, bottom, lock


Friend or Faux?

All relationships start with hope,
And with expectations.
Some realistic, some less so.
But ultimately we are chasing 
After a mirage, a idealised impossibility.
And so we eventually we come to crossroads:
A point where things are put to the test,
Where the varnish of infatuation
Peels away and we must decide—
Decide if the reality is of value.
Most understandably quake at this decision,
Baulk at making a break,
Or stepping away from their clan
And so remain chained,
Imprisoned in their indecision.


It is not a case of sudden death—
Ding!  Next contestant, please!
That would be tough.
Nor is it a case of wanting to rebel.
Sometimes you just feel 
That you have reached the bottom,
That something has to give.
So give.
Brace yourself for what may be.
Unlock the pen,
See if they fly away.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

1153 - Not Windsor, Hangman



If men can run the world,
why can't they stop wearing neckties? 
How intelligent is it to start the day
by tying a little noose around your neck?

Linda Ellerbee


Not Windsor, Hangman.

Tie it how you will,
In knots of all descriptions—
It’s still just a rag. 
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1152 - Drawing Stumps


I delayed my father's funeral because of cricket. 
- Virat Kohli


Drawing stumps.

The game is over.
It’s time to take off the bails
And close the innings.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

1151 - The Bigger Problem


Haiku Horizons prompt: Safe.

“Politicians were mostly people who'd had too little
morals and ethics to stay lawyers.” 
― George R.R. Martin.


The Bigger Problem

Idiots in charge
And feathering their own nests—
How can we be safe?
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Monday, August 28, 2017

1150 - The Luxurious Treadmill



The Luxurious Treadmill

We have what we need.
We can chase after extra
But at what expense?
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1149 - Decision Deferred



Decision Deferred

Rather than decide—
Just ask for some more data;
A coward’s response
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1148 - Misaligned



Misaligned

A story of love
Gets back an outburst of hate
And it breaks the heart.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Sunday, August 27, 2017

1147 - Modern Slavery



Modern Slavery

Beneath the smart suit
And behind all of the gold
You find slavery.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---


1146 - Friendless



Friendless.

I don’t understand—
Why is there no compassion?
Why is it so hard?
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1145 - The Enlightenment.



The Enlightenment.

You may mock science,
Observation and reason,
But the truth is light.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---


1144 - Vale Tim



Vale Tim
1955 - 2017

We come from the stars.
After a brief blaze of light
We return to them.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Saturday, August 26, 2017

1143 - The Damage is Don


Solar Eclipse, 2017.


The Damage is Don

There was an old dildo called Don,
Who refused to have sunglasses on.
The sun’s rays then fried
Whatever was inside
But no-one could tell it was gone.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Friday, August 25, 2017

1142 - Life



Life

The cart moves forward
We are just the worried dog
Tied onto the back.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1141 - Gossips



Gossips

The clacking of tongues—
People are going to talk.
It’s not your concern.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1140 - Traditions



Traditions

Traditional ways
Suited traditional times.
We have now moved on.

They can be improved—
They suited their times back then
We don’t live back then.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---


1139 - Plebiscite










Plebiscite

An offensive thought—
That I vote someone equal.
It’s not mine to give
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---



1138 - The mare, the merrier.



The mare, the merrier.

Two ladies were passionately embraced,
Though somewhat awkwardly placed:
They pursued their affair
On the back of a mare
So nothing was done in haste.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Thursday, August 24, 2017

1137 - O Fortuna!



O Fortuna

Fortune gives.  And takes.
Inner values are the rocks
In the tides of life.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1136 - Crash Test Dummy



Crash Test Dummy

A young girl slept, as if sedated,
For reasons implied but unstated.
It appears she was smashed
When her computer crashed
And both of her airbags inflated.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

1135 - Self-Interest



Self-Interest

To have persuasion—
Remember the basic rule:
Self interest wins.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---


1134 - Bottled



Bottled

The Millennials are quite a strange band,
With water bottles always at hand.
Perhaps it’s excessive talking
And texting while walking
Or perhaps it’s just part of their brand.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1133 - Knows the Ropes



Knows the Ropes

A woman was feeling quite bored
And so joined in a game with a cord.
She became so besotted
With being tied up and knotted
She won a macramé award.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

1132 - Small Fry



Small Fry

It is all small stuff—
At work, at home and at ease.
Everyday stuff.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---


1131 - Logical Decision



Logical Decision

Science sees the world.
Religion governs the world.
Choose logic, not might.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1130 - The tines they are a-changing.



The tines they are a-changing.

Some differences—
They’re not reconcilable;
Best go our own ways.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1129 - Given the choice.



Given the choice.

You say what sounds good.
Your actions belie your words.
I believe actions.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1128 - Standing Proud



Standing Proud

A woman who was decidedly cute,
Was wearing the flag as a suit.
Her breasts were displayed
When the anthem was played
So her nipples could stand and salute.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Monday, August 21, 2017

1127 - Best to Wait



Best to Wait

The future will come—
You can worry in advance.
Or you can just wait.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1126 - Something to Reflect On?



Something to Reflect On?

You create the problem
And then weep over your lot.
No-one else to blame.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1125 - Good Rowing Argonauts!



Good Rowing Argonauts!

A lady with no connection to Greece,
Complained of the absence of peace
From all Jason’s cohorts,
(Those sneaky Argonauts),
In search of the Golden Fleece.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

1124 - No News Here



No News Here

So many toxins—
Things, creatures, even people.
Learn what to avoid.

Murdoch is the worst—
Just selling fear and loathing,
A poisonous trade.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1123 - Regular Check-Up



Regular Check-Up

The auditors come:
Clipboards, pens and post-it notes,
Keeping us honest.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1122 - Schadenfreude


Having mocked his opponents for their troubles...


Schadenfreude

But surely you checked?
So critical of others—
That’s a bit sloppy!
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1121 - Away from the heat.



Away from the heat.

A lady while cooking some meat,
Wore an apron, less than discreet.
She didn’t seem to mind
That it exposed her behind
As she kept it away from the heat.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

Monday, August 14, 2017

1196 - Kim





Kim

There was a young despot named Kim
Who’d never attended a gym.
And to divert all the stares
At his weirdly cut hairs,
He developed a bomb, on a whim.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1200 - Impressions



Impressions

The Heidelberg School
Painters from a gentler time—
That’s the Impression.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1199 - And Johnny did too.



And Johnny did too.

Not Australian?
Oh Barnaby, how could you?
Pistol & Boo laugh.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1198 - Local Tourist



Local Tourist

A tourist at large—
We view thing in our own town
With visitor’s eyes.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1197 - Pole Position



Pole Position

A woman had fashioned from pine
A dildo that managed to combine
The width she desired
With a length that inspired
Pole-vaulters to steal the design.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1195 - If you don't remove the rot...



If you don't remove the rot...

White supremacists—
Woodworm in its foundations,
America’s shame.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---

1194 - Circus in Town



Circus in Town

Where are our leaders?
Where is their vision for us?
A bloody circus.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
---