One happy-go-lucky senryu
Was caught impersonating a haiku
They levied no fines
But deleted two lines
Now she's a stick-in-the-mud monoku

An emperor spoke in poetic verse
Which led to fame for him at first
But after some time became a curse
For the emperor had no prose.

Poetic measure determined his fate
The body politic could not relate
Leaving people in a befuddled state
Yes the Emperor had no prose.

Seeking solutions from all his wise men
Beseeching them each again and again
"When will poetic proclivity end?
For I'm the Emperor and have no prose!"

Long and hard the wise men thought
With no answers to the solutions sought
So they hemmed and hawed, yelled, argued and fought,
Still the Emperor had no prose.

The Emperor ended his quest in time
No cure for his affliction could he find
Relinquished the throne and became a mime
At least he was able to pose!

Clara Oswald Who
The Doctor's secret wife—who knew?
Returned from September's honeymoon
By way of last year's month of June

childhood memories
daddy says get the lead out—
pencil tip shatters

vernal equinox
pollen proliferation
spring rebirth affirmed

busy bees buzzing
beautiful birds building nests
winter gloom erased

dormant seeds take root
blossoms bloom birdsong elates
spring nearing its end

summer solstice comes
verdant landscape sandy beach
families frolic

short summer showers
heat and humidity reign
sunlight lingers on

temperatures lag
cheerful chirping of crickets
last gasp of summer

autumn equinox
turning leaves migrating birds
early morning chill

leaf peeping pastime
harvest cornucopia
real time falls behind

fall’s first killing frost
season of melancholy
cold of winter near

winter solstice comes
bare trees long hibernation
don’t risk bleeding lips

gardens lie fallow
field mice attempting entry
long dark frigid nights

snowfall slowly melts
winter giving way to spring
first mosquito bite

Rocky squirrel flew through the air
Safely landing precisely where
He wished.

Caught glimpse as Shirley squirrel
(Herself in front of car did hurl)
Was nearly squished.

Rocky had warned Shirley before
Admonition Shirley chose to ignore-
Cars can smite

Such events reveal it's not merely heuristic
Fatalities by car is greater statistic
Than fatalities by flight

Faraway moon
as a young child
I could see your smile
taste your cheese
see your old man
touch you with my finger

Fascinating moon
as a young adult
I could sense your pull
bathe in your romantic beams
pledge my love
reach for the stars!

Most faithful moon
in my waning years
as life's orbit decays
I am in awe of your loyalty
amazed by your true colors
reassured by your changing tides

Continue to reflect life's light
as other young children
see your beautiful smile
taste your curious cheese
see your kind old man
touch you with their imagination...

Continue to inspire us
as other young people,
sense your magnetic pull
luxuriate in your romantic beams
pledge their undying love
explore the universe!

Most faithful, fascinating, faraway moon

Some cry climate change
Other's say they're deranged
As the conflict evolves
All our lives are involved
Who's right or who's wrong?
What's the difference?
What's the true future view,
Is there more we can do,
Before we become past tense?

We ask what, what of our children?
As they grow and we show them
A future with no guarantees
What, what of our children?
Why do they have to pay for
Our past generations' misdeeds?

There's so much confusion
Over lies and collusion
Years teaching them right
Lessons lost overnight
They see others lie with impunity
What's wrong becomes right
Simply blow out the light
Darkness perverts civility

We ask what, what of our children?
As they grow and we show them
A future with no guarantees.
What, what of our children?
Why do they have to pay for
Our past generations' misdeeds?

No!  What of our children?

What?  Why do you lie?
True science deny!
What of our children?

What?  Why do you fight?
Wrong becomes right!
What of our children?

What?  Why do you hate?
It's almost too late!
What of our children?

What of our children?
What of our ...?
What of ...?
What ...?
?

wee coccinella
xanthic petaled pedestal-
penny for your thoughts