moonbeams bathe the night
auroras shimmering bright-
fireflies delight

majestic glaciers
the hottest day on record—
Antarctic meltdown




© 2020 by Mark Toney.  All rights reserved.

When I was growing up in Wisconsin, dairy farms were everywhere.  It was always fun visiting my aunt and uncle's dairy farm, even though they put me to work.  For many years the only bathroom they had was away from the house!  I read an article today about people complaining about smells coming from dairy farms and pig farms.  It reminded me when our family would drive the 3 1/2 hours to visit Grandma and Grandpa.  Some farms hardly had any bad odor, but others reeked!  This was especially horrible to us city kids.  "Mom, what's that smell?" my sisters and I would ask every time.  We asked Mom because she'd answer us.  Dad would only laugh.  Good times!  

Midwest dairy farms
intermittent putrid stench-
fun childhood road trips

When just a child the poet's mom said "Son,
Throughout your life beware the sin of pride.
Remember this when every day is done,
What counts the most is who you are inside."

At first he thought his mother's words unfair
For recognition surely has its place.
In time he witnessed prideful thoughts can flare
When undue adulation supplants grace.

The poet took to heart his mother's words
Too many accolades can turn your head.
Vainglory flits away on wings of birds
What's left is mostly emptiness and dread.

Life immersed in modest exhibition
Satisfied with honorable mention

His name was Jim
He was a dandy
Her name was Kim
Trancendence candy
Held each other tight
Cherished is the night
Homeless, not loveless


© 2020 by Mark Toney. All rights reserved.

anxious heart made sick
anticipation postponed—
beware second wave


© 2020 Mark Toney.  All rights reserved.

A teacher with an always late student
Looked for ways to influence improvement
She tried best she could
But it did little good
Now the student remains mostly truant

Good night my little wee one
It's time to close your eyes
If you'll but wait till morning
You'll get a big surprise
The sun will smile and greet you
In ever changing skies
For mom and daddy love you
Your the apple of our eyes

unmitigated lies exhumed - undocumented truth entombed

constructive or destructive - criticism’s delicate balance

have you ever been picked last?
because you're not as fast?
or maybe not as clever?

whatever...

There was an old poet named Mark
Who loved to steal walks in the park.
One day he was frightened,
A big dog did bite him.
He does nothing more on a lark.

It was love at first sight
me feeling high as a kite
Ah, but this too did pass
left me a blithering outcast
Crazy love at first sight

It was love at first sight
thought of you every night
Can’t stop thinking of you
what am I gonna do?
Blinding love at first sight

(Chorus)
Head over heels into the unknown
Doomed to fade before true love’s seed sown
Loss of control by true love’s praesidium
Love’s cliché coup (surrounded by idioms)
~ Crazy, blinding love at first sight

It was love at first sight
but not all black and white
Throwing caution to the wind
will my life then upend?
Stormy love at first sight

It was love at first sight
Why am I so uptight?
Will it lump me with fools?
Or exceptions to rules?
Scary love at first sight

(Chorus)
Head over heels into the unknown
Doomed to fade before true love’s seed sown
Loss of control by true love’s praesidium
Love's cliché coup (surrounded by idioms)
~ Stormy, scary love at first sight

It was love at first sight
but two wrongs can’t be right
One plus one’s never two
when one’s heart isn’t true
Fickle love at first sight

It was love at first sight
That dizzy passage of rite
Love is blind at what cost?
Best to have loved then lost?
All’s fair in love at first sight

(Chorus)
Head over heels into the unknown
Doomed to fade before true love’s seed sown
Loss of control by true love’s praesidium
Love's cliché coup (surrounded by idioms)
~ All‘s fair in fickle love at first sight




Mark Toney © 2021

Toucan
Two can

~In memory of Avy W (1981-2019)~

Oh, my dear, short Avy with a long "A"
I just learned of your sad demise today
Full seventy days since you passed away
Dark news eclipsing such a sunny day

Last visit ended with you hugging me
October's visit now will never be
Hopes, dreams, goals cast aside as mere debris
Life cut short, stolen by the enemy

Your husband and son together do mourn
Your mother and father both so forlorn
Thirty-eight years from the time you were born
Your young, precious life from each of them torn

You will always remain forever young
Forever precious and forever fun
Forever kind, empathetic and sweet
Forever found where love's memories meet

May future's reunion as tender be
Now forever safe in God's memory

Andy!

          -Aaron!
          -Aloha!

Aloha!
All
A-ok?

   ­        -Absolutely

Amy?

           -Amazing

Awesome!
Alan
Apply
Army?

           -Almost

Almost?

           -Anchors
            Away

Ah!

           -Ahoy!

Amusing :)
Abigail
Alright?

           -Aye,
            Admiral ;)

Almost
Amusing :)

           -Andrew
            Alright?

Andrew's
Arrested

           -Arrested??

Amphetamines

           -Addicted?

Addict

           -Awful :(

Answer??

           -Adoration

Amen

           -Appropriateness
          -Acceptance
          -Approval

Also
­Appreciation

           -Agreed!

Adios!

           -Alligator. . .


© 2019 by Mark Toney. All rights reserved.

free-roaming feral
Australian mob of brumbies-
Snowy River man

Plato
Play-doh

don’t get caught standing
you’ll fall backwards or forwards-
Ambien’s effect

My memories took flight from Spring's rookery,
Nurtured by Summer's warm seas and
Trade winds soft under blue skies,
Reinforced by Autumn's harvest and happenstance

Pray my memories remain deep within me like a
Fortress securely established on a rock-mass,
High on golden hills, impregnable,
As Winter's cruel seas and merciless winds approach

2014 / 2015 World Cup

Jürgen and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a World Cup Title
Jürgen fell down
Without the crown-
There reigned Jill
At the top of the hill. . .

2018 / 2019 World Cup (Gold Cup)

Jürgen didn't qualify to go up the hill
All he could do was waive at Jill
On the same day
Jill won her second in a row
(USMNT lost to Mexico)

Coach Jill Ellis is smart like a fox
Her US Women's National Team rocks!

'Sup,
Serena?

               -'Sup
                 Sadie?

Swear
Silence!.
                -Swear!

Shhhhh!
                -Sorry

Sit
Still...
Speak
Softly...
Supersecret...

                 -Supersecret???

Shhhhh!
                 -Sorry

Swear
Silence!
                 -Swear!

.Shhhhh!
                 -Sorry

(Softly
Speaks
Supersecret)

                 (-Screams!!!)

Shhhhh!!!
                -Sorry

Sean
Secretly
Sa­w
Sally!

               -Selfish,
               Sadistic
               Sean!

(Sobbing)

               -Sorry

S'ok
               -So
               Sad

Swear
Silence!
               -Swear!!

Shhhhh!
               -Sorry

Sick
Slimy
Stupid
Sean!
               (Snickers)

(Sad,
Soulful
Stare)

Mom's joy
Dad's boy!

I learn,
discern

God's Word
I heard

God's Will
instill

Result-
adult

Most good
I should

My call
help all

Some bad
some sad

My wife
great life

Our sons
blessed ones

Good friends
lives end

Grow old
be bold

Dear ones
death comes

Lord's call
stand tall

Sun scorching, sweltering, sizzling beach

My hardened soles resist the heat

Sunglasses shielding my eyes

White cotton ball clouds glide

Along deep blue skies

But I’m blue too

Intensely

Missing

You



© 2020 by Mark Toney. All rights reserved.

Which of these does man have control over? (Choose all that apply)

_ Rainfall deficits trigger biotic crisis
_ Acid rain decimates ecosystems
_ ICBMs rain down destruction
_ None of the above

(substitute teacher addresses class)

Quiet!
Quotients
Quiz. . .

               ~Quantophrenia!

Quiet!
Quiz—
Quantify
Quotients. . .

               ~Question!

Quest :)

               ~Quantulate
               Quotients'
               Quantuplicity?

Quite!

Quiet.
Quiz—
Quantify
Quotients. . .

               ~Quisquilious
               Quiz!

Quiet,
Quoz!!!

               (laughter erupts)
               ~Quirky
               Quadragenarian
               Quipped
               "Quoz"!!!

Quit
Quackling!!!

               (chanting)
               ~Quirky
               Quasimodo!
               Quelch,
               Quash,
               Quell—
               Quirky
               Queasy
               Quizzes!!!

Quiet!!!
Quiet!!!

               ~Quirky
               Quasimodo!
               Quelch,
               Quash,
               Quell—
               Quirky
               Queasy
               Quizzes!!!

Quiet!!!
Quelch,
Quash,
Quell—
Quisquous
Querulists!!­!

               ~Quirky
               Quadragenarian
               Quipped
               "Quisquous
                Querulists"!!!

Q U I E T ! ! !
Q U I E T ! ! !

(school bell rings)

               ~Queue,
               Quicksticks!

Q-U-I. . .
QUIT!


© 2020 by Mark Toney. All rights reserved.

Al created the algorithm
One late night as Tipper danced with him
The thought came by chance
As they freestyle danced
Initially dubbed "Al Gore Rhythm!"

In your parched desert land
As the pendulum swings
And your friends are all gone
Still you’re moving right along
Like it doesn’t mean a thing

In your parched desert land
Thinking life’s unforgiving
Why not swallow your pride
Take an honest look inside
Join the land of the living

In  your parched desert land
Your manufactured death valley
Kind response was so important
Yet your manner was discordant
Isolation’s blind alley

In your parched desert land
When they take the final tally
You’ll surrender the fight
Find exquisite delight
In your brokered finale


© 2020 by Mark Toney. All rights reserved.

The rooster's crow warns me that dawn has come
My sleepy eyes resist my need to rise
I blindly reach for her but she is gone
Then hear a sound that much to my surprise
Reveals she hasn't left but still is near
The sound then ever closer she appears!
One last embrace and kiss before she leaves
Declare undying love to last the years
Such declaration mitigates our fears
As varied shades of love each one perceives

My free-range limericks are light
They will not keep you up at night
You won't find ******
Anything naughty
In my universe, they're just right!




Mark Toney © 2023

Walk by
Wok buy

Now here
Nowhere

St. Simons Island
beached Juicy Fruit gum wrapper. . .
flotsam and jetsam

Albert Einstein
Expanded our view beyond the skyline
Reluctant superstar and intellectual force
Relatively speaking, of course!






*
Poetry notes:
Albert Einstein's childhood nickname was "the ***** one." Einstein reportedly was slow in learning how to talk. That, combined with his tendency to whisper words softly to himself before saying them aloud led the family maid to nickname him "der Depperte"—the ***** one, according to "Einstein: His Life and Universe." (thejournal.ie)

time marches on
reality's fire consumes—
dreams go up in smoke

Dishonest weights, deceptive scales forsake
as chains of injustice rake the flesh
of the preyed-upon bleeding, amid wild
wolves feeding, soft sheep bleating,
protestor's pleading, jurisdictions cheating,
cajoling, wheedling, injustice repeating—
jurisprudence at the confluence
of affluence and influence

~undocumented lies exhumed
     unmitigated truth entombed~

They have their thumb on the scale!  We
have sussed every detail on the field of
debris, some so fiercely taking a knee,
others shot trying to flee!  "I can't breathe,"
"I don't care!"  Why don't they care?
Of what justice is meting beware!
One higher than the highest is watching,
waiting to signal the one riding to conquer
and complete his conquest.  What's the true
future view?  What more can we do
before we become past tense?

tragedies worldwide
flooding my senses daily—
fill my bag of tears


© 2020 Mark Toney.  All rights reserved.

Happy
*****

birds twitter about
hidden pond comes into view
water laps softly

Got a plop in my fizz
And a tiger in my tank
Impossible is nothing
(That’s why Titanic sank)

Got milk? Just do it.
Wash your troubles down the drain
Tastes so good
Cats ask for it by name

Eat fresh. I’m lovin’ it.
It’s finger-lickin’ good
If you won’t eat it
We all know Mikey would

Once you pop you can’t stop
Make the most of now
“Eat Mor Chikin”
(Written by a rebel cow)

Every bubble’s passed its fizzical
Let’s get quizzical
Nothin’ says lovin’
Like something from the oven

Snap! Crackle! Pop!
They’re Gr-r-r-reat!
Just like a good neighbor
In good hands with Allstate

Look, Ma, no cavities!
Think outside the bun
Save money.  Live better.
Consider IT done

Melts in your mouth
Not in your hands
(Life’s what happens
While you’re making other plans)

American by birth.
Rebel by choice.
Hello Moto
His masters voice

Maybe she’s born with it
Have it your way
A diamond is forever
Every kiss begins with Kay

You've come a long way baby
Be all that you can be
A Little dab'll do ya
With L.S./M.F.T.

Own a piece of the rock
Where do you want to go today?
We make money
The old-fashioned way…

When you care enough
To send the very best
Oh, what a feeling!
Come be our guest!

Live in your world.
Play in ours.
Get N or get out
For the love of cars

You can’t top the copper top
Easy as Dell
He keeps going and going…
Go further with Shell

When there is no tomorrow
Bo knows best
Think small. Make believe.
Makes quitting **** less

Stronger than dirt
How do you spell relief?
Success.  It’s a mind game.
Defying all belief

Challenge everything
Share moments. Share life.
Because you’re worth it
Save a life.  Love your wife.

****** into a turbulent nexus
Exceeding ability to cope
Sucker-punched in my solar plexus
Victim of life's rope-a-dope


© 2020 by Mark Toney. All rights reserved.

renga or renku
a rose by another name . . .
haiku poetry

strange and foolish quirks
trivial human foibles-
speed bumps in my life

kind poetry friend
your gracious uplifting words-
never a bother

Astros shooting stars
now they know their ABCs
~ Atlanta Braves champs




Mark Toney ©️ 2021

fantasy of fall
leaf color change miracle-
real time falls behind

There once was a man who

Thought he was a man but

He wasn't a man

He was a...

Foolish speed bumps in my life
Do you have foibles?
Human quirks?


© 2020 by Mark Toney. All rights reserved.

Mom’s words cut like a knife, honed razor sharp
Which saddened my new wife
Mom now, after years of strife
Says I married up in life!


© 2020 by Mark Toney. All rights reserved.