I met an unfriendly parrot
I can’t blame him really. He lived in a cage
He stood there and squawked
Screaming displeasure at all who passed.
Staring balefully at sunburnt tourists
Asking if polly wants a *******
He doesn’t want a ****** single one.

I did find out what he liked.
Completely by accident.
Turns out he likes songs,
Click songs, because
“The white people cannot say Qongqothwane”

So many places closed,
And what’s open you can’t get to
For ****** tourists.

******* clouds are over:
A chill wind blows.
The workaday sun has gone.
Oh yes, it’s Bank Holiday.

The weather is foul
Yet everyone is out.
I can’t get parked.
The crowds slow down
My enforced march.

Our local chippy is closed.
A Doctor?
No chance!
January in May
And maybe in June.

Christmas is worse.
All those needless presents.
Gifts for the sake of it.
Keeping the retailers happy
At our expense.

I’m in a grumpy mood
But who can blame me?
I always try to be upbeat,
But not today.

Paul Butters

I'd* write you a poem about us,
Our hateful love,
Our biting kisses,
The stinging red marks you'd leave on my face.

We never made love,
We ******,
You never said to me you loved me,
I sure as **** didn't love you.

This isn't a poem,
I know it looks like one but it's not,
I'd write you a poem if I loved you,
When honestly I hope you drown.

Being grumpy
Comes with a price
                                                       (K R W)

I've got a big day,
A big day planned
But it wasn't planned by me,
Or written by my hand

First I get up at 6,
To get ready for the day
And then I drive myself to school
And go to Band to play.

Then school starts at 8,
The "long dark of Moria"
When I finally get a break after lunch
You'd think I'd sing hallelujah.

But the work really starts at 1,
When I help set up for the meet;
Knowledge Bowl competitions are
Meeting at my school this week.

Finally it'll start at 2,
And my brain will be drilled for answers;
At 5:30, when the meet is done,
I'd be happy enough to dance--or

There's something going on at 6,
That I almost forgot about--
Practice for our biggest show
Choir and band go all out.

At last, eyes closing at 9,
I'll get picked up, I think
Though I drove myself, I'm not sure
How my parents planned everything.

If I survive my day today,
Then I should be alright
Exhausted tomorrow, when I still have
Half of these assignments to cite.