#menagerie
sway back and forth
a beautiful array of
emotion dances
side
by side
I feel a menagerie
and my lips feel dry
Not a word spoken,
yet so much was said.
Feb 4
Feb 4, 2026 at 10:25 AM UTC
Go down to the greenhouse and gather the blooms,
then scatter them all in separate rooms--
the rose on the grate of the fireplace cold
to lie there and die there as we grow old.
The arrangements are odd and enigmatic,
the occupants frail and most asthmatic
afflicted with allergies, fear and despair
made worse by the stale and fetid air.
Though we gasp our devotion like fish in a boat
and confess our passion by rite and rote,
we're as blinkered as babes, as clear as bells
as we rise from the drink on our half-assed shells.
Jul 14, 2025
Jul 14, 2025 at 8:20 AM UTC
Sent for our amusement, pleasuring admiration,
our funny bones, and galore (glory) of creation,
Texas squirrels are nuts, like crazy,chasing each other ,
up trees, across the wide expanse of the backyard,
where’s the Davy Crockett sharpshooters when
you really need them? (1)
now that baby rabbit, fearless or stupid, insists on
running on our deck, looking for applause for his skinny
legs hopping neath the chaise lounges, at any ole time,
guess this ain’t the love poem you were expecting,
then again you’d be wrong again and agin, but the
grandkids going, going, gone and applause muted
anyway, one of these days gonna stop and chat with
these two species, what they’re thinking about, the
human menagerie, its depleted numbers, wherefore
and why, did the reduction of the human stockyard,
emboldened them to occupy territory they’d otherwise
shy away, hear what they say, gonna make a good poem
p.s. the avians yap and caw 24 hrs a day, presumptuous beasties noisy
_____________________________________________________________
(1) “In fact there wouldn't be a Texas if it weren't for squirrel stew. Don't condemn the idea of stewing your squirrel problems away. That's right! Davy Crockett and his Tennessee sharpshooters wouldn't have reached puberty if it were not for squirrel stew. Besides, what do you think they ate on the long trip from Tennessee to the Alamo? Enchiladas? Nope! You guessed it--squirrel stew.”
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/recipes/squirrel.html
Jun 17, 2020
Jun 17, 2020 at 8:48 AM UTC
Why do we call it a "Performance Review"
When we aren't putting on a show
Why do we call it "talent acquisition"
When nature didn't gift us to them
Why do we call it "workplace culture"
When it's an artifice of art
Why do we call ourselves "employed"
When it's for anybody but the will of God
Why are we stuck in this
Why are we cursed to "field operations"
Why are we lost in "development cycles"
Why are we living for "benefits packages"
Why don't we curse the steel stakes?
Why don't me make our own?
Why get lost in knowing quarterly reports
When there's autumn leaves, spring trees,
summer heat and winter's snow?
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Where your presence is given overtime
Instead give your presence over time
To the love of the one
Who built gardens for us
And will gift us away from the pain of this world
Don't trust any who say it can be here
Don't trust those who say paradise is a product
When we are the product of paradise.
Oct 30, 2019
Oct 30, 2019 at 1:27 PM UTC
La ménagerie à neuf vies
Flotte dans la nuit bâtarde
Zébrée de miaulements d'étoiles de gouttière.
C'est une nuit malotrue
Magnétique
Aux cent vingt-trois nuances de vert de gris
Qui tire sa langue subjonctive et indicative
Comme une révérence au vent voyou
Quand il a trop plu
Qu'elle est mouillée et que la lune Happée par la crème lumineuse
De son gardien de la paix
Lui accorde sa ration de danse ronronnante :
Ses vingt minutes réglementaires de visite cadencée.
Sep 22, 2019
Sep 22, 2019 at 5:05 AM UTC
A city is nothing but a menagerie
caging different shades of insanity
dusty streets, concrete tombs, lingerie
costumes shooting up profanity
Here I stand
no shade of dignity
*** of cash in hand
shaded with apathy
Things I do with these creatures
in the concealing night
a spoon and a woman, double feature
finished and feeling contrite
Cross the bridge to leave the zoo
back to my normal life
conscience I must subdue
while I lay down next to my wife
I am sorry
I just miss the thrill
I am sorry
I just miss the feel
I am sorry
I just miss the comforts of the landfill
and the parroting comatose safaris
Jul 30, 2018
Jul 30, 2018 at 9:27 AM UTC
Menagerie…by Jessie 6/06
Too many days are all the same
The will has left, the inert pendulum silent, no longer marking time
Glass menagerie collecting dust
A ghost town of frail figurines
Lifeless the sheen, pail from coatings of yesterday
Not even the trace of a fingerprint to announce interest
Tawas a time, excitement from the prospect of a new-collected piece, while much deliberation was given to its placement
Diligently, maintenance provided, dusted and polished
Imagination carrying fantasies of amusing situations and images
Laughter recounted when viewed by innocent eyes
Now the foundations mirrors will not reflect what was or what is
Each days accumulation, another layer, each layer a little duller
Soon the only connection, a web, thin and translucent, linking one to the other
Paralyzed fragile pieces of glass, drowning in a sea of negligence
Your name whispered into a box of mementoes
Awaiting for renewed curiosity of another generation
Feb 10, 2018
Feb 10, 2018 at 2:59 PM UTC
I'd like to talk about curves
Twist and turns
Dented surfaces
Or talk about God
Childish wishes
Open caskets
Broken promises
Surfing on Universal energies
Deciphering the Poems in the music
I'd like to visit Paris
Everglades sawn grass Prairie
With my palms caressing softly
I need a mental picture of paradise
A motivational quote before bed at night
These nightmares stressing for a fight
I'd like to talk with my dad again
I need a map of manhood
I think I might be doing it wrong
......Or just tell him that I'm a proud son
I want to dance
Waltzing around things I value
With black leather dress shoes
Courting yellows from blues
Using old memories as punching bag
Thinking about that kid who wasn't punching back
Curved spine with a heavy backpack
I want to be here now
No captions, just sounds
.....and curves
Oct 16, 2017
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:27 AM UTC
Spite contorted smiles
And lips
Drenched in green
Sought the satins that never
Satisfy – Sheets, fallen,
Wings, blistered,
And holes burnt through the
Bottoms of shoes.
So I pace myself parallel
The corner of one left
Eye, peripheral and
Gazing to the
Two-step-stumble
I now partake;
An answer to
Her dance with
Impending desire.
Me, being the reluctant,
Me, being the timid, the torrent
And soon to blow over.
I know I’ll leave,
She didn’t,
And more importantly,
I know she’d find home,
Discovered, empty
With little more than
Lint in pocket, abandoned,
Just one lonely shiver
And looking for warm.
So if my cold hadn’t taken over
Not quite yet,
I’d give her a
Blanket,
It’s the best I can do,
It’s all I can do,
But at least it’s
Something I can do.
Jan 19, 2016
Jan 19, 2016 at 8:48 PM UTC
*year's new
nothing's changed
few remain
always the same
chained thoughts
steel caged
still pained
flame flickers
keepers bicker
ticks promenade
on this lion's mane*
●○
°
Jan 6, 2016
Jan 6, 2016 at 6:10 PM UTC
(haiku x 5)
Sharp teeth of winter
Punctured flesh, body, and soul,
Statues squeezed amongst
Cold doves, deer...standing
In an iced menagerie,
Crystalled, unmoving.
Eyes, mind.....blazed, like sun,
Thawing stilled life...frozen love,
Til pulse IS revived,
Til warm mem'ries roll
Til warm blood, through my veins flow
Til warm teardrops.....fall.
And I...must now leave.
This stolid, indiff'rent stage,
I can stand no more.
Sally
Copyright 2015
Rosalia Rosario A. Bayan
Jan 13, 2015
Jan 13, 2015 at 1:31 PM UTC
The Clinchfield line flows from the mines - and through the mountains of East Tennessee.
Wher menageries go to provide such a show - the likes of those we'd never see.
The first glimpse of these beasts that came from the east - and such places where we'll never live.
They rolled in on the back and were pulled up the track - by the huge steel Loco-motive.
With this rolling stock that would bring such a shock - to the bustling boom town of Erwin.
All sorts of creatures where brought here to feature - where paying guests could get set to determine.
A lumbering cow was this company's wow - this Circus did owe its success.
But this pachyderm act would in time distract - and end up in a most awful mess.
Mary we can claim was this elephants name - and the boast is “the biggest in size.”
For she sure was a hulk and endowed with such bulk - that I wouldn't be very surprised.
Too earn a few bob, Eldridge, new to the job – now the handler of this pachyderm.
This man was a fool and it seems, very cruel - as it said, he was overly firm.
He was void of the skill but enthused by the thrill - with a very go-for-broke view.
This creature he'd ***** with a great big stick – giving Mary a bad how-to-do.
He had picked the wrong day to cause this affray – as he jabbed with the long piece of wood.
Whilst he was being so rough he hit an absessed tooth – and believe me this figured no good.
With one painful bellow her trunk hit this fellow – throwing Red Eldridge around.
And such was her tread when she trod on his head – she crushed it right into the ground.
Bullets rang out and there was no doubt – they hadn't had any effect.
As before the crowd she still trumpeted loud – while the masses, revenge did select.
**** the elephant, **** the elephant – was the song that the crowds chose to sing.
Each and every man came up with the plan – they wanted poor Mary to swing.
The lynching was set and a huge crane was met – for Mary was five tons in weight.
Out in front of the crowds with them screaming out loud – her future was not looking great.
They secured her leg by a chain to a peg – whilst around her neck they placed a chain.
And whilst reeling it in it dug into the skin – as they lifted her up with the crane.
Back on the ground they heard such a sound – as Mary's big bones they did crack.
Then somebody said the chains still on her leg – and the elephant to earth did come back.
The effect of this trip broke the pachyderms hip – causing her incredible pain.
And with such neglect they then did reconnect – and they lifted the creature once again.
The crowds they did roar as Mary did soar – a day out it has to be said.
With laughter and glee for the whole family – this monster now hanging quite dead.
The elephant gone but the party went on – as this beauty did hang for this shower.
The boom town of Erwin all acted like vermin – and left her for almost an hour.
Buried in the ground she can not now be found – as many here try to forget.
To look in this face we see only disgrace – and forever this stone will be set.
Nov 6, 2014
Nov 6, 2014 at 7:49 PM UTC