Poetry Place: January 2023

HIDE AND SEEK

Let’s play a game of hide and seek
My best friend said to me
Then off she ran as there I sat
Leaned up against a tree
I counted up to ten and yelled
Get ready here I come
But then I went inside the house–
This game seemed quite ho hum
I watched some TV, ate a snack
And read my favorite book
When I got bored I went outside
Perhaps I’ll take a look
As I went out her mom pulled up–
C’mon it’s time to go
Our game was done– our friendship too
I guess I was too slow

LET'S TALK TURKEY

The thing that I’m most thankful for
On this Thanksgiving Day
As I gobble, gobble yummy food
And then run out to play
Is that I am The Who I am
And while that is still murky
I’m thankful that I wasn’t born
A plump Thanksgiving Turkey

© 2019 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.

UNDER MY BED

There is a darkness lurking near
This darkness fills my heart with dread
I'm not alone – I think – I fear
A darkness hides beneath my bed

As dark as pitch, with eyes that leer
And teeth that rip and pull and shred
Is that a hiss and growl I hear?
I hate this ghastly monster bed!

I feel my eyes begin to tear
The monster might bite through my bed!
Can't cry! I'm turning 12 this year
And monsters don't exist, Mom said.

But just in case, I block my ears
I take off running – out I fled
I made it safe – I jump – I cheer
No way I'm sleeping in that bed!

BLANKET

Blanket is a cozy comfortable word.
I spread it on the ground and
share a picnic with my best friend.
We laugh, we share secrets, we dream, we become.
At night Mom tucks me in and pulls it up close around my shoulders.
She kisses me. I feel loved.
A patchwork of softness and memories,
I am warm and snug in it's embrace

Duck waddled through town posting flyers and billing

that Woodpecker helped hang with his skillful beak drilling.
Goosander was sawing, Ms. Beaver was gnawing,
and Bear hoisted boards with his heaving and pawing.
But Moose wanted more for this leafy retreat-
an excellent tree house he meant to complete!
So he watched like a hawk and did frequent inspections,
and he pointed out flaws and minute imperfections.
His voice roared like thunder through his orange megaphone,
"Level!" He shouted "LEVEL" in a harsh, hurtful tone.
"This wall is not plumb and it must be precise!"
"You must read my blueprint! It's very concise!"
From the sting of his words Moose's friends felt defeated.
So they packed up their tools and through the woods they retreated.

© 2015 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.

A GRAND VIEW

Sticky fingerprints
A sweet reminder of you
Window to my heart

THE ESCAPE

An empty cage- a door agape
One hamster gone- a great escape
A frantic search- no clues in sight
No fond farewell - a senseless plight
For safe and sound- one hamster sat
Guarded closely - by our cat

DITTY LOVE

Inside my head– a poem– a song.
Sometimes they're short; sometimes quite long.
These ditties come and must be shared.
A ditty here– a ditty there.
They do the things that ditties do–
They make us laugh; they make us blue.
I jot them on the go a lot,
Pull off the road – write down that thought.
I fear I've caught a ditty bug.
The tell-tale sign? Pure ditty love!

© 2016 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.

Kindness on the Breeze

A tiny home of twigs and moss
A magical retreat
A tiny tyke would spread his wings
To fly- his greatest feat.
But on the breeze he faltered
and soon fluttered to the ground
Stunned he lay in silence-
seeing danger all around.
His mother - in a tizzy -
quickly flitted to and fro
But her baby bird was helpless -
where he was - she could not go.
Soon small hands were wrapped around him
as he lifted toward the sky.
Little feet stood tall on tiptoes
as small arms reached way up high.
He was gently placed inside his nest-
all snug and safe and sound
A gentle act of kindness
in a world where love abounds.

© 2015 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.

Poetry Place

Sunday, January 15, 2023

About Me