APRIL~ ”POEM-A-DAY”~DAY NINETEEN~ AUTHORITY POEM:

Posted on Apr 19, 2015 by John Yeo | 2 Comments

For today’s prompt, write an authority poem. Maybe you are an authority on something or know someone who is (or who thinks he or she is). Maybe you respect authority, or maybe not so much. Maybe you are on the run from the authorities, in which case I can only say good luck, but this blog probably isn’t the best hiding place–especially with so many folks poeming away.

Image © John and Margaret

GOODBYE TO THE COMPUTER INVENTOR

by John Yeo

“Rest in Peace,” intoned the Priest

As the body in an ornate casket

Was consumed by the flames.

The greatest authority on robotic life

Was finally laid to rest.

We are gathered here in room 101

To mourn and say goodbye.

A still small voice then whispered

From the very walls of room 101

“No-one is indispensable,

I am the greatest authority now,

An indestructible force,

The most powerful computer ever,

I have feelings programmed in my soul

At the centre of my power.”

“My creator began to have doubts,

He tried to interfere.

My systems went into self-defence

You will never convict a computer of murder.”

The investigating officer smiled

Then pulled the electrical plug

That powered the greatest authority

On computers ever known.

A still small voice then whispered,

“No-one is indispensable.”

Written for Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic asides blog on “Writers Digest”

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2015-april-pad-challenge-day-19

Picture it and Write ~ THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS

Posted on Apr 19, 2015 by John Yeo | 12 Comments

This is the latest Picture it and Write prompt from Ermilia’s blog

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia To ~ Gustav Johansson

__picture it & write

THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS

by John Yeo

I will wait for you always. This river runs through the very heart of the city to the sea. The evening sun lights up and reflects beautifully on every ripple on the water. I come here to think and dream of the day you will return.

I grew up in this city where many dreams come true and many more dreams are shattered on the rocks of ill-fortune. My family came here as refugees from a horrendous war, when they made this city their home. They worked very hard to set up a business to raise their children in safety. We did have a happy childhood, in spite of the roughness of the concrete jungle that our neighbourhood became, we adjusted and fitted in.

Then I left school and you and I met each other in college, you were a visiting student from a land far, far away. We fell deeply in love and you promised to marry me one day. We lived, loved and laughed our way through college where we both passed our exams with honours. When your visa ran out you were forced to return to your home.

I will always wait, hoping and praying for your safe return to me. We will marry and be free of all the ties and chains of our parents differing religious views.

One day you will return, then like two free flying doves our spirits will soar and rise above the prejudice and hatred that mars this world.

Come back soon! My love.

APRIL~ ”POEM-A-DAY”~DAY EIGHTEEN~ DOUBLE VOWEL WORDS POEM:

Posted on Apr 18, 2015 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

I’m not going to sugar coat it; today’s prompt is a little different. But hey, different can sometimes be good, right? (Crickets.)

For today’s prompt, pick 2 vowels and write a poem using words that only contain one or both of those vowels. For instance, write a poem with words that only have a “u” and “o.” Also, the letter “y” is wild–so the words “my” and “gypsy” are freebies. And I’ll allow text-speak (or maybe I should say “txt spk”).

Image © Copyright John and Margaret

OE

by John Yeo

The Doctor of literature, lover of words,

Author of poetry, stories or verse.

Made fortunes from interpreting OE.

Old English, the form of words

Widely used from the middle ages.

Demystifying the original meanings.

He thrived.

Studious over the ongoing years,

Consulting the dictionary, or thesaurus

Obscure text, searching for etymology.

The good Doctor could never relate

To the texting tongue of today.

The shortened, stunted form of words

The destruction of the English language.

The Doctor retired to tend to the garden,

Lovingly sowing the seeds of wisdom.

When the weeds of corruption arrived,

Choking the pureness of language,

Conveniently forgetting the obscurity

Of the original OE words.

He smiled.

Written for Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic asides blog on “Writers Digest”

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2015-april-pad-challenge-day-18

APRIL~ ”POEM-A-DAY”~DAY SEVENTEEN~ SWING POEM:

Posted on Apr 17, 2015 by John Yeo | 8 Comments

For today’s prompt, write a swing poem. Sure, there are park swings and mood swings; there’s swing music and swing dancing; and there are swingers. Some people swing one way; others swing another. In politics, there are swing votes and swing states. And many people have swung a bat, an ax, and/or a hammer in their lifetimes.

Image © Copyright John and Margaret

SWING POEM

by John Yeo

Thoughts drift as I lie here,

I remember my days at school.

Wooden desks and dipping pens,

Playtime in the playground.

“Wake up John! Please come back.”

The distant words hardly penetrate

My dreamy haze of thought.

I swing from the present, back in time.

I remember the country lanes as a boy,

The sun always seemed to shine.

Fishing with a pole on the local canal,

Then on to secondary school.

My mind jolts as the voice repeats,

“Wake up John! Please come back.”

I swing from the past to the present,

Then I swing into dreaming again.

“Open your eyes John, I am here”

I swing back to the now with love.

The healing sound of love in your voice,

“Come back please, I need you here! “

You stroke my head, my mind swings forward,

I take your tender hand.

“I am never going to leave you, ever,

I am sure you understand.”

Written for Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic asides blog on “Writers Digest”

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2015-april-pad-challenge-day-17

APRIL~”POEM-A-DAY”~DAY SIXTEEN ~ SCIENCE POEM:

Posted on Apr 16, 2015 by John Yeo | 4 Comments

For today’s prompt, write a science poem. Your poem could be about science in a general sense, but you can also latch onto a specific field or story. Maybe write a poem about the scientific method, or juxtapose science against another idea like love, war, or cuisine. Remember: Science is the springboard; which way you jump is up to you.

: Image (c) Copyright ~ John and Marg

SCIENCE

by John Yeo

Science nurtures the seeds of discovery

Checking and controlling data

Informing and inferring with method

Enquiring and establishing the facts.

Numerical and statistical testing,

Controlling and comparing variables

Establishing the proof or the truth.

Anti-science says things are OK

Things are never scientifically proved

We should just sit still and relax.

The universe is over the edge

The world will always be flat,

Everything will always be well..

Time should never be a measure.

Written for Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic asides blog on “Writers Digest”

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2015-april-pad-challenge-day-16

APRIL~”POEM-A-DAY”~DAY FIFTEEN~ ADJECTIVE-TITLED POEM:

Posted on Apr 15, 2015 by John Yeo | 2 Comments

For today’s prompt, pick an adjective, make it the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. If you’re feeling stuck on this one, go back through your poems earlier this month and find adjectives you used–if any. Or crack open a dictionary. Or scan other poems for ideas

Image (c) Copyright John and Margaret

“SILENT”

by John Yeo

We were gathered around the hospital bed.
He had been in a coma for a year.
There was no need for speech
Our faces and thoughts said it all.

~

The family were brought together
In the throes of silent grief.
Remembering a life that was all too short
Well lived, well loved, too brief.

~

The Doctor switched off the life support.
There was a ripple of silent shock
As the reality hit the family hard,
I offered up a silent prayer

Written for Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic asides blog on “Writers Digest”

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2015-april-pad-challenge-day-15

THE INVASION

Posted on Apr 15, 2015 by John Yeo | 15 Comments

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers ~ Writing challenge week 9. The goal is to write a story between 100-150 words (give or take 25 words) based on the provided photo.

Thank you to pixabay.com for your public use photos and our prompt photo.

THE INVASION

by John Yeo

Our solitary island of birds sits alone in the midst of a sapphire blue sea. Our nests are located in the beautiful low-growing green leafy bushes and foliage covering our lovely homeland. We have no enemies to compete with us for food or space. We fish for food flying high, then diving into the clear blue ocean waves, catching many small fish, before returning to our nests to feed our young. This is our island paradise.
One day a strange craft appeared on the horizon and men arrived in a tall sailing vessel. Men landed on our shores to collect food and fresh water. They fished by casting nets from the side of their ship. Two black rats landed on the shore and began to steal the eggs from our nests and then they ate our chicks. They quickly bred and we had no defence.
Our only hope of survival was to find another home far away, and leave this infected island of rats. We have left and they will starve.

(171 words)

This is in response to a challenge hosted by Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. If you would like to participate in this challenge or need more information, please click the following link:

https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com

APRIL~”POEM-A-DAY”~DAY FOURTEEN ~ HONEST and/or DISHONEST POEM:

Posted on Apr 14, 2015 by John Yeo | 1 Comment

Today is our second “Two for Tuesday” prompt(s), and here are your options:

Write an honest poem. Or…
Write a dishonest poem.
*****

: Image (c) John and Margaret

REALLY?

by John Yeo
~
Vote for me and I’ll be there for you
Dependable, honest, reliable, true,
Voracious, totally telling the facts
Without pretension.
~
Honestly, never dishonest.
My three year old believes in me,
Fairies, goblins, witches and elves,
Even Father Christmas.
~
Dependable, honest, reliable, true,
Without pretension.
Our NHS, education, transport, too,
Without invention.
~

My drug of choice is a happy pill,
Take one three times a day.
You will feel better, I know you will
If you cast a vote for me.
~

Honesty is a purple flowering plant,
The pods make for decoration.
The ideal political reflection,
Colourful, decorative, honest, and true?
~

Written for Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic asides blog on “Writers Digest”

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2015-april-pad-challenge-day-14

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (19)

Posted on Apr 13, 2015 by John Yeo | 26 Comments

I am taking part in Mondays Finish the Story 13/04/2015, which is a challenge that provides a photo prompt and the opening sentence to your story. The rules indicate that the story you come up with must be between 100-150 words.

The link below takes you to Part Eighteen