To marry Annette and win it yet

He aimed to wed a debutante,

A campaign-savvy confidante.

Say, Miss Annette would never tire

To see him climbing ever higher,

In winsome charm most nonchalant.

His reputation fairly rose

Although his backbone, no one knows.

‘Tis tough to be intact, unscathed,

As truth with myst’ry has been bathed.

How dangled rumors rob repose.

Behind the scenes, an expert hand

Tugged on the lines with full command.

Thus, tightly spun, the rhetoric

Was cheapened, cut right to the quick,

While values turned to contraband.

Before his soul could hem or hedge,

He full forget his fledgling pledge.

Although he captured winning vote,

‘Twas his advisors who did gloat.

He soon was left upon the ledge.

So what became of Miss Annette,

His gilded muse? Did he forget?

Her gowns now wear museum fame,

And high school students learn her name.

But legacy may be regret.

c2016 by Linda Ann Nickerson

NOTE: Unauthorized use in printed materials, online, or in other published arenas is prohibited.

This post incorporates several blog prompts:

• Mad Kane Humor – intact
• Meme Express – campaign
• Prompt Inspiration - mystery
• Stream of Consciousness Saturday - tire
• Theme Thursday – rose
• Three Word Wednesday – backbone, cheapen, dangle
• Word of the Week – winsome

Image/s:

Adapted from public domain artwork

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No Bell to Dwell

No Bell to Dwell

“How much easier it is to be critical than to be correct.”

Benjamin Disraeli

British Politician

(1804 – 1881)

A Cause for Pause

A Limericked String, No Bell to Ring

 

His world view matches not our own,

And yet, we recognize renown –

A global prize,

Before our eyes,

Awarded ‘ere the man’s full grown.

 

Although the razor scrapes his chin,

And tailored trousers graze his shin,

In Lincoln’s chair,

Though unaware,

He pens profoundly, ears to win.

 

What answers may his chimings bring,

As multitudes his praises sing?

Will words grow feet

And deeds complete?

Can verbal charm true changes bring?

 

How many, idle, long to toil –

Their stomachs empty, all a-roil?

These, having heard

A promised word,

May still await the victor’s spoil.

 

An oratorio unkept

Could indicate he’s overstepped.

Perhaps the truth

Surpasses youth,

Though it be hardest to accept.

 

Accomplishments and answered fears

Are best acknowledged in arrears.

As years elapse,

Perchance, perhaps,

We’ll see who’s wet behind the ears.

Posted for a variety of prompts:

Easy Street Prompts (“world view”)

Heads or Tails (“cause”)

…In Other Words… (Disraeli quote)

Meme Express (Pick-a-Prompt)

Monday Poetry Train (poem/s)

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts! Or, look into The Meme Express for daily blogging prompts.

On Storms and Sorrows

On Storms and Sorrows

For the Good Friday tornado victims and families of Murphreesboro, Tennessee

Is It Good Friday? A Day of Darkness and Storm

Bright morning shaken.

Hiding the sun, death’s own hand,

Tearing homes and hearts.

IS IT GOOD FRIDAY?

Tearing homes and hearts.

Hiding the sun, death’s own hand,

Bright morning shaken.

Broken people call,

“Where is God when we need Him?”

Giving His own life.

IS IT GOOD FRIDAY?

Giving His own life.

“Where is God when we need Him?”

Broken people call.

God still answers us,

Stretching wide His arms of love,

Understanding pain.

IT IS GOOD FRIDAY.

Understanding pain.

Stretching wide His arms of love,

God still answers us.

Posted for a variety of prompts:

AC (news)

Meme Express (Friday Freedom – Writer’s Choice)

The NaisaiKu Challenge

Poetic Asides (April P.A.D. Challenge: “Friday”)

Read Write Poem (NaPoWriMo)

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts! Or, look into The Meme Express for daily blogging prompts.

Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

Throughout 2009, please join us at The Heart of a Ready Writer, a Bible reading and devotional blog, as we read through the entire Bible in chronological order.

Click here to subscribe to an RSS feed for this writer's helpful Helium content. If you wish, click here for a free subscription to this author's online AC content, so you won't miss a single post!

The Main Event

Posted for a variety of prompts:

Easy Street Prompts (“rumors,” “the road ahead,” “the promised land”)

Heads or Tails (“loud”)

Meme Express (“Sunday invitation” and “phantom”)

Monday Poetry Train

One Single Impression (“if I only had time”)

Simply Snickers (“clown,” “country” and “consider”)

Slice of Life Sunday (“the light of reason,” “storm of controversy” or “writer’s choice”)

Sunday Scribblings (“phantoms” and “shadows”)

Weekend Wordsmith (“sensible”)

The Main Event

“But I have promises to keep,

and miles to go before I sleep,

and miles to go before I sleep.”

Robert Frost

American poet

(1874 – 1963)

Stage One –

Taking an Oath or Aching for Growth?

With rumors of the Promised Land,

The crowds compressed the great grandstand.

Consider this:

Who wants to miss

Loud celebration in demand?

The country waits with breath on hold;

Is this one worth his weight in gold?

No simple clown

Could wear such crown,

By sensible bystanders told.

If I had time to hit my knees,

‘Mid phantoms, shadows – “Mercy, please!”

I’d ask the Lord,

To stop the sword.

And storm of controversy ease.

The road ahead is yet unfurled,

As to the future, we are hurled.

Without delay,

We watch and pray

For all who lead in troubled world.

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts! Or, look into The Meme Express for daily blogging prompts.

Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

Throughout 2009, please join us at The Heart of a Ready Writer, a Bible reading and devotional blog, as we read through the entire Bible in chronological order.

Click here to subscribe to an RSS feed for this writer's helpful Helium content. If you wish, click here for a free subscription to this author's online AC content, so you won't miss a single post!

For Our Friends in Illinois

Posted for a variety of prompts:

Catchwords (Baldwin quote – below)

Easy Street Prompts (“flush” and “living the postcard”)

Heads or Tails ("watch")

Meme Express (“fruitcake”)

Simply Snickers (“wave,” “wild” and “wing”)

Sunday Scribblings (“I believe”)

Weekend Wordsmith (“pinstripes”)

For Our Friends in Illinois

This limerick series is particularly suited for our friends and loved ones in Illinois, where Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested on charges of attempting to market President-elect Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder. Blagojevich faces multiple bribery charges as well. Obama denies any link to the scandal. We are certainly watching.

Take a Seat, Guv-nor -

A Poetic Handle on an Illinois Scandal

(On the Rod Blagojevich Scramble to Sell Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate Seat)

“The price one pays for pursuing any profession or calling

is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side.”

(James Baldwin, American author)

Dear Guv-nor, a cruel twist of fate,

Does place you on justice’s slate.

By dipping the till,

Your coffers to fill,

You’ll learn to make new license plates.

Your pinstripes, you’ll trade for new stripes

For mingling with wilder types.

You’ll wave through the door

In wing forty-four

While banging your speeches on pipes.

By selling Obama’s old seat,

You now brand-new contacts will meet.

They’ll shout, “I believe

You tried to deceive,”

As crow and stale fruitcake you’ll eat.

You’re living the postcard and more,

Sad chapter in Illinois lore –

The piper you’ll pay,

As you’ll go away

For hosting a Senate price war.

And yet, voters might offer grace,

If you would your guilt not erase.

Come clean in a flush,

And put down your brush.

Perhaps you’ll outlive your disgrace.

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts! Or, look into The Meme Express for daily blogging prompts.

Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

Throughout 2009, please join us at The Heart of a Ready Writer, a Bible reading and devotional blog, as we read through the entire Bible in chronological order.

Click here to subscribe to an RSS feed for this writer's helpful Helium content. If you wish, click here for a free subscription to this author's online AC content, so you won't miss a single post!