A Toast to My Owl and His Cat

(response to Edward Leer's "The Owl and the Pussy Cat")

A life-long bliss to you, my dears,
Whose bed, the boat; your trip begun.
Your image lives throughout the years;
A life-long bliss to you, my dears. 
Toward newfound shore, your wedding nears.
One year, one day ‘neath moon and sun,
A life-long bliss to you, my dears,
Whose bed, the boat; your trip begun.

Untitled

(In response to my friend Jane's Triolet "Soft-shoe")

At last, your "Soft-shoe" triolet
Came dancing through my open door.
The rhyme, the form, came on its way.
At last, your Soft-shoe" triolet
In lines of eight, are "Right,"you'll say.
And now, I'll have to wait, no more.
At last, your "Soft-shoe" triolet
Came dancing through my open door!

Tell a Child's Heart

(Response to Rabindrath Tagore's 'The Beginning' in "Crescent Moon")

Tell a child's heart from where he came,
From the love in his mother's breast,
From crescent moon and starlit lane,
Tell a child's heart from where he came.
Life's deep desire has found its name
From precious egg within its nest.
Tell a child's heart from where he came
From the love in his mother's breast.

Divine Creation

Response to Walt Whitman's 'I Sing the Body Electric'  in "Leaves of Grass"

In human form we celebrate
the wonders of Thy flesh and bone.
To higher love, we do relate ~
In human form, we celebrate!
Our soul, divine, shall craft our fate.
Thy sacred power is ours alone.
In human form we celebrate
The wonders of Thy flesh and bone.

The Conquest

A tribute to Jack and the Beanstalk

This simple, lowly, trusting lad,
To greater heights, he did attain.
Obedience was all he had,
This simple, lowly, trusting lad,
With love for mother, honor clad,
He killed the giant, made his fame.
This simple, lowly, trusting lad
To greater heights, he did attain.

The Pumpkin House

A tribute to Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater 

A well-kept wife will never roam
If kept contained within her door.
Respected in her happy home,
A well-kept wife will never roam
With orange-drenched walls and matching dome,
Safe and secure forever more,
A well-kept wife will never roam
If  kept contained within her door.

The Hand That Feeds

Regards to The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

Firm discipline the youngster needs ~
Spare not the rod and spoil the child.
God Bless the loving hand that feeds
Firm discipline the youngster needs.  
Prevent all future growth from seeds
which stem from careless actions wild.
Firm discipline the youngster needs ~
Spare not the rod and spoil the child.

A Mesmerizing Tale

A Tribute to the Pied Piper of Hamlin By Robert Browning

The Piper piped his notes so sweet
To rid the town of vermin rats
Piping music with mystic beat
The Piper piped his notes so sweet
Out of their homes, into the street
All came dancing, even the cats
The Piper piped his notes so sweet
To rid the town of vermin rats

Deification

In memory of  "Lucy Gray" by William Wordsworth

Obedient child, sweet Lucy Gray
Lost in a storm on way to town
While snow blocked out the light of day
Obedient child, sweet Lucy Gray.
Still walking o'er the hills, some say
Is Lucy now, her name renown.
Obedient child, sweet Lucy Gray
Lost in a storm on way to town.

Computer Antics

A tribute to "My Paper Clip Pal" by Mary L. Ports

You impish, little paper clip
Who hides in my computer screen
Contorting back and forth, you flip
You impish, little paper clip.
While eyes bug out, you dive and dip
Such antics I have never seen
You impish, little paper clip
Who hides in my computer screen.

Cheshire Grin

A toast to Lewis Carroll's Cheshire Cat in "Alice in Wonderland"

The Cheshire grin is said to be
Ingratiating, insincere
A constant smile that one can see
The Cheshire grin is said to be
A calculating smile of glee
That stretches wide from ear to ear
The Cheshire grin is said to be
Ingratiating, insincere.

A Toast to the Three Musketeers

From the story by the same name

You come like ghosts out of the past
Brave sons of noblest comrades born
Young Musketeers, a fresh wind's blast
You come like ghosts out of the past
Skilled, dancing blades fight to the last
For justice, honor, night till morn'
You come like ghosts out of the past
Brave sons of noblest comrades born

Beyond the Fear

A tribute to William Shakespeare's "Fidele"

When all life's struggles turn to dust
The time will come to fear no more
No need for treasures, want for lust
When all life's struggles turn to dust
From sweat and toil the pay is just
Past joy and strife, near heaven's door
When all life's struggles turn to dust
The time will come to fear no more

The Catch

A response to Mary Howitt's "The Spider and the Fly"

The cunning spider caught the fly
Within his lacy curtains drawn
Her vanity, he first did spy
The cunning spider caught the fly
He lured this beauty with a lie
A pretty sight to look upon
The cunning spider caught the fly
Within his lacy curtains drawn

Banner Gone

A tribute to Oliver Wendell Holmes' "Old Ironsides"

No more, to plow the heavy waves
Her worn and shattered hulk must go
To storms and other honored graves
No more to plow the heavy waves
No more to sing what victory craves
Blood now washed clean from vanquished foe
No more to plow the heavy waves
Her worn and shattered hulk must go

The Ride

A tribute to "Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadswoth Longfellow"

The midnight  ride of Paul Revere, 
A fearless hero in the night
His nation's fate was growing near
The midnight ride of Paul Revere.
He banged on doors for all to hear,
His warning, now, prepare to fight!
The midnight ride of Paul Revere,
A fearless hero in the night.

On a Dark Hill

A tribute to the "Stars" by Sara Teasdale

Majestic stars shine o'er my head,
Which time nor thrust cannot destroy.
What better place to make my bed ~
Majestic stars shine overhead.
To heaven's glory, my eye is led ~
To beating hearts of fire and joy.
Majestic stars shine overhead,
Which time nor thrust cannot destroy.

Security

A toast to the Third Little Pig
 from the "Three Little Pigs" ~ a Mother Goose story

A house of bricks, foundation strong,
From raging winds, will stand the test.
Safe and secure the whole day long,
A house of bricks, foundation strong.
Reposed within, we sing our song
But straw or wood is not the best.
A house of bricks, foundation strong,
From raging winds, will stand the test.

Friendship

A tribute to "The Lion and the Mouse" in Aesop's Fables

He freed the lion, gnawed the rope,
This tiny, stalwart, honest mouse.
Returned to him, his life and hope ~
He freed the lion, gnawed the rope.
He gnawed and chewed until it broke.
True friends now live in one big house
He freed the lion, gnawed the rope
This tiny, stalwart, honest mouse.

Lost and Found

A tribute to Charles Kingsley's "The Lost Doll"

When dolly was finally found
She was terribly changed, they said.
Her arms were cracked off on the ground.
She couldn't cry or make a sound.
Still the prettiest doll around
Sans painted face and curly head.
When dolly was finally found
She was terribly changed, they said.

Heavely Echoes

A tribute to Percy Bysshe Shelley's "To a Skylark"

How shrill, yet sweet, thy song doth sing,
Unseen by echo's sheer delight.
A poet's heart is in thy ring;
Bright star of heaven thou doest bring.
Swift arrow flies upon the wing
As moonbeams rain through darkened night.
How shrill, yet sweet, thy song doeth sing,
Unseen by echo's sheer delight.

Beyond the Fear

A tribute to William Shakespeare's "Fidele"

When all life's struggles turn to dust
the time will come to fear no more.
No need for treasures, want nor lust,
when all life's treasures turn to dust.
From sweat and toil, the pay is just
passed joy and strife near heaven's door.
When all life's struggles turn to dust
The time will come to fear no more.

The Magical Lute

Poetic Response to "Orpheus With His Lute"

When Orpheus on his lute, doth play,
To magic music nature bends.
All life bursts forth to dance and sway
When Orpheus on his lute, doth play.
The wildest lion, like lamb will lay.
Sweet peace and beauty, earth, she lends.
When Orpheus on his lute, doth play
To magic music, nature bends.