Be Careful What You Wish For

 

Setting pen upon the page

thoughts a-jumble in my head

I cannot write for fear that you

will judge me by my simpleness,

the insufficient words I choose.

There is no ‘grandness’ in my speech

no eloquence from bygone years

no flowing lines inspiring awe

to elevate the common reader.

I fall somewhat short of Yeats

more Seussian in awkwardness.

The script inside this muddled brain

is clamoring for liberation,

yet just as fast as it arrives

it twice as quickly dissipates

inside of failed imagination. 

I will never soar to heights

with such a feeble grasp of words,

and there is little I can share

that won’t offend a finer writer

Guess that makes you the “better fool”

to entertain this hopeless mess

as an equal, or at best

a dalliance for entertainment.

Whatever reason that you choose

I feel it best that I disclose

you’re also here at my behest,

sharing your thoughts, unopposed

because you pique my interest.

              

Beware this humble scribe you see

for there is much that waits for thee.

© Ginny Brannan 2026

Files! Files! Crocodiles!!

 

And so the emperor stands his ground, lest he be exposed,

lest we see him naked: no makeup or no clothes.

The lies come rolling off his tongue of drug lords on the seas,

while with intent he sinks the boats just to firm his needs.

A war with Venezuela would ensure a longer term

“Leadership Forever,” no matter how infirm.

Don’t say I didn’t warn ya when Zelenskyy made his visit
–Laws and rules do not apply when dealing with ‘illicit’

Deep inside our jester’s head was dropped a craven seed

taking root in blackened heart where it grows like a weed

There can be no dissension, no discourse in the ranks

he certainly will never cede should his favor tank.

He makes you think he’s set his sights on outside evil-doers

trans and gays and blacks and browns and democratic losers

He’s silenced all the laughter, he cannot take a joke

I hesitate to think what’s next, what new hell he’ll invoke
And so he tricks his followers, dividing “us” from “them.”
Yet, no matter what he says, we’re all Americans.

What trouble would he go to, to try to circumvent?
How many would he “disappear” to show his discontent?
as he denies and doubles down against all allegations

won’t even stop at killing to prevent incarceration.

He’s calls arrests on anyone that does not agree,

He’d throw us all in prison, then throw away the key.

A madman with a following, we’ve seen this one before…

and yet among his followers he’s losing some allure.

We may yet land in Florida, among the crocodiles...

Oh! the steps he’s taking, to not “Release the Files.”

Image credit to site Dreamstime.com

© Nattysiri

Only a Fool

   

Am I a fool to think that I

might share a month of poetry?

I don’t know…I guess I’ll try.

Am I a fool to think that I

without a writer’s pedigree

would seek such opportunity?

Indeed the fool to think that I

might share a month of poetry.

©Ginny Brannan 2025

Kind of a 'bastardized' Triolet. Certainly not my best, but a start!

Procrastination!

 

Oh look! A dusting of soft snow!

It falls so gently on the lawn.

I watch the flakes as they alight

to paint the boughs in pristine white.

 

It fills these eyes with such delight!

It purifies the grit and grime;

and brings me back to childhood days

transforms me to a different time.

 

Now old bones ache with winter chill–

Oh, to be that child still!

Those winter days that I recall,

no worries should I slip and fall.

 

I watch here from my warm cocoon

through the frosted window pane

and contemplate if I should wait

to see if snow will turn to rain.

 

© Ginny Brannan 2025

It's All in the Delivery

 

I’ve been told I’m “mean”

but in a nice sort of way.

That I have a certain way with words

(for a writer, that has to be a “plus,” right?)

But sometimes, or maybe frequently,

I will utter a comment with a bit of an edge

(Really? Who me??? How can that be?)

I would never purposely insult you

or even broach the subject

of anything you did or didn’t do.

But if I may be candid (or if you cross my path)

I may be somewhat prompted to say a word or two.

I find with age comes wisdom and I can clearly see

that at this exact moment, you’re not as wise as me

 —wink, wink—smile—

Yes, patience is a virtue; kindness has its charm,

wit and humor have their place, a smile can disarm.

And I can use my wiles, if it’s wiles that you need

but if you test my self-restraint, you’ll find out where that leads.

I’m the epitome of sweetness as you can plainly see...

Jekyll/Hyde, you decide... I’m WAITING...Yep, WAITING...STILL WAITING........

Patiently! 

(Can you tell?)

© Ginny Brannan 2024

Day 5 NaPoWriMo Prompt from Writers.com Find something dark and hidden inside your brain, your body, your heart. Shine a light on it. What do you see?

Image: Carolyn Hax via Google images. I just love her art! She's captured the mood!

Gone, But Not Forgotten...

I loved the scent of your affections

and the sizzle of your heat,

I don’t need no sweet confections

your smoky taste leaves me complete;

Such a morning temptress, though anytime would do,

I don’t think that there's anything

that could take the place of you.

You were the cream inside my coffee

the sunlight on my windowpane,

your taste still lingers on my lips

but that’s all that remains…

Yes, I forgot to pick you up,

I was such a fool…

now I’m left here to lament the taste of you.

Yes, I must acknowledge that my love for you is strong…

—you were the last piece of bacon in the fridge

              and now your go-o-o-o-one

(and now I think it's time to move along!)

© Ginny Brannan 2020

NaPoWriMo #12 

A few weeks back a friend challenged that someone should write a song about "bacon." Never one to let "sleeping challenges lie, "I came up with this. Yes, I went there, because...it's "BACON!! I'm weird like that!