A Poem for the Pantry

Reminiscing London Strolls; 
take a walk through the neighborhood; 
forty +/- reasons while living in London is the best

you, an Internet friend, had me walking at the old church park at St. John's Wood, and then into the leaf strewn paths through the old cemetery. There squirrels and moss covered unreadable tombstones standing crooked were waiting to join me. (St John's Wood--Wikipedia link)

A neighborhood playground
The little man at the gate house
Kids
Big kids and adults too
The spinning wheel we'd all be falling off
The swings with sitting small children, "push me higher Papa"

Morning walk up Abey Lane
Greeted at the corner, entrance into the street, swarming with camera toting tourists
Passing the old recording studio, Beatles early songs in my head
Waive to the web cam under the tree up on a pole
The old church, Abbey Road Baptist now, hoping to convert the Muslims to know Jesus

Things wear down in glamour at the next light, turn left to Abercorn School
Or walk on past a little too far for walking back.
Big Red double decker Bus 39 will take me/us back
Farther still the train awaits

But walking past the school, past the park, there's the little Beatles Memorabilia Store, records, eight track tapes, cassettes,  or why not a CD?

Walk across the street, corner store
I'll have a Magnolla Bar, ice cream
Need a box of porridge (oatmeal)?

Beatle singer, Elton John's house, wave, throw a kiss
On the way to the Cricket Stadium
St John's Wood park again
Come back up High Street, pass the library and the street little pancake, what do we call the thin ones, Crêpes.  I'll have Nutella and Black Raspberry jam on mine
Could have had a Gelato cone (ice cream) coming back before the library instead of the crepe

Turn right, there will be my flat, come on in
What'd I miss, visit and we'll  check things out
For sure I forget the Tube entrance, escape to downtown London 
 _ _ _ 

 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2020, All Rights Reserved 
 - I'm linked with Magaly Guerrero In the Poetry Pantry at https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2020/01/writers-pantry-3-be-warm.html?m=1 

 - This is intended to be seen as a rough draft, jotting my thoughts for a further effort. Here it is more prose than poem though in part it is in stanza form.  A prose poem?
 - My thoughts in writing this bit is that the end writing be as a note to a friend, perhaps in London, maybe not, for the friend to keep in mind the joys I/we had.  And the whys one would want to live there.  In it I recalled some of the times I or we had while being there in St John's Wood.  I would also benefit myself from recalling these moments and more. 

A Poem ~~ Mythology Inspired

Rocks and Hard Places

Challenge for us come sail with me
Scylla and Charybdis* await
I'll care for you through travel threats
Hold you tight calm shivers and shakes

Scylla brings hard places in life
Charybdis swirl swallows our love
Though our ship be new and untried
We'll hold tight safely guide her through
_ _ _

Note:
  * Comes the saying, "caught between a rock and a hard place."  Scylla and Charybdis were sailors' fears named, or at least written of, by Homer in his Oddessy works.  Scylla referred to a sea monster living in the rocky Italian shore and Charybdis was in a huge vortex swirling near Sicily.   It was either attempt sailing between these threats or going around the large island, Sicily,  in the treacherous open seas.  (Reference Wikipedia,  linked here) 

 _ _ _

 - Photos and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2020, All Rights Reserved
 - I am linked with Rommy at https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2020/01/weekly-scribblings-2-myth-placed.html?m=1

A seond Poem for 2020

 

My Valley

My valley is green when the sky is blue
The sun shines most every day, chlorophyll 
Chlorophyll does its work best in sun's warmth 

When the sky is cast over with dark clouds 
And the much needed rain comes down in sheets 
Then in darkness of the night roots soak up 
After which my valley is greener still 

So when troubles befall like the rain falls 
They make you grow strong like your valley green 
 _ _ _ 

 - Photo and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2020, All Rights Reserved
 - I am linked with Sanaa Rizvi at Weekly Scribblings, Prose and Poetry United, https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2020/01/weekly-scribblings-1-january-is-here.html?m=1

 - Sanaa has asked us to write using at least three of the following word group.
 - I used darkness, cast, warmth, and sky.

amaryllis                  somewhat                percussion                darkness                  grapefruit
deep                           cast                         warmth                       blood                          touch
gravel                        twilight                    lips                              sky                             sleep
bedside                      scones                     fervour                      harbinger                 cogitation

New Poem for 2020

Meet Me

They said meet us at the chapel
I came when they asked, they were not
Only a scrawny little lass 
She smiled at me, that was my end

I twisted the Knob, chapel gate
Oh, it'll be closed 'til next week
She came a bit closer to me 
My body told me I'd had it

Like changing the subject. I tried
Nothing else I twisted again
Of no help we walked down the street
Chatting my Muse gave words to me

Six months later I turned the Knob
She was waiting in Wedding Dress
 _ _ _ _

 - Photo and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2020, All Rights Reserved
 - I'm linked with Magaly Guerrero with Poets and Story Tellers United at https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2020/01/writers-pantry-1-home-is-people.html?m=1
 - NOTE: I hope to be forgiven as I posted late with Magaly so I'm trying early this time.  My Sabbatical will be ending this week.  I hope to return comments better.  And to boar with a 'short' rundown of my time away.  Magaly is at https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2020/01/writers-pantry-2-storms-and-stones-and.html?m=1  this week.

 - Although this story poem is made up in a way it is similar to the way Mrs. Jim and I met.  I wasn't looking for a wife but she was waiting, having been told by my roommate that "Jim might come." 
 - I wanted to write a First for 2020 for the Writer's Pantry even though I am still on Sabbatical. 

A Last Poem for Bill and for the Imaginary Garden

 

Five Petaled Tulip 

(Photo by Jimmiehov)

Goodbyes

Goodbye is hard to say when one knows they on earth won't
see each other again

A farewell not enjoyed
Words we like not to hear
But "Goodbye" I must say

A goodbye we must say 
Our friendship here must end 
Part we must, wipe our tears

Goodbye now, Heaven waits 
_ _ _  

 - For our friend, Bill

 - I changed my write this morning. 
We have sadnes for a friend who just died. "Bill" is thirteen years younger than me and leaves a wife his age. Plus kids and grandkids as we. 
His funeral is today, January 2 at 11:00CDT.
We will not be able to attend.

Copied from onituary 

 - Photo and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved
 - I am linked with Kerry O'Connot in the Imaginary Garden at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-imaginary-garden-with-real-toads.html?m=1

 - This is a "Say it Again" poem linking to "KERRY ~ LET'S FIND OUR POETIC VOICE."
 - It will be' my last poem linked to our beloved Imaginary Garden which is closing today.

A Poem -- in Tribute to Sherry and Global Warming

Global Warming; 
  one last time here 

"They" said it was too hard
And it would never be
Argue until we're Blue
Liked not Global Warming

"They" said winters are cold
colder than our normal
Plugged their ears when we told
Hotter summers bring cold-
er winters climate swing

"Climate Change" denial
Close their eyes, harder rains stronger storms, melting ice
Wild animals dying

I believe Climate Change
Won't you think that way too
_ _ _

- Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved
- I am linked with Sherry Blue Sky in the Imaginary Garden at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2019/12/wordy-friday-with-wild-woman-staying.html?m=1

 - Please consider this Poem a tribute to Sherry Blue Sky.  An avid Mother Nature supporter, hers at the link above will be her last there as the Imaginary Garden is set to close this year end, December 31.

The Bear -- a Poem in tribute to Margaret

!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS 
and HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!!



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. . .
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. .
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Teddy Bear Sleeps 

I lay here in my shoe box bed 
I have gently been laid to rest 
"Hibernation" to be polite 
It's Lala Land for us who wait 

I am 'The Bear' freshly repaired 
Sleeping beside my owner's ash 
We've been lovingly put to sleep 
Blissfully we wait for new life 

Adi Beagle Dog gladly went 
She's in Doggie Heaven with God 
Serving her New Master up there 
In spirit I'm there by her side 

Here my still, sleeping body waits 
In it I'm confined until when 
A new child or puppy will come  
'Slightly used' I'll return its love 

Again I'll cheerfully rejoice 
at their command, "Go get 'The Bear'"
 _ _ _ _ 

I write here to give tribute to Margaret who has lovingly for years given us pictorial inspiration to write a new piece of poetry.

 - Poem and Photo Copyright,  Jimmiehov 2019 and 2010 (https://jimmiehov.blogspot.com/2010/02/adi-beagle-dog-sister-midweek-blues.html?m=1 )

All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked with Margaret in the Imaginary Garden at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2019/12/artistic-interpretations-over-loved-and.html?m=1

 - And pictured above my sister, Lois (link), is happy. Seems there is always a little job that somehow just waits for her.

 - Adi's Retirement (link) 
 - Adi retrieves her bear (YouTube link)

A Sad Poem -- Garden is Closing

Imagine 

Imagine there's gardens no more 

Imagine they all fade away 

Imagine no place for flowers 
Imagine benches gone to stay 

Imagine all the tears there'd be 
Sad, like a lover went away 
Like sitting in a vacant lot 
Even the sun cries now and then
Buckets of tears old Sol does shed 

Imagine where we'll be playing 
Imagine the gray and the mud 
Imagine stretching heads above 
Imagine goo behind the pub 

Imagine our garden no more 
What will there be to take its place 
I don't want to know where minds share 
When this cheerful garden  does fade

I'm crying with the rest, the best 
You took me in, a flower wild 

Imagine 
_ _ _ 

 - Poem Copyright,  Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked with Marian in the Imaginary Garden at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2019/12/just-one-last-word-imagine.html?m=1

A Prose Piece for Yesr's End ~~ in Tribute to Susan

Year End Tasks;
   they just come along

Creators of the masters 
close their year just as our 
writers here accomplish that 
unavoidable event. 

Even me, an amateur, 
"comme une tâche amateur." Or 
as I used to could show off that 
I did not put my pants on leg at 
a time. I would jump into 
them with both feet performing 
the same task simultaneously. 

So what to do that must be 
done? It is told that "paying 
taxes and having babies are 
unavoidable tasks."  Better do the 
first, let those, you know what, 
do the other. 

And you know what? I'll write 
a little ditty and put it with the 
others' poems. And I could 
stand some "resolutions" 
this year. Like clean out my 
office/studio, wash the car, and 
kiss my spouse more often. 

She's a dandy. Or there be 
something else could be done, 
nice but not required of us.

How will your year end?
_ _ _ 

 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved 
 - I am writing for Susan, her last week in charge at the 

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Year's End

 http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2019/12/poets-united-midweek-motif-years-end.html?m=1

A Music Inspired Poem for Marian ~~ a Tribute to her

Sweet Love; 
  save me

"Your sweet love is gonna save me" *
I been runnin' wild with the boys 
Trouble has been my middle name 
Jails don't fix me, out I'm the same 

Your sweet love is gonna save me 
Been runnin' wild, whiskey and gin 
That's no help, I get wilder still 
Jails don't fix me, out I'm the same 

Your sweet love is gonna save me 
Tame me good, I need your lovin' 
Let us try, one sweet kiss goes far 
Jails don't fix me, out I'm the same 

Your sweet love is gonna save me 
Slow me down and please take me home 
Spend some time I'll make us coffee 
Jails don't fix me, but your love can 

Your sweet love can save me tonight 
One kiss from you can make me tame 
Please get to know me, I'm alright 
We'll go slow, your sweet love save me 
 _ _ _ 

  - * Note:  First line taken from the Eagle song, "Take It Easy", see lyrics below
 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved
 - I'm linked with Marian in the Imaginary Garden at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2019/12/western-stars.html?m=1

 - This will be the last poem written here for Marian using her music prompt at the Imaginary Garden as it is slated to close to new posts on December, 31.
.
.
"Take It Easy"
Eagles Lyrics, 1972
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/eagles/takeiteasy-1972.html

Well, I'm a-running down the road
Tryin' to loosen my load
I've got seven women on my mind
Four that wanna own me
Two that wanna stone me
One says she's a friend of mine

Take it easy, take it easy
Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy
Lighten up while you still can
Don't even try to understand
Just find a place to make your stand
And take it easy

Well, I'm a-standing on a corner
In Winslow, Arizona
Such a fine sight to see
It's a girl, my Lord
In a flat-bed Ford
Slowin' down to take a look at me

Come on, baby
Don't say "Maybe"
I gotta know
If your sweet love
Is gonna save me
We may lose and we may win
Though we will never be here again
So open up, I'm climbin' in
So take it easy

Well, I'm running down the road
Trying to loosen my load
Got a world of trouble on my mind
Lookin' for a lover
Who won't blow my cover
She's so hard to find

Take it easy, take it easy
Don't let the sound of your own wheels make you crazy
Come on, baby
Don't say "Maybe"
I gotta know
If your sweet love
Is gonna save me

Oh we got it easy
We oughta take it easy

Weekend Poem ~~ tribute to Kerry

Repair;
  a botched relationship 

"The (right) words to undo the wrong" 
You will find there is no such thing
Wrongs cannot be undone don't try

Try to fix the harm if you can
And if you mean say "I'm sorry" 
Then beg forgiveness from the hurt

My friend, that's all that can be done
Use care let there be no next time
_ _ _

- First line by Kerry O'Connor, see link below
- Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved
- I am linked with Magaly Guerrero in the Imaginary Garden at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2019/12/weekend-mini-challenge-13-poetic-bits.html?m=1

 - For more of Kerry's wishes words visit the link above and to read some of her poems visit skyloverpoetry, Skywriter, and Skylover to enjoy more of Kerry’s words

A Memory Poem

I came; 
staying grief 

I came and I saw and then I went 
Not a happy visit to that small town of La Porte 

Long haired riding my motorcycle 
Stopped cold at the city gates 'metropolitan' police 

Minding my own business didn't seem 
Obnoxious one bit to me but to them like felony 

Asked for my Vehicle Inspection 
Those fuzz were surprisingly shocked they couldn't get me there 

Said to me when their plan didn't work 
"You're a long way from home aren't you?  Best be getting along" 

So I went.  Beach restaurant to eat 
Burger fries and Coke were good though bad taste for cops remained 
_ _ _ 

A Landay poem form ~~  nine syllables in the first line, thirteen syllables in the second. 

These short poems typically address themes of love, grief, homeland, war, and separation.

 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved 
 - I am linked with Sanaa Rizvi in the Imaginary Garden at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2019/12/may-fire-in-our-hearts-keep-burning-as.html?m=1 

 - This is a true tale, La Porte is a small suburban town just east of Houston, Texas.  I was going over to a smaller place still, Morgan's Point for a hamburger and a cool drink.  This is an episode that I never will forget although it wasn't my first unwilling stop, bike or car.
 - It reminds me of the never ending police harassment of teens, young folk, and of minorities that must be endured. 

 - One more item, I am still on Sabbatical. 

Adios

Thank you, pantry prompter, 
for writing this reminder, may we 
never forget the bravery of Rosa 
Parks. Love your illustration, 
she makes me feel young and happy. 

TODAY I START MY SABATICAL 
TO END JANUARY 12, 2020 
(love the ring of those numerals, 
my hope is to live that year long). 

Also, I may sneak 
out a dity or few when 
my Warden isn't looking. 

Bye Bye, wish me a BON VOYAGE,  
 _ _ _  

 - Like most blog writers I appreciate comments and critiques from my readers.  
 - Very likely though my warden, a cousin to my muse, will not allow me to return your comments.  Even so I am planning to read a lot of yours. 

 - I am linked with Magaly Guerrero in the Pantry of Poetry and Prose with Poets United, https://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2019/12/pantry-of-poetry-and-prose-6.html?m=1 

 - You can read Magaly's tribute to Ms. Parks at the link above. 

A Poem for the Weekend Mini-challenge

Breakfast 

I love my wife dearly
She doesn't cook me breakfast

My wife doesn't cook
I dearly love my breakfast

My breakfast loves me dearly
I doesn't cook my wife

My cook loves my wife
Me breakfast I dearly doesn't
_ _ _

- Photo and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved
- I'm linked with Kim Russell in the Imaginary Garden at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2019/11/weekend-mini-challenge-uncertainty-of.html?m=1

- Kim wishes as a Mini-challenge to write patterned on a poem written by a guest lecturer, Wendy Poe, in her class on the uncertainty of a poet.  Read it here, http://frombooksofpoems.blogspot.com/2007/03/uncertainty-of-poet-by-wendy-cope.html?m=1 .  You will see that I could have shown more mix ups  but my story has been told with the four couplets.  Plus I'm writing using my smartphone as my laptop has cratered.
 - Then too I'm readying for my sabbatical and hadn't planned posting for a few weeks.

A List Poem

Ordeal 

She would groan
at the slightest touch
At the verge
of a mere esthesis 
she would plunge 
into hysterics

You would think 
she must be 
in the back seat 
of the car with 
her beau  
But no, it was 
only an 
onyx colored caterpillar 
with stick-like feet 
crossing her toe 

Her doctor dug deep 
into his satchel bag 
Voila!!
a vial of risperidone  
After her first dosage 
a shot in the arm 
she went wild 
   a feeling 
she had never known 

"Doctor  doctor", she cried 
in a loud Eagle-tone, *
"I  think we're gonna crash."  Which she promptly did 
taking the doctor along   

The next morning 
she was groaning still 
the warden was pulling 
her from the heap 
and the Doctor was 
still hanging on 

Bad medicine 
Bad Doctor 

* Note:  The woman's cry in the Eagle's classic rock song, "Life in the Fast Lane."  Those Lyrics here, https://genius.com/Eagles-life-in-the-fast-lane-lyrics
 _ _ _ 

 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved 
 - I'm linked with Kerry O'Connor in the Imaginary Garden at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2019/11/get-listed-with-mystery-guest.html?m=1 

 - At the link above Kerry has given us a list of thirteen words (onyx,  groan, lemon, sticks, elocution, shelves, cinnamon, Twix, risperidone, Nyx-door, warden, plunge, esthesis)

 with a request to use them in a poem.  I have used seven. 

A Poem - Awaking Smells

That Smell

I had this dream, I was vaping
There was a slight cough that I know

Acrid smell was burning my lungs

When I'd had enough I awoke (I'm betting that you can't do that)

From my window came wafting in
Morning light oozing through the damp

The clouds had descended to here

Faint whiff of something sweet I love

A smell more welcome  than the vape
One I'd had before from childhood

Perhaps you've had it before

An aroma that comes and goes

(sweeter than any I have 'smoked')

The smell of a wet puppy dog
Dog I've never seen though I know

(Note: I don't vape and haven't smoked for 36 years.  I remember and love that  doggie smell, it keeps me on the straight, tobacco smoke gives me an instant sore throat.  The smell is real to me, it's hard to explain, I think others can't really smell it.)
 _ _ _

 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved
 - I'm linked with Sanaa Rizvi in the Imaginary Garden  at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2019/11/november-nothing-is-more-memorable-than.html?m=1
 - and
 - I'm linked with Susan at Poets United, Midweek  Motiff, http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2019/11/poets-united-midweek-motif-awakening.html?m=1

Flasback Poem -- A Family Tale

My last grandchild;
  memories of her birth

I remember well that
warm day in July.
Our youngest daughter was
about to have our
youngest granddaughter
She'd been up all the night
doing work work on
her laptop and on
her phone meeting with
bosses in London

She wasn't planning to
be in there, in the
hospital at all
but she had to meet
with her gynacol-
ogist on her way
to work that morning

After a short exam
his word to her was
"Go home pack your bag and
get to the hospital.
I'll see you there this
afternoon and by
the morrow you'll have
a kid to take home."

But I can't go as I
have work work to do
very important
Well bring your stuff and
work there from your bed

Work she did in between
inducing labor
and the kid's coming
Wonder Woman they named
Kind they'd never met

My new granddaughter's now
ten and volunteers
to help wherever
she might be needed

As her mother does
 _ _ _ _

 - Poem and Photo Copyright,  Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved
 - I'm linked with Brudburg in the Imaginary Garden at https://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2019/11/timetravel-flashbacks-with-bjorn.html?m=1
 - Notes:
   (1)  Brudberg wants a Memory Flashback, prose or poem, 369 word limit for prose.  And true or fiction.  Mine is a 162 word, plus a seven word title, a true reminiscing episode of my life.
  (2)  My family is five kids, six grandkids, four great grandkids, and one great-greatgrandkid.  All but one, the oldest grandson, live near us in the greater Houston (Texas) area.  And all but one in the marrying age are married.
  (3)  The picture above is of three generations, the two mentioned and Grandmother Mrs. Jim.