Buttons

Picture Credit: Courtesy of d'Verse

On buttoning the

Dude looks good when done proper

Etiquette demands

‘Should remain buttoned

until one sits and fastened

on standing again’

With three buttons just

button the top two or just

the center button

Some do not conform

Unbuttoned, flailing, it looks

more macho it seems

Alluring ladies

Unbuttoned top for cleavage

Is fashionable!

Poetics at d'Verse with prompt 'button, button'

A Social Stigma

Picture Credit: Courtesy of Grandma Goulash

Unmarried mothers
A social stigma
Abandoned in despair
in a half-way house
Crying for justice
but they could only hope
Fate shared by many

(140 characters) as counted through Design 215

Written for Grandma Goulash week 67 with the picture prompt above, and to write a Micro Fiction in 140 characters to include the word 'abandon'

Race to the Moon

Image:1 The President

President John F. Kennedy (1961-1963) awoke on April 12, 1961, to the news that the Soviet Union had won the race to put a man into space. Kennedy immediately met with Vice President Lyndon Johnson. “Can we put a man on the moon before them?” Kennedy asked. A few weeks later, Kennedy challenged the nation to “commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth.”

Just over 14 months later Kennedy would die in Texas, in Dallas, on November 22, 1963.  On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed the Eagle Lunar Module on the Moon, at the Sea of Tranquility.  A few hours later, on July 21, they stepped out on the Moon.  From Kennedy’s speech to Congress, the task had taken 8 years, one month and 26 days.
Acknowledgement: Image and text from Google (here)

Target setting is

A measure of confidence

To achieve one’s goal

Variously quoted

The race to put man on the

moon, a classic goal

Written for Jenn's Sensational Haiku Wednesday with prompt - confidence-

Public Office

Picture credit: From Google Images 

The lure for public office

Is the bidding of the known few

Magnanimous in its make-up

A personality not lacking luster

Extending a luxuriant mode

Stemmed from a desire

To do good for the population at large

A sterling performance of rare abundance

Of honesty, integrity and of high moral fiber

Observed even on the road  to accepting

Are selfishly expected of the untested

But alas! Many did not measure up

To the scrutiny of the common man

Candidates were found wanting

Engulfed with scandals varied in nature

Of harassment, solvency and sexual

The crescendo more apparent

From a build-up of the ideal person

To hold the esteemed position

Even before stepping into office

But sadly were destroyed midway

Having succumbed to base desires

Not befitting of the due regard

Of a man of character

Written for Poets United's Vice-versa with 2 sets of antonym as prompts ie build / destroy and common / rare and d'Verse OpenLinkNights week 50

At The Front

Note: "The figure in the photograph is clad in Army fatigues, boots and helmet, lying on his back in peaceful repose, folded hands holding a military cap. Except for a thin trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth, he could be asleep.

But he is not asleep; he is dead. And this is not just another fallen GI; it is Ernie Pyle, the most celebrated war correspondent of World War II " - source USA Today  (here)

Staccato bursts of gunfire

Intimidating to the neighborhood

And bombs in the distance

Frightening to those under siege

Melodious to the marauders

Embedded with a detachment

Seeing action before his own eyes

The newsman and photographer

Unarmed, untrained, unaccounted for

Who could only sigh and hope

That the next sniper’s target

Would not have him at the cross- hairs

As did some of his colleagues

Who had been there earlier

Unfortunate enough to be seen

And later picked up still in camouflage

But wet, bathed red with his own blood

Unsung, unknown but just another

To add to the growing number

Of the forgotten victims of human conflict

Who dared to be in the front

Just so for the benefit of those

Back home sitting sipping coffee

Comfortably in front of the idiot box

Waiting eagerly for the latest

From the newsmen with pads or cameras

Whose numbers are increasingly

Brought back home in body-bags!

Written for Theme Thursday with prompt - Bed - and Real Toads Open Link Monday

.

Micro Fiction - Orange

 Image:1 Courtesy of Grandma Goulash, an orange little froggie

 Image:2 The formidable Orange Team (touted as one of the favorites) that broke the heart of the Dutch supporters

Image:2  Unlucky van Persie (in one of his great moments) had so many near misses but somehow these did not connect

Incandescent in

striking orange,

Prince Charming

transformed could be

a fitting inspiration to the

Holland team if not for

an early exit

(140 characters)

as counted through Design215

Note: Grandma gave us image#1 and the word 'incandescent' for this week's Micro Fiction to be written not exceeding 140 characters.

Written for Grandma's Goulash Succinctly Yours #66

Political Support

Picture Credit: Google images

Vying for office?

Get political support

A costly affair

It is apparent

Big business make their presence

They throw in their weight

Candidates are rich

Millions at their disposal

But in poor countries

Candidates are poor

They hope for public office

Themselves to enrich

Note: The difference between politics in a rich country to that of a poor country. In a rich country  the candidates make money then go into politics. In a poor country the candidates go into office and then make money. Just a simplistic jab not referring to any country or any one in particular.

Written for Haiku Heights #150 with prompt - support-

A New Beginning

 Image:1 Farid planting a loving kiss on Aini's forehead on their wedding day in Nov 2010

Image:2 As a consequence such an adorable little Adam

Image:3 Mas not to be outdone with cute baby boy 'Aqil

 Image:4 Ebby proudly cradling cute baby boy, 'Aqil

(Picture source: from their FB wall posts)

Theme Thursday for June 21, 2012 invites us to write on a theme  a ‘New Beginning’. What better than to acknowledge a new beginning for my wonderful nephew Ebby and lovely niece Aini together with their respective spouses and;

Victoria at d'Verse had invited submissions based on a setting of place, character, mood and culture as a theme. I'm submitting a composite of the elements of the theme.

Blessed of divine assurances

New Beginnings of a lineage

A persuasion to extend

A progeny towards a future
Each a first born eagerly awaited

My nephew Ebby and Mas his

Charming wife, proudly brought

Forth into this world  an adorable

‘bundle of joy’  a cute little 'Aqil

A baby boy for all to see

The joyous occasion recorded

Plainly on April 20, 2012

A happy day came in two’s

For on June 06, pretty Aini my niece

And hubby Farid as if to answer the call to celebrate

Proudly gave us an equally cute baby Adam

A twin event to remember

From the two loving couples

The extended family system

Reminiscent of an undertaking and expectations

Of a bright future for their offspring

The mark of a human structure

Of a culture demanding that

Procreation is only natural

Congratulations to Ebby and Mas

And to Farid and Aini, for from now on

Baby feeding and sleepless nights

Would mean the same thing!

Written for Theme Thursday, a New Beginning and d'Verse, Where in the World...

Debt Crisis

Leaders (with guests) at the G20 Summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, June18, 2012

(courtesy of Google images)

Uncertainties of events leading towards

the ensuing year is taking center stage.

The Greek vote averted  a near financial crisis.

A strict regime is  imposed on countries

in the EU which is grappling with

the contagion effects looming

of a financial meltdown. Has it got to do

with the proverbial unlucky 13?

Economic well-being trailing a jagged path

Lacking in strong initiatives if allowed unabated

will see an economic tsunami building up

Great minds debate on a designated profile

to resolve impending difficulties now contained

but unleashed with sheer abundance

If attempts to smoothen the irritants

are not rightly forthcoming

it would impinge on a global gyration

affecting economies without discrimination

Oil and gold offered a slight respite

retreating a tad lower though not quite

but pacified concerned parties

that prompted overtures towards a G-20 summit

were there to examine the worsening debt crisis

Political will and strong leadership 

called for from an overcast of dark clouds

Deja vu to the shock of the sub prime

naughtiness which learned of technicalities

from the Asian Financial crisis preceding it

It was unsettling, a quagmire of fallen regimes

yet again in the making…. God forbid!


Note: Poets United has challenged us to use 2 sets of antonyms  jagged/smooth and lack/abundance to be written in any form

Submitted to Poets United and d'Verse OpenLinkNights week 49

Blessed

           Puddle,1952, by M C Escher

Image:1 Picture Credit: Tess' Mag122

Image2: Picture Credit - Google images

The elusive dream

Hovering up in the clouds

Within easy grasp?

If only we trudge

Through soft mud and tire marks

In the morning mist

By noon some results

By evening the light shone

As bright as daylight

The world opened up

To the American dream

All equally blessed

Written for Tess' Magpie 122 ,Chev's Haikublog Tackle it Tuesday with prompt  -bright- and Real Toad's Open Link Monday

Self Imposed Exile

 Image1: Starting young to be lonely

Image2: Drunk with loneliness
(Picture Credit: Google images)

What imposed itself
My being tapping the keys
Alone with many

Sharing of ideas
Paradoxically true
Alone by oneself

Peering at the screen
Exiled through time and space but
Alone the blogger

Written for d'Verse with prompt - exile -

Modern

Picture Credit: From Google images

What can be more modern than fast foods

Variety of vendors, choice is quite a bother

But once you’ve tried one you’ve tried them all

It barely takes a few minutes

It’s all of a full meal. You choose

The main offering, snacks and drinks

Breakfast in bed is now out of fashion

You’ve to take it hot within the minutes

Crazy ones decide best taken at the wheel

They go to great pains to emphasize

It’s all nutritious and healthy, young and old

But chubby ones are future woes

No they didn’t give up easily you see

Who epitomized good health than those freaks

Bulging muscles for show rather than strength

Written for d'Verse FormsForAll - Triversen - An attempt to define the - modern

Sunflowers

                                                                      sunflowers by van Gogh

Picture Credit: Courtesy of Chev's Tackle it Tuesdays

Van Gogh’s sunflowers

Series of still life paintings

Bright yellow pigment

A Christie’s record

In the year eighty-seven

The Yasuda fake

Brewing and intense

Mired in controversy

Blow to  the art world

Submitted to Tackle it Tuesdays with prompt - sunflowers-

Spinning

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Grandma's Goulash

Dad, I appreciate
what you are doing for me
I know this is not NASA
This is fun
But I aim to be
an astronaut
Not this kind of spinning!

(140 characters)

Grandma's Goulash provided the photo above and the word - appreciate - for this week's Micro Fiction. Submitted also for d'Verse OpenLinkNights week #48

Choice

                                                                   Still Life by Jean F. de Le Motte
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Tess' Magpie

Been a long time since

You had left without a word

I could only yearn

There were some letters

and ‘papers. Hung them up just

for your convenience

It was just a joke

You took it seriously, let

bygones be bygones

No comments again

Your hairstyle is your own choice

Will keep my mouth shut!

Submitted for Tess' Magpie #121, and Real Toads OpenLinkMonday

Ordinary

Image: Google images

Ordinary lass

Plain Jane gets attention ..why?

Other than just good looks!

Ordinary days

Stress bound tight, worries irksome

Astound the lone soul

No ordinary

relationship. A Craiglist

damning, unguarded

Written for Haiku Heights #148 with prompt - ordinary

Dementia

Image: Whistler's Mother

(Courtesy of Real Toad's)

Frail and hunched

She walked slowly

from her room upstairs

Each little step

towards her favorite chair

She sat at the lounge

Looking into emptiness

Again it happened!

She left her pair of spectacles

in her room

Someone went up

Got it for her

They were having lunch

She suddenly became aware

Her spectacles now perched

precariously atop her nose

She walked slowly but more

confidently towards them

‘You already had your lunch’

she was told. ‘Ten minutes ago’

Again it happened!

She was then led back to her seat

Given her favorite slice of brownies

She sat down happy

They used to have lunch together

But she ended up messy

affecting everyone else

So she had lunch first

All by herself

There has to be a solution! 

Written for Real Toads with prompt - dementia

Eccentric

Image: Tim Burton's Infinite Dreams by delirium77

Quote:   One person's craziness is another person's reality  - Tim Burton

Image and Quote: Courtesy of Think Tank Thursday ( TTT )

Tim Burton’s great makes

Eccentric and a genius

Born of unusuals

Dreamt myriads of dreams

Likened to Mendusa’s hair

Faces but sans snakes

Way out from others

Where some alien happenings

Make for surprises

Note: We are to write on Tim Burton or works relating to him. A fitting description of Tim is quoted from TTT - 'an artist, animator,a poet,a director and more...I think the word eccentric describes him best'.

Written for TTT for their 100th prompt - Eccentric and d'Verse 'Where in The World' alien based

Exposure

Image: A long exposure photo using a slow shutter speed can create fascinating effects of light trails

(Picture Credit: Google images)

Exposure to the

vagaries of weather  will

mean sniffling noses

Exposure to young

starlets and sportsmen clears off

physical stupor

Exposure stifled
political ambitions
Sex likely spoiler

Over exposed film

is a thing of the past in

this digital age

Get long exposure

iPhone Magic Shutter apps

for moving objects

To cap it all plain

indecent exposure is

just age-old streaking

Written for Chev's Haikublog Tackle it Tuesdays with prompt - exposure and d'Verse OpenLinkNights week #47

Micro Fiction

Image: Courtesy of Grandma's  Goulash

We're drifting

Sun is setting

There's no anchor

What to conquer?

The sea is vast

We'll not last

No water no food

It's not good

We're dead!

(140 characters)

As counted through Design 215

Note: Grandma's provided a picture (above) and a word conquer for us to write a Micro Fiction not exceeding 140 characters

Written for Grandma's Goulash Succinctly Yours Week 63 and Real Toads OpenLinkMonday

Work

 Image:1 Working on a Dream is a life-long Pre-occupation for Everyone

Image:2 As some have rightly done so

(Picture credit: Google images)

Signing your life away the Japanese way 

a lifetime of slaving. No it's not! It's dedication
and faith in an employer.Working next to Nellie 

may not be ideal as bad habits and short cuts are thrown in aplenty

Work (not walk) don’t run hiding away from all the ‘fun’

A constant reminder to the shirkers

Who are no more workers but just job jugglers

Working is a joy and make hobbies pay. As artists can well testify 

Work is distasteful, a constant union battlecry

until they find themselves out of work high and dry

Work and no play undoubtedly is bad. The present mantra
is not work hard but rather work smart.Working your heart’s out
should not be the answer. Saves all the sweating for better results

Working through College is a thing of the past.
As Daddy has to slog it out as an alternative.
Unwind after work is the in-thing for the yuppies
Happy Hours is a blast

Sadly those working from home realized it can be
awesome for freedom but a nightmare for time management 

The computer is an office rightly so for SOHO

Which saves lots of hassles travelling to and fro

But as the Aussies say it’s a flat out like a lizard drinking' .....

(working very hard on a task) for in a home environment

You really have to put all your heart and soul into it

Or the backlog will pile up and life’s topsy-turvy

as many found to their utter dismay

Written for d'Verse Poetics Working for it