What if poets had been in a hurry to go eat? Or make a tee time? Or pick up a sick kid from elementary school? How might their verse have been worse?

STOPPING BY WOODS ON A HURRIED EVENING

Whose woods these are I think I know

His house is in the village though

He will not mind me stopping by

If I bring whiskey, and the money I owe.

He might just want to drink hot joe!

(I sure could use a biscuit, bro.)


DIVERGING ROADS THAT DIVERGED

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, I turned around and went on home.

I’ve never been good at making decisions.

I don’t think.

But I could be wrong.


THEY NAMED HIM ‘MINEVER’?

Miniver Cheevy, child of scorn,

Was almost named Scorn Jr.


TAKE ME OUT FOR A HOTDOG

Take me out to the ballgame

Take me out to the crowd

On second thought, I’m already here

And it’s the seventh inning.

So never mind.


THE THEME FROM EVERREADY

Out out brief candle!

Curse against the dying of the light!

Do not go quietly into that good night.

Curse the dying of th…

Wait!, and Hark!, even.

I just need to replace the batteries;

For a second there I thought I was dying! –

Joke’s on me!


WORLD’S SHORTEST POEM

Roses are


ODE TO BELK

Had we but world enough, and time,
This coyness, lady, were no crime.
We would sit down and think which way
To walk, and pass our long love’s day;

But the sale at Belk

Ends Thursday

So we really should hurry.

Grab you keys and the checkbook.


RENTER’S WOE

Come live with me and be my love

And we will all the pleasures prove

Or I could come and live with you

If you will only help me move.

Do you own a truck?


MAKING THE GRADE?

Teacher’s lament:

To B, or not to B.

That is the question,

Since he really made a C.


IT ALL COMES BACK TO DAIRY

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,

Suddenly there came a growling, from the pit of my embowling

And it sent me quickly howling toward the ’frigerator door.

“Just a sandwich, nothing more.”

But I caved, went to the store,

And eat Blue Bell — evermore.

-30-