The Courtesan

Out at night

Roaming the streets

Reach the street corner

Oh what a sight!

There stood a courtesan

Dressed in her jammies

All red and blue patched

Oh what an image!

An image I never before

Would be able to conceive

In my little brain

It made me chuckle!

Jo Anne Kennedy

 © March 2015

#49 word poem dare to incorporate the words: jammies, patched, conceive & courtesan

Parklife

Sitting on a bench

In the middle of the park

Watching the local wildlife

Running wild in the wind

There are many ducks

Swimming in the pool

You never know what else

Probably piddling in there too!

Watching squirrels is fun

Running up and down,

Different trees all the time

Adding spice to their life

Dogs running free

Sniffing everything in sight

One of them a wrecker

Knocking over the bins

It’s a pleasant day

Watching people walk by

Babies in the prams

Lovers hand in hand

It’s good to be free

To breathe in the air

Bask in the sunshine

Glad to be alive

Jo Anne Kennedy

© March 2015

This was a 49 poem word dare but ended up being more, and it was to incorporate the words: Wildlife, Piddling, Spice and Wrecker 

High-Schoolers

High-schoolers roaming

Tailgating Cars

In a bizarre fantasy

Of boys vs man

Wanting to be more

Than they actually are

Showing off to their friends

Trying to impress the girls

Fun would end in tragedy

When one tailgate fails

One boy loses control

And will never be a man

Jo Anne Kennedy

© March 2015

#49 word poem dare to incorporate the words: schoolers, bizarre, tailgate and roaming

Challenge Destiny

Life is what you make it

Do you lie down and accept

Or stand up tall and believe

Believe in a change of ways

Some people crash and burn

Others they take control

They challenge destiny

And take life in their hands

You need to trust in the present

Put one foot in front of the other

Walk tall and high

And live life with a smile

Life can be miserable

Or life can be joyous

Life is what you make it

So enjoy it while you can

Jo Anne Kennedy

March 2015

The Testimony

Many people talking

Little sound bites of chat

And then silence

The judge has arrived

The case has begun

It’s my turn to rise

Swear on the Bible

As my testimony is given

As the main witness

Responsibility is on my shoulders

In this faded case

Of the stolen legal script

#writing dare: a 49 word poem using the words sound bites, faded, testimony and scrip  

Crown of Lillies

Happily playing in the pond

Throwing water everywhere

Annoying the little fishes

You go under the water

My heart lurches

I think the worst

But then you emerge

Brighter than the sun

A crown of lilies on your head

It made me smile

At the sight of you

My heart settled

You were my angel

The little princess

Whom I’d never let go

Jo Anne Kennedy

© March 2015 

Wiser than Wisdom

To me you are amazing

Your actions always genuine

True love shines from you

And compassion as well

You are a quiet person

Only speaking when spoken to

Your words are wise

To me you are wiser than wisdom

You don’t speak rashly

No gossip comes from you

Your words are well chosen

And spoken with care

I wish I could be like you

A person of perfection

Who guides and leads the way

Always being there to care

You welcome all to your house

No one gets rejected by you

But you get rejected

Yet your love still shines on

Thank you for being you

For not judging me

Or never walking away

You always amaze me

Jo Anne Kennedy

© March 2015

Hush

Hush now child

No more crying

No more screaming

Just lie and be still

Hush now child

No more kicking

Take comfort in my arms

Close your eyes and sleep

Hush now child

No one is leaving

We will still be there

When you awake again

Hush now child

No need to fret

You are safe here

Just lie and be still

Jo Anne Kennedy

March 2015

Pulse

Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom

That’s the rhythm of the pulse

The beat of your heart

Your pulse is your lifeline

Its beat keeps you going

It’s the key to life

The beat controls your way

If it beats too fast

You will need to be wary

If the pulse beats slow

It may be time to let go

But no need to worry

If it’s time to go

Do not panic or worry

There will be hands to hold you

To hold you and to love you

Comfort you to the end

Just trust and rest in those hands

Jo Anne Kennedy

March 2015

Forgive

Let it all go

Leave the past behind

Throw it all away

May have to do it day after day

Forgiveness is not a one-time thing

It’s seventy seven times seven

So be prepared to forgive everyday

But remember to forgive truly

You may forgive but not forget

But throw those thoughts away

Take the negatives and destroy them

It’s the present that should shine

Take life one day at a time

It’s all we can do

Don’t worry about the future

Or dwell on the past

It’s time to live your life

The way it has been planned

Just take care and shine

For you are loved

Jo Anne Kennedy

March 2015

One Fine Thing

He brought me flowers

They are blooming well

Sitting on my table

Colourful and pure

That’s one fine thing he did

The made me smile

Showed me his love

And how he cares for me

I am thankful for my friends

And all they do for me

I’m glad they’re in my life

And all the smiles she brings

Jo Anne Kennedy

March 2015

I am Enough

I am enough

No need for anything more

Just be who I am

You love me for who I am

Don’t care what I am

I am enough for you

Your love for me is unconditional

Nothing I can do to lose it

You love me just the way I am

Thank you for loving me

Thank you for being you

And telling me I am enough

Jo Anne Kennedy

March 2015

Unemployed

My days are long

Not much to do

No job to go to

Just an empty day

Need to fill my days

Find things to do

Go walking with friends

Or grab lunch and a chat

I've too much time to think

Getting a diploma in naval gazing!

As my mother would say

Need to find things to do

Go to the cinema, watch TV,

Read books – have plenty to read,

Write poetry and short stories

Keep me busy and occupy my mind

My days are long

But they are also good

As they are the days

God has given to me

Jo Anne Kennedy

March 2015

Hospitals

 When you think of hospitals

You think of illnesses

Many people hooked to machines

And nurses working frantically

They are very busy places

And the staff all work hard

To help those who are in need

Of medical attention

The patients lie in their beds

Some too ill to even talk

And other nervously awaiting,

The outcome of tests and scans

Relatives visit the sick

Bring with them a smile

Hoping to hear good news

And their loved ones can come home

People have mixed feelings

When they think of hospitals

For some they are full of sadness

For others they can bring joy

Jo Anne Kennedy

© March 2015

Early Memories

In my childhood years

Many memories were made

But what do I remember

Against what I have been told

Climbing trees in the garden

My first time on a plane

Falling in the snow

Those I do remember

A penguin biting my foot

Arriving to my family

Decorating carpets with Jif

Those stories were told to me

I like my childhood memories

They make me smile

At happy times of old

Jo Anne Kennedy

February 2015

The Sea

I love sitting on the beach

Watching the waves break

And playing with the sand

The sea hypnotises me

Brings a sense of peace with me

And a calmness of the soul

Whether it’s rough or still

The sea is beautiful to me

It has a mysterious feel

Whether the waves are angry

Or just slowly rolling

The sea has a hold on me

Jo Anne Kennedy

February 2015

Belonging

I wander through life

Feeling detached and empty

Always feeling on the outside

With no sense of belonging

I feel distant and cold

Like I’m watching life from afar

I feel like a stranger

And not sure how to belong

It feels weird and strange

Like I am in another world

On the outside looking in

At life being played out

It’s like I’m out of place

In a story which isn’t mine

In a place I don’t know

But ache to belong

Jo Anne Kennedy

February 2015