Friday, April 3, 2020

The Perfect Day

A blue duck rode
down a lonely  tree-lined road
with his best friend, a purple toad
on the handlebars of his bicycle.

A bright purple rose grows
by the Buddha statue's toes
while from his sacred nose
there hangs a long green icicle.

A polka-dotted swordfish,
while eating a potato knish,
closed his eyes and made a wish
that he could visit the moon.

Clyde, a blue-footed booby
and his lovely fiancée, Ruby
ate a plate of Spam musubi
while riding in a hot air balloon.

A neon-haired French lady named Yvette
gave her boyfriend a slice of baguette
and told him he never need fret,
then hugged him and gave him a kiss.

Her three-eyed boyfriend named Henri,
after taking a sip of mint tea,
said, "Yes, my love, I agree.
There can be no better day than this." - Jeff Barnes

Thursday, April 2, 2020

The Handy Shop

It was down the hill from where I lived
and across the railroad tracks.
It had bubble gum cards, pop, and candy
and uncounted paperbacks.

There was a big freezer case
filled with all kinds of ice cream,
racks of black and white nightmares
and pulpy four-color dreams.

I can still smell the newsprint
and feel the cheap wooden floor.
I wish I could browse through their comics,
but the Handy Shop is no more. - Jeff Barnes

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Chewing Gum

He lives his life the way he chews gum,
full of hope and eager to savor,
though after a time he begins to notice
that it has completely lost its flavor.

He always feels disillusioned
whenever the taste goes south,
leaving him to masticate
a rubbery dull wad in his mouth.

And yet he always puts more gum in,
though the flavor will inevitably pall.
Will he ever realize that he should
never have opened the pack at all? - Jeff Barnes

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

A Colony of Penguin Haiku

Propelled by his wings,
he soars above the landscape
of the sea bottom.

Emperor penguin
stands just about twelve inches
shorter than my wife.

Balanced on dad's feet,
protected by his brood pouch --
unhatched penguin egg.

Rockhopper penguin
resembles a punk rocker
with that crazy 'do.

The only sounds
among mountains of madness --
squawking of penguins. - Jeff Barnes

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

A Rhyming Haiku for COVID-19

Sheltering in place,
careful not to touch my face.
Goodbye, human race? - Jeff Barnes

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Haiku

New Year's second day --

perched atop a garbage can,
crow greets the morning. - Jeff Barnes

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Haiku

Steadfastly asleep --
4 PM on New Year's Day.
Unambitious cat. - Jeff Barnes