Nosing Around
Of all the body parts we own, our nose
is pointedly the one that doesn't stay
where it belongs. It sniffs prevailing winds
and chases rumors; huffs them in and puffs
them out (with variations on the theme).
Beneath a haughty sheen, it sneaks behind
the neighbor's fence where gossip grows, and seeks
the place where folks conceal their naughtiness.
It pokes away at closet walls until
they fall...and all their secrets tumble out.
A nose was meant to be attached; to serve
its owner with delight and as a means
of warning of surprise attacks. It should
not be cavorting in the streets, intent
on scents of business that are not its own.
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The Old Thoughts Home
Just where do old thoughts go? I've pondered this,
while peering down the hallways of my mind.
They're flighty guests, and few of them I'll miss;
besides, they leave their garbage strewn behind.
They barge right in, upset my scheduled plans,
and scatter notions halfway through the night.
At dawn they holler, "catch me if you can"...
and when I turn, they've vanished from my sight.
One day I found a notice, and I knew
where they must head when they vacate my place:
The Old Thoughts Home: Full service and a view --
with private rooms and lots of meeting space.
Imagine the commotion that exists
when old thoughts gather 'round to reminisce!
The Naughty Word
A word was bent and lying in the dust,
its syllables in helter-skelter sprawl.
I heard its wistful sigh and picked it up,
to gently prop its form against the wall.
It stared with eyes of innocence and hope,
and whimpered that it longed to find a home.
An inspiration hit -- I asked if it
would like a fine position in a poem.
It giggled, said "I'd love to!" So we left,
and I began to ponder on its line.
I set it on my desk, repaired its parts,
then polished it to quite a glowing shine.
But when I tried to put it in its place,
it squirmed and kicked its neighbor in the shin.
I scolded, but to no avail. It ran
and hid, then teased me with a sassy grin.
"You silly word, I'll toss you back outside!
Why you weren't even worth my while to save."
"So go ahead!" it dared me. And I did.
Now someone else can teach it to behave!
© Laryalee Fraser
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