Skip to main content

Goodbye Eighteen Poem- Poetry Friday

A somewhat whimsical retrospective poem to mark my 2018...

Image result for looking back over 2018


Goodbye Eighteen

Last year
I failed to win the lottery
Wasn’t an award recipient
And I failed to repair anything of significance

Last year
I forget to cull my book collection
Didn’t spend a single night in Paris
And didn't compete in a marathon for the first time

Last year 
I chose not to watch Masterchef
I didn’t get around to cleaning out my office desk
And I failed to snap any selfies at famous landmarks


Last Year
I didn't eat a single snail
-Nor a married one for that matter
And yet again, I failed to find any joy in Trump's tweets


Last year
I still refused to like cats
Or anchovies
Or cats who like anchovies

Last year
Was similar to the year before
This year shapes up as being the same

Comments

  1. What fun! Though those cats... 🙀 I do hope you like K-a-ts! Now wondering what I didn't do... Gotta admit, 2018 was a huge year for me - and my first thought is, there's not many things I didn't do!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am a fan of K-a-ts, but the other ones have a chequered history with me I'm afraid. My wife, Vicki is allergic to cat fur, so that means cats get short shrift in our house. Dogs, we love. Your 2018 did seem busy- and fulfilling, so wishing you an equally great 2019.

      Delete
  2. A new kind of retrospective calls for the opposite thoughts as in "I didn't, yet. . ." My granddaughters help a lot when cleaning out the desk drawers! Happy New Year, Alan!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy New Year to you to Linda. I like the idea of using this retrospective approach in a variety of ways. Maybe next year...

      Delete
  3. Maybe cats will grow on you in 2019? :) Thank you for the retrospective.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You remain more hopeful than I do Irene. My history with cats is not an altogether happy one. My children had cats as pets and it always ended with tears -catastrophes! I could write about those various cat tales. That cat history coloured my perceptions, no doubt.

      Delete
  4. What fun! Sometimes there is accomplishment in the things not done

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you liked it Kay. And yes, there is some sense of accomplishment in things not done.

      Delete
  5. Love the sense of humor in your poem Alan. And humor is one thing you did have last year and have this year too–got a good chuckle from your poem, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Michelle. One of my resolutions each year is to retain a sense of humour in the things I do, and the things I see happening- so thank you. Let us both keep chuckling in 2019.

      Delete
  6. Your poem is such a clever way to mark the passing of the year. Such fun! Like some others, I do hope you reconsider cats this year. Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Molly. I think that when it comes to cats we are not destined to co-exist under the same roof. As a child, my very first kitten, name of Alice, died suddenly with distemper and that kind of set the scene for later encounters with cats my children requested. Two later cats died under our house -in summer! -but not at the same time. There is a pattern here. I think I have developed a reticence in order to protect them from fate. Plus, my wife is allergic to them. Glad you liked the poem, by the way. Happy New Year to you Molly!

      Delete
  7. I enjoyed your humorous poem, Alan, especially these lines: I didn't eat a single snail
    -Nor a married one for that matter. Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Carol. I do enjoy injecting a little humour in my poetry where possible, so I'm glad you noticed. Happy New Year to you too.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Life Cycle -A football poem by Bruce Dawe

This poem by Australian poet Bruce Dawe epitomises the unique connection sporting tragics have to their preferred football teams, -an almost tribal allegiance. Each season supporters stare down the twin imposters- victory and defeat. They remain both loyal and hopeful of eventual triumph. This poem refers specifically to Australian Rules Football, but it's themes are universal. I share this poem on the eve of the 2017 Grand Final to decide the Premiership for this football season. My team, the Richmond Tigers have reached the play off to decide the ultimate victor. They have not contested the Grand Final match for 35 years. My hopes fly with them. This poem links two of my great loves -football and poetry... Life Cycle When children are born in Victoria they are wrapped in club-colours, laid in beribboned cots, having already begun a lifetime’s barracking. Carn, they cry, Carn … feebly at first while parents playfully tussle with them for possession of a rusk: Ah, he

Poetry Friday: The Safety Pin Poem

Poets not only write poetry, they also read poetry. In order to be able to write poetry, one must read it. Lots of poetry in fact...  I want to share a short little poem by Valerie Worth. I bought Valerie's book, 'All The Small Poems And Fourteen More,' while living and working in New York, some time back. It remains a personal favourite.  I love the way the poet shines a special light on everyday objects, transforming them into something unique and worthy of attention. Her close observations elevate her poems into the special category.  Each poem in the collection celebrates earthly wonders. From eggs to garbage, from potatoes to pockets, each object is given special attention in the form of short poems employing keen observations.  Valerie Worth demonstrates through her poems she totally understands the saying-'ideas exist in things.'  The poem I have chosen to share with you (one of my personal favourites) is titled, 'Safety Pin'. S af

Opposite Poems

O pp o s ite P oem s In his book, ' How To Write Poetry,'  Paul Janeczko presents the idea of opposite poems. Paul suggests they could also be referred to as antonym poems. This is wordplay and it's fun to try. Here are some examples Paul provides to help us see very clearly how these short little poems work. I think the opposite of chair Is sitting down with nothing there What is the opposite of kind? A goat that butts you from behind Paul Janeczko You will  notice the poems are written in rhyming couplets. They can be extended so long as you remember to write in couplets. Paul shows us how this is done. What is the opposite of new? Stale gum that's hard to chew A hot-dog roll as hard as rock Or a soiled and smelly forgotten sock You might notice that some of Paul's opposite Poems begin with a question. The remainder of the poem answer the question posed. Opposite poems are a challenge, but it is a challenge worth trying. Not e