Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Franklin Line: Dorchester Branch

Takes time to work on a bridge
That still needs to be used
Trains run single file


What is a sherku?

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

warning beacon

Industrial smoke stack
Warning beacon, fly away planes
No good air to breath



What is a sherku?

subcommittee

Beware of subcommittee
Analysis that may
Produce a nice surprise


What is a sherku?

Monday, April 28, 2008

railroad ties

New ties stacked green banded
Five by five to a bundle
Lay down a smooth ride


What is a sherku?

the answer

You need to define the
Problem you are trying
To solve to find the answer


What is a sherku?

Sunday, April 27, 2008

graffiti covered wall


Graffiti covered wall, art
Or vandalism? Good
Question. It does come back


What is a sherku?

water calm

Water calm, no more powering
The boarded up mill all
Work transferred away


What is a sherku?

Saturday, April 26, 2008

happy couple 2

Camera in hand, her arm
Extended above the seat
Their love captured now


What is a sherku?

happy couple 1

Couple cuddled, then alert
Told their ticket was only
Half price; they relaxed



What is a sherku?

Friday, April 25, 2008

Franklin Line: South Station

The eagle surveys Dewey Square
Shows its backside track side
On top South Station


What is a sherku?

Franklin Line: Hyde Park

A place for a good kids game
Skipping, jumping, playing
Seeking fun at Hyde Park



What is a sherku?

Thursday, April 24, 2008

blind sided

Still recovering from
The discovery that
I got blind sided this week



What is a sherku?

Franklin Line: Backyard view


Sheds, stacks, discards, everyone

Has them along the edge

Or behind their wood fence



What is a sherku?

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

clean windows

There is nothing like clean glass
Windex and towels make the pass

Take care you don’t get hurt

As you wipe the webs and dirt

The only acceptable sheen is high class

Franklin Line: Forge Park


Coals give heat, bellows fan

Flames, tongs reach through to the end

Of the line at Forge Park



What is a sherku?

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

the elders


The elders take their time

Getting someplace enjoying
The moments on the way



What is a sherku?

The young


The young spend a lot of
Energy getting someplace
And then they are restless


What is a sherku?

Monday, April 21, 2008

spring cleaning

When it comes to spring cleaning
She can be quite preening
But he reaches outside
She handles the inside
And the windows yield to double sheening

Franklin Line: Back Bay


Once marshland, filled and
Filled with lowered hills
Seagulls cry out in Back Bay


What is a sherku?

Sunday, April 20, 2008

did I mention

One aspect of limericks, they tend toward obscene
Here at JJL we will not do that scene
But still have a ball
Showing respect for all
By keeping our lyrics clean


Originally posted in the comments on the Joyful Jubilant Learning blog

There are two ladies from Australia

There are two ladies from Australia
who have some good ideas to persuade ya
to save your Christmas sanity
and avoid holiday calamity
go visit their site without delay ya!




For Chris Owen and Karen Wallace, good buddies at JJL

Originally posted on the Joyful Jubilant Learning blog


There once was a lady from Hawaii

There once was a lady from Hawaii
Who inspired a Ho’ohana community
To review good books
Share their learning with hooks
And spread the word from sea to sea


Yes, some literary license was exercised here as rhymes with Hawaii are limited.

For Rosa Say

Originally posted on the Joyful Jubilant Learning blog


There was a lad from Pawtucket

There was a lad from Pawtucket 

who now had to rhyme with suck it 

but he did not dare 

as he did not swear 

so he found a way to duck it

Originally posted on the Joyful Jubilant Learning blog

Friday, April 18, 2008

Franklin Line: Ruggles Station


The old Braves outfield at the

South End Grounds is a

Parking garage at Ruggles



What is a sherku?

Franklin Line: Islington

Westwood’s only stop on the
Franklin Line; is it or
Isn’t it Islington?


What is a sherku?

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Franklin Line: Dedham Corporate Center

No family store, no
Five and dime, not here
At Dedham Corporate Center



What is a sherku?

Franklin Line; Norwood Central

Stopped in horizontal
Sunlight random search dog
Walks at Norwood Central



What is a sherku?

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Multiple places, why?

6Apart, Facebook announce
New Blog It tool to post
Multiple places. Why?


What is a sherku?

Franklin Line: Variations on a theme (sherku x 3)


One talks loud on her phone
Another dives into her book
I want understanding

------

One talks loud on her phone
Another noses into her book
I watch the trees pass

------


One talking on her phone
Another noses into her book
I try to make sense


------


What is a sherku?

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Franklin Line: Walpole


Center pole, may pole

Streamers, flowers, ribbons

Second track ends here in Walpole



What is a sherku?

Franklin Line: Norfolk


Pitch fork to bale the hay

Butter knife with dainty scones

Franklin’s neighbor Norfolk




What is a sherku?

Monday, April 14, 2008

Franklin Line: Windsor Gardens


Chivalry, dukes, lords and
Ladies, not so grand this next
Stop is Windsor Gardens


What is a sherku?

Sunday, April 13, 2008

wet jeans

What is worse than wet jeans?
Having your team lose the
Soccer game that got you wet


What is a sherku?

originally posted at Steve's 2 Cents

missed train


Conference call long, platform full
10 foot short, 10 seconds late
There goes my ride


What is a sherku?

Saturday, April 12, 2008

justice for all

Wholesome body, sensual
Journey lovingly united
Justice for all


Inspired by Sharon Olds' "Topography"

What is a sherku?

strike sparks

Each poem whole tendrils
Of memory, this book careful
Selection to strike sparks



A short form book review of Sharon Olds' Strike Sparks: Selected Poems, 1980-2002

I had the pleasure of seeing/hearing Sharon at the Dodge Poetry Festival 2004

What is a sherku?

Friday, April 11, 2008

Franklin Layoffs?

Now that we are there
How do we stay? Layoff
45 teachers? Rue the day!


What is a sherku?

For more about Franklin's budget situation, please visit Franklin Matters

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Jimmy's driving

Where will the train stop?
The barrel, tree, or big crack
Need to know to greet the door



What is a sherku?

Franklin's Top 10

Three Top 10 lists found us
If only they would send money
So we can afford it


What is a sherku?

Actually it is two Top 10 and one Top 100 so I'll use this one as a "literary license"

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Poem in Your Pocket Day - April 17th



Celebrate the first national Poem In Your Pocket Day!

The idea is simple: select a poem you love during National Poetry Month then carry it with you to share with co-workers, family, and friends on April 17.

Poems from pockets will be unfolded throughout the day with events in parks, libraries, schools, workplaces, and bookstores. Create your own Poem In Your Pocket Day event using ideas below or let us know how you will celebrate Poem In Your Pocket Day by emailing npm@poets.org.

In this age of mechanical and digital reproduction, it's easy to carry a poem, share a poem, or start your own PIYP day event. Here are some ideas of how you might get involved:

  • Start a "poems for pockets" give-a-way in your school or workplace
  • Urge local businesses to offer discounts for those carrying poems
  • Post pocket-sized verses in public places
  • Handwrite some lines on the back of your business cards
  • Start a street team to pass out poems in your community
  • Distribute bookmarks with your favorite immortal lines
  • Add a poem to your email footer
  • Post a poem on your blog or social networking page
  • Project a poem on a wall, inside or out
  • Text a poem to friends
  • Tuesday, April 08, 2008

    Happy Birthday, Dwayne!

    Genuine curiosity
    Drives out melancholy
    Makes Dwayne Joe D. Cool!


    Who is Dwayne? Read Rosa Say's posting here.

    Read more from Dwayne directly here

    What is a sherku?

    MBTA Chime

    Stop bar swinging with the
    Rhythm of the rails ding
    Ding, ding, ding, through the open door


    What is a sherku?

    Monday, April 07, 2008

    MBTA View


    The windows are so cloudy

    Objects loose their shape

    In the dark, it is all one


    What is a sherku?

    MBTA Announcement

    Speaker crackles with something
    That could be a voice
    We’re in our own train of thought


    What is a sherku?

    Sunday, April 06, 2008

    Change Congress - earmarks


    Earmarks disallowed?

    There goes the currency

    Building consensus for the vote



    What is a sherku?

    Visit the Change Congress site to find out more about this effort.

    Change Congress - public funding


    Public funding for public

    Elections, makes sense

    Long as they put up the cents



    What is a sherku?

    Visit the Change Congress site to find out more about this effort.

    Saturday, April 05, 2008

    Confident writer

    A day older, wiser she’ll
    Always be young at heart
    As a confident writer



    What is a sherku?

    For Joanna Young, a Confident Writer, on her birthday

    Change Congress

    There is a new Don Quixote
    Lawrence Lessig his name
    Change Congress his game


    Originally posted at Steve's 2 Cents

    commuter


    Entering, she drops some bags

    Struggles more overhead

    Turns, settles with a sigh



    What is a sherku?

    Friday, April 04, 2008

    sacred space

    cemeteries at dawn are
    the only places where some
    sacredness of space is


    Note: Another in a series of 'found" poems, this one from Robert Fulghum. He may not have realized when he wrote them that he was composing a sherku.

    Thursday, April 03, 2008

    timing


    He was never on time

    He was never in time

    His timing was exquisite





    Note: Another in a series of 'found' poems, this one from Robert Fulghum. He may not have realized when he wrote them that he was composing a sherku.

    Wednesday, April 02, 2008

    hot Tang


    I like hot Tang at the office

    And coffee on the weekends

    What do you drink?



    What is a sherku?

    Tuesday, April 01, 2008

    no elevator

    I take the stairs to my desk
    One hundred sixty-four steps
    Elevates my heart rate

    What is a sherku?