once when i wrote a poem about sailboats
Poetry | Posted by Jannie on 27 March 2012 @ 7:17 AM 49 Comments
it went flying out the attic window
with a big hunk of cheddar cheese.
my next mizzenmast ode danced
off in the night with artistic owls.
after more sailing poems vanished
i turned my pen to pastry poetics.
alas, my stanzas about tofu cake
bought one-way tickets for italy
and my chocolate eclair sonnets
ran off to join the russian ballet.
i let a year pass, then managed a
haiku about a man who’s dog won
the lottery, but that one ended up
laundry mush in my jeans’ pocket.
18 months later when i chanced a
poem about cats it fell off the roof.
i then gave up writing poetry for
81 years until attempting this one.
so far so good, the words still here
on the page, sailboats photo intact.
might even be able to slip in a few
words about how the skinny sailors
go richocheting off the rigging and
flying into the great deep and such
before this poem is onto my tricks
and suddenly …
Posted for dVerse’s Open Link Tuedsay.
lovely sailing ships photo downloaded from
xoxo
On 27 March 2012 at 8:42 am
Pat Hatt said,
81 years? Wow you look good for your age…hahahaha…..great poem on the high seas, as you let it lift off on a breeze.
On 27 March 2012 at 9:10 am
brian miller said,
i would love to be sailing right now…and if i hung fromt eh rigging i might catch one of your fleeing poems…how awesome would that be? great picture to open…i missed my time in history…i like the playfulness in your verse…though i hope the cat verse is ok, i hear they land on their feet though so it is probably ok…as long as it was not too high…
On 27 March 2012 at 12:26 pm
Jennifer Susannah Devore said,
Mizzenmasts are always best experienced when viewed with pirates and shrub glasses and pewter tankards of rum! Yum!
Ciao, Miss Jannie From Texas, a.k.a. “Jannie Koontzler the one-legged, Colonial Folk Monster singing for donuts and beer” in my latest novel “The Darlings of Orange County”. Yea, Jannie!! Now you’re officially a character! Hope you love it!
http://www.jennypop.net/
On 27 March 2012 at 12:40 pm
Jennifer Susannah Devore said,
Mizzenmasts are best experienced with pirates and shrub glasses of rum! Yum!
Ciao, Miss Jannie From Texas, a.k.a. Jannie Koontzler the one-legged, Colonial Folk Monster singing for donuts and beer in my newest novel “The Darlings of Orange County”. You’re officially a character, Jannie
Hope you love it!
http://tinyurl.com/bmzy4xz
On 27 March 2012 at 1:15 pm
kelly said,
you always make me smile, and this time, a little hungry, too…
On 27 March 2012 at 1:30 pm
Ruth said,
it may have been a while (81 years??) but this poem is perfect, love it to… er
– anyway, I think it’s here to stay (and the muse too, I hope)
On 27 March 2012 at 1:43 pm
hannah said,
Jannie, if this comment comes through, then please come tell me how I can get into other Wordpress blogs to comment.
For some reason I have been black-balled.
On 27 March 2012 at 1:46 pm
hannah said,
Still the bunny, but at least here I can communicate.
The tofu cake may return from Italy with tiramisu in tow
Your semi-rant made me smile.
On 27 March 2012 at 1:49 pm
AudreyHowitt (@AudreyHowitt) said,
I love your work–when I read this piece, I feel like I want to play and dance in the sun! Lovely work! (great imagery!!!)
On 27 March 2012 at 2:18 pm
Daydreamertoo said,
That is a fabulous picture. Loved the fun and happiness in your prose
On 27 March 2012 at 2:36 pm
Jannie said,
Jannie’s on the moon.
But should be back soon.
Xxxooo
On 27 March 2012 at 3:39 pm
Elizabeth Young said,
I love it when people are eccentric (because I feel extremely at home with them!) Love this off the cuff piece about food, sailboats and time travel!!!
On 27 March 2012 at 3:57 pm
colleen said,
Somehow you made me worry about the sailboat falling off the screen and somehow I think I believe that you actually wrote those poems (especially the pastry ones) but never finished them. They all have alibis now.
On 27 March 2012 at 4:29 pm
Lynn said,
I’m glad this one didn’t end up in the laundry. Your poems make me so happy. xo
On 27 March 2012 at 4:42 pm
Anna Montgomery said,
Jannie I so love your tricks, they are such wily, clever ones and I cherish them like puppies! So much smiling to be done when sailing your seas, thank you!
On 27 March 2012 at 4:52 pm
Susie Clevenger said,
I love the sailboat time travel in this one. I think for us poets the words are always there even if the path to them is cut off at times.
On 27 March 2012 at 4:53 pm
Natasha said,
Imagine the yacht you could have if you made a dollar from every smile you gave! Jannie…you are one of a kind. The write is fantastic and the good vibes will only multiply. The world needs more you!
On 27 March 2012 at 4:58 pm
Glenn Buttkus said,
New moon is a’coming, and funster
poetics are on the move, running,
flying, crawling, zooming around the
world, like the smoke from a volcano,
like the nectar clinging to bee’s knees,
haunted by the laughter of unseen
children, by fairies weeping, by kittens
singing soprano, and we welcome every
word as we wield our poetic nets and
scoop up the mothra manic language
you loose upon the world; love it.
On 27 March 2012 at 5:05 pm
Heaven (@asweetlust) said,
Why wait so long to pen…I do like your words sailing and flying away ~
See you soon ~
On 27 March 2012 at 5:29 pm
Steve E said,
Well, I liked this one so much–tasting the salty spray–think I may just hang around for the next one. Eighty-one YEARS, you say? Can I simply go to sleep, and awaken in 81 years to read another?–grin!
Like…a LOT!
On 27 March 2012 at 5:47 pm
Shadiatique said,
Wow this is so lovely. I miss being here
Shadia
On 27 March 2012 at 5:56 pm
Jannie said,
jannie just left in her beat-up old car
off to a party on the west side of mars.
On 27 March 2012 at 6:52 pm
Mary said,
I enjoyed the recounting of your various phases in poetry. I have gone through some as well. Not 81 years worth though, LOL. I enjoyed this.
On 27 March 2012 at 7:00 pm
ayala said,
Fun and sweet like you.
xoxo
On 27 March 2012 at 7:12 pm
Adan Lerma said,
i think i felt the spray from that sailing poem skim off a choppy wave and wave good-bye
fun poem, i hope i’m this agile when i’m 81
On 27 March 2012 at 7:42 pm
Daisy said,
I wish my dog would win the lottery!
Wonderful, fun poem, Jannie. Made me smile.
On 27 March 2012 at 8:15 pm
ed pilolla said,
these are my favorites: my stanzas about tofu cake bought one-way tickets for italy and my chocolate eclair sonnets ran off to join the russian ballet. you have a delightful, clever way…
On 27 March 2012 at 8:48 pm
claudia said,
oh jannie…i just love it…such fun…ya know what….i would join you any time in flying out the attic window…and maybe i would bring some swiss cheese to the party..smiles
On 28 March 2012 at 2:05 am
SnaggleTooth said,
Beautiful tall Ships pic! Makes me want to whip around the rigging n go for a swim too! I heard you were roasting a bit there whilst we’re again frozen after Mini-Summer so rudely left before desert…
Sorry you lost so many poems! I have too… now I skip the paper n write them diresctly in blogger so they don’t get lost- until the connection n power fails!
Sail on Baird Jannie!
On 28 March 2012 at 2:57 am
Hilary said,
Hi Jannie .. well that’s a lot of thoughts, with bizarre mix and matches – no wonder you’re 81 … me I’m not so old just now!! I could fly now and gently float above the English countryside … just for a while – a meditation flight, no inaugural one needed .. just the sun – perhaps solar powered flight .. or just the air – gliding on the waves above …
Musta dash before I get even older – happy week .. cheers and hugs xoxoxoxo Hilary
On 28 March 2012 at 5:14 am
Catherine said,
Haha ~ your mind must never stop! Very creative and fun!
xo Catherine
On 28 March 2012 at 5:36 am
Diane, fit to the finish said,
Lovely poem! It was whimsical and meaningful at the same time. I wish I could write like that!
On 28 March 2012 at 8:32 am
Jo Mifflin said,
Hello honey pie
You do make me giggle
Would you bring me some cheese back from the moon please
love you lotties xoxoxox
On 28 March 2012 at 9:30 am
sheila said,
Loooooooooooooooove-ly
So pretty, words and pic
On 28 March 2012 at 11:47 am
Jannie said,
Hey Chicks and Chiquitos!
Jannie is thinking she’ll do some comment-hopping her now, as in responding… and sipping coffee. and having fun.
Pat — I am 118 years young.
And my poems will never tell if they were finished or not. 
And you are like, next on my blog-hopping list!!
Brian — the cat verse got 21 stitches to 10 toes, and moved to Bermuda.
Jennifer — ahh that all sounds awesome, thanks. Folk Monster — yep, t’is me!
Kelly — did you go eat cake and eclairs after reading this?
Ruth — my muse and I have an understanding. It comes when I call!! Usually.
Hannah — I’ll check back over on your blog to see if you got to Wordpress comment. tiramisu — yes!!!! now you’re talking my poetic passion.
Audrey — how awesome!!! I was dancing and playing when I wrote this. Is life Grrrreat, or what!?? And I LOVE that you call it my “work.” I feel like such an offical poet when you say that!
DayDreamer — yeah! I[m living that photo Right Now, in my heart and mind.
Jannie!!! Y9u left your boots on the moon.
Elisabeth — so glad you’re strange too!! And I bet I’ll be right at home over at your place. Poetry gets to the core lickety-split.
Colleen!! I love where my mind takes yours to.
Ahhh, Lynnie — I love when I make you happy!!!! whooohoooooooo.
Anna! Ahh, I am a bit of a trickster, aren’t I? I call it exerimental poetry, great way to be so strange and get away with it.
Susie, you dear wise poet, yes, and don’t you feel sorry for the ones not born as poets? Or are we ALL poets in our own ways, even those not drawn to write or read verse? Hmmmmn, interesting.
And my dears — I must break for there.
Off to eat, or something.
xoxo
On 28 March 2012 at 12:55 pm
Sara said,
Jannie — What a fun read. I loved these lines:
“after more sailing poems vanished
i turned my pen to pastry poetics.”
Pastry poetics made me laugh out loud. May you always write such delightful reads. I always find myself smiling or laughing as I read them aloud.
Have a great rest of your week, Jannie:~)
On 28 March 2012 at 1:14 pm
Fred said,
Jannie, love the conversational tone here. I love sailboats, always have. Sailing too, but haven’t done that in such a long time. Pastry poetics, artistic owls and lottery tickets in the pockets compared to that haiku-awesome. Very cool piece. Thanks
On 28 March 2012 at 6:57 pm
G-Man said,
Jannie oh Jannie…
Full of poetry they say.
One of your Many Talents
So go write a song now…Eh?
On 29 March 2012 at 12:02 am
jove said,
creative, carefree and clever all at the same time!
On 29 March 2012 at 10:00 am
Jannie said,
So…. heloooooo again everybody!
I just put the 55th word on my 55 to post today at 5:55 Texas Time.
Natasha! I totally LOVE that “the good vibes will only multiply.” My new mantra, thank you!
Among MANY others!
Glenn! I wish our cat were a soprano as she seems to be heading towards her second heat. Thanks SO much, glad you were inspired to nectar and such.
Heaven! Why wait indeed? Good point.
Steve E! The next one has pine rafters and implied tulips and daffodils. Yes, 81 years is but a second on Planet Jannie.
SHADIATIQUE!!! Wow, you came back. Where you been? You been okay? I must make you a sidebar button if I have not already.
Mary! I also had my mountain phase, my hanging out with L.Cohen phase, and my strawberry gardening phase!
Oooo, Ayala — takes one to know one!!!
Adan! Did you hear the clinking of the lanyard whatzzits on metal too? And smell forever in the salt? I just turned 118, and doin’ great!
Daisy — MY — Daisy!! I actually think a new Daisy button for you is in order. Closer to the look of the first one I made you, updated to standard Janniecode size. The last one I think the daisies are too out of focus.
Ed! Well, I’d first heard the eclair had hightailed it with the circus as a roadie, but the tofu cake received an anynymous postcard from Venice that the eclair had moved on to Ireland to paint seascapes out of eggshells and thyme.
Claudia! We could Peter Pan it around the world. Swiss cheese sounds great! I’ll have mine with sliced tomatoes and hearts of ocean.
And now Jannie is off to let her heart settle over some lines of lyric and then to actual PEN and PAPER.
Jannie will return here, God Willing!!!!
xoxoxo
On 29 March 2012 at 2:44 pm
Liara Covert said,
Walked right into this magnificent photo world, caught the flying cheddar cheese and had a delicious snack. Fabulous scenery and on a blustery day!
On 29 March 2012 at 4:39 pm
Alice Audrey said,
Seems like all the important papers end up mush in the laundry. I shudder to think what all I’ve picked out of the bottom of the tub after washing my son’s clothes.
On 30 March 2012 at 9:36 am
Jannie said,
WOW! Jannie’s back whooohoo.
SNAGGLE!! I bet you get to see lots of ships like that in your area come the warmer months. And neat you mention Baird, Kalyani plays a Baird guitar! Yep, we roasted, then got soaked. More roasting come Sunday, I think.
HILARY!! Do you float over the moors and mountains of jolly old England? But seriously, do you transcend time, space and place when you meditate? I do more of a walking meditation. I find it very hard to still my mind.
CATHERINE! Alas, it does not yes, stop. My mind, that is. Quite an affliction, but I suppose it serves me well in writing songs. Which I’ll be turning my heart to a little later this morning.
DIANE! Meaningful? I hadn’t thought of it that way. Nice take. Ahh, anyone can write like this, just get word lists and see where they take you.
SHEEEEEEEILA!!! Now, what did I say in this? I forget? Scrolls up…. Oh yes, a silly poem with pastry and sail. Thankyou.
SARA!! I read these out loud now after writing to hear what you will hear. And now I’ve turned my pen to Continental Cuisine words, went to Paris on my dreams last night to the Cordon Bleu. Fabulous, Darling! fabulous poems emerging from that.
FRED! I think sailing really entails work, so I’d rather write poems about it.
Lovely as always, EXTRA lovely to have yo uin my poetic midst. And I enjoyed perusing your Squerm art.
G-MAN!! I believe I shall go write a song soon. One more cup of coffee and back to my guitar goes I. I think it will be a song lof peace, love, understanding and hope. Then I’ll write one about a rabbit who loves horseback riding.
JOVE!!! So awesome you came to join us from dVerse!! Thank you so much for your visit and wirds.
LIARA!! I ate some cheddar last night after I read your comment. And then sailed off to the moon again.
ALICE AUDREY!! Luckily our wonderful American currency defies water and wash. TG!
xooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
On 30 March 2012 at 9:43 am
Hilary said,
Hi Jannie .. sadly, seriously, I don’t meditate – though I suspect my mind might like to .. way too much going on – which the mind keeps mulling over and creating thoughts … one day I shall get there!! Though I’m quite balanced and not out of kilter .. but meditating would be a plus – I can see that, but for now don’t feel the need … doing is what I need to be getting on with … perhaps when my Mama goes into longer sleeps I can be with her and practise there .. but interruptions around then too … such is life … anon – nice thought though cruising above the countryside – quite like to be a bird!! Happy weekend .. cherry bye .. Hilary oxoxoxoxox
On 30 March 2012 at 9:52 am
Jannie said,
HILARY! I don’t see the need for me meditating either. The last time I tried I lasted 3 of the 5 minutes. Maybe writers need less meditation? For me just being under a tree these days listening to the birds is meditation enough. SO much music in the leaves up laughing on the trees, and such.
Hope you have a happy happy day!!
xooxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxxoxooxoxoxooxo
On 30 March 2012 at 10:24 am
Hilary said,
Hi Jannie .. as I throw the worries away – there’s open space for me to peer around into the space around me, over the pond and far away .. like the owl in the pea-green boat .. but I’m horribly practical and decisive – I was talking to a friend this a.m. – and said I just get on with things, and cope as I go .. yes I worry for a while who doesn’t … she just said I’d like some of what you’ve got!! It took me a few decades to get here – but now each year it becomes easier for some reason – mind you the last 5 years has not been easy .. or the years before that – but somehow I’ve come through better for it all …
we’ll fly away together .. you need to experience a hammock under the tree canopy, on one of the islands in the Okavango delta .. a magical place …
Happy thoughts and happy weekend et al too .. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox Hilree
On 30 March 2012 at 5:57 pm
Jannie said,
Hi Hils! And guess what? I’m at The Fair Bean where all the desserts are organic and made by Hilary! Yep! Cookies, cakes, muffins.
But I’ll be back!!
O.M. starting!
Xxooo
On 31 March 2012 at 6:18 pm
Jannie said,
Hilary, the Okavango is new to me.
Just a quick pop in
before a much needed nap.
I’ll be back, my dear.
Xxoo
On 1 April 2012 at 9:02 pm
Jannie said,
Hilary, the owl in the pea green boat. I’m not sure if I know that story. Flying away to a hammock sounds good to me.
I believe your happiest days lie ahead. And when we focus on This Moment, instead of the past or future we are at our happiest.
xooxo