Screened


GloPoWriMo 2019 Day 20

Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a poem that “talks.” Try to write a poem grounded in language as it is spoken – not necessarily the grand, dramatic speech of a monologue or play, but the messy, fractured, slangy way people speak in real life.

‘Oh, hi there, Jan, howzit with you?’

‘I’m good; I’m good; hope you are, too?’

‘Ja, I am good; and how the kids?’

‘Man, all they do is look at vids,
Or mess with tablets all day long;
I reckon too much time is wrong,
The way they spends it at their screens,
And never see no outdoor scenes.’

‘You said it; mine do too; those girls
Forever in their texting whirls,
But never nothing have to say,
With conversation stuff each day:
Man, how they all right through me stare
I might as well jus’ not be there;
I needs to be with them some more . . .
But have you heard the latest score?’

‘Ja: last I heard old what’s-his-name
Had scored again, looks like the game
Is gonna end up pretty tight,
So, if we both leave now, we might
Get home in time to watch the end.’

‘Yes, cheers; nice talking to you, friend!

Another Saturday, another flea market, and Rhiannon and I gained these two pogo sticks for R20 ($1.42) each.

© April 2019 Colonialist

About colonialist

Active septic geranium who plays with words writing fantasy novels and professionally editing, with notes writing classical music, and with riding a mountain bike, horses and dinghies. Recently Indie Publishing has been added to this list.
This entry was posted in Africa, Challenge, GloPoWriMo, Humorous rhyme, Poems, Satire and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

22 Responses to Screened

  1. Debra says:

    I’ll be looking forward to a poem about those nifty pogo sticks! 🙂

    Like

  2. Sounds like a couple of boozers at my local pub

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  3. Sue W says:

    Pogo sticks, now that’s a blast from my past!

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Eish man! Wat die dickens yo gonna do with them smaaklik pogo sticks? Sjoe, I can just imagine you two okes bouncing down the street on them things. Don’t forget to stop at the red robot or you might end up with an eina.

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  5. Fletcher says:

    So have you tried out the pogo sticks?

    Like

  6. disperser says:

    Yup . . . adults complain about their kids but I can seldom talk to adults about birds, lakes, waves, and scenery because they’re most interested in sports, politics, and their own toys.

    . . . or they love to complain about their health.

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