RAP2
Random Acts of Poetry - Act 2:
A Buffet of Poetry Just for You
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If you enjoyed my first book of poetry, you'll love my second anthology. This book contains 54 poems covering a variety of topics such as dreams, family, humor, mental illness, philosophy, music, love-romance, nature, politics, trivia and a special section on haiku. There are two sonnets, but mostly my poems are free verse with end-rhyme - most of the time. I switch things up with meter as I write in iambic triameter, tetrameter and pentameter and occasionally I mix in some spondee moments. There are some surprises and mysteries that I think you will find entertaining. For instance, the poem titled "The Magic Scepter" is a dreamy fantasy where the world is turned upside down. Another poem, "The Circle of Fifths Sonnet" describes the musical composer's secret weapon to natural harmony. For an educational poem, "Alexander's Abacus" pertains to history surrounding a mathematical device still used in a number of countries today. A trivial poem you may enjoy is "An Average Joe." The content is a bit of a surprise, but in it, you will learn about a little U.S. Naval history. Lastly, the poem "Mr. Not Unright" presents a rather witty rhyming perspective of one who speaks in double negatives.All-in-all, my poems reflect the random nature of thoughts that enter my head. Often times, I can jot them down and they appear in a matter of minutes. Other times, it takes a little longer. So, if you are tired of reading those long novels, take a break and try this book for a nice treat as you enjoy a light snack and a cup of your favorite beverage. It is truly a buffet of poetry that I wrote just for you.
RAP2 Poem Titles
A Boy Named Bryan
A Breakfast Buffet
A Classical Day
A Halloween Fable
A Lonely Soul
A Man of Many Hats
A Natural Force
A Needy Lamp
A Poem for the KISS Army
A Secret Buried
A Timely Proverb
A Trip from the Past
Alexander's Abacus
All About that Bacon
An Average Joe
Briefly Dead
Divisions of Time
Drops on my Window
Drums and Brass
DND
Gnosis
If I Could
Left-Handed Metric Crescent Wrench
Let's Play Ball
Love is a Back Rub
Lyin' Eyes
Mr. Not Unright
My Crimson Friend
My Delusion at Lake Elsinore
My Front Porch
My Mother Forever
Mystic Harmony
Our Wonderful Winter-Full Weather
Potluck Dinner
Spirals
The Arms of Starr
The Cemetery on Tyner Hill
The Circle of Fifths Sonnet
The Covid Controversy
The Current News Blues
The Magic Scepter
The Morning Sunrise
The One, The None and The All
The Sharing of Joy
The Sky Inside my Mind
The Village Vernacular
Therefore I Am
To Breathe
To Tweet, or not to Tweet
Tulip Trees
Up in Smoke
Well Grounded
When My Time is Up
Win Win
Drums and Brass
by Brett A. Starr on September 20, 2021
It appears to my ears of the sounds down the street.
Of the beating of the drums, and the marching feet.
I hear the flutes, the saxophones and the clarinets.
I hear the bells, I see the flags and the banners, yet --
I see the shiny gold reflections that come quite clear.
The medieval sounding trumpets really pierce my ears.
The sliding and providing of the trombones' pitch.
And the tubas in the background make the sound so rich.
Oh, play on! Play on, you marching bands!
At halftime shows across the land.
The creation of formations on the fields of grass.
Oh, the sounds I hear the most are the drums and brass.
The percussion with their cadence entertains the crowd.
The melody and harmony of the brass are loud.
The woodwinds and the cymbals make the sound complete.
Together all in sequence with the marching feet.
Oh, play on! Play on, you marching bands.
John Philip Sousa's anthems are so grand.
The band I hear into my ears –- a sound surpassed
By the beating and the playing of the drums and brass.
Spirals
by Brett A. Starr on March 27, 2021
Spirals! Spirals! Everywhere!
Over here and over there
In the garden, in the air
Did you ever stop and stare?
Flowers, pine cones, it all seems
Patterns come through natural means
Numerical puzzles to make us think
Just pull the light chain. Hear it clink?
Ocean waves and hurricanes
We label them with proper names
Here’s a microcosmic hint
Just look upon your fingerprint.
Spirals! Spirals! Everywhere!
Over here and over there.
Did you know it? Do you care?
This is what I came to share.
Footnote: poetry contest topic ‘patterns.’ Spirals are everywhere in our world. This key to unlocking nature’s sacred geometry is proof that there is a creator. This pattern is repeated all over nature.
My Crimson Friend
By Brett A. Starr on January 18, 2021
A cool and crispy morning snow
Had shut us in nowhere to go.
A foot ‘n a half of fluffy flakes
Disguised the fields from frozen lakes.
Our cabin small and cozy warm
We harbored from the snowy storm.
I wiped the window’s foggy pane
To see the view ‘twas not the same.
A cardinal perched on frosted tree
He scanned for food no eye could see.
And so, I took some seed in hand
Through the pane I slowly scanned
For shallow spot to toss the seed
To aid my feathered friend in need
The wind had blown a drift nearby
Adjacent snow was not so high.
Unlatched the window, I slightly raised
And tossed the seed so he could graze.
It wasn’t long he flew on down
To eat the meal upon the ground.
Admiring him so crimson red
The pointed feathers atop his head.
I said “Hello,” he looked to see
And sang a song right back to me.
Surreal it was that winter’s day
I said goodbye as he flew away.
I lay back down, or so it would seem
I’d been under the covers, lost in a dream.
Footnote: written in iambic tetrameter, this poem was for a poetry contest topic “lost in a dream.” This was my first entry in the online poetry group contests in January of 2021. Once I got started, it all just flowed naturally. I like to paint the picture in my mind as I hear the words. The rhythm and content remind me of Robert Frost's 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.' Instead of talking about a horse, it is about a bird. Also, instead of miles to go before I sleep, perhaps it could be miles to go before I wake...
Up in Smoke
By Brett A. Starr on January 18, 2021
Dilemma here, your help I need.
Will you please supply a lead?
Pipe, cigar or cigarette
A choice to make, what should I get?
A common choice is plain to see
That cigarettes come easily.
Just light one up and puff away
The stress and strain of a busy day.
But what do all the bankers say?
Or share a new father’s happy day;
Or an evening table’s poker play;
A cigar appears the only way.
Distinguished gentlemen prefer a pipe
With fresh tobacco, the smell - so ripe.
The professor and aristocrat
Light a pipe they often chat.
From all of those a choice to make.
But here’s another thought to take.
Don’t let the pressure of the stoke
Persuade you choosing not to smoke.
Footnote: this smoker’s epiphany came to me back in 1991, but not in poetic form. An internal conversation with myself called a jouska discussed the smoker’s philosophy. I explained it to my brother and his wife. His wife suggested I forgot the most important choice – not to smoke. It wasn’t until recently that it came to me in a poem.
All About that Bacon
By Brett A. Starr on May 30, 2021
You know I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bacon, no tofu
I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bacon, no tofu
I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bacon, no tofu
I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bake, bake, bake, bacon
Yeah, I know I’ve heard it said that I could lose some weight
But the rumble in my tummy means it’s quarter of eight.
Not a continental breakfast or a donut will do.
I want that salty substance that my mouth can chew.
You know I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bacon, no tofu
I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bacon, no tofu
I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bacon, no tofu
I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bake, bake, bake, bacon
At noon it’s time to eat again, let’s take some time,
To make a healthy salad with a squeeze of lime.
But I don’t want no shredded cheese or toasted Ritz.
I want that salty salad topping torn in bits.
You know I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bacon, no tofu
I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bacon, no tofu
I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bacon, no tofu
I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bake, bake, bake, bacon
At night you know it’s time again to feed my face.
Veggies steamed and ‘taters baked and all’s in place.
The grill is hot the steak is seared tuh medium well.
There’s only one thing left that really makes me yell.
You know I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bacon, no tofu
I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bacon, no tofu
I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bacon, no tofu
I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bake, bake, bake, bacon
Sometimes a piece of cake or just a slice of pie
Can tingle tiny taste buds and it makes you smile.
A single scoop of ice cream on a sugar cone,
Topped with something salty and my mind is blown.
You know I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bacon, no tofu
I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bacon, no tofu
I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bacon, no tofu
I’m all about that bacon, ‘bout that bake, bake, bake, bacon
Footnote: There are a lot of bacon lovers in my family. I wrote this humorous poem/song lyrics to cater to them. I am a fan of bacon as well. It is possible to eat it in all meals of the day, although, one may pay for it later. By the way, 4 out of 5 nutritionists say tofu is good for you.
An Average Joe
By Brett A. Starr on June 3, 2021
His name was Josephus Daniels, as the story goes
The significance of his name, you might not know.
You see, he was secretary of the Navy during World War I
He was unpopular for the last thing he had done.
He thought it would be best, and maybe it was true,
To eliminate alcohol from bases and vessels, too.
So, the strongest naval drink that you could order up,
Was a hot black coffee, served to you in a cup.
As an insult, the sailors had coined a phrase,
A "Cup of Joseph Daniels," to boost you on your way.
Ever since, this name has stood the test of time.
In 1920, a 'cup of Joe,' cost just one thin dime.
A hundred years forward, we can get cappuccino,
Mocha, expresso, latte, and macchiato.
But I don't need no fancy stuff, you know,
No cream, no sugar, just an average 'cup of Joe.'
Footnote: A point of curiosity one day, I just wondered about the phase ‘Cup of Joe,’ and where it came from. After some brief research, I decided to write a poem about it as I didn’t think many people really knew. I found it to be interesting. Like the poem ‘A Boy Named Bryan,’ it is a mystery or trivia story told with the answer at the end. It was fun to write and I received a lot of feedback from it. Poetry is a fun way to teach History.