modern poetry

Yard

He hid the secret from his
Parents, a lovely couple who
Never made waves but were
About to find out what chaos
Means when his prized pet
Jumped the fence and attacked
Their closest friend in the
Neighborhood. A perfunctory
Slew of incredulity and denial
Followed the painfully foreseeable,
Preventable act only missed
By those who couldn’t think
Beyond their own yard.

Get the Poetry Collection
Unconventional Being - Minimalist Poetry Book by Guy Farmer

Readers around the world have found pieces of themselves in these poems. Discover the collection.

Get Your Copy on Amazon

Same Thing

It didn’t dawn on me that
Maybe you had a different
Perspective than mine so
I forged ahead with what I
Thought was best and turned
Out to be the worst thing
Possible for someone who
Was hurting and needed
Comfort rather than fixing.
I’ll think twice next time and
Do the same thing again.

No Use Arguing

As always,
There’s no use arguing,
He’s not seeing
The issue from a
Rational perspective,
Mired in fear,
Listening skills limited
To non-existent
On the best day,
He hangs onto
Assorted fantasies
Because they prop up
His sense of himself.

So I May

If my child were hurting,
I would do everything in
My power to make sure
She is OK. I would commit
Revolutionary acts like
Setting my own stuff aside and
Putting her needs first.
My thoughts, opinions,
Pronouncements, obscurements,
Insecurities and complications
Wait their turn so I may take
Care of my child instead of
My own issues for a change.

Entirely Unwelcome

Just as it seemed impossible that
Something else would happen,
It did. Not wholly unexpected but
Entirely unwelcome, it quickly
Altered everything. Nobody was
Sure what to do but for a lone
Clarion, valiant, triumphant,
Unflappable, ignored by most for
More familiar, mundane hand
Wringing and lamentation.

Complete

He was mesmerized by the sound of
People cheering in adulation.
His hunger was satisfied by
Constant compliments. At the
End of the day, he looked online at
The throngs of admirers captivated by
His every movement and utterance.
Before he went to sleep, he watched
The television presenters inform the
World about his latest projects.
He turned off the light, alone with
Complete, desolate emptiness.

Fine Fowl

A gaggle of geese busily chattering about
Nothing in particular meets once a month in
The usual spot. They waddle around,
Exchange pleasantries, comment on each
Other’s feathers, talk about the weather,
Catch up on the latest gossip. A newcomer
Enters the room and is cordially preened and
Invited to stay. Announcements are read that
Are important to geese. Their new guest makes a
Comment that causes the group to stop what
It’s doing and consider taking flight. Too
Controversial for this gathering of fine fowl.

Unlike Your Own

Think new thoughts,
Behave in original ways,
Develop fresh insights,
Meet unique people,
Consider novel points of
View, unlike your own,
That make the world a
Better place for you, yours,
Others, and eschew
Notions archaic, austere.

Be Nice Already

Be nice already.
Would it kill you?
Take off your monster outfit and
Hang out with people who want to
Get to know you.
Come down from your perch and
Check out all the delicious seeds.

Every drop of kindness offered to
Another is an oasis in the middle of a
Scorching desert, an outstretched hand
When falling off a cliff, a moment of
Hope and connection amidst turmoil.

Be nice already.
It won’t kill you.
It’s not a monster.
It’s delicious.