Waiting: A Poetry Contest Entry Poem

When the night is slipping by like a slippery fish in your hands,
And it's already halfway gone,
You can sit up in bed, awake, and listen,
Watching the streetlamps turn on and off, on and off,
Waiting for the seven noises of ringing bells,
But when you hear them,
Get up, get dressed,
But always remember
The time you spent awake, in bed,
Waiting for the seven noises of ringing bells.

NOTE: This poem and a previous one on this blog are poems entered in two separate writing contests. I will post the news on this blog if I win.

The Best Friend

I'm sitting on the steps, waiting for something to do,
Or maybe for a best friend.
And a girl comes up to me, one with dark brown hair and a pink sweater.
She's the kind that will be the best of your best friends, I can tell.
"Let's play," she tells me.
I wonder, how does she know? But I agree.
She takes my hand. I stand up.
We're ready for adventure.
"Let's go," my newfound friend tells me.
I want to ask, "Where?" But I know I'll find out soon.
My friend has a strong grip. With my cool hand enclosed in her sweaty one,
She can lead me anywhere.
She can, but right now she's leading me now toward a lake...
In the middle of a forest.
I am scared and try to pull away. But the girl has a strong grip. She keeps pulling.
Maybe she won't be my best friend, or even my friend.
I lean on her, to make her go the other way.
But that doesn't work.
"My parents won't let me," I cry, still leaning on her.
And that is the truth.
But she says, "They can't see you here."
She is not my friend anymore.
We're in the forest now. Wind sweeps through this world of green, making leaves fall.
I shiver. My companion is lucky, with her pink sweater there to protect her.
"Almost there,'' she says to me.
But I feel like I cannot make it.
Suddenly, up ahead, we see the lake.
The girl takes one big step, dragging me along, and...
We're there.
The girl lifts me up...
And dumps me in the lake.
For a few moments, I fall through darkness, and then
I'm back at home. Everything's all right.
"Dinner time!" calls my mom.
I go to the table, ready to share my story of the best friend and the magic lake.

A Jazz Poem

Part I
ABCDEFG,
Oh, I wish I could be me!
HIJKLMNOP,
Never mind, this thing is free!
QRS,TUV,
That's the same as ABC!
WXHY and Z,
ABCDLMNOP!
Part II
Nothing rhymes with you and me,
So, this time, it's 1 to 3!
Part III
123,123,
Come and meet me at the tree!
ABC, VAG,
You just like my 33!
Tenna climbs, she climbs a tree,
She just loves my 7 3!
Part IV
Stamp here, stamp there,
Stamping, stamping everywhere!
Ouch! A bee is in my hair.
Bee, you must get out of there!
Part V
Never mind, the day is done,
Yes, I won, 10 to 1!
Now I'll close my eves for now,
Good night, my absolute o low!

Seven three, not 73. Prounounced like the lou in loud.