Poetry collection

[corncobman]

Page 344

Stop and Reflect

Confused noises ring,
While chased target evades.
Forth strange scenes bring
Of pools, light and shade.

Like a distant spring,
Of which memory fades.
Such a curious thing,
With bent bony blades.

The beast is amazed
By the changing scene.
Groans as it lays,
Betwixt and between.

Weird being dazed at
This state unforeseen.
Strange now its gaze,
Looks through the screen.

---------------------------

Come Back Lost Dog Don't Go
(based on Come Back to What You Know by Embrace)

Come back lost dog don't go
You're getting taken real slow
Your mind has lost you but you can't fully go

Before you disappear
Just come back here, bright and clear
Here you've got no more to lose

You pour ghoul
So take it easy
On yourself
There's something new about
The sharp things on your pelt

You'll never come back round
Or ever feel the way
That you've felt before now

So coming back lost dog this glow don't mean a thing
Everything that you've done won't set you free
Now you know that you've lost your mind
Come back and let me set things right

You're coming back lost dog you know
'Cos you know that you're a beastie, now it's gone
Now you know that you've lost your mind
Come back and let me set things right

So hang on to what you've got, keep it safe
Hang on to what you've got
Keep it safe from harm
You'll find there's something new you've got to leave behind

Come back lost dog don't go
You're getting taken real slow
You wanna come back but you've lost your mind
You've let go, now the creature in you knows
You were gone so long ago

So coming back lost dog this glow don't mean a thing
Everything that you've done won't set you free
Now you know that you need more time
Come back and let me set things right

I'm coming back to what you know
'Cos you know that you're a beastie, now it's gone
Now you know that you've lost your mind
Come back and let me set things right

So hang on to what you've got, keep it safe
Hang on to what you've got
Keep it safe from harm
Lost your mine, lost your mind

So coming back lost dog this glow don't mean a thing
Everything that you've done won't set you free
Now you know that you need more time
Come back and let me set things right

You're coming back lost dog you know
'Cos you know that you're a beastie, now it's gone
Now you know that you've lost your mind
Come back and let me set things right

Come back lost dog don't go
You're getting taken real slow
Your mind has lost you but you can't fully go

[corncobman]

Page 345

Go Back, No Attack.

Emil stands with the wall to his back.
He heard the beast's distant groaning call,
He readied himself for the impending attack.
But the creature didn't reach him there at all.

He finds it odd the doggy didn't get near,
He approaches with caution the prior corridor,
Still unsettling noises from it he hears.
Back again to where he was running before.

However the thing is not where it changed,
Seeing the grossling's now much more sedate.
It's now outside, in the rain, out of range.
He calls out to it in the downpour: "Ah, wait!"

--------------------------------------------------------

Ah Wait (based on Can't Wait by Foreigner)

I've been in this school a long time
We've been travellin' for days
But it seems I'm getting lost now
I just can't find my way
I've been following directions
But they must be out of date
And I can't, and I can't, and I can't, no I can't
Help it now, it's too late

See I've got to stop that doggy
Cause I need to shoot it out
I've got to take these books now
Cash I cannot do without

Wait doggy ah wait, ah wait another moment
Dog ah wait, dog ah wait another heartbeat
Come back ah wait, ah wait another moment
Doggy ah wait another heartbeat
Dog ah wait so I can shoot you

And the rain goes on forever
It seemed to stop the beast
Now more important than ever
I can shoot it dead at least
Oh I know I'm going to find it
Cause I'm following this thing
And I can't, and I can't, no I can't turn back
Peace now I must bring

And I know it appeared over here
Then all the shots I've missed
It's got that way about it now
I couldn't see this twist

Wait doggy ah wait, ah wait another moment
Dog ah wait, dog ah wait another heartbeat
Come back ah wait, ah wait another moment
Doggy ah wait another heartbeat
Dog ah wait so I can shoot you

Doggy ah wait
I ah wait another moment
Doggy ah wait another heartbeat
Dog ah wait so I can shoot you

Doggy ah wait
No no no ah wait
No no no
Ah wait
No no no
Ah wait

[slim kittens]

page 345

A "less-than-happy" (ahem) Sigrun informs Emil what is expected of him,
as everyone's life could depend on any one team member.

Courtesy of Alice Cooper:

/>
SCHOOL'S BACK

Well you got no choice
You sparkly boy
You can make some noise
With your flashy toys

But you can't be trusted
Out on your own
Be a team player or we
Won't get home

School's back for weapons
School's back for tracking
School's back for knife work

No more random
Friendly fire
When you don't know
Where we are

Well you got no training
And you got no confidence
And you got no discipline
You're gonna get us all killed!

School's back for recon
School's back for tactics
School's back till I say!

Si-tu-a-tion-
al awareness
Good will save us
Bad will kill us

We can make it
Work together
If we don't
We're here forever

School's back for hunting
School's back for fighting
School's back for team work
School's back till I say!

[Fogtreader]

Tune: Copacabana (At the Copa) - Barry Manilow

Copenhagen (At the Copen)

Her name was Lola,
She was a rash hound.
With those tentacles in her eyes,
And a slit right down her spine.

Her nose would sniff-sniff,
And feet would splish-splash.
And while her collar held her heart,
She was not a monster at the start.

She was a once loved pet,
Very nice oh you bet,
But now she doesn’t want to chase sticks,
Since she killed her vet!

At the Copen,
Copenhagen,
A ruined town just south of Sweden.
At the Copen,
Co-OH-pen-ha-gen!
Disease and panic
Just like all the planet
At the Copen,
She chased some cats.

His name was Emil,
He had a rifle.
He took a walk on down the hall,
And he saw Lola standing tall.

She cornered a cat,
To become a snack,
But then Emil made too much noise,
And Lola rushed right at the boy.

And then the bullets flew,
Her pelt was torn in two,
There was blood and a lot of screaming,
But just who got who?

At the Copen,
Copenhagen,
A ruined town just south of Sweden.
At the Copen,
Co-OH-pen-ha-gen!
Disease and panic
Just like all the planet
At the Copen,
She got real mad.

Her name was Lola,
She was a good dog,
But that was ninety years in the past,
Before everyone got the rash.

Now it’s the silent world,
But not for Lola,
No longer pretty in her fur,
A noisy cleanser shot up her.

Her life went off the leash,
Much worse than having fleas,
She lost her frisbee to the sunshine,
Now she finds no peace!

At the Copen,
Copenhagen,
A ruined town just south of Sweden.
At the Copen,
Co-OH-pen-ha-gen!
Disease and panic
Just like all the planet!
At the Copen!
She lost her mind.

[Sunflower]

Amity has a predilection for writing runos in his chosen form, 5-line stanzas.  He came up with a fantastic one a couple of weeks back in the Disqus comments.  Because he still hasn't gotten around to posting it here, I've taken it upon myself.

Some background:  Page 340 was late posting, and I speculated that Minna was having artistic struggles.  I quoted Ibsen:
"To live is a battle with trolls, in the crypts of heart and head.
To write is to sit in judgment on oneself."

I was impressed by the reply:

Doomed the mighty dragon Fafnir,
wounded by the hero deeply,
as they grappled in the blood pits.
All alone they wrestled greatly,
as in death its coils shuddered.

Yet against the hero's courage
all the wyrmling's death convulsions
proved inadequate to slay her,
daughter of the fabled Volsungs.
(It's a family thing -- they do this.)

"Who are you," the dragon queried,
"who has slain me in the evening
of the quiet woods of Finland,
when it seemed that I would triumph?"
as it gurgled in its breathing.

"I am known to none," she answered,
"Live alone in isolation,
I was borne to no known mortal,
raised by wolves (or maybe felines --
I was young and don't remember)."

"Aww come on," beseeched great Fafnir,
as his death was fast approaching,
"Can't you tell me just your surname?
Maybe where you went to college?
Or at least your Twitter handle?"

She had read the Volsungsaga,
so she knew where this was going.
Let a dragon trick you into
telling all about your family --
then it's neverending curses.

Only this would she then answer:
"Death was dealt you by an artist.
None are skilled more, nor more stalwart,
when it comes to facing dragons."
And great Fafnir died contented.

[corncobman]

Pg 346

Stuck Up Kitty

Emil calls out for the beast to return,
Forgetting that it attacked him before.
Showing the creature rightful concern,
It will cause future trouble ever more.

This encounter seemingly adjourned,
Troll-dog fading into the bleak outdoors.
Our attention to Sigrun is now turned,
Struggling with a stubborn kitty, now sore.

The cat remains aloft, resolute, steadfast
She tries to coax it with words, no success.
It wants nothing to do with the Nordic lass.
Hissing with all of the unwanted stress.

Failing to lure the cat down from its mast,
Sigrun's patience kitty has started to test.
Injured, now it doesn't want to be harassed.
Leaving it be would perhaps be most best.

--------------------------------------

Come Down (based on Downtown by Petula Clark)

Now we're alone and I am trying to help out
You can get fed cat - come down
Seems you've got injured, I see that and I wanna
Take you back now cat - come down

Just listen to me now cat we can go back to the cat tank
We can feed you tuna, later you'll be glad and thank
How can you lose?
Your wounds can get bandaged there
You can forget all your troubles
Forget all your cares

So cat come down
Things will be great when you've come down
No finer place for sure, come down
Catfood is waiting for you

Don't hang around and let dumb Emil confound you
He's a little slow - come down
Maybe you'll slip and let the water drown you
But I'll help you so - come down

Just listen to me kitty I'm a gentle harmless person
You'll have to come with me now before your wounds worsen
Listen again
Kitty can get food there
You can forget all your troubles
Forget all your cares

So cat come down
You will get bandaged tight - come down
You will be safe tonight - come down
You're gonna be alright now - come down

Come down
Come down

And I wanna try to be kind, to help and understand you
Kitty I have to grab you and use a gentle hand to
Take you along
So let me just take you there
We can forget all your troubles
Forget all your cares

So cat come down
Things will be great when you've come down
Don't wait a minute more - come down
Catfood is waiting for you - come down

Come down (come down)
Come down (come down)
Come down (come down)
Come down (come down)

[Auleliel]

(Amity's awesome poem)

I somehow missed this one. Thanks for posting it here.

I love reading all the runo poems, maybe too much...

[corncobman]

Pg 347

A-miu-sing

Sigrun climbs up for the kitty up top,
Ignoring the noises of stress that it makes.
Sensibility isn't likely to make her stop,
She's going to get it, whatever it takes.

Emil has returned, no worse for the wear,
And poking his head round curiously.
Leaning back at the top of the stair,
Quietly observing the rescue of poor kitty.

Emil watching her antics, just stands about,
But the noise from the hole gives the Swede pause.
However Sigrun's eyes will get scratched out,
Or at least she'll get a face full of claws.

----------------------------------------

Sigrun the fierce Viking.
(based on The Wind Beneath My Wings lyrics by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley)

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
You must have been hurt there by a monster,
You seem to have cuts all on your ear.
I'm not gonna leave you up there, there's no way.
Just let me climb up over here.

So I am just gonna take you with me,
Even though you're hostile to me now.
I'll just take you to feed you and make you better.
And I have to get you down somehow.

Did you ever know that I'm a hero?
So calm down cat, I'm just here to help
I can climb higher than you kitty,
'Cause I am Sigrun the fierce Viking.

You might have wanted to not be bothered,
But cat I don't mean you any harm.
I want you to see that I'm friendly, of course I'm friendly.
And I'm not leaving without you.

Did you ever know that I'm a hero?
So calm down cat, I'm just here to help
I can climb higher than you kitty,
'Cause I am Sigrun the fierce Viking.

Did you ever know that I'm a hero?
So calm down cat, I'm just here to help
Oh, and I, I can climb higher than you kitty,
'Cause I am Sigrun the fierce Viking.
'Cause I am Sigrun the fierce Viking.

Oh, Sigrun the fierce Viking.
I, I, I, I am Sigrun the fierce Viking.
Climb, climb, climb away. I can just climb so high.
Oh, I, I, I, I am Sigrun the fierce Viking.
Oh, I, I, I, I am Sigrun the fierce Viking.

Climb, climb, climb high don't scratch my eye,
So high I'm almost there don't cry.
Help me, help you
Help me help you, Sigrun the fierce Viking.

[slim kittens]

page 347

An oldies' lament by Emil

Courtesy of The Silhouettes:

/>
SHOOT THE DOG

Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Aaaooo, sha na na na, sha na na na na
Aaaooo, sha na na na, sha na na na na
Aaaooo, sha na na na, sha na na na na
Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Nyuuu nyuuu nyuuu nyuuu nyuuu nyuuu
Shoot the dog
Sha na na na, sha na na na na

Well I thought I heard a sound
And the captain turns around
"Check it out"

So I slowly move my feet
Never dreaming what I'd meet
Till I spot it in the street
It's a dog!

Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Aaaooo, sha na na na, sha na na na na
Aaaooo, sha na na na, sha na na na na
Aaaooo, sha na na na, sha na na na na
Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Nyuuu nyuuu nyuuu nyuuu nyuuu nyuuu
Shoot the dog
Sha na na na, sha na na na na

And when it starts to chase me
I spend my magazine
It stops abruptly and looks my way
Then it turns and walks away

And when the captain comes this way
I can hear her say
Glaring and sighing
Tells me that I'm lying about a dog
That I never could hit

Sha na na na, sha na na na na,
Aaaooo, sha na na na, sha na na na na
Aaaooo, sha na na na, sha na na na na
Aaaooo, sha na na na, sha na na na na
Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Nyuuu nyuuu nyuuu nyuuu nyuuu nyuuu
Shoot the dog
Sha na na na, sha na na na na

And when it starts to chase me
I spend my magazine
It stops abruptly and looks my way
Then it turns and walks away

And when the captain comes this way
I can hear her say
Glaring and sighing
Tells me that I'm lying about a dog
That I never could hit

Sha na na na, sha na na na na,
Sha na na na, sha na na na na,
Sha na na na, sha na na na na,
Sha na na na, sha na na na na,
Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Nyuuu nyuuu nyuuu nyuuu nyuuu nyuuu
Shoot the dog
Sha na na na, sha na na na na

------------------------------------------------------

Here's one for Sunflower to sing on

Courtesy of The Crystals:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHTzy0ghHFI

I DO RUN RUN

I met it in an alley and my heart stood still
I do run run run, I do run run
It made a lunge for me with intent to kill
I do run run run, I do run run

Yeah, my heart stood still
Yes, it meant to kill
And when it sprouted legs
I do run run run, I do run run

I didn't recognize it when it caught my eye
I do run run run, I do run run
It looked so quiet but my oh my
I do run run run, I do run run

Yeah, it caught my eye
Yes, oh my, oh my
And when it shed it's skin
I do run run run, I do run run

(Sax solo)

I turned around to face it, all I thought was "Ewww"
I do run run run, I do run run
I told it to come on and all it said was "nyuuu"
I do run run run, I do run run

Yeah, all I thought was "Ewww"
Yes, it told me "nyuuu"
Then it turned and walked away
I do run run run, I do run run

[corncobman]

Pg 348

Hissing Fits, Missing Kits

Emil reaches and grabs from the hole,
A kitten that's weak with half opened eyes.
This wet and cold baby that he stole, has
No longer the strength to make any cries.

The Swede looks closer with tender care,
In his cupped hands, kitten cradling.
It seems fortunate he rescued from there,
But is it too late to save the poor thing?

The mother cat is not in the mood, since
She's been kept from her kits for far too long.
Sigrun still bothering it continues to intrude,
And doesn't realise that she's in the wrong.

Concerned not by the hissing or screams,
The cat the Norwegian lady still tries to snatch.
This act of rescue appears far too extreme,
How would she like it if her face was scratched?

----------------------------------------------

Kitty Come Awaken
(based on Gimme Some Lovin' by the Spencer Davis Group)

Well, your temperature is dropping, I've got you in my hands
Crazy Sigrun's climbing 'cause she wants to get your mam
I'll save you baby, but right now you're all wet
And you better know that I'm the best you're gonna get

And I'm so glad I made it, so glad I made it
You got to kitty come awaken, kitty, kitty come awaken
Kitty come awaken, kitty, kitty come awaken
Kitty come awaken, wake up today

Well, I feel so bad, it just doesn't feel right
You better take it easy, I brought you to the light
Been a hard day and I had no work to do
Wait a minute kitty, I just wanna save you

And I'm so glad I made it, so glad I made it
You got to kitty some awaken, kitty, kitty come awaken
Kitty come awaken, kitty, kitty come awaken
Kitty come awaken, wake up today, yeah

Well, I feel so bad, it just doesn't feel right
You better take it easy, I brought you to the light
Been a hard day nothing went too good
Now you gotta wake up, buddy you know that you should

And I'm so glad I made it, hey hey, so glad I made it
You got to kitty come awaken, kitty, kitty come awaken woo ooo
Kitty come awaken, kitty, kitty come awaken

Kitty, kitty, kitty come awaken, baby
I know you need to so bad woo ooo
Kitty come awaken, baby

[Brandenfascher]

Page 348, parody of "How to save a life" by the Fray
--------------------------------------------
Step one, you say, "What there is that?"
You walk, you say, "I hear, it's just a cat."
He meows slightly out at you
You listen, slowly proceed to
The tiny crack just to your right
As you approach, bring him to light
Between the lines of life and death
You're now worrying it's his last breath

Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the wilderness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life.

Let him know that you'll try best
You'll rescue him and it's your behest
Try to put him in your vest
Into warmth, from cold to wrest
Lay down and rest along the way
A godless soul now learns to pray
Pray to gods, he heals true
And you pray to gods, he heals true

Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the wilderness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life.

As he begins his warmth's return
You glance at him and in hope you do yearn
Walk until you find the road
And trace back the ones you'd followed
Healer's skill heals many things
Pray that he can fix everything
Or he'll say he can't be the same
And you'll wonder now if you're one to blame

Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the wilderness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the wilderness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

How to save a life

How to save a life

Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the wilderness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the wilderness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

How to save a life

How to save a life

[corncobman]

Pg 349

Cat is a Hat, Fancy That

Well Sigrun has learnt that cat claws can shred,
Good job there, she learnt the hard way.
However it's collapsed on top of her head,
Time to get down with no further delay.

Emil meanwhile sits with a crestfallen look,
Sitting eyes closed, with his head in his knees.
Four limp little bodies from the hole he took,
Such terrible fates for the things very wee.

Sigrun consoles the melancholy, broken Swede,
While she stands with her marvellous new hat.
A faint sound is heard, quickly now, with speed!
Perhaps still time to save a single baby cat.

------------------------------------------

Bad Kitty (based on Bad Penny by Rory Gallagher)

Well, like a bad kitty you've clawed at my hair
You're in my sights, got to get you off there
I think you know how it is when patience wears thin
Well, you've really clawed me kitty and you scratched up my chin, oh

Well, like a bad kitty you've sure lost your mind
Still I'm gonna reach, won't leave you behind
Well, you can't ever stay here in this place
Well, don't you fool with me, kitty
Well, don't you mess with my face

This stormy day
Your hissing haunts me
I won't go away

Well, like a bad kitty you have turned up in this place
Tried to get onto this pillar, I tried to climb up to chase
I think you know I'm still sore but I'm still your friend
Well cat I hope it won't happen again

Well, like a bad kitty flailed around and around
Well, you won't know what went wrong when you flopped and fell down
You got to learn from now on to stop playing games
You ought to calm down kitty, I tried to help you today

This lonely day
I heard you calling
Won't I go away?

Well, like a bad kitty you've laid on my hair
You're on my head, got to get you out there
I think you know how it is when patience wears thin
Well, you've really clawed me kitty and you scraped up my chin, yeah

[corncobman]

Page 350

Come Forth, Comfort

They're hearing more cat sounds,
Emil peers through the holes,
Carrying the still living kitty around,
Somehow giving comfort to Emil's soul.

Putting the wet kitten inside his palm,
He asks what they are going to do.
Perhaps wait and leave as soon as it's calm.
They've to get their stuff from that zoo.

[Sunflower]

Spider-Dog from Ch. 7 seems to have inspired A LOT of creativity.  I'm just the latest on the bandwagon (from the comments on p. 346). 
Inspired by Billy Joel:  [youtube width=350]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERWREcPIoPA[/youtube]

Come back, Spider-Dog, don’t let me wait,
You creepy Rash-creatures lurk much too late.
Ah! But sooner or later it comes down to fate.
I might as well will be the one.

Well, they gave you a collar, told you to stay.
They built you a doghouse, then they all went away.
Ah! But they never told you the price that you'd pay.
For things that you might have done...

Because only the good die young.
That's what I said!
Only the good die young.
Only the good die young...

You mighta heard I run with a dangerous crowd.
We ain't too pretty, we ain't too proud.
We might be yelling a bit too loud.
Ah! But that never hurt no one (yet). 

So come on now, Rash-Dog, don’t play this game. 
Come back within range and I’ll end your pain.
The weird mutant changes that I can’t quite name
Never last in the sun...

Darlin' only the clean die young!
Oh woe woe woe woe!
I tell ya only the clean die young.
Only the clean die young...

You grew a bunch of weird tendrils ‘cause your body’s in reorganization!
Shucked off your sad old skin
You can’t ever really be a dog again.

And Doggie, they didn't give me quite enough information!
I didn’t count on you
Wailing out such a sad iuuuuh!
Oh woe woe!

Now they say in Tuonela your soul can find rest,
You can give up your prowling through these nasty troll nests.
Just stand still and let me put a shot in that mess,
Because I think your race is run…

You know that only the good die young!
Oh whoa, whoa,
I tell ya only the good die young!
Only the good die young...

[Viisikielinenkantele]

Page 349

Based on Far From Any Road by The Handsome Family

From the rotten pillar
Her scratching claws go down,
Marking her fiend nicely, still her fighting spirit shown.
She then flops down uncounscious
Right on the wet red head,
And when she touched the hair,
Her saviour slipped back down.

On the flooded floor, under a dripping silver rain,
He sat and stared at the four small ones lying slain.
A deep sorrow haunted him, the water still came down.
She tried to soothe him with her words and barely had begun.

Sometimes animals just die
And there's nothing we can - miu?
Little sound from tiny cat will cheer the cleanser soon.

Carry the kitten with you,
Across the silent land,
And the cat will grow on you,
And the team will be its home.