Not Dreaming

I'm possible 

Becomes impossible 

When idealists

Become idea lists.

Image and poem copyright © 2020 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

Find images like this in Rachel's Shutterstock portfolio. 

Question City

Near when and if,

Past here and now,

Who meets what,

At why and how.

Image and poem copyright © 2020 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

Find images like this in Rachel's Shutterstock portfolio. 

Pathfinder

No more.

Reality now:

I've got to get away

From me, myself, and I somehow. 

Right now.

Image and poem copyright © 2020 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

The digital collage above is the first image Rachel Hoyt created for her newest website - www.turtleypawsome.com - a collection of pet fairy tales, folk tales, and urban legends designed to educate and inspire. 

What Do the California Drought and NaPoWriMo Have in Common? These poems!

Since Governor Jerry Brown ordered Californians to cut back their water use by 25% on the dawn of National Poetry Month, I thought we might write some poems in honor of the drought to help motivate the masses. I've written a few rhymes which you may feel free to pass out for Poem in Your Pocket Day (Friday, April 24th). Or, use them as inspiration to write your own poem. If you need a bit of news to get your creative juices flowing, I recommend this article about how to survive a major drought or this one on water rights.

image by sritangphoto

Pure Genius

by Rachel Hoyt

One quite thirsty entrepreneur

bought water rights just to ensure

the world would drink up

his "thing", fill their cups,

and agree that one pays for what's pure.

2015 Drought

by Rachel Hoyt

The twenty-fifteen drought

made Californian's pout -

their golden state renewed,

their riches far eschewed.

Drought Acrostic

by Rachel Hoyt

Dollars can't buy more sense.

Rinse off your want for Earth.

Order can make times tense,

Unless you feel their worth.

Give thanks for every drip.

Hang on - firm, gentle grip.

To stay half full, don't slip.

Poems Copyright © 2015 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

A Pantoum Poem for NaPoWriMo on Poker, Betting... and Life?

All Bets Are Crazy

by Rachel Hoyt

image by Mister GC via freedigitalimages.net

The choices are call, raise, or fold.

All hold two cards before the flop.

There's no un-crazy bet, I'm told.

Even with odds, you could catch slop.

They're just two cards before the flop,

But, burn-turn, your hand could be flush.

What are the odds you will catch slop?

Who says you're feeling a false rush?

Burn-turn, has your hand fallen flush?

Did chance choose to shower down strength?

Who says you're feeling a false rush?

Perhaps presence surpasses length.

If chance won't choose to bring you strength,

Bluffing may be your safest bet.

Sometimes presence surpasses length.

Be brave and take what you can get.

Bluffing may be your safest bet.

The choices are call, raise, or fold.

Be brave and take what you can get.

There's no un-crazy bet, I'm told.

Copyright © 2015 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

Technorati Tags: Poker, Betting, Poem, Rhyme, Risk, Poetry

Poetry Prompt - Crambo aka Bouts Rimés

In honor of National Poetry Writing Month, I'm bringing back a Friday tradition.  Bouts Rimés means "rhymed ends" in French and is a game or challenge where one person (me) makes a list of rhymed words and others (you) write the lines that end with those rhymes, in the same order in which they were given. It was known as Crambo in English and was quite popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Will you help me bring back this hip historical habit?

Cower

Buzz

Flower

Was

Power

Does

Above are the words.

Get writing rhyme nerds!

There will be no winner. This is just for fun

and the joy of rhyming a smile for everyone.

Poetry Prompt - Crambo aka Bouts Rimés

In honor of National Poetry Writing Month, I'm bringing back a Friday tradition.  Bouts Rimés means "rhymed ends" in French and is a game or challenge where one person (me) makes a list of rhymed words and others (you) write the lines that end with those rhymes, in the same order in which they were given. It was known as Crambo in English and was quite popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Will you help me bring back this hip historical habit?

 

Image by rachhoyt (me) via Instagram

Part

Collage

Art

Garage

Front

Image

Blunt 

Scrimmage

Above are the words.

Get writing rhyme nerds!

There will be no winner. This is just for fun

and the joy of rhyming a smile for everyone.

 

Poetry Statistics

Image by renjith krishnan via freedigitalphoto.net

Really the only way I can sum up last month's study on poetry

is to share a few statistical facts that popped out at me.

You see, I'm curious how poetry is seen by the average Joe

and to figure it out, I let my quantitative self go.

Here's what I know:

Only twenty-four percent of the posts were smiley happy.

Does that mean people don't like when I write silly-sappy?

Nineteen percent wrote on a subject that made me feel sad.

Still, without them, my stats would skew, making me less glad.

Fifty-seven percent kept the mood neutral, calm, or serious.

I find the identity of these poets more than slightly mysterious.

We all write from experience and to let emotions flow.

We all write to let the deepest thoughts inside us go.

It's near a tie between non-rhymers and those who rhyme.

Though, with that fact, I expect someone right now would chime,

"Hey!  You only studied less than 2% of NaPoWriMo participants.

If you pretend like these are facts, I'll be a real pissy-pants."

Sorry folks, I was just waiting until the rhyme's end,

to admit a proper study requires a flock of data to tend.

Still, it's fun to wonder if this data is close to the truth

and hope someday to produce some that's a bit more sleuth.

© Rachel Hoyt 2011.  All rights reserved.

Technorati Tags: Entertainment, Blogging, Statistics, Humor, Poetry

Thank you to all participants in the study.
I hope I've made you a follower, buddy.
I'll be passing on some awards I received soon.
Check back to find out for which blogs I swoon.

Uniquer Discount Goings On

Image by digitalart via freedigitalphoto.net

Not long after I wrote a long poem on coupons,

I found out about some uniquer discount goings on.

It seems a Brooklyn maternity shop for lesbians

gives a discount to their like-minded girl friends.

Don't get me wrong, I actually think it's kinda cute.

The owner knows she's totally un-pc... oh shoot.

She says it's a perk of owning your own business.

I think that is awfully brave of her to confess.

© Rachel Hoyt 2011.  All rights reserved.


This rhyme is being shared in Jingle's Poetry Potluck.
Please leave your links below to make it easier for me to read your entry.

My NaPoWriMo poem #30

Technorati Tags: Entertainment, Blogging, NaPoWriMo, Humor, Coupon, Poetry

Rhyme Me a Smile Meme

My blog friend Rimly tagged me in a meme,

I didn't respond, but didn't mean to be mean.

It's just that I didn't really know what it was

and was caught up in my NaPoWriMo buzz.

I've learned since then it means writing about me.

Perhaps you're wondering if I'm really truly wacky?

What ideas and behaviors make up my culture?

Am I really just a silly news knowledge vulture?

I understand why you'd want to know if I'm crazy.

Who wants advice from someone who's mentally hazy?

Don't worry, no one's told me I'm legally insane,

nor have I ever injured or damaged my brain.

I'm certainly not graceful or indestructible though

and have sprained / broken many a finger and toe.

Thankfully, I've never damaged an arm, leg or eye,

 but I doubt I'll keep that record until the day I die.

I get stressed out, angry and depressed just like you
and find writing these rhymes is the "medicinal" thing to do.
The wacky news and blog stories I read for inspiration
are also a constant source of (possibly shallow) elation.

Sometimes I eat chocolate or nachos instead...
or a whole yummy loaf of cheesy garlic bread.
To distract me from food, I look to my friends
on our combined wackiness my happiness depends.

I like karaoke, poker, wine tasting and whiskey
and running 'round town in costume when frisky.
I'm addicted to 30 Rock but don't watch much TV.
Usually the boob tube's just background noise for me.

I get a bit of a thrill from breaking traditions and rules.
I once built a menorah with bottles, candles and skewers for tools.

The guest of honor got the first chance to shoot out the flames
then the pellet guns were passed to the other gents and dames.

So there you have it... a Rhyme Me a Smile Meme.
The final fact about me?  My favorite color is green.
I hope you enjoyed these rhyming personal fun facts
and that they gave you a chance to giggle and relax.

© Rachel Hoyt 2011.  All rights reserved.


My NaPoWriMo poem #26

Technorati Tags: Entertainment, Blogging, NaPoWriMo, Humor, Meme, Poetry

Magic Quill Pen

Image by Simon Howden via freedigitalphoto.net



My taxes are a-calling me

but poetry's a-stalling me.

I'll gruntingly swallow the bill

but, Uncle Sam, you make me ill.

You take so very much from me

though I've not won the lottery.

I am hoping my magic quill

finds you already got your fill.

Oh no!  My quill pen has flown off!!

Uncle Sam, is that how you scoff?!

© Rachel Hoyt 2011.  All rights reserved.

This rhyme is being shared in the Poetry Pantry.
Click on over to read or share poetry there with glee.

My NaPoWriMo poem #14

This rhyme was linked in to One Shot Wednesday.

If you're a poet, you should come over to play.

Technorati Tags: Entertainment, Blogging, NaPoWriMo, Humor, Taxes, Poetry

Looks Like a Puffer Fish

Image via Google Images

Do you fear sneezing with your eyes open?

Do you hide silly faces for fear they'll stick?

I fear the first but for the second am hopin' -

I mean not for me, but to cause it'd be slick.

Anyhow, add this bad habit to your list:

yawning real big looks like a puffer fish.

If you got stuck like that you'd be pissed.

Never to go through that is a sincere wish.

Rachel Hoyt 2011. All rights reserved.

 

This rhyme is being shared in the Poetry Pantry.

Click on over to read or share poetry there with glee.

 

My NaPoWriMo poem #13

Technorati Tags: Entertainment, Blogging, NaPoWriMo, Humor, Fish, Poetry

Fly Geyser

I've just read about a neat place called Fly Geyser.

You must brave booby traps to closely spy her.

An accidentally created geothermal mound

not yet converted to a public stomping ground.

On a ranch currently owned by a Mr. Todd Jaksick,
growing bigger by the minute.  Isn't nature fantastic?!
I hope someday he'll allow us to see it up close.
The wonders of nature are the travel stops I like most.

© Rachel Hoyt 2011.  All rights reserved.


My NaPoWriMo poem #12

This poem is being shared in Poetry Potluck.  Please be sure to leave me
the link to your potluck poem so I can easily return your comment. 


Technorati Tags: Entertainment, Blogging, NaPoWriMo, Humor, Travel, Poetry

The Alpaca Attraction

The last Smiley Sociology Study

taught me less of you than it did about me.

I had asked for bloggers to write up a post

about the animal that they resemble most.

I'm still new to the writing prompt niche

and my topics are obscure as microfiche.

I'm thankful 8 blogging friends showed support.

The following is my study response retort.

Four cats and a tiger are 1/4+ my blog friends.

They're feline affection and modern attitude blends.

As in my home life, one blog friend is a turtle.

(I wish she had a rhyming name such as Myrtle.)

My blog friend Mr. Cheese thinks he is a snake.

Does he think he'll someday be killed by a rake?

Atypical Scott says he dreams of life as a sloth,

which is a hundred times better than life as a moth.

This sampling's too narrow to represent a people,

but what it says of me might also make you gleeful.

Though I attract mostly kitties - black, brown and yellow -

also flocking to me are stranger creatures, also mellow.

Perhaps I really am like that goofy cute Alpaca:

chill, cute and comical 'cuz I sometimes spit at ya.

You can't help but laugh.  You can't help but smile.

You can't wait to come back and hang out a while.

Hehe.  Now that I'm done brainwashing you.

I'll say a quick thank you and then be through.

Thanks for the fun thoughts your posts put in my head.

Thanks trifold if this far in the rhyme you have read.

All participants in the study win the Million Bucks Award.

Your creative contrubutions are much appreciated.

(And, no, my joy about it's not being inflated.)

Rachel Hoyt 2011.  All rights reserved.

My NaPoWriMo poem #11

Technorati Tags: Entertainment, Blogging, NaPoWriMo, Humor, News, Poetry

A Wacky News Rhyming Riddle

Image by Salvatore Vuono via freedigitalphoto.net

What is crazy bright colored and large?

Visible on land while at sea on a barge?

Annoying as heck but sometimes tempting?

Of a niche I'd hoped was worth neglecting?

The newest place advertisers are pondering

to plaster their encouragement for squandering?

Thank god these things are forbidden in Santa Barbara.

Watch out America!  Billboard houses soon will taunt ya.

© Rachel Hoyt 2011.  All rights reserved.

My NaPoWriMo poem #10

Technorati Tags: Entertainment, Blogging, NaPoWriMo, Humor, News, Poetry

Scary Small Studios

A scary small studio's solemnity

is something that's all too familiar to me.

Ponderously placed pictures, pots, panties and pumps?

The maintenance cycle here goes through too many slumps.

Being bombarded by a barrage of belongings

seems my fate though not befit my longings.

Perhaps I should call this gal to help me?

She's got 90 square feet.  I've got 250.

© Rachel Hoyt 2011. All rights reserved.

My NaPoWriMo poem #9

Technorati Tags: Entertainment, Blogging, NaPoWriMo, Humor, Poetry

The Hairy Legs Dream

Image by anankkml via freedigitalphoto.net

I recently dreamt my legs were really hairy -

hairy like a brown bear's are - pretty dang scary.

Thankfully I have friends who interpret dreams.

They help me figure out what everything means.

It's likely I was fearing NaPoWrioMo defeat,

perhaps worrying that I couldn't complete,

a full month of poems without going crazy

though certainly not due to acting lazy.

So I thought I'd twist that "fear" into a rhyme

and save the hairy legs dream for another time.

© Rachel Hoyt 2011.  All rights reserved.

My NaPoWriMo poem #8

Technorati Tags: Entertainment, Blogging, NaPoWriMo, Humor, Rhyme, Poetry

Streaming Mediocre Content

Image by Salvatore Vuono via freedigitalphoto.net 

Please Misters Universal, Warner Bro's and Twentieth Century Fox,

don't make me pay $30 per month for mediocre content to my box.

I can't afford to pay more, but with the minimum I'd be bored!

Please sirs.  Rad rhyming requests shan't be ignored.

© Rachel Hoyt 2011. All rights reserved.


My NaPoWriMo Poem #7

Technorati Tags: 

Entertainment, Blogging, NaPoWriMo, Humor, Poetry

Hidden Harm

No hides here.

No hides there.

No is hidden everywhere.

Do we care?

Do we dare

to care what it says down there?

What's good here?

What's harms there?

It could make you pull out hair.

It isn't fair.

They tempt and snare.

Consumers suffer everywhere.

© Rachel Hoyt 2011.  All rights reserved.


My NaPoWriMo Poem #5

Technorati Tags:

Entertainment, Blogging, NaPoWriMo, Humor, Poetry

A Limerick for Mr. Elastic

Abstract by Idea Go via freedigitalphoto.net

Have you heard about Mr. Elastic?

His stretchiness is truly fantastic!

A world record coming soon,

now all the chicks will swoon.

He walks backwards while twisted quite drastic.

© Rachel Hoyt 2011. All Rights Reserved.

Technorati Tags: Entertainment, Blogging,

NaPoWriMo, Humor, Limerick, Poetry

My NaPoWriMo Poem #2