Music Medium Funky With a Side of Spicy Sauce

Flavorful Tune

by Rachel Hoyt

image by renjith krishnan via freedigitalphotos.net

I like my music mezzo funky

spiced like beef stew - meaty, chunky,

with dashes of garlic, pepper, and onion,

popping out like mysterious grunion.

My feet retreat to restful corners

when beats blend or break at the poles of order,

Yet if the stew simmers mezzo spice

I taste and dance without thinking twice.

Copyright © 2014 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

They say they've found the perfect recipe
for casting a dance trance on you and me.

Technorati Tags: Music, Beat, Poem, Rhyme, Think, Poetry

How Do You Respond to Hateful Comments?

Hate Loves Me

by Rachel Hoyt

image by ntwowe via freedigitalphotos.net

How can hate love me?  Let me shout the ways.

It loves me with its digs and blows and spite -

Fire my soul needs to achieve new heights,

for the roots of great with optimal grace.

Hate loves me for accepting everyday's

imbalance, the dark that tries to squash light.

Hate loves me rashly, as men show their might.

Hate loves me brashly, as they transpose praise.

Hate loves me with a passion rarely used,

on my high horse, and with heartfelt faith.

Hate loves me with a love I tried to lose

with my breakups - Hate loves me just the same,

Then, now, and forever! - and, if fate choose,

hate's love shall help propel me into fame.

Copyright © 2014 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

This poem is dedicated to one hateful edhat user

who helps fuel my purpose by calling me a loser.

I find that I can't avoid negative criticism
and I must handle it with pure optimism.

Bitcoins Aren't Just Taking Over Wallets, They're Innundating the News

Ode to Bitcoins

by Rachel Hoyt

 

image by idea go via freedigitalphotos.net

 

 

That thin air chain of golden weight,

That cha-ching we can't hear or feel,

That incognito, tax free bait

with trendy pop appeal -

 

How big your dreams to change the world,

How grand your plans to keep wealth safe,

How strange your game is tightly twirled

with what makes wallets chafe -

 

Oh that your roots grow strong and deep,

Oh that your limbs bend with the breeze,

Oh that your leaves fall in a heap

and end this fiscal tease.

 

Copyright © 2013 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved

 

 

Many bitcoin stories inspired me

to write this little ode for thee:

 

The Bitcoin Survival Guide

Bitcoin's Fatal Flaw

Cleancoin: The Future of Bitcoin Regulation?

DDoS Attacks Make Bitcoins Cheaper

 

 

Technorati Tags: Bitcoin, Currency, Cash, Poem, Rhyme, Poetry

If Cascarones Could Talk, What Would They Say?

image by Simon Howden via freedigitalphotos.net

 

 

Dearest cascarone cousin,

 

It's almost my time to crack.

The streets gleefully buzzing.

I'm waiting with my pack.

I was scared to die so soon

until I watched the others

with whom I'd bunked since June

burst into all their colors.

The joy the people show

when crushing us on friends

is such a beautiful glow -

it proves our lives must end.

Or souls yearn to be free

to scatter amongst the crowd.

Our afterlives as confetti

are when we make our species proud.

I hope to get crushed on a hairdo

that was fixed with lots of hairspray.

In fact, if I see someone who

looks good, I may jump today.

I hope you'll leave the shelf behind

someday and join the show.

 

From Fiesta with peace of mind,

 

Cascarone Cowboy, Geronimo

 

 

© 2013 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved

 

 

From China to Italy and Spain,

cascarones have brought joy again and again. 

Thursday Thoughts - Raw vs GMO Foods

Raw vs GMO Foods

by Rachel Hoyt

 

image by Maggie Smith via freedigitalphotos.com

 

Raw is raunchy,

untainted nature,

staunchly risky,

makes bodies azure -

the harm is in the handling,

and safety is quite costly,

on germs you're gambling,

and they cheat mostly.

It's just never pure

unless processed promptly -

Resist the allure.

Raw is raunchy.

Unharmed by herbicide?

Naturally, because herbs

can't cause a suicide -

it's only weeds they perturb.

Politically proven to be

not really that different,

yet unique and patent worthy -

basic biology, bent.

Still basically pure,

certainly not suicide -

Hear the allure?

Unharmed by herbicide?

© 2013 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved
 

 

Raw milk vendors are being criminalized while GMOs are allowed to thrive

although science can't justify either political drive.

 

Technorati Tags: Raw, GMO, Food, Poem, Rhyme, Poetry

Friday Fun Day - Crambo aka Bouts Rimés - Scooting

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?

 

Shelly Seuss of Los Caped Barbarinos

Zoom

Scoot

Dream

Gloom

Moot

Steam

 

Above are the words.

Get writing rhyme nerds!

 

There will be no winner. This is just for fun

and the joy of spreading smiles somewhere to someone.

Thursday Thoughts - On Bitcoins

Bitman's Tree

by Rachel Hoyt

 

image by idea go via freedigitalphotos.net

 

 

For generations, Bitman males

Had dreamt of growing cash -

Great great grandpa wrote down his fails

And how his pa was rash

To think that planting a few coins

Could sprout unbridled wealth -

(He tested ways to nurture loins

And what brings money health.)

He never did make money trees

Or his son after him,

But little Billy Bitman, (geez!)

His vision was less slim -

"Bits of data around the world

Are like rare gems," he thought.

Soon a new type of coin unfurled,

Not seen, but often bought -

It floated around time and space

With more, then less, value,

No one could see the tree's home base,

But still his dream came true -

A calculation burst a seed

And people bought its leaves,

Fertilized with secrets and greed,

It grew cash one perceives.

 

© 2013 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

 

 

Bitcoins (to some) are the latest, greatest thing,

but I believe its an imaginary value they bring.

 

 

Technorati Tags: Bitcoin, Currency, Cash, Poem, Rhyme, Poetry

Friday Fun Day - Crambo aka Bouts Rimés - Puppy Jump

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?

 

This was my parents' puppy's first jump into the pool. ever.  Let's write about this scene (or a similar one) together.

 

 

Puppy

Jump

Guppy

Rump

First

Splash

Burst

Flash

 

 

Above are the words.

Get writing rhyme nerds!

There will be no winner. This is just for fun.
If you will, rhyme a smile here for everyone.

Thursday Thoughts - On Feeling Young and Growing Old

Still At Her Sill

by Rachel Hoyt

 

image by happykanppy via freedigitalphotos.net

 

She said flowers just attract bees

And flung them "where they fly".

She told me running hurts your knees

As two grayed gents jogged by.

She said biking was for young things,

Not folks who lost their poise.

She told me throats hurt when one sings,

And yard work is for boys.

She said hiking is perilous -

One might roll down a hill.

She sat her whole life querulous

'Bout all seen from her sill.

 

© 2013 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

A scientific study has stamped it's approving seal

on the thought that you are as old as you feel.

Technorati Tags: Age, Old, Science, Poem, Rhyme, Poetry

Wacky Word Wednesday - Solipsistic

Solipsistic

(sol ip sis tic)

 

by Rachel Hoyt

 

image by kookkai_nak via freedigitalphotos.net

 

 

Someone solipsistic

Is beyond narcissistic,

Egocentrically opportunistic,

And selfishly simplistic -

The solipsistic....

 

© 2013 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

Every week I rhyme and define a new wacky word.

Come on over to indulge your inner nerd.

And, please let me know of any weird words you've heard.

Technorati Tags: Words, Vocabulary, Poem, Rhyme, Solipsistic, Poetry

Thursday Thoughts - Freedom is Never Free

Smell the Ruses

by Rachel Hoyt

 

image by Stuart Miles via freedigitalphotos.net

 

Yes sir, you are here,

The Land of the Free,

Feel free to do as you please.

We never spank rears,

Or say, "No, Honey."

We accept your soul's inner sleaze.

At each of the stores,

On the town's main drag,

You can buy all that you need:

Rights not to do chores,

To publicly nag,

Or forgo thought when you feed.

It just costs a bit,

To be a glutton,

And we don't take excuses.

Stand up tall, don't spit,

You missed a button -

Now go and smell the ruses.

© 2013 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

 

 

I never thought that freedom was free,

but I've seen more proof in the news lately:

CVS fining folks who won't share their health stats

and stores who charge browsers because they think they're brats.

 

 

Technorati Tags: Ruse, Free, Freedom, Poem, Rhyme, Poetry

Crambo Winner Announcement

Last week's Crambo games brought four fantastic entries.  I had a really hard time choosing a winner, but have chosen Jeffrey Scott.  Jeff writes more than just poetry on his blog.  He shares humorous rants about life, photos, and even throws in an occasional music critique or short story.  He has been a very enthusiastic reader and poetic game participant for several months now on Rhyme Me a Smile.  I do hope you will visit his blog and leave a comment to help brighten his day the way he does mine. 

I chose Jeffrey's poem as the winner because I could see myself imagining such a story while staring at my cat, Sammy (Samantha).  I've been reading a lot of fairy tales lately and these lines took my mind to a world where a clowder mined ore like the seven dwarfs did when Snow White happened upon them:

Silently formed a kitty clowder,
till suddenly they became much louder.

Rache the cat - don't mess with her.
Lo! She calls the clan for armour.

Equipped with weapons - even more.
That's why they mine the precious ore.

In her mind, such a fanatic.
But just a cat - so no such antic.
Kibble inspired dreams are ick!

Thank you for playing Crambo everyone!  I hope you'll come back and tell your friends about the fun.

Friday Fun Day - Crambo aka Bouts Rimés

Let's try my new game again...  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.  I think we need to bring back this hip historical habit, so I will post this game when I need a break from rhyming riddles and abstract photography.  I hope you enjoy the change of game!

(If you would like to use this photo of my cat Sammy with your poem and post it to your blog, please include a photo credit and link to my blog within your post.  Thank you.)

 

Clowder

Louder

Her

Armour

More

Ore
Fanatic
Antic
Ick

Above are the words.

Get writing rhyme nerds!

I'll pick a winner early next week.

Be sure to come back and take a peek.

Crambo Winner Announcement

The first Crambo game on Rhyme Me a Smile took place last Friday.  I was very appreciative of the enthusiasm shown by multiple players, but especially by the winner: M. James of Slow Wit Poet.  He uses rhyme beautifully in the witty verse on his blog and cranked out these giggle worthy lines last week:

Follow the rules or you'll be in trouble
It's clear that pop doesn't come before bubble

The reason to your rhyme makes me wonder
but I wouldn't call it any kind of blunder

I know too, how it goes, once the lines pop
the rhymes begin to flow and it just don't stop

The irony here is that M. James broke the rules himself in previous entries.  (Read them here.)  I didn't plan on requiring strict adherence to them to win, but I learned while reading this week's entertaining responses and trying to chose, that one who can adhere to the historic rules and pack a wallop of wit will win my heart every time.  Congratulations M. James!

Friday Fun Day - Crambo aka Bouts-Rimés

Surprise!  Let's try a new game...  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.  I think we need to bring back this hip historical habit, so I will post this game when I need a break from rhyming riddles and abstract photography.  I hope you enjoy the change of game!

Trouble

Bubble

Wonders

Blunders

Pop

Stop

Now write me a rhyme!

It's your turn this time.

I'll pick a winner early next week.

Be sure to come back and take a peek.

Thursday Thoughts - The Harlem Shake

Shake Scolding

by Rachel Hoyt

You're doing it wrong,

I'm sorry to say,

Don't air hump the song,

Hips should hardly sway.

The move's up higher,

It's a shoulder thing,

Only a trained squire,

Knows the spaz to bring!

Stop screwing it up please,

You're hurting my eyes,

Your crowns should be seized,

They're based upon lies.

© 2013 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.
 

 

Technorati Tags: Homeless, Hotel, Camping, Rhyme, Poetry
 

 

 This Harlem Shake video went viral recently,

but the Harlem folks say it's a mockery.

 

 

Wacky Word Wednesday - Jannock

Jannock

by Rachel Hoyt

 

image by adamr via freedigitalphotos.net

 

 

A jannock

Is a trustworthy bloke,

Won't steal when broke,

Hides behind no cloak,

Kind since he awoke -

The genuine jannock.

 

© 2013 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

Every week I rhyme and define a new wacky word.
Come on over to indulge your inner nerd.
And, please let me know of any weird words you've heard.

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: Words, Vocabulary, Poem, Rhyme, Jannock, Poetry

Thursday Thoughts - Bank Executives' Salaries

The Wizard's Work

by Rachel Hoyt

 

image by luigi diamanti via freedigitalphotos.net

 

You see,

How it works is we

Do some magic math to show

That which our dreams already know -

We're fabulous and gaining ground,

Profits secure, salaries sound.

 

You're right,

There's been a slight

Trickle down delay in effect.

Our bonuses and stock shares reflect

All the same woes as those who wail

And our losses top the money scale.

 

You know,

Any One could go

Move to greener pastures for

That salary if you ignore

Their wizardly worth

For giving ideas girth.

 

Yeah sure,

We could conjure

A less selfish structure,

But the current culture would rupture.

Then how would jealousy motivate?

(Our potions for that aren't as great.)

 

© 2013 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

 

 

Activist investors are working to cut back

the wizard's pay and get "ours" back on track. 

 

 

Technorati Tags: Investment, Bank, Salary, Rhyme, Poetry

 

 

Read more rhymes by Rachel at her column, Clickety Clack -

poetic news about Santa Barbarians talking back

Wacky Word Wednesday - Kludge

Kludge

(Klooj)

 

by Rachel Hoyt

 

Image by Idea Go via freedigitalphotos.net

 

 

With a kludge, you lose.

If you snooze,

Or you choose

To confuse

A fix with a ruse

And believe in a kludge,

Then you'll lose.

 

© 2013 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

Every week I rhyme and define a new wacky word.
Come on over to indulge your inner nerd.
And, please let me know of any weird words you've heard.

Technorati Tags: Words, Vocabulary, Poem, Rhyme, Kludge, Poetry

Wacky Word Wednesday - Finnimbrun

Finnimbrun

by Rachel Hoyt

 

 

 

A hand wrapped finnimbrun

is a present some would shun

because it could 'fit' anyone

and was likely bought 'under the gun',

hoping the sentiment would weigh a ton

and shroud a trinket with glamour and fun,

make you the envy of everyone,

for wisely gifting knick-knacks, finnimbrun.

 

© 2012 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

Every week I rhyme and define a new wacky word.
Come on over to indulge your inner nerd.
And, please let me know of any weird words you've heard.

Technorati Tags: Words, Vocabulary, Poem, Rhyme, Finnimbrun, Poetry