MEASURE UP

Another response to the Poetic Asides PAD prompt to write about "TAPE" ~ Maybe a stretch, but... =====×===== MEASURE UP G. Smith (BMI) -----×-----×-----×----- The Greatest Generation, Saved the world saving the nation, And left the rest of us with empty hands; A tough act to follow, We hitched up our pants, And took a hard swallow, Before finding a place to take our stand.

Back then it was right, To volunteer to fight, But our day raised the question for us all; Give peace a chance, Was not some two-bit dance, And we lived to see the end of the wall, Watched it fall.

Did we measure up? Did we break the tape? Was our run for real? Or a cheap escape? Did we take the high road? Or stumble through hell? Did we measure up? Only time will tell.

Our moms and dads, And the lives they had, Together for fifty-plus years; Did they compare To the lives we share? Were we stronger than our tears? Than our fears?

Did we measure up? Did we break the tape? Was our run for real? Or a cheap escape? Did we take the high road? Or stumble through hell? Do we measure up? Only time will tell.

Do we measure up? Only time will tell. ×××××=××××× writersdigest.com/whats-new/2016-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-25

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THE SMART END OF THE TAPE

Today over at Poetic Asides the prompt was to write on TAPE.

THE SMART END OF THE TAPE G. Smith (BMI) -----//----- Daddy was a working man, A carpenter by trade, There wasn't anything in wood, His two hands hadn't made.

I'd take the smart end of the tape, Pull it snug and steady, Then walk it back to him, When he told me he was ready.

"Measure twice, cut once," Were my father's words to me, They applied as much to living, As they did to carpentry. We built a house one summer, Stood it stick by stick; He quietly showed me my mistakes, He never missed a trick.

I'd take the smart end of the tape, Hold it straight and level, "Busy hands are happy hands, Idle hands wait on the devil."

And, "Measure twice, cut once," Were my father's words to me, They applied as much to living, As they did to carpentry.

It isn't always hammers, It isn't always nails, But it's the man who doesn't try, Who is the man who always fails.

"Measure twice, cut once," Were my father's words to me, They applied as much to living, As they did to carpentry. -----/////----- writersdigest.com/whats-new/2016-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-25

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CASH IT IN

Today's PAD prompt was to write an IMITATION piece...

This was inspired by Eric Church’s songs “Record Year” and “Pledge Allegiance to the Hag” and Alan Jackson’s song, “Playin’ Possum.”

CASH IT IN G. Smith (BMI) —+— I did my time in prison, When I was running on my own, Answering to no one, Living all alone. And for a while I’d been, Leaning towards the blues, Didn’t seem like there was, Anything else to do. Then I heard the Man in Black on the radio, And the answer was so simple, don’t you know?

Cash it in, Walk the line, Face the fire, Know what’s mine. Be careful who I love, And always let her win, Cash it in; Cash it in.

One Sunday morning I was, Coming down, Drinking a cup of coffee, Wondering where I was bound, Guessing things just happen that way; Not quite sure what to do or what to say, When the man came back around, With the answer that I’d already found;

Cash it in, Walk the line, Face the fire; Know what’s mine. Be careful who I love, And always let her win, Cash it in; Cash it in.

I thought I’d found another, Broken hearted girl, Riding her own blue train, All around the world. I knew she was hurting, By the way she cried, cried, cried; I hoped she knew how much I cared, By the way I tried, tried, tried. After all, what had worked before, Looked like it work for me once more;

Cash it in, And walk the line, Face the fire; Know what’s mine. Be careful who I love, And always let her win, Cash it in; Cash it in. Cash it in. —/—

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WHEN IT'S TIME

Answering the Poetic Asides PAD prompt: Complete the Phrase :WHEN ______

WHEN IT'S TIME G. Smith (BMI) -----•-----•----- When it's time, you will know, When it's time, you will know; Certain things are bound to show, When it's time, you will know.

When the bow hits the string, When the mandolin and guitar ring; When that high lonesome sound, Is the only way to to sing, Then it's time, and you will know.

When the banjo's the only tone, That will keep you from feeling alone, And it goes down to your bones, Then it's time, and you will know.

When it's time, you will know, When it's time, you will know; Certain things are bound to show, When it's time, you will know.

On a porch, or on a stage, Played by ear, or from the page, String-bands are all the rage, And when it's time, then you will know; And when it's time, then you will know.

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WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED

The 11/23 Poetic Asides PAD prompt is complete the phrase: WHEN ____

WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED G. Smith (BMI) ------°------°------ When it all hits the fan When it all comes down, When the lights come up, Where will you be found?

When the sun burns bright, When the cold winds blow, When there's no stars at night, What will you know?

When the roll, Is called up yonder, When the roll, Is called up yonder, When the roll, Is called up yonder, Will you ponder? Will you ponder?

When the rains won't quit, When the well runs dry, When it all turns to dust, How will you try?

When words won't come, When tears won't cease, When your heart won't heal, Why can't you find peace?

When the lights go out, When you're too blind to see, When nobody notices, Who will you be?

When the roll, Is called up yonder, When the roll, Is called up yonder, When the roll, Is called up yonder, Will you ponder? Will you ponder?

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SELFISHLY SHARING

So... The fourth 2-fer in the November PAD challenge: • a SHARING poem OR • a SELFISH poem

Lemme know what you think...

SELFISHLY SHARING G. Smith (BMI) ----------//---------- Selfishly sharing she knew that her heart would be his, But only for a moment; Only till he gave her, His own in return, Feeling the burn.

Trusting without question, she lay her heart bare for the beating, She knew she would take, For opening so freely, Where did she learn to give without asking? Be herself without masking?

She's his one and only, He's her no longer lonely; They're each other's Other, Selfishly sharing their whirling, swirling world.

Walk through the water and watch the waves breaking you'll feel that, The ocean holds the key; Standing and spanning the gulf that's between them, Their focus will not let them see,

She's his one and only, He's her no longer lonely; They're each other's Other, Selfishly sharing their whirling, swirling world.

-----/----- (With SINCEREST apologies to David Crosby, Steven Stills, and Graham Nash)

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THINKING OUT LOUD

The November PAD prompt today was THINKING OUT LOUD~ so, with that for a title...

THINKING OUT LOUD G. Smith (BMI) •••••|||••••• Didn't I just work on this kitchen drain? Getting under here is such a royal pain; Righty tighty, lefty loosey, This pipe connection feels goosey, And this kind of thing just makes me feel dumber, For not sucking it up and calling in a plumber; What's that, Dear? Nah, I'm just, Thinking out loud.

I guess I need to work on this old truck, I've got a little skill, but I could use a bit more luck. Now where did I put that socket wrench? Did I leave it in the garage on the bench? What is this? A Phillips head? I wish that I had stayed in bed, What's that, Son? Nah, I'm just, Thinking out loud.

Thinking out loud, maybe not always smart, But sometimes it's the only Place I can start. Can't bite my tongue when figuring things out and Under my breath is better than shoutin' When I'm, Thinking out loud.

Now, what's the next word? What's the right rhyme? This seems to happen all of the time. What's the next note? Is this the right key? Where is that chord I so desperately need. I thought that I'd just put this thing in tune? How'd get so flat so soon? What's that, Dear? Nah, I'm just, Thinking out loud. | | | ••• | | |

This prompt, and submissions to it, can be found at writersdigest.com/whats-new/2016-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-21

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DANCE THE SUN UP

The 11/20 PAD prompt was to use a common phrase for your title...

Here's my attempt...

DANCE THE SUN UP G. Smith (BMI) ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: We didn’t get here over night, We didn’t wind up here because of some dumb fight, We took different turns somewhere along the road; And one day just quit shouldering each other’s load. Here’s one way we can try to make this right, ‘Cause we didn’t get here over night.

Let’s dance the sun up, Like we used to do, Close down every honky-tonk, Just me and you. Go to bed with the sunrise, And start things anew. Let’s dance the sun up, Like we used to do.

Maybe it was too much work, That makes you feel I’m now a jerk, Maybe I felt you put the kids, Ahead of everything thing we did, But here’s one thing we can try to make it right, Though I know we didn’t get here over night.

Let’s dance the sun up, Like we used to do, Close down every honky-tonk, Just me and you. Go to bed with the sunrise, And start things anew. Let’s dance the sun up, Like we used to do.

It’s not simply that simple, But it’s one way to start, I know, since I still dance with you, Here in my heart.

So, Let’s dance the sun up, Like we used to do, Close down every honky-tonk, Just me and you. Go to bed with the sunrise, And start things anew. Let’s dance the sun up, Like we used to do.

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WHERE WE ARE

Today's November PAD prompt was to write about a "COMMONPLACE LOCATION..."

Here's mine...

WHERE WE ARE G. Smith (BMI) : : : : : : : : This ain't the Magic Kingdom, This ain't some Broadway night, It's just you and me rocking on the porch, Underneath a yellow light, light, light; Underneath a yellow light.

This ain't the Grand Ol' Opry, This ain't Carnegie Hall; It's just you and me picking on the porch, Where we know we've got it all, all, all; We know we've got it all.

Some folks can't be happy, Without the moon and stars, But you and me, we've got what we need, And more here where we are.

This ain't some uptown penthouse; This ain't some five star Ritz; It's just a cabin in the woods, Where everything just fits, fits fits; Everything just fits.

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FULL CIRCLE

So today's PAD Challenge is to use the following six words~ • band • clean • froth • logic • pack • web

See if you can find 'em... ••••-••••-••••-•••• FULL CIRCLE G. Smith (BMI) ----•----•----•---- I check my status on the web, I pack my bags to go; The logic of it makes no sense, That's the one thing that I know.

I pour a cup of coffee, I open up the door; I thought a clean break would be best, But I question it once more.

And the weight on this hand of that gold wedding band, Is sometimes too much to bear; But truth be told, though her heart's grown cold, I'm fool, and I still care.

I stop on the way from airport, At a bar on my way home, Keeping company with a second round, And its suds, froth, and foam.

Third time's the charm, but two's enough, I pay up and go out to my car, I sit on passenger side and wave, At cop staking out this bar.

And the weight on this hand of that gold wedding band, Is sometimes too much to bear; But truth be told, though her heart's grown cold, I'm fool, but I still care.

The cop gives up and so do I, Time to admit to what I've done; I stop at the end of the driveway, Fighting the urge to run.

I just tried that trick, and here I am, Full circle, back to the start. But the house is empty, the lights are out; She's gone and taken my heart.

And the weight on this hand of that gold wedding band, Is sometimes too much to bear; But truth be told, though her heart's grown cold, I'm fool, but I still care.

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