First Place Winner of the March/April 2009 Gulf Coast Poets “Member” contest.  No fee, no prize but publication.  Open only to members of the Gulf Coast Poets.  

 
Who is singing his repertoire ceaselessly
as if he would imitate every sound?
Challenging quiet of moonlit summer nights,
worrying the guilty who are sleepless,
entertaining those without an orchestra,
the mockingbird’s musical shuffle
throws its anthems into southern summer air—
a vireo’s sneeer, the tanager’s chip-burr,
my cat’s meow, my dog’s repeated barks,
the thrush’s violin, the siren’s harsh screech—
these sounds, and more, melded into symphonic
forms that human musicians must envy
if they live in a world alive with sound.
 
I wonder how much old jazz musicians
owe to growing up with mockingbirds?
Scatting with mate somberly attired as he,
he sings to her and to announce he’ll fight
any brazen enemy sneaking
in to steal his larder of insects and fruit;
he may attack even cats or people
who fail to observe respectful distance.
Only the polite enjoy his serenades.
The more southerly birds have the largest
song list. They’ve had success at cutting heads.
Losers move north to less inviting climes
where mockers’ hot jam sessions aren’t as fierce.  

Second Place Winner of the March/April 2009 Gulf Coast Poets “Member” contest.  No fee, no prize but publication.  Open only to members of the Gulf Coast Poets.  

Some poets went to lunch today.
My plan was to join them,
but surrounded by books,
a cover caught my eye.
Lost in a stanza,
addictions all combined,
bookstore and coffee shop,
I never had a chance.
High again on caffeinated phrases,
lunch money gone to print,
sandwich of ink on words,
washed down
with a cup of joe.
Yummm..m.m

Third Place Winner of the March/April 2009 Gulf Coast Poets “Member” contest.  No fee, no prize but publication.  Open only to members of the Gulf Coast Poets.  

I will never give
up my throne.
You will bow to me
or the dogs will
have your bones.
You follow the rules,
eve if it’s not cool.

What about you,
your majesty?

My blood is blue.
I’m above all that.
I, Dragon Queen,
give you a wage.
You must love
being my slave.

Rebellion comes to mind,
authority is not just.
No examples to follow.

Enough,
the crowd roars.

I stand alone
doing the job.

This is a bore.