Ephemeral Rhyme

[Maureen K Clifford]

Ephemeral Fair

Did you know the Annual Fair is on this Saturday?
Can we go Mum? Can we go? Oh please say yes we may.
Can I wear my Orange dress? It’s bright a bright can be
Will we take Toms purple pram? I wonder what we’ll see?


The ground is littered with paper wrappers
and tumbling plastic cups. Discarded bread crusts –
pecked by fluttering drab brown sparrows
and pigeons, amidst the feet of the milling crowd.

Inside the pavilion on white paper wrapped tables
floral tributes are arranged, and fresh picked fruit.
Rosy red pippins, downy peaches, Peckhams pears
triumphantly displayed in all their splendour.

Walk down sideshow alley where garish fibre optic signs
flash and sparkle. Fortunes told by a Turkish delight,
fluorescent green ghosts gasp and groan entrapped
forever in pinball machines that rattle and roll.

Wide mouthed clowns grimace as unfeeling people
force white balls down the red valley between their teeth.
Behind them shelves full of buckets and spades,
lemon yellow teddy bears, trifles and trinkets to win.

As starlight slowly breaks through the purpling sky
and daylight departs in a flash of orange splendour,
tired grizzling children and frazzled adults depart
from the glitz and razzle dazzle which has entranced them.

Their pockets emptied of gold and silver. Their heads ringing with noise.
Let me tell you it all becomes a little boring after a while
but the kiddies like it – they say. Plastic windmills whir in the breeze.
Every pram has one – bright orange and purple. And balloons.

Did you know orange and purple with no word will rhyme?
I’ve searched my rhyming dictionary each and every time.
It seems that like the annual fair though bright these colours be
they’re a standalone word – transient – ephemeral –rhyme free.


Maureen Clifford © 03/12

[Rimeriter]

AHH. Memories. Memories.

"Thankya".

Jim.

[DollyDot]

I love it Maureen. Those words are like me only I can rhyme just not in time! Like Jim said it brings back memories.

Ephemeral is such a great word isn't it? I always feel grownup and sophisticated when I use it and I think I even spelt it right.

Dot

[Neville Briggs]

You're a devil Maureen. Your free verse is much better than the rhyming stanzas. I mean that.

Fortunes told by a Turkish delight

love that line

[Maureen K Clifford]

Oh well you've sprung me Neville - the rhyming verses weren't part of it - I just stuck them on so I could sneak it in here to keep the purists happy

I thank you for your kind comment and glad you also liked my Turkish delight.

[Maureen K Clifford]

Thanks Jim and Dolly - appreciate your lovely comments - and I agree Dolly I also like ephemeral it is a lovely purple rhyme. Don't know why it is purple but it always seems that way to me.

[Zondrae]

Wow Maureen

You have written a real pearler there. The line

'As starlight slowly beaks through the purpling sky'

made my hair stand up. You know what I mean.. it gave my goosebumps. It has to be a really good one to get that reaction. Good on you I love it.

[Maureen K Clifford]

Thank you Zondrae, I greatly appreciate that compliment - it must be the purple colour - purple power - probably why Heather is sticking with it

[Heather]

[DollyDot]

Hi Maureen

I agree that there are colours for words or words represent colours or the way we feel them. I'm adding this poem. I know it is not ABP or consistent but it does have some rhyme. Meant to be said quickly I guess.


cheers
Dolly

WORDS

You may put them alphabetically; or just say them phonetically!
Here. There. Everywhere; in you ears, in your eyes.
Even sometimes in your hair…
Or head… Or said…
Straight from the heart. Giving others quite a start!

Words, conventional, made-up… Paddle-love: A sea of thought.
Or gently stroking, softly, sweet
and sometimes bloking:
Cursing, cussing, crude.
Awakening!
Bold, bright, even breathe-taking;
flashing, friendly or full of feeling. Feeling friendly….
Not always!

Words: Mean tight words!
In wills or bills not always thrills!
They’re in my head; when I’m in bed going round.
They make no sound.

Words I hear.
Sometimes fear. They’re laughing loudly.
Always near. O Dear!
There are words that come and go
Some I’m fond of. Other’s not so.
Make you think. Or want to drink.

Words to try for - Words to die for!
Happy laughing crunching…
Crunching? Eating!
Eat my words.
This I do not think I’ll try.
For if….I eat my words
I’ll choke. And then… I’ll die!