Poems by Brian A. Bendall

Most living things are around
Wherever living things are found.
On land or sea, that swim beneath,
Most of them have got their teeth.

Humans need their teeth for treats,
'Cause, you and I, we love our sweets.
We chew our candy, gum, and chips,
Our chocolate bars and licorice whips.

But other beasts have different treats,
Like veggies or assorted meats.
They eat these foods to stay alive.
They know these help them to survive.

Herbivores and carnivores;
The two main groups this tale explores.
Each group is different, there's no doubt.
Put them together? ... Oops! ... Look out!!

Herbivores all love their greens.
Their teeth are made for just that means.
They chew their grass, their hay and oats;
The horses, cows, and Billy goats.

Hamsters, rabbits, sheep, and moles,
Veggie munchies are their goals.
Giraffes and hippos, llamas, too,
Salads are their favorite chew.

But looking at the other side,
Carnivores want meat supplied.
They like their steak but extra rare.
No spice, no sauce, no savoir faire.

Lions, wolves, and crocodiles,
Hyenas with their laughs and smiles,
Foxes, sharks, tyrannosaurs
All are known as carnivores.

They watch the ones that eat their plants,
Bide their time and wait their chance.
They're not cruel or hunt for fun;
They just pursue ... 'til dinner's done.

All these beasts might be amazed
At what us humans like to graze.
We will eat all kinds of things,
From brussels sprouts to chicken wings.

A juicy steak or salad plate,
Buffets to us are super great!
Pork chops, pears, or carrot sticks
Is how some people get their fix.

Are human beings carnivores
Or misdirected herbivores?
The other beasts don't really care,
As long as they're not in our fare!

Those beasts have menus on their mind
That nature's restaurant has designed.
(And mouse or pig or alligator
Never have to tip the waiter.)

For all the stuff we humans eat,
The vegetables, meats, and sweets,
There's one thing that is clear to me.
We love our food variety.

As time goes by we'll choose the foods
That fit each other's different moods.
For now, at least, you need to grow
With good foods that your mother knows.

So, eat the foods mom makes for you:
The roasts, the fish, the chicken stew.
With all the great meals that you see,
Eat your peas and broccoli!

Often, when it's late at night
And no one's 'round but me,
My mind will travel back in time
To my sister's memory.

So many scenes will fill my head.
It's hard to keep them sorted.
All our laughter, talks and games
Through life have been aborted.

But my mind keeps you alive,
Though memories all it shows.
Still, I need to talk to you,
My questions to propose.

Are you happy where you are?
Are Mom and Dad around?
Can you see the thoughts I have
Or words I've written down?

Are you warm in winter time
And cool in summer's sun?
Has the pain that sent you there
Been mercifully undone?

Do you and Mom and Dad play cards
Or talk throughout the night?
Do you still have the forest walks
You loved with pure delight?

Do you still have the laugh you had
When I'd say funny things?
So much of you I'll never know,
Unless I had some wings!

It's been so long since you've been gone,
And still, it's hard to cope.
I want to get to where you are.
Could you throw me a rope?

Is Jacob's Ladder still around,
Available to rent?
If you could send it down to me,
That would be heaven-sent!

A rocket ship or "beam me up,"
A sling shot or a jet!
All might help me get to you.
I would have no regret!

Oh, well...

I guess that I am stuck down here
Until I pass away.
I hope you're there to take my hand
When time is up that day.

Then we can talk and laugh again,
Play games without a care!
One more question, then I'll go.
Will you be there?

I once set out to make a fiend,
A gruesome thing that no one's seen.
A massive gore of teeth and claws
With sixteen eyes and monster paws.

Before I started out to cook,
I checked out first my Potions Book.
With some touches of my own,
I knew I'd hear my monster moan.

I finally found the perfect pot,
Huge and black and rusted not,
To place it on a fire bright
And waited for the dark of night.

The darkness came, none too soon,
And in the shining of the moon,
I began my task with hopes to fix
The makings for my monster mix.

I filled the pot half-full with grease,
And so began my monster-piece.
I added pints of castor oil
And waited for my mix to boil.

I put in five potato eyes,
A chicken's tooth and watched it rise.
A lock of hair, a roach, a worm!
I stirred it so it would not burn!

Beetle guts, hornet's feet,
Finger nails, rancid meat,
A turtle's toes, a garter snake!
So far, this was a piece of cake!

Then I put in weasel liver,
A centipede, a caterpillar,
Seven hairs from top a fly,
A horse's tongue, a lizard's eye!

Oxen hooves and turkey neck,
A gremlin's ear (just a speck),
Maggot slime, a walrus knuckle.
It smelled so good, I had to chuckle!

I listened to it curl and tip.
I took a spoon and had a sip!
And as I heard it bump and crunch,
I settled back to have my lunch.

I put the lid on good and tight.
I let it simmer all that night.
And all that day I let it brew.
All next night and the next day, too.

Then, that night, the moment came
To see if I had worked in vain.
I pried the lid with tender care,
Wondering what I'd find in there.

I held my breath, peeked inside.
I saw it...and I burst with pride!
I threw the lid aside, at last,
And danced around the pot of gas!

And through the gas the creature rose,
With sixteen eyes, a big black nose,
Fangs, hair and ten inch claws,
Warts, lice and monster paws!

It groaned! It gasped! It grunted, too!
Just why it lived, I wish I knew!
"It must be luck! A chance! A fluke!"
I chose a name and called it, "Duke"!

"Here, Duke!" I called, with outstretched hand.
Did it really understand?
It did! It did! For Duke complied!
It looked so good, I almost cried!

With happy eyes I watched it slip,
Squirm, slide, slither and dip.
Slow, at first, then like a shot,
Duke turned around....and ate the pot!

It ate the table and the chair,
And my book a laying there!
Then it ate my frying pans,
My overcoat and garbage cans.

My couch, my lamps, my stove, my suit!
I have to say, it did look cute.
But was this the monster in my mind?
Did I create a Frankenstein?!

My telephone and TV set,
But Duke? It wasn't finished yet!
My shower, toilet, tub and sink!
My sanity was at the brink!

Then Duke stopped, to my surprise,
And looked at me with thankful eyes.
I never dreamed it'd be so wild!
Duke cocked its head....and then it smiled.

Today, it's eaten all I own!
I barely even have a home!
So, I'm worried by one thing, you see,
It's that one day ... Duke ... might ... eat...
..."AARRGGHH!"

There're many women I have met
And loved throughout my years.
Some provided joy I'd get,
But most provided tears.

There were those in fancy clothes
Who'd show me their affections.
Less fancy dressers then arose
And showed me new directions.

But all would leave, I'm not sure why,
For other loves or interests.
So, with the last tears that I'd dry,
I vowed to end these contests.

No longer would I give my heart
To have it sliced in two!
Too many dreams were torn apart
By women that I knew!

I became an island to myself,
With interests born anew.
My hopes of love placed on a shelf
Where mold and mildew grew.

However,

The best laid plans of mice and men
Do often go astray.
I saw this truth one evening when
She came in sight one day.

She looked at me with lonely eyes,
I'm sure mine looked the same.
It took some time to realize
Attraction was to blame.

The vow I'd made to hide my heart
Began to fade from view.
My new love seemed so far apart
From the other ones I knew.

Today, my love is with me still,
So many years we've shared.
My love and trust have been fulfilled
And formed a love that's not compared.

For those out there, please don't despair;
Don't squander your affections.
Don't hide your need for love to share;
Don't dwell on your rejections.

Love is there, I'm proof of that,
No matter what your setback.
There's someone there who's where you're at,
Who'll show the joy you'll get back.

At night, when we both lie in bed,
She shows what my love's meant.
I stroke the hair upon her head;
She whispers sweet contentment.

What makes a moth fly to a light?
Is it need for what they see?
Or does it seem, their useless flight,
Is just curiosity?

I guess it's both that brought us close,
Our lives of different walks.
But now, to please my love the most,
I'll clean her litter box.