A Potpourri of Aphoristic Verses
Confronted with the truth, some will embrace it,
While others, sadly, will refuse to face it.
*
The underestimation of a rival
Is not the surest pathway to survival.
*
When power brokers squint and get all pensive,
The huddled masses grow more apprehensive.
*
Although you might be used to unearned unctions,
At some point you must execute your functions.
*
Old gents and geriatric ladies
Set thermostats into the eighties.
*
You’re lucky if you don’t know how it feels
When frenzied hounds are snapping at your heels.
*
Align with your humanity;
Be what you were designed to be.
C.B. Anderson was the longtime gardener for the PBS television series, The Victory Garden. Hundreds of his poems have appeared in scores of print and electronic journals out of North America, Great Britain, Ireland, Austria, Australia and India. His collection, Mortal Soup and the Blue Yonder was published in 2013 by White Violet Press.
C.B., these are all award-winning couplets of wisdom with humorous presentation. These are all relatable with sound advice in the second line for the culmination.
These are perfect gnomic verses. They follow the tradition of ancient gnomic poetry– short, concise, and pithy, while packed with very useful advice on life and behavior. Of course ancient gnomic verse was strictly didactic, and prompted by the Polonius-like desire to give give good counsel to children and young persons. But Anderson’s potpourri of verses is laced with comedy, witticisms, and even a bit of snarkiness.
I really love the one about old gents and geriatric ladies — it reminds me of the “Returning Seniors” program where I teach. These elderly students are constantly badgering me to get the temperature raised in our classroom, even though have told them over and over that I have no control over the thermostat.
C.B., I absolutely love these!!! You are a real truth-teller!!!