Nonet Poems

A nonet is a nine-lines poem, each line consisting of a decreasing syllable count, starting with nine and ending with one. Here are some examples:

The End Is Near (a zombie nonet)

Sirens wail amidst bedlam’s descent.

What catastrophe has now come,

Shaking mankind to its core?

Ragged forms, shambling gaits,

Apocalyptic

Visions now

Signal its

Zombie

Fate.

©2011 Karl Becker

Summer Joys

A journey south on Interstate five

Good friends and Legoland await
Paradise of thrilling rides
An endless drive, worthwhile
When we see the gates
And life-sized toys
Resembling
Lego
Blocks.

© 2005 Karl Becker

Life’s Nonet

Life is a diminishing nonet,
Numerous opportunities
Presenting themselves daily,
yet we can choose but few
choice words defining
deeper meanings,
losses and
profound
joys.

© 2005 Karl Becker

The King

 
Elvis was the King one can’t deny
His rock and roll and stretchy pants
Caused girls to swoon, guys to groan,
and parents to protest.
Without his sultry
voice and rocking
beats – a world
without
soul.

© 2007 Karl Becker

Human nature

Human nature, a relentless force,

Can be relied upon at times.
Lack of necessaries can
Justify hastiness
And rash decisions
That cause much pain.
Does having
Lead to
Love?

© 2008 Karl Becker

Inspiration in a Gas Station

Traveling in my VW

Looking for some inspiration
I pull into a truck stop
Buy a can of soda
Watch the horizon
As the sun sinks,
Crimson-streaked,
Silent -
Joy
 
© 2008 Karl Becker

Joys of Fatherhood

Fatherhood is full of hidden joys -

Thank you hugs for nothing special
Nicknames revealing deep love
Movie and a snuggle
Bedtime rituals
With tickling
Sessions and
Laughter –
Bliss

© 2008 Karl Becker

Holy Moment

Intoxicated by the beauty

that you created with a word
viewed atop this mountain perch
a sublimely sacred
privilege to see
the morning wake
revealing
the world’s
birth
 
© 2010 Karl Becker

Nutcracker

Tschaikovsky’s crowning achievement is

embodied in the prancing plums
of sugarabian dance
for reclining Clara
dreaming restlessly
amidst a war
fought between
rat and
man.

© 2010 Karl Becker

Ooops! (dedicated to Ndirangu and Sam)

I arrived at my English class late

and due to my record I thought
no consequence would result,
but I was mistaken -
my teacher acted
in accordance
with school rules –
busting
me.

©2011 Karl Becker