World Poetry Day - Ode to the Community Center‌‌

[Stephanie]

Hiya everyone,

March 21st marked the World Poetry Day, a date dedicated to support linguistic diversity and poetic expression within communities.

When given the chance to write a ditty,

I just couldn’t resist the temptation.

To share some silly rhythms about the CC,

Honestly, there’s no better communication.

I’d like to take the opportunity to celebrate

Some members of whom there are no equal.

And perhaps some of you want to add verses

You know, when you’re bored out of your skull.

@Cathie19 , how much do we love thee?

Let me count the ways.

Your artistic collages and yummy sounding breakfasts

Keep us all smiling for days.

And where would we be without @Robin4 ,

Our resident Aussie environmentalist.

Your turn of phrase and no nonsense presence

When you’re on holibobs it is missed.

There’s a resident poet in our CC,

Have you read the skills of @Inna22 ?

She’ll rap about guests, that leave it a mess,

And advise what a host should do.

Never forget the Queen of cool,

The lovely Floridian @Clara116 .

Even when faced with blight, she’s a shining light

And will support anyone in a fix.

And what about our Maine lady,

@Ann72 , she’s a staple of our Social Meet-ups.

She’s a New Yorker for sure, on her penthouse floor,

Her advice - don’t step out without makeup!

I’ll be here all day writing about you lot,

But there’s plenty to be cracking on with. 

So if you are feeling creative, please don’t be derogative,

Let’s hear it from you wordsmiths!

Since this day is about sharing and expressing yourself, I’d love to read verses of your own.

Can you share a piece of poetry on what you love about the CC?

Thanks,

Stephanie

[Ann72]

@Stephanie 👏👏👏👏

[Robin4]

I came upon this post across my screen

My first thoughts were, it's the dregs!

And then I thought, now just a bit

Maybe this thread's got some legs!

@Sarah977 sprung instantly to mind,

She's got more posts than Fedex!

She hides away in Mexico,

And says she's covered all Airbnb specs!

@Anonymous  is a man of commonsense,

who knows what he's talking about.

His problem is his tongue runs away

Like mine before we've  thought it all out!

@Cathie19 is a girl who hosts in the tropics,

the humidity has got to her brain.

Along with Garry who she says she does carry

Her hostings all about next afternoons rain! 

Now @Ann72  cannot be left out,

she's always good for an opinion.

She hosts from afar in mansions so suave

She's secretly hording her next million!

@Lisa723  is a host I would love to meet,

she writes with such fervor and style.

Her listing reads wow, lets grab it now,

but she tells us Airbnb deleted her file!

And now I come to those wonderful guys

the CC moderators.

@Stephanie  and those other guys I can't tag,

Now Lizzie is gone, you're our saviors

Covid -19 is a curse  we really don't need,

It's brought heartache to many of us hosts.

Keep faith my friends this nightmare will end

and I will raise my glass to you all as a toast! 

Cheers........Rob

[Anonymous]

💖😂

[Cathie19]

@Stephanie , @Robin4 , @Ann72  et al.

Well the 21st in Oz, is now long gone.. 

but to scribe with a rhyme is important for some.

So I cannot leave Stephanie out on a limb. 

Nor speak CC untruths, or plead the known fifth! 

So as a guest and a host I’ll try to not boast,

For others can say who we are.

Whether good or bad, whether friendly or sad

It’s called a review system, that makes us all mad..

and crazy..... 😱😳  

and we hope, the structure’s a fad.

It can make or break backs - that location star when it cracks,

as the truth is all weird and non-rating.

But they won’t get rid of it, even though we say flick it,

For it’s an irritation, we at Air, have to bare. 

Speaking of Air, let’s think B N B..

To bed or to breakfast or both?

Make it hard, make it soft is the mattress bespoke?

Are the sheets soft and clean.. are there stains to be seen?

Are the towels light or dark?

Are the walls clean and smart?

Are the house rules for rubbish quite clear?

Oh the questions are now all loud in my ear!

From blonde to black - hair drops make us fret.

It comes thin, long, straight and curly, or short, thick and burly.

It drives us all mad and keeps hiding away.

Not a shake or a broom or a vacuum will do.

For lint roller brooms with damp cloths and mops, after the earlier flops, might be the only way to see them leave the room .... ..... ...... with some luck! 

“Out damned spot” is a Shakespearean phrase

It’s also the bug bear of many a fine host.

As we work through the maze:

To bleach? Or to soak?  Hand scrub or throw?

The  choices are many... and the haze is now glaring.

Are they on special in the store down the road?

But let’s not forget the doozy of them all, for some climb this mountain, 

whilst others sadly fall,  to its insidious and exhausting, unrealistic regime: frantically named - The Covid Enhanced Clean! 

This cleaning routine has to be seen to believed.

Off with the toot seat and back on again all clean.

The washing, the ironing the cleaning goes on...

Did I mention the cleaning, the coughing the sneezing?

From hospital grade sprays, disinfectants and bleaching. 

Ahh, that enough you all say, so I’ll stop with a shout..

It’s now someone else’s turn to maintain this rhyming bout.

So show us your skills with a gleam and do tout! 
For CC forum members are a talented bunch - I’m all out. X

[Ann72]

Ode to the Community Center (haiku)

Without each other

We can see only one part

Of the elephant.

[Ute42]

.

@Ann72 

Who's the elephant in Your poem?

[Ann72]

@Ute42  It refers to an Indian folk tale about a group of blind men encountering an elephant for the first time.  Each touched a different part of the elephant and came to a different conclusion.  One touched the elephant's side and concluded the elephant was smooth and solid like a wall, another touched the trunk and announced the elephant was like a giant snake, a third touched the tusk and said the creature was as sharp and deadly as a spear, a fourth touched one of the elephant's legs and proclaimed it a very large cow, a fifth felt the elephant's ear and believed it could fly, and a sixth scoffed that the elephant was no more dangerous than a piece of old rope after tugging its coarse tail.  Each wanted to be right about his definition of the elephant.  Their loud argument woke the napping Rajah, who asked, "How can each of you be so certain you are right?  The elephant is a very large animal.  Each man touched only one part.  Perhaps if you put all the parts together, you will see the truth."

That is all.  🙂

[Ute42]

.

@Ann72  

Thank You, that's a great explanation.

I can only hope for the blind man who examined the elephants tail that the elephant wasn't in the process of dropping something that very moment. It's hard to elude something if You can't see what's coming. 😎

[Inna22]

@Stephanie Oh, wow, I am speechless 

(As in nothing to say)

If not for this crew

I might just not stay

And end up on Quora

Or Facebook or Twitter 

With useless advice 

Leaving me bitter 

@Debra300   must come to this post

You are my new bestie

I like you the most 

But only when @Sarah977 

Is not around

When COVID is over

I am Mexico bound

Too many to mention

Like @Mary996 

Or queen of fashion

@Ann72 

Hey @Fred13 , what’s cooking?

How is the island life?

Anyone’s booking?

Off to dinner...

To be continued...

[Debra300]

@Inna22,

Here we go with rhymin' and dimin'

but as we say in da islands mon,

I jus be limin'

'n jus want a nice body

next to me windin'

when da music has me  

up 'n me teeth shinin'

Now me tune is finish,

I tired, me feet sore, 'n I cryin'

[Clara116]

@Stephanie The sweet waitperson just would not believe he was blind and pointed out foods on the menu and then handed him his drink that I grabbed across the table so he didn't wear it. We cried with laughter...This is such a very special idea and treat! Thanks for including me - I really enjoy poetry/rhyme/and such but not very talented on this end. 

But will add one thing today- yesterday I was asked to speak at the funeral for my dear friend Elmer (as he had directed his family) and since he and I shared so much laughter it was important to bring that into the final goodbye as well. The group gathering at Pensacola Naval Air Base was so perfect, with the Blue Angel Jets flying over on cue as the walk from hearse to final spot began - I sobbed it was so awesome..... and the solo trumpet salute of Taps....so when telling his family and friends how much fun and laughter we shared when he got "ALEXA"...(I explained the little device with the blue light that does whatever you tell her to do IF you call her by name and in the correct order) ..he called her every name in the book except Alexa - and we cried with laughter, we had her doing and singing and saying some crazy things. In a way it was poetry because it was the part of the event that seemed perfectly fitting for my dear friend. That even thru tears, sadness & loss we all laughed together and somehow understood, it was meant to be. 

So happy to be part of the CC community center! And to have my buddies!