Look into my Eyes

Eyes Pic

Look into my eyes.

They can hypnotize,

Make you fantasize,

You will be my prize.

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Look into my eyes.

I will mesmerize,

See through your disguise,

Tell if you are wise.

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Look into my eyes.

You’ll believe my lies,

You won’t realize,

I’ll be your demise.

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Look into my eyes.

My look will chastise,

Cut you down to size,

Force your silent cries.

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Look into my eyes.

Let me energize,

Make your spirit rise,

Lift you to the skies.

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Look into my eyes.

I’ll antagonize,

Even terrorize,

To both girls and guys.

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Look into my eyes.

My pair will be spies,

You I will surmise,

I’ll check out your thighs.

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Look into my eyes.

Forget that time flies,

Stay here till sunrise,

Waste not all my tries.

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Look into my eyes.

Copyright (c) 2013 Chris McMullen

Numbers Poem (Counting to Ten)

Numbers Poem Pic

Zero is the hero; he saved us all.

One is fun; she always has a ball.

Two is new; he was born yesterday.

Three is free; she loves to play.

Four is a bore; he doesn’t like to talk.

Five is alive; she enjoys a good walk.

Six is in a fix; he doesn’t know what to do.

Seven is in Heaven; she never has the flu.

Eight is great; he often lends a hand.

Nine is divine; she sings in a band.

But it’s ten who is going to win.

Copyright (c) 2013 Chris McMullen

Should any educator wish to use this poem, “Numbers Poem (Counting to Ten),” for non-commercial, instructional purposes, it may be used freely for this purpose. (You’re welcome to replace the words “Heaven” and “divine” with other words in case these do not suit your needs or preferences.)

Moody Sales

Moody PicAh, the beginning of the month;

Such a pleasant time for sales.

You can hear the buzz of customers

And the chirruping of registers.

 

Nothing tops the rush hour,

When sales are just ecstatic.

The lines are seemingly endless,

The products quickly vanish.

 

But then it slows down so much;

Sales shed tears from their sadness.

Where did everybody go?

Why have you all abandoned us?

 

Sales always wonder if the end has come

During extensive periods of loneliness.

Is that the end of life as they know it?

Will they never feel energized again?

 

When sales rebound, they jump for joy;

Happier than ever, they smile quite broadly.

They knew the buyers would return.

The experience is so rejuvenating.

 

Then that time of the month comes;

Inevitable, yet sales dread it so.

Those few days where sales are dismal.

You can count on it like clockwork.

 

Copyright (c) 2013 Chris McMullen

Home of Phones Homophones

Home of Phone Pic

My dog wags it tail when I tell this tale.

No man can know more about fish than you.

My dear, you love fishing more than hunting deer.

You’re the master of your trade.

So you enter a contest, but not to sew.

It’s for fishing, of course, and begins at four.

You don’t know what to do because it’s only two.

It’s not enough time to stay in an inn.

Right then you get the idea to write.

You list in red ink every book you’ve ever read.

Soon the time has passed. It’s half past three.

You reached the blue sea just before the horn blew.

With spirits high, you say, “Hi.”

You agree to play fair. Let’s see how you fare.

If you break the rules, you’ll find that you’re fined.

They count to ten and bang on the tin.

It’s time to see if you can find a big fish in the sea.

You set sail with a boat that you bought at a sale.

Where you go you wear your very best gear.

You use an ant for bait that you got from your aunt.

Your main advantage is your lucky horse’s mane,

Hare’s foot, and magic mermaid hair.

We shall pray for your prey.

The poor fish would rather be stung by a bee.

You caught your fish while napping in a cot.

Even though I’m here, I don’t believe what I hear.

However, I did see it with my eye.

Then you pick it up with your feet. What a feat!

Go this way to the scale. It’s time to weigh the fish.

They’re measuring their prizes over there.

Now we wait to discover the weight.

When will we find out if you win?

Your son is watching anxiously in the sun.

His stomach is in a knot, but yours is not.

You’re the one who has won the prize.

They write your name with a pen on a pin.

They mail it to you by a postman who is male.

You’re our hero of the hour.

Let’s cook the poor fish and pour water on your pores.

Fry the fish in flour. Decorate it with a flower.

It’s time to spice it up by adding some thyme.

When you add a beet, the flavor can’t be beat.

Everyone knows the smell delights your nose.

We wipe our bare feet on your bear rug.

We meet at the table to eat the meat.

The maid has the table nicely made.

Just after we ate the clock struck eight.

Thanks for stopping by. It’s time to say, “Bye.”

 

Copyright (c) 2013 Chris McMullen

Should any educator wish to use the above edition of this poem, “Home of Phone Homophones,” for non-commercial, instructional purposes, it may be used freely for this purpose.

Chef Writer

This writer is just like a chef.

 

He doesn’t use just the same ingredients as everyone else:

His stock is fresher and more extensive, with a secret stash;

It includes a wider vocabulary, many special phrases,

And plenty of combinations with which to spice it up.

 

The writing doesn’t taste bland to the reader:

He chooses each word with thought and care,

Causing the words to flow just as he pleases;

Smoothly for the most part. Pause. Here. And. There.

 

He avoids common foods that often pose problems:

Declining an adverb when a precise verb will do,

Not telling the reader, if showing would be better,

But simply telling when showing would be a distraction.

 

Many former customers have acquired his taste:

They ask for him by name, only eat off his menu,

Follow him if he switches to a new restaurant,

And know they will love it before they even taste it.

 

Chris McMullen, author of A Detailed Guide to Self-Publishing with Amazon and Other Online Booksellers, Vol. 1 (formatting/publishing) and Vol. 2 (packaging/marketing)

The Entertainment Society

Born bored. But easily entertained.

When bored, cry or nap. Try crying first.

Entertainment will usually come to the rescue.

 

Growing older, less easily entertained.

Need games, shows, friends, television.

Want something to do every second.

 

Sit through a lecture? Practice with drills? No way!

Learn through video games. Entertain during class.

Kiss good old-fashioned learning goodbye.

 

Teach students to rely on constant entertainment,

Not to learn how to cope without it.

Make entertainment the norm, not the treat.

 

In the waiting room at the doctor’s office

What do we do? Get out the cell phone.

Text, call, email, games, internet, apps.

 

The television is the centerpiece of the living room.

This potato needs some entertainment, please.

More t.v.’s in the bedroom, kitchen, and garage.

 

Not being entertained at the moment.

Cell phone battery died. No magazines.

So bored. So unhappy. Nothing to do.

 

Being entertained right now, but still unhappy.

So used to this entertainment. Need something more.

Will it ever be enough? Will always crave more.

 

(c) 2013 Chris McMullen

The Publishing Roller Coaster

Roller Coaster Pic

A great book idea pops into your head.

You’re going to have so much fun with it,

Like going to the amusement park.

 

The writing goes agonizingly slow at times,

Like a very long line to ride a roller coaster.

Will you ever get there? No end in sight!

 

You completed the book. Hip, hip, hurray!

Thought you were all done. But no. You’re not.

Like when the line finally takes you indoors:

That wasn’t the end. The line continues inside.

 

So much editing and formatting to do,

Like when the line comes to a halt for repairs.

They don’t know how long, when, or if.

Will it go on forever? Why did we get in line?

 

The book is finally ready to publish. Ta-da!

Like reaching the end of the line;

The thrill of being next. It’s so exciting.

 

On board. Strapped in. The fun has begun.

Up. Up. Up. Way up. A hundred feet in the sky.

Wow. It sure is high up here. Face in the breeze.

What was I thinking? What have I done?

This is insane. Let me off! I’m too afraid.

 

The book just went live. It’s for sale.

Whhhheeeeeeee! Down, down, down you go.

Fast. Faster. Super fast. Scream stuck in your throat.

Exciting. Scary. Fun. Thrilling. Dangerous. Sweet.

 

Some sales comes in. You go up a little.

No sales for a while. Down you go.

The sales rank improves. Back up.

Another pause in sales. Back down.

Some good reviews. Higher, higher.

A bad review. Lower, lower, lower.

 

Sales and reviews finally steady down,

As the roller coaster ride comes to an end.

This sure was a lot of fun. Let’s do it again.

 

Chris McMullen, author of A Detailed Guide to Self-Publishing with Amazon and Other Online Booksellers, Vol. 1 (formatting/publishing) and Vol. 2 (packaging/marketing)

How to Be a Superhero

Superhero Pic

These people have secret identities.

They do normal activities each day,

But every once in a while duty calls.

That’s when they put on a mask, cape, and suit.

Nobody knows who did all these good deeds.

They didn’t do them for fame or fortune.

They just did what they thought was right to do.

 

Bob saw a clever post that caught his eye.

He read it and enjoyed it. Bob was pleased.

Not a single like or follow. Wowwee!

So Bob liked the post and followed it, too.

Then he reblogged it for many to see.

More likes and follows came to the rescue.

It turned into a nice newbie welcome.

 

Suzy found a book with a huge sales rank.

Apparently, it hadn’t sold lately.

That didn’t mean it wasn’t worth reading.

So she decided to give it a shot.

Suzy thought it was a pretty good read.

She couldn’t think why the sales rank was high.

But she spread the word about the story.

 

One book in the search caught Joe’s interest,

But the poor book had just a single star.

Yet Joe didn’t turn his head in disgust.

He clicked on the link and examined it.

It actually looked just like what he sought.

So Joe gave it a try. He liked it much.

He left it five stars, brought the average up.

 

There are many superheroes out there,

Doing good deeds for strangers secretly.

Let us all give you a round of applause.

It doesn’t just involve blogging and books.

Just lending a helping hand when needed,

Or a random act of kindness. So sweet!

Even spreading smiles merits my handshake.

 

Chris McMullen, author of A Detailed Guide to Self-Publishing with Amazon and Other Online Booksellers, Vol. 1 (formatting/publishing) and Vol. 2 (packaging/marketing)

Lousy Post

Not even a picture,

Self-deprecating title;

Just a bunch of words

Strewn loosely together.

 

No insights, no fiction,

Or knowledge to give;

Even lacking humor.

How can it be worth reading?

 

Yet bloggers will view it,

Read it, perhaps even Like it.

Do you really appreciate

Such a humble post as this?

 

(c) 2013 Chris McMullen

Low Reader

Low Reader

 

Low Reader Pic

 

Driving through town in my bookmobile,

With pages of graffiti on the sides,

Telling my story for all to read.

 

Pump up the words!

Pump up the words!

 

Big display screen on the back window,

Flashing words in very large letters,

Helping to spread literacy.

 

How slow can you go?

How slow can you go?

 

Crawling through town at a snail’s pace,

So everyone can read my bookmobile,

Before the words pass out of sight.

 

Read all night long.

Read all night long.

 

The graffiti glows in the dark,

Allowing people to read anytime,

Lighting up the night with words.

 

Can’t get enough words!

Can’t get enough words!

 

(c) 2013 Chris McMullen