Archive for the ‘Mental Health Humor’ Category
Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
Today I’ve written four poems on a theme called hope. There’s a pair of quatrains, one haiku, and a limerick — something for everyone, or no one, as the case may be:
Hope springs eternal—
a “truism” some speak.
Yes, hope springs eternal,
until it springs a leak.
*****
Alexander Pope
wrote about hope.
His eternal quote
helps some folks cope.
*****
Showing up to vote—
a yearly exercise in
unrequited hope.
*****
A gal who is often caught moping
And is terribly dreadful at coping
Drives her family mad.
Things have gotten so bad,
That they’re hoping to hear she’s eloping.
*****
(Inspired by Haiku Wednesday’s hope prompt and Poets United quotation prompt. For more optimistic poems see Friday Poetically.)
Tags: Alexander Pope, Aphorism Humor, Family & Relatives Humor, Funny Quotes, Hope, Moping, Optimism, Personality Verse, Quatrains, Truisms, Voting Haiku
Posted in Anxiety & Stress, Aphorisms, Authors & Playwrights, Behavior & Personality, Family & Relatives Humor, Family Verse, Famous Quotes Humor, Haiku & Senryu, Limericks, Mental Health Humor, Public Figures, Quatrains Humor, Self-Help Humor, Social Satire | 35 Comments »
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011
The task at hand over at Three Word Wednesday is to write a poem using these three words: Figure, Juicy, and Stress. I enjoyed the mental exercise and wrote this limerick:
If Only Life Were That Simple
By Madeleine Begun Kane
When I’m feeling a bit under stress
And I figure my life’s in a mess,
If I read something juicy
Or play some Debussy,
My problems are quick to egress.
Tags: Anxiety Humor, Debussy, Juicy Novels, Mental Health, Music, Simple Life, Stress Humor, Three Word Wednesday
Posted in Advice Humor & Poems, Anxiety & Stress, Behavior & Personality, Limericks, Mental Health Humor, Minimalist Humor, Poetry & Prompts | 10 Comments »
Monday, February 21st, 2011
Though I’m never safe,
his arms always comfort me,
and that must suffice.
*****
Ballroom dancing class—
learning creative ways to
defeat the rumba.
*****
Morning legs dangle
off the bed, as antique joints
brace for their touch down.
*****
Feeling elated—
great, yet dampened by knowing
what’s soon to follow.
*****
Poised atop mirage
of a career, gazing down
at life left behind.
*****
(I wrote the 1st haiku for We Write Poems’ safe prompt; the 4th haiku for Sensational Haiku Wednesday’s elation prompt; and the 5th haiku for One Single Impression’s top prompt and Haiku Heights’ mirage prompt.)
Tags: Aging, Arms, Career Poem, Dance Classes, Dancing Humor, Haiku & Senryu, Health, Husband Wife Haiku, Legs Humor, Mood Humor, Rumba, Safety Verse, Workplace Poetry
Posted in Clumsiness Humor, Dance Humor, Haiku & Senryu, Health & Medical Humor, Health Verse, Leisure Time Humor, Lessons Haiku, Mental Health Humor, Personal, Relationship Haiku, Relationship Humor, Workplace & Career Humor | 32 Comments »
Tuesday, February 15th, 2011
My memory is so bad, that when I spotted the upcoming memory prompt at Haiku Heights I forgot the obvious — that the prompt was for haiku. Ah well, here’s my Bad Memory Limerick:
Bad Memory Limerick
By Madeleine Begun Kane
My mem’ry is bad — getting worse.
It’s a failing I constantly curse.
I forget what I’ve done,
People’s names, whom to shun.
Now what was the theme of this verse?
(For those who can actually remember something, here’s a spot to post your memories in verse.)
Tags: Aging Limerick, Forgetfulness, Memory Limerick, Mental Health Satire, Poetry Prompt, Remembering Names, Writing & Publishing Humor
Posted in Aging Humor & Verse, Behavior & Personality, Health & Medical Humor, Health Verse, Light Verse, Limericks, Memory Humor, Mental Health Humor, Poetry & Prompts | 10 Comments »
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
This week Big Tent Poetry prompts us to cheer ourselves up and cure whatever’s ailing us by writing poetry. I’m no cheerier than before, but at least I did write a relevant limerick … sort of:
Blue Limerick
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Our topic today feels perverse:
It’s curing our blues with some verse.
If I write something happy
It’s sure to be crappy.
And bad limericks make me feel worse.
Tags: Blues Limerick, Depression, Mental Health Satire, Poem Therapy, Therapeutic Writing, Writing & Publishing Humor
Posted in Anxiety & Stress, Behavior & Personality, Creativity Verse, Limericks, Mental Health Humor, Poetry & Prompts, Writing & Publishing Humor | 26 Comments »
Sunday, December 5th, 2010
Once again, it’s Limerick-Off time. I hope you’ll join me in writing a limerick with this first line:
A jittery fellow named Fred…
Here’s mine. (It’s a three-verse limerick, but a standard one-verse limerick is fine, of course.)
Jittery Limerick (Jittery Limerick Audio)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A jittery fellow named Fred
Had problems with sleeping in bed.
He could sleep on a chair
Or a stool — anywhere
But in bed, where things came to a head.
He was haunted in bed by his fears,
Whether sober or after some beers.
He would worry and fret—
Could not snooze on a bet.
And that’s how he lived for ten years.
But then podcasts came into his life.
(He’d heard about them from his wife.)
The discussions and talk
Made sad thoughts take a walk.
Now he slumbers in bed without strife.
Please feel free to write your own limerick using the same first line and post it in my comments. And if you’re on Facebook, I hope you’ll join my friends in that same activity in my Facebook Limerick-Off post.
To receive an email alert whenever I post a new Limerick-Off, please send me an email requesting the alerts. You’ll find my email address on the upper right sidebar, right above my photo. Thanks!
Tags: Anxiety Humor, Insomnia Humor, Mental Health, Podcasts, Poetry & Prompts, Sleep Poetry, Stress Humor, Writing Prompts
Posted in Anxiety & Stress, Behavior & Personality, Health & Medical Humor, Health Verse, Limerick & Haiku Prompts, Limerick-Offs, Limericks, Mental Health Humor, Poetry & Prompts, Sleep & Insomnia Humor | 12 Comments »
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
I hope you’ll join me in writing a limerick with this first line:
A guy in a polka dot tie…
Here’s mine. (It’s a three-verse limerick, but a standard one-verse limerick is fine, of course.):
Dotty Men
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A guy in a polka dot tie
Felt stylish, though heaven knows why.
His jacket was garish.
His pants were nightmarish.
And non-matching sneakers — oh my!
Yet he sat around mocking the gals
With some equally odd-looking pals.
“She’s too thin. She’s too fat.”
“She’s an ugly old bat.”
Can’t imagine their warped rationales.
Why do fellows behave in that way —
Scorning gals who look cuter than they?
Do they all need a shrink?
I sure hope they don’t think
It will lead to a roll in the hay.
Please feel free to write your own limerick using the same first line and post it in my comments. And if you’re on Facebook, I hope you’ll join my friends in that same activity in my Limerick-Offs.
Tags: Appearance Humor, Battle of the Sexes, Clothing Poem, Fashion Verse, Feminism Humor, Lookism Humor, Poetry & Prompts, Writing Prompts
Posted in Battle of the Sexes, Behavior & Personality, Fashion Humor, Feminist Satire, Limerick & Haiku Prompts, Limerick-Offs, Limericks, Mental Health Humor, Physical Appearance, Poetry & Prompts, Social Satire | 32 Comments »
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
I’m not exactly a sports aficionado. But I’m guessing it’s safe to presume that most games are expected to be noisy.
Apparently, though, South African soccer fans take such noise to a new ear-piercing level, enthusiastically blowing vuvuzelas in the stadiums. What’s a vuvuzela? Well, I know from oboes, but not from vuvuzelas. However, I’ve just learned they’re cacophonous, droning, deafening horns (blown like a brass instrument) that are driving TV World Cup viewers insane.
Vive Vuvuzelas? Please, No! (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Attempting to watch World Cup soccer?
Then you’re likely to go off your rocker:
Vuvuzelas abound
With their loud, droning sound.
They are deafening. Help! Need a blocker!
Tags: Brass Players, Football Humor, Hearing Loss, June Holidays, Musical Instruments, Noise Humor, Soccer Fans, Soccer Stadiums, South Africa, Sports Humor, Television Limerick, Vuvuzela, World Cup
Posted in Anxiety & Stress, Health & Medical Humor, Health Verse, Limericks, Mental Health Humor, Music Humor & Verse, Sports Humor, Television (TV) Humor | 9 Comments »
Sunday, March 14th, 2010
Are you as sick as I am of our twice-yearly clock-adjustment ritual? Do you think, as I do, that we have more than enough daylight and that there’s no need to save any?
I’m sorry, but my internal clock is sufficiently confused and doesn’t need Daylight Savings Time to make my chronic insomnia even worse. And I’m inclined to clock the next person who reminds me to change my damn clocks.
Save Me From Daylight Savings Time (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
My natural clock is a mess.
Just thinking of sleep gives me stress.
Spring forward—fall back
Makes me more out of whack.
So I don’t change my clocks — I just guess.
(More DST humor here.)
Tags: Clocks Limerick, Daylight Savings Time, DST Humor, Holiday Poetry, Insomnia Humor, March Holidays, Standard Time, Time Humor, Time Verse
Posted in Anxiety & Stress, Behavior & Personality, Celebrations Poetry, Health & Medical Humor, Health Verse, Holiday Humor, Limericks, Mental Health Humor, Seasons Humor, Sleep & Insomnia Humor, Time Humor | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010
In simpler (pre-social networking) days, I suffered from just one web addiction — checking my email. And that was bad enough.
But now it’s Facebook and Twitter and blogging, oh my!
And for some people, it’s even worse. I guess I should be relieved that I don’t especially dig Digg, and that MySpace hasn’t invaded my brain space. And that (so far, at least) I’ve withstood the lure of most of the social networking and social media websites listed here in all their gory glory.
Because, as you can tell from this limerick, I don’t need any more web obsessions:
Feed Needs
By Madeleine Begun Kane
I’m addicted to Facebook, it’s true,
And Twitter and weblogging too.
I’m desp’rately hooked.
All my hours are booked
On my quest to be fed something new.
Tags: Blogging Obsession, Email Limerick, Facebook Limerick, Social Media Poetry, Social Networking Humor, Twitter Verse, Web Addict
Posted in Addiction Humor, Anxiety & Stress, Behavior & Personality, Blogging Humor, Communication Humor, Computer Humor, Email Humor, Facebook Humor, Internet Humor, Limericks, Mental Health Humor, Social Satire, Technology Humor, Time Humor, Twitter Humor | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
Ode To Cappuccino (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
When my hot cappuccino’s denied me,
I am steamed. I must have it inside me.
So beware of my ire.
My need is quite dire.
Espresso/foamed milk, or else hide me!
UPDATE: I just found out that National Espresso Day is celebrated on November 23rd.
Tags: Addiction Poem, Cappuccino Limerick, Coffee Drinks Humor, Espresso Verse, Mood Humor, National Espresso Day
Posted in Addiction Humor, Anxiety & Stress, Food & Drink Humor, Mental Health Humor, Odd Holidays | 3 Comments »
Thursday, June 18th, 2009
Empty Nest (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A woman was feeling depressed.
(Her syndrome is called “empty nest.”)
Her home was too calm.
She missed being a mom—
Though her spouse “helped” by being a pest.
Feel free to write your own limerick using the same first line and post it in my comments. And if you’re on Facebook, please join my friends in that same activity in my limerick-offs.
Tags: Depression, Empty Nest Syndrome, Family, House & Home, Husbands, Limericks, Mental Health, Parenting, Writing Prompts
Posted in Anxiety & Stress, Battle of the Sexes, Children Humor, Family & Relatives Humor, Family Verse, Health & Medical Humor, Health Verse, House & Home Humor, Limerick & Haiku Prompts, Limerick-Offs, Limericks, Marriage Humor, Mental Health Humor | 19 Comments »
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
Pedestrian Plea (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
There once was a fellow named Mike,
Who was bored while out riding his bike.
So he spoke on his cell,
Did some texting, then fell.
Multitaskers, oh please take a hike.
Update: I’ve just found out that November 17th Is “National Take A Hike Day.” Something tells me, it may be meant to celebrate something a bit different.
Tags: Biking, Cell Phone, Multitasking, November Holidays, Outdoors, Sports, Take A Hike Day, Texting
Posted in Behavior & Personality, Computer Humor, Health Verse, Limerick-Offs, Limericks, Mental Health Humor, Multitasking Humor, Odd Holidays, Outdoors Humor, Poetry & Prompts, Recreation & Fun Humor, Technology Humor, Telephone Humor, Walking Humor | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
Aim for brilliant
In just one-forty characters.
Settle for inane.
Tags: Creativity, Microblogging, Twitter
Posted in Communication Humor, Computer Humor, Haiku & Senryu, Internet Humor, Mental Health Humor, Technology Humor, Twitter Humor, Writing & Publishing Humor | Comments Off on My Twitter Motto (Haiku)
Monday, September 15th, 2008
Just in time for National Coffee Day! (September 29)
Caffeinated Verse (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
I’ve rarely been tempted by tea,
And coffee does nothing for me.
Cappuccino, however —
Can’t miss it. Not ever!
Addicted? Heck no! I’ll take three.
*****
Here’s the same sentiment in its concise haiku version. (I prefer it in limerick form.)
I never drink tea.
Hot coffee? No, not for me.
Capuccino? Oui!
*****
(Updated with National Coffee Day info and new haiku)
Tags: Addiction Poem, Caffeine Humor, Cappuccino Limerick, Coffee Verse, September Holidays, Tea Humor
Posted in Addiction Humor, Behavior & Personality, Food & Drink Humor, Limericks, Mental Health Humor | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
This space has been quiet of late.
But it’s not that my readers don’t rate.
I’ve broken my wrist,
And my brain’s in a twist
From pain killers. Writing must wait.
Tags: Brain Humor, Broken Wrist, Health Limerick, Injury Verse. Accident Poem, Pain Killers
Posted in Blogging Humor, Health & Medical Humor, Limericks, Mental Health Humor | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, February 5th, 2008
Before I get to today’s limerick and haiku theme, I want to thank you for the many kind comments and emails concerning my father’s death. I was very touched by your thoughtfulness.
My latest limerick and haiku prompt topic is absent-mindedness and memory. First, my limerick:
“Please help me! I really need aid,”
Said a lady who looked quite afraid.
“Seems I can’t find my purse,
And, perhaps, even worse
It appears that my maid’s been mislaid.”
And now, my haiku:
Memorized data—
Still there, but hard to access.
Mulltiple choice brain.
Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to write a limerick or haiku (or both) about absent-mindedness and/or memory. When you’ve posted your verse, please return here and add a direct link to your themed poetry.
If you want to keep up to date with my poetry prompts, you can subscribe to either my entire blog feed or just to my limerick and haiku prompt topic feed.
Tags: Absent-Minded, Behavior Humor, Brain Humor, Memory Limerick, Personality Humor
Posted in Behavior & Personality, Haiku & Senryu, Limerick & Haiku Prompts, Limericks, Memory Humor, Mental Health Humor | 8 Comments »
Thursday, January 17th, 2008
Today’s limerick and haiku theme is decisions and indecision. First, my limerick:
If there’s one thing I cannot abide,
It is people who cannot decide
What to eat, where to go,
Hot or cold, fast or slow.
Do you think I should take it in stride?
And now, my haiku:
Postponing decisions
Eliminates your options:
Fate accompli.
Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to write a limerick or haiku (or both) about decisions or indecision. When you’ve posted your verse, please return here and add a direct link to your themed poetry.
(If you need some tips on limerick or haiku writing, I link to some helpful sites here.)
NOTE: Thanks to the few of you who have been joining in on the limerick and haiku prompt fun. But I’m beginning to wonder if it makes sense to continue these prompts, with so few people participating.
I’m not sure what the problem is. Lack of publicity? The themes? The difficulty in writing limericks? If anyone has any suggestions as to how to widen the appeal of these prompts, I’d appreciate your posting them in the comments section. Thanks!
UPDATE: Although I usually post prompts every Friday, my current prompt will remain open until February 1st because I’ll be traveling.
If you want to keep up to date with my poetry prompts, you can subscribe to either my entire blog feed or just to my limerick and haiku prompt topic feed.
Tags: Behavior Haiku, Decision Humor, Indecisiveness Limerick, Personality Satire
Posted in Behavior & Personality, Haiku & Senryu, Limerick & Haiku Prompts, Limericks, Mental Health Humor | 6 Comments »
Friday, October 26th, 2007
This week’s 3 Word Wednesday words are Care, Unexpected, and Weekend. Somehow they eventually managed to fit inside a limerick:
Possibly Good, Albeit Annoying Advice (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Ev’ry weekend take time to forget
All your worries and cares and your debt.
Please don’t aim for perfected.
Embrace unexpected.
Try yoga. Play Set. Buy a pet.
Tags: Advice, Anxiety, Minimalism, Yoga
Posted in Advice Humor & Poems, Anxiety & Stress, Behavior & Personality, Health & Medical Humor, Leisure Time Humor, Limericks, Mental Health Humor, Minimalist Humor | 6 Comments »
Monday, October 22nd, 2007
I love a good challenge, and Tricia at Miss Rumphius has provided a tough one: Write a poem that begins with one of five preexisting lines. I’ve written both a limerick and a four-liner, altering the limerick’s first line a bit so it conforms to limerick rhythm rules.
Here’s my limerick:
Time Travel
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Please stop all the clocks. Cut the phone.
Pull the plug on each ’puter you own.
Ain’t the silence sublime
As you go back in time?
With your thoughts you’re at last all alone.
And here’s my four-liner:
I wandered lonely as a cloud,
While wondering why I felt so cowed
By life, while others lived unbowed.
Must be like them, I vowed, aloud.
UPDATE: My limerick seems appropriate for Simplicity Day, celebrated July 12th in honor of Henry David Thoreau’s birthday.
Tags: Henry David Thoreau, July Holidays, Mind & Spirit, Minimalism, Odd Holidays, Simplicity Day, Technology Limerick, Time Travel
Posted in Anxiety & Stress, Mental Health Humor, Minimalist Humor, Odd Holidays, Technology Humor, Telephone Humor, Time Humor | 15 Comments »
