Archive for the ‘New York Limericks & Haiku’ Category
Friday, February 8th, 2013
NOT Hailing This Storm (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A blizzard’s upon us. I’m worried,
Cuz in over a foot we’ll be buried.
The prelude is hail,
Then snow by the bale.
If only our snow flakes just flurried.
Tags: Blizzard Forecast, Hail, New York Weather, Seasonal Verse, Snow Poetry, Snow Storm, Snow Verse, Weather Humor, Winter Limerick
Posted in Limericks, New York Limericks & Haiku, Seasons Humor, Weather Humor | 4 Comments »
Saturday, February 4th, 2012
While hubby Mark and I are New Yorkers, Mark went to college in Boston — Northeastern University. So, with the New York Giants and the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, you’d think he might be conflicted. My limerick explains why he isn’t:
Super Bowl 2012 Limerick
By Madeleine Begun Kane
My husband is ready to gaze
At the Super Bowl game in a haze.
With junk food and beer,
For New England he’ll cheer.
We’re New Yorkers. The Giants are strays.
Tags: Ball Games, Beer, Boston, February Holidays, Football Humor, Junk Food, Massachusetts, New England Patriots, New Jersey, New York Giants, New York Verse, Northeastern University, Sports Humor, Super Bowl Sunday
Posted in Behavior & Personality, Food & Drink Humor, Games Humor, Leisure Time Humor, Limericks, New York Limericks & Haiku, Sports Humor | 4 Comments »
Monday, September 19th, 2011
A month or so ago, hubby Mark took a wonderful photo of a deer just a couple of feet from our deck in Putnam Valley, New York. I’ve finally written a companion limerick for that image:
Dear Deer
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear deer, you’re adorable, true.
But there’s one thing about you, I rue:
Your habit of munching
And supping and lunching
On fruit my hub’s hoping to chew.
(Photo by hubby Mark Kane)
Tags: Animal Images, Animal Verse, Deer, Deer Limerick, Mark Kane, New York, Outdoors Humor, Photos, Putnam Valley
Posted in Animal & Pet Humor, Limericks, New York Limericks & Haiku, Outdoors Humor | 11 Comments »
Tuesday, September 13th, 2011
The New Yorker Festival is holding a limerick contest, and the winner gets a batch of Festival tickets for two. Here’s my entry:
Limerick Ode To The New Yorker Festival
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The New Yorker is hosting a fête —
A must-see for the erudite set.
Famous people galore
Shall be speaking full-bore,
And no intellect’s need goes unmet.
Tags: Contests, Intellectual Humor, New York City Verse, New Yorker, New Yorker Festival, Writing Contests
Posted in Contests, Limerick Writing Contest, Limericks, Media Humor, New York Limericks & Haiku | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, June 8th, 2011
I don’t mean to bitch (okay, maybe I do) but it’s hot as hell here in New York. And weather forecasters are saying it will hit 100 degrees tomorrow.
But hey … there’s no global warming, right?
Heated Limerick
By Madeleine Begun Kane
One-hundred degrees? I may swoon.
Yes, I’m singing a very hot tune.
And I’m down in the mouth
Cuz this isn’t the south,
But Bayside, New York — early June.
Tags: Bayside, Global Warming, Heat Advisory, New York City Verse, Seasonal Poems, Weather Humor
Posted in Anxiety & Stress, Limericks, New York Limericks & Haiku, Seasons Humor, Weather Humor | 14 Comments »
Wednesday, April 6th, 2011
As part of its National Poetry Month and Poem In Your Pocket Day “Envelope Project” celebrations, New York City is running an Emily Dickinson related poetry contest. Basically, it involves writing your own poems using Dickinson first lines.
Although I didn’t enter the contest (I wasn’t thrilled with its reprint permission form) I chose four Emily Dickinson first lines and wrote four short, whimsical, New York City-inspired poems. Here they are, with Dickinson’s words noted in italics:
I shall keep singing though I’m bad,
and those who hear me shout, “Egad!”
You’ll never see me on Broadway,
unless you mean my street display.
*****
The Cricket sang.
My sleep is done.
I’d sooner hear an engine run.
*****
I started Early–Took my Dog —
unleashed — don’t fret —
Just franks and grog.
*****
A Day! Help! Help! Another Day!
I wish sometimes they’d go away.
I much prefer the dark of night
So daylight please, go fly a kite.
*****
Tags: April Holidays, Celebrations Poetry, Emily Dickinson, Envelope Project, National Poetry Month, New York City Verse, Poem In Your Pocket Day, Poetry Contest
Posted in Authors & Playwrights, Celebrations Poetry, Holiday Humor, New York Limericks & Haiku, Poetry Contest | 14 Comments »
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
April 1st is coming. Are you excited yet? No, I’m not talking about April Fool’s Day, although that’s pretty cool too. But April 1st is also the start of a month-long celebration of poetry in the U.S.A. — National Poetry Month (not to be confused with World Poetry Day.) Many online poets celebrate by writing a poem each day, and they announce their poetic participation over at NaPoWriMo.
So will I be writing a limerick a day in April? Damn right … with the occasional haiku, tanka, quatrain, or butterfly cinquain thrown in to spice things up. And of course I’ll be posting my weekly Limerick-Offs and Limerick of the Week contests every Sunday or Monday.
Here’s my Limerick Ode To National Poetry Month:
Limerick Ode To National Poetry Month (April 2011)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear poets, it’s time to prepare
For our April-long poetry fair.
We’ll write verse ev’ry day.
Not on Tax Day? Okay.
Just be sure that you read, write, and share.
Here are some good poetry sites that plan to celebrate National Poetry Month in a big way with daily prompts: Big Tent Poetry and Poetic Asides. Additionally, Writers Island will be providing a daily spot to post your April poems. And if that’s not enough, some sites offer daily prompts all year long, such as The Teachers Corner and Dodge Writes.
Moreover, New York City is holding two poetry contests in honor of National Poetry Month: NYC’s second annual Twitter poetry “Poetweet” contest and its “Poem In Your Pocket Day NYC” Facebook page “Envelope Project.”
If you know of any other National Poetry Day events, contests, and/or prompts, feel free to post them here in the comments section. Thanks!
Tags: April Holidays, Big Tent Poetry, Envelope Project, Limerick Poems, NaPoWriMo, National Poetry Month, New York City, Poem In Your Pocket Day, Poetry Celebrations, Poetry Prompt, Poetweet Contest
Posted in Celebrations Poetry, Creativity Verse, Holiday Humor, Letter Limericks, Limericks, New York Limericks & Haiku, Poetry & Prompts, Poetry Contest | 13 Comments »
Friday, March 25th, 2011
Excited tourists
stop and stare, awed by Times Square —
forget they have feet.
*****
Sleepless, hollow eyes
gaze at legal opinions,
but see student loans.
*****
Windy documents
written to persuade judges —
endless legal briefs.
*****
Libraries, once hushed,
quiet playgrounds of the mind,
kept calm and silent
by strict ground rules, now drown thought
in playground cacophony.
*****
(Thanks for these four prompts: New York, hollow, paradox, and hush. Posted at Monday Memories.)
Update: April 21st is Thank You For Libraries Day.
Tags: April Holidays, Briefs Humor, Haiku & Senryu, Law Haiku, Legal Jargon, Legal Opinions, Legal Research, Legal Writing, Library Poetry, New York City Verse, Noise Humor, Odd Holidays, Paradoxes, Student Loans, Thank You For Libraries Day, Times Square
Posted in Anxiety & Stress, Haiku & Senryu, Legal & Lawyer Humor, Money & Finance Humor, New York Limericks & Haiku, Odd Holidays | 26 Comments »
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011
Dear Calendar (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear calendar, why are you lying?
You claim that it’s spring. I’m not buying.
We had one lovely day,
But now snow’s on the way.
You’ve betrayed us — there’s no use denying.
(Inspired by this spring prompt and, of course, the damn New York City weather. Posted also at Write A Letter, Jingle Poetry’s deception and misrepresentation prompt, and at Poetic Asides.)
Tags: Calendar Humor, Deception, Lies, New York Weather, Seasonal Verse, Seasons, Spring Limerick, Weather Humor, Weather Poem
Posted in Honesty Humor, Letter Limericks, Limericks, New York Limericks & Haiku, Seasons Humor, Weather Humor | 14 Comments »
Thursday, January 27th, 2011
Who needs to join a gym when you own a home in New York and experience … pardon my French … winter! Cardio? Check. Muscle building? Check. Seriously, there’s nothing quite like lifting a snow-packed shovel way over my head in my quest for a place to dump the damn stuff. I’m talking mountains of snow, some of it still lingering from December.
That brings me to my wintry mix of limericks:
I Need A Landlord, STAT
By Madeleine Begun Kane
While owning a home can be nice,
It isn’t all sugar and spice:
After snow and ice falls
There’s no landlord for calls
About shov’ling. That’s part of the price.
Lamentable Weather
By Madeleine Begun Kane
I know that it sounds like I’m wailing,
But it’s thund’ring and lightening and hailing.
It was snowing all day.
Now an ice storm? Okay,
It’s official. Can’t take it. I’m bailing.
Tags: Exercise Humor, Gym Membership, Health Limericks, Home Ownership, Ice Storms, Landlord Tenant Humor, New York City Verse, Shoveling Snow, Weather Humor, Weather Poem, Winter Humor
Posted in Health & Medical Humor, Health Verse, House & Home Humor, Limericks, New York Limericks & Haiku, Outdoors Humor, Seasons Humor, Weather Humor | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, December 28th, 2010
Queens Unplowed (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
We’re in Bayside — no sign of a plow.
So our streets remain hazardous now.
The snow storm’s long done,
Yet no plow trucks. Not one!
Has Queens been neglected? And how!
Update: Here’s my haiku on the same subject:
Neglected Queens streets
Piled with snow and slick with ice.
Residents frosted.
Update 2 Yet another related haiku:
Manhattan tourists
Ask why Times Square looks so good:
Snow was shipped to Queens.
(More Queens blizzard and snow removal and Mayor Bloomberg stories and more snow verse here.)
Tags: Bayside, blizzard, Mayor Bloomberg, New York Weather, Queens New York Humor, Roads, Snow Plows, Snow Poetry, Snow Removal, Streets, Transportation, Weather Humor, Winter Storm
Posted in Limericks, New York Limericks & Haiku, Outdoors Humor, Queens Verse & Humor, Seasons Humor, Weather Humor | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, December 28th, 2010
Mark and I are looking forward to the next heavy rain storm, since we don’t dare hope for a multi-day thaw. And until one or the other happens here in New York City, we won’t be able to use our back door (which opens out) or get into our yard.
My two-verse limerick explains all:
Who Needs A Door, Anyway?
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Can’t exit our house from the back,
Cuz the door’s blocked by snowdrifts, alack!
We would shovel it free
If we could, but you see
We’ve no route to that snow we can track.
For the trail to that door’s through the yard.
And clearing that path’s more than hard.
For the yard gate is blocked
From inside, as if locked
By still more snow. Our entry is barred.
Tags: Backyard, Chores, House & Home, New York City Verse, Outdoors, Seasonal Verse, Shoveling Snow, Snow Poetry, Weather Humor, Winter Limerick
Posted in Chores Humor, House & Home Humor, Limericks, New York Limericks & Haiku, Outdoors Humor, Seasons Humor, Weather Humor | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, December 21st, 2010
My post about haiku and senryu put me in the mood to write more haiku. And what better inspiration than this morning’s extremely rare total lunar eclipse/winter solstice combo!
It’s very cold here in New York. But as my husband sleeps, I’ve been outside watching the eclipse, coming indoors periodically to write some lunar eclipse haiku — a total of seven for a total eclipse:
Here they are:
The lunar eclipse
Is just beginning right now.
Moon’s barely dented.
*****
Bundled up, yet chilled,
I watch moon’s vanishing act.
Quarter’s gone missing.
*****
Icy New York air
Mocks me as I moon eclipse.
Glad cops missed my show.
*****
Ventured out again
As solstice moon wastes away,
Mere shadow of self.
*****
Winds howl in protest,
Demanding that the shy moon
Come out of hiding.
*****
The sky teases us
With a hint of yawning light,
As moon awakens.
*****
Moon stages comeback.
Turns out its retirement
Was only a phase.
Tags: Astronomy Verse, Lunar Eclipse, Moon Haiku, Science Verse, Seasonal Poems, Seasons, Weather Poem, Winter Humor
Posted in Haiku & Senryu, New York Limericks & Haiku, Outdoors Humor, Science Humor, Seasons Humor, Weather Humor | 7 Comments »
Sunday, October 17th, 2010
If you’ve never seen The Flying Karamazov Brothers perform, you owe it to yourselves to go see them either in New York City or whenever their tour hits your town. Hubby Mark and I caught their show Friday night, and it was hilarious.
The Karamazov Brothers’ act is hard to describe, so let me just say they’re jugglers, comedians, and even musicians, who often manage to be all three at the same time. They had me laughing so hard, I had tears streaming down my face for much of the evening. Now can you think of a better compliment than that?
On the other hand, the salt in my tears did burn the skin around my eyes and cheeks. Hmmm, maybe I should sue them for tortious infliction of skin damage.
And now, my limerick review:
The Flying Karamazov Brothers — Limerick Review
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Karamazov, the Brothers, are Flying.
Not the novel — the jugglers — not lying.
Saw their show just last night.
What a comic delight!
Laughed so hard, I was tearfully crying.
Tags: Entertainers, Flying Karamazov Brothers, Juggling, New York City, Theater Reviews
Posted in Entertainment Humor, Limericks, New York Limericks & Haiku, Night On The Town, Theater Reviews | Comments Off on The Flying Karamazov Brothers — Limerick Review
Monday, September 6th, 2010
TV weather reporters in the New York metropolitan area had a wonderful time last week, warning us about Hurricane Earl and all the rain that was surely coming our way. They gave us “teaser” reports early in the news shows, making us wait, as usual, for forecasts that turned out to be wrong.
We had hurricane watches and warnings galore … but no actual rain. In short, New York City weather predictions were a washout.
Weathering Those Weather Reports (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Why use weather reports as your guide?
I really don’t mean to be snide,
But they tend to be wrong
And they take way too long.
Want a forecast that’s right? Go outside.
Tags: Hurricanes, New York Weather, TV Weather Reports, Weather Humor, Weatherman Poem
Posted in Limericks, New York Limericks & Haiku, Outdoors Humor, Television (TV) Humor, Weather Humor | 8 Comments »
Friday, August 20th, 2010
Last night hubby Mark and I had a wonderful theater experience. We saw Secrets of the Trade, starring Noah Robbins, Mark Nelson, Amy Aquino, John Glover, and Bill Brochtrup (whom you may recognize as “Gay John” from NYPD Blue.
The play, written by Jonathan Tolins and directed by Matt Shakman, centers around Andy Lipman. Who’s Andy Lipman? He’s a fictional (and yet somehow familiar) ambitious, Long Island kid who dreams of a career on Broadway and hopes to be helped by Martin Kerner, a theater legend whom he idolizes. I enjoyed it so much, that I felt compelled to review it in verse:
Saw Secrets of the Trade last night.
The play was great to our delight.
With cast so fine and script superb,
I had to pen this glowing blurb.
The playwright Tolins is new to me.
He made us giggle gleefully.
And Noah Robbins — he’s the star.
A mere nineteen and bound to go far.
The rest of the cast is just as strong.
I’d name them, but this poem’s too long.
So get yourself to Off-Broadway,
And see this fun, outstanding play.
Tags: Bill Brochtrup, Jonathan Tolins, Matt Shakman, New York City Verse, Noah Robbins, Off-Broadway, Play Reviews, Secrets Of The Trade, Shows
Posted in Authors & Playwrights, Entertaining New Yorkers, Limericks, New York Limericks & Haiku, Night On The Town, Theater Reviews | Comments Off on Secrets Of The Trade – Off-Broadway Play Review In Verse
Sunday, July 4th, 2010
If you enjoy Shakespeare performed beautifully in a magnificent setting, don’t miss the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival at the Boscobel Restoration in Garrison, New York.
Troilus and Cressida opened July 3rd, and it was terrific.
We started the evening with a delightful picnic on Boscobel’s Hudson River grounds, then moved into the tent for an inventive performance of the baudy, Trojan tale.
Things got even more unusual in the Second Act, which began with a quirky, yet oddly fitting musical number. After the music, the audience members were welcomed to leave their seats temporarily, walk down to the Hudson River, and view the holiday fireworks display that was about to take place across the river at West Point.
Once the fireworks were over, we returned to our seats and the play continued. What fun!
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Like Shakespeare performed in a tent?
Then see Troilus — it’s time quite well spent:
At the Boscobel joint—
Straight across from West Point.
Please don’t miss it — you’ll surely repent.
Tags: Boscobel, Fireworks, Hudson River, Hudson Valley, Leisure Time Humor, Literature, Movie & Play Humor, Outdoors, Theater Humor, Troilus And Cressida Review, West Point, William Shakespeare
Posted in Authors & Playwrights, Celebrations Poetry, Entertaining New Yorkers, Holiday Humor, Leisure Time Humor, Limericks, Movie & Play Humor, New York Limericks & Haiku, Night On The Town, Outdoors Humor, Recreation & Fun Humor, Theater Reviews, Travel Humor, Vacation Humor | 3 Comments »
Saturday, June 5th, 2010
My husband Mark and I had a wonderful time celebrating our 32nd wedding anniversary on Friday, June 4th in Manhattan. We saw a Broadway play — Ken Ludwig’s hilarious Lend Me A Tenor, which was directed by Stanley Tucci. (There’s more about the play in my two-verse limerick.) We also dined at Nocello and enjoyed attempting to dance the rumba at the Marriott Marquis’ Broadway Lounge.
And now, my limerick:
The Tenor Of Our Anniversary
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Hubby Mark and I partied last night.
(It’s been thirty-two years of delight.)
Saw a great Broadway play.
What a heavenly way
To celebrate marriage just right!
Shaloub and LaPaglia star.
(Both are Tony’s — you know who they are.)
Justin Bartha stars too.
We kept laughing on cue
At Lend Me A Tenor. Har, har!
Tags: Broadway Comedy, Holiday Poetry, Husband Wife Humor, June Holidays, Justin Bartha, Ken Ludwig, Lend Me A Tenor, New York City Verse, Stanley Tucci, Theater Review, Tony LaPaglia, Tony Shaloub, Wedding Anniversary Limerick
Posted in Celebrations Poetry, Celebrity Humor, Entertaining New Yorkers, Holiday Humor, Leisure Time Humor, Limericks, Marriage Humor, New York Limericks & Haiku, Night On The Town, Personal, Public Figures, Theater Reviews | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Saturday night hubby Mark and I went to see Kathleen Madigan perform in New York City’s Gramercy Theatre. It was actually one of two performances that were taped for Madigan’s upcoming DVD.
Kathleen Madigan’s act was hilarious, and her special guest, Lewis Black, was his usual angry/funny self.
Limerick Ode To Kathleen Madigan
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Here’s a gal with the comedy gene:
Surname Madigan, first name Kathleen.
I laughed the full hour.
Not once did I glower.
My fav’rite? Her Oprah routine.
Tags: Comedians, Comedy Limerick, Entertainment Limerick, Kathleen Madigan, Lewis Black, New York City Verse, Reviews
Posted in Celebrity Humor, Entertainment Humor, Leisure Time Humor, Limericks, New York Limericks & Haiku, Night On The Town, Public Figures, Standup Comics, Theater Reviews | Comments Off on Limerick Ode To Kathleen Madigan
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
For many years, Cooking With Jazz in Whitestone, Queens, New York was one of our favorite restaurants. Then, suddenly, it was gone.
Several years went by, and hubby Mark and I had just about given up on ever getting good New Orleans food again, short of flying to Louisiana. And then, the unimaginable happened — a postcard arrived announcing that Cooking With Jazz had reopened, this time in Jamaica Estates, Queens.
Oh joy!
Within days we were dining at the new Cooking With Jazz, and it’s even better than we remembered.
And so, a limerick in honor of chef-owner Steve and the wonderful Cooking With Jazz restaurant:
Cooking With Jazz (Limerick Review)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
There’s a Cajun oasis in Queens
With authentic cuisine, New Orleans,
And the Creole pizzazz
At Cooking With Jazz
Surely rivals all Big Easy scenes.
Tags: Big Easy, Cajun Food, Cooking With Jazz, Creole Cuisine, Food Verse, Louisiana, New Orleans, New York City Dining, Queens Restaurants
Posted in Food & Drink Humor, Limericks, New York Limericks & Haiku, Queens Verse & Humor, Restaurant Reviews & Humor | 5 Comments »
