The Sharper the Berry

Mark Pawlak

Nose out of joint, City Slicker ?
Blown a gasket, Hot Shot ?
Fit to be tied, Arty Farty ?
Going through the roof, curtain raiser ?

Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you.

Can't put the toothpaste back in the tube, Clever Dick ?
Chewing nails and spitting tacks, Front Runner ?
Got your knickers in a knot, panties in a wad, Sexy Thing ?

Every rose has it's thorn.

Popped a vein, Man-of-the-World ?
Rubbed the wrong way, Lean-and-Mean ?

Worse things happen at sea.

Worked into a lather, Bold-as-Brass ?
Blood at a boil, Dressed-to-the-Nines ?

It's not the end of the world.

Tomorrow is another day, All-Wind-and-Piss.
It's always darkest before the dawn, Bottom-of-the-Heap.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel,Thick-as-a-Brick.
Behind the clouds, the sun is shining, Back-to-the-Wall.
After the rain comes a rainbow, All-Work-and-No-Play.
Midnight is where the day begins, Beats-His-Meat.

Chin up ! With visions of redemption,
walk against the crowd, Down-at-the-Heels.

If you can't enjoy your own company, how can anyone else,
Drama Queen ?

Everyone might hate you, but at least you're still alive,
Button-Pusher.

Comments : Just started dipping into an absolutely delicious anthology of American Poetry - expect a lot more poems to be posted this month. This one was mean, nasty, random, funny, cynical and I loved it.

Note : Brilliant tongue-in-cheek comment by poet follows :
When I happened upon a list of well-worn cliches, I found it to be suggestive of a greeting card, which prompted me to splice and arrange the phrases to make this poem. I hope to interest Hallmark in my handiwork and perhaps, in this way, to supplement my meager income as a poet.