A Word About the Bird

I reckon I’m a sea bird. 

My mind just works that way. 

I may have just convinced myself – 

I’m gullible, some say. 

Joshua Seigal

My Uncle's a Punk Rocker

My uncle’s a punk rocker. 

He thrashes his guitar.

He shouts into the microphone. 

We think he is a star. 

He has a cool mohican

and an armful of tattoos.

He wears a leather jacket.

He don’t care about taboos. 

My uncle’s got a gang of mates.

Some people find him frightful. 

To us he is an idol.

We consider him delightful.

He may not have a ‘normal’ job

like doctor or attorney.

To others he’s a reprobate. 

To us, he’s Uncle Ernie.

Joshua Seigal 

I Asked AI to Write a Poem

and do you know what?

I was actually pretty good. 

The vocabulary was nice and rich

and it scanned well too. 

It was funny, and interesting

and it made me want to read further. 

It contained a good mix

of similes, metaphors

and others kinds of figurative language. 

It was fluent and slick

and I was sure

that if I put it in a book

the readers would enjoy it.

It was, in other words,

a highly serviceable poem.

Then I deleted it

and wrote this. 

Joshua Seigal

Milk on the Window Sill

For our science project

we put a cup of milk

on the window sill.

Then we left it for a week.

We wanted to see

what would happen.

Part of me hoped something

miraculous would occur – 

rainbows sprouting through

the roof, or satyrs singing 

in majestic chorus, perhaps..

But deep down I knew

that it would turn yellow,

then go putrid, and stink,

until Miss Cartwright made us

throw it all away.

Joshua Seigal

From My Mind to Yours

These words are a gift

from my mind to yours. 

It’s not perfect, of course – 

my mind is a human mind

and these words might not

be exactly what your need

right now. But here they are. 

Human to Human. Mind 

to Mind. Take this gift, 

and know that all your devices 

might be faster, smarter, 

more slick and to the point,

But they can’t gift you this love,

from my mind to yours.

Joshua Seigal