The Ant Climber

An ant fell in my bathtub,

while scaling up the tile,
He lost his grip, and that was it,

he slipped and fell a mile.
A pinnacle of porcelain,

five-nine by class and height,
A mountaineer, free climbing there,

a vast crevasse of white.

They fly to Lukla airport,

from Kathmandu, Tibet,
To start their Himalayan crawl,

a test of tech and sweat.
From camp to camp,

up ice and rock,

they climb through strength of will,
A crane flew by with whispered sigh,

"It's just a bathtub still."

(c) Bren Breithaupt, 2011

Tasty

Tasty little chocolate bars,
Crispy rice and gummy bears.
Eat them up, my little dears,
Eat until they’re out your ears.

Have your Snickers, Musketeers,
Nestle’s Crunch, and Hershey bars.
Halloween will soon be done,
Then I’ll pick the fattest one.

In he’ll go, my chubby feast,
Taffy apples in his cheeks.
Hear him sizzle in the morn.
Glazed with melted candy corn,

Caramel, he’s browned up nice,
Tender, juicy, full of spice.
My Thanksgiving’s greatest joy,
Is candy-fattened, roasted boy.


© Bren Breithaupt, 2010

The Shredder

Values crafted skillfully now face the final number crunch.
Secrets nevermore shall pass the lips of whispered corporate spies.
Sources of embarrassment caress the blades of nothingness.
Even disks of docu-trash are ground like fodder in a mill.

Rage against the whining blades collecting every page of life.
Strain against the grind of time, descending to a burn-bag hell.
Treasures rarely face the cart that rolls them to the guillotine.
Bind the time and words therein and publish lest you shred your life.

Crouching Mantis

Crouching mantis,

Prey in transit,

Snapping dragon,

Bug digesting.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

I loved the "Cat" when I small,
and heard the fish when he stood tall.
I tried green things, despite their look,
Because you had them in your book.

I learned to read your sing-song way,
and taught my son that funny way.
He laughed the same as when my dad,
made me laugh when I was a tad.

I thank you, Ted, for all you said,
for all the sermons in my head.
For all the kids of any age,
We thank you, Ted, for every page.

Hummingslug

I think I’m just a hummingslug,
A gastropod trochilidae
For some days you can’t see my wings,
The next, I strain to slime on things.



When flying, I can reach the pole.
When sliming, out of bed’s my goal.
If humming, I clean house with steam.
If sluggish, I can’t self-esteem.

So, if you ever come to call,
Observe me like you’re Jane Goodall,
Be gentle if my slime has run,
Lasso me if I’m too much fun.

(c) 10/2009, Bren Michelle B., San Diego, CA

My Dad

My Dad
Used to throw me balls,
Used to be so tall,
Used to tell us tales about his childhood,
I remember he was good,
No, not perfect, but my Dad.

He worked harder than I ever thought I would someday,
He provided all we had and taught us what to say,
He made Santa real and taught us how to laugh and play
My dad was the highlight when he came home every day.

Oh, My Dad
Sometimes bucked the crowd,
Sometimes talked too loud,
Liked the opera, rock, and Janis Joplin,
He was hip when hip was cool,
He lived life by Sartre’s rules.

Dad, you’re still my dad today.

A Tadpole's Tale

A Brother Once

I had a brother once, but now
his ashes span two ocean shores.

I had a brother once, but now
His silence burned a fragile bond.

I was a brother once, but now
I’ve melted into estrogen.

I had some brothers once, but now
One dead, one gone, and one’s a she.