I Dare Ya!
“I Dare Ya!”
My friend taunts.
I dread those words,
A kid can’t refuse.
“Give it a go”
He urges.
“I don’t know”
I reply nervously.
“You can do it!”
I look down,
Shaking a bit,
“It looks so far.”
“Are you scared?”
He teases.
Why was I dared?
I think, taking a breath.
I prepare to jump.
Stepping forward,
Eyes shut tight,
Then…THUMP!
I land on the floor
Of the hen house,
Bruised and sore
As he sits there laughing.
Straw in my hair
Rubbing my sore butt,
Chickens scattering everywhere
“At least I gave it a go.”
John Hansen © 2016
Longtime poet but not in the traditional technical sense. I enjoy rhyme but like to experiment and dabble in many different forms and maybe even make up some of my own. There is always a message or lesson I want to promote through my writing, for that reason, my poetry generally shies away from the abstract and obscure.
Now I find myself branching out and experimenting with short fiction, and thoroughly enjoying this, especially flash fiction.
I have been fortunate to have two poems made into songs and recorded. The first "On the Road to Kingdom Come" by Al Wordlaw, and the second, "If I Could Write a Love Poem" by award-winning Israeli/British singer Tally Koren.
My services increasingly in demand as a freelance writer and I have ghost-written the text for a number of children's books and educational tutorials.
It has taken me many years of searching and restlessness to realise that my life's passion is to write. It saddens me that I wasted so many years not devoting to that, but thinking positively, the experiences gained over those years are now wonderful material for my stories and poems.
I want to try to bring a new focus on poetry and try to make it appealing to a new generation of young people and those who thought they never liked or understood it before.
Now I find myself branching out and experimenting with short fiction, and thoroughly enjoying this, especially flash fiction.
I have been fortunate to have two poems made into songs and recorded. The first "On the Road to Kingdom Come" by Al Wordlaw, and the second, "If I Could Write a Love Poem" by award-winning Israeli/British singer Tally Koren.
My services increasingly in demand as a freelance writer and I have ghost-written the text for a number of children's books and educational tutorials.
It has taken me many years of searching and restlessness to realise that my life's passion is to write. It saddens me that I wasted so many years not devoting to that, but thinking positively, the experiences gained over those years are now wonderful material for my stories and poems.
I want to try to bring a new focus on poetry and try to make it appealing to a new generation of young people and those who thought they never liked or understood it before.
Latest posts by John Hansen (see all)
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Nicely done, John Light-hearted but with a message!
Thank you, William. Our childhood experiences and memories often teach us life lessons don’t they?
Oh! how fun! Reminds me of my childhood. The hen house was always a target for my brothers when looking for mischief. Delightful poem, John.
Excellent. I just really enjoyed it.
Thank you, Eric. I could never pass up a dare. Glad you enjoyed.
Yes, the hen house was popular with us as kids as well, Phyllis. I am glad you enjoyed this light hearted poem.
Uh huh. I raised four boys. Well done and entertaining.
Yes, Lori. Boys will be boys. I have three. Thanks for reading.
Nice John. Loved it. Cheers
Thank you, John. It is just a bit of lighthearted fun about what it’s like being a kid.
Nicely penned John, and brings back lots of memories of childhood dares and jaunts. It’s a wonder any of us survived. Nice work.
Thank you, Tony. Yes, I often wonder how I survived 🙂
Most delightful poetry. I could just picture those chickens scattering.
Glad you enjoyed this bit of childhood fun, Rasma. Thanks.
Haha, oh my…the dreaded dare, the dreaded ‘double dog dare’ . A fun piece of reminiscing, the memories that stay. Those girls can come up with some doosies too! Enjoyed it John 🙂
Best,
Mel
Hi Mel, yes I am aware that the girls are just as accomplished at issuing dares as boys are. Thanks for reading and reminiscing.
John, I had to come back and read this poem again. It is lighthearted and so enjoyable. It reminds me of one night when my Dad thought the fox was after his hens. I just might make a poem of that and post it. Thanks again for the fun.
Feel free to revisit any time Phyllis. I hope you do write a poem about the fo in the henhouse.
Childhood fun brings back memories of fun times. Enjoyed reading.
Thank you, Nithya. Glad it brought back childhood memories for you.
I dare yah to do it again John.
Haha, Clive….damn you, man. Now I have to go and do it. 🙂
I am glad Clive brought this poem back around so I could come read it again. Ha ha, I can just see you taking him up on the dare. I love this poem, John.
Hey, Phyllis. Thank you for re-reading this. It was fun to write and glad you like it. I am currently trying to think up something new for Halloween. See what happens.