Today’s prompt: In poetic form, explore what a far-off future archeologist or scientist might conclude about our society from examining a contemporary artifact.

The Fish Traps
by ARHuelsenbeck

These floating structures
are primitively constructed.
From the number of skeletons
and decaying bodies,
their purpose seems to be 
to trap and kill sea creatures
and also flying animals.
Apparently, the "intelligent" lifeforms considered the animals
invasive pests and exterminated them.
Unfortunately, they did not value them
as potential food sources.
No wonder the sentient lifeforms died out.

Clearly, the sentients (if they can even be called that)
had limited imaginations and engineering skills.
The fish traps display no artistry whatsoever.
They are made largely
of membranes of various colors
decorated with nonsensical symbols,
possibly some form of written communication.
Tangled in the membranes are 
vessels, possibly designed as floats 
to give the traps some buoyancy.

Other random materials are also 
present in the traps,
and their functions cannot be
determined.

Perhaps this planet was
doomed from its creation.
It had no ozone layer to 
protect its atmosphere.
Accordingly, the temperature
was too extreme to support life for long.
We observed little vegetation
on the landforms.
We found that the earth 
was scorched and radioactive.
There is no evidence that the 
beings of small intelligence ever built dwellings.

Our recommendation is
to drop this planet from
consideration for colonization.

Today’s prompt: Begin by reading June Jordan’s “Notes on the Peanut.” Now, think of a person – real or imagined – who has been held out to you as an example of how to be or live, but who you have always had doubts about. Write a poem that exaggerates the supposedly admirable qualities of the person in a way that exposes your doubts.

Not Naming Any Names
by ARHuelsenbeck

He's not a politician
(that could explain his ineptitude)
He tells it like it is
(but who can understand what he’s saying)
He puts America first
(by alienating our allies)
He’s charismatic
(he gets other people to do his dirty work for him)
He’s a successful businessman
(with one failed business after another)
He has all the best people working for him
(until they’re arrested)
He’s accomplished more than any other president
(well, he certainly has more indictments)

Today’s prompt is to try writing a short poem (or a few, if you’re inspired) that follows the beats of a classic joke. Emphasize the interplay between the form of the poem – such as the line breaks – and the punchline.

Three short joke poems
by ARHuelsenbeck

Why did the poet
cross the road?
To get to 
the end of the line.

What’s black
and white
and red
all over?
A poem
that met
a violent
end.

An editor, a poet, and benevolence
walk into a bar.
The bartender looks at benevolence and says
we don’t serve you’re kind here.