Don’t get me wrong, I like people
once in a while and in moderation,
I like people who are high
in energy and low in calories,
but never more than one or two at a time,
because I am way too easily influenced.

Bridge may be icy, or not.
Its reputation for iciness is renowned
but don’t get your hopes up
if you’re an ice aficionado
and its slipperiness is nil.

How to write a villanelle

Think of yourself as a DJ remixing a sample.
Try to find a rhyme scheme that won’t get grotesque.
This particular piece is a bad example.

The world is the size of an index card now,

accessible all at one touch.

I never did love the knife.
Just once I felt his dull
serrations. It wasn’t his fault.
He didn’t intend to cut me.
But after that, his very weight
against me made me cringe.