There was a Sentinel of Cascade,
Who knew he was in over his head
When he smelled such a stink,
He could not help but flinch,
And the Sentinel took to his bed.

His Shaman of the Stinky City
Looked at his Sentinel with pity,
And said, "Please wake!
I'm such a flake!"
And the Sentinel twitched briefly.

The Shaman was quite excited,
And he shook Jim all delighted.
"It stinks," Jim bitched;
Again, he twitched,
And the Shaman the trash discovered.

The Sentinel woke at last, still sleepy,
But both of them were finally happy!
But now, desist!
(my mind insists)
Before I get much more silly.

There was a lady reporter visiting Cascade
Who chanced into some dangerous straits
She screamed, "Superman!" in fear
Unaware Jim Ellison was near
And was saved by him instead.

Sometimes you seem to imagine my heart
enamored so of dreams that in it, i
no love can harbor, no selfless thought hold;
truth is, i wonder much the same of you:
i wonder at times if ever i was
not mere need but friend, you hide it so well
even now - have you still cause for doubt?
let the past go, can you trust me now?

Blair Sandburg

I've never seen a bigger Wonderburger,
I'm sure there's something wrong with it--
Are you sure you want to eat that?

Look at the blackened lines on it,
The gush of oil running down the sides--
I really think it's a bad idea.

There are so many other choices,
There must be something else you like--
Are you sure you want to eat that?

That scrap of lettuce is half wilted,
And it sure doesn't smell like mayonnaise--
I really think it's a bad idea.

It's a heart attack waiting to happen,
Or at least a bad case of indigestion--
Are you sure you want to eat that?
I really think it's a bad idea.

Another Sentinel Villanelle, or A Sentinel's Complaint
(by Toni's request)

Tell me you aren't going to drink that!
It smells of dead fish, looks like puke,
I think I'm going to be sick.

It cakes in my blender, stinks up the loft,
I can smell it on you half the day
Tell me you aren't going to drink that.

There aren't many things that look worse than pea soup,
But that makes even the mushiest peas look good--
I think I'm going to be sick.

You say my burgers harm the earth--
You're competing with fish for their food!
Tell me you aren't going to drink that.

Where did you get it from, a pond?
I thought I saw a tadpole mulched--(gulp)
I think I'm going to be sick.

I grant I've eaten things as strange,
But it's not like you're starving as I was;
Tell me you aren't going to drink that--
I think I'm going to be sick.

Things blow up, I don't know why
They're here a moment, gone the next
A warehouse was my best friend's home
He was safe while on his own

Things blow up, there is no cause
My life is full of fireworks
It even happened to my truck
What can I blame if not my luck?

Things blow up, I can't help it
Most aren't even volatile
Lifts should stop, not get bomb threats
The constant fear is growing quite flat

Things blow up around me
I know this all too well
I don't know why I am surprised
A book can blow up too.

Dead leaves on water
Float, forgotten once cast off.
But the trees are bare.

My best friend lay there
Once, like these forgotten leaves.
Or not, he lives yet.

Beneath the water
Too shallow to float in, but
Deep enough to drown

I think they remain,
Our trust and friendship, left there
When I pulled him out.