My Favourite Author

Of all of the authors

in all of the world,

I think of my favourite one;

the writer who writes

with the choicest of ink

and a pen from which wonders

are spun;

the bard I regard and 

who leaves me aghast 

at the beautiful turn of their phrase;

the wordsmith who works

with the best of all words,

whose creations astound and

amaze.

There’s Shakespeare and Dickens

and Roger McGough – 

indeed I could wax on and on; 

there’s Sylvia Plath

and Virginia Woolf,

but my favourite one is

‘Anon’.

Joshua Seigal

A Chef's Request

I can’t stand jalapeños.

Please keep them out my pot. 

They’re jarrowingly jorrible 

and jideously jot!

Joshua Seigal

Honest Jack

Jack Sheppard (1702-1724), AKA Honest Jack, was a notorious English thief. He is famous in folklore for escaping from prison on numerous occasions. Using this fact, I thought I would come up with a limerick poem to commemorate his escapades:

HONEST JACK

Jack Sheppard was locked in a cell.

His mind, cogitating, did dwell

on making a break,

so a rope he did take

and he clambered away down the side of the prison wall. 

Jack Sheppard was banged up once more.

He sliced through his bars with a saw. 

Leaping over the gate

and defying his fate, 

he promptly absconded for a second time.

Jack Sheppard, imprisoned anew,

was certain of what he should do.

Distracting the guard,

he crept into the yard

and he sauntered out of the jail, dressed in women’s clothing.

When faced with unwanted restriction,

Jack always escapes this affliction.

You can cuff him, detain him, 

confine and constrain him,

but he’ll always break loose of whatever limitations you put upon his freedom.

Joshua Seigal

Spicy Mind

I recently discovered the word 'neurospicy', to describe neurodivergence. Naturally, I wrote a poem about it. Enjoy!

Spicy Mind

I have a spicy mind. It doesn’t

do what people tell it to. 

It’s often very friendly but then

sometimes it’ll yell at you. 

It’s like a pair of horses pulling

each their separate way at once,

or else it is a jester with

a chestful of annoying stunts. 

I have a spicy mind. It often

makes me want to scream and shout. 

It’s like a tiger, locked up in

a cage, that simply can’t get out. 

It throws me lots of curveballs

and it’s riddled with anxiety. 

It conjures ways to trick me

with its impish impropriety. 

I have a spicy mind. I guess

it’s tiring, but I’ve grown to learn 

that often it’s delectable

despite the way my brain can burn. 

My mind belongs to me, you see

I think that I am stuck with it,

so stick it in your recipe

and come and try your luck with it!

Joshua Seigal

Making a Name for Myself

My moniker is Monica.

From Monaco I came. 

I’m good on the harmonica;

Veronica’s the same. 

They ask about my moniker. 

“It’s Monica”, I claim,

“and me and my Veronica,

we came in search of fame.”  

My moniker is Monica.

Simplicity’s my aim:

see, Monica’s my moniker – 

my name’s the name for ‘name’.

Joshua Seigal

poem published in 'Teaching English' magazine

I am delighted to say that a poem of mine has recently been published in the fantastic 'Teaching English' magazine. Check it out!

Four Letters

The ultimate goal of life remains the spiritual growth of the individual, the solitary journey to peaks that can be climbed only alone – M. Scott Peck 

He had four letters tattooed

on his forearm – TSWF – and he went

to the grave without telling anyone

what they meant. He loved his wife,

their lives entwined as all good couples’ are,

but he never revealed to her

the secret code. His friends and family

likewise – he was open and honest

and right and true, but he never told anyone

what the letters stood for. He worked hard

at his job, and was roundly admired.

At first they asked him about the letters,

but they gave up eventually – it was clear

he would never reveal their meaning.

A good man, evidently. Loved by all. 

And at the summit, four letters in the snow.

Joshua Seigal