2003 Pez Poetry Slam (continued) top of page | cover page

A Sonnet for Fred
By Joe Durrant

It was a sight I will not soon forget, At Toys R Us, the night before today: Buried 'neath the new dispenser sets, I found Fred Flintstone Pez, so torn and frayed. Just barely hanging on, in disarray, Yet very quiet, hanging from the rack; His insert, "New 2001," conveyed That he had been there since a while back. My heart did cry for this poor Pez, ignored, For times he didn't get a second glance. Against a new release he had no chance. And so I rescued him from that cold store, For there is nothing sadder on this Earth Than one who never knows how much he's worth.

Untitled
By c.e. boyle

A request of me was made by a young lady
To write a Pezhead Monthly verse.
Quite simple to do, I thought at first,
But now I find that there is little worse.

Of Pez and dispensers I know little,
Of collecting plastic art I know less.
To design a poem about them both
Has placed me in an awful mess.

I chew the little sugary bits and wonder
"What is this little tasty sampler?"
I try to fill those little plastic holders
And across the floor my Pez does scamper!

I don't know much about the artsy holders,
But by the Pezheads I am awed.
You, the reader, know by now
That as a poet I am a fraud.

Pez Haiku #24
By Min Tonkard

Little plastic things
That drive me out of my mind,
All through my new house.

Discovery
By Joe Durrant

In Fourteen Hundred Ninety-Two,
Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
This story we are often told,
But has it ever taken hold?
The joy of that discovery,
Of finding something new to see,
Is such a rare and treasured time
Of happiness and luck sublime.
When Chris did land upon these shores,
His life was changed forever more;
He traveled far and traveled wide,
His destination worth the ride.

And then, in Two Thousand and Two,
Columbus was a presence too.
This time, it was a baseball game
That summoned up that famous name.
The Clippers, although minor league,
Had me that day in deep intrigue.
Four hours did I gladly drive,
And oh, what joy when I arrived,
For at the gates that sunny day
Was a most special giveaway:
A Clippers Pez dispenser, whee!
And too, a great discovery.

Once more, in Two Thousand and Three,
Columbus was alive to me,
A picture of Americana:
A Wal-Mart store in Indiana.
I'd heard a certain grand confection
Was found at Wal-Mart's Kids Connection
And so I packed my car with tunes
And hit the road that afternoon,
An hour south on 65,
A simply perfect Sunday drive.
Four crystal Pez, I found with glee,
Another grand discovery.

Question and Answer: A Pez Acrostic
By Joe Durrant

Aren't you too old for this?

There is no age restraint on bliss.
Really, though, is there no more?
Everyday, another door.
Another door? How could that be?
That's just how Pez does seem to me.

That seems so odd, don't you concur?
Odd is really just a word.

Even you are void of shame?
Ain't none of that in this Pez game.
Then tell me, friend, what makes it great?

I could go on for hours straight.
No chance for hope, shall I presume?

Always hope, where Pez does bloom.

This cannot be. Is this for real?
Of course it is, this Pez appeal.
You're so convinced that you are right?

There is no wrong in sheer delight.
How can you be so sure that's true?
All it takes is one Pez, dude.
Then may I try? May I partake?
Sure you can, for goodness sake!

Now can I ever shake this trance?
Even if you tried, no chance.
Aren't we the luckiest?
This much is true, for Pez is best.

Pez Haiku #25
By Joe Durrant

I love you, puppy,
But if you get near my Pez,
Kiss your treats goodbye.

Pez Almost-Quote of the Month top of page | cover page

"Don't count your Pez before they dispense."