Eight-line Poems

Charlie’s Birthday

I got inspired and totally forgot that this is Eight.

Charlie’s Birthday

Unforgettable,
that was Charlie’s birthday party,
eight of us sat down to eat
on a banquet of salmonella,
Arnold complaining
that he felt a bit weird,
Ollie, already green with nausea,
bravely offering yet another toast
(I’ll not call it health),
Maria curbing his enthusiasm
while turning shades of puce,
Elspeth and Anna,
still trying to talk the loudest,
unaware as yet
of the strange colours glowing
from their faces,
Harvey, too drunk to have eaten,
passed out on the table.
his face in his plate,
Charlie bemused,
as well as yellow,
wondering if he should give up
birthdays.
But I said eight, that’s only seven.
Let’s not forget myself,
slipped from my chair
and under the table,
holding my belly as I rolled,
in agony and wishing to die.


Line count: 29
Free verse
For Express It In Eigh… oops!

I’ll try again.

Charlie’s Birthday 2

Was it salmonella
laced in the paella
or maybe the wine
made with strychnine?

Whatever the cause
it sure gave us pause,
wrecking the party
and making us far…
and us less than hearty.


Line count: 8
Rhymed couplets aabbccdd
For Express It In Eight, 06.08.21
Prompt: Sickly painting of dinner party.