Subtext

I was looking at a book on writing plays, and I liked this quote on subtext, which has to do with dialogue that communicates somewhat indirectly:

"Subtext is often found in two areas: understatedness and inarticulateness. The British are masters of the former... Americans of the latter."

I love subtext, in its place, but it puts demands on the actor, who needs to understand what he is not spelling out.

Poorly acted subtext
Can leave you sorely vexed.

Merry Christmas!

Hump day is my favorite
But I’m not at work to savor it!
I have no emails to answer,
Not even from Rudolph or Dancer.

NYC Declared Rudest

Don’t tell me to have a nice day!
I’ll have it my own way.
Because what makes me happy
Is having a day that’s crappy.

North / South

A winter solstice here
Is a summer solstice there,
But at the equator
I hear they just don’t care.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

If burglary
Is on your mind
A wide-awake dog
Is awkward to find.
Is he just friendly,
Or will he bite?
Sometimes it's best
To flee in the night.

Bananas

I had a banana for breakfast,
But made no money at all.
If only I’d had the wisdom
To tape it on the wall!
I mean, let’s get real,
That is art with appeal.

Morning Sighting

Cat on a neighbor’s roof,
Contented and aloof.
No one can really say why,
But they like to sit where it’s high.

Commas

I like the vocal comma. 

You put it wherever you pause. 

No need for urgent drama

About different kinds of clause

Or exact grammatical laws

On what precedes the “and”

In lists that get out of hand. 

Building a Snowman

You start, of course, with snow.
Make sure it’s not too cold.
You want it wet like dough,
So when the balls are rolled,
Each puny starting piece
Will rapidly increase.
It’s good advice, at least,
If you live in the Northeast.