PJ Swift: California Poets Part 9, Three Poems

PJ Swift

December 22nd, 2025

California Poets: Part IX

PJ Swift

Three Poems

The mammals

The mammals got together. For the most part they knew how to communicate among themselves. The masters have control over us; they shared with each other. They have tamed our ferociousness, neutered our physical strengths, and outwitted our quickness. We are but servants or subservient in their world, was their common lament, conceding, however, that their masters, in their presumed superiority, may have also taught them a few things. How else would the mammals have learned to congregate in such a civilized manner? But it occurred to the mammals that they, too, could teach their masters a few things. One bold mammal stated, for all their powers, aren't our masters also simply mammals in the most fundamental way? We can teach them. Something that they will appreciate, that they will take to naturally, and -- which will benefit us. We can teach humans to hibernate. And as they sleep, hidden away, finally, at least for a few cold months, we can all live in peace.

The party

Amid the pulsing lights and pounding music, S. stepped out of the party for a few moments. Just to enjoy the cool dark air, and the quiet. A brief reprise from the crowded scene full of energetic, bouncing bodies. S. stepped back inside. The music was slower, calmer now. The lights -- steady and dim. Around him were the same people. Now with much older faces, thinning hair, cautious gaits, and fragile smiles. They were all so old now. But the party kept on going. And S. wondered why he missed so much.

Smiling

The leader always came in wearing a huge smile. He was smiling during all his broadcasts, streams and tweets. Before long, he was leading a million soldiers all with perfect smiles. Marching in formations shaped like a smile. Shooting bullets with tiny etched-on smiles. Dropping bombs with giant painted smiles. And the leader kept laughing and smiling. Because he could.

Author Bio:

After living for decades in his native Europe, PJ Swift moved to Southern California and suddenly, in middle age, began writing poetic pieces. Committed to creating one piece per day, PJ Swift embarked on a journey of creating a story, a lyric or an anecdote each day. A thousand and one nights have come and gone (now, over 2,500 and counting) and PJ Swift continues with his poetic pursuit ... with each new piece an individual entity existing in its own realm. 

In 2025, Mystic Boxing Commission released a collaborative poetry book by PJ SWIFT & ELLYN MAYBE, aka WORD TROUBADOURS.