Poetry Competition Ends Soon 30th April 2024 5:12pm
2024 Official DUP NaPoWriMo Challenge
#16
To Map Out Infinity
Pondering under punctures of the infinity,
Pinholes, the other side twinkling through
Atop my roof, where visits oft add salinity
Tonight, alone, I plan for what I wish I knew
In present, past trends now cease extending
I'm left to wander about, mapping out infinity
Tightroping, I wobble to futures impending
Pray the ground be closer, by such divinity
Should the rope snap, I fall to path below
Please guide my feet to night's stars aglow
To Map Out Infinity
Pondering under punctures of the infinity,
Pinholes, the other side twinkling through
Atop my roof, where visits oft add salinity
Tonight, alone, I plan for what I wish I knew
In present, past trends now cease extending
I'm left to wander about, mapping out infinity
Tightroping, I wobble to futures impending
Pray the ground be closer, by such divinity
Should the rope snap, I fall to path below
Please guide my feet to night's stars aglow
16/30
TRAVERSING THE MUSE
They would like it
That we went there
Dipping toes in the pacific
Watching fools traverse
The crumbly cliffs
As poodles and pugs ponder
Prancing and playful
The occasional human
Brave enough to have
Nothing on at all
See the way the ocean
Pulls herself
Through bubbly holes
In perfect walking sand
They would like it
Because she is the muse
(50 uw)
TRAVERSING THE MUSE
They would like it
That we went there
Dipping toes in the pacific
Watching fools traverse
The crumbly cliffs
As poodles and pugs ponder
Prancing and playful
The occasional human
Brave enough to have
Nothing on at all
See the way the ocean
Pulls herself
Through bubbly holes
In perfect walking sand
They would like it
Because she is the muse
(50 uw)
17/30
Unseen
Trek onward to overcome the fear
When it grates my flesh but feeds my spirit all the things I yearn to hear
Truths of grace breaking through
Undeserving yet still I hope in the invisible You
Debts cry to control
Lay claims to the will to reposes by default, my soul
With interests built up, the entitlement of the betrayed
Taken apart, dissect the heart, when my actions are filleted
You’ve every right to reject but still you love when I am unlovely
Fear cast out of perfect affections lavished upon
Beauty from the ashes when everything in me is ugly
You see something more in me, where sight fails my faith perceives beyond
Calibrate my heart when I’m off beat for disoriented rhythms of self
Reset the broken bone when I am sick and yet You heed my cry for help
When the only way to overcome and break the curse of fear
Is to let perfect love speak as I retrain my hope to hear
Resurrected again and again as I oscillate between
Whether dead or alive I’m wanted by something more, unseen…
Unseen
Trek onward to overcome the fear
When it grates my flesh but feeds my spirit all the things I yearn to hear
Truths of grace breaking through
Undeserving yet still I hope in the invisible You
Debts cry to control
Lay claims to the will to reposes by default, my soul
With interests built up, the entitlement of the betrayed
Taken apart, dissect the heart, when my actions are filleted
You’ve every right to reject but still you love when I am unlovely
Fear cast out of perfect affections lavished upon
Beauty from the ashes when everything in me is ugly
You see something more in me, where sight fails my faith perceives beyond
Calibrate my heart when I’m off beat for disoriented rhythms of self
Reset the broken bone when I am sick and yet You heed my cry for help
When the only way to overcome and break the curse of fear
Is to let perfect love speak as I retrain my hope to hear
Resurrected again and again as I oscillate between
Whether dead or alive I’m wanted by something more, unseen…
16/30
Charcoal, and the Mess That Was Made
A charcoal illustration of Betelgeuse sinking into the lake that stretches from the margins, jumping off the surface of the sketchbook.
Watchful clouds of assorted gray witness the unfolding of this world, it has become the likeness of a distant past on the tip of one’s memory tongue. Forgotten with intention.. or not.
Cobble streets, swallowed by moonlight. The only light there is in a page so very small, yet immeasurable to one’s mind.
One couldn’t help but sympathize with the barren beauty of this display. Soreness, elegance, recollection braided together so perfectly.
Artistically speaking:
“ a messy masterpiece.”
Devoid of color where there should be.
smudges border trees,
that consuming lake,
and the crescent above, trying to connect in some way——
—Then again, this is charcoal.
The unmistakable image of a different life not far behind, the personable point of view,
there’s magic in that.
This is why one must keep their art at arms length, but miles away.
Charcoal, and the Mess That Was Made
A charcoal illustration of Betelgeuse sinking into the lake that stretches from the margins, jumping off the surface of the sketchbook.
Watchful clouds of assorted gray witness the unfolding of this world, it has become the likeness of a distant past on the tip of one’s memory tongue. Forgotten with intention.. or not.
Cobble streets, swallowed by moonlight. The only light there is in a page so very small, yet immeasurable to one’s mind.
One couldn’t help but sympathize with the barren beauty of this display. Soreness, elegance, recollection braided together so perfectly.
Artistically speaking:
“ a messy masterpiece.”
Devoid of color where there should be.
smudges border trees,
that consuming lake,
and the crescent above, trying to connect in some way——
—Then again, this is charcoal.
The unmistakable image of a different life not far behind, the personable point of view,
there’s magic in that.
This is why one must keep their art at arms length, but miles away.
17/30
EXCUSE TO INTERVENE
To find an excuse to intervene
wannabe global policeman U.K
sees distant threats to Britain’s streets: the scene
harping back to Empire, days that have long been
gone in the dust-bin of history — but hey!
oh to find an excuse to intervene
Yesterday’s jets shoot down drones from Iran … preen
GB’s lost pride to Israel’s stauncher play:
a distant threat to Britain’s streets has raped the scene?
Send a destroyer to South China seas — the queen …
err … sorry … the king nods it’s O.K
to find an excuse to intervene
And all along the watch tower there’s this psy-ops meme
to punch above its weight … a past glory day
threatens Britain’s streets and steals the scene
Incapable, politicians can’t come clean
and say “it’s over” — so back-flipped they stay
to find a lame excuse to intervene
and twist distant threats to Britain’s streets, bolstering the scene.
EXCUSE TO INTERVENE
To find an excuse to intervene
wannabe global policeman U.K
sees distant threats to Britain’s streets: the scene
harping back to Empire, days that have long been
gone in the dust-bin of history — but hey!
oh to find an excuse to intervene
Yesterday’s jets shoot down drones from Iran … preen
GB’s lost pride to Israel’s stauncher play:
a distant threat to Britain’s streets has raped the scene?
Send a destroyer to South China seas — the queen …
err … sorry … the king nods it’s O.K
to find an excuse to intervene
And all along the watch tower there’s this psy-ops meme
to punch above its weight … a past glory day
threatens Britain’s streets and steals the scene
Incapable, politicians can’t come clean
and say “it’s over” — so back-flipped they stay
to find a lame excuse to intervene
and twist distant threats to Britain’s streets, bolstering the scene.
#17
Exploring
During the night
I travel my dreams
Within my dreams
I search for my soul
Whilst exploring my soul
I experience reality
From reality
To realness
Through dissecting my mind
I sense my body
Interacting with body
Brings me to life
In life we live our dreams
If we’re so lucky
Or if we so choose
By our choosing
We make conscious decisions
Within decisions
Lies a whole world
Lest we stop exploring
Lest we forget whence we came from
The who, what, when, where and how we’ve come to be
Unique word count: 61
Exploring
During the night
I travel my dreams
Within my dreams
I search for my soul
Whilst exploring my soul
I experience reality
From reality
To realness
Through dissecting my mind
I sense my body
Interacting with body
Brings me to life
In life we live our dreams
If we’re so lucky
Or if we so choose
By our choosing
We make conscious decisions
Within decisions
Lies a whole world
Lest we stop exploring
Lest we forget whence we came from
The who, what, when, where and how we’ve come to be
Unique word count: 61
16/30
Blunderbuss
Ceaseless wonder
Peaceless wander
Cease fire plunders
An entire nation
From the bastions of self imposed doubt
And the actions that bless those without
Like Robin Hood's favor
To give to his neighbor
Like a ghetto savior
With a heart of gold
Until the king
Holds out his royal ring
Gentrified bling
Then Hood is sold
There is no end
(Late due to phone connection issues; brought the page back up when wifi connected, didn't save, had to rewrite. Wasn't quick enough.)
17/30
In Place
Mushrooms grown between my toes
Why, no one knows
No place to roam
Spider veins and deaden nerves
Regained from lessons learned
Fungal spores released and sown
Down to my bones
Nowhere to go
Maintained upon a blessed birth
The same with dead-end Earth
Growing up my spine
Like ivy on the vine
Held magic within them
Spreading in new dimensions
Blunderbuss
Ceaseless wonder
Peaceless wander
Cease fire plunders
An entire nation
From the bastions of self imposed doubt
And the actions that bless those without
Like Robin Hood's favor
To give to his neighbor
Like a ghetto savior
With a heart of gold
Until the king
Holds out his royal ring
Gentrified bling
Then Hood is sold
There is no end
(Late due to phone connection issues; brought the page back up when wifi connected, didn't save, had to rewrite. Wasn't quick enough.)
17/30
In Place
Mushrooms grown between my toes
Why, no one knows
No place to roam
Spider veins and deaden nerves
Regained from lessons learned
Fungal spores released and sown
Down to my bones
Nowhere to go
Maintained upon a blessed birth
The same with dead-end Earth
Growing up my spine
Like ivy on the vine
Held magic within them
Spreading in new dimensions
17/30
Once We Were
Occasional tears
never do dry
because it mattered
the reason I cry
A bit of me broken
yet living on
despite the pain
from a time now gone
Memories recalled
reminded of your scent
fond recollection
moments we spent
Once lovers, now friends
both of us changed
the future we had
has been rearranged
From love that was
I shall not hide
for you always
a place aside
Once We Were
Occasional tears
never do dry
because it mattered
the reason I cry
A bit of me broken
yet living on
despite the pain
from a time now gone
Memories recalled
reminded of your scent
fond recollection
moments we spent
Once lovers, now friends
both of us changed
the future we had
has been rearranged
From love that was
I shall not hide
for you always
a place aside
17/30
nature's nature
my diary is full of all
kinds of feelings
if you open it,
you will find
peacock feathers,
dried rose petals,
complaints and
your mention
a million times
words are immortal,
but how can I trust my words
which dissolve
in two drops of water.??
but I still feel that
in spring, green leaves
songs of madmen,
intoxicating weather
and I will also be needed
i agree that today
is a dark night and
only emptiness is with me
the sun also thinks the same,
the sun does not trust
the moon,
it comes with the belief
that only when I will rise,
the petals will bloom,
the quiet trees will start shining
with happiness,
the burning questions
of silent time will be answered
the heart sitting in sweet hopes
will find peace
in autumn,
the existence of trees vanishes
birds become homeless
branches become barren
but they all remain alive
on the belief that
when spring blooms
the lost time will come back
well, whatever I am writing today
I don't know what meaning
will be derived from
these words tomorrow
So can't I trust my words too?...
nature's nature
my diary is full of all
kinds of feelings
if you open it,
you will find
peacock feathers,
dried rose petals,
complaints and
your mention
a million times
words are immortal,
but how can I trust my words
which dissolve
in two drops of water.??
but I still feel that
in spring, green leaves
songs of madmen,
intoxicating weather
and I will also be needed
i agree that today
is a dark night and
only emptiness is with me
the sun also thinks the same,
the sun does not trust
the moon,
it comes with the belief
that only when I will rise,
the petals will bloom,
the quiet trees will start shining
with happiness,
the burning questions
of silent time will be answered
the heart sitting in sweet hopes
will find peace
in autumn,
the existence of trees vanishes
birds become homeless
branches become barren
but they all remain alive
on the belief that
when spring blooms
the lost time will come back
well, whatever I am writing today
I don't know what meaning
will be derived from
these words tomorrow
So can't I trust my words too?...
17 of 30
Russian roulette
it's never been my immediate go-to
drowning my emotions in the contents of a bottle
not much point...
when it takes so little to knock me on my ass
& when I do...it's equal odds...
it might distance me from the haunting...
...or it could cause me to wallow
no way to be sure
still...
I load that weapon with a single shot
take my chances & spin the chamber
just on the off chance I might escape the pain
then reel off toward whichever death it leads me
if...even for a minute...there's any hope to be free...
in my opinion...it's worth the risk
to not hear his voice wrapping its fist around my reasoning
strangling any sense of clarity
& not relive the ache & fear that followed
2 years of fucking perfection
then this...crazy mess
if I can even momentarily forget...
...I'm on it
pass me the ammo & hand me a drink
send memory into blissful darkness
...but only as long as it takes
just until the gashes seal & scars fade
no witnesses here but my conscience
I'll take it from there...
...but...
...maybe tomorrow
Russian roulette
it's never been my immediate go-to
drowning my emotions in the contents of a bottle
not much point...
when it takes so little to knock me on my ass
& when I do...it's equal odds...
it might distance me from the haunting...
...or it could cause me to wallow
no way to be sure
still...
I load that weapon with a single shot
take my chances & spin the chamber
just on the off chance I might escape the pain
then reel off toward whichever death it leads me
if...even for a minute...there's any hope to be free...
in my opinion...it's worth the risk
to not hear his voice wrapping its fist around my reasoning
strangling any sense of clarity
& not relive the ache & fear that followed
2 years of fucking perfection
then this...crazy mess
if I can even momentarily forget...
...I'm on it
pass me the ammo & hand me a drink
send memory into blissful darkness
...but only as long as it takes
just until the gashes seal & scars fade
no witnesses here but my conscience
I'll take it from there...
...but...
...maybe tomorrow
17/30
Ode to an Honest Moment
I hope she starts feeling better soon,
I said, slipping my arms around his waist.
“Me too,” he said, dipping his head
to kiss my hair.
I rested against him, thankful
that heartbreak and aloneness
were no longer my fate.
“She needs to find a bloke
that fucks the whole woman
and not just her cunt,” he said,
reaching for his cup of tea
on the kitchen counter.
I pulled away from him,
looking to see if there was any smirk
or mirth on his face
and seeing none.
I don’t think I have ever loved
you more, I said.
Ode to an Honest Moment
I hope she starts feeling better soon,
I said, slipping my arms around his waist.
“Me too,” he said, dipping his head
to kiss my hair.
I rested against him, thankful
that heartbreak and aloneness
were no longer my fate.
“She needs to find a bloke
that fucks the whole woman
and not just her cunt,” he said,
reaching for his cup of tea
on the kitchen counter.
I pulled away from him,
looking to see if there was any smirk
or mirth on his face
and seeing none.
I don’t think I have ever loved
you more, I said.
17/30
Mendacity
My Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
is trying to keep me alive, longer
No idea why
as I felt the US Air Force
never intended to use
my expertise in that
which I am totally capable
in seeing the task, the goal
to its end
Fellow Veterans, who,
like me,
don’t understand
why I don’t trust
my own Healthcare Provider
(LOL!) the military
They say civilians care and the
Veteran’s Admin is not military.
I still don’t trust them.
My Best Friend died while WE
served in Peacetime
went to His Memorial Service
to this day, NO one in his Family
knows exactly why he died.
That memory still HAUNTS me.
I KNOW I COULD HAVE DONE
more, maybe (would have died trying)
had I not been restricted to
base for 90 days.
94 unique words
Mendacity
My Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
is trying to keep me alive, longer
No idea why
as I felt the US Air Force
never intended to use
my expertise in that
which I am totally capable
in seeing the task, the goal
to its end
Fellow Veterans, who,
like me,
don’t understand
why I don’t trust
my own Healthcare Provider
(LOL!) the military
They say civilians care and the
Veteran’s Admin is not military.
I still don’t trust them.
My Best Friend died while WE
served in Peacetime
went to His Memorial Service
to this day, NO one in his Family
knows exactly why he died.
That memory still HAUNTS me.
I KNOW I COULD HAVE DONE
more, maybe (would have died trying)
had I not been restricted to
base for 90 days.
94 unique words
17/30
Fool Hearty
my imagination is both a blessing and a curse
my mind knows there is a problem
but not quite what it is
I'm quite obviously anxious
buttons are so readily seen because I'm sensitive
and they get pushed
running amuck in my thoughts is my imagination
I leap to possibilities
from a simple game of peek a boo in the yard
to he's sleeping with her
then my imagination clears and I see
it's just a simple attraction
natural and harmless
the rest now is up to me
don't seek to control what you can't
chastises my Father
you will only push him further from you
a little jealousy is flattering
too much is evil
seeking to understand the relationship dynamics
with the knowledge that he enjoys a challenge
my place in the world is set
not always liking it I rebel
wanting to move forward in wisdom
before I am fully mature
it won't happen until it is the right time
wanting the two of us to grow forward
I take a step back and realize
I've been fool hearty
Fool Hearty
my imagination is both a blessing and a curse
my mind knows there is a problem
but not quite what it is
I'm quite obviously anxious
buttons are so readily seen because I'm sensitive
and they get pushed
running amuck in my thoughts is my imagination
I leap to possibilities
from a simple game of peek a boo in the yard
to he's sleeping with her
then my imagination clears and I see
it's just a simple attraction
natural and harmless
the rest now is up to me
don't seek to control what you can't
chastises my Father
you will only push him further from you
a little jealousy is flattering
too much is evil
seeking to understand the relationship dynamics
with the knowledge that he enjoys a challenge
my place in the world is set
not always liking it I rebel
wanting to move forward in wisdom
before I am fully mature
it won't happen until it is the right time
wanting the two of us to grow forward
I take a step back and realize
I've been fool hearty
#17/30
Anxiety
I've been feeling anxious
Since yesterday
So much on my plate
But too little time
My days are full next week
Just thinking about Monday
Makes my mood low
It's still Wednesday today
But I'm already thinking
Of the days ahead
There is class observation
And then RPMS to be submitted
At the end of the month
And we were informed late
About it
Days are passing quickly
I need a break
Anxiety
I've been feeling anxious
Since yesterday
So much on my plate
But too little time
My days are full next week
Just thinking about Monday
Makes my mood low
It's still Wednesday today
But I'm already thinking
Of the days ahead
There is class observation
And then RPMS to be submitted
At the end of the month
And we were informed late
About it
Days are passing quickly
I need a break
17/30
*Adjective* Birthday
Your birthday card is sitting untouched on
The coffee table
Even though your birthday was yesterday
And you are 500 miles away
I just don’t know what words to say
Because three years ago on my birthday
Your life changed forever with a fall
Brought on by a psychotic episode
Manically searching for gospel
And for three years you’ve been lying
In a nursing home unaware,
With brain damage altering your whole life
And trapping your soul in despair
And everyday I think of you
Feeling guilt for not being close
Yesterday was your birthday
And it’s hard to imagine it was happy
So what do I say
To someone who’s lost
but is still there
Deteriorating
{83 unique words}
*Adjective* Birthday
Your birthday card is sitting untouched on
The coffee table
Even though your birthday was yesterday
And you are 500 miles away
I just don’t know what words to say
Because three years ago on my birthday
Your life changed forever with a fall
Brought on by a psychotic episode
Manically searching for gospel
And for three years you’ve been lying
In a nursing home unaware,
With brain damage altering your whole life
And trapping your soul in despair
And everyday I think of you
Feeling guilt for not being close
Yesterday was your birthday
And it’s hard to imagine it was happy
So what do I say
To someone who’s lost
but is still there
Deteriorating
{83 unique words}
