Poetry competition CLOSED 22nd June 2017 2:11pm
WINNER
The_Silly_Sibyl (Jack Thomas)
The_Silly_Sibyl (Jack Thomas)
RUNNERS-UP:
Magdalena
and toniscales
DUP Poem of the Month - July 2017
Related submission no longer exists.
Related submission no longer exists.
Related submission no longer exists.
A Future
What cruel hurt,
A childs merry-go-round
Locked in a
Stony-eyed stare ---
Spinning, latching the eyes
To brownish wood-knots.
Bare-feet basking in sun
A wind gaze splintering
Into a gust of impermanence ---
Trolley your gutter-spin
Vomited by bluebirds
Into the mouths of candle-wicks.
Leaves hide the treachery of
Branches in trees
Flown to countenance ---
A nest of bees.
Sting the hands with
Hot molten bars of
Vibrancy to callous-marks,
Better than the heart.
The future ---
Slips from grasp in this
Centrifugal-trip
Too dizzy to stand,
Too numb to step.
I see it - Delirium
Socket-locked in glaring
Ruminant truths.
A childs merry-go-round
Locked in a
Stony-eyed stare ---
Spinning, latching the eyes
To brownish wood-knots.
Bare-feet basking in sun
A wind gaze splintering
Into a gust of impermanence ---
Trolley your gutter-spin
Vomited by bluebirds
Into the mouths of candle-wicks.
Leaves hide the treachery of
Branches in trees
Flown to countenance ---
A nest of bees.
Sting the hands with
Hot molten bars of
Vibrancy to callous-marks,
Better than the heart.
The future ---
Slips from grasp in this
Centrifugal-trip
Too dizzy to stand,
Too numb to step.
I see it - Delirium
Socket-locked in glaring
Ruminant truths.
Written by PoetsRevenge
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Related submission no longer exists.
The Alpha and the Moon
"Oh, be something - you love and understand"
plays over the bar speakers.
As we sit and finish our pale ales,
we are all deep thinkers.
I can remember my childhood well.
And the intense pain of my high school years.
It all seems so long ago,
now aging is apart of my new fears.
The time, it crept by so sneaky.
I look around at my life.
The new me at twenty five.
It has taken this long just to get it half right.
As the day goes down,
we sit here together.
We have all shared similar journeys,
survived similar weather.
All that is left for tonight,
is the Alpha and the Moon.
A three block walk home,
and a hum of a tune.
plays over the bar speakers.
As we sit and finish our pale ales,
we are all deep thinkers.
I can remember my childhood well.
And the intense pain of my high school years.
It all seems so long ago,
now aging is apart of my new fears.
The time, it crept by so sneaky.
I look around at my life.
The new me at twenty five.
It has taken this long just to get it half right.
As the day goes down,
we sit here together.
We have all shared similar journeys,
survived similar weather.
All that is left for tonight,
is the Alpha and the Moon.
A three block walk home,
and a hum of a tune.
Written by IntoTheRain
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SHIMMER
What was first
The rising sun or birdsong
Or my dreaming and cold wood and breeze
Fresh and rolled coat for my head
What's more perfect in this world
Than this park bench
And the birds that whistle wake up wake up
And shout till the sun comes in
Was it my words that willed in the sun
And my mind that made the time
And the roof top pool girls
Who roll their Rs and hips
Or the scarred and puking lips
At the accident and emergency
Each urge and urgency merges
Emerges into a light that twinkles
And shimmers with possibility
And I wonder who chose the sun today
And my words to thank them
The rising sun or birdsong
Or my dreaming and cold wood and breeze
Fresh and rolled coat for my head
What's more perfect in this world
Than this park bench
And the birds that whistle wake up wake up
And shout till the sun comes in
Was it my words that willed in the sun
And my mind that made the time
And the roof top pool girls
Who roll their Rs and hips
Or the scarred and puking lips
At the accident and emergency
Each urge and urgency merges
Emerges into a light that twinkles
And shimmers with possibility
And I wonder who chose the sun today
And my words to thank them
Written by whale
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Old Pharaoh Blues
On slope of Appalachian clime
A widow swept her porch of grime,
The bristle whisk of parchment sweep
Would start to slow as she would weep.
When suddenly a ghost appeared,
Egyptian dress and braided beard.
The woman held her broomstick tight
Like she was fixin’ for a fight:
"It's you again, Old Pharaoh, dark!
Why do you, widow maker, stalk.
Is it to brand me with your mark
So angels know me by my walk?"
Old Pharaoh nodded thoughtfully
And raised a hand as if to speak.
The widow waited patiently,
But all she heard was branches creak.
"Be gone from here, Old Pharaoh, haunt!
Why do you never say a word?
You come and go as if to taunt,
It's not befittin', it's absurd!"
Old Pharaoh crossed his legs midair,
And smoked a pipe that wasn't there.
She swung the broom & brought it down,
It passed right through his vulture's crown.
"If you're not here to marry me,
Or bring a beau that can be wed,
Let's stop pretending, and agree
There's nothing more left to be said!"
The widow huffed while watching him,
The form of Pharaoh faded dim.
He simply smiled as was his way,
The smile and all just blew away.
This is a true story as was told to my sisters & I when I was a wee sprout, by our father about a southern widow woman he knew as a lad. I have taken liberty while making it into this poem. Please enjoy. :)
A widow swept her porch of grime,
The bristle whisk of parchment sweep
Would start to slow as she would weep.
When suddenly a ghost appeared,
Egyptian dress and braided beard.
The woman held her broomstick tight
Like she was fixin’ for a fight:
"It's you again, Old Pharaoh, dark!
Why do you, widow maker, stalk.
Is it to brand me with your mark
So angels know me by my walk?"
Old Pharaoh nodded thoughtfully
And raised a hand as if to speak.
The widow waited patiently,
But all she heard was branches creak.
"Be gone from here, Old Pharaoh, haunt!
Why do you never say a word?
You come and go as if to taunt,
It's not befittin', it's absurd!"
Old Pharaoh crossed his legs midair,
And smoked a pipe that wasn't there.
She swung the broom & brought it down,
It passed right through his vulture's crown.
"If you're not here to marry me,
Or bring a beau that can be wed,
Let's stop pretending, and agree
There's nothing more left to be said!"
The widow huffed while watching him,
The form of Pharaoh faded dim.
He simply smiled as was his way,
The smile and all just blew away.
This is a true story as was told to my sisters & I when I was a wee sprout, by our father about a southern widow woman he knew as a lad. I have taken liberty while making it into this poem. Please enjoy. :)
Written by Jade-Pandora
(jade tiger)
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Is there a category for Lonesome?
For all those thousand years untold
And then before me you were born,
I didn't turn round in my bliss
Of nonexistence's hidden mist.
I wasn't wary of your soul
I was too young, you were too old.
A starter's pistol called the shot
Not giving me a second thought,
Unspooling me as childhood passed,
Kept back now further than the last.
I crawled then walked then ran to see
Unraveled, curious of me.
With so much time between our lives
Still innocent when I arrived,
But that was why I said it first
As if I'd read a line of verse.
Though I had sent my hope declared
Not knowing you had been aware,
Which made an even better thrill
Though you were processing it still.
And then began the start of us,
A courtship followed your prenup
Which means the terms that you set forth
In case the hardships went due north.
As feverishly done as gifts,
The 'ku's, the sonnets flew like swifts,
While often when the laughter came
It seemed we'd always feel the same.
But neither of us blithely is
A light of heart in lover's quiz.
To try and cross a bridge of height
And sit at either end to write,
While ether ferry's words alone
Not often finding us at home.
And then before me you were born,
I didn't turn round in my bliss
Of nonexistence's hidden mist.
I wasn't wary of your soul
I was too young, you were too old.
A starter's pistol called the shot
Not giving me a second thought,
Unspooling me as childhood passed,
Kept back now further than the last.
I crawled then walked then ran to see
Unraveled, curious of me.
With so much time between our lives
Still innocent when I arrived,
But that was why I said it first
As if I'd read a line of verse.
Though I had sent my hope declared
Not knowing you had been aware,
Which made an even better thrill
Though you were processing it still.
And then began the start of us,
A courtship followed your prenup
Which means the terms that you set forth
In case the hardships went due north.
As feverishly done as gifts,
The 'ku's, the sonnets flew like swifts,
While often when the laughter came
It seemed we'd always feel the same.
But neither of us blithely is
A light of heart in lover's quiz.
To try and cross a bridge of height
And sit at either end to write,
While ether ferry's words alone
Not often finding us at home.
Written by Jade-Pandora
(jade tiger)
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Shades of Ghastly Company
The wasting shards and shifting scree
In blowing mist of mountain’s night
All shades of ghastly company
A life of death, and deathly spree
A whispered curse on desert’ height
The wasting shards and shifting scree
That only this was meant for me
Despair would have my final flight
All shades of ghastly company
As clouds may part, though hope would flee,
With simple sun, its hallowed light
The wasting shards and shifting scree.
With love’s arrive that sets soul free
In converse chase with pure delight
All shades of ghastly company
That soul in soul may both conceive
The holy words end’ lonesome blight
The wasting shards and shifting scree
All shades of ghastly company
(for my one...)
In blowing mist of mountain’s night
All shades of ghastly company
A life of death, and deathly spree
A whispered curse on desert’ height
The wasting shards and shifting scree
That only this was meant for me
Despair would have my final flight
All shades of ghastly company
As clouds may part, though hope would flee,
With simple sun, its hallowed light
The wasting shards and shifting scree.
With love’s arrive that sets soul free
In converse chase with pure delight
All shades of ghastly company
That soul in soul may both conceive
The holy words end’ lonesome blight
The wasting shards and shifting scree
All shades of ghastly company
(for my one...)
Written by Hepcat61
(geoff cat)
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Love At First Light
As dawn breaks over a frost covered mountain to the east
He is my first thought
just as he is always the last
I have come to crave the scent
of coffee and cigarettes at dawn
and I have grown to appreciate
all of the pieces that comprise
his existence
Be it virtue or vice
I adore him
unconditionally
Having finally aquired the peace within
to provide sound sleep
we are quiet upon waking this
November morning
Serene and present
Keenly aware that spoken words might cloud
the unequivocal purity in the atmosphere
Each of us knowing how vital
these moments are
I join him on the porch
of a humble log cabin
tucked within the forest
of the Smoky Mountains
Draping a blanket around him
I set his coffee down and
sweetly kiss his temple
He closes his eyes briefly
savoring the feel of my mouth
on his skin
I do not linger
I take my seat
and take in the view
The vision of his silhouette
is stunning
Washed in shades of blue grey
at first light, before the sun
Crouched over and writing
glancing up pensively
to see and feel the inspiration
as God unfolds before him,
around him and in everything
he sees
Caught up and in his element
he barely notices I'm there
and I observe in wonder
and awe of who he is
in this very moment
Memories and dreams,
vulnerability and strength
Driven by necessity
Fueled by hope and faith
Suddenly a Carolina Wren
catches my eye, my ear and my
undivided attention
Never was a picture painted
that could match the beauty
surrounding us
I am now in my element
and I study him as he too
is caught up in his morning routine
Driven by instinct
Fueled by purpose
I silently thank God for the blessing to witness
his work
My focus is turned back
to the radiant man
next to me
Who's face has now been
christened by the amber glow of dawn
The moment is breathtaking and
I feel a tangible pull in my soul
toward him and onto him
Latched on like my life depends on it
with no measure of seperation between
our naked bodies
He drags soft, passionate kisses
down my neck
Our adoring eyes lock as
he slides slowly into me
I feel his heart and soul in between
these passionate breaths
and rolling waves
and we finally speak
the only three words that matter
to the spirit
to the soul
I Love You
He is my first thought
just as he is always the last
I have come to crave the scent
of coffee and cigarettes at dawn
and I have grown to appreciate
all of the pieces that comprise
his existence
Be it virtue or vice
I adore him
unconditionally
Having finally aquired the peace within
to provide sound sleep
we are quiet upon waking this
November morning
Serene and present
Keenly aware that spoken words might cloud
the unequivocal purity in the atmosphere
Each of us knowing how vital
these moments are
I join him on the porch
of a humble log cabin
tucked within the forest
of the Smoky Mountains
Draping a blanket around him
I set his coffee down and
sweetly kiss his temple
He closes his eyes briefly
savoring the feel of my mouth
on his skin
I do not linger
I take my seat
and take in the view
The vision of his silhouette
is stunning
Washed in shades of blue grey
at first light, before the sun
Crouched over and writing
glancing up pensively
to see and feel the inspiration
as God unfolds before him,
around him and in everything
he sees
Caught up and in his element
he barely notices I'm there
and I observe in wonder
and awe of who he is
in this very moment
Memories and dreams,
vulnerability and strength
Driven by necessity
Fueled by hope and faith
Suddenly a Carolina Wren
catches my eye, my ear and my
undivided attention
Never was a picture painted
that could match the beauty
surrounding us
I am now in my element
and I study him as he too
is caught up in his morning routine
Driven by instinct
Fueled by purpose
I silently thank God for the blessing to witness
his work
My focus is turned back
to the radiant man
next to me
Who's face has now been
christened by the amber glow of dawn
The moment is breathtaking and
I feel a tangible pull in my soul
toward him and onto him
Latched on like my life depends on it
with no measure of seperation between
our naked bodies
He drags soft, passionate kisses
down my neck
Our adoring eyes lock as
he slides slowly into me
I feel his heart and soul in between
these passionate breaths
and rolling waves
and we finally speak
the only three words that matter
to the spirit
to the soul
I Love You
Written by ELL30
(Brandy)
Go To Page
hemlock
i. the darkness
evil shadowed my steps
poisoned my thoughts
with black magic
the dark truly ruled
not only the land
but me
living among the hemlock
drinking it's potion
with belief it would heal
a witch who
fell prey to my own spell
casting, chanting & weaving
may the sun no longer shine
on my enemy
it went away for me that day
my magic was strong
but it wasn't pure
ii. the sun
the sun set on my heart long ago
it faded beyond the horizon
never to rise again
the moon rose high in my skies
& governed my days
hemlock grows in abundance
in the graveyard
along side my quiet little house
the trees whisper their despair
branches reach to the heavens
never to touch the light
the moon is dour
cruel to the children of the day
they cry out in mourning
then one day the sun
broke free from its restraints
it rose with triumphant glory
& slew the eternal night
Copyright © 2017 Crimsin. All Rights Reserved
Written by crimsin
(Unveiling)
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Earthen
in the journals you keep
your steps are marked
in its pages
*~*~*
your poetry is like the Earth
It undulates & shifts
breathes, it comes alive
*~*~*
it is the moss that grows
on the rocks that adorn
the mighty river
*~*~*
the great redwoods
lined with the story
of their journey
*~*~*
your poetry is like the ocean
is washes over me
wave after wave
*~*~*
brings new life
to my quiet shores
it feeds my weary soul
the nourishment it needs
*~*~*
you are like the Earth its self
rich with nutrient filled soil
where I can take root & grow
sprouting poetry of my own
Copyright © 2017 Crimsin. All Rights Reserved
Written by crimsin
(Unveiling)
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