Poetry competition CLOSED 23rd September 2018 4:02am
WINNER
ReggiePoet (Reggie)
ReggiePoet (Reggie)
RUNNERS-UP:
Viddax
and David_Macleod
The Watchers
Watcher
All I could do is to keep watching and
Looking from the thick, dark shadows.
I could only follow as the huge sun rose
Or ascended that morning, but as I stand
There something felt different about that
Particular day. Maybe because the sky was
Bloodshot red like the scratches and claws
Left behind. The silence greeting the flat
And empty air because although I watch I
Cannot say anything at all to those around
Me. There is no amount of silence or sound
That can caution those without their one eye
On the sky or the burning world around them.
There is nothing to hang onto, but by the stem.
Looking from the thick, dark shadows.
I could only follow as the huge sun rose
Or ascended that morning, but as I stand
There something felt different about that
Particular day. Maybe because the sky was
Bloodshot red like the scratches and claws
Left behind. The silence greeting the flat
And empty air because although I watch I
Cannot say anything at all to those around
Me. There is no amount of silence or sound
That can caution those without their one eye
On the sky or the burning world around them.
There is nothing to hang onto, but by the stem.
Written by eswaller
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Watchers
Thirty of us, bleary eyed and clucking,
gathered around the CCTV,
two bobs, one head,
and us,
"Rewind," he booms, a half moon crack across his lower face.
"Let 'em see it."
The one with his hat held at hip did just that.
In black and white it blurred backwards, lots of walking, static, stillness and then
play.
A man ran to the grounds, stopped at the gates, with his daughter and son in tow,
he frantically tied his dog to the gates, as no dogs were allowed in the school,
left it,
reluctantly, one pat and he kept running,
three men followed, one woman,
stopped outside, one man and woman bolted
the others loitered,
one was yelling at the dog,
edged closer,
having known of it,
revenge for whatever, of whatever kind
it seemed necessary, personal.
He kicked the dog, hard,
cooing, awing, grimacing from the audience in front of the screen -
or tried,
missed,
fell backwards,
cracked his head on the pavement,
didn't get up, down,
"See!" The baldest of us laughed, pointing.
"Karma that is!" Another chirped
and even I, I must admit was bewitched
as he laid there, not even twitching.
Ten minutes pass,
nothing -
a car pulls up,
the men get out, bundle him in,
drive off,
a sick feeling washes over my initial delight.
I can hear the man wailing in the office,
I know the children from my classes,
there's no delight in this,
none at all.
gathered around the CCTV,
two bobs, one head,
and us,
"Rewind," he booms, a half moon crack across his lower face.
"Let 'em see it."
The one with his hat held at hip did just that.
In black and white it blurred backwards, lots of walking, static, stillness and then
play.
A man ran to the grounds, stopped at the gates, with his daughter and son in tow,
he frantically tied his dog to the gates, as no dogs were allowed in the school,
left it,
reluctantly, one pat and he kept running,
three men followed, one woman,
stopped outside, one man and woman bolted
the others loitered,
one was yelling at the dog,
edged closer,
having known of it,
revenge for whatever, of whatever kind
it seemed necessary, personal.
He kicked the dog, hard,
cooing, awing, grimacing from the audience in front of the screen -
or tried,
missed,
fell backwards,
cracked his head on the pavement,
didn't get up, down,
"See!" The baldest of us laughed, pointing.
"Karma that is!" Another chirped
and even I, I must admit was bewitched
as he laid there, not even twitching.
Ten minutes pass,
nothing -
a car pulls up,
the men get out, bundle him in,
drive off,
a sick feeling washes over my initial delight.
I can hear the man wailing in the office,
I know the children from my classes,
there's no delight in this,
none at all.
Written by ImperfectedStone
(The Gardener)
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Anonymous
Related submission no longer exists.
Treading Water (For The Watchers Comp)
A day at the seaside
Always to be treasured
Cotton candy, Ice cream
Seagulls cawing
Waves lapping on the shore
Sunshine this time
Makes a pleasant change
Factor 30 on a baldy head
No need for burning
I sit looking out seaward
Its like a mill pond: Calm
It has the same effect on me
The sea has a healing power
The awesomeness of nature
The ferry comes past to dock
Ugly in its very being
Causing waves as it churns
The ferry docks, peace restored
I look out to sea
I see a figure in the water
About half a mile out
I put on my sun glasses
Hoping to see without glare
Still can't fully identify it
Binocular time methinks
I bring the object into focus
It's a swimmer and she looks in trouble
She is waving, I almost wave back
I hear a scream of "Help Me!"
She goes under, the bobs
Back up, arms flailing
I cannot help her
I can no longer swim
I want to call out
to those around me
but the sound won't come out
I watch as she goes under again
Again thankfully she bobs back up
I focus in on her panic
I can see she is tiring
Again I try to call out
Again my shout is silent
Nobody else has noticed
Too busy eating hotdogs
Or letting their dogs shit on the beach
I pray to the man upstairs
Apparently his day off
She slowly goes under again
I watch and wait, in hope
She doesn't come back up
And like that she's gone
I hate to say it
But watching this woman drown
Gave me a rush
Almost felt responsible
As a murderer
I was quite proud of myself
I grinned, and ate some more
Seaside cotton candy
Always to be treasured
Cotton candy, Ice cream
Seagulls cawing
Waves lapping on the shore
Sunshine this time
Makes a pleasant change
Factor 30 on a baldy head
No need for burning
I sit looking out seaward
Its like a mill pond: Calm
It has the same effect on me
The sea has a healing power
The awesomeness of nature
The ferry comes past to dock
Ugly in its very being
Causing waves as it churns
The ferry docks, peace restored
I look out to sea
I see a figure in the water
About half a mile out
I put on my sun glasses
Hoping to see without glare
Still can't fully identify it
Binocular time methinks
I bring the object into focus
It's a swimmer and she looks in trouble
She is waving, I almost wave back
I hear a scream of "Help Me!"
She goes under, the bobs
Back up, arms flailing
I cannot help her
I can no longer swim
I want to call out
to those around me
but the sound won't come out
I watch as she goes under again
Again thankfully she bobs back up
I focus in on her panic
I can see she is tiring
Again I try to call out
Again my shout is silent
Nobody else has noticed
Too busy eating hotdogs
Or letting their dogs shit on the beach
I pray to the man upstairs
Apparently his day off
She slowly goes under again
I watch and wait, in hope
She doesn't come back up
And like that she's gone
I hate to say it
But watching this woman drown
Gave me a rush
Almost felt responsible
As a murderer
I was quite proud of myself
I grinned, and ate some more
Seaside cotton candy
Written by David_Macleod
(14397816)
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One moment in time
premonition pricks and worries strike
to abseil backwards off the roof your choice
and Whitney Huston pop chart hit
"one moment in time" you hear a clip
frozen milliseconds trapped in ice
the reel so slow just slice by slice
transfixed stare cant look away
shock so great feet stuck in clay
cold beads of sweat and clammy palm
blood pressure reddened face and arms
your hair could turn grey with the fright
nightmare memories day and night
afterbirth and gore cover the floor
you put it in now see it born
this was just no false alarm
baby safe in its mothers arms
to abseil backwards off the roof your choice
and Whitney Huston pop chart hit
"one moment in time" you hear a clip
frozen milliseconds trapped in ice
the reel so slow just slice by slice
transfixed stare cant look away
shock so great feet stuck in clay
cold beads of sweat and clammy palm
blood pressure reddened face and arms
your hair could turn grey with the fright
nightmare memories day and night
afterbirth and gore cover the floor
you put it in now see it born
this was just no false alarm
baby safe in its mothers arms
Written by slipalong
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Anonymous
<< post removed >>
Watching
( a Rensaku = linked tanka )
a mother eagle
scans horizon flying west
to the canyon —
two eaglets in a nest
wait high atop a ridge
outstretched wings
ride a thermal updraft
silent, on the hunt
single-minded, piercing
through the fading sunlight
sweeping down
into the canyon’s maw
where daylight sleeps,
we’ve set up camp, a fire
& dine on humpback chub
the rafts secure,
each member of the group
can hear the rapids
upriver where we were
earlier in the day
I’ve brought along,
who licks clean from a pan
scraps of chub,
my pal, my terrier Max
who loves whitewater rafting
he looks at me
(is there anymore left!)
and snorts as I
pretend to toss him a
piece he thinks I’m hiding
a high-pitched cry,
commotion in the camp
as the eagle
strafes us with its pass & call
while everyone scatters
cacophony
echos against canyon walls,
the mother swoops
into the confusion
and banks around Max
swinging a stick
I try hard to distract
as she targets my dog,
one of the men aims a gun
I scream DON’T DO IT!!
I fall back into
a shower of sparks as I
watch, helpless —
the eagle sinks her talons
in Max and carries him off
a mother eagle
scans horizon flying west
to the canyon —
two eaglets in a nest
wait high atop a ridge
outstretched wings
ride a thermal updraft
silent, on the hunt
single-minded, piercing
through the fading sunlight
sweeping down
into the canyon’s maw
where daylight sleeps,
we’ve set up camp, a fire
& dine on humpback chub
the rafts secure,
each member of the group
can hear the rapids
upriver where we were
earlier in the day
I’ve brought along,
who licks clean from a pan
scraps of chub,
my pal, my terrier Max
who loves whitewater rafting
he looks at me
(is there anymore left!)
and snorts as I
pretend to toss him a
piece he thinks I’m hiding
a high-pitched cry,
commotion in the camp
as the eagle
strafes us with its pass & call
while everyone scatters
cacophony
echos against canyon walls,
the mother swoops
into the confusion
and banks around Max
swinging a stick
I try hard to distract
as she targets my dog,
one of the men aims a gun
I scream DON’T DO IT!!
I fall back into
a shower of sparks as I
watch, helpless —
the eagle sinks her talons
in Max and carries him off
Written by Jade-Pandora
(jade tiger)
Go To Page
Image: 2 Bald Eagle eaglets.
Related submission no longer exists.
The Watchman
The watchman, lonely, in his tower
Is ever vigilant
Awake, alert at every hour
To guard the innocent
He loves his city more than most
He knows what is at stake
He feels no need to brag or boast
To see a safe daybreak
He knows the Vandals prowl about
Lusting for more loot
He sees a flash! He gives the shout!
His pain is most acute!
He staggers, leaning on the wall
But holds his post, and sees
Vandals charging, in assault!
He gasps in disbelief!
The arrow barely missed his heart
His breathing burns with pain
But he stays, and plays his part
And pulls the gateway’s chain!
His work, now done, he hears the sound
Of clashing weaponry
As he falls upon the ground
He prays a silent plea
His strength, now gone, with vision dim
He hears defenders call!
As he dies, he gives a grin!
His city will not fall!
Is ever vigilant
Awake, alert at every hour
To guard the innocent
He loves his city more than most
He knows what is at stake
He feels no need to brag or boast
To see a safe daybreak
He knows the Vandals prowl about
Lusting for more loot
He sees a flash! He gives the shout!
His pain is most acute!
He staggers, leaning on the wall
But holds his post, and sees
Vandals charging, in assault!
He gasps in disbelief!
The arrow barely missed his heart
His breathing burns with pain
But he stays, and plays his part
And pulls the gateway’s chain!
His work, now done, he hears the sound
Of clashing weaponry
As he falls upon the ground
He prays a silent plea
His strength, now gone, with vision dim
He hears defenders call!
As he dies, he gives a grin!
His city will not fall!
Written by ReggiePoet
(Reggie)
Go To Page
Hacker
Of all the people he ever infiltrated,
Hers was the only he felt guilt about,
But in watching her up close from afar,
He felt a pain for the hell he created.
He tapped into everything he could,
He knew everything inside and out,
And yet he felt for her but it was bad,
Even though his intentions were good.
He read her every personal thought,
Anything electronic he would intrude,
He thought himself a guardian angel,
A criminal, but only if he got caught.
And yet for weeks he would watch her,
Letting her be deceived by her man,
At times he got angry with himself,
For not being able to defend her.
He’d watch her cry herself to sleep,
Understand her pain and sympathize,
Knowing he could never contact her,
He was just another internet creep.
As luck would have it one day out of habit,
He was in a coffee shop when she came in,
And she texted away to a new boyfriend,
Not knowing he read it all from his tablet.
Right away he knew the guy was a fake,
He’d already looked into it before,
But he sat there, unable to say anything,
He watched her make another mistake.
Of all the people he ever infiltrated,
Hers was the only he felt guilt about,
But in watching her up close from afar,
He felt a pain for the hell he created.
He tapped into everything he could,
He knew everything inside and out,
And yet he felt for her but it was bad,
Even though his intentions were good.
He read her every personal thought,
Anything electronic he would intrude,
He thought himself a guardian angel,
A criminal, but only if he got caught.
And yet for weeks he would watch her,
Letting her be deceived by her man,
At times he got angry with himself,
For not being able to defend her.
He’d watch her cry herself to sleep,
Understand her pain and sympathize,
Knowing he could never contact her,
He was just another internet creep.
As luck would have it one day out of habit,
He was in a coffee shop when she came in,
And she texted away to a new boyfriend,
Not knowing he read it all from his tablet.
Right away he knew the guy was a fake,
He’d already looked into it before,
But he sat there, unable to say anything,
He watched her make another mistake.
PASSENGERS
We watch from the back
The crazy man try to drive
Please let us survive
The crazy man try to drive
Please let us survive
Written by SatInUGal
(Kumar)
Go To Page
144,000
An old warning posted to would be light bearers
"You will rapidly descend into a darkened abyss,"
---
To be the master of nine subjective dimensions
A knowledge of our past into the present state
Visions of the heavenly tabernacle of the soul
As the courtyard is trampled by the denigrate,
An ark volume into inner chamber wholeness
This row of flowers rotating through the spine
One hundred forty four petals into six chakra
Crowning seventh spins into a thousand lights,
The positive and negative poles of spirituality
Both emanate becoming equal and opposite
As the plasma charged energy will cancel out
Bring the fire link of a mind/soul consequent,
Diffusing energies then becoming directional
By this rising twisting of centered inner might
Up the spinal cords to their crowning summit
As the adept becomes a source of pure light,
---
Chosen few with summed 9 on their forehead
As an angel in the sun shouts their supper call
Electromagnetic dark mothers a new Jerusalem
So these hidden evils of our world will finally fall.
"You will rapidly descend into a darkened abyss,"
---
To be the master of nine subjective dimensions
A knowledge of our past into the present state
Visions of the heavenly tabernacle of the soul
As the courtyard is trampled by the denigrate,
An ark volume into inner chamber wholeness
This row of flowers rotating through the spine
One hundred forty four petals into six chakra
Crowning seventh spins into a thousand lights,
The positive and negative poles of spirituality
Both emanate becoming equal and opposite
As the plasma charged energy will cancel out
Bring the fire link of a mind/soul consequent,
Diffusing energies then becoming directional
By this rising twisting of centered inner might
Up the spinal cords to their crowning summit
As the adept becomes a source of pure light,
---
Chosen few with summed 9 on their forehead
As an angel in the sun shouts their supper call
Electromagnetic dark mothers a new Jerusalem
So these hidden evils of our world will finally fall.
Written by runaway-mindtrain
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