Poetry competition CLOSED 29th July 2022 12:07pm
WINNER
Wafflenose (Ellie)
Wafflenose (Ellie)
RUNNERS-UP:
DaisyGrace
and smackdownraven
beauty in the ordinary
Mr. Blue Shorts
Eternal red light , traffic
backed up, on the bridge.
I sit, sweltering
in hellish heat--
engine running
sun blazing.
And there he is--
(peripheral vision )
walking confidently along the side,
pedestrian, with shorts
as blue as the lake below us.
Such a golden bronzed (skin) tone...
Such a lazily tossed t-shirt,
over a chiseled shoulder,
connected to a chiseled back..
Such a tossuled ponytail ..
Light turns green--
go, traffic!
(no, wait-- I'm not done looking!)
I dare not glance
in the rear view mirror,
lest his face
not match the rest of his perfection--
I shall always wonder...
backed up, on the bridge.
I sit, sweltering
in hellish heat--
engine running
sun blazing.
And there he is--
(peripheral vision )
walking confidently along the side,
pedestrian, with shorts
as blue as the lake below us.
Such a golden bronzed (skin) tone...
Such a lazily tossed t-shirt,
over a chiseled shoulder,
connected to a chiseled back..
Such a tossuled ponytail ..
Light turns green--
go, traffic!
(no, wait-- I'm not done looking!)
I dare not glance
in the rear view mirror,
lest his face
not match the rest of his perfection--
I shall always wonder...
Written by MadameLavender
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Blood-red
Tonight's sunset
was the most magnificent I've ever seen:
blood-red in a sky streaked with pink and purple,
its hue and brightness unsurpassed,
at least as I recall it.
No photographic evidence exists—
if only I'd taken the car
(I try not to drive insignificant distances);
I could have got back to take a picture
before it disappeared.
if only I'd taken my phone along
(although my camera wouldn't have done it justice);
if only I'd gone slightly earlier
(but would it have looked the same?).
I choose to believe
that I was in the right place at the right time,
enjoying an evening bike ride to the shops;
flying along unfettered, in the gentle breeze.
If I had taken the car,
I wouldn't have been at the apex of that same hill
at that very moment.
Though I cursed my lack of camera,
I knew full well that this was an opportunity
to view the world as it is,
rather than through a lens or screen.
And so I took a picture with my heart instead.
Still, I wish you could have seen it too.
was the most magnificent I've ever seen:
blood-red in a sky streaked with pink and purple,
its hue and brightness unsurpassed,
at least as I recall it.
No photographic evidence exists—
if only I'd taken the car
(I try not to drive insignificant distances);
I could have got back to take a picture
before it disappeared.
if only I'd taken my phone along
(although my camera wouldn't have done it justice);
if only I'd gone slightly earlier
(but would it have looked the same?).
I choose to believe
that I was in the right place at the right time,
enjoying an evening bike ride to the shops;
flying along unfettered, in the gentle breeze.
If I had taken the car,
I wouldn't have been at the apex of that same hill
at that very moment.
Though I cursed my lack of camera,
I knew full well that this was an opportunity
to view the world as it is,
rather than through a lens or screen.
And so I took a picture with my heart instead.
Still, I wish you could have seen it too.
Written by Wafflenose
(Ellie)
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This Poem Is For YOU
Don't think I have forgotten about YOU
dear one(s); no how could I
Compassion
empathy
that rememberance of warmth
from before time blinked existence
dreaming awake
vibrating awake, dancing days
loving seconds, remembering years
Kindred flame from source
do YOU think the amnesia of waking
would cause the effect to forget YOU
how could I? for YOU are I
I would dive into the deepest despair
just to find YOU, seeker that I am
For I, I am light
YOU, YOU are love
Written by Carpe_Noctem
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Simple things
I like to walk around
Our beautiful city
And get surprised
By simple things
Like a flower bed.
Just allows time to stop for a minute
And muse....
Our beautiful city
And get surprised
By simple things
Like a flower bed.
Just allows time to stop for a minute
And muse....
Written by robert43041
(Viking)
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Anonymous
free love
leather and worn my hippy coat kept me warm
it told a story of rain and cold and seasons past
hip and cool it hid the insecurity of the woman it concealed
it conveyed a free spirit, I was anything but
my brown suede jacket reminded me of the sixties
even though I wasn't born until 1969 it transported me my leather time machine
my coat talked to me about the freedom of soul
of days past before I came in the flesh
it celebrated free love and the flower children
while I remain chaste in my downy covering
my lamb fur lined coat knew just where Mary went and didn't go
it travel with me to Washington state my first outing out of Cali.
peace, love and rock n roll
along with a whole lot of pot smoking
I look the part and I was proud rocking my jacket of another era
time warp and I no longer need my coat
to connect me to days long past to the time before I was Brenda
I am born brand new confident
Written by smackdownraven
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Nature’s Peace
- Nature’s Peace -
There is a park in a backwoods country town,
Where a mountain stream flows bubbling clear.
High rocks look out over the water as it goes…
And a sandy stretch runs, from rocks to forest.
The sound of that stream can erase any frown!
As a child I played on the sand, having no fear,
Skipping stones, often splashing with my toes…
I felt a sense of inner peace that I’ll not contest.
Beyond that place by an old forest trail’s way,
Was a tiny marsh: where frogs sat on lily pads.
Croaking in the twilight of a long summer day,
The sound was more to me, than passing fads.
Across a bridge of old logs thrown together…
There was a field, filled with many living trees.
Its’ grass grew tall no matter of the weather…
And flowers did bloom, in the gentlest breeze.
Amidst that splendor was a maze of hedges…
Made for adventure, for young and old alike!
Cut into a labyrinth, with many long passages,
Where you could lose time as off you’d strike.
To a young child, fond of adventurous stories…
Secure in the hand of your mother at your side,
You could pretend to be on a quest for glories.
You could adventure where wild dreams abide.
Today the maze no longer exists to be found…
But the memory of it brings peace to my spirit.
Nature’s wild glories still decorate that ground,
And children still will play there, drawn near it.
I like to go back there to walk the oldest trails,
To bask in the glory of the trees and flowers…
There is a peace in such places that never fails,
To enthrall my soul in the grasp of its’ powers!
There is a park in a backwoods country town,
Where a mountain stream flows bubbling clear.
High rocks look out over the water as it goes…
And a sandy stretch runs, from rocks to forest.
The sound of that stream can erase any frown!
As a child I played on the sand, having no fear,
Skipping stones, often splashing with my toes…
I felt a sense of inner peace that I’ll not contest.
Beyond that place by an old forest trail’s way,
Was a tiny marsh: where frogs sat on lily pads.
Croaking in the twilight of a long summer day,
The sound was more to me, than passing fads.
Across a bridge of old logs thrown together…
There was a field, filled with many living trees.
Its’ grass grew tall no matter of the weather…
And flowers did bloom, in the gentlest breeze.
Amidst that splendor was a maze of hedges…
Made for adventure, for young and old alike!
Cut into a labyrinth, with many long passages,
Where you could lose time as off you’d strike.
To a young child, fond of adventurous stories…
Secure in the hand of your mother at your side,
You could pretend to be on a quest for glories.
You could adventure where wild dreams abide.
Today the maze no longer exists to be found…
But the memory of it brings peace to my spirit.
Nature’s wild glories still decorate that ground,
And children still will play there, drawn near it.
I like to go back there to walk the oldest trails,
To bask in the glory of the trees and flowers…
There is a peace in such places that never fails,
To enthrall my soul in the grasp of its’ powers!
Written by Kou_Indigo
(Karam L. Parveen-Ashton)
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Cherry Blossom
- Cherry Blossom -
I do recall the year, it was early in the spring;
The sun was on high, looking ever splendidly...
When we went to the gardens, there to sing.
The pond where the swans swam elegantly...
Was clear as a mirror, reflecting the blue skies,
Near the fields where at night blazed fireflies.
The small path along it with the old wood rail,
Wound near: some rugged cliffs we knew well.
And so, around the pond we found our way...
To the gardens, where we spent that fair day.
The hills were tall, the flagstones at our feet...
Were ancient and cracked, retaining the heat.
My sandals did not notice, as I walked along...
Whilst we went to gardens, singing our song.
The cherry blossoms were in bloom, in season,
And the tiny shrines stood so solemn nearby...
The maidens tended them for faithful reason,
For gods and ancestors they could never deny.
Pretty as the cherry blossoms along the path,
Past the pond that was the swans' cool bath.
We sat near the fountains, without any care,
Looking at the cherry trees all around there...
Watching the maidens in their sweet devotion,
Letting the hours pass like drops in the ocean.
Somewhere, a bell tower called out the time...
But we were singing, and so lost in the rhyme!
Only the Buddhist statues, did smile so wide...
As our hearts once did, where blossoms reside.
Still do those trees grow, and so every spring,
Do their blossoms blow, and so much joy bring!
As night came down and the fireflies did dance,
We walked in the woods where tall pines grew.
There, where old spirits awaken and do prance,
We said farewell to the day and to skies blue...
For the stars did herald a night of no less glory,
Than the day which I related early in this story.
By now the shrine maidens were saying prayers,
And the monks were walking along lonely stairs.
They saw not the wonders of the world like we,
As the night winds bring us each to our destiny.
I do recall the year, it was early in the spring;
The sun was on high, looking ever splendidly...
When we went to the gardens, there to sing.
The pond where the swans swam elegantly...
Was clear as a mirror, reflecting the blue skies,
Near the fields where at night blazed fireflies.
The small path along it with the old wood rail,
Wound near: some rugged cliffs we knew well.
And so, around the pond we found our way...
To the gardens, where we spent that fair day.
The hills were tall, the flagstones at our feet...
Were ancient and cracked, retaining the heat.
My sandals did not notice, as I walked along...
Whilst we went to gardens, singing our song.
The cherry blossoms were in bloom, in season,
And the tiny shrines stood so solemn nearby...
The maidens tended them for faithful reason,
For gods and ancestors they could never deny.
Pretty as the cherry blossoms along the path,
Past the pond that was the swans' cool bath.
We sat near the fountains, without any care,
Looking at the cherry trees all around there...
Watching the maidens in their sweet devotion,
Letting the hours pass like drops in the ocean.
Somewhere, a bell tower called out the time...
But we were singing, and so lost in the rhyme!
Only the Buddhist statues, did smile so wide...
As our hearts once did, where blossoms reside.
Still do those trees grow, and so every spring,
Do their blossoms blow, and so much joy bring!
As night came down and the fireflies did dance,
We walked in the woods where tall pines grew.
There, where old spirits awaken and do prance,
We said farewell to the day and to skies blue...
For the stars did herald a night of no less glory,
Than the day which I related early in this story.
By now the shrine maidens were saying prayers,
And the monks were walking along lonely stairs.
They saw not the wonders of the world like we,
As the night winds bring us each to our destiny.
Written by Kou_Indigo
(Karam L. Parveen-Ashton)
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In Miizzle How We Danced
In the Elysian fields of my mind
your beautiful candor, blue eyes
beneath the moonbow
I love you so
Resplendent in the starlight
gloaming happens after sunset
shining brightly in your curio
in the mizzle how we danced
Sounder than a breath of fate
in a quiescent moment of a kiss
with a scent of your scintilla
in the Elysian fields of my mind
I love you so
your beautiful candor, blue eyes
beneath the moonbow
I love you so
Resplendent in the starlight
gloaming happens after sunset
shining brightly in your curio
in the mizzle how we danced
Sounder than a breath of fate
in a quiescent moment of a kiss
with a scent of your scintilla
in the Elysian fields of my mind
I love you so
Written by adagio
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The Spaces in Between
The drive back from the beach
Took us through the mountains
A long winding, curvy path
The views…green and lush
And high
High enough to look down the edgy cliffs
So high I could feel the glutes tighten
At the bottom of the foothill
The highway straightened a little more
And once on the open road
She added speed
Passing the through farms
The orchards
The groves
For miles and miles
or kilometers wherever you may be
They seemed to go on forever
And at high speeds it gave me a new perspective
Then I thought…
How many hours?
How many farm workers must work on these lands?
She was booking it
At 90
or 145 wherever you may be
(She drives fast, but I hold my tongue)
I could see the spaces in between the orange trees
Seamless rows aligned
And for some reason
I found a strange beauty in that symmetry
Then I thought…
How many farm workers walk in the spaces in between?
Written by wallyroo92
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