Poetry competition CLOSED 11th January 2023 3:03pm
WINNER
PAR (PAULO ACACIO RAMOS)
PAR (PAULO ACACIO RAMOS)
Your own Rubicon
Poetry Contest Description
It was as you were musing by your own Rubicon that you decided to cross - or not. So: lofty goal reached? or total crash and dreams crushed?
Poems to 50 lines or so preferred. No profanity, please.
Crossroads of Frost and Flame
- Crossroads of Frost and Flame -
I came upon a crossroads, knowing not the way to go.
The road ahead was paved with the hottest burning fire,
But all others were covered with bitterest winter snow.
I tried the icy trails a ways, but verily soon I began to tire…
Fiercely, did the winds about me howl and madly blow.
I thought thence of returning to that difficult path of flame,
Though I know that course was hard, I knew it was dire!
My courage failed me for a time, and in cold I did remain.
For I could not bear to embrace the flames of my pyre!
I pressed on, despite the chill, despite the growing pain.
The storm about me raged, until my breath became frost,
And no sign was there to be seen, for any eye to follow.
I feared the worst had happened, that I was forever lost!
The route that seemed so easy became a grave, shallow.
I would have to go back, whatever the most needful cost…
And so to the crossroads I came, no other way left to go.
The road ahead was still burning with the intensity of fire,
As: all others were still covered with bitterest winter snow.
I dared not return to icy trails, to face their pale deadly ire,
So fearfully, the simplest answer began at length to show.
I steeled myself to approach, trembling, the path of flame,
Though I know that course was hard, I knew it was dire!
My courage would not fail me, and steadfast I did remain.
Now I could at last bear to embrace my so roaring pyre!
I pressed on, despite all terror, despite any growing pain.
The inferno raged about me, but no part of me did burn…
For no power was in it, to singe flesh or the spirit to sear.
I could feel my old strength, and my lost warmth, return!
The route that seemed impossible had now become clear.
I saw the truths beyond illusions, illumination did I learn!
I left behind the crossroads; I now knew the way to go…
Long since melted to naught, was the bitter winter snow.
I trod along green and pleasant trails and never did I tire!
My spirit had been reborn without death; ne’er to expire.
Freely, did the gentle breezes, about the meadows blow!
And finally I allowed my heart to be free of bygone woe.
The perils I had faced, were son long into the past gone…
And so with newfound peace in my heart, I journeyed on.
I came upon a crossroads, knowing not the way to go.
The road ahead was paved with the hottest burning fire,
But all others were covered with bitterest winter snow.
I tried the icy trails a ways, but verily soon I began to tire…
Fiercely, did the winds about me howl and madly blow.
I thought thence of returning to that difficult path of flame,
Though I know that course was hard, I knew it was dire!
My courage failed me for a time, and in cold I did remain.
For I could not bear to embrace the flames of my pyre!
I pressed on, despite the chill, despite the growing pain.
The storm about me raged, until my breath became frost,
And no sign was there to be seen, for any eye to follow.
I feared the worst had happened, that I was forever lost!
The route that seemed so easy became a grave, shallow.
I would have to go back, whatever the most needful cost…
And so to the crossroads I came, no other way left to go.
The road ahead was still burning with the intensity of fire,
As: all others were still covered with bitterest winter snow.
I dared not return to icy trails, to face their pale deadly ire,
So fearfully, the simplest answer began at length to show.
I steeled myself to approach, trembling, the path of flame,
Though I know that course was hard, I knew it was dire!
My courage would not fail me, and steadfast I did remain.
Now I could at last bear to embrace my so roaring pyre!
I pressed on, despite all terror, despite any growing pain.
The inferno raged about me, but no part of me did burn…
For no power was in it, to singe flesh or the spirit to sear.
I could feel my old strength, and my lost warmth, return!
The route that seemed impossible had now become clear.
I saw the truths beyond illusions, illumination did I learn!
I left behind the crossroads; I now knew the way to go…
Long since melted to naught, was the bitter winter snow.
I trod along green and pleasant trails and never did I tire!
My spirit had been reborn without death; ne’er to expire.
Freely, did the gentle breezes, about the meadows blow!
And finally I allowed my heart to be free of bygone woe.
The perils I had faced, were son long into the past gone…
And so with newfound peace in my heart, I journeyed on.
Written by Kou_Indigo
(Karam L. Parveen-Ashton)
Go To Page
Dark Runaway
I am the emptiness, the blackness
What lies beyond the shell that burns,
Leaving nothing but shadow in its' wake.
That is how I describe the torment
Of the pain that comes from the past.
Every time I run, I remain the same
As I was before I left home years ago.
I have a new home now, but no less
Than my heart, for greater peace yearns,
Though how of peace can I ever partake?
And so my darkness is given vent
For the light is fleeting, never to last.
I can no longer the cruel fire tame
So I become the flame for all to know.
I remember my father's stories of old
And the lessons that he taught me well,
From the country of my birth's histories.
I can never go back, to what was
Forward into darkness, never back.
From dusk unto dusk, to journey
Such is my fate, and I embrace this.
I know the chill of ice and it is cold
So, I become the flame of the candle,
So that I an burn, my worst memories.
Fire is a cure if frost is the cause
As I close my eyes, enter the black.
Darkness, at least has its' dignity
And so the light I will never miss.
What lies beyond the shell that burns,
Leaving nothing but shadow in its' wake.
That is how I describe the torment
Of the pain that comes from the past.
Every time I run, I remain the same
As I was before I left home years ago.
I have a new home now, but no less
Than my heart, for greater peace yearns,
Though how of peace can I ever partake?
And so my darkness is given vent
For the light is fleeting, never to last.
I can no longer the cruel fire tame
So I become the flame for all to know.
I remember my father's stories of old
And the lessons that he taught me well,
From the country of my birth's histories.
I can never go back, to what was
Forward into darkness, never back.
From dusk unto dusk, to journey
Such is my fate, and I embrace this.
I know the chill of ice and it is cold
So, I become the flame of the candle,
So that I an burn, my worst memories.
Fire is a cure if frost is the cause
As I close my eyes, enter the black.
Darkness, at least has its' dignity
And so the light I will never miss.
Written by LaBrujaOscura_75
(Camilla Beatriz Flores)
Go To Page
Related submission no longer exists.
precious things
When I was a boy
I collected snail voices,
smells of rain and sparkles
of starfish...
As a child, I flew on wings
of caterpillars
run in the rain and listen
the sea in snail shells...
almost adult boy
middle-aged kid
who collected the voices
of the stars, the meshes of giraffes
and imperfect flowers:
anthuriums
chrysanthemums
sunflowers
and hummingbird feathers
cloud foam
ice stones falling from the sky...
inconsistencies
improbabilities
uncertainties
collected the things that others
left unfinished...
colored pencils
old papers
tea vapors...
I collected things I couldn't
keep, things I don't know
where they are...
collected names of fictional cities
photographs of places that
do not exist,
collected souls of beings
unicellular microscopes.
pyrotechnics
the landscape burned
at the bottom of the eyes
the books all had words
the books, all, were literal
all the books talked about love
the landscape,
burned in the background,
in the eyes
the landscape,
burned, in the background,
in the eyes
i used to think
who would write about everything
and the landscape burns
at the bottom of the eyes...
PAR
I collected snail voices,
smells of rain and sparkles
of starfish...
As a child, I flew on wings
of caterpillars
run in the rain and listen
the sea in snail shells...
almost adult boy
middle-aged kid
who collected the voices
of the stars, the meshes of giraffes
and imperfect flowers:
anthuriums
chrysanthemums
sunflowers
and hummingbird feathers
cloud foam
ice stones falling from the sky...
inconsistencies
improbabilities
uncertainties
collected the things that others
left unfinished...
colored pencils
old papers
tea vapors...
I collected things I couldn't
keep, things I don't know
where they are...
collected names of fictional cities
photographs of places that
do not exist,
collected souls of beings
unicellular microscopes.
pyrotechnics
the landscape burned
at the bottom of the eyes
the books all had words
the books, all, were literal
all the books talked about love
the landscape,
burned in the background,
in the eyes
the landscape,
burned, in the background,
in the eyes
i used to think
who would write about everything
and the landscape burns
at the bottom of the eyes...
PAR
Written by PAR
(PAULO ACACIO RAMOS)
Go To Page
L'inconnu
Ancré entre la vallée traversée
et les ombres inconnues du futur,
un moment de réflexion.
C'est un endroit difficile à vivre.
Je sais ce qui s'est passé avant
mais pas ce que l'avenir nous réserve.
Après des millénaires,
la terre tourne toujours.
Le coucher du soleil délimite les jours
pendant qu'il saigne à l'horizon.
La vie d'un homme et ses problèmes
sont très courts
avec la perspective de l'éternité.
J'ai aimé, j'ai perdu, j'ai essayé et j'ai appris.
Il faut que j'entre dans l'inconnu;
que j'abandonne la peur.
THE UNKNOWN
Anchored between the crossed valley
and the unknown shadows of the future,
a moment of reflection.
It is a difficult place to live.
I know what happened before
but not what the future holds.
After millennia,
the earth is still spinning.
The sunset marks the days
while it bleeds across the horizon.
A man's life and his problems
are very short
from the viewpoint of eternity.
I've loved, I've lost, I've tried and I've learned.
It is necessary that I enter the unknown;
that I let go of fear.
et les ombres inconnues du futur,
un moment de réflexion.
C'est un endroit difficile à vivre.
Je sais ce qui s'est passé avant
mais pas ce que l'avenir nous réserve.
Après des millénaires,
la terre tourne toujours.
Le coucher du soleil délimite les jours
pendant qu'il saigne à l'horizon.
La vie d'un homme et ses problèmes
sont très courts
avec la perspective de l'éternité.
J'ai aimé, j'ai perdu, j'ai essayé et j'ai appris.
Il faut que j'entre dans l'inconnu;
que j'abandonne la peur.
THE UNKNOWN
Anchored between the crossed valley
and the unknown shadows of the future,
a moment of reflection.
It is a difficult place to live.
I know what happened before
but not what the future holds.
After millennia,
the earth is still spinning.
The sunset marks the days
while it bleeds across the horizon.
A man's life and his problems
are very short
from the viewpoint of eternity.
I've loved, I've lost, I've tried and I've learned.
It is necessary that I enter the unknown;
that I let go of fear.
Written by Wafflenose
(Ellie)
Go To Page
Wounds of a Clown
What will my life be if I look back on when?
On Christmas some people dress like Santa,
Some people dress like elves or other things.
They do it to entertain their happy children,
My mother used to call me her little Anna...
To share the joy that the holidays can bring.
When I went out east, I dressed like a clown,
To entertain a girl who is really just a child.
I am friends with her mother, I like that town,
And my personality is silly and mostly wild.
It was a fun time, they made me feel welcome,
The holidays when by for me way too quickly.
Now I am back out west, and living at home,
With my family who can be a bit too prickly...
They love to pick arguments with me a lot.
Never did they care for anything I thought!
My stay with them will have to be temporary.
At least until I can find a new and better job,
Then I will leave home again, permanently.
A clown should not frown; it's hard to stop,
So I keep on smiling to keep my tears inside.
Though right now it feels like in Hell I abide!
I will have to make it a heaven for a while,
And turn my every frown, into a big smile.
What happened to the world I used to know?
With unicorns and fairies, and every rainbow.
I have to find the magic again inside of me,
Embrace my inner clown and laugh happily.
I must be the change that I must wish to see,
So I will sing and laugh until it sets me free!
Storms are coming, and storms have gone,
But on every morning, again rises the sun.
How many sunrises has this planet witnessed?
I wonder how many of them I have missed,
In trying to be the adult when it was too hard.
When I was in school they called me a retard,
Because I could not do things like my peers.
How many times, I cried such horrible tears?
I cannot be normal, and I won't try any longer.
There is a magic within me that is far stronger,
Than bullies or people who can't understand...
That I cannot just grow up as if on command.
I love you Kara, at least you comprehend,
What it is like to suffer and not easily mend!
I have so many inner wounds, to now tend.
On Christmas some people dress like Santa,
Some people dress like elves or other things.
They do it to entertain their happy children,
My mother used to call me her little Anna...
To share the joy that the holidays can bring.
When I went out east, I dressed like a clown,
To entertain a girl who is really just a child.
I am friends with her mother, I like that town,
And my personality is silly and mostly wild.
It was a fun time, they made me feel welcome,
The holidays when by for me way too quickly.
Now I am back out west, and living at home,
With my family who can be a bit too prickly...
They love to pick arguments with me a lot.
Never did they care for anything I thought!
My stay with them will have to be temporary.
At least until I can find a new and better job,
Then I will leave home again, permanently.
A clown should not frown; it's hard to stop,
So I keep on smiling to keep my tears inside.
Though right now it feels like in Hell I abide!
I will have to make it a heaven for a while,
And turn my every frown, into a big smile.
What happened to the world I used to know?
With unicorns and fairies, and every rainbow.
I have to find the magic again inside of me,
Embrace my inner clown and laugh happily.
I must be the change that I must wish to see,
So I will sing and laugh until it sets me free!
Storms are coming, and storms have gone,
But on every morning, again rises the sun.
How many sunrises has this planet witnessed?
I wonder how many of them I have missed,
In trying to be the adult when it was too hard.
When I was in school they called me a retard,
Because I could not do things like my peers.
How many times, I cried such horrible tears?
I cannot be normal, and I won't try any longer.
There is a magic within me that is far stronger,
Than bullies or people who can't understand...
That I cannot just grow up as if on command.
I love you Kara, at least you comprehend,
What it is like to suffer and not easily mend!
I have so many inner wounds, to now tend.
Written by Sybil_StarWitch
(Sybille Anne Martin)
Go To Page
