Poetry competition CLOSED 26th December 2023 10:14am
WINNER
PAR (PAULO ACACIO RAMOS)
PAR (PAULO ACACIO RAMOS)
RUNNERS-UP:
Kou_Indigo
and Rew
In the Midnight Hour
Poetry Contest Description
New Year Eve when the clock strikes 12
Tell us about your memory or memories of New Year Eve and New Year's Day in your past.
Two poems per poet
No collaborations
No Extreme Content
No chatting in competition threads
Any length but not too long
No AI generated poem
Two poems per poet
No collaborations
No Extreme Content
No chatting in competition threads
Any length but not too long
No AI generated poem
Waes-Hael the New Year Eve!
A drink or two, around our streets,
hailing jolly greets to folk we'd meet,
knocking on doors and sup from cups
the hot Lamb's Wool they offered us
giving no thought to snow or sleet.
We thought of self as king or queen
and copped or gave a kiss as treat,
and never thought that was enough
this drink or two...
On new-years day between loud sheets
with pounding head and furred tongued bleats,
groans of " Dear God I feel so rough "
as conscience tuts " that sure is tough.."
and " who barfed on the toilet seat,
a drink or two? "
hailing jolly greets to folk we'd meet,
knocking on doors and sup from cups
the hot Lamb's Wool they offered us
giving no thought to snow or sleet.
We thought of self as king or queen
and copped or gave a kiss as treat,
and never thought that was enough
this drink or two...
On new-years day between loud sheets
with pounding head and furred tongued bleats,
groans of " Dear God I feel so rough "
as conscience tuts " that sure is tough.."
and " who barfed on the toilet seat,
a drink or two? "
Written by Rew
Go To Page
A bath to wash off past sorrow
the church bell poised to strike
ushering in the midnight hour
it rang twelve times
and we went into the river
to slough off old sorrows
bad luck and blunders
we emerged from the water
imagining our sins floating away
like ticks and bad bugs
we felt light and fresh
it was cold
but we ate well
father slaughtered our fattest chicken
-not an entry-
the church bell poised to strike
ushering in the midnight hour
it rang twelve times
and we went into the river
to slough off old sorrows
bad luck and blunders
we emerged from the water
imagining our sins floating away
like ticks and bad bugs
we felt light and fresh
it was cold
but we ate well
father slaughtered our fattest chicken
-not an entry-
An Elemental New Year
- An Elemental New Year -
Part One: Fire
As the New Year cometh swift, on wings of light,
I greet the first day, and I welcome the first night.
How oft I wonder, what the New Year would be...
If time were timeless, if we all knew immortality.
Instead of losses that grow with time's passing,
We may all experience only delights, everlasting.
Perhaps in Heaven, the spirits there know of this,
For they now know only the joys of celestial bliss.
Only one worldly joy would I desire above all else,
The riches of love, for that is the only true wealth.
Men fight over land, over money, and over fame...
Whilst all I hunger for, is to bathe in love's flame.
Part Two: Earth
In the east the dragons dance, as fireworks play,
Every nation hath its' custom, for New Year's Day.
No man is a nation unto himself, it is so oft said...
Yet how lonely is life, so many still live as if dead!
To touch a single heart is a miracle Heaven-sent,
So many hearts are in pieces, their joys all spent.
Why cannot human beings be as angels in soul...
Knowing only happiness, wanting not to control?
A new year should be a time for miracles to come,
And the sorrows of the past to at last be undone.
We have so much power, yet do we know a way,
To use that power for good, and to not go astray?
Part Three: Air
So many texts we fill with knowledge and wisdom,
Yet what of love, truest wealth of God's kingdom?
Compassion for one another, and a hand to hold,
How many lack this, lonely whilst they grow old...
So much time is wasted waiting for joys to arrive;
Because so much joy is missing from all our lives!
Praise the bringers of joy, for they are so blessed,
They brave the greatest dangers, forever tested!
We waste our praise so often on shallow things...
Making paupers of those who are our true kings.
So many saviors have we hung thus upon trees,
Forgetting their wisdom, like words in the breeze.
Part Four: Water
For the New Year, let us remember what peace is,
It can be as simple, as giving a loved one a kiss...
Or reaching out to someone we never knew prior,
Words can be as water, soothing even raging fire.
Why use words to wound when words can heal...
Why ignore our senses when it is so easy to feel?
Let us live in the moment, and let it last forever...
Let us embark upon peace as our great endeavor!
Peace is what results when love is allowed to be,
A flower blooming in every heart, with true dignity.
The scent of which is pleasing unto the very spirit,
Welcoming all who would happily venture near it.
Part One: Fire
As the New Year cometh swift, on wings of light,
I greet the first day, and I welcome the first night.
How oft I wonder, what the New Year would be...
If time were timeless, if we all knew immortality.
Instead of losses that grow with time's passing,
We may all experience only delights, everlasting.
Perhaps in Heaven, the spirits there know of this,
For they now know only the joys of celestial bliss.
Only one worldly joy would I desire above all else,
The riches of love, for that is the only true wealth.
Men fight over land, over money, and over fame...
Whilst all I hunger for, is to bathe in love's flame.
Part Two: Earth
In the east the dragons dance, as fireworks play,
Every nation hath its' custom, for New Year's Day.
No man is a nation unto himself, it is so oft said...
Yet how lonely is life, so many still live as if dead!
To touch a single heart is a miracle Heaven-sent,
So many hearts are in pieces, their joys all spent.
Why cannot human beings be as angels in soul...
Knowing only happiness, wanting not to control?
A new year should be a time for miracles to come,
And the sorrows of the past to at last be undone.
We have so much power, yet do we know a way,
To use that power for good, and to not go astray?
Part Three: Air
So many texts we fill with knowledge and wisdom,
Yet what of love, truest wealth of God's kingdom?
Compassion for one another, and a hand to hold,
How many lack this, lonely whilst they grow old...
So much time is wasted waiting for joys to arrive;
Because so much joy is missing from all our lives!
Praise the bringers of joy, for they are so blessed,
They brave the greatest dangers, forever tested!
We waste our praise so often on shallow things...
Making paupers of those who are our true kings.
So many saviors have we hung thus upon trees,
Forgetting their wisdom, like words in the breeze.
Part Four: Water
For the New Year, let us remember what peace is,
It can be as simple, as giving a loved one a kiss...
Or reaching out to someone we never knew prior,
Words can be as water, soothing even raging fire.
Why use words to wound when words can heal...
Why ignore our senses when it is so easy to feel?
Let us live in the moment, and let it last forever...
Let us embark upon peace as our great endeavor!
Peace is what results when love is allowed to be,
A flower blooming in every heart, with true dignity.
The scent of which is pleasing unto the very spirit,
Welcoming all who would happily venture near it.
Written by Kou_Indigo
(Karam L. Parveen-Ashton)
Go To Page
The Eternal Season
- The Eternal Season -
I watched the snow as it had cascaded down,
Tumbling with a dancer’s grace to the ground…
And it seemed to me to be not so cold at all,
As towards the earthen mother it did thus fall.
Rather, it seemed a thing of ethereal design,
Fit to immortalize in such an elegant rhyme…
As wouldst please the ear of angels on high,
To warm the heights above the winter sky!
And so I put my pen to page, to make eternal,
The glories of this season, this time supernal.
To sing of love and laughter and joyous hours,
Wrought by light and by all the bright powers.
“Eternal is the season, that lasts forever,
In the hearts of all who forsake love never.
So cherish the joy of this hour and this time,
For eternal is the season, the season sublime!”
By my art was crafted this bit of warm cheer,
As Christmas cometh upon this season dear…
And upon my hearth shall blaze hot flames.
Whilst outside mayhap playing their games,
Might be some fair folk out of ancient lore…
To make of the season something even more.
For joy added to joy makes merry most fair!
And such glory therein is something to share.
How couldst I resist the chance to so create?
Some pleasant offering and thus participate…
In making warmer the hearts who thus desire,
To warm themselves all: by my generous fire.
“Eternal is the season, that lasts forever,
In the hearts of all who forsake love never.
So cherish the joy of this hour and this time,
For eternal is the season, the season sublime!”
Come lovers and loved ones, and friends too,
And family and colleagues, and others true…
Poets and artists and dreamers such as we are!
Come hear ye my song; be warm at my hearth.
No lass of elfin blood or celestial spirit so fine,
Could do aught less with so splendid a wine…
As is poured from good times passed this way.
So Merry Season to ye, unto New Year’s Day!
And let us keep the spirit alive, eternally ideal,
So that we might be warmed by what we feel…
For all this year and all the years that lie ahead.
Joy is like a filling meal; so satisfying a bread!
I watched the snow as it had cascaded down,
Tumbling with a dancer’s grace to the ground…
And it seemed to me to be not so cold at all,
As towards the earthen mother it did thus fall.
Rather, it seemed a thing of ethereal design,
Fit to immortalize in such an elegant rhyme…
As wouldst please the ear of angels on high,
To warm the heights above the winter sky!
And so I put my pen to page, to make eternal,
The glories of this season, this time supernal.
To sing of love and laughter and joyous hours,
Wrought by light and by all the bright powers.
“Eternal is the season, that lasts forever,
In the hearts of all who forsake love never.
So cherish the joy of this hour and this time,
For eternal is the season, the season sublime!”
By my art was crafted this bit of warm cheer,
As Christmas cometh upon this season dear…
And upon my hearth shall blaze hot flames.
Whilst outside mayhap playing their games,
Might be some fair folk out of ancient lore…
To make of the season something even more.
For joy added to joy makes merry most fair!
And such glory therein is something to share.
How couldst I resist the chance to so create?
Some pleasant offering and thus participate…
In making warmer the hearts who thus desire,
To warm themselves all: by my generous fire.
“Eternal is the season, that lasts forever,
In the hearts of all who forsake love never.
So cherish the joy of this hour and this time,
For eternal is the season, the season sublime!”
Come lovers and loved ones, and friends too,
And family and colleagues, and others true…
Poets and artists and dreamers such as we are!
Come hear ye my song; be warm at my hearth.
No lass of elfin blood or celestial spirit so fine,
Could do aught less with so splendid a wine…
As is poured from good times passed this way.
So Merry Season to ye, unto New Year’s Day!
And let us keep the spirit alive, eternally ideal,
So that we might be warmed by what we feel…
For all this year and all the years that lie ahead.
Joy is like a filling meal; so satisfying a bread!
Written by Kou_Indigo
(Karam L. Parveen-Ashton)
Go To Page
New York 2024
As the ball drops there are no expectations.
Your lips are looking lonely.
Placed right there among the crowd.
Even with many people around.
Vision stays focused on your needing embrace.
This isn’t an imagined romantic place.
Hearing you is hard.
With everyone so loud.
Can we disappear and separate from the crowd?
This place remains the same.
This isn’t your real urge.
No need to spell it out.
Act accordingly.
Learning life is impermanence.
Thinking about this moment right now.
Not just the new year.
Reality can be cold.
Come here so we can create a warm embrace.
Attraction is not a choice.
Follow the path of my calm quiet voice.
Be patient.
The key is not here.
2024 will offer more.
Your lips are looking lonely.
Placed right there among the crowd.
Even with many people around.
Vision stays focused on your needing embrace.
This isn’t an imagined romantic place.
Hearing you is hard.
With everyone so loud.
Can we disappear and separate from the crowd?
This place remains the same.
This isn’t your real urge.
No need to spell it out.
Act accordingly.
Learning life is impermanence.
Thinking about this moment right now.
Not just the new year.
Reality can be cold.
Come here so we can create a warm embrace.
Attraction is not a choice.
Follow the path of my calm quiet voice.
Be patient.
The key is not here.
2024 will offer more.
Written by ClearmindedVillain
Go To Page
When every hour is midnight
And it doesn't smell like perfume to me...
It smells like burning plastic
crude in the sea.
I smell the noise!
Large fires and will-o'-the-wisps.
It smells like incense too…
but that doesn't count,
I was the one who lit it!
The flowers waste
their freshness!
Some for rancidity
Others being vicious!
Flowers and weeds intersect.
Hybrids, half moon and midnight,
They exude studied and Parisian aromas.
They exude sweat of fear.
Disguises of rain and dew.
The flowers clash, made up,
of autumn leaves…
From the revealing sun…
and even more of the silver-mystery of the night.
It smells like burning plastic
crude in the sea.
I smell the noise!
Large fires and will-o'-the-wisps.
It smells like incense too…
but that doesn't count,
I was the one who lit it!
The flowers waste
their freshness!
Some for rancidity
Others being vicious!
Flowers and weeds intersect.
Hybrids, half moon and midnight,
They exude studied and Parisian aromas.
They exude sweat of fear.
Disguises of rain and dew.
The flowers clash, made up,
of autumn leaves…
From the revealing sun…
and even more of the silver-mystery of the night.
Written by PAR
(PAULO ACACIO RAMOS)
Go To Page
Thank you everyone for participating. After much deliberation, PAR is adjudged the winner for his poem When every hour is midnight, The Eternal Season by Kou_Indigo is runner-up and second runner up is Waes-Hael the New Year Eve! by Rew. Thank you for being with me and do join me again in my next competition.
