Poetry competition CLOSED 8th January 2024 11:59am
WINNER
Betty
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RUNNERS-UP: ClearmindedVillain and PAR

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2024

Ahavati
Tams
Tyrant of Words
United States 123awards
Joined 11th Apr 2015
Forum Posts: 16926

Poetry Contest

What change do you desire?
Guidelines:

We all look to improve something. I'm seeking an emotive submission revealing a vulnerability you desire to change/improve in 2024. For example, do you wish to become more involved in something? Expand upon a hobby? Work for yourself? Overcome a bad habit that affects your health? I connect with authenticity, so be genuine.

Rules:

• One submission per poet
• All forms accepted ( poetry/prose/spoken word/visual art )
• I hate to limit expression; however, I also don't have time to read novels. Let's say no more than 500 words. Please keep in mind if submitting visual art that the more words the smaller the print. I'm not giving myself a migraine attempting to read something barely legible.
• No erotica, please. I'm uninterested in how you desire to improve your libido.

Ahavati
Tams
Tyrant of Words
United States 123awards
Joined 11th Apr 2015
Forum Posts: 16926

2024

I know what my spirit says
Look how far you’ve come
and all you've done.

 
Still, shadows lick my feet.
 
I know I’m blessed.
But what I really wish
is for blessings to be commonplace.
An everyday occurrence
for each human to experience.  
 
I've seen those suffering
while seeking direction
—gazing out the window
from an office cubicle
pretending to be content
with a noose around their neck.
 
Staring endlessly
into traversing clouds
beyond whatever assignment
is reminding them  
their needs don’t matter
against the bottom line.
 
I want to disable the elevator
disconnect the Wi-Fi
apologize for the cruelty
of corporate greed
squeezing their life dry.
 
I want to look them in the eyes
so they can see the sincerity
and possibility of their desires
and the importance of Be-ing alive.
 
I want to rip the system apart
burn every faction of spite and hate
that divides us as a nation.
Serve deportation papers
to the shadows
tell them they’ve been dismissed
by our inner Light.
 
I want an apology
for every broken promise
made by our government
to the huddled masses
who arrived from teeming shores
for the American dream.
 
I want to dig up every grave
containing the remains
of our forefathers
and beat clarity
from their corpse’s lips
till all that's left
of their broken bones and teeth
is love, imprinted on the future
of this country.
 
I want to finish this life
—despite being a single drop
in an endless ocean—knowing
I was at least part of a multitude
of drops trying to make a difference.
 
Not just for myself but everyone else.  
~
Written by Ahavati (Tams)
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Not an entry.

Grace
IDryad
Tyrant of Words
126awards
Joined 25th Aug 2011
Forum Posts: 17019

Coming to Grips

 
Awaken from impossible dreams
tolls of time with wandering souls
a hearth not lighted for eons
except in wistful thoughts of home

there’s hope in the path to unfold
yesterday’s remnants of merriment
stolen from outside of the window
looking in but never touching

the next steps I take upon this earth
may be further than yesterday
in minutes and days but the light is dim
the music is slowly winding down

still trying to understand what unfolded
in years past in fading memories
life’s mysteries may never be known
but tomorrow’s story will be written

for life, a journey both fierce and kind,
lessons will be learnt and wisdom refined,
coming to grips with fate's ungentle touch
listening to the clock tick midnight
Written by Grace (IDryad)
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Ahavati
Tams
Tyrant of Words
United States 123awards
Joined 11th Apr 2015
Forum Posts: 16926

Thank you for such a thought-provoking entry, Grace.

Jordan
D.O.C.
Thought Provoker
United States 13awards
Joined 4th May 2022
Forum Posts: 245

An Eighty-Two-Year-Old's Habits Die Hard

*    
   
This New Year's Eve, me soul resolves to take no twit to task --    
'ey, you!  Yes, YOU, you bloody bastard!  Wear a Covid mask!    
And you, you feckin' willy!  Buy a rubber at the bar!    
And every wankered gobshite, get your pissed arse out the car!    
And all you shaggin' tubes not fixed, line up 'ere two by two    
to straight permit me w'etted wit to block each git like you!    
   
*
Written by Jordan (D.O.C.)
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Ahavati
Tams
Tyrant of Words
United States 123awards
Joined 11th Apr 2015
Forum Posts: 16926

LOL! Jordon you're a riot! Thanks for the entry!

slipalong
Dangerous Mind
United Kingdom 43awards
Joined 1st Jan 2018
Forum Posts: 855

Dropped stiches

Carrying the haversack of past mistakes
To heal the aching pain,
the starting blocks of change
from the worn no time to mourn
Repaint
And make a mural,
expectations drawn
an almanac thats yet unborn.
My life it's shadows
Bold not faint
And hold the palette
 For the coming year
Drawing strength beyond,
from the syntax of the stars.
Let it in, to change the game,
self belief that wiil not wane
For with acceptance comes a balm.
 No dropped stitches,
to peep at dirty underclothes
Pot holes on life's road
The chalk and cheese cast by the
constellations.
Hold it like a pattern
the halo rings that circle Saturn.
 my intentions fly like birds
The milky way, not turned
to sour curds
Treading with a velvet sole.
The fleece of my future,
Fine threads all spun, evolved
Wool of tomorrows success.
I must learn to handle it with care
its comfot is, knited future perfection
 calender of uncrossed days
the phase of yay not nay
Written by slipalong
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Ahavati
Tams
Tyrant of Words
United States 123awards
Joined 11th Apr 2015
Forum Posts: 16926

Thank you for such a stellar entry, Slip!

PAR
PAULO ACACIO RAMOS
Dangerous Mind
Portugal 20awards
Joined 26th May 2022
Forum Posts: 308

2024

 
The year of twenty twenty-four is near
and with it comes a hope for better days.
A time to heal the wounds of yesteryear
and face the future in a brighter gaze
But what will be the challenges ahead?
What trials and tribulations will we face?
Will we be able to overcome the dread
that lingers from the past and leaves a trace?
 
In nineteen twenty-four, a year of change.
Two men of different fates and different lands:
One breathed his last, the other saw the light
one left a legacy, the other began his fight.
 
Lenin, the father of the Soviet state.
The leader of the Bolsheviks and the Reds.
He shaped the course of history and fate
but succumbed to illness and was laid to rest.
Mugabe, the son of the Zimbabwean soil.
The champion of the liberation and the blacks.
He rose to power and ruled with an iron fist
but faced resistance and was ousted from his post.
 
Two men of different fates and different lands,
one hundred years ago wrote their names
on the walls of history and the halls of fame.
They wrote facts with their own bare hands.
 
Perhaps the answer lies within our hearts.
The source of love and courage, faith and grace.
The place where inspiration always starts
and where we find the strength to run the race.
For we are not alone in this pursuit.
We have each other's company and support.
We share a common vision and a route...
that leads us to a better world and port.
 
So let us not despair or lose our sight
of what we can achieve with will and might.
But rather let us work with all our power
to make the most of every passing hour.
And when we reach the end of twenty-four,
we'll look back and rejoice at what we've strive.
We'll celebrate our victories and more
and welcome the new dawn of twenty-five.
 
The past and the future are both our guides.
They teach us how to learn from our mistakes
and how to dream of better days and tides.
And how to make the most of what we make.
 
So let us not forget our history
Nor lose the sight of our destiny.
Written by PAR (PAULO ACACIO RAMOS)
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Ahavati
Tams
Tyrant of Words
United States 123awards
Joined 11th Apr 2015
Forum Posts: 16926

Thank you for your insightful entry, PAR.

WillowsWhimsies
Dangerous Mind
United States 19awards
Joined 8th Mar 2016
Forum Posts: 303

deep clean

 
lately I've been thinking a lot about wasted space
how we amass crap
meaningful enough at one time to consider worth keeping
and yet there it sits...
a dusty pile of stuff in a corner
too important to toss out...
...but mostly unconsidered
and my life...
...with its overstuffed drawers & folders
it's becoming overwhelming
this winter is going to be a season of declutter
sorting through boxes & my memory-dex
3 categories only
...worth saving
...repurpose
...trash
we'll see how much junk is left after that
a clean slate
and I need the space...
...much more than I need the haunting
Written by WillowsWhimsies
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Ahavati
Tams
Tyrant of Words
United States 123awards
Joined 11th Apr 2015
Forum Posts: 16926

Thank you, Willow, for such a thought-provoking entry.

CasketSharpe
Tyrant of Words
United States 16awards
Joined 12th June 2013
Forum Posts: 161

Tears of the False Brave

      “Trick-a-treat, Merry Christmas or 4th of July
One thing for certain the United States of America is a fucking lie,
      “Born and founded on theft and slavery
Now some white folks and coon black bitches trying to change its history,

      “Their evil displayed worldwide with nowhere to hide
So for eternity their fuckery will always ride,
      “What I’m saying is not considered no new shit
Because as I write and you read America is still a fuck bitch,

      “Understand there are a few with a little common sense
But Congress, the Senate, democrats and republicans are not it,
      “They are confused like a tranny disrespecting his dick
Looking at it every day contemplating if he will keep it,

      “Like fuck boy Joe Biden and his side ho’ Kamala Harris
One retarded but both trying to ride that nuclear missile dick,
      “Instead of handling major problems in Ohio to Flint
But their focus is losing ass Ukraine-motherfuckas need to quit,

      “Russia is already making those Zelensky bitches die slow
Face down in ruined cites until they are no mo’,
      “Understand no matter how much weapons or aid Joe send
Ukrainian dead bodies will corrode in a apocalyptic wind,

      “I’m surprised the Germans has not sent the US on their way
They destroyed your Nord Stream pipeline-nothing to say,
      “I guess not, so getting fucked by the United States will never stop
I understand a true pimp will always have their bottom bitch on lock,

      “And the United States need to leave China the fuck alone
Before shit ain’t on the shelf and motherfuckas are staying home,
      “Unemployed, wondering how their asses will eat
Liked the stressed out homeless on the street,

      “Personal-however the fuck it’s taken
But the United States need to stop its fuck shit and fakin,
      “Of their enemies and their allies
Because alone no one will hear no more of their bullshit lies”.
Written by CasketSharpe
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Ahavati
Tams
Tyrant of Words
United States 123awards
Joined 11th Apr 2015
Forum Posts: 16926

Thank you for your passionate entry, CasketSharpe.

Razzerleaf
Fire of Insight
United Kingdom 27awards
Joined 15th Sep 2019
Forum Posts: 525

2024.....Don’t build walls

It’s easy to understand the rough touch
of an ornate brick, the concrete shoes
that keep me fixed mixing mortar,
listening to my blood pump, drowning out
bird song and expectations.
 
Any good hoarder worth his pile of
newspapers will tell you, that once  
the walls are complete we start on the tunnels,  
everything bought from the ground up,  
must be saved for future reference.
 
Above the basic workings of a life not lived
I am a landfill site for Amazon trucks,
the crust that seagulls flock for, laughing
from their rooftops, the peck and cry of
missed understanding.
 
The 240 volts of a trialing lead
only feeds a kettle and a single hot plate
long enough for everything to deteriorate.
The soft words pull this pale thin body
from the earthquakes rubble, the rescue
teams take care of every brick,  
my mind is ready to stand up straight
face new days like a smiling clown,
with one damp match I'll burn the house down.
Written by Razzerleaf
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