Poetry competition CLOSED 7th April 2024 7:12am
WINNER
Anonymous
Anonymous
RUNNERS-UP:
Isgyppie_
and Anne-Ri999
Prisoner
Rew
Forum Posts: 549
Fire of Insight
15
Joined 30th Sep 2022 Forum Posts: 549
Sentences from a Prison
They fuck you up your Ma and Pa
and mine did a killer job on me,
with their frantic need to seem bourgeois
stuffed me full of inhibitions, see?
They imprisoned me inside my head
with their injunctions on public act
with nervous Ma " Oh, they'll cut me dead! "
" If you " to me " don't behave, with tact..."
My mother " Come away don't speak with him
or them or those or her don't skip be still
be quiet, I'll smack, (she never did) but looks can kill...
Be sure to say please and thank you
but be quiet till spoken too, mind your P's & Q's
don't fidget, keep your hands away from..." as I grew
I became withdrawn and knew I'd been
imprisoned in my mind. I doubt I'm the only one
my parents were imprisoned too.
and mine did a killer job on me,
with their frantic need to seem bourgeois
stuffed me full of inhibitions, see?
They imprisoned me inside my head
with their injunctions on public act
with nervous Ma " Oh, they'll cut me dead! "
" If you " to me " don't behave, with tact..."
My mother " Come away don't speak with him
or them or those or her don't skip be still
be quiet, I'll smack, (she never did) but looks can kill...
Be sure to say please and thank you
but be quiet till spoken too, mind your P's & Q's
don't fidget, keep your hands away from..." as I grew
I became withdrawn and knew I'd been
imprisoned in my mind. I doubt I'm the only one
my parents were imprisoned too.
Written by Rew
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Grace
IDryad
Forum Posts: 16942
IDryad
Tyrant of Words
126
Joined 25th Aug 2011Forum Posts: 16942
Thank you for your entry Rew
On the Lessons of Pacing
You can take five steps
if you know how to do it
one-two-three-four
pivot-on-five.
Go back the other way
pivot again
the opposite way
this time
so the equilibrium
there in your ears
does not swirl
and throw you into
a world of vertigo.
Keep going.
Look out the tiny slit
of frosted glass window
so high up at six stories
not even the shadow
of a passing cloud is cast
but once the beating shadow
of a bird balancing omen
on the outside ledge
the shadows fluttering
like the bird-god Tarkenesia
playing a squeeze-box
and you think
how appropriate
squeezed, squeezed within a box
with no hot water
but knowing ramen will soften
in time
even in cold water
and on Thursdays
the minimum-wage woman
will come by with her cart
and brown paper sacks
with commissary
and visit a bit.
She will be the one
you will fantasize of
someday being able to thank
just for her kindness
the how-you-doing-today
MR D and this ain't forever you know.
And how the clang of doors
and the shuffle and squeak
of Bob Barker clad feet
moving by and the next-door cell
sobbing during the night
muffled so you know
he wants no one to hear
or see, the eyes peeking in
to violate your privacy.
And when
it is finally late enough
with nothing left but regret
you pace again
no clocks to tell you
time to sleep, just darkness,
just the body clock
running down, springs relaxing
from knots of anxiety
and you think of Jesus
and how he promised
in the way of the prisoner,
Yea, though you make up
your bed in hell,
even there I am with you, Big Dawg.
Got your back.
We can do this.
Chinga su madre
if you know how to do it
one-two-three-four
pivot-on-five.
Go back the other way
pivot again
the opposite way
this time
so the equilibrium
there in your ears
does not swirl
and throw you into
a world of vertigo.
Keep going.
Look out the tiny slit
of frosted glass window
so high up at six stories
not even the shadow
of a passing cloud is cast
but once the beating shadow
of a bird balancing omen
on the outside ledge
the shadows fluttering
like the bird-god Tarkenesia
playing a squeeze-box
and you think
how appropriate
squeezed, squeezed within a box
with no hot water
but knowing ramen will soften
in time
even in cold water
and on Thursdays
the minimum-wage woman
will come by with her cart
and brown paper sacks
with commissary
and visit a bit.
She will be the one
you will fantasize of
someday being able to thank
just for her kindness
the how-you-doing-today
MR D and this ain't forever you know.
And how the clang of doors
and the shuffle and squeak
of Bob Barker clad feet
moving by and the next-door cell
sobbing during the night
muffled so you know
he wants no one to hear
or see, the eyes peeking in
to violate your privacy.
And when
it is finally late enough
with nothing left but regret
you pace again
no clocks to tell you
time to sleep, just darkness,
just the body clock
running down, springs relaxing
from knots of anxiety
and you think of Jesus
and how he promised
in the way of the prisoner,
Yea, though you make up
your bed in hell,
even there I am with you, Big Dawg.
Got your back.
We can do this.
Chinga su madre
Written by Mrd
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Grace
IDryad
Forum Posts: 16942
IDryad
Tyrant of Words
126
Joined 25th Aug 2011Forum Posts: 16942
Mrd thank you for your entry
Rew
Forum Posts: 549
Fire of Insight
15
Joined 30th Sep 2022 Forum Posts: 549
I'm Wintering?
I'm wintering from frigid air
my bloodless bones cold air can't bear,
north winds were whistling ' get inside '
I did, thanks, and got my hide fried
now I hibernate, like the bears.
I've three square, warmth, but not much care
a window through which I can stare,
these six months I shall so abide
I'm wintering...
An' I guess it was only fair
my boots worn thin my clothes threadbare,
soon, there's Christmas dinner, besides
who cares, as Hobo, I got tried...
and jailed, as I pace my small lair
I'm wintering?
my bloodless bones cold air can't bear,
north winds were whistling ' get inside '
I did, thanks, and got my hide fried
now I hibernate, like the bears.
I've three square, warmth, but not much care
a window through which I can stare,
these six months I shall so abide
I'm wintering...
An' I guess it was only fair
my boots worn thin my clothes threadbare,
soon, there's Christmas dinner, besides
who cares, as Hobo, I got tried...
and jailed, as I pace my small lair
I'm wintering?
Written by Rew
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Grace
IDryad
Forum Posts: 16942
IDryad
Tyrant of Words
126
Joined 25th Aug 2011Forum Posts: 16942
Thank you for your entry Rew
His Prisoner
I am trapped in his prison
And I’m almost passing out
Because I haven’t been sleeping
I’ve been living on stimulants
And I haven’t been eating
Meals replaced with cigarettes
Muscles cramping from straining
To continue their daily tasks
While I hide in the dark
And face my own nightmares
I choose to lose sleep and to starve
If it means I can work through this
Fucked up scenario in my head
That speaks in double standards
Confusion questioning my sanity
He manipulates with profanity
Preaching a verbal beating
His lecture meant to demean me
Fists of temper strike the walls
Screams left echoing down the hall
This is where I belong
I am left in his chains
They were there all along
Thought he had changed his ways
But the fucking truth is a cyclone
Cannot lean in its wake
I can see it so clearly
And I’ll have to be brave
If I’m to stray from his side
My fears doused in the day
When the lights are all bright
And he cannot dim or downplay
But I can’t even sneak away
Live in fear of his wake
Live in fear in his cage
He doesn’t even have a key
I stay very well trained
So scared to try to speak up
Scared he was right all along
Self-ashamed, I will look away
Please don’t look into my eyes
Please save me from his lies
Please tell me he is lying
Shake my cage, wake me up
From this nightmare I’m living
Free me from his chains
Free me from this craze
Can’t think straight now for days
Written by nightbirdblue
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Grace
IDryad
Forum Posts: 16942
IDryad
Tyrant of Words
126
Joined 25th Aug 2011Forum Posts: 16942
nightbirdblue thank you for your entry
Anne-Ri999
Forum Posts: 214
Thought Provoker
5
Joined 16th Aug 2023 Forum Posts: 214
Related submission no longer exists.
Grace
IDryad
Forum Posts: 16942
IDryad
Tyrant of Words
126
Joined 25th Aug 2011Forum Posts: 16942
Thank you Anne for your entry
NANCY_RDZ_STORIES
WRITER LYRICIST ARTIST
Forum Posts: 191
WRITER LYRICIST ARTIST
Fire of Insight
5
Joined 9th Jan 2020Forum Posts: 191
Connotation
Forum Posts: 34
Fire of Insight
1
Joined 22nd Apr 2023Forum Posts: 34
Prison Sentence
Prison sentence, vicinity.
Pictured premise, exhibiting.
Given entrance, envisioning.
Hidden spectrum, captivity.
Simple hellion, duplicity.
Kismet destined, activity.
Signals tempted, considering.
Wicked hexes, invisibly.
Mingled methods, proclivity.
Symbol pendants, divinity.
Inner essence, asymmetry.
Sinner semblance, instinctively.
Wishes beckoned, affinity.
Riddled guesses, epitome
Bigger questions, delinquency.
Quickened tenses, stability.
Civil sentience, fictitiously.
Pitted trespass, divisively.
Hinted selfish, nobility.
Cyclic sexes, soliciting.
Pickled penchant, predictably.
Ridden reckless, rapidity.
Riches reckoned, persistently.
Bitter bettor, ability.
Bicker blended, indignantly.
Killer ethics, antipathy.
Fixture tested, utility.
Kinship exits, resistantly.
Wisdom nexus, epiphany.
Scripture stresses, facsimile.
Written blessings, continuing.
Witness vexes, humility.
Pictured premise, exhibiting.
Given entrance, envisioning.
Hidden spectrum, captivity.
Simple hellion, duplicity.
Kismet destined, activity.
Signals tempted, considering.
Wicked hexes, invisibly.
Mingled methods, proclivity.
Symbol pendants, divinity.
Inner essence, asymmetry.
Sinner semblance, instinctively.
Wishes beckoned, affinity.
Riddled guesses, epitome
Bigger questions, delinquency.
Quickened tenses, stability.
Civil sentience, fictitiously.
Pitted trespass, divisively.
Hinted selfish, nobility.
Cyclic sexes, soliciting.
Pickled penchant, predictably.
Ridden reckless, rapidity.
Riches reckoned, persistently.
Bitter bettor, ability.
Bicker blended, indignantly.
Killer ethics, antipathy.
Fixture tested, utility.
Kinship exits, resistantly.
Wisdom nexus, epiphany.
Scripture stresses, facsimile.
Written blessings, continuing.
Witness vexes, humility.
Written by Connotation
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Connotation
Forum Posts: 34
Fire of Insight
1
Joined 22nd Apr 2023Forum Posts: 34
Absent-Minded
Absent-minded citizens.
Cash-enlightened images.
Fashioned bias bigoted.
Mass divided, in effect.
Passing by is ignorance.
Trapped inside oblivion.
Laughter likens sinfulness.
Actors eye the interest.
Basking pride, inquisitive.
Crafted, guided, inner self.
Mask disguises this intent.
Hacks decided visages.
Masters try their wickedness.
Knack devises wits, contempt.
Pact, implying hinderance.
Actions liven disrespect.
Apt design of hypocrites.
Practiced violence, hidden steps.
Passions, lies, indifferent.
Plastic pilots, simple sense.
After time, it limited.
Asking why can trigger them.
Waxing rights, revisited.
Active sides that interject.
Madness, fighting, fits perplex.
Drastic, binding discontent.
Brash denying, pitiless.
Sacrifice forgiveness then.
Capture cry for innocence.
Factor Christ, considerate.
Passive, kind significance.
Ration life, deliverance.
Cash-enlightened images.
Fashioned bias bigoted.
Mass divided, in effect.
Passing by is ignorance.
Trapped inside oblivion.
Laughter likens sinfulness.
Actors eye the interest.
Basking pride, inquisitive.
Crafted, guided, inner self.
Mask disguises this intent.
Hacks decided visages.
Masters try their wickedness.
Knack devises wits, contempt.
Pact, implying hinderance.
Actions liven disrespect.
Apt design of hypocrites.
Practiced violence, hidden steps.
Passions, lies, indifferent.
Plastic pilots, simple sense.
After time, it limited.
Asking why can trigger them.
Waxing rights, revisited.
Active sides that interject.
Madness, fighting, fits perplex.
Drastic, binding discontent.
Brash denying, pitiless.
Sacrifice forgiveness then.
Capture cry for innocence.
Factor Christ, considerate.
Passive, kind significance.
Ration life, deliverance.
Written by Connotation
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Grace
IDryad
Forum Posts: 16942
IDryad
Tyrant of Words
126
Joined 25th Aug 2011Forum Posts: 16942
Connotation and NANCY_RDZ_STORIES thank you for your participation
faithmairee
Faith Elizabeth Brigham
Forum Posts: 210
Faith Elizabeth Brigham
Tyrant of Words
12
Joined 29th Aug 2012 Forum Posts: 210
OCD
When OCD is in my head
It fills me up
With so much dread
And thoughts of disastrous
Events appearing real
The "what if's" come
It's fear that I feel
What's best for now
Is some needed distraction
To help me focus
On something of value
A slow deep breath
Makes for a productive start
The door was shut
But now it's open
To help me move in
A different direction
A glance up at the sky
A bird flying high
Can help me to get
Alright in my mind
It fills me up
With so much dread
And thoughts of disastrous
Events appearing real
The "what if's" come
It's fear that I feel
What's best for now
Is some needed distraction
To help me focus
On something of value
A slow deep breath
Makes for a productive start
The door was shut
But now it's open
To help me move in
A different direction
A glance up at the sky
A bird flying high
Can help me to get
Alright in my mind
Written by faithmairee
(Faith Elizabeth Brigham)
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