Poetry Competition Ends 30th April 2025 11:19pm
DU Official NaPoWriMo Challenge
3/30
Monsters Under My Bed
As a child
I’d hide
from head to toe
under the blankets
to avoid capture
from the hideous beast
who lived under my bed
during the night
As an adult
I hide from
head to toe
from the hideous beast
who lives in my soul
Holy water
Has no use in
This war I wage
It only serves
To fuel the anguish
Exocision by prayer
Becomes babble
Oh, just give over
The monster won.
52 uw
Monsters Under My Bed
As a child
I’d hide
from head to toe
under the blankets
to avoid capture
from the hideous beast
who lived under my bed
during the night
As an adult
I hide from
head to toe
from the hideous beast
who lives in my soul
Holy water
Has no use in
This war I wage
It only serves
To fuel the anguish
Exocision by prayer
Becomes babble
Oh, just give over
The monster won.
52 uw
3/30
Spring Grass
bare feet in the cool, Spring grass;
face upturned, slowly embracing
bright-lipped, sunward kisses
to the afternoon sky;
too alone, I think of you
I wait….
your voice drifts in fluidity,
“watch for the ant piles”
recklessly, I’ve done no such thing
even when I really should have;
their bites are ferocious
for such small, busy creatures;
still, I lay here ever so quietly,
daring them to find my toes
I listen…
wind blows through budding leaves
begging for purchase, finding none;
sun catchers delightedly swing
with bells tied to their crystal centers;
my heart sings along with them
as they cast rainbows
across my skin
Spring Grass
bare feet in the cool, Spring grass;
face upturned, slowly embracing
bright-lipped, sunward kisses
to the afternoon sky;
too alone, I think of you
I wait….
your voice drifts in fluidity,
“watch for the ant piles”
recklessly, I’ve done no such thing
even when I really should have;
their bites are ferocious
for such small, busy creatures;
still, I lay here ever so quietly,
daring them to find my toes
I listen…
wind blows through budding leaves
begging for purchase, finding none;
sun catchers delightedly swing
with bells tied to their crystal centers;
my heart sings along with them
as they cast rainbows
across my skin
3/30
Cloudless
Lunar noon with a daytime moon
Sunsets soon
No walls within this room
Canopy of stars seem so afar
Sky swiped with a hand
Full of illuminated splinters
A tomb to consume
A womb weaved to loom
Ominous omens and broken oaths
Opened up and left ajar
My pride in hand
Jewel of those ruminated flitters
Twilight of the nightlife
Quiet and silent
Both in their most
Duel peace and disease
Letting the young learn by fault
Non-listened lessons
Living moments of atonement
Yet bypassing the message
Cloudless
Lunar noon with a daytime moon
Sunsets soon
No walls within this room
Canopy of stars seem so afar
Sky swiped with a hand
Full of illuminated splinters
A tomb to consume
A womb weaved to loom
Ominous omens and broken oaths
Opened up and left ajar
My pride in hand
Jewel of those ruminated flitters
Twilight of the nightlife
Quiet and silent
Both in their most
Duel peace and disease
Letting the young learn by fault
Non-listened lessons
Living moments of atonement
Yet bypassing the message
3/30
NATURE VS HUMAN NATURE
Another day preparing tax returns
And wishing they were poems
I’ll deduct my chicken’s egg song
From the pain of modern life
Close my eyes / imagine growth
Of my yard’s redwoods, not my IRA
Invest in my kids’ future’ with small bills
For handpicked miner’s lettuce
I’m oft a dumbstruck passenger
On trains that take me boring places
But I drive myself to you tonight
To fill my brain with inspiration
And be held one way or another
Against mundane humanity
NATURE VS HUMAN NATURE
Another day preparing tax returns
And wishing they were poems
I’ll deduct my chicken’s egg song
From the pain of modern life
Close my eyes / imagine growth
Of my yard’s redwoods, not my IRA
Invest in my kids’ future’ with small bills
For handpicked miner’s lettuce
I’m oft a dumbstruck passenger
On trains that take me boring places
But I drive myself to you tonight
To fill my brain with inspiration
And be held one way or another
Against mundane humanity
#3/30
Me, Part Two: Melville Street
memories
pinned loosely to
a place
and therefore to
a time
nestled briefly between
first sentience and the meddling of adults
Random still frames:
feral preschoolers
grass stains, sidewalk scrapes
raw hotdog snack on the tire swing
wood bugs under rocks
the soft lap of Mrs. Cookie
Joey on his trike mostly naked
Best friend Rowan, my hero
wilder than her fiery hair
she spat at my mother!
She confided that she was a boy
and I nodded
yeah, of course
And that boy
with the French name –
Did he actually kiss me?
All I remember is
my tiny heart
exploding with
unaccustomed
tenderness
Me, Part Two: Melville Street
memories
pinned loosely to
a place
and therefore to
a time
nestled briefly between
first sentience and the meddling of adults
Random still frames:
feral preschoolers
grass stains, sidewalk scrapes
raw hotdog snack on the tire swing
wood bugs under rocks
the soft lap of Mrs. Cookie
Joey on his trike mostly naked
Best friend Rowan, my hero
wilder than her fiery hair
she spat at my mother!
She confided that she was a boy
and I nodded
yeah, of course
And that boy
with the French name –
Did he actually kiss me?
All I remember is
my tiny heart
exploding with
unaccustomed
tenderness
03/30
immemorial
Although she rarely talked about her past
I’ve always known she was a quiet survivor.
Born on Molokai, Hawaii, back in the days
where people called it “Leper Island”
she eventually grew up in Pearl City, Oahu.
She used to tell me how it felt when the
Japanese bombed the island – similar to
earthquakes in California.
Teachers had everyone scuttling beneath
their wooden school desks.
I came to learn more about her past
when she got much older – waiting
impatiently for herself to pass.
immemorial
Although she rarely talked about her past
I’ve always known she was a quiet survivor.
Born on Molokai, Hawaii, back in the days
where people called it “Leper Island”
she eventually grew up in Pearl City, Oahu.
She used to tell me how it felt when the
Japanese bombed the island – similar to
earthquakes in California.
Teachers had everyone scuttling beneath
their wooden school desks.
I came to learn more about her past
when she got much older – waiting
impatiently for herself to pass.
03/30
[NaPo2025—Random Eloquence]
tear-torn
❝While therefore your tears flow, let a due proportion be tears of joy.
Yet, take the bitter cup with both hands and sit down to your repast.
You will soon learn a secret: that there is sweetness at the bottom.❞—Adoniram Judson
dark tears have torn my cheeks. the evidence
reigns starkly on the throne, where once my smile
sparkled with consummate preeminence,
for i was joyful but a little while,
while yet your heart belonged to no one else.
fresh tears have torn the parchment i have spread,
to paint, with fervent inks from lyric wells,
sweet praise for you, now drenched and left for dead.
deadlines crisscross my bitter, tear-torn heart,
once an eternal fountain of full joy.
how envious for my death, hope's counterpart,
dismay, swells up, all reason to destroy!
destroy these tears and spare my tear-torn breast;
ope your embracing arms, once full of me,
that I may be, again, under arrest,
incarcerated by your filigree.
your filigree, my tear-torn future dreams,
to occupy a renaissance of peace,
that when love's flames shall blaze to full extremes,
i might find restitution and release.
© Copyright 2025 March 22
by Clyve A. Bowen♫
UWC 105
3/30
[NaPoWriMo - 2025 Collection] Flowers from Thoughts
[ . . . ]
II
Narcissus: Wild Daffodils
Cracked soil, rising
through frozen blades
of grass, heart of yellow
with six petaled guardians
in titanium white emerge
A fallen star, trapped
by vanity’s reflective trick
a gaze caught within a pond
—betwixt destiny’s
fatal grasp
Or, a yearning spirit, gazing
upon a sister’s countenance
a fair maiden, taken
by Death, ne’er again
present in flesh
O! Beautiful youth, cursed
from birth, and a tale of two
stories bequeathing the choice
of which to believe
as unerring truth
. . .
[NaPoWriMo - 2025 Collection] Flowers from Thoughts
[ . . . ]
II
Narcissus: Wild Daffodils
Cracked soil, rising
through frozen blades
of grass, heart of yellow
with six petaled guardians
in titanium white emerge
A fallen star, trapped
by vanity’s reflective trick
a gaze caught within a pond
—betwixt destiny’s
fatal grasp
Or, a yearning spirit, gazing
upon a sister’s countenance
a fair maiden, taken
by Death, ne’er again
present in flesh
O! Beautiful youth, cursed
from birth, and a tale of two
stories bequeathing the choice
of which to believe
as unerring truth
. . .
3/30
Pretender
It takes some time to master decorum
Social queues and all that jazz
It takes a great deal of control
Meanwhile on the inside
It can be quiet the mess
I’m a sweater
Like hairy but also a person who sweats a lot
But in situations that require intense interactions
I can feel my body heat turn up when I’m on the spot
It’s taken years for me to work this resting “ick” face
Learning how to:
Respond without a stutter
Or not trip over my words
I had to learn to listen
And not just be a pretender
Because it takes me time to process it
Understand it
And reply
79 Unique Words
111 Total
Pretender
It takes some time to master decorum
Social queues and all that jazz
It takes a great deal of control
Meanwhile on the inside
It can be quiet the mess
I’m a sweater
Like hairy but also a person who sweats a lot
But in situations that require intense interactions
I can feel my body heat turn up when I’m on the spot
It’s taken years for me to work this resting “ick” face
Learning how to:
Respond without a stutter
Or not trip over my words
I had to learn to listen
And not just be a pretender
Because it takes me time to process it
Understand it
And reply
79 Unique Words
111 Total
3 of 30
Will He? Won’t He
A frequent question by me primarily posed
“Why can’t you take better care of yourself?”
It just takes a bit of willpower.”
in me, there is no scarcity of willpower
a will bent on my destruction
a powerful desires to surrender to failure
nefarious captor of my spirit
that would rather see me dead
than change for the better
I pause to consider,
What would I lose with my demise?
the chance to see my daughter as a mother
to cradle new life in my grandfatherly arms
the privilege to have stimulating conversation;
to sing in harmony; to laugh uproariously
with my adult children
in there beautiful Alto and Bass tones
What will I miss when to ash transformed
too much beauty, too much wonder,
too much magic, too much art
too much poetry left to write
and to be separated from my ever-present friend
my life-long companion music
would tear my soul asunder
Unique words: 103
Will He? Won’t He
A frequent question by me primarily posed
“Why can’t you take better care of yourself?”
It just takes a bit of willpower.”
in me, there is no scarcity of willpower
a will bent on my destruction
a powerful desires to surrender to failure
nefarious captor of my spirit
that would rather see me dead
than change for the better
I pause to consider,
What would I lose with my demise?
the chance to see my daughter as a mother
to cradle new life in my grandfatherly arms
the privilege to have stimulating conversation;
to sing in harmony; to laugh uproariously
with my adult children
in there beautiful Alto and Bass tones
What will I miss when to ash transformed
too much beauty, too much wonder,
too much magic, too much art
too much poetry left to write
and to be separated from my ever-present friend
my life-long companion music
would tear my soul asunder
Unique words: 103
03/30
NaPo 2025 Day 3
All of a sudden, there you are.
Barely catching the corner of my eye.
Caught, nonetheless.
Drowning behind curiosity.
Ever believe in love at first sight?
For a moment, I did.
Geared into reality.
Heartbreak settles.
I am left with the moment standing still.
Just know that I would live a lifetime with you.
Kindly return my heart.
Lost in your eyes still
many times over.
New to this feeling
Obviously, I am beside myself.
Put yourself in my position.
Quite possibly the first time a human being
ransacks my thoughts.
Silent, I admire you across the room.
Tell me how you managed to capture me,
Unlike others, you are unique.
Vast distance between you and them.
Wishing I could get to know you.
‘Xcept you are with a girl.
Yin and yang, it seems.
Zzzz, good night to the man of dreams.
[Unique Word 102]
NaPo 2025 Day 3
All of a sudden, there you are.
Barely catching the corner of my eye.
Caught, nonetheless.
Drowning behind curiosity.
Ever believe in love at first sight?
For a moment, I did.
Geared into reality.
Heartbreak settles.
I am left with the moment standing still.
Just know that I would live a lifetime with you.
Kindly return my heart.
Lost in your eyes still
many times over.
New to this feeling
Obviously, I am beside myself.
Put yourself in my position.
Quite possibly the first time a human being
ransacks my thoughts.
Silent, I admire you across the room.
Tell me how you managed to capture me,
Unlike others, you are unique.
Vast distance between you and them.
Wishing I could get to know you.
‘Xcept you are with a girl.
Yin and yang, it seems.
Zzzz, good night to the man of dreams.
[Unique Word 102]
4/30
ANCESTORS
Three generations from now, some will say
“I have a machine for an ancestor.
My great-grandfather was First Nation Chipped
but his parents, siblings, not chipped! — how weird”
and confusing tech with progress, live dead
The Analogues, still able to think for themselves, be creative, play
do something truly original, confessed a
rage against transhumanism … dismissed and told to ‘get a grip’ …
yet secretly admired — lived in hiding — and were feared:
“we will not let our curves be flattened” they said
In the end, every civilisation must die
better try to live more vitally - not ask why.
ANCESTORS
Three generations from now, some will say
“I have a machine for an ancestor.
My great-grandfather was First Nation Chipped
but his parents, siblings, not chipped! — how weird”
and confusing tech with progress, live dead
The Analogues, still able to think for themselves, be creative, play
do something truly original, confessed a
rage against transhumanism … dismissed and told to ‘get a grip’ …
yet secretly admired — lived in hiding — and were feared:
“we will not let our curves be flattened” they said
In the end, every civilisation must die
better try to live more vitally - not ask why.
4/30
Eerie Waltz Into Starry Night
Henna crafted hand, sacred
geometries of healing, stylistic
opulence, apple of sophistication’s
eye, elemental alchemy, wild
wisdom vibrating dangerous
ferocity, wild child oneness with
lightning in eyes-lightening.
Wondrous light of revelations
and secrets.
Heart patterned eclipse, the
shadow of you
Upon
these shadows.
Your hand – In my hand
Moving apart
Feet meet dark become stars: Stark
Now you know everything
and know
My heart.
Pulling you close, arms extend
Cosmos
Oriented compass rose
Wonderland – Across shifting sands
Hands inside of hands
Drifting
Eternal demands
Patterns
Of
Scatter. Formations of human civilizations.
All of this
We
Understand.
Stances of silken milky ways, seas, sand.
Dipping
You
over tipping
points
of
white light enlightenment, just right
Points of light
Pulling you close, heart
to
Heart: Compass rose
Finding
The art
of
turning
into
a
returning
to
Stars
Eerie Waltz Into Starry Night
Henna crafted hand, sacred
geometries of healing, stylistic
opulence, apple of sophistication’s
eye, elemental alchemy, wild
wisdom vibrating dangerous
ferocity, wild child oneness with
lightning in eyes-lightening.
Wondrous light of revelations
and secrets.
Heart patterned eclipse, the
shadow of you
Upon
these shadows.
Your hand – In my hand
Moving apart
Feet meet dark become stars: Stark
Now you know everything
and know
My heart.
Pulling you close, arms extend
Cosmos
Oriented compass rose
Wonderland – Across shifting sands
Hands inside of hands
Drifting
Eternal demands
Patterns
Of
Scatter. Formations of human civilizations.
All of this
We
Understand.
Stances of silken milky ways, seas, sand.
Dipping
You
over tipping
points
of
white light enlightenment, just right
Points of light
Pulling you close, heart
to
Heart: Compass rose
Finding
The art
of
turning
into
a
returning
to
Stars
4 of 30
simple perfection
I felt so beautifully alive
blanket over shoulders
sitting criss-cross applesauce
beneath a diamond-studded velvet sky
as smoke drifted upward in twisting tendrils
flames dancing wild attendance
marshmallows burning to a delicious crisp
sizzling on the end of sharpened sticks
& my father's laughter
as we all gathered around the campfire
mom's embarrassed giggles
teased out of her habitual cautious demeanor
{only daddy held that power}
it signaled freedom
a moment slipped outside the lines of time
days of crazed innocent play
going without pause until we dropped
scent of lake baked into our skin
as we stilled with dinner in our laps
& calm prevailed
nights like these...of simple quiet
are held forever in my memories
when it comes to true beauty
...it's the little things
simple perfection
I felt so beautifully alive
blanket over shoulders
sitting criss-cross applesauce
beneath a diamond-studded velvet sky
as smoke drifted upward in twisting tendrils
flames dancing wild attendance
marshmallows burning to a delicious crisp
sizzling on the end of sharpened sticks
& my father's laughter
as we all gathered around the campfire
mom's embarrassed giggles
teased out of her habitual cautious demeanor
{only daddy held that power}
it signaled freedom
a moment slipped outside the lines of time
days of crazed innocent play
going without pause until we dropped
scent of lake baked into our skin
as we stilled with dinner in our laps
& calm prevailed
nights like these...of simple quiet
are held forever in my memories
when it comes to true beauty
...it's the little things
4 of 30
Perpetual Seeker
“I don’t know” is the challenge
a return to childlike innocence
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out” is challenge accepted
awakens the inner detective, researcher, puzzle solver
“To the best of my knowledge” is the reward
praying that my curiosity hunger is never satisfied,
that my thirst for knowledge never abates
that my honest lack of education
will forever supersede my pride
knowing everything, where’s the fun in that
Unique words: 51
Perpetual Seeker
“I don’t know” is the challenge
a return to childlike innocence
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out” is challenge accepted
awakens the inner detective, researcher, puzzle solver
“To the best of my knowledge” is the reward
praying that my curiosity hunger is never satisfied,
that my thirst for knowledge never abates
that my honest lack of education
will forever supersede my pride
knowing everything, where’s the fun in that
Unique words: 51
