Poetry Competition Ends 30th April 2025 10:19pm
DU Official NaPoWriMo Challenge
13 of 30
My Hardware Life - 001
Ding, ding!
customer drives in
to pickup heavy, bulky,
generally unwieldy
already purchased merchandise
I manage the muscle men
tasked with hefting
countless, fifty-pound bags of cement
twenty-five-pound bags of rock salt
and lighter bags of stuff for gardening
redwood compost, potting soil, additive to condition your dirt
one must be careful to carry the pungent manures,
steer and more odiferous chicken at arm's-length
so you don't risk spending
the rest of your day
wearing a super smelly shirt
Unique word count: 68
My Hardware Life - 001
Ding, ding!
customer drives in
to pickup heavy, bulky,
generally unwieldy
already purchased merchandise
I manage the muscle men
tasked with hefting
countless, fifty-pound bags of cement
twenty-five-pound bags of rock salt
and lighter bags of stuff for gardening
redwood compost, potting soil, additive to condition your dirt
one must be careful to carry the pungent manures,
steer and more odiferous chicken at arm's-length
so you don't risk spending
the rest of your day
wearing a super smelly shirt
Unique word count: 68
13/30
Girl Dinner
The freezer blasts her face as she surveys her meager options –
a handful of frozen French fries, the bag more ice and crumbs than fries;
a five-dollar pizza she bought last month that she doesn’t even like;
a pint of Ben and Jerry’s finest American Treat: Half Baked;
half a bag of broccoli, some carrots, and some peas.
Her pantry holds some cereal (she’s sure she has some milk),
some peanut butter granola bars, and a can of beans.
The fridge holds milk (she knew she was right) and half a dozen eggs,
a can of sprite, a bottle of wine, and pickled pearly onions.
The day has been too long, the night is fastening its locks
and she does not trust her own brain at night, or in the dark.
She grabs a couple sleeping pills and the can of sprite.
Girl Dinner
The freezer blasts her face as she surveys her meager options –
a handful of frozen French fries, the bag more ice and crumbs than fries;
a five-dollar pizza she bought last month that she doesn’t even like;
a pint of Ben and Jerry’s finest American Treat: Half Baked;
half a bag of broccoli, some carrots, and some peas.
Her pantry holds some cereal (she’s sure she has some milk),
some peanut butter granola bars, and a can of beans.
The fridge holds milk (she knew she was right) and half a dozen eggs,
a can of sprite, a bottle of wine, and pickled pearly onions.
The day has been too long, the night is fastening its locks
and she does not trust her own brain at night, or in the dark.
She grabs a couple sleeping pills and the can of sprite.
#13
expansion
Where is the border
To what you think you deserve?
Can you see it or is it off in the distance?
Is it barren or does it bear fruit?
Is it quiet if you listen?
How far can you see if you look forward?
It is dark just as my mind is?
Do you shrink or rise when you image a time
All your thoughts have manifested?
I wish blue skies on your clouded mind
And that you desires will reap expansion
56 u/w
expansion
Where is the border
To what you think you deserve?
Can you see it or is it off in the distance?
Is it barren or does it bear fruit?
Is it quiet if you listen?
How far can you see if you look forward?
It is dark just as my mind is?
Do you shrink or rise when you image a time
All your thoughts have manifested?
I wish blue skies on your clouded mind
And that you desires will reap expansion
56 u/w
13/30
[NaPo2025—Premeditated Paeans]
the wisdom of the april bloom
❝There is no glory in star or blossom till looked upon by a loving
eye; There is no fragrance in April breezes till breathed with joy
as they wander by.❞—William Cullen Bryant
wild apple trees fuchsia the ground,
as honeybees their joyful sounds
sweet incantations spread around
the leaf ears of the grass that there abounds.
a yellow-throated warbler pipes
his ostinato shrill and ripe,
seducing all the air with bribes
to harken as his tongue its chant inscribes.
a brilliant monarch butterfly
lands in his carriage from on high,
and, drinking up a dewdrop dry,
melts like a sigh into the azure sky.
comes an intruder with his stick,
stirring the fell blooms with his quick
backstrokes, that make the buzz bees sick
to death, to leave their april-spun lip-slick.
then comes a siren round the bend
the stung boy's charter to defend,
for all the bees did condescend,
to salvage nectar from their cruel friend.
the wisdom of the april bloom
a fool makes of the winter gloom,
as flora gives spring fauna room
to populate earth with his baby boom.
© Copyright 2025 April 13
by Clyve A. Bowen♫
UWC 109
13/30
GARDEN OF EDEN POEM
I know what is wrong with humans you said
A problem that exists inside our heads
The notion everything is not enough
The need to fill up a hole with some stuff
Air and the earth and the water and all
Sustain us and yet we now find them dull
Forgotten we’re animals like the rest
A quest to find things in which to invest
I don’t want to matter more than a tree
Mountains exhibit a fine way to be
To flow like the water, flicker like flame
So much came before, I’m looking to blame
It comes on quick like a panic attack
In a world abundant how can I lack?
GARDEN OF EDEN POEM
I know what is wrong with humans you said
A problem that exists inside our heads
The notion everything is not enough
The need to fill up a hole with some stuff
Air and the earth and the water and all
Sustain us and yet we now find them dull
Forgotten we’re animals like the rest
A quest to find things in which to invest
I don’t want to matter more than a tree
Mountains exhibit a fine way to be
To flow like the water, flicker like flame
So much came before, I’m looking to blame
It comes on quick like a panic attack
In a world abundant how can I lack?
13/30
Man ipulation
My house is not a home
My body is not my own
Sure, I cry
But these tears were once yours
Take them back.
..
I take them back
Words, only words til your heart
Starts to read again
Pain, only hurts when the bleeding barges in
Go home, but do not run here
Do not come
Knock
Knock
Knocking
At my sorry door
It does not open
For this fragile frame breaks down flimsily fast
They forget I’m no angel or magician
I feel it all
Sensitively small
My wrists are gonna snap
True,
I could fix it if I cared
But
If you care, well.. that’s what keeps
My little body locked in.
Man ipulation
My house is not a home
My body is not my own
Sure, I cry
But these tears were once yours
Take them back.
..
I take them back
Words, only words til your heart
Starts to read again
Pain, only hurts when the bleeding barges in
Go home, but do not run here
Do not come
Knock
Knock
Knocking
At my sorry door
It does not open
For this fragile frame breaks down flimsily fast
They forget I’m no angel or magician
I feel it all
Sensitively small
My wrists are gonna snap
True,
I could fix it if I cared
But
If you care, well.. that’s what keeps
My little body locked in.
14/30
CIRCUMSTANTIAL
The sun arose quite early, then
the clouds came back, it rained again
a storm was brewing harshly when
the cat was yowling in the wind —
she couldn’t find her daily zen
And all the trouble I can think
which cause a massive global stink
and push most people to the brink
are largely bouncing in our mind
forgetting what’s the vital link:
“I am as God created me”
and that’s a truth that sets us free.
CIRCUMSTANTIAL
The sun arose quite early, then
the clouds came back, it rained again
a storm was brewing harshly when
the cat was yowling in the wind —
she couldn’t find her daily zen
And all the trouble I can think
which cause a massive global stink
and push most people to the brink
are largely bouncing in our mind
forgetting what’s the vital link:
“I am as God created me”
and that’s a truth that sets us free.
14 of 30
Well, that socks
I forgot to pack socks.
Of all the things to not include
Thankfully, it’s just socks.
Though, still,
My feet are not pleased
That the foot sheaths
And heel guardians
Are absent without leave.
And thankfully
here, on holiday,
It is mostly paved promenades
or sandy beaches
to casually idly stroll along;
No cross mountain careening
Or gravel laden paths.
Still, I forgot to pack socks,
It’s the principle that peeves me off.
(Unique Words: 57)
Well, that socks
I forgot to pack socks.
Of all the things to not include
Thankfully, it’s just socks.
Though, still,
My feet are not pleased
That the foot sheaths
And heel guardians
Are absent without leave.
And thankfully
here, on holiday,
It is mostly paved promenades
or sandy beaches
to casually idly stroll along;
No cross mountain careening
Or gravel laden paths.
Still, I forgot to pack socks,
It’s the principle that peeves me off.
(Unique Words: 57)
14/30
of constellations and cosmos
celestial cinders casting
crystalline candescent confetti,
confessing their cravings for
carefree colourful cosmos-
whose corolla and calyx dancing
on choreography of the conjurers;
captivating the earthy constellations
with their colossal cerulean chaos;
cascading with a calm cadence
to caress those crusty creatures-
but
they already carry a covenant
to be the companions of earth...
a coveted chimerical chemistry
between the celestial and the carnal,
yet
cannot carve their
charismatic calligraphy
on the crescent of
kismet
of constellations and cosmos
celestial cinders casting
crystalline candescent confetti,
confessing their cravings for
carefree colourful cosmos-
whose corolla and calyx dancing
on choreography of the conjurers;
captivating the earthy constellations
with their colossal cerulean chaos;
cascading with a calm cadence
to caress those crusty creatures-
but
they already carry a covenant
to be the companions of earth...
a coveted chimerical chemistry
between the celestial and the carnal,
yet
cannot carve their
charismatic calligraphy
on the crescent of
kismet
14/30
light years
entertaining the thoughts that surface
my mind watches them emerge like starbursts
illuminating me with ideas
brightening my day as the sun rises
not to outshine her but to shine with
little epiphanies of feeling blend with them
My muse is fickle, however
will take note if I don't listen
she whispers to another poet
so I release the words out into the world
and watch them soar
out and up
and then the slow hum as listening minds respond
perhaps inspired writing something magical
a supernova of feeling bursting in the galaxies
blooming with color for all to see
the words then come here where they travel
Maybe many light-years away to different civilizations
where they turn the verses over in their minds
and transmit a reply over the aether waves
together, we channel these replies every day
Communicating via satellite
and telepathically
echo dot, dot, dot I'm aware and listening
light years
entertaining the thoughts that surface
my mind watches them emerge like starbursts
illuminating me with ideas
brightening my day as the sun rises
not to outshine her but to shine with
little epiphanies of feeling blend with them
My muse is fickle, however
will take note if I don't listen
she whispers to another poet
so I release the words out into the world
and watch them soar
out and up
and then the slow hum as listening minds respond
perhaps inspired writing something magical
a supernova of feeling bursting in the galaxies
blooming with color for all to see
the words then come here where they travel
Maybe many light-years away to different civilizations
where they turn the verses over in their minds
and transmit a reply over the aether waves
together, we channel these replies every day
Communicating via satellite
and telepathically
echo dot, dot, dot I'm aware and listening
14/30
Spider Senses a Tingling
In a fairly large Magellanic Cloud
more light years away than
I have fingers and toes to calculate
who am I not to postulate
a constellation, emulate
my favorite arachnid!
Why not! a Spider Constellation
embedded within a Nebula,
named Tarantula
in the 1750’s?
How do You suppose Explorers
came to the decision of naming?
Was it careless fright upon
a spider’s delight to see
the human fright
in a panic light, tagged
constellation the biggest
bad ass eight-legged
might?
No one will truly ever know
How come Constellations
become nomenclature’d
Spider Senses a Tingling
In a fairly large Magellanic Cloud
more light years away than
I have fingers and toes to calculate
who am I not to postulate
a constellation, emulate
my favorite arachnid!
Why not! a Spider Constellation
embedded within a Nebula,
named Tarantula
in the 1750’s?
How do You suppose Explorers
came to the decision of naming?
Was it careless fright upon
a spider’s delight to see
the human fright
in a panic light, tagged
constellation the biggest
bad ass eight-legged
might?
No one will truly ever know
How come Constellations
become nomenclature’d
13/30
Teaching
I never thought
Of becoming a teacher
Teaching was not part
Of my dream
It never crossed my mind
That I would be teaching
Children one day
I was a dreamer
As a kid, I dreamed
Of becoming a lawyer
A dream that will never be fulfilled
And will remain a dream
I still remember telling my father
What I wanted to be when I grow up
When he asked us about our dreams
I was still in grade two then
But he told me I should take up nursing
My dream was crushed that day
And I never became a nurse
Because of some circumstances
Our batch was the last
To have the NI exam that would
Qualify us for scholarship in college
But the result was withheld and we weren't able to take up a bachelor's degree course
It was released later
After the first semester
When all of us had already enrolled in a two year course
I enrolled in Midwifery and opted to finish it
I graduated with flying colors
And passed the board exam at number 14
My parents were proud of my achievement
I became a professional at 18
And had my first job as a rural health midwife at 19 under contract of service
At twenty I was married
The rest of my classmates shifted
To four year courses pursuing their dreams
When our contract was finished
I enrolled again and took up education
I was a Center of Excellence scholar
For four years a privelege I enjoyed
While studying at the University
That's how I became a teacher
And since then I have come to love my profession despite the many stresses it gives
14/30
Graduation Day
Our school held it's graduation today
A happy occasion for the pupils
And their parents
And for the teachers as well
After 10 months of school days
We can now take a brake from school work
A break that we all look forward to
But I'm not done with my school reports yet
I hope to finish it in a week's time
Some of us will go on short vacation
I and my husband will go on travel
On the 28th for health check up
And short visit to our home in the city
And our son will come with us
Usually we stay for a month in the city
But this time we only stay for ten days
As its midterm elections
In this part of the world
And we have to be back
Before May 12
Today we went to the houses of the graduates after the ceremony
On invitation and had a feast
We were all full
I had to decline the rest
It was a successful event despite the rain
Double posting due to school activity yesterday and today
Teaching
I never thought
Of becoming a teacher
Teaching was not part
Of my dream
It never crossed my mind
That I would be teaching
Children one day
I was a dreamer
As a kid, I dreamed
Of becoming a lawyer
A dream that will never be fulfilled
And will remain a dream
I still remember telling my father
What I wanted to be when I grow up
When he asked us about our dreams
I was still in grade two then
But he told me I should take up nursing
My dream was crushed that day
And I never became a nurse
Because of some circumstances
Our batch was the last
To have the NI exam that would
Qualify us for scholarship in college
But the result was withheld and we weren't able to take up a bachelor's degree course
It was released later
After the first semester
When all of us had already enrolled in a two year course
I enrolled in Midwifery and opted to finish it
I graduated with flying colors
And passed the board exam at number 14
My parents were proud of my achievement
I became a professional at 18
And had my first job as a rural health midwife at 19 under contract of service
At twenty I was married
The rest of my classmates shifted
To four year courses pursuing their dreams
When our contract was finished
I enrolled again and took up education
I was a Center of Excellence scholar
For four years a privelege I enjoyed
While studying at the University
That's how I became a teacher
And since then I have come to love my profession despite the many stresses it gives
14/30
Graduation Day
Our school held it's graduation today
A happy occasion for the pupils
And their parents
And for the teachers as well
After 10 months of school days
We can now take a brake from school work
A break that we all look forward to
But I'm not done with my school reports yet
I hope to finish it in a week's time
Some of us will go on short vacation
I and my husband will go on travel
On the 28th for health check up
And short visit to our home in the city
And our son will come with us
Usually we stay for a month in the city
But this time we only stay for ten days
As its midterm elections
In this part of the world
And we have to be back
Before May 12
Today we went to the houses of the graduates after the ceremony
On invitation and had a feast
We were all full
I had to decline the rest
It was a successful event despite the rain
Double posting due to school activity yesterday and today
14/30
Tired and Cold
I'm cold
And sad
And tired
I don't have the brain power to work
Yet I'm here
Pushing through the noise and chaos
I really don't want to be here
I just want to sleep
Better yet, get a good night's sleep
Haven't had that in a while
I don't know what my problem is
I'm exhausted
Some days I just don't want to function
Some days it's hard to care about anything
I'd rather be laying in bed under a blanket watching a show or movie or something
Tired and Cold
I'm cold
And sad
And tired
I don't have the brain power to work
Yet I'm here
Pushing through the noise and chaos
I really don't want to be here
I just want to sleep
Better yet, get a good night's sleep
Haven't had that in a while
I don't know what my problem is
I'm exhausted
Some days I just don't want to function
Some days it's hard to care about anything
I'd rather be laying in bed under a blanket watching a show or movie or something
14/30
Blooms
I close my eyes
to see the sharp
color of each flower
Each bloom representing
Those whom I’ve loved
And lost along the way
Intoxicating fragrances
Lures me farther along
This path of beauty
Allowing me to let go
Of all earthly bindings
And shed the pain
Rich in abundance
For the first time
I have no cares
The worry attached
Cut loose my bonds
My only job, to love
55 uw
Blooms
I close my eyes
to see the sharp
color of each flower
Each bloom representing
Those whom I’ve loved
And lost along the way
Intoxicating fragrances
Lures me farther along
This path of beauty
Allowing me to let go
Of all earthly bindings
And shed the pain
Rich in abundance
For the first time
I have no cares
The worry attached
Cut loose my bonds
My only job, to love
55 uw
#14/30
The Land of Stuck
I moan far too much
about being stuck.
Stuck in writer’s block.
Stuck in expectations.
Stuck in fear of rejection.
Stuck has become
a mighty comfortable place,
requiring
nothing.
In the Land of Stuck, I don’t have to
contend with comparison or judgement.
I don’t have to worry about the possibility
of my words having real power.
I don’t have to lose the people
who can’t see me.
I don’t have to get better at my craft,
because it serves no purpose.
Now my Values are getting impatient
with the Land of Stuck.
Courage and Growth are poking me with firebrands.
Creativity and Curiosity are tickling me with possibility.
Love and Friendship are whispering
that my people will stay.
Authenticity stands over me,
arms folded,
eyes rolling,
saying, “Enough already!
This place is bullshit.
Look at those mountains!
Put on your billy-goat boots
and let’s start climbing.”
The Land of Stuck
I moan far too much
about being stuck.
Stuck in writer’s block.
Stuck in expectations.
Stuck in fear of rejection.
Stuck has become
a mighty comfortable place,
requiring
nothing.
In the Land of Stuck, I don’t have to
contend with comparison or judgement.
I don’t have to worry about the possibility
of my words having real power.
I don’t have to lose the people
who can’t see me.
I don’t have to get better at my craft,
because it serves no purpose.
Now my Values are getting impatient
with the Land of Stuck.
Courage and Growth are poking me with firebrands.
Creativity and Curiosity are tickling me with possibility.
Love and Friendship are whispering
that my people will stay.
Authenticity stands over me,
arms folded,
eyes rolling,
saying, “Enough already!
This place is bullshit.
Look at those mountains!
Put on your billy-goat boots
and let’s start climbing.”
