DU Official NaPoWriMo Challenge

21/30

Palliation Eternal.  no

Finally figured out the WHY,
the dominant reason why in the past
THE TRUTH – the whole of it, uncloaked
never came out while excommunicated
painting a Pariah attempting to seal
in stone with Charges approval
seemingly also, with Creator’s consent ~

Mobs, once they get into a frenzy
a full head of steam, like Lemmings,
Unable to STOP even when facts
laid out upon their repast plates
refuse to accommodate
their fixed notions about what
transpired.
Changing their mind would publicly
out loud look like blasphemy!!
At this junction,
It’s much easier to keep up
Traditions of swayed crowded
crowds than, admit
judge, jury – error & acquit

21/30

[NaPoWriMo - 2025 Collection] Flowers from Thoughts

[ . . . ]

vii

Cultivation
                     Candula

Tangerine pompoms
 upon a verdant bed
as a fleeting pigment
 across the half light
of a morning sky

Sweet Marigold leaves
  create medicinal teas
breaking fast a fever
  by inducing sweat
to relieve the ache

Sacred ointments
 adorning skin ailments
Cleopatra used a rinse
 evoking the highlights
in her brunette hair

Unique bouquet of oil
 permeating ritual bathing
preparation for ceremonies
 sun god upon his throne
inhaling from the heavens

. . .

21 of 30

Labyrinth and Bullish rage


An irritating labyrinth,
not for its length or complexity,
but for the knowledge
That there will be an end.

Each twist and turn
or false misleading path,
just an other section
that is the root of annoyance.

For too long does it stretch out,
aggravating in its delay
merely delay of the inevitable
all for the sake of challenge.

The aim is with the destination
and he journey is a sideshow,
barely tolerated for the time
until the finale is reached.

It is more than enough
to make the placid angry,
their string overstretched
and bull-headed for a swift exit.

(Unique Words: 71)

21/30

NEWSFLASH!

Easter Monday,
twenty-first of fourth, twenty twenty-five;
the Pope has passed in Rome
hours after celebrating Jesus being alive.
The news reports are moving—
people from around the globe paying tribute
to a man they say was good and humble.
As I've been writing codes and puzzles,
my brain began to rumble.
So here we have a puzzle poem
for a city named Rome—
it's a bit of maths
that you can do at home.
Some words within this poem
contain a Roman numeral;
spot the numbers, total them,
and maybe wear a humeral!

21 of 30

Why

Watching fields of the highest cirrus,
Overrun with the dawn of light,
Throw cascading shadows,
Through branches,
To settle here,
Within the shelter of a broken night.
I rise and drift,
Across the bay,
Through the day.
Through the waves of willow flowers,
Beneath the scatterings of finches.
Through tide after tide,
Passage after passage.
Each blurring moves,
Bits of life,
This way and that.
Easing the pressure,
Easing the strife,
Making space and more,
Creating,
A place.
For pending life to dream,
To rise,
To cry.
And one day,
Maybe,
To whisper,
Why.

21 of 30


brace for it


words finally recede
like fog rolling across the water
as sun tickles the surface
glimmering flickers of hope
tugging at shallow breaths
teasing...

...more...
I know you've got it in you
come on
breathe deeper
fill those aching lungs
& get up
!!

the pillow lies rumpled & abandoned
sheets cooling
where the shape of me still lies
comfort left behind
it's the start that's the hardest
facing the unknown
...is a daily occurrence

some days...
I'm more weary than others
dreams still stabbing the backs of my eyes
pinprick remnants of internal scars
clawing through my mind
those are the moments...

when I stand in silent defiance...
shaking inside
& reach for courage
another day of starting over
...as always
once again...
the fight has just begun

21/30

Swinging Bridge

She swung across the lazy Licking River,
cables creaking pleasantly in tune
with careful steps of those who’d come to see her
before spring slipped away to humid June.
She’s seen the county’s youngins master fear
and bore the weight of those not from these parts.
She’s helped young love to meet and disappear
onto the far, green bank to join their hearts.
She swayed and groaned for all her blessed life,
but time and heavy footfalls weighed her down.
Then swirling wind left all of us with strife,
her planks and cables left to drift and drown.
    But yet, she shimmers through my memory
    when I need peace in childhood reverie.

21/30

To Nap Or Not To Nap

Naps are a curious thing
Sometimes they are very useful
Other times it feels very disorienting
I think this one was a bit of both
I definitely needed more rest
After the long night I had
But I also think i’m getting sick
And my body woke up feeling miserable
It doesn’t help that I fell asleep in the light
And woke up in the dark
That's an easy way to screw up my internal clock

#21/30

Friend Crush

Why do you have to be so cool?

Like that guy
 whose reputation arrived first
   when my cool friend from New York
     told me about her new crush.
He was instantly cool by association.
Unapproachable.
I was certain to say something stupid
 reveal myself as a poseur
   in the face of his intimidating
     punk
       silence.

But then we met,
and I got to know him through long chats
 backstage at high school musical rehearsals
and he was so very
    normal,
insecure, even – which made him cooler
 and I was unromantically smitten
   for the first time.
It didn’t matter that we were just friends;
 my desire to be in his intellectual presence,
   to be worthy of his keen attention,
     was just as intense as any lust.
Our conversations stimulated me
 to the depths of my psyche.

The problem with coolness
 is that sometimes we start
   to believe it.
His aloofness was so complete,
 our friendship didn’t seem to extend
   beyond those moments together.
Like he forgot I existed when I left the room.
As if our connection
– deep as we both said it was –
never really penetrated
his shell.

I just wanted to be part of your life

#21

Stardust

What dreams do the stars wish?

That they may not be alone?
That if they are brighter, then they’ll know love?
Do they shiver an unending sky?
Do they worry they’ll fade into the cold night?

What dreams brighten their aura?
And has that light touched the earth?
Tonight I will sit and bask under their hopeful glow

For the stars know what I’ve wished
I’ve wished upon them all
Falling, or sparkling,
Dim, or combusting

Where do the star’s dreams go?

21/30

Poetic-Dice-Roll

I

The only rule is: There are no rules.
Falling into shadows of reflection…
[There is an exception to every rule.]

A magical paradox

Rule #XXX=For every crazy – See
The crazy

&

Raise it to the roof, which will
be the fuck
on

Fire.  

II

This is a new game.

High Stakes Poetry Poker

To be played in:

Poetz Mansion.  Every one at the table
has poetic richez. Limitless

They are owners of castles and standing
stone structures.

III

I woke up this morning to bad news and good news
1. The bad news:

Wix is discontinuing their forum software, which
I used to create NetherWoodPoetry Forum; as of
May 15, my birthday, no one can post with it; and,
as of, September, it will be deleted.

Fuck..!

WTF..! (Check out WTF: A Poetry Collection.  
A poetry collection consisting of [bundles
of brevity for the modern mind].  

2. The good news:

I’m on the phone with a German engineer.

IV

I had…

I am rising through hemispheres of shamanic visions
Hallway of masks and fears
Rising and arisen

Savage dragon-madman-assassin-about-to-ascend-sand-dune-of-doom  

Mama always knew – Fresh out the womb: That I would be the
greatest man alive.

Tonight I watched the sunset and night wash
over the marsh, thinking
of

The stars.  A hush of electricity upon breath expelled well into a chill

What you think/what you feel

Is it real.  Yes

V

So check this out…

When I took acid in prison I saw a Mantis being operating a UFO
And somehow I knew…

It was: Me

WTF

(I also had a dream of a mantis being at my mom’s house.)

Like…

Creepy

In the shadows.  :)

I seriously pondered if this could
be, me, in some parallel universe
or afterlife.

Like.  WTF

Now, I wonder if it could be, me, perhaps,
by way of symbolism/metaphor, and, or,
perhaps, both, and, or…

More.  Indeed

Dubya Tee Eff.  In thee Effin eff

WTFUKINFUK

What could it all mean.  Chlorine dream

Tops of things
High
real
high

Where you could
maybe

Die

VI

I have had multiple dreams come true
For example
I knew
how

[They] – Were gonna come
I dreamed it
But
The dream
was
in

Symbols.  So.  You could only [Know] in 20/20

Then

In prison – I dreamed how it would happen
with

My son’s mother.  WTF

VII

How could a vision in prison
under
the influence
of a

Strange substance.  In a
cube of

8

Be so great as to: Tell the future
or

Tell your fortune.  But the
thing

about fortune, as, with art…

As with the muse, as with money…

Art is a bitch that never sleeps.

You gotta seize.  

Why should we be proud of being
silent proud.

Fuck that.  Be loud about it, whatever
the fuck it is.

You crazy bitch.

VIII

You wanna hear crazy…

I think I might be the reincarnation
of Frank L Baum.

I have my reasons.

Try tellin someone about that.

IX

I wanna be mayor.

She thinks I’m kiddin.

Pick up the card.

X

I’m mad too
at

Whoever

or

Who

Let all this
fall

Through

XI

But it’s ok

You gave your fuckin all
and that is fuckin all
anyone could
ever

ask.  As if they had the right to ask

You did what you thought
was right

Standing tall: Forthright

Walking the
fuckin

Talk.  And plus no one knows my soul
[Watchin time pass
through
the glass
of

My drop top rolls.  Hold your head].

***
Cipher
Poems
***

21/30

SICK DAY POEM

Was supposed to be a good week
Damn this thing called expectations
Now my throat hurts and I can’t speak
Universe needs supplications
Throw all I had to do outside
Where it’s too cold for me to be
Grunting coughing tossing turning
Drank some broth- now I need to pee
Nose is like a broken faucet
Been so long since I last had sleep
“I’m still learning how to love you”
Your kindness makes me want to weep

21/30

NaPo 2025 Day 21

Another acrostic
Beyond belief
Continuing this course.
Destroy the dilemma.
Explicit is the endeavor.
Fully focused.
Gather the goodness.
Harvesting some hope.
Identifying my intent.
Jargon is jumbled.
Keep keen.
Lost in languish.
Mind goes on a mend.
Nurture my neurons.
Overcome these ordeals.
Pencil and paper.
Quieting all quest.
Remaining relaxed.
Scripted something,
Threw it together.
Ultimately united lines.
Vined vocabulary.
Writing whispers.
Xylem and xenogenesis?
Zephyr zeros in.

[Unique Words 64]

21/30

Eighteen to Go

At the crossroads
Stands Lucifer
Looking for his prey
Robert Johnson long gone
His guitar thrown away
So who will be the one to come
To sell their soul today
And what with they demand of him
Before they go on their way
What talent will they need so badly
To sacrifice their very soul
To trust the Devil incarnate
To help them catch the foal