Poetry competition CLOSED 30th April 2025 11:19pm
A public vote has been requested
DU Official NaPoWriMo Challenge
#29
~of the origin-less eye of this (mael)storm
…that
centered over these flaring up
eyes… these eyes, frisked off
its scorching memories
its staring wide identities
made to shed away
the living daylights…
its unblinking long glares
& the deafening blares
unto
undulating empty blebs
of burst & burnt out
blinding blights
sucking wholly off its
deserted deathly life
all in a split-second
of a transcendence
a power(ing) outage
a calming conception
a stationed potential
within its atomic core
in pitch black darkness
a preform to everything- this
zygote in silence of brimless holds-
a yolking cosmos...
in hums, fusing as breaths
blankness become language
midnightly dawn a manuscript
the only moving
kinetic ever- this
origin-less l o v e
scripts YOU, in
a manifestation
this, forever
new now- a(s)
poetry
*unique words: 97
**posted late due to extended work & travel this eve & night
#30
~Nowness Newness Nothingness...
let you take me in in inner
in your whirlpooling pull
a cataclysmic kissing eating spree
in a deluge of your love my soul
يا روحي,~ ya roohi
digest destroy deconstruct me
in this your calling cosmic kill
a profound grinding in
dissolution I give in
wholly… in this
holiness of love
يا روحي,~ ya roohi
as I gravitate unto your benthic
bottomless depths such magnetic
as clumped up diminutive mincemeat
as brittle breaking bones to mere dusts
as a clouding up ashy greys of smokiness
unto a puzzling chaos ..
of an alternating
tight pleated held ropes
to freedom dreadlocks
a seeming eventual finality
a sheeted airiness in feltness
a plasmic brimless bump… of
a pull & push
is what is this self
in a selfless infinity...
as a droplet sun~ soul
in search of You
يا روحي,~ ya roohi
funneling down in a thinline passage
of a kohling in smudgy darkness, your
eye of a needle I enter in a coalesce
with within you.. I fuse anew
in this zeroing in
Sooniyam ~ சூனியம்
circling back
as~of~to
a point -
this one 'youme'
an eternity
يا روحي,~ ya roohi
*unique words: 115
~of the origin-less eye of this (mael)storm
…that
centered over these flaring up
eyes… these eyes, frisked off
its scorching memories
its staring wide identities
made to shed away
the living daylights…
its unblinking long glares
& the deafening blares
unto
undulating empty blebs
of burst & burnt out
blinding blights
sucking wholly off its
deserted deathly life
all in a split-second
of a transcendence
a power(ing) outage
a calming conception
a stationed potential
within its atomic core
in pitch black darkness
a preform to everything- this
zygote in silence of brimless holds-
a yolking cosmos...
in hums, fusing as breaths
blankness become language
midnightly dawn a manuscript
the only moving
kinetic ever- this
origin-less l o v e
scripts YOU, in
a manifestation
this, forever
new now- a(s)
poetry
*unique words: 97
**posted late due to extended work & travel this eve & night
#30
~Nowness Newness Nothingness...
let you take me in in inner
in your whirlpooling pull
a cataclysmic kissing eating spree
in a deluge of your love my soul
يا روحي,~ ya roohi
digest destroy deconstruct me
in this your calling cosmic kill
a profound grinding in
dissolution I give in
wholly… in this
holiness of love
يا روحي,~ ya roohi
as I gravitate unto your benthic
bottomless depths such magnetic
as clumped up diminutive mincemeat
as brittle breaking bones to mere dusts
as a clouding up ashy greys of smokiness
unto a puzzling chaos ..
of an alternating
tight pleated held ropes
to freedom dreadlocks
a seeming eventual finality
a sheeted airiness in feltness
a plasmic brimless bump… of
a pull & push
is what is this self
in a selfless infinity...
as a droplet sun~ soul
in search of You
يا روحي,~ ya roohi
funneling down in a thinline passage
of a kohling in smudgy darkness, your
eye of a needle I enter in a coalesce
with within you.. I fuse anew
in this zeroing in
Sooniyam ~ சூனியம்
circling back
as~of~to
a point -
this one 'youme'
an eternity
يا روحي,~ ya roohi
*unique words: 115
29/30
Pushing Through the Pain
The pain wraps around my head
Making me unable to do anything
Doing anything hurts but staying still does too
I just keep fidgeting
Hoping the pain goes away
Medicine, shower, rest, ice pack, water
Nothing seems to help
This one is really bad
Trying so hard not to use my brain
But also use it enough to distract from the pain
I’m so over getting migraines
I wish I knew what causes them for me
They seem random as hell
Pushing Through the Pain
The pain wraps around my head
Making me unable to do anything
Doing anything hurts but staying still does too
I just keep fidgeting
Hoping the pain goes away
Medicine, shower, rest, ice pack, water
Nothing seems to help
This one is really bad
Trying so hard not to use my brain
But also use it enough to distract from the pain
I’m so over getting migraines
I wish I knew what causes them for me
They seem random as hell
29/30
Sekret Machinez
I
Imagine: Your
Self
A dragon
flying
outside
of
A dragon
Enigma soaring
glory
Out of the
story
Of: The mystery
II
To the stars – To the stars
We mortals
Screamed
to
The portals
III
Imagine
The stars
as
Places
of
Reincarnation
for
The faces – Upon the stages
IV
Beings of light
around
Firelight – Discussions
of
Future functions
the
Function
of
The function
V
Best friends
til
The end. The souls
Said
VI
Message sent
where
Message went
VII
To be born
is like
light
being sworn
into
a storm
VIII
Time traveling
where
time
unravels
in
travels
of
Stars
IX
How far from the physical form
is it
Physically possible
to
Form. Further into
the
Formlessness
of
The storm
X
Becoming one
with
Sun
Moon
Stars
XI
Walking the flatline through time
Musical seasons
&
Reasons
of
Rhyme
***
Cipher
Poems
***
Sekret Machinez
I
Imagine: Your
Self
A dragon
flying
outside
of
A dragon
Enigma soaring
glory
Out of the
story
Of: The mystery
II
To the stars – To the stars
We mortals
Screamed
to
The portals
III
Imagine
The stars
as
Places
of
Reincarnation
for
The faces – Upon the stages
IV
Beings of light
around
Firelight – Discussions
of
Future functions
the
Function
of
The function
V
Best friends
til
The end. The souls
Said
VI
Message sent
where
Message went
VII
To be born
is like
light
being sworn
into
a storm
VIII
Time traveling
where
time
unravels
in
travels
of
Stars
IX
How far from the physical form
is it
Physically possible
to
Form. Further into
the
Formlessness
of
The storm
X
Becoming one
with
Sun
Moon
Stars
XI
Walking the flatline through time
Musical seasons
&
Reasons
of
Rhyme
***
Cipher
Poems
***
29/30
To the Ends
maybe in the end is where we reach clarity
anger
depression
whatever emotions may be
perhaps it’s the fire we feel burning through
the resolution
and resolve
the final door when we find the key
I won’t pretend to know
or at least guess the answer
all I understand is that…
accepting one’s fate may be the hardest thing
because all we can do is watch
when others take on a journey to the stars
after they receive their wings
62 Unique Words
80 Total
To the Ends
maybe in the end is where we reach clarity
anger
depression
whatever emotions may be
perhaps it’s the fire we feel burning through
the resolution
and resolve
the final door when we find the key
I won’t pretend to know
or at least guess the answer
all I understand is that…
accepting one’s fate may be the hardest thing
because all we can do is watch
when others take on a journey to the stars
after they receive their wings
62 Unique Words
80 Total
29/30
NaPo 2025 Day 29
Allison the asshole
bought Bianca
Cecilia’s cracked cookie.
Daphne’s door
engineered by Erica
found Fiona
giving Gabrielle
hell from Helena.
Instinctually Iris
jilted Jenna.
Killing Kari’s knowledge.
Little Laura
managed Miriam.
Not needing Nicole
Olivia opened
Penelope’s purse.
Quinn quit
Rose’s research
station, so Shelly
told Tiana
Uma’s unicorn
vandalized Veronica’s viola.
Wendy went with
Xavia x-raying
Yesenia's yoyo yearning
Zoe’s zones.
[Unique Words 62]
NaPo 2025 Day 29
Allison the asshole
bought Bianca
Cecilia’s cracked cookie.
Daphne’s door
engineered by Erica
found Fiona
giving Gabrielle
hell from Helena.
Instinctually Iris
jilted Jenna.
Killing Kari’s knowledge.
Little Laura
managed Miriam.
Not needing Nicole
Olivia opened
Penelope’s purse.
Quinn quit
Rose’s research
station, so Shelly
told Tiana
Uma’s unicorn
vandalized Veronica’s viola.
Wendy went with
Xavia x-raying
Yesenia's yoyo yearning
Zoe’s zones.
[Unique Words 62]
29/30
PROMPT
Al can't write a poem
Without a prompt
Of some sort
You cannot program
Human whimsy
Whatever that may mean
Still I wonder if
Deep in the metaphyical spaces
Of my unique existence
I am simply the result
Of algorithms stacking up
Upon each other
A prompt at the beginning
And if I made any difference at all
Perhaps one at the end
PROMPT
Al can't write a poem
Without a prompt
Of some sort
You cannot program
Human whimsy
Whatever that may mean
Still I wonder if
Deep in the metaphyical spaces
Of my unique existence
I am simply the result
Of algorithms stacking up
Upon each other
A prompt at the beginning
And if I made any difference at all
Perhaps one at the end
29/30
[NaPo2025—Reasonable Rhymes]
courtship 101—eros
in the garden
❝A first love is something that lasts forever
in your heart. It's something that marks you.❞—Elodie Yung
ADAM
"bone of my bones, thou fairest of the fair,
come let me finger-prune thy ebon hair;
for lovely, thou art lovelier than the dawn,
as comely, thou art comlier than the fawn."
EVE
"thou flatterest me, sweet bones from which i'm honed,
your woman, lest my man should be alone;
flesh of thy flesh, thou oak of lebanon,
to heaven and earth a perfect specimen."
ADAM
"what is that wine thou brewest in thy mouth,
whose kisses tempt my fantasy to sprout?
no pomegranate pouts fresh like thy lips,
whose music juices earth and sky eclipse."
EVE
"so adamant thou art, as even i'm eve,
who've lost nor mom nor dad but stil l cleave,
as thou to me, thus i to thee, my love:
breathe me thy breath, that being i well might be..."
ADAM
"...a better man, that living i might live,
impress of God, full stewardship to give,
of my dominion over all the earth,
to benefit, and thus to value worth.
"but only thou art fairer than the brook,
the apple of my adam's eyes that look,
as if into the very soul of thine,
whose mystery is both human and divine!"
EVE
"when in the cool of evening Abba comes,
let's sing our song of jasmintine blossoms,
that in our congress, He our hearts may bless,
and we may of our love for Him confess.
"ask Him how all the birds that thou hast named,
so intimate, and yet so unashamed,
find such fleet flutes for chamber music suites,
and where bright beasts find their orchestral treats."
ADAM
"learning we learn, when Abba comes to town,
Whose wisdom rules because He wears the crown.
divine design, the cosmos miracle,
all life God-breathed: o how incredible!
"and thou art mine!"
EVE
"and i am thine alone."
ADAM
"and i am thine!"
EVE
"and thou art mine alone."
ADAM
"bone of my bones."
EVE
"flesh also of thy flesh."
ADAM
"forever mine,
blooming so sweet and fresh!"
© Copyright 2025 April 29
by Clyve A. Bowen♫
UWC 192
29/30
Heinous Handiwork
I never knew what resided behind those lost and lonely eyes
It’s a state of yearning, constant through the seasons
I only ever saw those glasses
How unfortunate, I didn’t think twice before I let myself go
Like decayed leaves that get swept away in hurricane winds
I jumped head first into the storm
But I am sick and twisted
Never again
Not even my conscience is there to protect me
I silenced my inhibitions for you
I gave up virtues and values
I mistook myself for someone else in my bedroom mirror
I know what resides behind her perturbed and desperate eyes
You monster
Look at your heinous handiwork.
Heinous Handiwork
I never knew what resided behind those lost and lonely eyes
It’s a state of yearning, constant through the seasons
I only ever saw those glasses
How unfortunate, I didn’t think twice before I let myself go
Like decayed leaves that get swept away in hurricane winds
I jumped head first into the storm
But I am sick and twisted
Never again
Not even my conscience is there to protect me
I silenced my inhibitions for you
I gave up virtues and values
I mistook myself for someone else in my bedroom mirror
I know what resides behind her perturbed and desperate eyes
You monster
Look at your heinous handiwork.
30/30
CYCLE OF LIFE
Is this it? I wondered … is this the end?
The flowers begged to differ arguing their case
with beauty, vitality and heaven-sent aromas
Birds chirped in with their two-pennyworth
and hidden spirits sort of sniggered
and went about their secret business
A novice new-beginning reminded me
she would not exist if it were not for
the guts and gore of old has-beens … ending …
So I said my ending gives birth to your beginning
without me you wouldn’t, couldn’t exist …
you owe me!
And she replied in an unmissable tone
I was the one who died last time round
so you could be a new-beginning …
… and what did you do with it all?
CYCLE OF LIFE
Is this it? I wondered … is this the end?
The flowers begged to differ arguing their case
with beauty, vitality and heaven-sent aromas
Birds chirped in with their two-pennyworth
and hidden spirits sort of sniggered
and went about their secret business
A novice new-beginning reminded me
she would not exist if it were not for
the guts and gore of old has-beens … ending …
So I said my ending gives birth to your beginning
without me you wouldn’t, couldn’t exist …
you owe me!
And she replied in an unmissable tone
I was the one who died last time round
so you could be a new-beginning …
… and what did you do with it all?
30/30
Coadunate
During my wee early hours
only din of an Owl
keeping company
meditating on what (my)
life means with respect
to interconnectedness
of all life everywhere
not just earth
I thought maybe purpose
perhaps kindness
leaving a legacy behind
tracing a mark
in cosmic dust
after zazen
and much consideration
I’ve decided the meaning
of everything, everyone
is Universal Love:
to do, to think, to feel
to be
Coadunate
During my wee early hours
only din of an Owl
keeping company
meditating on what (my)
life means with respect
to interconnectedness
of all life everywhere
not just earth
I thought maybe purpose
perhaps kindness
leaving a legacy behind
tracing a mark
in cosmic dust
after zazen
and much consideration
I’ve decided the meaning
of everything, everyone
is Universal Love:
to do, to think, to feel
to be
30 of 30
bellows
it really is all about the journey
never an easy path
so I offer you my hand
however...remember
I only hold you steady
just long enough
as find your own footing
& I'll be right here
if you have any need
...should your feet falter
but I won't carry or direct
this is your path
only you can walk it
no grasp holding you back
unwavering
I'm always near
waiting for you to take that leap
carrying you out of reach
because, girl...
I so look forward to the day
when you spread those flaming wings
...& fly
leaving this ashy ground behind
...soar!
high above the choking smoke
its density still haunting your senses
breathe deeply...
fresh air filling your aching lungs
& I can't wait
to see the glow in your blazing eyes
as you gaze at your own reflection
glimpsed in the mirror of waters below
& finally recognize...
you are a force of nature...
unstoppable
just look at all those ash piles in your wake
the latest outgrown remains
when chains could no longer claim you
& you chose instead to burn them off
a conflagration of your own making
of healing & rebirth
each manifestation another lesson learned
don't look back
just keep going
I'll be fanning your flames
reminding you...
you are a Phoenix
now go on, girl
set the sky on fire!
bellows
it really is all about the journey
never an easy path
so I offer you my hand
however...remember
I only hold you steady
just long enough
as find your own footing
& I'll be right here
if you have any need
...should your feet falter
but I won't carry or direct
this is your path
only you can walk it
no grasp holding you back
unwavering
I'm always near
waiting for you to take that leap
carrying you out of reach
because, girl...
I so look forward to the day
when you spread those flaming wings
...& fly
leaving this ashy ground behind
...soar!
high above the choking smoke
its density still haunting your senses
breathe deeply...
fresh air filling your aching lungs
& I can't wait
to see the glow in your blazing eyes
as you gaze at your own reflection
glimpsed in the mirror of waters below
& finally recognize...
you are a force of nature...
unstoppable
just look at all those ash piles in your wake
the latest outgrown remains
when chains could no longer claim you
& you chose instead to burn them off
a conflagration of your own making
of healing & rebirth
each manifestation another lesson learned
don't look back
just keep going
I'll be fanning your flames
reminding you...
you are a Phoenix
now go on, girl
set the sky on fire!
29/30
Mountain Climbing
Mountains climb skyward
Valleys between so low
Spirits soar like an eagle above
Or slither like a snake in the grass
Realize that nothing lasts forever
If you are at the peak, enjoy the view
Knowing tomorrow may be different
If you feel down and out
Look upwards to the sky
See the majestic mountains
And prepare yourself to climb
Always at your own speed
30/30
Rainbows
Looking out I saw a rainbow
So beautiful in the sky
Left by departing rain clouds
As they said their last goodbye
Such lovely colors displayed
So vibrant and so bright
Had me wondering if they might be there
After a wet and stormy night
Like the aurora in the Northern sky
But hidden from the view
The silly things you think of
When there's nothing much to do
(Double posting due to a cluster of migraines)
Mountain Climbing
Mountains climb skyward
Valleys between so low
Spirits soar like an eagle above
Or slither like a snake in the grass
Realize that nothing lasts forever
If you are at the peak, enjoy the view
Knowing tomorrow may be different
If you feel down and out
Look upwards to the sky
See the majestic mountains
And prepare yourself to climb
Always at your own speed
30/30
Rainbows
Looking out I saw a rainbow
So beautiful in the sky
Left by departing rain clouds
As they said their last goodbye
Such lovely colors displayed
So vibrant and so bright
Had me wondering if they might be there
After a wet and stormy night
Like the aurora in the Northern sky
But hidden from the view
The silly things you think of
When there's nothing much to do
(Double posting due to a cluster of migraines)
30/30
the end and the beginning
The end of a journey has begun
With stillness in my heart, I reflect
where I've been and where I am going
To express myself through art has become my life
The people here are my light
forever altered by your beautiful souls
Silently grieving an era over too soon
With no regrets, I go forward
lamenting some choices, but wiser
Some friendships formed
those not meant to be fell away
Either because I was too immature for them
Or fate had other plans
I've heard it said people are in your life for a season
This saying has always made me sad
Begrudgingly, I let go
But they remain in my heart
linger in my soul
This is a place of forever
where I never let go
In my diary of memories
where your faces shine
And I realize you each are a reflection of God
the end and the beginning
The end of a journey has begun
With stillness in my heart, I reflect
where I've been and where I am going
To express myself through art has become my life
The people here are my light
forever altered by your beautiful souls
Silently grieving an era over too soon
With no regrets, I go forward
lamenting some choices, but wiser
Some friendships formed
those not meant to be fell away
Either because I was too immature for them
Or fate had other plans
I've heard it said people are in your life for a season
This saying has always made me sad
Begrudgingly, I let go
But they remain in my heart
linger in my soul
This is a place of forever
where I never let go
In my diary of memories
where your faces shine
And I realize you each are a reflection of God
30/30
To the Deep...With love
Deep Underground Poetry
is adorned with gems:
diamonds, rubies, emeralds;
they are the stardrops
that melted, melded and molded
into stellar poets;
with their exquisite, emotive and evocative ink
they touched the hearts of many.
The Deep- a society of
intellectuals, artists ,seers ,
and misfits like me-
an amalgam of colorful diversity
of culture, customs ,thoughts
united in one spirit
called the Deep Under Ground Poetry.
The halls echoed with their
laughter and tears,
insanity and fears,
silence...incantations-
a rhapsody soothing to the soul.
This is a constellation in itself;
an inner sanctum ,a refuge-
for all the stars shimmering
in the stillness
of this ever beautifully chaotic
realm.
In gratitude forever
to the Webmiss,
for creating and curating
this wonderful place,
we call home.
Will miss the Deep
from my heart's core.
Saluting the journey
through the stars
to the stars;
Forever yours
-a poetic soul
To the Deep...With love
Deep Underground Poetry
is adorned with gems:
diamonds, rubies, emeralds;
they are the stardrops
that melted, melded and molded
into stellar poets;
with their exquisite, emotive and evocative ink
they touched the hearts of many.
The Deep- a society of
intellectuals, artists ,seers ,
and misfits like me-
an amalgam of colorful diversity
of culture, customs ,thoughts
united in one spirit
called the Deep Under Ground Poetry.
The halls echoed with their
laughter and tears,
insanity and fears,
silence...incantations-
a rhapsody soothing to the soul.
This is a constellation in itself;
an inner sanctum ,a refuge-
for all the stars shimmering
in the stillness
of this ever beautifully chaotic
realm.
In gratitude forever
to the Webmiss,
for creating and curating
this wonderful place,
we call home.
Will miss the Deep
from my heart's core.
Saluting the journey
through the stars
to the stars;
Forever yours
-a poetic soul
30/30
Nooooooooo!
The end is nigh
Or some poetic
nonsense
Of that ilk
maybe the end
Is a new beginning
I’m not buying
That theory
I detest endings
Especially When
I’m not
The ender
Just another
Piece of life
I’m supposed to
Tolerate
Well, I don’t accept it
As a matter of fact
It’s now number
800,759,001
On my list of
Things I hate
Endings bite
Thank you
One and ALL
For a magical
Time
57 uw
Nooooooooo!
The end is nigh
Or some poetic
nonsense
Of that ilk
maybe the end
Is a new beginning
I’m not buying
That theory
I detest endings
Especially When
I’m not
The ender
Just another
Piece of life
I’m supposed to
Tolerate
Well, I don’t accept it
As a matter of fact
It’s now number
800,759,001
On my list of
Things I hate
Endings bite
Thank you
One and ALL
For a magical
Time
57 uw
