Poetry competition CLOSED 11th May 2019 9:48pm
WINNER
MadameLavender
MadameLavender
RUNNERS-UP:
ImperfectedStone
and wallyroo92
Page:
Pinkie Promise
Anonymous
Poetry Contest Description
Write about the first time you held somebody’s hand
This competition is about capturing a moment. I’m looking for a poem that tells a story.
Write about the first time you held somebody’s hand. Could be a lover, a new baby, a pensioner in a care home at work, a hobo on the street... tell a story.
Rules
• Must be a new write.
• Maximum of 2 entries (per human)
• Any length, just don’t go mad.
• Poetry, not prose.
• Please title your entry
• Audio / video welcomed.
• 2 weeks.
Good luck! 🤞🏻
Fox and Rabbit
I held your fingers between the beds,
underneath dress sheets we hid our heads
waiting on a snuffling sound,
from the room beside,
the howl of a hound.
You kissed my fingers and retracted quick,
I slid my hand under sheet quite slick,
we heard the footsteps where fingers had met,
my breath was fast, my eyes wet.
I knew if I made a noise she would find us fast,
for you, rabbit, my silence had to last,
I waited until the feet scurried next door,
I lifted the sheet from the carpeted floor.
I made the signal that only we knew,
on the thumb rested the middle fingers, two,
the other two pointed high into the air
I peeked out to check if your signal was there.
It was and again I lifted the sheet to your smile,
we joined hands again and were quiet a while,
safe in the knowledge we hadn't been found by the fox,
before night, under beds in Pajamas and socks.
Oh, Great-Grandad rabbit how you enriched my life,
with your actress and the Foxiest wife,
my Grandma, a woman with many a skill,
I love you with my soul, I always will.
I held your fingers between the beds,
underneath dress sheets we hid our heads
waiting on a snuffling sound,
from the room beside,
the howl of a hound.
You kissed my fingers and retracted quick,
I slid my hand under sheet quite slick,
we heard the footsteps where fingers had met,
my breath was fast, my eyes wet.
I knew if I made a noise she would find us fast,
for you, rabbit, my silence had to last,
I waited until the feet scurried next door,
I lifted the sheet from the carpeted floor.
I made the signal that only we knew,
on the thumb rested the middle fingers, two,
the other two pointed high into the air
I peeked out to check if your signal was there.
It was and again I lifted the sheet to your smile,
we joined hands again and were quiet a while,
safe in the knowledge we hadn't been found by the fox,
before night, under beds in Pajamas and socks.
Oh, Great-Grandad rabbit how you enriched my life,
with your actress and the Foxiest wife,
my Grandma, a woman with many a skill,
I love you with my soul, I always will.
Anonymous
Fantastic first entry. Thank you!
Related submission no longer exists.
Anonymous
Thanks for your entry a_failed_artist. Look forward to it, Macleod! 
Anonymous
Guys.... not on my comp please. Thanks.
I know Macleod was having a joke... we do that... It’s all good in the hood.
I know Macleod was having a joke... we do that... It’s all good in the hood.
Wedding Canopy
Rainbows, purest blue sky, June sun
all those we loved witnessed, as one
watched as I reached for your hand
You just bestowed my wedding band
and the glass was broken at your feet
Veil removed, smiling, our eyes meet
faces flushed with pride, summer heat
We were so young, so painfully shy
This was the first touch for you and me
You had to be sure this was to be
permissible for so many people to see
Your indecision stopped the ceremony
Even after our elders said it was fine
it was me who took your hand in mine
My manner assured, your smile content
As back down the aisle we finally went.
all those we loved witnessed, as one
watched as I reached for your hand
You just bestowed my wedding band
and the glass was broken at your feet
Veil removed, smiling, our eyes meet
faces flushed with pride, summer heat
We were so young, so painfully shy
This was the first touch for you and me
You had to be sure this was to be
permissible for so many people to see
Your indecision stopped the ceremony
Even after our elders said it was fine
it was me who took your hand in mine
My manner assured, your smile content
As back down the aisle we finally went.
Written by inechoingsilence
Go To Page
Everyone Had Cooties in 1973
Surely, there had never been a more
hateful woman
to teach the children, than
Old Mrs. Aalto…..her ruler
cracking, smacking
against her desk side, to silence
murmers, giggles, lest we be cracked
ourselves
by the dreaded wooden measuring stick.
Surely, our six-year old minds
grasped the concept of
“Cooties”
those imaginary,
invisible
contagious
germs
caught from the dirty kids,
the socially inept, and
anyone we disliked.
Surely, no one was safe from
the Cooties, unless…..
a sharp pinch on the bicep
was rendered—
the “shot”
to ward off the contagion, leaving
all to be immune…and skin bruised.
Surely, the girls lined up
and the boys lined up
for the walk to the busses,
after school, parallel children weaving
down hallways, Mrs. Aalto in lead.
Surely the boys became ruffians
in their line
as boys do, catching
the hawk-eyed glare of ever-sullen
Mrs. Aalto….
Surely, Mrs. Aalto pointed her ruler
at each boy—
“You there!
Take the hand of the girl next to you,
as punishment for your havoc!”
Surely, every girl cringed
as every boy
meekly took their hand, and surely
I reddened in shame
as Ronnie’s humiliated hand
unwillingly slithered into mine…
“Cootie boy
Dirty thing
Ronnie is the Cootie King!”
Surely, I was his Cootie Queen
marching
in silent punishment pageantry, burning
embarrassment, burning hatred
for Evil Mrs. Aalto.
Surely I washed his sweaty
oily
Cooties
from my palm, a thousand times
after I rode the bus home, and
surely, decades gone by,
I imagine that Ronnie has forgotten,
but I have not.
Surely, there had never been a more
hateful woman
to teach the children, than
Old Mrs. Aalto…..her ruler
cracking, smacking
against her desk side, to silence
murmers, giggles, lest we be cracked
ourselves
by the dreaded wooden measuring stick.
Surely, our six-year old minds
grasped the concept of
“Cooties”
those imaginary,
invisible
contagious
germs
caught from the dirty kids,
the socially inept, and
anyone we disliked.
Surely, no one was safe from
the Cooties, unless…..
a sharp pinch on the bicep
was rendered—
the “shot”
to ward off the contagion, leaving
all to be immune…and skin bruised.
Surely, the girls lined up
and the boys lined up
for the walk to the busses,
after school, parallel children weaving
down hallways, Mrs. Aalto in lead.
Surely the boys became ruffians
in their line
as boys do, catching
the hawk-eyed glare of ever-sullen
Mrs. Aalto….
Surely, Mrs. Aalto pointed her ruler
at each boy—
“You there!
Take the hand of the girl next to you,
as punishment for your havoc!”
Surely, every girl cringed
as every boy
meekly took their hand, and surely
I reddened in shame
as Ronnie’s humiliated hand
unwillingly slithered into mine…
“Cootie boy
Dirty thing
Ronnie is the Cootie King!”
Surely, I was his Cootie Queen
marching
in silent punishment pageantry, burning
embarrassment, burning hatred
for Evil Mrs. Aalto.
Surely I washed his sweaty
oily
Cooties
from my palm, a thousand times
after I rode the bus home, and
surely, decades gone by,
I imagine that Ronnie has forgotten,
but I have not.
Anonymous
Related submission no longer exists.
Magnetism
April, 1991
Her and I went to the movies to watch a thriller,
And though we had sworn we were friends,
For some reason we held hands,
Sometimes in the suspense got closer and closer
But never kissed.
I can still remember the magnetism between us,
It was palpable,
It was magical,
But her and I weeks before swore we were friends,
We were worlds away
And I made the journey to go see her
Because deep down inside,
I loved her.
But in the theater,
Maybe it was the thrill of the film,
Our hearts racing to be so close,
As our fingers intertwined,
I felt my soul come alive,
But we strived to keep as friends.
We walked home and holding hands.
Teen love feels like the ultimate emotion
Like the world stops and there is nothing else,
But life got in the way and we went our separate way,
As friends.
It was some twelve years later when we reconnected,
After a dinner date, as friends,
As grown adults,
We automatically held hands,
The magnetism was still there,
Feeling like it would never end,
Thirty years later,
It's still here.
April, 1991
Her and I went to the movies to watch a thriller,
And though we had sworn we were friends,
For some reason we held hands,
Sometimes in the suspense got closer and closer
But never kissed.
I can still remember the magnetism between us,
It was palpable,
It was magical,
But her and I weeks before swore we were friends,
We were worlds away
And I made the journey to go see her
Because deep down inside,
I loved her.
But in the theater,
Maybe it was the thrill of the film,
Our hearts racing to be so close,
As our fingers intertwined,
I felt my soul come alive,
But we strived to keep as friends.
We walked home and holding hands.
Teen love feels like the ultimate emotion
Like the world stops and there is nothing else,
But life got in the way and we went our separate way,
As friends.
It was some twelve years later when we reconnected,
After a dinner date, as friends,
As grown adults,
We automatically held hands,
The magnetism was still there,
Feeling like it would never end,
Thirty years later,
It's still here.
