Official DUP NaPo/GloPoWrimo 2020 Competition
#9
Imagine
It’s not a given
that we’ll come out of this
better people than we were.
But…
like many,
I imagine
and have my moments of excitement…
Hope for a new way of living gently
of caring more deeply
of connecting more authentically…
Maybe….
our entire system will transform
businesses will stop the constant growth rat-race
religions will return to loving and serving
governments will care for the most vulnerable
people will know and cherish their neighbours…
Imagine all the people…
We’ll all become
more patient
more grounded
more generous…
Maybe this is the moment
when the best of humanity will shine.
I imagine these things and I hope…
Until the guy behind me snaps “can you move it along”
because I dared break stride to consult my grocery list.
No, this moment in history isn’t magic;
we’ll come through it as human as ever.
Imagine
It’s not a given
that we’ll come out of this
better people than we were.
But…
like many,
I imagine
and have my moments of excitement…
Hope for a new way of living gently
of caring more deeply
of connecting more authentically…
Maybe….
our entire system will transform
businesses will stop the constant growth rat-race
religions will return to loving and serving
governments will care for the most vulnerable
people will know and cherish their neighbours…
Imagine all the people…
We’ll all become
more patient
more grounded
more generous…
Maybe this is the moment
when the best of humanity will shine.
I imagine these things and I hope…
Until the guy behind me snaps “can you move it along”
because I dared break stride to consult my grocery list.
No, this moment in history isn’t magic;
we’ll come through it as human as ever.
9 of 30
If I Could Reach to Fountain our Embrace
(sonnet)
If I could reach to fountain our embrace,
And lift my face to foster its impress.
If I could give such praise in its retrace,
To fountains of your passion’s sure express.
We dearly cling to those we have inspired,
From each, the both that concur weary dawn.
And raise within the rush of heart’s desire,
The struggle that concedes its coming on.
How sparse the years that led us to this call,
That brokered every thought that dawn retrieves,
Like ocean’s calm before the coming squall,
Like waters found that quenches torrid need.
On praising tongue, let all your passions seek
And foster me like fountains’ flowing peak.
80 unique words
If I Could Reach to Fountain our Embrace
(sonnet)
If I could reach to fountain our embrace,
And lift my face to foster its impress.
If I could give such praise in its retrace,
To fountains of your passion’s sure express.
We dearly cling to those we have inspired,
From each, the both that concur weary dawn.
And raise within the rush of heart’s desire,
The struggle that concedes its coming on.
How sparse the years that led us to this call,
That brokered every thought that dawn retrieves,
Like ocean’s calm before the coming squall,
Like waters found that quenches torrid need.
On praising tongue, let all your passions seek
And foster me like fountains’ flowing peak.
80 unique words
9/30
A Modern Existentialist (II)
Away from this day I long to be brought
into your shelter protected from bad thoughts...
Reality bites and you are my only reprieve;
my inner world consisting of my idealist beliefs...
So inside here, I run with abandon to never fall!
I listen forever as the earths soft voice within calls!
I hold the hand of my creativity as if it were alive!
It is so inside this fortress where nothing bad can thrive...
So beautious it is; the waving flag of my conceptions!
It sings unfurled with out the burden of drab deceptions!
.....
#WaltWhitman
A Modern Existentialist (II)
Away from this day I long to be brought
into your shelter protected from bad thoughts...
Reality bites and you are my only reprieve;
my inner world consisting of my idealist beliefs...
So inside here, I run with abandon to never fall!
I listen forever as the earths soft voice within calls!
I hold the hand of my creativity as if it were alive!
It is so inside this fortress where nothing bad can thrive...
So beautious it is; the waving flag of my conceptions!
It sings unfurled with out the burden of drab deceptions!
.....
#WaltWhitman
9 of 30
Pecan Pie
You told me he was going to
be alone for Thanksgiving
and was planning to
eat bologna sandwiches.
Your food and family heart just
couldn’t bear it.
You planned a meal
for two:
you and your friend,
leaving your wife and kids
on her long holiday weekend.
Knowing they were well surrounded
with food and family.
I volunteered a
pecan pie.
I leaned over our kitchen counter,
making homemade pie crust,
wondering why I,
who doesn’t particularly like
this friend,
volunteered to make him a pie.
Offered my time,
and money,
to make sure he had a
dessert for this meal.
I knew, husband, that you’d
eat several pieces while
you and he broke bread
and listened to eighties hair bands
and argued over politics.
But I wasn’t making this pie
for you.
Perhaps I couldn’t bear
knowing someone you loved
felt alone
and the way I show love
is to make pie
and send you on your way.
Pecan Pie
You told me he was going to
be alone for Thanksgiving
and was planning to
eat bologna sandwiches.
Your food and family heart just
couldn’t bear it.
You planned a meal
for two:
you and your friend,
leaving your wife and kids
on her long holiday weekend.
Knowing they were well surrounded
with food and family.
I volunteered a
pecan pie.
I leaned over our kitchen counter,
making homemade pie crust,
wondering why I,
who doesn’t particularly like
this friend,
volunteered to make him a pie.
Offered my time,
and money,
to make sure he had a
dessert for this meal.
I knew, husband, that you’d
eat several pieces while
you and he broke bread
and listened to eighties hair bands
and argued over politics.
But I wasn’t making this pie
for you.
Perhaps I couldn’t bear
knowing someone you loved
felt alone
and the way I show love
is to make pie
and send you on your way.
No. 9 of 30
Do You Hear That?
Almost old,
seems none the wiser.
somewhat dysfunctional,
in ways
I’d rather not discuss.
some hearing loss,
yet I still hear sirens.
sometimes, to my detriment
I listen
not the firetruck,
cop car type.
nope, not ambulance either.
to be clear…
I can hear those as well.
rather like the sensual songstresses
of Greek mythology.
Terrifyingly enchanting monsters,
avian, beauty queen hybrids.
said to seduce horny sailors
alluring them to shipwreck
smack dab on a rocky shoal
that just happens
to border the sexy diva’s island.
Thus stranded the poor sailors
eventually assumed bleached-bone aspect
honestly, I can think of 10,500...no
10,567 worse ways to die
than in the company of a woman
that can sing
Hamlet told his mom,
Act III, Scene IV, and I quote,
no silly that wasn’t it..
he said “at your age
the heyday in the blood is tame, it’s humble,
and waits upon the judgment.”
precisely, when is that supposed to happen?
or perhaps he was referring
to only naive, Danish queens
Who can I trust to stop my ears with wax?
although I seem to have plenty…never mind
which Homeric friend
will lash me to the mast
till the duo’s, some say trio’s, gig is over?
to be frank,
I know no reason to escape their melodies
the sultry strains seed my imagination
flood my neural net with fertilized thought
In mind womb gestated
harvested as poetry on the page
Word = 241
Unique words = 175
Do You Hear That?
Almost old,
seems none the wiser.
somewhat dysfunctional,
in ways
I’d rather not discuss.
some hearing loss,
yet I still hear sirens.
sometimes, to my detriment
I listen
not the firetruck,
cop car type.
nope, not ambulance either.
to be clear…
I can hear those as well.
rather like the sensual songstresses
of Greek mythology.
Terrifyingly enchanting monsters,
avian, beauty queen hybrids.
said to seduce horny sailors
alluring them to shipwreck
smack dab on a rocky shoal
that just happens
to border the sexy diva’s island.
Thus stranded the poor sailors
eventually assumed bleached-bone aspect
honestly, I can think of 10,500...no
10,567 worse ways to die
than in the company of a woman
that can sing
Hamlet told his mom,
Act III, Scene IV, and I quote,
no silly that wasn’t it..
he said “at your age
the heyday in the blood is tame, it’s humble,
and waits upon the judgment.”
precisely, when is that supposed to happen?
or perhaps he was referring
to only naive, Danish queens
Who can I trust to stop my ears with wax?
although I seem to have plenty…never mind
which Homeric friend
will lash me to the mast
till the duo’s, some say trio’s, gig is over?
to be frank,
I know no reason to escape their melodies
the sultry strains seed my imagination
flood my neural net with fertilized thought
In mind womb gestated
harvested as poetry on the page
Word = 241
Unique words = 175
9/30
Listening
Why does no one listen?
It's like shiny things all around them glisten,
And they don't want to take the five-ten seconds to listen to me...
...Well, the five-ten seconds it should take me,
And that on a rare, good day, will take me.
Why do so many thoughts go though my mind
That I find
I have such a hard time thinking of at least one of the words in one of my sentences
In the explanation, that in that instance,
I think too fast, and use several filler words,
Several umm and uhh words,
That it takes about three-five extra seconds?
Why is everyone so busy and so important that they can't take about ten seconds
To hear one-two sentences from me?
It's not like I'm going to go on for hours, I have never taken hours for explaining anything,
I wish they could have more faith in me, it's like they have nothing,
It seems they think so little of me,
But I know they love me.
It just frightens me,
I'm afraid that when I decide to come out to them as gender non-conforming male, and greypolarbisexual,
That they won't want to listen to me, as usual,
And just try to shut me up,
And that's a hard thing to do,
Not an easy thing to go through,
They'll still accept me, I know,
But it's still difficult, I know.
It's not always like they show on tv,
It's not as if I say my labels and pronouns, and then suddenly the weight is lifted, heavy,
And they hug me, and we suddenly know all is right in the world.
It's different, I still struggle to find my place in the world,
Learning life lessons, and learning about the world.
And I still struggle to call myself he,
When around those I haven't come out to, I still use she,
And have for almost twenty three years, thought she
Was what I was meant to be,
And that how I looked correlated to how I felt,
And now I realize it's like a rainbow that did melt,
More of a spectrum and a complex spider web all in one,
Every gender, presentation, sexuality, romanticism, sensuality, friendship, and intelligent and emotional attractions, bleeding into one another,
Yet, also jumping completely over some of the things for some individuals, and correlating with another thing altogether.
It's insane how complex it is, yet wonderful,
That everyone gets labels for what they feel, see, and want,
So they can find the communities that they want,
So they can have a place to call their own.
It's an important subject,
And would like respect,
Even on mundane topics.
I try so hard to vocalize subjects
And my thoughts and emotions,
But it brings such complex emotions,
When no one seems to take the time to listen to me,
Except for the rare times when its basically a scheduled "heart-to-heart",
Then when I try to do my part,
And bring up the touchy and heartfelt subjects from that time, on a day-to-day basis,
So that she can know where I stand, what I want from life, when what she does hurts me, and a simple explanation
Of information
As to why things happen.
Is it too much to say "hey it wasn't two mason jars, that fell and broke, it was one mason jar and one shot glass. I just didn't see it at first, because it happend so quick."
All I did was stick my head out the front door while there were in the front yard, real quick,
I wanted not much of a reply, just a slight laugh, and something along the lines of a rather neutral "okay",
But I should have known not all would be okay,
I should have known I would be cut off, told that she already understands.
I'm not making any demands,
I'm not asking much,
I don't explain everything,
I just wish everyone didn't make such a big deal of everything
I say to them that they didn't ask for,
Does my voice sound painful? Am I boring them? Are they really so high above me, that my words mean nothing to them?
Listening
Why does no one listen?
It's like shiny things all around them glisten,
And they don't want to take the five-ten seconds to listen to me...
...Well, the five-ten seconds it should take me,
And that on a rare, good day, will take me.
Why do so many thoughts go though my mind
That I find
I have such a hard time thinking of at least one of the words in one of my sentences
In the explanation, that in that instance,
I think too fast, and use several filler words,
Several umm and uhh words,
That it takes about three-five extra seconds?
Why is everyone so busy and so important that they can't take about ten seconds
To hear one-two sentences from me?
It's not like I'm going to go on for hours, I have never taken hours for explaining anything,
I wish they could have more faith in me, it's like they have nothing,
It seems they think so little of me,
But I know they love me.
It just frightens me,
I'm afraid that when I decide to come out to them as gender non-conforming male, and greypolarbisexual,
That they won't want to listen to me, as usual,
And just try to shut me up,
And that's a hard thing to do,
Not an easy thing to go through,
They'll still accept me, I know,
But it's still difficult, I know.
It's not always like they show on tv,
It's not as if I say my labels and pronouns, and then suddenly the weight is lifted, heavy,
And they hug me, and we suddenly know all is right in the world.
It's different, I still struggle to find my place in the world,
Learning life lessons, and learning about the world.
And I still struggle to call myself he,
When around those I haven't come out to, I still use she,
And have for almost twenty three years, thought she
Was what I was meant to be,
And that how I looked correlated to how I felt,
And now I realize it's like a rainbow that did melt,
More of a spectrum and a complex spider web all in one,
Every gender, presentation, sexuality, romanticism, sensuality, friendship, and intelligent and emotional attractions, bleeding into one another,
Yet, also jumping completely over some of the things for some individuals, and correlating with another thing altogether.
It's insane how complex it is, yet wonderful,
That everyone gets labels for what they feel, see, and want,
So they can find the communities that they want,
So they can have a place to call their own.
It's an important subject,
And would like respect,
Even on mundane topics.
I try so hard to vocalize subjects
And my thoughts and emotions,
But it brings such complex emotions,
When no one seems to take the time to listen to me,
Except for the rare times when its basically a scheduled "heart-to-heart",
Then when I try to do my part,
And bring up the touchy and heartfelt subjects from that time, on a day-to-day basis,
So that she can know where I stand, what I want from life, when what she does hurts me, and a simple explanation
Of information
As to why things happen.
Is it too much to say "hey it wasn't two mason jars, that fell and broke, it was one mason jar and one shot glass. I just didn't see it at first, because it happend so quick."
All I did was stick my head out the front door while there were in the front yard, real quick,
I wanted not much of a reply, just a slight laugh, and something along the lines of a rather neutral "okay",
But I should have known not all would be okay,
I should have known I would be cut off, told that she already understands.
I'm not making any demands,
I'm not asking much,
I don't explain everything,
I just wish everyone didn't make such a big deal of everything
I say to them that they didn't ask for,
Does my voice sound painful? Am I boring them? Are they really so high above me, that my words mean nothing to them?
9/30
Crash and Burn
How does one stop a sinking ship, one that will crash and burn
When it seems there is one in every direction, in every which way that is turned
I see them in front of myself, begging for help, to which I feel the need
To lend out a hand and try to save them from both their minds and in them the seed
The seeds of doubt long cast upon their own minds where truth can no longer be sought
Trapped in the viciousness of repeating cycles, trapped in their worlds they so rot
I yearn to help them but with this new opposition it seems we are even farther apart
It seems o can never look away as they continue on, breaking my heart
Too much is enough lay your burdens on me so that you can feel a little lighter today
Because while we’re being cooped up right now in our company it is not how it’s meant to stay
Oh my friends I wish I could just scoop you up and watch over you and keep you safe
But I fear that this will never be as the world marks it’s own failsafe
Perhaps it’s the mothering instinct in me though I know there’s a hard way to learn
And through that learning it is tough life lessons that should you survive you will earn
But it pains me so to see you go through all of these fresh wounds and maladies
Please know that I keep kind words in my heart for each of you beautiful young and frees
Unique words: 159
Crash and Burn
How does one stop a sinking ship, one that will crash and burn
When it seems there is one in every direction, in every which way that is turned
I see them in front of myself, begging for help, to which I feel the need
To lend out a hand and try to save them from both their minds and in them the seed
The seeds of doubt long cast upon their own minds where truth can no longer be sought
Trapped in the viciousness of repeating cycles, trapped in their worlds they so rot
I yearn to help them but with this new opposition it seems we are even farther apart
It seems o can never look away as they continue on, breaking my heart
Too much is enough lay your burdens on me so that you can feel a little lighter today
Because while we’re being cooped up right now in our company it is not how it’s meant to stay
Oh my friends I wish I could just scoop you up and watch over you and keep you safe
But I fear that this will never be as the world marks it’s own failsafe
Perhaps it’s the mothering instinct in me though I know there’s a hard way to learn
And through that learning it is tough life lessons that should you survive you will earn
But it pains me so to see you go through all of these fresh wounds and maladies
Please know that I keep kind words in my heart for each of you beautiful young and frees
Unique words: 159
9/30
Finding Silver Linings
Virtue Signalling hacks / Asshats who get offended on someone else’s behalf / No core, source chorus tracked / Just forward on the warpath / Cardboard bores claiming authority on all paths / Loki calls that, laughing and spitting / Recreational offense as a new religion / Self appointed gatekeepers / Search for social traits to be clipping / Emoji-vote shit as forbidden / Spoiled fucking American children / Trying not to get belligerent / And adopt an attitude of indigence / Like “Who are you shitting? / Push me and after Social Distancing is through I’ll give you a new sibling, / Tell the court I don’t even need visiting / Let your ass do the babysitting. / A constant reminder of what kind of minds you’re mixing.” / Fixing the elixir / Twisted Sister / Illicit picture / Firespit makes your perspective bigger / But it’s acceptance / That adapts and emerges / Vast apertures / New worlds falling from probability stirred / Social and economic bubbles converge / No trouble to merge / What occurs in the present / Stirs and beckons / Reflections in memes blurred / Streams swirl / Like the delta of the Fertile Crescent / Dreams murdered and schemes purge / New means and pearls / Life curves for the win / Strife whirlwind / A slice of “World says begin again.” / So much rush / We grow from touch / With-hold, divide, distrust / Mingling, mushing, conducting fast / Natural lingering construction of a trap / Something had to snap / Like maybe blowing the Social Contract / Later equals / Greater impact / Mother Nature shut off the tap / Time to get back / Build a new track / Something past virtue signaling hacks / Cutting off laughs / Hushing iconoclasts / Maybe the real battle and righteous path? / Is something past finding the worst to put on blast / Just to move the first to the last
Finding Silver Linings
Virtue Signalling hacks / Asshats who get offended on someone else’s behalf / No core, source chorus tracked / Just forward on the warpath / Cardboard bores claiming authority on all paths / Loki calls that, laughing and spitting / Recreational offense as a new religion / Self appointed gatekeepers / Search for social traits to be clipping / Emoji-vote shit as forbidden / Spoiled fucking American children / Trying not to get belligerent / And adopt an attitude of indigence / Like “Who are you shitting? / Push me and after Social Distancing is through I’ll give you a new sibling, / Tell the court I don’t even need visiting / Let your ass do the babysitting. / A constant reminder of what kind of minds you’re mixing.” / Fixing the elixir / Twisted Sister / Illicit picture / Firespit makes your perspective bigger / But it’s acceptance / That adapts and emerges / Vast apertures / New worlds falling from probability stirred / Social and economic bubbles converge / No trouble to merge / What occurs in the present / Stirs and beckons / Reflections in memes blurred / Streams swirl / Like the delta of the Fertile Crescent / Dreams murdered and schemes purge / New means and pearls / Life curves for the win / Strife whirlwind / A slice of “World says begin again.” / So much rush / We grow from touch / With-hold, divide, distrust / Mingling, mushing, conducting fast / Natural lingering construction of a trap / Something had to snap / Like maybe blowing the Social Contract / Later equals / Greater impact / Mother Nature shut off the tap / Time to get back / Build a new track / Something past virtue signaling hacks / Cutting off laughs / Hushing iconoclasts / Maybe the real battle and righteous path? / Is something past finding the worst to put on blast / Just to move the first to the last
Anonymous
<< post removed >>
#10 of 30
Poor Parents, Poor Kids, All Grounded!
Under Covid 19 darkness
we huddle in reluctance
families stuck with
teenagers
who's love struck
Home's a new dump truck
Wanna kiss a duck?
or
miss a
partly empty nest
where you fluff
and cluck
Playing house
...and stuff
Just got waaaay real
with constricted
Netflix and chill
Because Corona
is a bird taking off
with your old life
a cold drink
you don't want
but get thrown into
...anyway
Poor Parents, Poor Kids, All Grounded!
Under Covid 19 darkness
we huddle in reluctance
families stuck with
teenagers
who's love struck
Home's a new dump truck
Wanna kiss a duck?
or
miss a
partly empty nest
where you fluff
and cluck
Playing house
...and stuff
Just got waaaay real
with constricted
Netflix and chill
Because Corona
is a bird taking off
with your old life
a cold drink
you don't want
but get thrown into
...anyway
10 of 30
Broken Dreams
(c) Sweet Oblivion 10/4
The dawn sky was a misty, limpid blue;
A uniform and overarching cool;
The muted brightness blurred and seemed to fool
The sun: it slept in longer; would I rue
A day that should not start? it was not true
Enough to exist or to wind the spool
Of hours, minutes and moments that would pool
Together in sad melting pots; I knew
My gazing out at the rocks on the shore
Would disappoint; propped up in bed, awake,
I was unready, unprepared; my form
Felt shrunken in sour loneliness; the roar
Of waves against coast cliffs just seemed to make
Me relive all my broken dreams at dawn.
79 unique words
109 words
Broken Dreams
(c) Sweet Oblivion 10/4
The dawn sky was a misty, limpid blue;
A uniform and overarching cool;
The muted brightness blurred and seemed to fool
The sun: it slept in longer; would I rue
A day that should not start? it was not true
Enough to exist or to wind the spool
Of hours, minutes and moments that would pool
Together in sad melting pots; I knew
My gazing out at the rocks on the shore
Would disappoint; propped up in bed, awake,
I was unready, unprepared; my form
Felt shrunken in sour loneliness; the roar
Of waves against coast cliffs just seemed to make
Me relive all my broken dreams at dawn.
79 unique words
109 words
# 10 of 30
The Full and Unabridged Tale
( a Sestina )
I wonder if he’ll manage when I’m gone,
Statistics say that I don’t stand a chance.
I’ve never seen this happen in my life,
It’s difficult to say, no one can tell.
They started social distancing apart,
But I was used to it a year indoors.
I have no cabin fever while indoors,
I felt that way last year but now it’s gone,
My body’s gotten used to ‘far apart’.
It doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love a chances
To cuddle up with him and let him tell
The full and unabridged tale of his life.
Yet these days do we really have a life.
Suspended animation kept indoors
Of nothing future generations tell.
Not after lovers such as we are gone
Except when giving poetry a chance,
On lockdown, living many miles apart.
To meet and fall in love being apart
A day or so can change the other’s life,
It was exciting then to take a chance.
Seduction in the rain was met indoors,
Pedestrians had rushed away & gone
To tiny coffee shops to kiss and tell.
I didn’t have the nerve enough to tell,
To have us figured out and drift apart.
How do pandemics last, how many gone
Of precious souls & those clinging to life.
I underwent epiphanies indoors,
I test my faith till nothing’s left to chance.
If we endure will he and I by chance
One day together breech a show & tell,
Play truth or dare outside & not indoors
And never spend another day apart.
Will time unending bring us back to life
Before the mem’ory of us is gone?
A stitch around the world may come apart,
But two hearts made as one is now a life
For even when humanity is gone.
(10/30)
Way To Go
The GOD that you seek resides within
Walking step by step in the land of sin
Use your pen to compose some Psalms
Testifying about the nails in your palms
How you've survived the harms of your life
Encouraging others to rise above their strife
Instead of grabbing a knife to end it all
Garnering strength to continue to ball
We fall down but we must persevere
Let spoken words penetrate their ears
Invoking some tears but then they'll know
Marathons continue; show the way to go
Way To Go
The GOD that you seek resides within
Walking step by step in the land of sin
Use your pen to compose some Psalms
Testifying about the nails in your palms
How you've survived the harms of your life
Encouraging others to rise above their strife
Instead of grabbing a knife to end it all
Garnering strength to continue to ball
We fall down but we must persevere
Let spoken words penetrate their ears
Invoking some tears but then they'll know
Marathons continue; show the way to go
