Poetry competition CLOSED 29th January 2012 9:36pm
WINNER
Anonymous
Anonymous
RUNNERS-UP:
Grace
and OctoberArts
Dear Me...
Poetry Contest Description
Write a poem to your past, or future self.
If you could poetically write a letter or statement to yourself in the past or the future, what would you say?
Let us know which you, past or future, you are writing to.
Previous writes are allowed. More than one entry is also allowed.
Have fun.
~Rachel~
Let us know which you, past or future, you are writing to.
Previous writes are allowed. More than one entry is also allowed.
Have fun.
~Rachel~
where you e n d and I b e g i n
I sit here
amidst the stoic silence
interjected by the static
of intelligent machinery-
the whole assembly
at my service
To comprehend
apprehend
The finer balance or
lack of it
I am the cynosure
I am the star
I am number sixty seven
hiding my scar
In another time,
I am the dinosaur
Giant hope and staggering dream
crushed by the fine print
of paper
In another millennium
I am extinct
in lineal time-
a moment stretched
evermore-till
the clouds engulf
I clutch my report
malignant
that’s the nature
of my cancer
It has sucked my life sap
blasted my cells-
one at a time
or may be an entire colony-
pure statistics
killing them-
annihilating me
An invisible black hole
of life force
The cycle has begun
the damage been done
the corridor is blurred
the faces hazy
the presence-transitory
my presence-momentary
A crushing swirling tide
of self-pity rises
A dissolute Phoenix
at a redundant hour
Slow acid pushes
thru the iris
I shut the light
and feel the silent storm
of screaming silence
while my sullen face is corroded-
deep crevasse of sudden grief
The heavenly hope in me
gets marauded
Years become prolongations
of infinitesimal moments
and life—a veritable collage
of fragments of emotions
and reveries and laughter
and sunshine and soaring highs
The smile lingers on
and the blissful joyride
stretches on
till ominous clouds
obliterate
and the severe heaviness
sinks in
alone I find myself-
stranded
in the torrential downpour
A tiny whiny school girl
soaked and teary eyed
in the park
Silent prayers on my lips
continue
as the heavens roar
A soft touch on my head
and the warmth seeps in
A kind face looks down-
full of altruistic love
celestial
unknown
yet strikingly familiar
A guardian angel
A cherub
Spiritual guide
A benign smile lights it up-
an alleviated hard sun
sparkling beams of ruddy hope
floods in
A rainbow forms across-
tremendous, seamless
I open my eyes
with a start
they twitch and burn
and I register an old lady
when I turn
being wheeled out-
her functions arrested-
strictly clinical
A human being
A vegetable
Lesser
Ignoramus
God
Tubes channelizing
the endoplasmic force
Her eyes meet mine-
scintillating stars
in the face of
gaping and certain death-
hollow and cruel
or the certain awareness
of the cellar door
Frozen tears spill
and a bursting fullness
kicks in
like an unforeseen
infused placental Jesus
The angelic voice sings-
a superlative eruption
The path is lingering
and usurious-no doubt
and the expedition taxing
and the fear-mortal
but it’s not the finish
nor the fiends—never them,
rather the walk, the seraphs
the little bubbles
and the tiny steps
-all the way
and the modest breaths
and endless winks
It’s a walk on a razor wire
with a mountain
on your shoulders
but you are not solitary,
stationary-
you are a tiny supernova
replete with wishes,
unsaturated dreams-
the cognizant soul
The dot matrix ink
will cease to exist-
the lustrous tresses too
The arteries will dry
the flawless skin will wither
but the smile on your lips
will originate from deep
and fill the hole
and the soul
Cry a river
smile a galaxy
wink an eternity
You are a universe
you are the universe
The undying panorama
of suspended belief
and renewable zeal
The giant bunny rabbit
of immortal conviction
you are…
p.s-
Previous write.
http://deepundergroundpoetry.com/
poems/36465-where-you-e-n-d-and-i-b-e-g-i-n/
A poem to my Future self. Or rather a dialogue.
The idea: An renowned astrologer had written of
my health in the next ten years. He had predicted
that I would get some kind of cancer in my digestive
system.
I had laughed it off. But out of curiosity I visited
an oncology clinic and it was a profound experience.
This is what I would tell myself or rather in this
poem my future self is telling my present self.
That inspired me to write this and the idea perfectly
is the lock to which this piece fits like a key.
The universe is conspiring.
I sit here
amidst the stoic silence
interjected by the static
of intelligent machinery-
the whole assembly
at my service
To comprehend
apprehend
The finer balance or
lack of it
I am the cynosure
I am the star
I am number sixty seven
hiding my scar
In another time,
I am the dinosaur
Giant hope and staggering dream
crushed by the fine print
of paper
In another millennium
I am extinct
in lineal time-
a moment stretched
evermore-till
the clouds engulf
I clutch my report
malignant
that’s the nature
of my cancer
It has sucked my life sap
blasted my cells-
one at a time
or may be an entire colony-
pure statistics
killing them-
annihilating me
An invisible black hole
of life force
The cycle has begun
the damage been done
the corridor is blurred
the faces hazy
the presence-transitory
my presence-momentary
A crushing swirling tide
of self-pity rises
A dissolute Phoenix
at a redundant hour
Slow acid pushes
thru the iris
I shut the light
and feel the silent storm
of screaming silence
while my sullen face is corroded-
deep crevasse of sudden grief
The heavenly hope in me
gets marauded
Years become prolongations
of infinitesimal moments
and life—a veritable collage
of fragments of emotions
and reveries and laughter
and sunshine and soaring highs
The smile lingers on
and the blissful joyride
stretches on
till ominous clouds
obliterate
and the severe heaviness
sinks in
alone I find myself-
stranded
in the torrential downpour
A tiny whiny school girl
soaked and teary eyed
in the park
Silent prayers on my lips
continue
as the heavens roar
A soft touch on my head
and the warmth seeps in
A kind face looks down-
full of altruistic love
celestial
unknown
yet strikingly familiar
A guardian angel
A cherub
Spiritual guide
A benign smile lights it up-
an alleviated hard sun
sparkling beams of ruddy hope
floods in
A rainbow forms across-
tremendous, seamless
I open my eyes
with a start
they twitch and burn
and I register an old lady
when I turn
being wheeled out-
her functions arrested-
strictly clinical
A human being
A vegetable
Lesser
Ignoramus
God
Tubes channelizing
the endoplasmic force
Her eyes meet mine-
scintillating stars
in the face of
gaping and certain death-
hollow and cruel
or the certain awareness
of the cellar door
Frozen tears spill
and a bursting fullness
kicks in
like an unforeseen
infused placental Jesus
The angelic voice sings-
a superlative eruption
The path is lingering
and usurious-no doubt
and the expedition taxing
and the fear-mortal
but it’s not the finish
nor the fiends—never them,
rather the walk, the seraphs
the little bubbles
and the tiny steps
-all the way
and the modest breaths
and endless winks
It’s a walk on a razor wire
with a mountain
on your shoulders
but you are not solitary,
stationary-
you are a tiny supernova
replete with wishes,
unsaturated dreams-
the cognizant soul
The dot matrix ink
will cease to exist-
the lustrous tresses too
The arteries will dry
the flawless skin will wither
but the smile on your lips
will originate from deep
and fill the hole
and the soul
Cry a river
smile a galaxy
wink an eternity
You are a universe
you are the universe
The undying panorama
of suspended belief
and renewable zeal
The giant bunny rabbit
of immortal conviction
you are…
p.s-
Previous write.
http://deepundergroundpoetry.com/
poems/36465-where-you-e-n-d-and-i-b-e-g-i-n/
A poem to my Future self. Or rather a dialogue.
The idea: An renowned astrologer had written of
my health in the next ten years. He had predicted
that I would get some kind of cancer in my digestive
system.
I had laughed it off. But out of curiosity I visited
an oncology clinic and it was a profound experience.
This is what I would tell myself or rather in this
poem my future self is telling my present self.
That inspired me to write this and the idea perfectly
is the lock to which this piece fits like a key.
The universe is conspiring.
A letter to my past self for this wonderful competition
Dear self,
Please don’t, don’t throw away our life
I can't tell you what should happen next
But it’s not on the end of that knife
It’s just a game, that’s all this is
Like old time gladiators
Warriors, traitors for the highest bid
Can’t you hear those lions all around?
Huge claws and jaws with long sharp teeth
Circling, growling
Waiting to feast
Passed from one age to the next
Like worn out books or Sci-fi text
New form, new age
But still just animals let out of their cage
Watch those teeth; don’t get caught by the claws
Burning eyes or tearing jaws
Schools a bitch I’m sorry I know
But please self, dear self
Don’t through away our life
I know the lions and coming close
But please for me hold tight
I’m sorry I can’t tell you what happens next
But trust me
It’s not on the end of that knife
Dear self,
Please don’t, don’t throw away our life
I can't tell you what should happen next
But it’s not on the end of that knife
It’s just a game, that’s all this is
Like old time gladiators
Warriors, traitors for the highest bid
Can’t you hear those lions all around?
Huge claws and jaws with long sharp teeth
Circling, growling
Waiting to feast
Passed from one age to the next
Like worn out books or Sci-fi text
New form, new age
But still just animals let out of their cage
Watch those teeth; don’t get caught by the claws
Burning eyes or tearing jaws
Schools a bitch I’m sorry I know
But please self, dear self
Don’t through away our life
I know the lions and coming close
But please for me hold tight
I’m sorry I can’t tell you what happens next
But trust me
It’s not on the end of that knife
To my past self
Toxic , Wasted , Mental Sea (SP Summerscales)
Shadows
of my former self
an overdose
to give me hell
they call
to remind me
hey paul
this is what you used to be
why fall
from what you could've been
your wall
has been rubbed out clean
why call
to those who just can't see
hey paul
you must remember me
in that toxic , mental
wasted sea .
Along the road
I lost my way
the ride I strode
got towed
away
my connection
my code
a scrambled afray
a robotic mode
repeats the day
somehow I know
I'll find a way
of making it alone
in a rainbowed ray
with my kids here at home
I can safely say
I can laugh
I can roam
shadow free
in the hay .
Toxic , Wasted , Mental Sea (SP Summerscales)
Shadows
of my former self
an overdose
to give me hell
they call
to remind me
hey paul
this is what you used to be
why fall
from what you could've been
your wall
has been rubbed out clean
why call
to those who just can't see
hey paul
you must remember me
in that toxic , mental
wasted sea .
Along the road
I lost my way
the ride I strode
got towed
away
my connection
my code
a scrambled afray
a robotic mode
repeats the day
somehow I know
I'll find a way
of making it alone
in a rainbowed ray
with my kids here at home
I can safely say
I can laugh
I can roam
shadow free
in the hay .
My future self telling me this
Sitars And Stars (SP Summerscales)
The Indian Sitar
sounds its sliding neck
the yellow star
burns the viking deck
did I somehow
remember now
that I did know
to forget .
balancing my mind
a constant rhyme
ageless in time
to mesmorise
closing of the eyes
I visualise
colour cloud sighs
Emerald inset .
In control
I balanced on a pole
high up from the earth
Violins in a church
waiting for the dearth
life the phoney show
sat upon the perch
if only you could know
more candles glow
for sure .
Sitars like stars
go up and down
musical clouds
buzz around
a cerebal recall
multiple times do fall
all big in space
is small
you dig
you retrace
your haul
this life is a race
for all
to be etched
on a floating balled
two faced
revolving wall .
Sitars And Stars (SP Summerscales)
The Indian Sitar
sounds its sliding neck
the yellow star
burns the viking deck
did I somehow
remember now
that I did know
to forget .
balancing my mind
a constant rhyme
ageless in time
to mesmorise
closing of the eyes
I visualise
colour cloud sighs
Emerald inset .
In control
I balanced on a pole
high up from the earth
Violins in a church
waiting for the dearth
life the phoney show
sat upon the perch
if only you could know
more candles glow
for sure .
Sitars like stars
go up and down
musical clouds
buzz around
a cerebal recall
multiple times do fall
all big in space
is small
you dig
you retrace
your haul
this life is a race
for all
to be etched
on a floating balled
two faced
revolving wall .
The End of the End
Shadows have followed you
your whole life.
Shadows of lies
and anger,
of betrayal and torture.
Even when you thought you
were free, they followed you
and dragged you back to
the black hell
you've spent your whole
life trying to climb out of.
Those who you considered
acquaintances, friends
have torn you down,
have tried to end your life.
And so have you.
But, it's over now.
Strength and compassion
are left standing where
anger and hate once were.
Those three are nothing
more than memories
fading with each second that passes.
Please, remember,
you do not have to be treated
that way.
You do not have to live
in fear, or in pain.
You are better.
You are free.
I, I am free.
Shadows have followed you
your whole life.
Shadows of lies
and anger,
of betrayal and torture.
Even when you thought you
were free, they followed you
and dragged you back to
the black hell
you've spent your whole
life trying to climb out of.
Those who you considered
acquaintances, friends
have torn you down,
have tried to end your life.
And so have you.
But, it's over now.
Strength and compassion
are left standing where
anger and hate once were.
Those three are nothing
more than memories
fading with each second that passes.
Please, remember,
you do not have to be treated
that way.
You do not have to live
in fear, or in pain.
You are better.
You are free.
I, I am free.
A letter from my future self
Dear Rich
I know your well
I remember well
the day I received
this letter from me
to prove that it's
true
69 is the the number
you thinking of now.
Be careful of fish
and the burger's at terry's
use a small spoon
when you eat Ben&Jerry's.
Trust well in her
She will see you right
choose 12,14,32,44,46,49 on
Saturday night
good luck in all that you do
and lastly dear me
remember I love you.
Dear Rich
I know your well
I remember well
the day I received
this letter from me
to prove that it's
true
69 is the the number
you thinking of now.
Be careful of fish
and the burger's at terry's
use a small spoon
when you eat Ben&Jerry's.
Trust well in her
She will see you right
choose 12,14,32,44,46,49 on
Saturday night
good luck in all that you do
and lastly dear me
remember I love you.
Scumbag Oh How You've Changed
Oh how you have changed
Remember when you didn't know what you know
Things weren't valuable
Love wasn't
Loyalty wasn't
You were selfish
Only caring for yourself
About yourself
Man have you grown up
You're not fucking perfect now
You still fuck up
But You're human so what do you expect
Time has changed you and for the better
You used to throw around words
So self conscious and self righteous
You we're always right, right?
Nothing or no one could stop
No one was smarter then you
You knew everything
You judged everyone
So close minded
A genuine prick
Almost lost all of you're friends
Everyone hated you at some point
You even prided your self off that
You thought of how powerful your words must have been to get such an effect
One cold hearted son of bitch
Numb heart
Numb soul
Wise but foolish thoughts
Oh how you have changed
Dear past me
Oh how you have changed
Remember when you didn't know what you know
Things weren't valuable
Love wasn't
Loyalty wasn't
You were selfish
Only caring for yourself
About yourself
Man have you grown up
You're not fucking perfect now
You still fuck up
But You're human so what do you expect
Time has changed you and for the better
You used to throw around words
So self conscious and self righteous
You we're always right, right?
Nothing or no one could stop
No one was smarter then you
You knew everything
You judged everyone
So close minded
A genuine prick
Almost lost all of you're friends
Everyone hated you at some point
You even prided your self off that
You thought of how powerful your words must have been to get such an effect
One cold hearted son of bitch
Numb heart
Numb soul
Wise but foolish thoughts
Oh how you have changed
Dear past me
PAST
what crowds my heart with lonely souls....
i find nothing.
but a deep shell of lost eyes that has never been taned to
its original self.
who am i?? might you ask...???
i am someone from your darkist past...
like a melody that flows the brain
creating a sound..a feel...
you thought wasnt real...
some who beliving i have meet you at the
cherry blossom tree...
who am i you ask...??
i must be from your darkist past.
but life has forgotten who i am,
i have been abandon for i am left alone.
standing...waiting...
so i soon uncover the truth
that has never been told before.
i say...forgive me.
who am i ???you ask.
i must be from your darkist past
-Kumiko Yamamoto
what crowds my heart with lonely souls....
i find nothing.
but a deep shell of lost eyes that has never been taned to
its original self.
who am i?? might you ask...???
i am someone from your darkist past...
like a melody that flows the brain
creating a sound..a feel...
you thought wasnt real...
some who beliving i have meet you at the
cherry blossom tree...
who am i you ask...??
i must be from your darkist past.
but life has forgotten who i am,
i have been abandon for i am left alone.
standing...waiting...
so i soon uncover the truth
that has never been told before.
i say...forgive me.
who am i ???you ask.
i must be from your darkist past
-Kumiko Yamamoto
Dear Grace
Hail Grace, you are 12
Don’t go home tonight
Stay at grandma’s house
For your parents will fight
And your innocence lost
There is a change in the air
You will know who they are
Those who you call parents
They don’t care
You are nothing
You are just there
Hail Grace, you are 13
Quick girl, just run away
Don’t think of anything
Just go away far far away
Don’t look at the man
Your brother in law
Don’t think about your parents
He will rip away your innocence
And send you on a long hard highway
Of suffering and self-loathing
Hail Grace, you are 21
Don’t marry that man
He does not care about you
He does not love you
He is an infatuation
He is in love with another woman
Who dumped him for a rich man
You are a rebound
Please don’t say yes to him
Tonight.
Hail Grace, you are 12
Don’t go home tonight
Stay at grandma’s house
For your parents will fight
And your innocence lost
There is a change in the air
You will know who they are
Those who you call parents
They don’t care
You are nothing
You are just there
Hail Grace, you are 13
Quick girl, just run away
Don’t think of anything
Just go away far far away
Don’t look at the man
Your brother in law
Don’t think about your parents
He will rip away your innocence
And send you on a long hard highway
Of suffering and self-loathing
Hail Grace, you are 21
Don’t marry that man
He does not care about you
He does not love you
He is an infatuation
He is in love with another woman
Who dumped him for a rich man
You are a rebound
Please don’t say yes to him
Tonight.
Anonymous
Dear Younger Al,
You’ll dance with the devil,
you’ll play into
the full house hand.
You’ll taste
her,
you’ll take the
good and bad
but keep
chasing
the bad.
You’ll play with death
In the most abstract ways.
And you’ll feel,
you’ll devour the apple fruit
of love.
you’ll learn the hard way.
when you do the first
hospital visit,
try get that nurse’s name
one day
with age,
you’ll have the
need to thank her.
Read and learn these things,
you’ll need them…
- The sunscreen song
(and damn it! wear the sunscreen)
- Read the letter dad left.
(before your 21st birthday)
Remember, your daughters need you
never forget
your Daughters need you.
So, while you dance,
keep her tail at bay,
and her horns
far away!
Never decline a dance
with the Devil.
Be true to self
keep your heart
open and pure.
But remember
the sunscreen song.
Visit the Psych clinic
the first time
that Mrs Berry
suggests.
Your head
does get fixed
and the voices
do go .
Blue Skies dude...
A much older Al –x-
You’ll dance with the devil,
you’ll play into
the full house hand.
You’ll taste
her,
you’ll take the
good and bad
but keep
chasing
the bad.
You’ll play with death
In the most abstract ways.
And you’ll feel,
you’ll devour the apple fruit
of love.
you’ll learn the hard way.
when you do the first
hospital visit,
try get that nurse’s name
one day
with age,
you’ll have the
need to thank her.
Read and learn these things,
you’ll need them…
- The sunscreen song
(and damn it! wear the sunscreen)
- Read the letter dad left.
(before your 21st birthday)
Remember, your daughters need you
never forget
your Daughters need you.
So, while you dance,
keep her tail at bay,
and her horns
far away!
Never decline a dance
with the Devil.
Be true to self
keep your heart
open and pure.
But remember
the sunscreen song.
Visit the Psych clinic
the first time
that Mrs Berry
suggests.
Your head
does get fixed
and the voices
do go .
Blue Skies dude...
A much older Al –x-
This is the past hassling me
Purple Train Driving Hippos
The train
clatters on the tracks
travelling through my brain
made of candle wax
The driver is a hippo
he takes me where I wouldn't go
he's purple
with a funny glow
reminding me of what I shouldn't know
winding , binding , inside coves
igniting memory , lightning probes .
I am who I wasn't
and I was
what I am not
all I am is what you see
and the past should be forgot .
Don't taunt then bring
the gone into everything
anylising , scrutinising
none of it's worth realising
it's in the earth
so let it lie then
purple hippos
aren't for finding .
Purple Train Driving Hippos
The train
clatters on the tracks
travelling through my brain
made of candle wax
The driver is a hippo
he takes me where I wouldn't go
he's purple
with a funny glow
reminding me of what I shouldn't know
winding , binding , inside coves
igniting memory , lightning probes .
I am who I wasn't
and I was
what I am not
all I am is what you see
and the past should be forgot .
Don't taunt then bring
the gone into everything
anylising , scrutinising
none of it's worth realising
it's in the earth
so let it lie then
purple hippos
aren't for finding .
Dear Lee,
Its me, its you, writing a letter to warn,
Keep up your armor as you have sworn.
I know its been a while since that day
That your father got up and just walked away.
But worry not you'll be strong,
No, this is about the boy that will soon come along.
Run away as fast as you can.
Never I beg you, never love this man.
You are tough and your walls are high,
But he will vault over them with such earnest lies.
Your fear of the unknown will be split apart,
But no good will come, instead a shattered heart.
Beware the soldier who comes to stay,
Leave up your barriers and push him away.
He won't love, he won't heal you, there is only goodbye,
And he will never be there to see all the tears you will cry.
By accepting his presence into your life,
You give him the chance to cut out our heart with his knife.
But not all is bad, there is another who loves you so much,
Look into his eyes and give him your trust.
Save our heart, when I could not,
Love the one who's always asked for a shot.
Follow this letter, don't make my mistake,
And save for us, the heart he would take.
Its me, its you, writing a letter to warn,
Keep up your armor as you have sworn.
I know its been a while since that day
That your father got up and just walked away.
But worry not you'll be strong,
No, this is about the boy that will soon come along.
Run away as fast as you can.
Never I beg you, never love this man.
You are tough and your walls are high,
But he will vault over them with such earnest lies.
Your fear of the unknown will be split apart,
But no good will come, instead a shattered heart.
Beware the soldier who comes to stay,
Leave up your barriers and push him away.
He won't love, he won't heal you, there is only goodbye,
And he will never be there to see all the tears you will cry.
By accepting his presence into your life,
You give him the chance to cut out our heart with his knife.
But not all is bad, there is another who loves you so much,
Look into his eyes and give him your trust.
Save our heart, when I could not,
Love the one who's always asked for a shot.
Follow this letter, don't make my mistake,
And save for us, the heart he would take.
