Poetry competition CLOSED 3rd March 2012 6:56am
WINNER
Lee
Lee
RUNNERS-UP:
Indie
and LeesAngel
Trade You My Soul
Poetry Contest Description
Read the passage below, create a story around it and tell it in a poem..
He looked far into the horizon, his thoughts flying to what might have been. He sucked on his cigarette, inhaled, grimaced as he blew out the grey smoke and flicked the butt away. He walked slowly into the woods, head down. This was where it all began, he thought; and he wished it never happened.
Rule: 1- Write a poem no more than 200 words based on the story above.
Rule: 2- Each participants are allowed two entries.
Rule: 3- No examples: Just your creativity in story telling through poems.
Rule: 1- Write a poem no more than 200 words based on the story above.
Rule: 2- Each participants are allowed two entries.
Rule: 3- No examples: Just your creativity in story telling through poems.
- Doomed Through Love -
The sun was rising above…
I watched him walk, a beautiful man in every way,
Androgynous and almost feminine in his beauty…
And I beheld in him some quality akin to my heart.
He was deep in thought, his long hair to thus sway,
Seeing me not, though I stood behind a nearby tree.
I watched him walk, and I wept to see him depart.
He sucked in his breath as he paced in the woods,
Inhaling a breath of fresh air, in the cool of autumn.
The smoke of his campfire blew across his face…
Embers flicked away, to fall with softly silent thuds.
His head was downcast in a sorrow I have known!
Dark: unlike his garments of whitest silk, and lace.
I emerged from where I watched and waited prior,
And that is where it began, our mutual seduction…
How that fey prince wished he not met me, thusly!
But alas, he saw me and his gaze was like a fire…
It burned in rhythm to my soul without destruction.
But, when he reached out his hand towards me…
He became mortal, no longer elfin from his desire.
And so I doomed him, through love.
The sun was rising above…
I watched him walk, a beautiful man in every way,
Androgynous and almost feminine in his beauty…
And I beheld in him some quality akin to my heart.
He was deep in thought, his long hair to thus sway,
Seeing me not, though I stood behind a nearby tree.
I watched him walk, and I wept to see him depart.
He sucked in his breath as he paced in the woods,
Inhaling a breath of fresh air, in the cool of autumn.
The smoke of his campfire blew across his face…
Embers flicked away, to fall with softly silent thuds.
His head was downcast in a sorrow I have known!
Dark: unlike his garments of whitest silk, and lace.
I emerged from where I watched and waited prior,
And that is where it began, our mutual seduction…
How that fey prince wished he not met me, thusly!
But alas, he saw me and his gaze was like a fire…
It burned in rhythm to my soul without destruction.
But, when he reached out his hand towards me…
He became mortal, no longer elfin from his desire.
And so I doomed him, through love.
Anonymous
THE GHOST OF LOUIS SLOTIN
Far into the horizon – there goes the mushroom cloud
What might have been a peaceful settlement did not work out
Sucked on his cigarette and cursed the day he was born
Then flicked the butt away and looked at the horizon once more
Walked slowly into the woods – back into the secret physics lab
This is where it all began – this is where they tickled the dragon’s tail
Wished it never happened
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Slotin
Far into the horizon – there goes the mushroom cloud
What might have been a peaceful settlement did not work out
Sucked on his cigarette and cursed the day he was born
Then flicked the butt away and looked at the horizon once more
Walked slowly into the woods – back into the secret physics lab
This is where it all began – this is where they tickled the dragon’s tail
Wished it never happened
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Slotin
If Only…
A half-smoked cigarette in trembling fingers
The only point of light in the darkness
Unseen by the man taking a long drag
His mind far away from the smoke
Swirling into his lungs
Time had left no mark here
Not a shadow or footprint remained
Rain had long washed away
That which he refused to remember
Yet could not forget
Ash and fire lingered in the air
As he flicked the butt away
His fingers stained with nicotine
Shaking unseen in the darkness
This was where it all began
The place where his son had dallied
With weak-minded men and demonic creatures
Where he found his sons dead body
Drained of blood and carved with Satanic symbols
His blonde curls stained red, his eyes picked out by crows
Many a thing had changed in the ten years since
But the man's guilt hadn’t, it had only grown to haunt him
Sinking to his knees, he retched, sobbed, clawed the dirt
As though his son was just beneath the surface
Waiting for him to take his hand, and pull him back into this world of life
If he could, he would trade his soul for it
A half-smoked cigarette in trembling fingers
The only point of light in the darkness
Unseen by the man taking a long drag
His mind far away from the smoke
Swirling into his lungs
Time had left no mark here
Not a shadow or footprint remained
Rain had long washed away
That which he refused to remember
Yet could not forget
Ash and fire lingered in the air
As he flicked the butt away
His fingers stained with nicotine
Shaking unseen in the darkness
This was where it all began
The place where his son had dallied
With weak-minded men and demonic creatures
Where he found his sons dead body
Drained of blood and carved with Satanic symbols
His blonde curls stained red, his eyes picked out by crows
Many a thing had changed in the ten years since
But the man's guilt hadn’t, it had only grown to haunt him
Sinking to his knees, he retched, sobbed, clawed the dirt
As though his son was just beneath the surface
Waiting for him to take his hand, and pull him back into this world of life
If he could, he would trade his soul for it
-The Wanted Man-
he looked far into the horizon
his thoughts flying to what might have been
he sucked on his cigarette, inhaled, grimaced
as he blew out the grey smoke and flicked the butt away
...
now days he no longer gets sleep
he has no home, family or friends
all he has is his bad habits
he no longer has free time
now days he is a wanted man
wanted by the mafia, cops, and government
he can no longer stay in motels
he has to stay in out of the way places like this
he is a fugative
many want him
but none will catch him
he is to slick
he wont let them catch him
he will keep moving
...
he walked slowly into the woods, head down
this was where it all began and he wished it never happened
he is and always will be a fugative
he is the wanted man
he looked far into the horizon
his thoughts flying to what might have been
he sucked on his cigarette, inhaled, grimaced
as he blew out the grey smoke and flicked the butt away
...
now days he no longer gets sleep
he has no home, family or friends
all he has is his bad habits
he no longer has free time
now days he is a wanted man
wanted by the mafia, cops, and government
he can no longer stay in motels
he has to stay in out of the way places like this
he is a fugative
many want him
but none will catch him
he is to slick
he wont let them catch him
he will keep moving
...
he walked slowly into the woods, head down
this was where it all began and he wished it never happened
he is and always will be a fugative
he is the wanted man
MANY MOONS AGO
I used to stroll down the street
One hand in my pocket
Keeping guard over dimes
And a stick of cigarette
In the other
That was so many moons ago
When I started out on this journey
Now I look at my brow
Focusing on the wrinkles
And the uninvited grey hair
How I wish I never had that pride
As I gaze far into the horizon
Framed by the grey smoke from the cigarette
Damn, this is where it all began
Many moons ago!
I used to stroll down the street
One hand in my pocket
Keeping guard over dimes
And a stick of cigarette
In the other
That was so many moons ago
When I started out on this journey
Now I look at my brow
Focusing on the wrinkles
And the uninvited grey hair
How I wish I never had that pride
As I gaze far into the horizon
Framed by the grey smoke from the cigarette
Damn, this is where it all began
Many moons ago!
Soul Abated
He traded his soul
For a memory long lost
A heart black as coal
To pay all the costs
He took a deep breath
From his final cigarette
Contemplating death
But knowing not even that would let him forget
He flicked the cigarette away
And fixed his eyes on the place
Struggling not to delay
To meet his shame face to face
He walked, head down
Into those trees
The ones that now crowned
His hollow victory
This was where it began
What could have been, now faded
Because pride overran
He stood now, broken and jaded
It should never have happened
He was to blame
He never imagined
His actions would bring so much pain
But he could not deny
She paid the price
For his hasty goodby
Taking up his vice
With the guilt so heavy
He chose to forget
And relinquish his levy
The bright eyed brunette
But now he's returned
To once again remember
And hopefully, forgiveness to earn
For that fateful day in December
So he traded his soul
To reclaim the memory he abandoned
For the girl's life he inadvertently stole
And the truth he once commanded
He traded his soul
For a memory long lost
A heart black as coal
To pay all the costs
He took a deep breath
From his final cigarette
Contemplating death
But knowing not even that would let him forget
He flicked the cigarette away
And fixed his eyes on the place
Struggling not to delay
To meet his shame face to face
He walked, head down
Into those trees
The ones that now crowned
His hollow victory
This was where it began
What could have been, now faded
Because pride overran
He stood now, broken and jaded
It should never have happened
He was to blame
He never imagined
His actions would bring so much pain
But he could not deny
She paid the price
For his hasty goodby
Taking up his vice
With the guilt so heavy
He chose to forget
And relinquish his levy
The bright eyed brunette
But now he's returned
To once again remember
And hopefully, forgiveness to earn
For that fateful day in December
So he traded his soul
To reclaim the memory he abandoned
For the girl's life he inadvertently stole
And the truth he once commanded
Trade My Soul For Yours
If I trade you my undying soul would you give me my heart back
My memory fades like the smoke that I tossed to the ground
The only life left in us is the ashes that are greeted by the cold dirt, only to vanish into nothing forever more
Now that we are dead and gone I realized where I got off track
Even though we're over, I can see where I lost my heart
And traded my soul for a better difference
When I enter these woods of hope
I am surrounded by lifeless trees that only make me want to surrender
Because all they remind me of is life, and how we could be
But all I'm stuck with is the remembrance
If I trade you my undying soul would you give me my heart back
My memory fades like the smoke that I tossed to the ground
The only life left in us is the ashes that are greeted by the cold dirt, only to vanish into nothing forever more
Now that we are dead and gone I realized where I got off track
Even though we're over, I can see where I lost my heart
And traded my soul for a better difference
When I enter these woods of hope
I am surrounded by lifeless trees that only make me want to surrender
Because all they remind me of is life, and how we could be
But all I'm stuck with is the remembrance
My Best Friend
Some claim you sell your soul at the crossroads,
Not me.
I know for a fact that is not the only place the devil does business
With a cigarette and bottle of vodka for courage,
I tried to rationalize my decision
“I’m not hurting anybody or at least nobody that matters
In fact, I’m doing the world a favor”
I can still remember how the furry built inside me
I can remember walking into the woods and seeing my best friend
Or maybe it wasn’t him, maybe it was a stranger
Maybe it was a sinful man, a man that deserved what was coming to him
I can’t be sure what happened next, for it seems to have fled my memory,
But I know whoever this man was, he died that night
Just like my baby sister died, they said it was from a serious blow to the head
Followed by strangulation
Her husband couldn’t have done it, could he?
No, of course not,
He is my best friend
Some claim you sell your soul at the crossroads,
Not me.
I know for a fact that is not the only place the devil does business
With a cigarette and bottle of vodka for courage,
I tried to rationalize my decision
“I’m not hurting anybody or at least nobody that matters
In fact, I’m doing the world a favor”
I can still remember how the furry built inside me
I can remember walking into the woods and seeing my best friend
Or maybe it wasn’t him, maybe it was a stranger
Maybe it was a sinful man, a man that deserved what was coming to him
I can’t be sure what happened next, for it seems to have fled my memory,
But I know whoever this man was, he died that night
Just like my baby sister died, they said it was from a serious blow to the head
Followed by strangulation
Her husband couldn’t have done it, could he?
No, of course not,
He is my best friend
"The Dangerous Mind"
by: Eric L. Boddie
It's sometimes hard to recognize the signs
But it is equally as strong as the tie that binds
And it has been studied so many times
But profound enlightment is all one finds
It remains a mystery to those notorious white lines
That bring hardships to so many kinds
And because of the name, many think it has dark designs
But truth be told, it only lets Light Shine
Powered by the truth of the Divine
So in many ways, it is indeed a shrine
But out of fear, some will say it's sublime
Because composite thoughts are reduced to prime
Which is why it's such a detriment if it turns to crime
But in Faith, if it continues to climb
No longer would bells ring, they would now chime
Because this object could never fall behind
Because with the heart, it is intertwined
Inspiring all negativity to stay on its vine
Some versions are blank while others are rhymed
As they conjuer new ways to send chills to the spine
A more powerful weapon than any glock or nine
And no debate will ever see it whine
Because it has a representation to keep, it's the dangerous mind
by: Eric L. Boddie
It's sometimes hard to recognize the signs
But it is equally as strong as the tie that binds
And it has been studied so many times
But profound enlightment is all one finds
It remains a mystery to those notorious white lines
That bring hardships to so many kinds
And because of the name, many think it has dark designs
But truth be told, it only lets Light Shine
Powered by the truth of the Divine
So in many ways, it is indeed a shrine
But out of fear, some will say it's sublime
Because composite thoughts are reduced to prime
Which is why it's such a detriment if it turns to crime
But in Faith, if it continues to climb
No longer would bells ring, they would now chime
Because this object could never fall behind
Because with the heart, it is intertwined
Inspiring all negativity to stay on its vine
Some versions are blank while others are rhymed
As they conjuer new ways to send chills to the spine
A more powerful weapon than any glock or nine
And no debate will ever see it whine
Because it has a representation to keep, it's the dangerous mind
Living In The Past
I stare
into space
as I tear the air
with my eyes glazed ,
the dark does glare
in hollow waste ,
from the love once shared
in brighter days .
We see time gone by
as a daydream
played out from mind ,
like a reprieve
from the real , the bind
or to just say feel
the hands of those once kind .
I snap
back to now
like a big hand cracked
or slapped my brow .
I must get together my act
for the tomorrow , somehow .
I stare
into space
as I tear the air
with my eyes glazed ,
the dark does glare
in hollow waste ,
from the love once shared
in brighter days .
We see time gone by
as a daydream
played out from mind ,
like a reprieve
from the real , the bind
or to just say feel
the hands of those once kind .
I snap
back to now
like a big hand cracked
or slapped my brow .
I must get together my act
for the tomorrow , somehow .
