Poetry competition CLOSED 2nd December 2013 4:34pm
WINNER
wolven-dreams
wolven-dreams
RUNNERS-UP:
HadesRising
and SirTempo
Page:
Paradise Lost
Poetry Contest Description
Poetry inspired by a line, or in whole, of Paradise Lost by John Milton.
1. If using a specific line or verse, include it in your post.
2 Less than 300 words.
3. No Collaborations.
4. New or old poems.
5. Limit of 5 posts per person.
A few lines to get you started
“Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss”
"Knowledge forbidden?
Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord
Envy them that? Can it be a sin to know?
Can it be death?”
"A mind not to be changed by place or time.
The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a heav'n of hell, a hell of heav'n.”
2 Less than 300 words.
3. No Collaborations.
4. New or old poems.
5. Limit of 5 posts per person.
A few lines to get you started
“Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss”
"Knowledge forbidden?
Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord
Envy them that? Can it be a sin to know?
Can it be death?”
"A mind not to be changed by place or time.
The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a heav'n of hell, a hell of heav'n.”
If you have not read it, this link has some quotes from it.
http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1031493-paradise-lost
http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1031493-paradise-lost
DYING WISH IN LOST PARADISE
http://cdn-wac.emirates247.com/polopoly_fs/1.527411.1383972909!/image/2441699874.gif
Amidst the howling of mighty winds
and heavy downpour of torrential rains—
followed with flash floods and storm surge,
I could hear the frantic cries of a mother
trying to save her newly born child from drowning,
as her house was swept off by the raging waters.
Desperate cries for help
from both old and young alike
reverberated in my ears
before I finally lost consciousness
while clinging to a piece of broken rafter.
The scorching heat of the tropical sun
awakens me from a deep slumber
thinking I’m having a nightmare—
it’s a nightmare all right
for when I open my eyes
I’m surrounded with stinking dead bodies—
their stench fills my lungs,
and clings to my skin.
For many days I’m walking among the dead,
talking to myself, walking till I drop dead
for how long I have no idea—
I lost track of time…
I get up and keep walking
trying to figure out
where the hell am I
because I’m quite sure
this is not my island paradise.
Where are the beautiful orchids
that cling to its majestic trees
and the towering coconut trees,
which adorn its magnificent shorelines?
The lush gardens filled with varieties
of wonderful flora and fauna
once enjoyed by many from foreign shores,
the verdant hills overlooking the deep blue sea,
and most of all its warm and caring people
I wonder where they are…
For those of you who may be lucky to read this
I beg of you to grant me my dying wish—
support those left behind to get up on their feet:
shower them with your fervent prayers,
and open your doors with caring hearts
because I will keep on knocking
outside your closed and selfish minds
so long after I'm gone!
http://cdn-wac.emirates247.com/polopoly_fs/1.527411.1383972909!/image/2441699874.gif
Amidst the howling of mighty winds
and heavy downpour of torrential rains—
followed with flash floods and storm surge,
I could hear the frantic cries of a mother
trying to save her newly born child from drowning,
as her house was swept off by the raging waters.
Desperate cries for help
from both old and young alike
reverberated in my ears
before I finally lost consciousness
while clinging to a piece of broken rafter.
The scorching heat of the tropical sun
awakens me from a deep slumber
thinking I’m having a nightmare—
it’s a nightmare all right
for when I open my eyes
I’m surrounded with stinking dead bodies—
their stench fills my lungs,
and clings to my skin.
For many days I’m walking among the dead,
talking to myself, walking till I drop dead
for how long I have no idea—
I lost track of time…
I get up and keep walking
trying to figure out
where the hell am I
because I’m quite sure
this is not my island paradise.
Where are the beautiful orchids
that cling to its majestic trees
and the towering coconut trees,
which adorn its magnificent shorelines?
The lush gardens filled with varieties
of wonderful flora and fauna
once enjoyed by many from foreign shores,
the verdant hills overlooking the deep blue sea,
and most of all its warm and caring people
I wonder where they are…
For those of you who may be lucky to read this
I beg of you to grant me my dying wish—
support those left behind to get up on their feet:
shower them with your fervent prayers,
and open your doors with caring hearts
because I will keep on knocking
outside your closed and selfish minds
so long after I'm gone!
Cast from the heavens you and I
For passion neither could deny.
Forced to exist for all ages,
Us, victims of mortal stages.
Time again we found our heart,
The tragedy to begin another start.
But we the children of divines,
Had but once to cross the line.
Thousands of years have passed,
It’s a wonder our spirits last.
We live to find each other again
And allow our misery to begin.
How though can we survive,
In our sick unending lives?
If but one truly wishes love,
And the other, to live above?
You wished my heart so long,
And sang to me cosmic song.
My soul did resonate with yours,
But our love was abhorred.
I pleaded with my mother,
Yours and another,
But they would not release,
And cast us from peace.
My throne was lost,
At so great a cost.
I turned and gave it all to you,
And you tore me in two.
Do you miss divinity so,
That our love you forgo?
I, my life did promise,
For your heart to go amiss?
Gwyddion keeper of all souls,
Who are you without me?
When life has gone and taken toll,
Who came and set you free?
Arianrhod your goddess sweet,
Did defend you against all.
When all did have you beat,
The bearer of souls did not stall.
Be now you my lover strong,
And receive in this final song.
The gift of eternity is ours,
Let the bells ring in their towers.
This life is our destiny untold,
I give you my soul unsold.
Let us rise together at last,
Holding our love strong and fast.
For passion neither could deny.
Forced to exist for all ages,
Us, victims of mortal stages.
Time again we found our heart,
The tragedy to begin another start.
But we the children of divines,
Had but once to cross the line.
Thousands of years have passed,
It’s a wonder our spirits last.
We live to find each other again
And allow our misery to begin.
How though can we survive,
In our sick unending lives?
If but one truly wishes love,
And the other, to live above?
You wished my heart so long,
And sang to me cosmic song.
My soul did resonate with yours,
But our love was abhorred.
I pleaded with my mother,
Yours and another,
But they would not release,
And cast us from peace.
My throne was lost,
At so great a cost.
I turned and gave it all to you,
And you tore me in two.
Do you miss divinity so,
That our love you forgo?
I, my life did promise,
For your heart to go amiss?
Gwyddion keeper of all souls,
Who are you without me?
When life has gone and taken toll,
Who came and set you free?
Arianrhod your goddess sweet,
Did defend you against all.
When all did have you beat,
The bearer of souls did not stall.
Be now you my lover strong,
And receive in this final song.
The gift of eternity is ours,
Let the bells ring in their towers.
This life is our destiny untold,
I give you my soul unsold.
Let us rise together at last,
Holding our love strong and fast.
“Me miserable! Which way shall I fly
Infinite wrath and infinite despair?
Which way I fly is hell; myself am hell;
And in the lowest deep a lower deep,
Still threat'ning to devour me, opens wide,
To which the hell I suffer seems a heaven.”
Pardon Me
the devil stole my prayers
I his accomplice
I used my hands as a mask
as I knelt before God so he wouldn't recognize me
told Him what I wanted to hear
as the fertile seeds grew quicker weaving the trellis of my mind
each panicle an escapee for the larceny of my convictions
freedom has no key
nor cell
and I am satisfied cresting the gallows
Infinite wrath and infinite despair?
Which way I fly is hell; myself am hell;
And in the lowest deep a lower deep,
Still threat'ning to devour me, opens wide,
To which the hell I suffer seems a heaven.”
Pardon Me
the devil stole my prayers
I his accomplice
I used my hands as a mask
as I knelt before God so he wouldn't recognize me
told Him what I wanted to hear
as the fertile seeds grew quicker weaving the trellis of my mind
each panicle an escapee for the larceny of my convictions
freedom has no key
nor cell
and I am satisfied cresting the gallows
I.
With small and trusting hands,
we climbed skyward
to our temple in the trees,
upheld by roots unseen.
We played while fall's pale sun
painted shadows on the leaves.
The sundown bell called out,
in mother tongue, "come home."
With shoulders squared,
we clenched our eyes and chose.
The bravest thing I'd ever done
was just a kiss.
II.
The paradise tree's at trail's end.
As it grew its heartwood formed,
a harder, darker core
On two nightstands sit two clocks,
a continent apart.
Eyes open in the dark,
we cup our ears to listen.
But no bell rings forever.
Time has seen to that.
Outside, a rebel angel sings
the Song of Solomon.
With small and trusting hands,
we climbed skyward
to our temple in the trees,
upheld by roots unseen.
We played while fall's pale sun
painted shadows on the leaves.
The sundown bell called out,
in mother tongue, "come home."
With shoulders squared,
we clenched our eyes and chose.
The bravest thing I'd ever done
was just a kiss.
II.
The paradise tree's at trail's end.
As it grew its heartwood formed,
a harder, darker core
On two nightstands sit two clocks,
a continent apart.
Eyes open in the dark,
we cup our ears to listen.
But no bell rings forever.
Time has seen to that.
Outside, a rebel angel sings
the Song of Solomon.
UNDERNEATH THE MOURNING STAR
(THE TRAGEDY OF GOD-CROSSED LOVERS)
I spied Faith sitting upon a rail.
Fair hair in the wind,
Watching the ships set sail.
Whispers from her wonder if
She’ll ever see me again,
As I sail off into the rift.
Gone to fight in God’s own war
Clad in celestial armor,
I go to break the door.
Of things so vile and beneath
Us, the holy army.
We will crush them under our feet.
In Heaven, God looked upon Faith.
And saw that without me,
She was but a wraith.
And sadness filled His heart.
Between the battles, I dream of her.
Sitting there so lonely,
Drawing her picture in the dirt.
Falling leaves remind me of the time
Of splendors and apples.
Before sin was a crime.
Here in His kingdom sat one so blind
To the love that shone
But then Faith was still mine.
A forbidden affair in His home.
In the heat of Battle I threw down their King.
Their morale was broken
And enemy horde felt the sting.
I proclaimed my victory for God’s glory
And headed for home
To Heaven, to tell the story.
Word spread to the Lord of my win
But He was full of envy
For in His house Faith and I sinned.
In His eyes there were many.
Sat her down in comfort.
Then told her about my doom.
She wept upon the shoulder of the Lord.
But him it was just
Another player knocked off the board.
There she stood on top of the stairs
And the air was so thick with despair.
Her stricken heart set to un-tune her,
And grief poured forth to consume her.
With one last pull of the heart strings
She cast herself from the spire
And the cold night air was lit up with fire.
God was then struck with a rage
And barred me from the chamber floor.
I was to be condemned in a cage
And I looked into the face of mistrust
Once filled with just, but nevermore.
“Cast me, Father, as you cast her out!
Throw me from your heart!”
And thus, I lashed about.
“I have lost Faith to her doom!”
The, I, The Morningstar
Cursed God from Heaven to distant moons.
And He said,
“Her pride for you kept her so fair.
Your death by my word led to despair.
I cast you out, into the dark.
Let the lash of her death leave a mark.”
And so I fell
Through fire and earth.
To rule beneath
A new rebirth.
And still I search
For where she burned.
I have looked afar,
From Hell to Earth.
I am still The Mourning Star.
(THE TRAGEDY OF GOD-CROSSED LOVERS)
I spied Faith sitting upon a rail.
Fair hair in the wind,
Watching the ships set sail.
Whispers from her wonder if
She’ll ever see me again,
As I sail off into the rift.
Gone to fight in God’s own war
Clad in celestial armor,
I go to break the door.
Of things so vile and beneath
Us, the holy army.
We will crush them under our feet.
In Heaven, God looked upon Faith.
And saw that without me,
She was but a wraith.
And sadness filled His heart.
Between the battles, I dream of her.
Sitting there so lonely,
Drawing her picture in the dirt.
Falling leaves remind me of the time
Of splendors and apples.
Before sin was a crime.
Here in His kingdom sat one so blind
To the love that shone
But then Faith was still mine.
A forbidden affair in His home.
In the heat of Battle I threw down their King.
Their morale was broken
And enemy horde felt the sting.
I proclaimed my victory for God’s glory
And headed for home
To Heaven, to tell the story.
Word spread to the Lord of my win
But He was full of envy
For in His house Faith and I sinned.
In His eyes there were many.
Sat her down in comfort.
Then told her about my doom.
She wept upon the shoulder of the Lord.
But him it was just
Another player knocked off the board.
There she stood on top of the stairs
And the air was so thick with despair.
Her stricken heart set to un-tune her,
And grief poured forth to consume her.
With one last pull of the heart strings
She cast herself from the spire
And the cold night air was lit up with fire.
God was then struck with a rage
And barred me from the chamber floor.
I was to be condemned in a cage
And I looked into the face of mistrust
Once filled with just, but nevermore.
“Cast me, Father, as you cast her out!
Throw me from your heart!”
And thus, I lashed about.
“I have lost Faith to her doom!”
The, I, The Morningstar
Cursed God from Heaven to distant moons.
And He said,
“Her pride for you kept her so fair.
Your death by my word led to despair.
I cast you out, into the dark.
Let the lash of her death leave a mark.”
And so I fell
Through fire and earth.
To rule beneath
A new rebirth.
And still I search
For where she burned.
I have looked afar,
From Hell to Earth.
I am still The Mourning Star.
So watch my chest heave
As this last breath leaves me
I am trying to be
What you're dying to see
I feel like "Fuck man,
Can't take this anymore.
This heart breaks
This is life that's so thankless,
How could He just forsake us?
Breaks us He makes us
Hate us He gave us
Nothing but no trust
And I am so fucked up
So let this gun bond us
Let's hide by this lust
And once we are just dust
He'll know that He loved us
Let it all burn
I will burn first
God I've tried, am I lost in your eyes?
Just let me burn,
It's what I deserve.
God I've lied, am I lost in your eyes?
So take me and make me
Weaken and save me
This hate that you gave me
Keeps saying the same thing
To sing when you hurt and
To sing when you cry
To sing when you live and
To sing when you die
And here at the end
At the end of the hurt
All the pain ain't the same
When it's your turn to burn
We're the hearts for the heartless,
The thoughts for the thoughtless,
The lies for the honest,
We're the Gods of the Godless!
So cry three tears for me,
When it's all gone,
Sing me this song
So cry three tears for me,
When it's all gone,
When it's all gone
I can not stand
Who I am. I'm this man
With this blood on my hands.
In this blood I am damned
So watch my wings burn
As they burn in the fire
Don't scatter the ashes
No need for the choir
Burn
Now
Burn
Just let me burn
Now
Burn
Burn!
This is not my own, this was written by Hollywood Undead, but I feel it fits this competition perfectly.
As this last breath leaves me
I am trying to be
What you're dying to see
I feel like "Fuck man,
Can't take this anymore.
This heart breaks
This is life that's so thankless,
How could He just forsake us?
Breaks us He makes us
Hate us He gave us
Nothing but no trust
And I am so fucked up
So let this gun bond us
Let's hide by this lust
And once we are just dust
He'll know that He loved us
Let it all burn
I will burn first
God I've tried, am I lost in your eyes?
Just let me burn,
It's what I deserve.
God I've lied, am I lost in your eyes?
So take me and make me
Weaken and save me
This hate that you gave me
Keeps saying the same thing
To sing when you hurt and
To sing when you cry
To sing when you live and
To sing when you die
And here at the end
At the end of the hurt
All the pain ain't the same
When it's your turn to burn
We're the hearts for the heartless,
The thoughts for the thoughtless,
The lies for the honest,
We're the Gods of the Godless!
So cry three tears for me,
When it's all gone,
Sing me this song
So cry three tears for me,
When it's all gone,
When it's all gone
I can not stand
Who I am. I'm this man
With this blood on my hands.
In this blood I am damned
So watch my wings burn
As they burn in the fire
Don't scatter the ashes
No need for the choir
Burn
Now
Burn
Just let me burn
Now
Burn
Burn!
This is not my own, this was written by Hollywood Undead, but I feel it fits this competition perfectly.
"Better to reign in Hell, than to serve in Heaven.”
howls from St. Peter's den
why am I at peace with the overtures of the dead
grey and blackened shields entomb the fallen from predators like this charcoaled wolf
for I've long given up my chances for redemption
I simply prowl as a carrion feeder weaving amongst the markers
A vessel for those seeking salvation
I am not stirred by the reconstruction of souls I never knew
I need only hide behind the monotheistic bait for those foolish enough to believe in divinity
Crepuscular bandits bobbing in my wake borough for morsels of the soulless
Blood was spilled in every story told
and it's all I need to whet and sate my purpose
Shroud your loved ones with tears and shrieks of sorrow you hypocrites
Their passing makes room for you
Heard by few are your hollow bellows of grief
that echo within the catacombs by which I slumber this night
And the within the shell that you perpetuate
I'm panting now
My pulsating tongue and syncopated breath
deciphers your camouflage
Capitulation serves you best
for I will be fed in the stone garden of St Peter's
His gates were not designed to keep me in
They are merely a testament that you can't stay out
Postscript: written after spending a night at one of my havens; St. Peter's church and cemetery. I slept nestled among the tombstones.
howls from St. Peter's den
why am I at peace with the overtures of the dead
grey and blackened shields entomb the fallen from predators like this charcoaled wolf
for I've long given up my chances for redemption
I simply prowl as a carrion feeder weaving amongst the markers
A vessel for those seeking salvation
I am not stirred by the reconstruction of souls I never knew
I need only hide behind the monotheistic bait for those foolish enough to believe in divinity
Crepuscular bandits bobbing in my wake borough for morsels of the soulless
Blood was spilled in every story told
and it's all I need to whet and sate my purpose
Shroud your loved ones with tears and shrieks of sorrow you hypocrites
Their passing makes room for you
Heard by few are your hollow bellows of grief
that echo within the catacombs by which I slumber this night
And the within the shell that you perpetuate
I'm panting now
My pulsating tongue and syncopated breath
deciphers your camouflage
Capitulation serves you best
for I will be fed in the stone garden of St Peter's
His gates were not designed to keep me in
They are merely a testament that you can't stay out
Postscript: written after spending a night at one of my havens; St. Peter's church and cemetery. I slept nestled among the tombstones.
“Grace was in all her steps,
heaven in her eye,
in every gesture dignity and love.”
Fireflies and Clouds
I had gathered wild juniper berries and lilacs
to press inside my pillow
they would serve as sentinels for my dreams
the colony of my adolescence would pollinate them
creating new honeycombs to hide in
Mama was tending the fire
Her hands were partners to the flame
Truckers' hands
burnt at the edges and palms
from cigarettes meant to keep her awake
when she used to have overnight runs
She called them cricket bites
Chirps that called her home to her babies
she confessed in my ear
my baby brother tended to his new menagerie this night
Fireflies in one mason jar
pond frog in another
And him beggin' mama to let him fetch a snake next
No, was always the answer
sometimes before he even asked
We kept our food in the boughs o'er head
Less the Cimmerians came calling for scraps
but when we ate on evenings like this
It fed me whole
the nectar in the flames and the echoes in the laughter
mama told baby brother that the marshmallows we roasted
were shavings from the clouds
caramelized and dripping with sugary bliss and reverie
Once brother asked
If we eat them
How'd they get back to heaven
When we fart, mama giggled
And your grandpa was the best cloud maker in the world,
she'd say
That's why we called him Big Jim
fire
clouds
laughter
fireflies
Mama
I ask
Can we stay here in the park
again
tomorrow night
I don't like that shelter
We'll see Cricket
we'll see
heaven in her eye,
in every gesture dignity and love.”
Fireflies and Clouds
I had gathered wild juniper berries and lilacs
to press inside my pillow
they would serve as sentinels for my dreams
the colony of my adolescence would pollinate them
creating new honeycombs to hide in
Mama was tending the fire
Her hands were partners to the flame
Truckers' hands
burnt at the edges and palms
from cigarettes meant to keep her awake
when she used to have overnight runs
She called them cricket bites
Chirps that called her home to her babies
she confessed in my ear
my baby brother tended to his new menagerie this night
Fireflies in one mason jar
pond frog in another
And him beggin' mama to let him fetch a snake next
No, was always the answer
sometimes before he even asked
We kept our food in the boughs o'er head
Less the Cimmerians came calling for scraps
but when we ate on evenings like this
It fed me whole
the nectar in the flames and the echoes in the laughter
mama told baby brother that the marshmallows we roasted
were shavings from the clouds
caramelized and dripping with sugary bliss and reverie
Once brother asked
If we eat them
How'd they get back to heaven
When we fart, mama giggled
And your grandpa was the best cloud maker in the world,
she'd say
That's why we called him Big Jim
fire
clouds
laughter
fireflies
Mama
I ask
Can we stay here in the park
again
tomorrow night
I don't like that shelter
We'll see Cricket
we'll see
