Submissions by Atakti
POEMS AND SHORT STORIES
Poet Introduction
Turbulent waters ahead, sharks behind, shut up and paddle...
OBSERVATIONAL POEM
Published
22nd Jun 2013 1:32am
22nd Jun 2013 1:32am
The view
You failed, did you?
What is it, a job lost, wife left you?
Oh, you can’t show your face in public, and the kids don’t need
a father like you?
Drinks, or worse, your life is ruined…
Too much pain trapped in one life, and here’s an exit
off this ledge.
No one needs you, that’s what you see.
But – here is what I see.
You need you.
And here is all the space to be there
for yourself.
This space is all yours, take it.
There is a long conversation waiting
between you and yourself, about what
you truly want.
No one...
What is it, a job lost, wife left you?
Oh, you can’t show your face in public, and the kids don’t need
a father like you?
Drinks, or worse, your life is ruined…
Too much pain trapped in one life, and here’s an exit
off this ledge.
No one needs you, that’s what you see.
But – here is what I see.
You need you.
And here is all the space to be there
for yourself.
This space is all yours, take it.
There is a long conversation waiting
between you and yourself, about what
you truly want.
No one...
942 reads
20 Comments
DARK POEM
Published
22nd Jun 2013 00:56am
22nd Jun 2013 00:56am
curse wretched
venom of words and essence of malice
seven drops mixed into this chalice
the moon bleeds a ruby red
the stars vanished, evil mist
strips of dignity, shorn and shredded
nightmares, terrors, all that’s dreaded
with the devil’s talon stir it blacker
it bubbles and hisses, acid kisses
throw the flames greener, higher
let jealousy fuel this cursed fire
here is regret crushed to powder
come now, sisters, stings and blisters
the vial of vileness is now sealed
scalps and eyelids pretty peeled
closer, closer, sweet, fair maiden...
seven drops mixed into this chalice
the moon bleeds a ruby red
the stars vanished, evil mist
strips of dignity, shorn and shredded
nightmares, terrors, all that’s dreaded
with the devil’s talon stir it blacker
it bubbles and hisses, acid kisses
throw the flames greener, higher
let jealousy fuel this cursed fire
here is regret crushed to powder
come now, sisters, stings and blisters
the vial of vileness is now sealed
scalps and eyelids pretty peeled
closer, closer, sweet, fair maiden...
884 reads
22 Comments
MISCELLANEOUS POEM
Published
11th Jun 2013 6:10am
11th Jun 2013 6:10am
Unrepentant Sinner (She's not picking up, call back later)
I inhale the promise of cocoa
dreams, eyes half-lidded
as my lips close around
satin smoothness.
My insides melt... this
is naughty nougat heat.
Brittle, soft shivers follow
rice crisp racing pulses...
Caramel kisses are mine, but
I want more. I seek the curve
of almond crunches, willingly
succumbing to chocolate
wickedness...
Entry in the "Evilly Delicious" comp
dreams, eyes half-lidded
as my lips close around
satin smoothness.
My insides melt... this
is naughty nougat heat.
Brittle, soft shivers follow
rice crisp racing pulses...
Caramel kisses are mine, but
I want more. I seek the curve
of almond crunches, willingly
succumbing to chocolate
wickedness...
Entry in the "Evilly Delicious" comp
983 reads
28 Comments
UPBEAT INSPIRATIONAL POEM
Published
10th Jun 2013 4:31pm
10th Jun 2013 4:31pm
A faint star's light
He bundles me up in his balloon basket
and lets go of the ropes.
I'm buoyant, free floating
and still dumbstruck
that I matter.
He offers me the space
between the stars
but I'm happy sharing
this planet.
I have yet to meet anyone
with warmer words
than his.
It's strange and wonderful
to fly without strings.
and lets go of the ropes.
I'm buoyant, free floating
and still dumbstruck
that I matter.
He offers me the space
between the stars
but I'm happy sharing
this planet.
I have yet to meet anyone
with warmer words
than his.
It's strange and wonderful
to fly without strings.
972 reads
38 Comments
STORY POEM
Published
31st May 2013 9:27pm
31st May 2013 9:27pm
Green Car
Charlie stands, his best shoes askew. There are white
marks from the walk along the gravel, the newness scuffed. He squirms
away from the collar of the shirt then stops, remembering earlier
instructions. He doesn’t understand all the words the man says
and no one else is moving or speaking, but a bird flies
from the pine branch and he watches it circle
then disappear into the woods. Grandma
has her handkerchief at her mouth, and that woman
over there — are those tears? Charlie turns to his father
but his jaw is rigid and his eyes still haven’t...
marks from the walk along the gravel, the newness scuffed. He squirms
away from the collar of the shirt then stops, remembering earlier
instructions. He doesn’t understand all the words the man says
and no one else is moving or speaking, but a bird flies
from the pine branch and he watches it circle
then disappear into the woods. Grandma
has her handkerchief at her mouth, and that woman
over there — are those tears? Charlie turns to his father
but his jaw is rigid and his eyes still haven’t...
1444 reads
32 Comments
SELF POEM
Published
29th May 2013 8:42pm
29th May 2013 8:42pm
Where I Breathe
I wanted an immersed peacefulness, to slip through, glide
in the near silence of buoyancy.
I found this peace.
I belong to the bubble blurs as I breathe
not mere oxygen, but newfound belonging.
in the near silence of buoyancy.
I found this peace.
I belong to the bubble blurs as I breathe
not mere oxygen, but newfound belonging.
1116 reads
30 Comments
MISCELLANEOUS POEM
Published
11th May 2013 11:08pm
11th May 2013 11:08pm
Reading you
I read you.
I tread where you tread,
gaze where you gaze.
I trail along
each idea,
breathe in your air.
I crave
the penetration of
your thoughts into mine.
Your hand traces lines,
deft and sure. Words
whisper, I shiver.
I slip in your skin, and out
again, tensed for the next slide
in.
I read you,
breathlessly
sated, unsated.
I tread where you tread,
gaze where you gaze.
I trail along
each idea,
breathe in your air.
I crave
the penetration of
your thoughts into mine.
Your hand traces lines,
deft and sure. Words
whisper, I shiver.
I slip in your skin, and out
again, tensed for the next slide
in.
I read you,
breathlessly
sated, unsated.
1139 reads
32 Comments
SELF POEM
Published
11th May 2013 8:32pm
11th May 2013 8:32pm
Am I?
the tail on the comet, the bang on
the firework, the whirl on the
Ferris wheel and the excitement
brewing the last day of school…
Zing flash with another, when
my words rattle in silver, zipping
in the pinball chatter.
I can do that at times.
The coin flips
upwards
shiny.
Downwards, now tarnished, it lands
and rolls to the nothing space of carpet
between armchair and window.
My oxygen clock ticks and
I breathe in quiet and exhale
stillness.
… nothing …
thoughts …
...
the firework, the whirl on the
Ferris wheel and the excitement
brewing the last day of school…
Zing flash with another, when
my words rattle in silver, zipping
in the pinball chatter.
I can do that at times.
The coin flips
upwards
shiny.
Downwards, now tarnished, it lands
and rolls to the nothing space of carpet
between armchair and window.
My oxygen clock ticks and
I breathe in quiet and exhale
stillness.
… nothing …
thoughts …
...
844 reads
10 Comments
MISCELLANEOUS POEM
Published
9th May 2013 9:18pm
9th May 2013 9:18pm
Gathering of the Faithful
I pull ten thousand doors shut, hear just as
many approving thuds. Walls have stood
then fallen while I claim the stone incline.
I pull my scarf tighter around my head,
ecclesiastically bound… bound.
Triple digits pursed, I self-sanctify
my entrance into candlelit liturgy.
Stoic sainted icons suffer my first
plea, prayerful antiphons amass.
Anamnestic persuasions flow, now
flow… baptized anew, belief molten
into my bones. It cools and hardens –
metal weight behind the words I will fling
at the unbelievers, the doubters, the...
many approving thuds. Walls have stood
then fallen while I claim the stone incline.
I pull my scarf tighter around my head,
ecclesiastically bound… bound.
Triple digits pursed, I self-sanctify
my entrance into candlelit liturgy.
Stoic sainted icons suffer my first
plea, prayerful antiphons amass.
Anamnestic persuasions flow, now
flow… baptized anew, belief molten
into my bones. It cools and hardens –
metal weight behind the words I will fling
at the unbelievers, the doubters, the...
919 reads
22 Comments
ANGER POEM
Published
1st May 2013 11:41pm
1st May 2013 11:41pm
Am I getting through to you, now?
An odd shuffle of the feet and an erratic
flicker of the fingers betray that Judas smile.
“Hello,” slimes from rubber lips to my ears,
escalating tension to clenched rage.
I don’t bother to disguise my disgust.
Today, buddy, I am ready to communicate.
“No, I don’t want to talk to you.”
My boot swiftly kicks your shin.
“No, I don’t want to get in your car.”
My elbow slams into your ear.
“No, I will not ‘see you later.’”
My fist grabs your shirt into a ball —
“Say hello to my pal.”
— and introduces your face to the lamppost....
flicker of the fingers betray that Judas smile.
“Hello,” slimes from rubber lips to my ears,
escalating tension to clenched rage.
I don’t bother to disguise my disgust.
Today, buddy, I am ready to communicate.
“No, I don’t want to talk to you.”
My boot swiftly kicks your shin.
“No, I don’t want to get in your car.”
My elbow slams into your ear.
“No, I will not ‘see you later.’”
My fist grabs your shirt into a ball —
“Say hello to my pal.”
— and introduces your face to the lamppost....
1221 reads
35 Comments
SELF POEM
Published
29th Apr 2013 9:51pm
29th Apr 2013 9:51pm
Spectral Secrets
I yawn and remain wakeful. I don’t
know why I keep this vigil. There hasn't
been a single night that gave a hint
towards an answer.
I refuse sleep as a refuge and I am not
wrong there. It offers subconscious
entrapments in fast-fading dream-mares.
I awake, already dreading yet wanting to remember.
Then forgetting anyway.
Then interrupted slumber brings me the
disorderly vomit of mind processing - a
pregnant sister drinking vinegar, a friend
bickering over clothing, distorted dogs - and
I
think, this isn’t helping....
know why I keep this vigil. There hasn't
been a single night that gave a hint
towards an answer.
I refuse sleep as a refuge and I am not
wrong there. It offers subconscious
entrapments in fast-fading dream-mares.
I awake, already dreading yet wanting to remember.
Then forgetting anyway.
Then interrupted slumber brings me the
disorderly vomit of mind processing - a
pregnant sister drinking vinegar, a friend
bickering over clothing, distorted dogs - and
I
think, this isn’t helping....
1012 reads
30 Comments
OBSERVATIONAL POEM
Published
26th Apr 2013 9:41am
26th Apr 2013 9:41am
Quest of questions
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.”
— Khalil Gibran
We are bereft of comforting wisdom
because we know better than our parents.
Citius, altius, fortius, when the circles
start and end nowhere.
Then who are we but a step further back from
the answers?
And what if all that remains is to ask
our children to comfort us?
as living arrows are sent forth.”
— Khalil Gibran
We are bereft of comforting wisdom
because we know better than our parents.
Citius, altius, fortius, when the circles
start and end nowhere.
Then who are we but a step further back from
the answers?
And what if all that remains is to ask
our children to comfort us?
992 reads
22 Comments
DU Poetry : Submissions by Atakti
