Submissions by Atakti
POEMS AND SHORT STORIES
Poet Introduction
Turbulent waters ahead, sharks behind, shut up and paddle...
ANGER POEM
Published
19th Apr 2013 9:09pm
19th Apr 2013 9:09pm
Dust and thirst
I am gravel scraping myself raw,
scattershot, flung low and hard.
Your words smooth, then ravage, only
to smooth again. I am crunched underfoot
unable to cobblestone myself together.
The driveway starts here, ends there.
A short few steps — this journey does not
continue indefinitely. One day, I will rip it all up
and plant a garden. A joyous well will
keep it green, unbidden.
scattershot, flung low and hard.
Your words smooth, then ravage, only
to smooth again. I am crunched underfoot
unable to cobblestone myself together.
The driveway starts here, ends there.
A short few steps — this journey does not
continue indefinitely. One day, I will rip it all up
and plant a garden. A joyous well will
keep it green, unbidden.
1095 reads
25 Comments
STORY POEM
Published
12th Apr 2013 11:10pm
12th Apr 2013 11:10pm
Hotel Theatrics
He slid over; serpentine smiles and a
rumpled shirt accompanied him.
His half-lidded eyes made for a clumsy wink
but the patter was getting him nowhere.
Clumsily, he noted the bare fingers.
“No ring – so you’re not married then?”
She sipped the last of her drink in relief,
the excuse to leave now available. Dropping
from the bar stool, her exit was swift, a swelling
inside her head making her feel faint. Her
breathing only resumed once she had crossed
the lobby and stepped into an empty elevator.
She clutched the chain at her...
rumpled shirt accompanied him.
His half-lidded eyes made for a clumsy wink
but the patter was getting him nowhere.
Clumsily, he noted the bare fingers.
“No ring – so you’re not married then?”
She sipped the last of her drink in relief,
the excuse to leave now available. Dropping
from the bar stool, her exit was swift, a swelling
inside her head making her feel faint. Her
breathing only resumed once she had crossed
the lobby and stepped into an empty elevator.
She clutched the chain at her...
886 reads
19 Comments
MISCELLANEOUS POEM
Published
11th Apr 2013 8:35pm
11th Apr 2013 8:35pm
twice, even
my limbs still, my mind untethered
soaring into a sea sky, blue and deep
falling upwards, tumbling
sideways, dreams
stream behind
me
soaring into a sea sky, blue and deep
falling upwards, tumbling
sideways, dreams
stream behind
me
869 reads
22 Comments
MISCELLANEOUS POEM
Published
11th Apr 2013 8:21pm
11th Apr 2013 8:21pm
for once
to bed, to bed, my weary head
to float, molasses muscles ooze
bones elastic as I sink
into delicious
pillow sighs
to float, molasses muscles ooze
bones elastic as I sink
into delicious
pillow sighs
1055 reads
30 Comments
DARK POEM
Published
1st Apr 2013 9:56am
1st Apr 2013 9:56am
LVI
Be wary, the Romans plot. Conspiracies within
confidences blossom, their epistles contradict and confuse.
Tiberius out-snakes the viper within, when Sejanus dances
the garotte at Tullianum, corpse capers down Gemonian stairs.
For three days, the mob shreds, devouring eternal peace. His three
children wrenched apart, the same stairs bodily stained.
Be wary, the Romans plot.
(Entered in mikimoondancer's Just Do it. Short and Potent competition, 50 odd words required. LVI depict Roman numerals)
confidences blossom, their epistles contradict and confuse.
Tiberius out-snakes the viper within, when Sejanus dances
the garotte at Tullianum, corpse capers down Gemonian stairs.
For three days, the mob shreds, devouring eternal peace. His three
children wrenched apart, the same stairs bodily stained.
Be wary, the Romans plot.
(Entered in mikimoondancer's Just Do it. Short and Potent competition, 50 odd words required. LVI depict Roman numerals)
929 reads
24 Comments
OBSERVATIONAL POEM
Published
26th Mar 2013 10:20pm
26th Mar 2013 10:20pm
Every day is a first step
Every day is a decision, a step further, yet
unmeasured from yesterday’s footprint.
Sometimes I fool myself that I can stay
here, then I notice the skywards axis
tilting and remaining invisible, as the
sands shift beneath my feet. To move
is to live. I breathe, shrug off my futile
search for the lost count, and
take another first step.
unmeasured from yesterday’s footprint.
Sometimes I fool myself that I can stay
here, then I notice the skywards axis
tilting and remaining invisible, as the
sands shift beneath my feet. To move
is to live. I breathe, shrug off my futile
search for the lost count, and
take another first step.
919 reads
24 Comments
SELF POEM
Published
25th Mar 2013 5:16pm
25th Mar 2013 5:16pm
Weaving Hope
My fingers weave faster now, palm fibers into threads,
threads for weaving rope. I swipe at the forehead grime
and concentrate on the last knots. Every two days, I
prostate myself at the base of the waterfall, and wash
sins and sweat away. The vicious water-thriving insects
prevent my lingering in the aquatic Nirvana. It is there
I can forget the salt, a sea circle closing me in, keeping
me locked in to my threading thoughts, around and around.
On my lucky days, a stiff breeze blew the bloodsuckers
and biters away, and I could sit on the slick...
threads for weaving rope. I swipe at the forehead grime
and concentrate on the last knots. Every two days, I
prostate myself at the base of the waterfall, and wash
sins and sweat away. The vicious water-thriving insects
prevent my lingering in the aquatic Nirvana. It is there
I can forget the salt, a sea circle closing me in, keeping
me locked in to my threading thoughts, around and around.
On my lucky days, a stiff breeze blew the bloodsuckers
and biters away, and I could sit on the slick...
1152 reads
24 Comments
DARK POEM
Published
18th Mar 2013 8:57pm
18th Mar 2013 8:57pm
seconds before the crash
I feel clean cotton, warmth
rubs my cheek, I inhale your
black T
back muscles tense, gears shift
with tarmac curves — my arms clasp
closest
around your ribs, as I press tighter,
safer here. I hear your happiness,
sunlit
my eyes squint against the rush,
hair tresses torn loose, skim across
my lips
the road bared, open, knowing
we won’t stop for miles. this
is bliss
rubs my cheek, I inhale your
black T
back muscles tense, gears shift
with tarmac curves — my arms clasp
closest
around your ribs, as I press tighter,
safer here. I hear your happiness,
sunlit
my eyes squint against the rush,
hair tresses torn loose, skim across
my lips
the road bared, open, knowing
we won’t stop for miles. this
is bliss
1248 reads
44 Comments
SELF POEM
Published
13th Mar 2013 10:32pm
13th Mar 2013 10:32pm
re-awakenings
been in this dark, doorless corridor
rigid in unseeing stumblings
twisting, fumbling, hand tracing
for an exit
rasping plaster beneath fingertips
an ineffective silence throbs,
echoing hitched breaths, once
unbidden sobs
old time winds around, ensnaring
tripping, ensuring before and after
cloud the air, restricting presence —
there is no now
a fall on unexpected plushness,
carpeted goodness, comfort
from unscratched knees,
relief bone-deep
lying here a while, thinking
blank thoughts and merging...
rigid in unseeing stumblings
twisting, fumbling, hand tracing
for an exit
rasping plaster beneath fingertips
an ineffective silence throbs,
echoing hitched breaths, once
unbidden sobs
old time winds around, ensnaring
tripping, ensuring before and after
cloud the air, restricting presence —
there is no now
a fall on unexpected plushness,
carpeted goodness, comfort
from unscratched knees,
relief bone-deep
lying here a while, thinking
blank thoughts and merging...
1070 reads
24 Comments
DARK POEM
Published
26th Feb 2013 11:20pm
26th Feb 2013 11:20pm
And the failure is…
I somehow win at failing, this award
given to me. Mutely I hold it, eyes
glazed in honor’s bile.
There is a trend towards crystal,
hard edges beveled and scratch-white
engravings, blazed in scars’ facts.
Lined up, these polished soldiers
savor imperfections. Flawed in
glared reflection, they are indigestible.
I place the new recruit on the shelf,
disgorging established order. The spewed
rhetoric spatters, and slowly dribbles out.
I swallow after-burns in acrid thoughts,
spit full in the recognition of my...
given to me. Mutely I hold it, eyes
glazed in honor’s bile.
There is a trend towards crystal,
hard edges beveled and scratch-white
engravings, blazed in scars’ facts.
Lined up, these polished soldiers
savor imperfections. Flawed in
glared reflection, they are indigestible.
I place the new recruit on the shelf,
disgorging established order. The spewed
rhetoric spatters, and slowly dribbles out.
I swallow after-burns in acrid thoughts,
spit full in the recognition of my...
955 reads
24 Comments
STORY POEM
Published
21st Feb 2013 10:09pm
21st Feb 2013 10:09pm
the mission
kick the stand up, flick the wrist
this baby’s warmed up and ready
to lift
I’ll ride the gun, you pack the ammo, they
won’t see the hammer blow, ‘til it’s
too late
gathered speed and surge of power
hold steady, I see the target dead
ahead
armed, locked, target acquired
75 mils, recoilless
fire!
dust and crumbled mortar brushed off,
empty bags in hand for the bounty
beyond
look at that… they’re home-made, too
I can’t stop droolin’… quickly now,
grab ‘em
back at camp, we chow, happy and lazy...
this baby’s warmed up and ready
to lift
I’ll ride the gun, you pack the ammo, they
won’t see the hammer blow, ‘til it’s
too late
gathered speed and surge of power
hold steady, I see the target dead
ahead
armed, locked, target acquired
75 mils, recoilless
fire!
dust and crumbled mortar brushed off,
empty bags in hand for the bounty
beyond
look at that… they’re home-made, too
I can’t stop droolin’… quickly now,
grab ‘em
back at camp, we chow, happy and lazy...
889 reads
27 Comments
ANGER POEM
Published
19th Feb 2013 4:54pm
19th Feb 2013 4:54pm
The Lies That Bind
Roll a four, or a three. Six faces on that one, but
many more up the sleeve. A fitting occasion is
fitfully suited, custom-designed.
This one agrees, a short smile tugging the strings,
and that one is Zen, dispensing wisdom in
serene-coated hypocrisy.
This is the strong, competent one that brooks no
questions. Oh, and here is the gracious hostess
enshrouded in perfection.
Worst of all is the mirrored labyrinth, pulsing
with illusions that enter and reside, outstay
their uselessness
blank-flash and fracture
the...
many more up the sleeve. A fitting occasion is
fitfully suited, custom-designed.
This one agrees, a short smile tugging the strings,
and that one is Zen, dispensing wisdom in
serene-coated hypocrisy.
This is the strong, competent one that brooks no
questions. Oh, and here is the gracious hostess
enshrouded in perfection.
Worst of all is the mirrored labyrinth, pulsing
with illusions that enter and reside, outstay
their uselessness
blank-flash and fracture
the...
860 reads
25 Comments
DU Poetry : Submissions by Atakti
