Submissions by Razzerleaf
POEMS AND SHORT STORIES
Poet Introduction
I have been writing poetry for about 10 years now, still need to crush a lot of coal before I get a rough diamond. I try to improve all the time so really like constructive feedback, Love reading other poets and finding something that takes me away.
With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come
I remember the bounce
of a bus ride into Liverpool
and a rolling ferry that made me so sick
I had to sit on his knee.
My small fingers ploughed the fields
on his potato sack face
as he kept a weather eye on the Mersey
and swamped me with his huge farm-hand hands.
I love you grandad I said, touching his cheek
beneath a gaze that drifts towards an ocean.
and there it was,
a smile that fitted perfectly into
every furrow on his face.
of a bus ride into Liverpool
and a rolling ferry that made me so sick
I had to sit on his knee.
My small fingers ploughed the fields
on his potato sack face
as he kept a weather eye on the Mersey
and swamped me with his huge farm-hand hands.
I love you grandad I said, touching his cheek
beneath a gaze that drifts towards an ocean.
and there it was,
a smile that fitted perfectly into
every furrow on his face.
#love
#aging
422 reads
8 Comments
Days of unforgettable mistakes
We were always late on Mondays,
snow only made it worse.
The college canteen would be empty,
still wet with slush.
KitKat wrappers and tepid coffee,
relics of raising student's heads.
The light was just behind us,
a cold night's eye opened as you drove.
half asleep I watched the morning making shapes,
dropping through mist pockets,
feeling gray-scale against the Mexico’s yellow.
Gently we drifted,
millimeters above the apex.
If you’re going to hit a tree
Cedars are splendid and solid.
If...
snow only made it worse.
The college canteen would be empty,
still wet with slush.
KitKat wrappers and tepid coffee,
relics of raising student's heads.
The light was just behind us,
a cold night's eye opened as you drove.
half asleep I watched the morning making shapes,
dropping through mist pockets,
feeling gray-scale against the Mexico’s yellow.
Gently we drifted,
millimeters above the apex.
If you’re going to hit a tree
Cedars are splendid and solid.
If...
#death
#cars
#college
386 reads
4 Comments
Foundation on a bruise
Sunday was silenced
by Saturday night,
a split lip sips coffee
from a worlds greatest mum mug.
Little ones won't get dressed today,
stay wrapped in a blue ray.
They know Disney isn't real,
they know which characters are at play
and all their lines.
A head scarf keeps her mind
from spilling out onto the supermarket,
sunglasses stop the glare.
Her parking lot fists, smash
against the steering wheel,
fingers tremble and clench
the deepening breaths of a private crisis.
The children risk a glance at...
by Saturday night,
a split lip sips coffee
from a worlds greatest mum mug.
Little ones won't get dressed today,
stay wrapped in a blue ray.
They know Disney isn't real,
they know which characters are at play
and all their lines.
A head scarf keeps her mind
from spilling out onto the supermarket,
sunglasses stop the glare.
Her parking lot fists, smash
against the steering wheel,
fingers tremble and clench
the deepening breaths of a private crisis.
The children risk a glance at...
#DomesticViolence
653 reads
9 Comments
Trick
White sheets, raining sweets, finger-holes for eyes.
Little steps, out with pets, door knocked surprise.
Rain mac's, candle wax, fright night parade.
Goblin hobb, graves to rob, costumes ready made.
Light dims, sharp-teeth grins, Pumpkin shadow stare
Darkness falls, doorbell calls, press me if you dare.
Open door, six or more, hands outstretched for treats.
Behind my back, in a sack, a home made head and sweets.
Little steps, out with pets, door knocked surprise.
Rain mac's, candle wax, fright night parade.
Goblin hobb, graves to rob, costumes ready made.
Light dims, sharp-teeth grins, Pumpkin shadow stare
Darkness falls, doorbell calls, press me if you dare.
Open door, six or more, hands outstretched for treats.
Behind my back, in a sack, a home made head and sweets.
#Halloween
455 reads
9 Comments
Oh Jesus I have promised
#school
#acceptance
380 reads
4 Comments
Too quick for his own good
Idiot opens drivers side door,
puppy jumps into breaking traffic.
puppy jumps into breaking traffic.
#morning
#alcohol
#tobacco
428 reads
0 Comments
Apprenticeship
It is by far the biggest document I have, too large to fit in the flame proof box they insisted I bought. I often wondered why it was so big, perhaps it was to match the four years of training that lead to the final signatures. It was such a proud day.
We were in the boardroom, the best china was on the trolley and the tea had been scalded next to a plate of posh biscuits. Dad was well prepared, he had set fire to his nasal hair with a small party candle and used half a styptic pencil on his, over-zealous shaving cuts. A Brylcreem bounce set off his best blue suit and he had spent...
We were in the boardroom, the best china was on the trolley and the tea had been scalded next to a plate of posh biscuits. Dad was well prepared, he had set fire to his nasal hair with a small party candle and used half a styptic pencil on his, over-zealous shaving cuts. A Brylcreem bounce set off his best blue suit and he had spent...
#prose
482 reads
2 Comments
One of Hells Angels
With all his weight he rammed down the kick start of the Norton Commando. The bike spluttered but didn’t catch. Under his breath he cursed the bitch and threatened to swap her for a Jap bike with an electric start. “Now just fucking start”, he shouted as he bounced once more. The bitch complied slowly at first until the choke did its job. ”Hey Pan Head, where you off to?”, asked one of the chapter's younger members. “Got to sort out some trouble with one of our own”, he replied, then rode away from the ramshackle sheds that the Forest of Dean Hells' Angels called their home. He never glanced...
#family
438 reads
2 Comments
Seasonal Starwars
As the rain started
I thought of dashing for the car
and the umbrella in the boot,
annoyed by windscreen condensation.
You tried not to blink
and walked like a bouncer
giving the sky an evil eye.
You then drew a smiley face on your window.
As snowflakes fell
I thought of salt
and clearing driveways,
wondering if I would get to work in the morning.
You tried to catch each crystal,
first like a goalkeeper,
then in your mouth.
Your breakfast footprints were first in the garden. ...
I thought of dashing for the car
and the umbrella in the boot,
annoyed by windscreen condensation.
You tried not to blink
and walked like a bouncer
giving the sky an evil eye.
You then drew a smiley face on your window.
As snowflakes fell
I thought of salt
and clearing driveways,
wondering if I would get to work in the morning.
You tried to catch each crystal,
first like a goalkeeper,
then in your mouth.
Your breakfast footprints were first in the garden. ...
#childhood
#aging
472 reads
10 Comments
Baptism of tears
When the floods finally came
you were down in Dallas,
washing cars by day and floors by night .
They found you drinking whirlpools
amongst the sidewalks and cigarettes,
bare knuckles bleeding in the rain.
You had your followers,
institute inmates that shook their heads
and chewed their hands,
pills that held the banks from bursting.
Slowly you began to surface,
regression split the shell and gave you a name.
He took you when you were five;
I sat on your bed, watched from your window,
for twenty years I saw you...
you were down in Dallas,
washing cars by day and floors by night .
They found you drinking whirlpools
amongst the sidewalks and cigarettes,
bare knuckles bleeding in the rain.
You had your followers,
institute inmates that shook their heads
and chewed their hands,
pills that held the banks from bursting.
Slowly you began to surface,
regression split the shell and gave you a name.
He took you when you were five;
I sat on your bed, watched from your window,
for twenty years I saw you...
#strength
#hope
#motherhood
#faith
#FeelingLost
511 reads
4 Comments
Coastal Features
Open wide your mouth of gargled sand,
rivers spit their rocks from dribbled lips.
Ocean light collides with rolling skies,
storm-cats claw their kittens from the tide.
Footprints throw up stubble on smooth cheeks
sea-foam slides its white from wave to sand,
once again the Barber’s whetted-blade
scrapes its trade across your weathered face.
If I would dare to climb and brush bleached curls
of coloured shrubs that wave across your brow.
Then I could rest and feel the pounding calm,
that calls me here to heal within your arms.
rivers spit their rocks from dribbled lips.
Ocean light collides with rolling skies,
storm-cats claw their kittens from the tide.
Footprints throw up stubble on smooth cheeks
sea-foam slides its white from wave to sand,
once again the Barber’s whetted-blade
scrapes its trade across your weathered face.
If I would dare to climb and brush bleached curls
of coloured shrubs that wave across your brow.
Then I could rest and feel the pounding calm,
that calls me here to heal within your arms.
#sea
#beach
#holiday
685 reads
11 Comments
Thirteen ways to look at a first kiss
I
Sweaty under street lamps,
an innocent cheek
caught and chased to red.
II
Concrete cold
cuddled behind H Block
strong perfume, pungent
under coats.
III
Rough wood on back-alley
gates, summers gone dark
outside the kitchen lights.
Teeth meet, cold hands
warm under jumpers.
IV
Drunken clink of milk bottles
kicked on a scrubbed clean step,
leaning in to press wild flowers.
V
Running home late,
taller than the houses
clearing the garden gate
with one leap...
Sweaty under street lamps,
an innocent cheek
caught and chased to red.
II
Concrete cold
cuddled behind H Block
strong perfume, pungent
under coats.
III
Rough wood on back-alley
gates, summers gone dark
outside the kitchen lights.
Teeth meet, cold hands
warm under jumpers.
IV
Drunken clink of milk bottles
kicked on a scrubbed clean step,
leaning in to press wild flowers.
V
Running home late,
taller than the houses
clearing the garden gate
with one leap...
#love
#FirstLove
438 reads
10 Comments
DU Poetry : Submissions by Razzerleaf