Home » Poems » Best » Tom Woody » Best Tom Woody Poems

Best Poems Written by Tom Woody

Below are the all-time best Tom Woody poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

Details | Tom Woody Poem

*Note
I had to bring this one back, though I've been posting mostly new writes here that PS hasn't seen before. This poem has been edited many times over the years. I consider it to be among my best. The meter and rhyme structure are borrowed from the final stanza in the famous Poe poem, Tamarlane. One of the theories proffered as to how Poe died is rabies. I just took it a step further. This won't be everyone's cup of tea, since it is old style traditional poetry. Still, I hope you like it.

Come close and learn the mystery
buried long ago on yonder hill.
The truth revealed in whisp'ring wind
was veiled these past two centuries-
a penance paid for wanton sin?
(To swallow this most bitter pill
cast down my throat against my will
has left me in a troubled state,
and yet this tale I must relate).
An evil gale on that night blew
and terrors that he never knew
would visit him in black of night
as threats were made demanding flight-
he sought out refuge in the heights.
No starry night to light the sky,
no moon o’er head the sky to ply-
just darkness thick as London fog
as ebon creature took to wing-
his old unearthly mystagogue
hovered o’er head - a ghostly thing.

And the raven flew into the night
And the raven flew into the night

(Earlier that night)

A wager made the ante in-
the loser who for want of heart
throws in his last remaining coins
and prays tonight’s the night he’ll win.
The dealer laughs and then enjoins
each one to play, the game to start
before the twilight should depart.
He loses all but pleads to stay-
his title deed now on display.
And so once more a playing hand
is dealt before a wretched band
of sharks who’d never prayed to God,
whose backs had often felt the rod-
the holy path they’d never trod.
But fate once more would him aggrieve-
no winning card hid in his sleeve.
Without a friend or place to go
he leaves the hall with face aghast
and whispers words of hope and woe,
“O that this night might quickly pass."

And the raven flew toward the east
And the raven flew toward the east

The deed a closer look is made
and ‘fore too long ‘tis evident
that all is not quite as it seems-
‘twas nothing but a rook's charade.
Revenge is now the plan they scheme-
this band of thugs with cruel intent
on finding Poe are now hellbent.
And so into the night they sped
with brutish beasts inspiring dread,
the rabid dogs held fast by chain
in chilling wind, in blinding rain.
A movement in the distance seen-
a man alone or so it seems,
the hounds set loose in low ravine.
Their prey runs high upon the hill,
each howl his craven spine would chill
until ill fate caught up with him-
his future prospects rather grim.
The evil jaws upon him clenched,
he screams aloud before the fall,
the poison in his blood entrenched-
delirium soon cast its pall.

And the raven flew toward the light
And the raven flew toward the light

There as he lay upon yon hill,
the chase now o'er, the silence sweet,
he gazes 'bove into the night
as clearing clouds betide goodwill.
He sees an angel dressed in white
and hears a steady rhythmic beat,
so low and calm and quite discreet.
The heavens part to his delight-
the figure standing in the light
extends to him an outstretched hand-
a voice like waters bids him stand.
He wonders now if just a dream
or are things really as they seem-
a voice or just a nearby stream?
Then suddenly he feels no pain
as wind abates and same the rain.
The hand then grabs him by the throat,
another tears his woolen coat,
his life flashed up before his eyes
and thro’ the brightly illumed sky
he sees Miss Clemm to his surprise
whose mournful plea to him is, “Why?”

And the raven flew into the sun
And the raven flew into the sun

He breathed his last then bade goodbye,
that troubled bard who’d gone awry-
the mystery resolved at last
on how it was that Edgar passed.
And if you wonder how I know
these secrets held from long ago…

Details | Tom Woody Poem

Winds of Change

sweet zephyr breezes 
jasmine empress butterflies 
rainbows in our sky

                                           silence once golden
                                           angelic voices trumpet
                                           song of the poet

unity breeds strength
moonbeams in togetherness
sunlight for each one

                                           living in the now
                                           join the love revolution
                                           smile on your brother

seeker of eden
no longer searching alone
bards in harmony

Details | Tom Woody Poem

Emergent

And yes, she will rise and conquer

She is queen of her own destiny

Her spirit is indomitable 

Her eyes aflame with passion 

Her warrior heart beats to its own drum

She will not just survive-
(let the world take note)


but thrive



*Dedicated to all warrior princesses, wherever they may be found

** Poetry on photo art mine

Details | Tom Woody Poem

Superstar

The adoring crowd here at Red Rocks amphitheatre awaits. Tonight, like every night, I will go out there and give them my best. They will show their love by means of applause and whistles. When I am on the stage it's like being on top of the world. The adrenalin rushing through my veins gives me a high that is hard to explain. I am invincible, indestructible, free. 

What the fans don't know is how terribly lonely I am. Each night, after the performance, I go back to my hotel room and try to drink the emptiness away. Food has become a loathsome thing to me. I starve myself to give them the look they crave, the stick-thin waif living the rock star life. I die a little after each show. How I abhor this life. And yet the fame addiction is too strong. I hate it and desire it all at once. To become comfortably numb before I enter dream world is the best I can hope for.

Well, I've just received my cue. Time to give them what they want. If only they could understand that what I really need is someone to hold my hand, to tell me everything will be okay, that I am loved whether I perform or not, that I am a good person, that I have worth just as I am. But for tonight, the show must go on. I am a puppet on a string. And they, the puppeteers.

playing the fame game
standing on top of the world
empty soulless life


"Fame has a tendency to destroy otherwise good people" - Me

Details | Tom Woody Poem

Let Me Be the One

When fallacious friends fail and break you in two
let me be the one-
to help you feel worthy and whole

And when slithering serpents slander your name
let me be the one-
to defend it and stand by your side

When your lioness libido lets loose
let me be the one-
to send you to the moon and beyond (again and again)

And when tender tears of joy trickle softly 
let me be the one-
to share in those moments of bliss

When worrisome woes of this world drag you down
let me be the one-
to offer you hope and a dream

And when dismal depression ends in collapse
let me be the one-
to rise up and set you on high

 
Yes, my love, let me be the one

to be your always

and everything-

forever


*simple Sunday scribble

Details | Tom Woody Poem

Apocalypse Now

Running through the Lost Forest of no tomorrows, my heart beats at warp speed as the hideous howls draw nearer. My thoughts briefly digress to the world I knew before. I had no time for God or religion. My only goals in life were self-centered and ambition oriented. O how I long to return to my yesterdays! I would change my ways and repent. This beast will surely end my life of todays and cast me into an abyss of eternal darkness and oblivion. Instinctively, I get down on my knees and pray, but alas, 'tis too late, too late. My executioner has come upon me. I bow my head and willingly submit to the inevitable. 


Blood red moon tonight
Starry skies have disappeared
Apocalypse now

Details | Tom Woody Poem

Swim

I watch a golden sun slowly rise above the eastern sea and my thoughts naturally drift to
her.
I wonder what she is doing, and if she ever dreams of
me.
A southern breeze gently caresses my skin and fills my lungs with salty sea air. The tide ebbs back and forth, relaxing me and at the same time stirring my curiosity. Does each incoming tide bring back the same water that ebbed away, or has it been renewed? And I wonder what it means to be truly born again.
About twenty yards to my right a drifter rolls up his sleeping bag. His well-worn knapsack is stuffed with everything he owns in this life. I ponder: Has he ever been in
love?
Ever felt warmth from the tiny hand of a
child?
Ever beheld big brown orbs staring back at him screaming
"I love you?"
For a moment our eyes lock. His are deep-set and steely blue, like the sea before me. Wrinkles are etched into his face from years of hard living, I
guessed.
My thoughts once again turn inward. It is safe here on my side of the ocean. But have I really learned what it means to live, to swim in unchartered waters, to bathe in crystal streams heretofore hidden from my heart?
From a distance I espy the returning tide. Maybe I'll go out with the next. See where it takes me. Maybe, just maybe, I will learn how to swim for the first time,

again.

Melancholy thoughts
transport me across the sea
where the dream begins

* photo quote: "And so you see I have come to doubt all that I once held as true. I stand alone without beliefs, the only truth I know is you..." - Kathy's Song (Simon and Garfunkel)

Details | Tom Woody Poem

Rainbows on the Moon

in hyacinth and heather my true love dwells
and in lush lavender her bones rest in peace
no mere human can project nor can foretell
when in this life one's vitality may cease
yet this I know and of this I can be sure
that her soul was white as snow and truly pure
thus in God's new world I know I'll see her soon
and together we'll chase rainbows on the moon





* Inspired by Chris Bowring's wonderful rispetto as well as others

Details | Tom Woody Poem

Sapiophile Desire

make love to her mind before you engage her body

melt her with mellifluous metaphors
arouse her with amorous alliterations
romance her with rapturous rhymes
tempt her with tantalizing terzas
lure her in with loving lyrics
seduce her with sexy sonnets
pamper her with poetic praises

now, get ready for the night of your life

Best Poems Written by Tom Woody

Why I Became a Poet

Poe's Untimely Demise

Winds of Change

Emergent

Superstar

Let Me Be the One

Apocalypse Now

Swim

Rainbows on the Moon

Sapiophile Desire