L Milton Hankins Poet Free verse

Hope's Silver Plumb

Steeped in despair like some dimming eventide, 
     his crimped soul embraces fleeting thoughts beside 
                   the howling, feral rapids 
               surging far below, 
Pondered he once more how life and love doth collide. 

A pearlescent August moon of revealing light 
     suddenly showered rays of sound at his drunken plight.   
          Thrum of distant, sad heartstrings 
               he heard sounding in her breast. 
He saw hope’s silver plumb swinging near, ever bright. 

Acidic tang of unrequited love gives way to utter bliss, 
     as he recalls the unrelenting joy of her last beguiling kiss. 
          Stepping away from the craggy edges of the brink 
     of despair, he relieves himself in the swirling, swelling abyss. 


THIRD PLACE WINNER
Written March 14, 2021 
Submitted to “Eight Word Bardenesque Challenge” 
Sponsored by John Hamilton 

THIRD PLACE WINNER
"Hope" Contest
Sponsored by Mohan Chutani

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Alexis Y. February 16, 2022 at 2:18 PM Hi Milt, You penned such a well-written entry regarding hope. Well done. Have a nice day-Alexis

Paula Goldsmith February 16, 2022 at 10:54 AM Back with "Congratulations" on this new win. Always have Hope. Have a blessed day writing away................

Mohan Chutani February 16, 2022 at 1:49 AM Congratulations for your placement in my contest. Best. Mohan

Paula Goldsmith April 19, 2021 at 11:36 AM Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed your write. I hope you will enjoy your win. Have a blessed day................. L Milton Hankins April 19, 2021 at 12:44 PM Thanks so much, Paula. Your kind comment is most gratifying. I enjoyed it.

John Hamilton April 18, 2021 at 4:50 PM Hey L Milton thanks for your entry, it was very well written, but was quite a departure from a romantic write but I appreciate your effort anyway, congrats on a nice win! L Milton Hankins April 19, 2021 at 12:46 PM True, John. That's the one word I overlooked...romantic. Sometimes, however, romantic means adventurous, in the classic sense. Anyway, I wrote a damn good poem contest or no contest. Thanks for considering it and giving it a place among your winners. Thanks, John.

Caren Krutsinger March 17, 2021 at 2:30 AM This sounded a bit dour " his crimped soul embraces fleeting thoughts " But then I see it is someone else's words you are incorporating and it made sense then. I do not like required words, but you did a great job with them. L Milton Hankins March 17, 2021 at 7:53 AM Thanks, Caren. Using someone else's "required" words forces the poet into some kind of mold, but I don't know what kind. It is extremely difficult, especially when the words are unrelated. Oh, well...I tried! Give it a go yourself. The last line "relieved himself" slid in there to reveal how I felt about the whole exercise. In short, the distraught drunk contemplated suicide over his lost love, but then decided "piss" on it! I figured the word I had in mind wouldn't pass the censor. Have a good day, Caren.

Robert Pettit March 14, 2021 at 5:00 PM Good luck in John's contest with this entry. L Milton Hankins March 14, 2021 at 5:08 PM I doubt that it's "romantic" enough, Robert. I just wrote what came, using the words that were required. It was a fun write even if I don't place. "Romance" to me means "adventure," but, who knows??? Thanks for your encouragement.