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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.

Date: 2/16/2022 2:18:00 PM

Hi Milt, You penned such a well-written entry regarding hope. Well done. Have a nice day-Alexis

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 2/16/2022 10:54:00 AM

Back with "Congratulations" on this new win. Always have Hope. Have a blessed day writing away................

Mohan Chutani

Date: 2/16/2022 1:49:00 AM

Congratulations for your placement in my contest. Best. Mohan

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 4/19/2021 11:36:00 AM

Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed your write. I hope you will enjoy your win. Have a blessed day.................

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/19/2021 12:44:00 PM

Thanks so much, Paula. Your kind comment is most gratifying. I enjoyed it.

John Hamilton

Date: 4/18/2021 4:50:00 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
Date: 4/19/2021 12:46:00 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

Date: 3/17/2021 2:30:00 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
Date: 3/17/2021 7:53:00 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

Date: 3/14/2021 5:00:00 PM

Good luck in John's contest with this entry.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/14/2021 5:08:00 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.