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The Billowing Cloud

A young lad studied the billowing cloud
Like a sculptured marshmallow in the sky
Giant pillowed fluff, imagine the puff
"Magic!" the boy said to himself, aloud
A giant toadstool rising from the grass
Dreadful overtones; he remained unbowed
Chill bumps rising up on the young lad's arms.
Never before his senses had allowed
Such a billowed mountain of cumulus high
Imagine the puff, giant pillowed fluff
Raining on earth such devastating shroud.

THIRD PLACE WINNER
Written March 10, 2021
Contest: Abracadabra March Magic
Sponsored by William Kekaula

Copyright © L Milton Hankins | Year Posted 2021

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Paula Goldsmith Date: 4/15/2021 8:00:00 AM Congratulations on your win. A magical write. "Love It" Have a blessed day writing away................... Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 4/15/2021 8:57:00 AM Aw, thanks, Paula. Same to you!

Hilo Poet Date: 4/15/2021 3:43:00 AM Ah, a bit of a pickle this poetic form was, Milton, yet I admired your hankering for the challenge with your wondrous write, with the exception of the 'b' lines, my compliments for your participation and placement, Aloha! Login to Reply Hilo Poet Date: 4/15/2021 2:57:00 PM I thought, having read a commentary, it would have been, " ... marshmallowy nimbus". The 'Magic Nine' does not include the 'R's', as my version gave meaning to all the letters in, "Abracadabra". Hopefully, reading written poems from the list of winners will inspire others. L Milton Hankins Date: 4/15/2021 1:35:00 PM Now I know where I flubbed. I left off a word in the second "b" line in submitting the poem, and that created the problem you picked up on. If you read the poem now, you will see that I corrected it. L Milton Hankins Date: 4/15/2021 7:44:00 AM Thanks, William. I'm not exactly sure where I flubbed it, but I love the format. I believe I wrote another poem in that style. I'm going to go back and see. I appreciate your kind and thoughtful remarks.

Carolyn Devonshire Date: 3/10/2021 2:15:00 PM The boy was captivated by the appearance of the "billowing cloud." Children find magic in many things. I bet this boy would love clouds even more if he was flying over them in an airplane. I could see the story unfold very well through your creative descriptions, like the "giant toadstool." Wish I were younger and still found magic like this! Hugs, Carolyn Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 3/11/2021 8:30:00 PM Ah, but you do, Carolyn. Many of your poems show that magical touch. The first time I flew above the clouds, I thought I was flying over oceans of snow in the Arctic. Such naivete!

Marcela Proust Date: 3/10/2021 2:07:00 PM This is magical. Puff the dragon combined with caterpillar hookah nuclear smoke turning a cumulus into a nimbus; OR did I read too much into it? Scary. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 3/10/2021 3:38:00 PM No, you didn't, Marcela. It's basically an allegory, I think. It's how a boy might see something magical and ominous all at the same time, his physiological reactions, etc. There's a lot to mull over in this poem. I did some mulling before I started writing. Thanks for your read.

Darlene De Beaulieu Date: 3/10/2021 11:39:00 AM Hello Milton Hankins, you have a good imagination. Enjoyed this poem. enjoy your day my friend. Login to Reply Darlene De Beaulieu Date: 3/10/2021 3:15:00 PM Hello Milton Hankins, oh, now I understand the young lad sees it not what he thought it was. Enjoy your evening my friend, L Milton Hankins Date: 3/10/2021 1:07:00 PM Thanks, Darlene. I appreciated your comment so much. Unfortunately, the cloud the young lad sees is not what he thought it was!

Caren Krutsinger Date: 3/10/2021 10:50:00 AM I like the poem in its entirety, but especially this part. It calls to my soul. "A giant toadstool rising from the grass Dreadful overtones; he remained unbowed" Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 3/10/2021 1:28:00 PM Caren, thanks for reading my poem. I'm happy some parts of it resonated with you. I once saw a nuclear cloud...a horrifying spectacle!