Announces Poems

Suitcase Solution

Whistle echoes in the tunnel
then smoke belches upwards
as the train halts at the platform
Disgorging its passengers
before porters offload baggage
Cases, trunks, sacks – all claimed
But no
There on the platform two suitcases
Side by side, travelling twins of no fixed abode
Ace of Spades on one, King of Hearts on the other
Unnoticed
Porters distracted as the cavalcade announces its arrival
Guard of honour, red carpet, bowed heads - 
trappings of power and privilege
Gliding through the booking hall
onto the platform
Glancing left not right
Two suitcase stand forlorn
Something stirs within
in an instant, carnage
No train
No platform
No power
No privilege
The end of monarchy
The start of republic
Suitcase slaughter
Suitcase solution

I spy an angel from heaven

I need the guarantee
of this remedy,
mentally be free
of my jealousy.
Ecstasy
escape to heavens,
Heavenly,
Read the guide carefully.
I wish to be seventy
and spread the density,
An angel's specialty
is her soft tendency.
We need them desperately
In Tennessee
Crunchy Nutty,
glutton sesame
On shelves readily
and great quality.
Gone are dreams yesterday,
No longer a sucker wannabe.
Only someone's vanity
can't express this melody.
& gone is my once destiny
to be cruel to my enemies.
My self help therapy
enables to feel empathy,
I didn't kill Kennedy
but suffered the penalty.
On display is my rarity,
but this is no parody.
We can't blame the deputy
for crimes committed terribly,
I'll never blame the chemically
of a woman ending a pregnancy.
I'll look upon weaponry
as a form of pedigree,
Pearl Jam's song "Jeremy"
announces the recklessly.
We always blame a heresy
to every school shooting
of such tragedy.
If kids had loyalty,
and swallowed honesty,
We all need wings
of acceptance,
so things don't always end
like this so usually.

Compassion for all Living Creatures

But not the interminably hopeless daddy longlegs
some say cellar spiders also know as the cranefly
lurking amidst the shower curtain then
flapping wildly all around my hat
just not first thing on
a Monday morning when stark staring
and uncoffeed thus it must
be duly despatched with an implement
humanely and meanwhile the water's
spraying in all directions

Later on leaving my nosy neighbour beckons
from her window and announces
there's a wet patch on the outside wall
you must have a leaky bath
you'll want to get that sorted and
I'm already late and it's the dullest
blanket grey dullest cold beans for breakfast
not that you have time for it
dead nothing morning and I wish you the best of
luck with the rest of it

Minimal pomp and circumstance

lily of the valley
divine cluster of bells
charisma on a stem
its perfume awakens nature
and announces spring's
long awaited homecoming



AP: Honorable Mention 2025

thorns in the glass

“there are thorns in the glass”
the baby exclaims
as she points, points, points
to the mirror of life,
yet no one listens,
and she is ignored.

“there are thorns in the glass”
the child cries,
tugging at men’s jackets,
grabbing women’s hands,
yet she’s pushed away 
and she is ignored.

“there are thorns in the glass”
the teen announces,
protesting and marching,
yelling and telling,
and there is no news coverage,
and she is ignored.

“there are thorns in the glass”
the adult professes,
speaking online,
speaking outside,
only to be banned,
and she is ignored.

“there are thorns in the glass”
the old woman declares,
telling her story, 
telling her nurses,
only to be drugged,
and she is ignored.


“there are thorns in the glass”
she whispers
as she looks at the dead cities
the somber graves,
the rotten corpses,
and she is ignored.

Ode to Dad

I wish your heart had not been broken, your spirit crushed, so much unspoken. 

One day, I’ll walk again by your side.
We’ll amble through the countryside.
To watch the fish jump in the stream.
To hear the wind whisper through the trees.
As the cuckoo announces the start of spring.
I know that sound will make your heart sing.
And then you’ll fish the old lagoon.
Strum your guitar and sing a favourite tune.

The Ends

The gifts of life, upon me have been heaped, 
but, one by one, I say goodbye, and they end, 
as time's unseen agent mercilessly reaps, 
and life's pilot announces "time to descend".

Goodbye to youth, arms that throw, legs that run,
to sex, infatuation, and that kind of dance, 
and though, I suppose it was mostly fun, 
it's time to give younger ones their chance.

Goodbye to responsibility and work,
to old friends, health, dreams, memory and hope,
to pretense and my blasted doctor, the jerk,
as I reach the end of the line and my rope.

All things taken by time's invisible thief -
to be unburdened, such a great relief.

12 Minutes

A TV drones on
Background noise
Riffing on a trash can
Moments
Without moment
Motionless predators
Devouring their prey
Popcorn
Stuck between the teeth
A reminder of joy’s
Transient cheese flavored
Fingertips
Searching the remote
For the present
Deleting the detritus
Of a black and white past
The doorbell
Announces
An unsolicited solicitation
Breaking the mood
Of an endless
                      ……moment

HAPPENINGS On TIME

           



         afternoon says bye
     night announces its arrival
       roses sway on  branch

Artic Hunter

Slow sleek steps,

Pounces on its paws,

Snow-clad fur,

Brushes off impatiently,

 
Ears perk up,

When squeals and squeaks are heard,

Steady and slowly,

Merges with the blanket beneath,

 
Almost at ease,

Confidently it please,

Lowers into its position,

Ready to strike,

 
Pounces on its paws,

Announces in its jaws,

Mouse struck beneath its claws,

Ounces in vigilant strides as it withdraws.


By Sarah Shahzad, July 2024

He Rules in Splendor

He knows his splendor
would be too much
to take in all at once,
and so he announces his coming
by revealing little bits of himself...

A sun drenched tree in the distance
a building all lit up in his glory,
the windows ablaze with fire
Little by little, he creeps closer and closer
to where I stand watering the lawn.

Not wanting to overwhelm me,
he creeps up from behind
and I feel his touch
on the nape of my neck.
Enveloped by warmth, I turn around
for my kiss.
Oh, what sweet delicious bliss

He then continues on his way
taking control of the sky,
exuding his authority
by turning everything in his path
to pure gold.

Slowly, but surely...
he subjugates everything he touches
till he reaches his zenith in the sky,
and is the supreme ruler of life.

This I know, and of this I am certain
that I am and will always be
a worshiper of the sun!

Eileen Manassian

Barefoot

Behold
A voice announces
Release me
Expose me to the elements
Free me from fungus
Outdoors
Over cool ticklish grass, warm grainy sidewalks, and prankish pebbles
Time to rejoice

Sacred geometry

Admit or deny, we search for a rhythm
Asymmetry of chaos unwelcome
Soul searches for that perfect algorithm 
Renewing within heart a sublime hum

Geometric patterns of vibrations
Creates music that enlivens our soul
Invoking ethereal sensations
Dance of polarities making us whole

From root to crown, in bliss rapture we drown
When we allow wayward ego to die
Heartbeat of God announces the countdown 
Paving way for soul straight to heaven fly

Simple is the path to enlightenment ~
Bring head and heart with love in alignment

Love Sex War

May We Make Love At The War Front?
May I Know You While Iron Leads Flies Over Our Heads?
May I Know Why Our Bodies Tangle In The Grass;
Soaked By Bloods, Sweat & Tears Of Soldiers Of Love?

May We Thrust While You Trust Me To Be There With You Till The End.
May We Kiss While Canon Balls Decapitate The Heads Of Men?
Shall I Dip My Stick Of Life In Your Deep Shallow?

May We Tumble & Flip As Men Scream In Pain & Regrets?
May I Burrow My Nails On Your Flesh While War Cries Announces The Beginning Of Massacre?
May We Make Love On The Dead Bodies Of Fallen Men Of Valour?

May I Know You While Men Are Dying For Their Land And Families?
May I Get You Pregnant Whilts We Loosing Our Men?
May I Feel Your Love Tonight Before We Bid Our Farewells?

March

First buds emerge in velvet cocoons
As dank, dark mornings transform
Into frost clad, bright, clean-aired dawns. 
Grass laden heavy with dew, 
Nectar of nature to sustain awakening creatures. 
From deepest winter slumbers, 
To drink deep the anticipation held in each drop. 
Static in the air, in our hair, as crunched grasses
Make way for warming days, milky moons,
And pearlescent sun shards melting
The cold of winter soil. 
Grass, long since recoiled after long summer
Parching, burnt and bruised,
Now tender and sweet, shoots pushing
Up through the loamy layers of frost bitten ground. 
The scents of spring, almost imperceptible 
Yet nonetheless I feel them set my belly to flight 
The excitement for some unknown event, 
As though a celebratory feast,
Honoured to be invited to.  
Tingling in extremities, no longer from cold
But now in joy, in pleasure, 
In the fruitfulness we know to come to pass, 
When spring finally announces her arrival 
Once more.

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