The soccer ball rolls through school days
By Phan Tan Hai
The ball rolls across the schoolyard grass,
mesmerizing the boy who chases it—
kicking until the afternoon snags on the hanging moon,
kicking until the morning sun climbs up to watch;
even Pelé comes to gaze from the veranda,
shouting in a jubilant, midnight dream.
The ball bounds wildly in every direction;
clutching it, he roams the streets to challenge others—
any open space becomes a pitch,
kicking until summer sun and spring rain fade away;
even Messi would be astounded
to see a childhood kick soar high in the dead of night.
The ball travels through school days,
rolling past hills, mountains, rivers, lakes, and distant seas;
with a single strike, a rain of blossoms falls—
an offering to the boundless realm of form and void.
Waking at midnight to gaze across the ten directions,
he sees a thousand clouds drifting past the sun’s rosy glow.
This Christmas faerie came in determined to decorate our tree
It is our job, said my children Tommy, Tickle and Tippy Tee.
Stand back the aggressive faerie said, it is my job to do.
We tried to trick her outside, but she was a trickster too.
She flew around the room, decorating the mantle twice.
We were astounded, for a faerie she was not extremely nice.
Please let us do it, pleaded Tommy, Tickle and Tippy Tee.
However, she insisted on supervising the job of Christmas tree.
she was terrified of knives
had been fearful of them since she was a child
her children laughed about it
“We never had a steak knife in our home.
We had to cut a side of beef with a butter spoon.”
When October crept near, her fright pranced on overdrive
Her nightmares were not repeated, but we all knew
they had something to do with blood, gore, death and knives
I was a fairly new neighbor, and even I knew about it
Because this was a small town
The things people knew about each other made my hair stand on end.
I had never lived in a place like this; I was a metropolitan chit.
She asked if she could come see me.
“I hear that you clean knives,” she said.
I was astonished, astounded, and intrigued.
“I can, I do, and I might,” I told her.
The knife she showed me had flesh, blood and red hair on it.
The same color hair as her missing husband.
I pretended not to notice and cleaned it as she stared.
van Gogh’s yellow transmuted — s a p p h i r e
on palette before my irises
faded sunflowers become
black butterflies
F l uttering
on outskirts of red beginnings
from cocoon onto canvas
is it my blue seraphim core
they seek to touch ?
astounded I splotch violets whispering
so they have nectar to quench
birthing thirst_____ white
sinking back into
sapphire SEA
I report to Neptune
all is well ~
_____________________
Unnamed Painting : Suzanne VanBebber
Private : Image Copyright : Oregon : May 26
Silver Winner Poem : Allpoetry.com : May 26
Assessor : Suzanne VanBebber
witch’s brew took over the stirring herself
using a much larger spoon she found on a shelf
the witch was astounded, and backed up to the wall
a cat clock was so tickled, she laughed and had a fall
The newts and the frogs jumped into the brew
Tasty! Yelled an ignorant one. He thought it was stew
In a way I am, the brew said with a smirk and a smile.
A delicious poison for an elf who had done a misdial.
Lou, queen of the witches was astounded when
She was awakened by the lull of an October wind
The elves and faeries had worked on a gorgeous gown
Come on down! They giggled. “Come on down!”
It was a wonderful ensemble complete with purple hat.
My favorite colors! She told them, delighted as her cat.
They had brought M and M kibble for her kitty, Girl.
She put on the gown and gave a happy joyful twirl.
How nice of you! She told them, you deserved a treat.
In the kitchen she gave them some sweets to eat.
They could not stop grinning, feeling respected by Lou.
You are now my dressmakers, she said. No one else will do.
Saw an eerie silhouette of a young witch
her background being the moon so full
jack-o-lantern laughed so did the switch
she rode a straw broom, during the lull
Harvest moon was yellow, bright and rounded
night was pregnant with anticipation, eager to please
a Halloween sight to mull, I myself was astounded
some saw the witch, others feigned a tease
what witch? I have no idea what you are speaking of
But I could still see her there, riding her broom above
my relatives try to ignore things like this quite a bit
If it does not make sense to them, they claim to not see it
the wizard was not planning to find shelter that night
he had been surveilling an elf whose movements were not right
but a storm came up that contained pounding rain, and discomfort galore
the old wizard was soon clicking the clacker on the castle’s door
A voice said come in, so the wizard took off his hat
a puddle of rainwater was at his feet in seconds flat
I can clean that up he told the beautiful woman staring at him
No need she told him, you are most welcome, Sage Jim
The wizard was astounded, who had told her his name?
He was invited into a parlor where there was a witch of some fame.
At last! She said, we have been surveilling your movements all night.
He settled down to listen, because everything seemed merry and bright.
Next in was the elf Jim had been trailing through the bushes and trees.
I knew I could lead him to you, he told them. He was smug, this elf, Jeeves.
That’s the only part of the story I know, the only part told to me by my beard.
After this night, the wizard was never seen, for he had disappeared.
unlucky in love
they call her the black widow
she buried five men
my cousin dates her
he’s her biggest advocate
we are astounded
they were suicides
all five of them we ask him
of course, they marry
match made in heaven
madly in love for a year
them he hangs himself
what does he call his cat, do you know?
I looked around and guessed “maybe Van Gogh”
The guy was a painter, and had copied Starry Night
I was astounded to find out later that I was right
The cat was Van Gogh, and his dog was Poe
He was a writer too, which I truly did not know
A painter also, there was nothing he could not do
I marveled at his works done up in oranges and blue
the ghost was slippery, he outfoxed the wizard tonight
Took over the cauldron, for he was big, bold, white and bright.
The other animals were astounded that he got his own way
But this ghost is overbearing, every night, every day.
He poured in some liquids and said words no one had ever heard
They thought for a while he was being silly, rather absurd
Bubbling and swishing suddenly in the cauldron occurred
Something amazing was happening, we were all reassured.
224.
Ode to Mary, Mother of Virtues
Oh Mary, Mother of Faith
You taught us to obey God
Your humble submission we congratulate
Oh Mary, Mother of Hope
You offered us God's Messiah
Your fruit of salvation we interlope
Oh Mary, Mother of Charity
You granted us God's abundant grace
Your genuine generosity we credit sincerely
Oh Mary, Mother of Prudence
You confirmed us that you are guided by God
Your sinlessness we adore with magnificence
Oh Mary, Mother of Justice
You imparted us God's impartial mercy
Your intercession we always please
Oh Mary, Mother of Fortitude
You showed us patience amidst God's trials
Your endurance we praise with servitude
Oh Mary, Mother of Temperance
You astounded us with your chastity before God
Your immaculate heart we want to glance.
-09/08/2013
(Dumarao)
*for Mama Mary's Birth
I had heard of the enchanted cottage of course
Unsure if I had seen it as a child or imagined it.
But I was an adult now, almost twenty-seven.
What were the chances of finding her?
No one who returned could map the route.
It was as if their memories had been swiped clean.
a faerie princess exited the cottage to greet me.
I was astounded, honored, and overwhelmed.
What is your name? She asked me.
Her voice was gentle, soft, concerned.
I could not remember my name.
Thus, you know I could not remember the route.
my identical twin and I surprised our cousin this weekend
We have not laughed this hard in years
She was totally astounded
We had not seen her since she was sixty-five
She turned seventy-two the day we surprised her
We turned into twelve-year-old girls when we saw her
She turned into an eleven-year-old
she is a year younger than we are
We reminisced and laughed and loved being together.
It was astoundingly wonderful.
My twin and I had both sent her presents early.
She had no idea, which made it more special.
I had a blast painting a cartoon for her.
I am a cartoonist who paints in acrylics.
It was a cartoon of my twin and I holding her up high in the air.
My twin said she could not stop laughing every time she looked at it.
She said “you made Lou look like a boy!”
Lou aka Louise is our cousin, who always looks like a boy.
Best time ever!
Trump has kidnapped a head of state,
along with a wife...Its indeed; a first to narrate'
The Maduro duo..And a USA Don.? Sorta
Mafiosi.? Or maybe just a plan; plain
gone all wrong? A
Plan of 'much murktitude' it seems
to me,
The whole world is astounded, Putin wants
Them freed.' This is a doozie.' And ground war
As well.? While prosecuting an illegally held
Couple..I see big oceon swells.' It could be
beyond chaotic.? Oh but didn't Maduro
Tell? Us Yeshua was stratigic leader.?
Could this
Become ace.? Will cohesion weave in
Bolivarian streets.? Unity meet fortitude
Resitance complete.' Will the doller tank
Now?
Just what will be what.? I await Gods
decision...Wow the atmospheres real
Hot.'
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