I’ve run out of things to say to you
I who love how language feels
Cannot see your thoughts to know,
How to ask what you conceal.
Perfection is fine to a point,
An everlasting urge
but I’d never breathe again,
If I did not share our eternal love.
The exquisite princess of maiden joy
Can sacrifice her honor and her name,
By giving of her sullen self
from within her hidden carnal dream.
Understand the silent plan
The never spoken thought.
Reflect on days never lived,
Answers never given, never sought.
Receive please what you are due.
Believe at least that I love you.
Categories:
at least, break up, desire, girlfriend,
Form: Rhyme
Decrotive needle work
sewn ito the fabric
they were highlights to
make the invitations look exspensive
Decrotive foods samples
savoury with drinks
The Celebrants marvoled at the audeince
I heard them mention how
they wished they had asked for a $5 dollar ticket fee.
One of the members of the wedding party sent
out a letter asking the attendants to take up a collection
from the many who had come
the budget was running over
due to last minute exspentures
people filled the ballroom
and extra people were needed for different things.
the day of cordinater earned her money that day.
Keeping the many there entertained during the down sides
and keeping people feed while they waited.
Love was the theme of the day
and many in attendance
respected the theme
and allowed the usage of the laugage
of "Bliss" to over take the littlest doubt
from those who were pesitmestic and mean.
Categories:
at least, business, celebration, clothes, dance,
Form: Ballade
The air is ordinary,
flat as the ceiling.
I am not dissolved, not broken,
just waiting—
she's slipping into the woods,
a small vanishing act of trees and smoke.
I stay behind,
a houseplant without a window.
London is a name I repeat
like a charm I can’t afford,
a place I am supposed to belong to
but do not step into.
I am still here,
checking my pulse against
the dull clock of the day.
I say I am not okay—
but the walls do not echo back.
When I count it all,
the bones line up straight,
the cupboards hold food,
the phone rings,
and no one has died.
My worries are real enough
to feel like teeth grazing skin,
but when I press harder,
they dissolve into smoke.
Not tragedy. Not the black lake.
Only the unease of living,
the itch of wanting more.
I hold it close anyway—
this almost-pain,
this not-quite-sorrow.
Because at least it is mine.
Because at least it is not worse.
And yet,
so I say: but, at least—
the worst thing in my hands
is time,
and not death.
Categories:
at least, appreciation, beautiful, conflict, death,
Form: Free verse
George was a prankster, at least one screw loose
Peed in a bottle, tagged it orange juice
His mom drank it all down
Then she started to frown
Her face turned red, then white ~ then chartreuse
Categories:
at least, change, color, humor, mother
Form: Limerick
I found it curled in the shadow
of what used to be a hospital.
A slow hunch of fur,
the color of old bark—like the forest
had tried to grow itself a question.
It didn’t look surprised to see me.
Just blinked, as if measuring
whether I was worth the glance.
I sat cross-legged beside it,
tore foil from a protein bar—
offered the whole thing,
wrapper and all.
It took the crinkle in two fingers,
held it to the light. Didn’t eat it.
Just listened to the sound
plastic makes in a nuclear breeze.
It exhaled desert globemallow.
A whole Quaternary extinction
in a single breath.
I didn’t ask my question out loud,
but I think it heard anyway.
Do we stand a chance?
The sloth leaned its weight
across a rusted sign
that once read urgent care.
It didn’t speak, but something
about the pinch of its thick,
prehensile lip
said it knew what we’d done—
to the soil, to time, to ourselves.
It forgave none of it.
When it finally turned to leave,
I followed.
Not because I thought
it could save me,
but because it didn’t try to.
Categories:
at least, allusion, environment, extended metaphor,
Form: Free verse
Ordinary days, just like before,
No one knows the feeling of being ignored.
It's always that one who makes the heart beat fast,
In every way, giving the heart a blast.
That someone is too far from reality,
The impossible hits differently.
Too good to be true to notice,
Even in the smallest way, there's no space.
It’s always you that gives a butterfly.
It’s you that brings a fast-forward to imply.
Gives the benefit of the doubt to try,
Risking something just to be with you and cry.
You’re my “what ifs” sometimes,
And also, you’re my “at least” every time.
It’s better to give a little shot,
Than to give the negative and make a plot.
Categories:
at least, change, fear, writing,
Form: Rhyme
The mirror was irritatingly sparkly today
Gave me a saucy wink, showing her arrogance
I hate being in the bathroom in the morning
For this very reason
Two pony dogs have to be stepped over in the hallway
One is not moving
The other one will rear up in between my legs
Not intending to trip me, but one day I will break a hip
I make my way to the kitchen; has the coffee pot been turned on?
Another amazing day of retirement, where I sit in a chair and click
Click click click click click click click
Why is there nothing interesting on TV?
A book flies off the shelf when I enter the living room
Is the poltergeist back?
Well, at least this is something…..
Categories:
at least, fantasy,
Form: Free verse
He’s been around a long, long time
(Put another way, he’s old)
By now he thinks he knows it all,
He does not if truth be told.
He likes to think he’s a poet
And he’s scribbling all the time.
But often the syllables are wrong
And it doesn’t even rhyme.
He tries to be hilarious
But his humour’s pretty grim.
And most of the jokes he uses
Are even older than him.
He waxes lyrical sometimes
When writing of love and life.
But it doesn’t impress the ladies,
Especially his wife.
He’ll keep putting pen to paper,
In the hope that fame will appear.
But in his heart he knows full well
Shakespeare has nothing to fear.
Categories:
at least, poetry,
Form: Bio
AT LEAST I LOOK COOL
Standing strong
Still determined
After so much challenges that hit not long
I'm still okay and bold like I just started.
After fall, at least I look cool
The commitment and bravery is still there
All I care is getting pass barriers like defenders to score a goal
Like Messi, the techniques and power to conquer is still there.
Blown hard
Filled with blood mixed with sorrow
At least I look cool, I choose to withstand
Today is not the reason for my endurance but the prior is tomorrow.
Yesterday lose make me stronger
With those falls, at least I look cool
For me, there is tendency that my tomorrow will be better
No more I should, my only motive is I will.
© Sulaimon Khalid [Everlasting Ink]
Categories:
at least, 1st grade, age, confidence,
Form: Free verse
AT LEAST I LOOK COOL
Standing strong
Still determined
After so much challenges that hit not long
I'm still okay and bold like I just started.
After fall, at least I look cool
The commitment and bravery is still there
All I care is getting pass barriers like defenders to score a goal
Like Messi, the techniques and power to conquer is still there.
Blown hard
Filled with blood mixed with sorrow
At least I look cool, I choose to withstand
Today is not the reason for my endurance but the prior is tomorrow.
Yesterday lose make me stronger
With those falls, at least I look cool
For me, there is tendency that my tomorrow will be better
No more I should, my only motive is I will.
© Sulaimon Khalid [Everlasting Ink]
Categories:
at least, 1st grade, age, confidence,
Form: Free verse
Why is my body lop-sided?
Notice when I put on my socks
Never a problem with my left foot
With my right foot my muscles lock
Why are some right handed
While others more adept with their left?
Ever try writing left handed
A scrawl barely readable at best
Why does the hair on a female's face
Take so much longer to grow?
Imagine if the exact opposite were true
Not very appealing I know
Why do men stand up to pee
While ladies sit happily on the throne?
Wouldn't work the other way round
A mess we couldn't condone
Why do we always put on our pants
With the same leg first every time?
You'd think there'd be a sensible reason
Right now not one comes to mind
Why do we tilt our head the same way
Every time we kiss our lover
Coz if we varied the side each time
Noses would get squished you'd discover
If only we knew all the answers
There'd be no more struggling through life
We'd all be up there floating on cloud nine
Living happily without strife
Categories:
at least, anxiety,
Form: Rhyme
At least my thoughts are running across the remains of this paper
Laboring through another round of words circling inside my mind
I find, I need to take my time with writing chimes and
poetry lines
for if I stumble across a sentence to short or to long
I might turn it around; to jingle it with a song
Damn, It's been far too long since I wrote a lick
maybe I should be beaten with a riff
Going along with my flow ; that's takin years to show
this is the first I've written...and I'm not kidding
At least my thoughts are running across the remains of this paper
Categories:
at least, write,
Form: Enclosed Rhyme
Hurt but not broken,
Words worth but not spoken,
An urge to just feel, anything that’s real,
The sting of a razor was all that would save her.
Categories:
at least, dark, depression, emotions, loneliness,
Form: Rhyme
When we sat down at the table
I didn’t have a hunch
It would be thirty-four dollars
To have a bite of lunch
My wife had eggs and bacon,
And I had chips with pork
For thirty-four dollars
I should have snagged a fork
I guess I’m getting old
Inflation’s getting real
I guess I really miss my
Seven dollar meals
Categories:
at least, money,
Form: Rhyme
Inside the chamber of one's heart, there's at least a pint of goodness,
So do not hesitate to show someone some brave acts of kindness,
Whether life for one is so tough that it could break his faith apart,
There's at least a pint of goodness inside the chamber of one's heart.
In the corner of one's mind, there is at least one good memory,
So do not be so damn lonely and try at least to be merry,
For time is passing too quick, make your memory needs no rewind,
There is at least one good memory in the corner of one's mind.
Underneath one's tough rough skin, there is at least an act of kindness,
So do not hesitate to show someone some brave acts of goodness,
For life is too too short, let it not pass without your caring spin,
There is at least an act of kindness underneath one's tough rough skin.
In the shelter of one's bright eye, there is at least a chance for love,
So do not be too timid to pledge your love to your star above,
For shiny days could be over soon, so do not just try to pry,
There is at least a chance for love in the shelter of one's bright eye.
September 14, 2022
Swap Quatrain Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Emile Pinet
Categories:
at least, encouraging, love, wisdom,
Form: Quatrain
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