Beautiful Bell Kitty
Entered my life to heal me
Like an angel without wings
Love is all she wants to give me
A wag of the tail
those big brown eyes staring at me
~ a reminder it's feeding time
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 1st place 2025
Wounded by its lack
Distrustful of it
Inured to its absence
In thrall to its allure
Fooled by its simulacrum
Estranged from it
Paralysed by fear of losing it
Inexorably exposed to it
Resolved against it
Consumed by longing for it
A scholar to its foreign texts
A slave to its compulsions
Compelled to search for it
Forever
Hopeful
The trolling of the iron bell
brought the pair together
in sickness and in health
through all kinds of weather
he a macho manly male
anticipating his marital right
she a timorous maiden frail
awaiting her wedding night
no more lingering at the church
or languishing left in the lurch
no more cake or champagne
someone left it out in the rain
and that which is to come
he acceding to her every plea
she submitting to his every wish
a happy couple for all the world to see
Love is not of the body
but a language every soul speaks
like a stubborn strand of hair
appearing where it’s least wanted.
No heart truly goes numb
no mind ever forgets
it only takes a deep breath
to face what lingers inside.
Love begins in silence
in that pause before the touch
the quiet before the bell
and the echo that follows after.
But heartbreak arrives louder
when the heart insists it won’t be fooled
turning the echo into proof
a sound of breaking, rebounding alone.
Not living
longer
but dying
slower
The chemo
dripping
death’s shadow
appears
Each moment
fringed
with a joy
ill censored
The countdown
has started
whose bell
— is near
(Dreamsleep: August, 2025)
_ e _ l _
b l
o-f
||
||
l ^ o ^ v ^ e
~ r ~ i ~ n ~ g ~ s ~
~ s~ u ~ d ~ d ~ e~ n ~
~ p ~ i ~ e ~ r~ c ~ i ~ n ~ g ~
.*. *. * *.
*. .*. .*
*. *.
*. *.
.*.
h
e a
r-t
•• ••
e ^ s
b t
^. ^ ^
~ b~ l~ i ~ s ~s ~
Bell
Bell
ringing
through the morning
for a special service there
their families, have gathered
for their special wedding day at the church
outside of the church photos are taken
smiling
Joy
A bell tolls — with a single chime.
Igniting the spell of dawn’s regret.
It halts the breath, suspends all time,
Foreboding with threats you can't forget.
You flinch—one foot on the stepping stone,
The wind's first touch scalds your face.
Just one finger grips your hand alone.
You wait for relief from bell’s disgrace.
The silence palls where echoes die—
The ring bell toll fades with no reply.
There's no sign, no sound, no reason why,
You're left here dangling from the sky.
A bird attempts one fragile note.
Bashful in the spelled applause.
The breeze catches breath in its throat.
Afraid to continue through the pause.
You toll the haunt of some unspoken spell,
A pact with ghosts to stop the feeling.
While winds and seas rise on the swell,
Sending your hopeful plans reeling.
A lone bell tolls—no one answers now.
So old scars and doubts take the blame.
For dismembered memories you can’t avow.
In the flinching cringe that has no name.
I'd choose the USPS "Liberty Bell" stamp for an ekphrasis poem. Here's the poem:
In copper curves, the Liberty Bell's tale,
A symbol etched in history's hallowed gale,
On this small stamp, its lines tell a story grand,
Of freedom's voice, in a nation's promised land.
The crack that speaks of time and trials past,
Echoes whispers of liberty that will forever last,
In Philadelphia's square, it once did ring,
Proclaiming rights, where brave hearts took their sing.
Now postage-born, in miniature it resides,
A nation's dream on tiny paper tides,
With every stamp, its spirit's sent afar,
Carrying hopes, like letters breathed into air.
In mailboxes deep or journeys cross-country wide,
This Liberty Bell stamp glides, a quiet pride,
A symbol small, of ideals vast and old,
On letters sent, where dreams and stories unfold.
When asked, 'If the orchestra conductor
had made an effort more concerted
not to miss the concert
and a sordid scene averted,
would he have been less disconcerted?'
"Don’t ask me, I’m only the drummer,"
replied I in chagrin.
And, altho' the name of my favourite band
is the one I am currently in,
I do like the sound of the moniker, 'Big Ben,'
it's music to my ears and have to admit,
it has a certain ring to it."
As it appeals one feels it would sell well as a bell
(at fifteen point one short tons)
and wake everyone with its loud knell.
Of eleven children he was the first
and from an early age
for research had a thirst
his love of dogs was no surprise
highly regarded
he received the Nobel Prize
altho' no longer around
of all those that ever were
I clearly like the sound
as with food it goes so well
and if nothing else
the name 'Pavlov' rings a bell
Amour in glamour,
when we were close !
Bell of adieu rang :
My feelings froze.
Pallid petals dropped.
in wilted rose.
“Death can never separate us. Each time you feel a gentle breeze, It's my hand caressing your face.” By Mary Lucas
The first bell intoned its dreary dirge.
The feel of emptiness spread all around.
I was not afraid. I felt tall and steady.
Night began to obscure the light of day.
I began my lonely trek around the desolate place.
I met no one nor did I want to. I repeat.
I was not afraid. Some candles were still lit
All around the paths. Not that I had any difficulty
To find my way. I had walked that path too, often.
Suddenly all around a wild wind whispered all around.
Still, I was more concerned about names and ages.
How many die young! I feel tears brimming in my eyes.
Yet no tears fell. The light dimmed casting long shadows.
A lone raven cawed, a warming call. I did not care.
The dirge bell rang again, a mandate and a warning,
I pressed on, undaunted but free.
I entered the mausoleum as was my habit,
Lay myself down in my comfy coffin and slept.
Placed 1
We beat our drums to the sound of the bell
But we can not copy the sound
So we'll dance, and sing in celebration
For peace has finally come
With the fog cleared up
We can see the truth
Together we wait
For the islands' singing voice to sing again
When the bell tolls
The story will repeat again
Over and over again
As we sing till our voices reach the sky
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