Best 20Th Poems
A world of torment was his stage
His paintings previewed a later age;
Neurosis,depression & death-
Escaping into a dream
Leaving the world with 'a scream'
Edvard Monck (1863-1944) The Scream
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scream
The dawn came late, pallid sun peeping over the horizon scarcely bright enough to scare
away the night sky. The pale moon sinks reluctantly in the west, as the first rays, still
cold in the colder air, strive to melt the frosted grass. A chill haze hangs above the
ground, almost glowing in the early morning light, hiding the long shadows of the autumn
browned stalks 'till they are nothing but anonymous smudges on the temporal canvas. Such
a fine crisp morning, though it chills to the bone, in some devious incomprehensible way
its beauty warms the heart.
Remember when the dollar was worth 100 pennies
Those were the days when we all had plenty
Salaries back then were laughable when
A million dollars was actually worth a million then
But that was w-a-y-y-y back in the 20th century
© Jack Ellison 2015
It is time for them to run
In the Jersey Shore tourist sun
Continuing their three-year-old campaign
Feeling the warmth of youthful fame
Before being sent out to be studs
And replaced by next year’s Kentucky rose buds
Haskell Day is here
Patrons arrive looking for some hugging and cheer
Complimentary hats, losing tickets and a tear
From Sinatra to Springsteen
Thoroughbred adolescents with a celebrity dream
Four legged athletes maturing fast
Experience a tradition steeped in the twin river community past
Historically owners once took on the NFL with an AFL fight
Wearing track colors green and white
Phil, Sonny and sparkly clean Leon pumping gas named Hess
They played Orange Super Bowl chess
Making the Colts confess
Then welcomed Baltimore
Saying ‘let the Giant Washington team show you the door’
When the leagues got married
Suddenly networks wanted games to carry
Donnie Mc Beth, Craig Peret and Julie Krone
Someone may want to get the press and ledger on the phone
This is going to be some race
Media may want to give the finish line photo some space
Distanced at a mile and eight
Curved turns and stretches where they run straight
In the end
Winners and losers head over to reporters to defend
Applause rings out
Congratulations are shout
Exceptionally large ponies get sponge baths
Picture taken with smiles and laughs
Soon night life will arrive
Crowds leave dining options they do cry
Prime rib featured inside the Squire’s Pub
Or a boardwalk hot dog grilled by Mrs. Max’s counter hub
No racing tomorrow
Is no horror
Since it is sun day
Ocean beach time is what they say
Surf Rider or Ship Ahoy
Trade wind clubbing a Garden State joy
Direction's do state across the street from the Sea Bright Rum Runner
And perfect together during a Monmouth Park seasonal summer
John Wayne would not entertain
self-doubt or indecision
jumped in again and again
with full blown tunnel vision
pure bravado does not stop
mortality's sure advance
nothing can give assurance
we will have that one last dance
not every situation
is cause to pose scream and shout
will be no acclimation
if we can't find our way out
lies turn into bolder lies
words sole purpose is deceit
no use trying to disguise
sometimes we'll take a backseat
unease growing faster now
leering faces seem stranger
no one going to ask how
words led to this much danger
not an outstanding question
of what might make it alright
flat out wrong situation
when lives are taken for spite
cannot simply turn and run
at this point of no return
too much cannot be undone
to dodge permanent downturn
this world's not all black and white
except in minds which are closed
we've all become wrapped too tight
in myths long ago composed
John Wayne would stick to his guns
in those technicolor dreams
but we're the actual ones
coming apart at the seams
Fist thrust aagainst straight arm
As hammer and bayonet clash
above the crying child
West Virginia, my beloved home state
East of the Mississippi
South of the Mason-Dixon Line
Thirty-Fifth State of the Union. *
Verdant fields and vast woodlands
Intersected by broad, rushing rivers,
Resplendent with towering mountains.
Gem of tourists and outdoor adventurers,
Individualism and independence prized,
National treasure
In the heartland of the
Appalachian Mountain region.
Written June 20, 2021, West Virginia’s 158th birthday
[*West Virginia was made a state by proclamation of
President Abraham Lincoln on June 20, 1863. It is the
only state created by a presidential proclamation.]
Billionaires live in a rat hole
And hoard funds for their barren soul
Their burrows and blight
Are nests out of sight
Where pest control's just whack-a-mole
The rich bribe the prez with cash nuts
And praise Trumpenstein's rodent guts!
Those privileged imbibe
Tax cuts for their tribe
While we'll eat what's dropped from their butts
Missionaries… called by God to preach* and perform what they teach
anchored upon Scriptures, exemplifying Christ in good works’ earnestness
souls they compassionately win, as hearts by grace they reach
labouring with mercy and truth, praying while building lives, despite afflictions
sacrificing, taking up own cross, conquering individual selfishness
presenting Gospel of redemption; to repent, fellow men beseech
while offering eternal security as gift from the Saviour’s loving kindness.
*1Corinthians 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
July 25, 2021
1st place, "A Brian Strand Rime Me" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 8/26/2021.
Time is always virgin in its mother womb
Caravan of crossing never knows stoppage
On its attachment all come step by step
This morning came back everything like before
Old existence I wanna not to forget
But today everything is mixed up
I gave leave the old to greet new time
In my wine glass watermelon surfs
Came to me the colorful prosperous rally
Came to me the rapturous country lyrics
Came to me the summer sun with hotness
Came to me new year's beautiful dress
Came to me god, holy books, prayers
Came to me poems, last years scripts
Came to my window sill the sparrows to eat rice
Came to my coconut tree the crows to awake
Came the beautiful girls of boishabi festival
This morning came to me many knowns-unknowns
No; I did not want these; I did not invite
The god, the holy books, good advice;
I did not arrange the stage for poets,
for the hilly beauty to splash water gladly;
I no need anyone even the cloud shadow
This morning I gave leave you o my bed darling
I gave leave the old everything with you
In this sick world I gave leave the God
I gave leave every poets, king and queen
I gave leave all disqualified humans- beliefs
Today I wanna welcome to the ill earth
Happy Bangla New Year 1427;
Today I wanna welcome
The scientist and assistant of inventive knowledge,
The researcher physician and nurse
and today I wanna welcome those
who work for humanity and beautiful universe
14.04.2020 (Chattogram City)
the 20th century is the man power of the 20th century
the 20th century is the stool of the 20th century
the 20th century is a skilled stool
man power is a stool of man power
man power is a stool of a 20th century
man power is a skilled stool
the 20th century is a skilled of the 20th century
the 20th century is a skilled of man power
experience is a stool of experience
experience is experienced of a stool
experience is experienced of man power
experience is a skilled experience
experience is a power of experience
power is a skilled power
power is a skilled experience
power is a skilled 20th century
power is a skilled stool
power is man power of a stool
power is man power of a 20th century
power is man power of a experience
a skill is a skilled man power
Air-Bourn Into the 20th Century
David J Walker
I was one of the soldiers who
Missed the target of the jump
Nine months up in a cloudless sky
Where some were chosen to live
And others to die
Before their boots hit the ground
Where I found myself in a
Mid -20th Century place that
Didn’t need me to be Prole fodder
Although it didn’t matter to a
Volunteer who chose not to be
Anywhere else
Though prepared and yet
Too inexperienced to be scared
Of the dilemmas of the battle of
Those willing to do the killing in
The business of war
I jumped into the 20th century
Where I thought there would
Never be more
than this
At the end of
a Mushroom Cloud
‘ Crows … ’ 20th Senryu
The Penguins … Ask What ?
and The Wise, Old Owl … Ask Who ?
… Those, Know-It-All Crows …
(A Reminder for Me … The MoonBee –
'Cause Nobody Likes A Know-It-All -Smile)
20th Century
David J Walker
Grandfather
Father and
Each father’s son
All went to war
One by one
But no one was left
When the fighting was done
At the end of the 20th Century
God our Father
Watches below
The direction His Children
Would inevitably go
And where it would stop
No one would know
At the beginning of the 21st Century
Parallel to loneliness was I,
then day broke and I awoke with ease-
lovely Autumn breeze and cobalt sky,
joy prevails and hopelessness does cease.
A day when weeping willows don’t cry,
tangerine sunset between the trees-
smiles resound in love we can’t deny,
we hold hands swearing true guarantees.
Beautiful day renewing our vows.
Queen Of Day 9 x 9 Poetry Contest
Charles Messina
September 19, 2019