Best Apprentice Poems
blasts of flames from his hand and staff
electrically charged spheres
turquoise orbs ignite the palace hall
Merlin taught him magical words
abracadabra, alacazoom
fear not
the apprentice learned well
exceeding Merlin’s expectations
as Merlin is laid to rest
new master magician is born
predecessor of Houdini
unlocks the power
entertains the king’s court
knowing the only thing he cannot do
is avoid the fate of his teacher
*Entry for Leighann’s “Magic Words” contest
Mark Clarke was the gentlest man of Denmark
Yet considered by all a most unlikely patriarch
He was proud being Noah’s apprentice on the ark
Mark was in charge of ensuring all the animals did embark
Two by two in harmony, elephant, giraffe, tiger, and aardvark
Shared the gameplan with the many types of whale and shark
Ensured every bird was onboard, especially the skylark
Mark’s wondrous inventory was classified by icon and footmark
And sometimes in the margin he would jot a special remark
Hoping no one would notice he found neither unicorn nor snark
For weeks torrential rains made the sky darkest dark
They prayed for the rainbow, that long-awaited coloured arc
When the rains finally subsided they looked for the closest park
Everyone had cabin fever and were ecstatic to disembark
Rowdiness of meow, oink, purr, caw, growl, snarl and bark
Plans were soon ongoing to celebrate with a feisty spark
Evaluating the damage up and down and all around Hark!
Mark said Yeah, that’s gonna leave quite a watermark
AP: Honorable Mention 2020
Submitted on March 8, 2018
Here's hoping Joe Biden gets hired,
It’s what all his voters desired,
He can then say to Trump,
(the arrogant lump),
Hey Donald, I'm Potus - ‘YOU’RE FIRED !!!
20/05/20
I am a 13 year girl, name is Stella, an apprentice of Yijing.
My master is Luna, a beautiful woman skilled and kind.
I'm admiring her and always learn her actions into my mind.
To myself, she is completely everything.
Three years has passed Since we met each other
One day, my father brought her to my house
She looked like a fairy, dressed in pure white blouse
And introduced as his pupil and also my home teacher
My father was a Tarot master, I knew
She was a daughter of father's business friend
And wanted to be a fortuneteller as well
Her father advised her to learn other way to chew
Later, she told me, she felt Tarot was best choice to tend
But I could not understand what she wanted to tell
Fengleishanren.
Hermes Apprentice
My work is a part of me
But I am not my work
I am a part of
The Great Work
My work is not me
My work has a life
of its own
It communes with the all
and all who encounters it
Both my work and I
are a part of The Great Work
But I will return
to The Great Work
and my work will go forward into the future
and connect with those with open hearts
My work is the work which will
remember I and my connection to The Great Work
My work is the work which will
help others to remember their connection and part
to something Greater than my work
There was a plumber called Billy O'Toole
Hired a dimwit who turned out quite a fool
Soil pipe he didn't secure
There was a stench of manure
And all the downstairs became a cesspool.
The owner came back and said" whats that smell? "
By his face he was angry you could tell
The dimwit ran for the door
But then skidded on the floor
And face down into raw sewage he fell.
Written 28th November 2020
Make Me Laugh with Some Humor - Any Form - New Poems Poetry Contest.
Sponsored by Tania Kitchin.
My name is Stella, the Yijing apprentice.
I'm always studying Yijing.
My master is Luna, who gives me ways to practice
She has the splendid skill of teaching.
She sometimes said
"Continue even little by little,
the important thing is advancing your title."
And she always patted my head.
One day she also said
"Do not try beyond your capacity"
"Always keep highest of your dignity"
And again she patted my head.
Yijing is an ancient book of change
Also known as a book of oracle and philosophy
It tells us about things for all range
And we can find much anthroposophy.
But I simply like it because it is fun
Reading books, listening to master's lectures,
Meeting people, finding the wisdom of traditional culture,
And the actual exercise of divination I've done
Oh, those Unforgettable days !
I never lose you even in my hardest ways
And ...
"Stella, last sentence, you look like a person of old age"
my master read my writing and said
"It's good for me.", I replied nodding my head
"Because, I want to be a matured sage"
Yes, it's my dream to become a Yijing master !!
Fengleishanren.
I'm Stella, lover of Yijing, but at the first time, I was not it
I was a child who had no interest in divination
And ignorance turned into repulsion
When father told me to start learning it
"Learn it from Luna must be good for you.
That can provide many things and help you greatly.", he said,
I refuted, "It bothers her", but this time she replied instead,
"Teaching someone is important learning for myself, too"
After all, Luna was a very nice person, and I liked her
But I continued refusing Yijing for a while
Father was beaten down and said nothing more
And situation got been changed six months later
She never tempt me to Yijing and always with gentle smile
But that thing happened suddenly and influenced my core
Fengleishanren.
i gather my sticks and stones
beat around the bush
facing East, then West
bow three times
scrape my knees on the doorstep of persuasion
the attic is filled with cobwebbed intrusions of domesticity
but nothing seems out of place,
the basement leaks with water under the foundation
and the walls shout with time cracking through the lifted iris
you purr like a selfish house cat, smug and twitching his whiskers
with pensive appetite,
i'm off to save the world, the sting ray in my pocket,
a jawbone on my shoulder,
dragonflies are busy dodging mouthfuls of distress
my croc is ticking out his schemes on a Tuesday afternoon,
you could do worse than read this poem.
you should have read the riddle I left for you.
Form:
If I say I see the future
Will you laugh and point the blame
At the drugs that I am taking
To end this constant pain
But I tell you I see you death
Just like Nostradamus revelations
But mine arent as vague as his
So you wont lose it in interpretation
My quadrients are like fortune cookies
For they are all to kind
"You will soon find love thats next to you"
Give me a break this crap is blind
The love its really talking about
Is the one that death has for you
Can you feel her embrace like a mother
Blowing in your ear waiting for her clue
Just as Socrates had Plato
To pass his vision too
Like the suicide of Hitler
Turned out to be a fake like you
So here is my quadrient not so vague
It goes without saying it has your name
"Tears forming clear from your eyes
A king will die tonight from your smile
But dont take for granted the one near you
For she will stab your heart though a prize"
Within 100 years we all die.......this is true
It doesnt take a genius to figure this one too
Form:
That time of the year once again
Thoughts, memories, flooding in
Trying to understand these moments
No one is exempt from emotion.
Parent flash ignored for the present
Back to apprenticeship days
Young and eager to learn
The result was a trade
Father smiled and nodded
Mother adoring watching from afar
Duties include making tea in Billy cans
Making sure each brew was as ordered
Setting out the meals for trades persons
An apprentice master watching over
Angry moods, other times gentle
Mistakes are made and rectified
Guidance comes in strange ways
Words were spoken, not appreciated
Now in later life, understood
At the time, resisted the teachings
Now could hug the person that taught us
There were times when interest dwindled
Prodding and encouragement always given
Now in later years wish for a revisit
Meet and shake their hand?
No, would hug and kiss their cheek
Not only a trades person
But a Mother, or Father
Just doing the best we can
All started by filling billycans.
S/he knows hot cold felt co-passions
calling to become Bodhisattva Caller,
EarthTown Crier,
co-messianic prophet of brightest gloom
begging prophecies still hiding
winning our least best common denominations
racing diverse nurturing
of ecotherapeutic tranquilities,
resonant resilience
to both call and cooperative calling back
listening through speaking
what has fissured pathological cracks,
powers of matriarchal hurricanes
nurturing yet controlling
Earth's patriarchal steadfast Peter rocks
deaf to nurturing calls of invitation
but best for flat plane echoing
climates full
uprising
evolving
revolutions
calling as we nurture echo-call,
crying as we nature fall,
supplying all we together recall
competing WinWin cooperations,
co-operators
of and for peaceful piracy,
creolic recreations,
trumping each reweaving species
relearning shared vocations
as Solidarity's apprentices.
Climatic avalanches self-invite
what we co-invited yesterday
as bounty.
Bright orange flames arc from his outstretched fingers to his gnarled oak staff
crazy shadows dancing on the walls of the warded sanctum.
With a lifting of one eyebrow the apprentice flings the molten fire out and engulfs the
Lightning Balls with ease. The lad strikes the butt of his staff on the stone ground and
with a clap of thunder, all magic winks out, both the flames and the lightning.
The Arcane Master rolls his eyes upward. “Eh, show off. You passed. But you will find
life the real test, young Magister.”
Apprentice at Grief
I stoop to grief when reasons fail
And tell him that tomorrow
We must begin to sort out our delirium.
“Hopes get lean and die,” I say,
“So, we must nourish them with tears.”
Pry the locked jaws open
Jerk them back to sound and speech.
Let this mouth, shut so long ago,
Spit out sorrow and silence – shout!”
I swallow a live curse with love
Words slip out and slash my lips.
“Hey, buddy, you haven’t shrunk enough,” I say,
“You haven’t taken to the sewers yet.”
That scheming skull and the lust for might you sustain
Will eat your heart out endanger all your gain.
I smell no stink of spoiled sin on you, my friend,
As it befits connoisseurs of sorrow, no yearning to atone.
I have no tears left to comfort you with, old boy, no thrills.
Laughs have lost their lease and Me’s and Mine’s pay no bills.
Only this wrinkled skin is left to guard our guts from stray cats.
Yet, we cannot afford to live or die in permanent defeat.
We have to stay in the battle and lose again and more and over.
Listen! We have to bundle this wayward heart, my friend,
And count on Grace for our chances of redemption, as He said.
The Light of Life is always near, that much is clear, to the end.
Ancient Mystery,
I am ready.
Lend me this time
To learn the simplicity
Of my role
In the Universal Equation.
Teach me to whisper
Words of thunder
In reflection of
Humanity's potential,
So utterly amazing
And brilliant.
As I look upon
My brothers and sisters,
Let me remember
Their spirit
And why they came.
We are all
Teachers and students.
I am your humble vessel.
Prepare me in humility and faith
To accept every truth
Of this world,
Even the lies of illusion
Created by ego.
I am here
Oh, Sacred Ones.
Train this apprentice
To have vivid clarity
For all you would show me.
Sculpt me into gratitude.
Then lead me
To the path
Where lightning lives
And charges the atmosphere
With Your energy.
I will not be afraid.