Best Archipelago Poems
Donning splendiferous landscapes stretching for miles,
A culture that aptly prides, in bold, welcoming smiles;
A thriving land of islands~ an archipelago evincing awe,
A resplendence of nature, an exclamation of hurrah.
Sandy beaches embrace realms of pristine coastline,
Harboring lush foliage, embodying sublimity divine,
Of marine life, corals, reveling warmth of idyllic clime,
Reminiscent of paradise, of placidity, stilled in time.
Fun loving, amiable, proud tradition extolling grace,
Quaint, yet modern, is the vibrant vibe of this place;
Of museums, antiques, art galleries, buzzing cafe,
Of hotels, casinos, of famed sunsets on Manila Bay.
Luzon, the Visayas, Mindanao~ gems of the blue sea,
Living in tranquility, projecting utter beauty and glee;
Islands of hospitality, homeland of a privileged few,
A magnificent portrait, upon sea-canvas nature drew.
Philippines~ an acclaimed, lauded, pearl of the Orient,
Rich in diverse culture, her allure citizens augment,
Pulsating rhythms of hearts and souls, worthy of praise;
A treasure preserved, revered since the ancient days.
Surrounded by tranquil turquoise waters,
Guarded on sides by oceans three,
In the east by the Pacific,
On the south by the Celebes Sea,
And on the west by the south China Sea,
There is an archipelago on the blue water crescent,
A group of islands, called Philippines,
Encircled by a girdle of gleaming silver,
With its shores of stretching sandy swell
That lulls the restless waves to sleep;
A land of green vegetation and terraced terrain!
It houses picturesque and breath-taking views.
Vast beaches of ivory sand sprawl before our eyes
Dolphins leap over seafoam, palm fronds wink
Soft breezes waft and cotton clouds float above.
Anyone will fall in love with these tiny strips of land,
Of rugged hills and meandering rivers
Of placid backwaters and blue skies
Of gibbering monkeys and celestial monarch birds,
Of strutting peacocks, pigeons, pheasants, and parrots.
The powdery white sand of Boracay
The Chocolate Hills of Bohol
The Caraballo Mountain ranges,
And the Cordillera Mountain chain of Luzon,
The Rice Terraces of Philippine Cordilleras
All these give the country a solemn investiture.
Volcanic peaks, standing mighty and tall,
Proudly line the landscape, dotted with dense forests
Where birds sing melodies and Tarsiers with bug eyes
The tiny primates, endemic to the Philippines roam and jump
Amid the slumbering hills, there is fecund soil,
Turned into orchards and plantations,
Its population with perseverance and patience
Work in the soil relentlessly and in unison.
Well known for their hospitality, they receive tourists,
And outsiders with warmth and camaraderie.
In this paradise of mixed fortunes, tragedy comes unforeseen,
In the form of natural calamities like typhoons and cyclones,
But nothing can tear the people apart and they prosper,
With resilience, bent on sustaining their tradition,
Adding value to it each day and proud of an identity of their own
This beautiful land of velvet waves and crystal sands
Lying as a pendant in a crescent of emerald cluster
Rightly deserves the title- the 'Pearl of the Orient'
The azure ocean, home to the embedded enormous incomprehensible riches of mysteries and riddles,
More than the Mars, lies unfathomed, underneath the conundrum of oceanic colossal rhythms.
From the The Milky Sea Phenomenon, a sight captured as bioluminescence illusion,
The Purple Orb of the ocean floor of California and the Baltic Sea’s anomalous puzzles,
Like the alien spaceship put foot on the colossal quagmires of oceanic chasm!
When the underwater volcanoes erupt to perplex beyond imagination in huddle,
To probe and discern those gems of oyster shell’s luminous pearls dazzles,
Deep beneath sleeping peacefully in the ocean’s cradle!
The fatal enigma of the unplumbed immensely profound oceanic mysteries will never dwindle.
The more one plunges to pierce in deep muse its vastness engulfs to diddle!
The superficial waves in corrugation, are mere widening its hitherto horizontal hurdles.
The bizarre sounds emanating from beneath are like giant icebergs scraping the oceanic floor in madly rhythm!
The obscure oceanic realms, its myriads mystical appearances remains timeless, fancy of millions!
Eras and eras pass, the mythical mermaid’s riddle are yet to resolve,
As centuries pass, may replete with the witness of numerous human civilizations!
Like the Atlantis of Japan, from time immemorial, the oceans are abodes of colossal confusions.
The voyages disappear in the Mystic Triangle, who knows what lies beneath the mythical abstractions?
The twirling sounds of infinite ocean swirling in the sea shells are quite captivating, attract admirers attractions;
The archipelago one after the other vanished without the trace, as in Marina Trench’s aberrations;
As if the Phantom Islet of Bermeja, in its murky abyssal cradle’s magnetic composition.
The Crop Circles discovered beneath its bosom as if the signage of other world’s manifestations;
The oceanic phenomenon of green flashes meets the red tides, reveals your magnificent disposition.
Wants to plunge, swim like a mermaid in your mystical cerulean temporal lilting motion;
Oh, the oceanic conundrum more we try to fathom, the more we entangle in your cryptic chasm!
© Silpika Kalita
SEA DAFFODILS
On the island of Comino
Naked rocks are burning hot,
Without mercy, sun at midday
Robs the shade from every spot.
It’s a bare desolate area,
Here the snakes are free to crawl,
Lazy lizards meditating
Where the gnarled wild bushes sprawl.
I trudge on towards the inlet
Drawn by water cyan blue;
It’s deserted and inviting
For it’s known only to few.
I arrive and there to greet me
On dry sand a wondrous sight
I behold, sensual, alluring
Virgin flowers dressed in white.
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*Comino is one of the islands that
form the Maltese Archipelago.
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22nd January, 2015
Contest: Hidden Beauty
Sponsor: Rhonda Johnson-Saunders
Placed: 2nd
Philippines, my country of birth,
one of the countries in Southeast Asia.
It is an archipelago or group of islands,
with more than seven thousand islands.
Luzon, the largest island in the northern
part of the country, is where I was born
and where Manila, the capital is located.
Manila, the city known as Pearl of the Orient.
Magellan, the Portuguese explorer for Spain
claimed the archipelago in fifteen hundred
twenty one, named the islands Las Felipinas
or The Philippines, after King Phillip II of Spain.
Philippines was colonized more than three
hundred years, from fifteen hundred sixty five
until eighteen hundred ninety eight and ruled
under Mexico-based Viceroyalty of New Spain.
Manila was called Pearl of the Orient Seas
by the historian/Jesuit priest Juan Jose Delgado
in seventeen hundred fifty one for being a way
of sea transactions during Asian trade of goods.
However, in Jose Rizal’s poem “My Last Farewell,”
he wrote before his execution by the Spanish
government for rebellion through his writings,
he stated his country as Pearl of the Orient.
So, Philippines, the country and not Manila,
the city became known as Pearl of the Orient,
upon the discovery of his poem after his execution
in December thirty, eighteen hundred ninety six.
Philippines is known as Pearl of the Orient for
its strategic location in Asia, rich biodiversity or
different kinds of plants and animals, natural
resources and its natural beauty and splendor.
The Spanish Crown called it Pearl of the Orient
for the country was a precious source of spices,
other resources and trade of goods, even prior to
their colonization to acquire a share in spice trade.
Philippines’ natural gem is south sea pearls
and it is renowned for cultivating south sea pearls.
The famous pearl in the country, known as The Pearl
of Lao Tzu, was considered the largest known pearl.
The pearl weighed fourteen pounds, found by a
Filipino diver in nineteen thirty four and later, a giant
pearl, the Pearl of Puerto weighing seventy five pounds,
found by a fisherman, both discovered in Palawan Island.
No doubt why The Philippines is called Pearl of the Orient,
the two biggest pearls were found in Palawan, Philippines.
Isn’t that the most obvious, sensible reason? I wonder……
Well, what do you think?...... Just asking……
THE SPACES BETWEEN
I am here and you are there
Close in affection love and care
We coexist in a larger sphere
But I'm not there and you're not here
Here I am and there thou art
We come together then we part
Separation means no less serene
The parting makes a space between
No man is an island the poet said
So must we be continentally wed?
Merged, united as one world nation
No free-willed self determination
This does not deny our essential coaction
Nor say we live without attraction
But each isle is distinct, individual, though
We exist as in archipelago
As with notes in a beautiful symphony
No matter in what fine harmony
The composer's key melody supreme
Depends on the spaces that intervene
That passing bell may not toll for me
Yet I’d mourn the loss of thee, she or he
You see though we're not an amalgamation
We have the great gift: of communication
Across all known spaces waves are flowing
Linking furthest points of a universe growing
We detect photons from distant galaxy
Can we not treat in closer proximity
So with hugs and Omm and kumbaya
You may lose yourself in nirvana
Praise oneness if you must by all mean
I'll bless the spaces in between
Cristiano Ronaldo.
Born in Funchal, Madeira's archipelago.
Played for Real Madrid and Man United.
Now his flair gets Al Nassr fans excited.
Messi is Ronaldo's biggest rival,
always vying to give fans an eyeful.
With a flick and a trick,
both make football look slick,
adding awards into their archival.
Although Messi has the Ballon d'Or awards record,
no one can match the goals Ronaldo has scored.
He started as a winger, but now plays as a centre forward.
When he misses a chance he's known to scream a swear word!
The Highland Princess
Sails again
Its captain and dove
To the Mediterranean
Now so much in love
To an island they go
To celebrate their engagement
For their love truly flows
This archipelago of seven
In this sea of blue
Aboard our babe
As we enjoy the views
Marina we berth
Settle in for the night
For tomorrow, our interests
Its historic sights
Early start
To the blue lagoon
For in the evening
We will love in tune
History surrounds
Every where we go
In its harbours and towns
Evidence shows
This island of class
With it's World Heritage sights
The Megalithic Temples
Still stand upright
These icons of age
To this island their worth
They are the oldest free standing structures
On this planet Earth
As the evening draws in
We head back to our yacht
To absorb our day
And what Malta has taught
Dinner and drinks
As we settle down
In comfy pose
Naked, but gowned
I take the hand
Of my golden dove
As we know in our eyes
Our evening of love
To our cabin we go
As our gowns are thrown
This captain and dove
Whose love keeps growing
Naked we fall
On our heavenly bed
Spooned together
To be sexually fed
Our bodies merge
As i grow inside
This gyrating two
Flowing with the tide
As i caress my dove
Her body and breasts
Nibbling her nape
In wanting zest
Our souls release
Potion so pure
Our bonding engagement
For future, sure
In the morning we awake
To the sounds of life
On our next voyage
She will be my wife
http://www.thehighlanderspoems.com/love2.php
Spring, Summer, and Autumn are Her rival,
but they all pale to Winter's arrival.
She is less subtle than the other three,
so shelter's a matter of survival.
Jack Frost is tethered to Her every whim
and She enjoys exclusive use of him.
She's fond of the art that He chisels on
windowpanes, though frost is but a prelim.
Winter's an artist; freezing flakes of snow,
She sculpts an iceberg archipelago.
She is a master of frozen beauty,
and a heartless generalissimo.
I saw a few tumbling snowflakes today,
harbingers of many more on their way.
For it's getting below freezing outside,
and the children have gone inside to play.
Suddenly, the sky is feathered with flakes
of confetti; Winter won the sweepstakes.
And when Her season becomes official,
She'll rule over all lands, rivers, and lakes.
(Rubaiyat)
Nov. 16, 2018
Your eyes a dark archipelago
Mysterious then exotic drifting across
my shore;
I perceive their warmth inviting
While those lips blow a tangy flavour-
Irresistible, poised to reach for a kiss
Brewed by the kiln of summer’s
ember…
Carefully, my logic examines the
prospects
Between reason and wantonness,
As the fluid air spins amorously
And the evening grows too blind,
naked--
The waves within my navel dilate,
fluid as current's unknown motion...
I forget what happens next except, I
was
Drunk with the body- rhythm of something
untenably spontaneous;
Coasting on a body outside a bend
ebbing flowing through a belly and
tendon
Of a conniving sea.
~ GREEN JELLO ~
A fellow from an archipelago
Puts on caps and hats made of green jello
Doesn't care what you think
His short pants shocking pink
Wears lipstick and rouge too ~ bright hot yellow
~ THE TOOTH FAIRY ~
The cutest girl in the monastery
Is planning to become a Tooth Fairy
She hides teeth in her bra
Young boys cry "Ooh-la-la"
Saying their prayers eagerly, quite merry
The river of love
that
our hearts carry
to
Lord's archipelago leads
without fail!
© Demetrios Trifiatis
15 February 2020
Thoughts are
agitated waves of the mind's archipelago
that
would never find rest
till
the moment they break upon
the shores of expression!
© Demetrios Trifiatis
27 July 2020
Kosovo means a ‘field of blackbirds’
From a Serbian place-name
The centre of a medieval Serbian empire
Assembly of Kosovo declared independence
17 February 2008 they win
It doesn't violate the law and not a sin
They are Albanians and Serbs
Sulu archipelago has its own people
With Mindanao with their own name
But some loved the Spanish-given name.
Not Sulu archipelago as the 'land of the currents'
And Mindanao as the 'land of the lake and flood plains'
Their names are more than enough
To name the region, at least they have
The names are from their origin
Not from the Spanish giving
The name of nation was unconquered people
Being colonized is not a clear indication.
KK-210615
P - Philippines' archipelago: Pearl of the Orient Seas
H - Hospitable "Pinoys" will welcome you with smiling teeth!
I - Inhabited tranquil big or small mountainous to rocky islands
L - Luculent World class beaches: black, brown, pink to white sands
I - Inviting anyone for a wave ride: weight boarding or surfing
P - Party called fiestas on streets are colorful, spectacular and artful
P - Palette of it's cradle provides scenic man - made crafts for tourists
I - Its culture creates a rich gallery of four civilizations
N - Nature's diverse species of fauna, corals! sweetest tropical fruits!
E - Eating - a favorite "must do" for its native to modern delicacies
S - Sense of humor: a contagious alluring trait of Pinoys!
My home country: "a paradise of beauty and fun.."
Let's joyfully explore each islands one by one!
by
olive eloisa
9:02 pm.
April 07, 2014
Note: Pinoy - local common name for Filipinos
CONTEST: Tell Me About Where You're From
SPONSOR: Kim Merryman
4TH PLACE