Best As If By Magic Poems
How wonderful it was when young to stray
and find sweet springs to sip from on my way;
to get to stroll down summer lanes and touch
the cattails’ fuzz that tickled me so much!
My childhood passed. I got to cross a sea
and see green mountains tower over me;
see sunlight streaming on a Spanish plain.
I FELT it too upon my face, and rain
I also got to feel while ambling
down Paris streets; I loved my rambling
from west to east and back from east to west.
My youthful days of rambling were the best!
I’d wandered, yet I somehow always knew
I’d make it back - my rambling days all through.
I was not made for wandering too far
nor making many wishes on a star.
I settled down. Most wandering left my mind.
I never guessed the future I would find.
One day inside my empty nest I found
(as if by magic) I could get around
to other places! Thoughts would fly to me -
the lovely vagabonds of poetry!
I do not have to leave home; there’s no cost.
Creating, I am wandering, not lost.
Dec. 22, 2021
Hummingbird, hummingbird
what's your hurry?
Darting quickly through the air
I can scarcely
see you coming
In an instant you are there
Of God's creatures
on the wing
in the day or dark of night
None so perfectly
maneuver
You are matchless in your flight
Through time and space
as if by magic
how abruptly you arrive
I try to keep my eyes
upon you
as you soar and quickly dive
With the butterfly and moth
and other insects
great and small
Among the flowers
do you hover
drawn by scent of nectar's call
How I love to
sit and watch you
as you travel to and fro
You have struck
a chord within me
and I dearly love you so
Hummingbird, hummingbird
I await you
as the first light signals dawn
I can scarcely
see you coming
In an instant you are gone
There is a chocolate monster
It’s lurking around my house
Hiding here and hiding there
He’s as quiet as a mouse
The cake and cookies soon disappear
They vanish as if by magic
It is something I mustn’t fear
My depleted cupboards look so tragic
The Haribo sweets were sadly depleted
When I opened the kitchen drawer
Only ten left in the bag, oh I feel defeated!
Oh this monster is beyond the law
But I will miss my monster for soon he will leave
Back off to university he will go
And I will be sad and my shoulders will heave
So I must simply go with the flow
In a few weeks time my sweets will remain
For my son will be oh so far away
I’ll be wishing that he were back here again
Candy will be here when he returns one day
09~27~15
My Monster Contest Sponsored By Anthony Slausen
Storm clouds gathered in the skies
Swirling angrily and anxious
For the war
Brewing somber colors
Not swept away by the mighty wind.
Finally, holding off no longer,
They exploded in a crash of thunder
As lightning lashed out in pain.
The tension was relieved
While the torrential downpour flowed
Like an avalanche of tears,
And washed the dusty air.
Then, as if by magic,
When the last drop of rain was shed,
The aurora of sun embraced the sky
And kissed it softly with a rainbow
To fade the ashen gloom.
As my tears dissolve our storm
Hug me with your sunshine
Of understanding love
And let the rainbow of our kiss
Paint away the hurt.
February 16, 2015
~1st Place~
Contest: Impact and Metaphors
Sponsor: William Kekaula
Judged: 10/03/2020
YOUR LOVE
(Music & lyrics by Joan Donnelly Ellis ( for Male Vocalist )
Your love has always filled my deepest longings
Your love performs actively
What I found hard to do you managed somehow to see me through
And awakened dreams that were once only fantasy
You're a work of art my living Mona Lisa
You're the mountain top a trumpet's claim of victory
You're the solid ground beneath my feet
The wind that launches a fleet of ships that sail with the best in life for you and me
Chorus:
You've given me loyalty, treated me like royalty
Even during the times when the opposite was due , ou-ou-whoo
Then you amaze me by asking wild and crazy questions like .
Why am I so in love with you
Verse 2:
No your love hasn't always provided what I wanted
But when it come to needs as if by magic you'd supply
Then you tell all of our friends to you I'm like Heaven's angel on lend
When I fall you rush to my defence with logical alibi
Repeat Chorus :
Sweetheart, Your Lips The Only Honey I Will Taste
A collaboration with Susan Ashley
Sweetheart, Your Lips The Only Honey I Will Taste
Bright heaven's night skies, in your eyes once were,
agleam they glittered, gems as you danced free;
my darling, sad you once thought I loved her
oh how that sexy vixen did chase me!
Her lies about our night trysts at the lake
she said we did commingle on white sand;
I know the pain they gave, was hard to take
her vicious calls to you worse to withstand!
I give you this, our hearts both love entwine
your lips the only honey I will taste;
my love-life’s yours, as only your’s is mine,
so please, lets live and love, let’s not time waste!
Your lips the only honey I will taste.
So please, lets live and love, let’s not time waste!
-----------
Temptress: Your Lips The Only Honey I Will Taste
My tongue tells lies to get me what I want
and longs to taste the sweets of your desire,
I’ll tempt you and your woman I will taunt;
behold this tigress striped in passion’s fire.
I have no shame in stalking you, my prey,
my green eyes have you surely in my sight,
I watch and pray that from her you will stray;
upon you with my purr I will alight!
If prayers don’t work I have a backup plan..
I’ll tell her of us when her back was turned -
a sly seductress always gets her man,
as if by magic when the truth is blurred.
My claws will hook you given half the chance,
beguiling rumors charm with their snake dance...
Robert J. Lindley and Susan Ashley
(a collaboration) , February 13, 2019
Poet’s note: Thank you, my dear friend, for your accepting
my invitation to compose beautiful verses with me yet again.
to share this new double sonnet collaboration.
And as always, it was an honor and true pleasure to write
with you and see poetic verses be born.
This about an evil temptress that falsely accuses a man
faithful to his beloved wife spurns her unwanted advances.
Such that happened in real life and was a nightmare to have
to had endure until the truth came out about the lying
and crazy temptress. Lucky that her best friend finally
exposed her for the liar that she was.
Reflection - The Fragrance of Grace
Mail order catalogs seem to have the ability to procreate in my mailbox. Just when I think I have rendered them infertile they give birth to multiple sets of quintuplets right under my nose as if by magic fertilization! And, of course, I have to examine these newborn opportunities to raid my bank account just to make sure I haven’t missed some article of clothing or thing I can’t possibly live without for the survival of sanity and my eternal happiness. They are like new spring leaves!
spring sprouts in new leaves
boughs sport jackets of light green ~
chartreuse convention
A new arrival from a New England country store pictured a garden of stately purple iris that immediately grabbed my hand and took me on a ride back into my grandmother’s iris garden with delicate, yet eloquent, perfume wafting from silky petaled garden royalty.
Each page was an adventurous journey through my childhood reminiscing about miracle wrinkle erasing creams, magic bunion healers and kitchen gadgets long declared useless by technology. But, one page made me stop, drop and drool - perfumes. No nascent scents but old friends looking at me from glossy pages bringing to mind the women who gave my life definition – the Royal Secret of my grandmother; Bellodgia and Gardenia of my favorite aunts; Tigress of my tigress mother and Blue Grass, a Kentucky meadow perfume of my teens.
These remarkable women straddled fleeing decades, crushing depressions, cataclysmic world wars often suffering the unthinkable loss of infants, children, husbands, siblings and miscarriages. Yet, through their signature scents, they taught me about thanksgiving in tragedy, faith in grieving and the irrepressible iron will to live in the fragrance of grace.
harlequin bouquets
fragrance of flower’s essence ~
sunlight washed gardens
4-21-21
Contest: Moments of Reflections
Sponsor: Malabika Ray Choudhury
Life is indeed an incredible journey
when I was young I grew up in a different place
that place was the cause of many wars
When we left there, I was a mere child and
it was to allow us children the opportunity
for a better life and a chance for normalcy
Yet learning a new language, being ostracized
feeling the pain of being different and carrying
the stigma of being a foreigner was a heavy burden
And were all part of the process of assimilation
of fitting in, of being like everyone else
oft a painful journey both physically and mentally
Years of being different, melding to become the same
and so over time you blend in, the differences becoming
less stark, day by day, year by year
Then as if by magic you are one of them
you graduate high school and college and get a job
you have children, own a home and a standing in the community
You realize that there comes a time to forgive
forgive your parents for taking you from your old home
where you knew who you were and looked like everyone else
Forgive the other kids that bullied you and made you feel unwanted
for they were kids being kids and didn’t know any other way
to accept someone from someplace else
Forgive yourself for feeling the way you did towards them
for in the end we all learn, learn to adapt, learn about acceptance
and learn to forgive.
Andreas Simic©
I can watch the neighbors from my front porch
My favorite is a child of barely three
With curls gracing her head in a shining glow of red
Today I see her bang through her door, hands on her hips
Defiance in her face that you simply can’t ignore
Her mama comes to beg her to return
In her waywardness she pouts with lips hard pressed
And stands stubbornly upon her rocky ground
At mama’s reasoning voice to her intransigence
She sniffs quite loudly in childish disdain
Mama smiles, making cookies appear as if by magic
And a squinting of her eyes reveals her interest
Then a slow shuffling walk up the path to the house
Mama's hug melts the last of her resistance
Written: 7-17-2019
Intransigence Poetry Contest 3rd place
Sponsor: John Hamilton
I have a superhighway in my front yard.
It appeared in the night.
As if by magic.
Ants are traveling along it
Whistling a tune I think it is a Maroon 5 song
But I am not sure
Some say I should get rid of it.
I am fascinated by it a superhighways
Begun with one giant wad
Of pink gum.
Ant traveled
Something Old Something New
Viola - Original
Admiring her beauty he was mesmerised
Her complete perfection brought tears to his eyes
Holding her tenderly in his loving arms
Slowly he caressed the magic of her charms.
This was the gift he had waited so long for
The answer to prayers he had made to the Lord
It felt quite spine tingling as his heart took flight
Sensing that he’d love her till close of his life.
As he held her within a loving caress
His fingers traced o'er her with skill set finesse
Feeling the joy to the world that she’d bestow
Strumming her heart strings music began to flow.
They got on well and lived happily in tune
She was his amulet to finding fortune
Together they made sweet music forever
Nothing but death could tear them apart ever.
He carried her in a case on his shoulder
The musical, adorable viola.
5th October 2021
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Viola - Updated
Taking her gently into his loving arms
Slowly caressing the mystique of her charms
Admiring her allure he was mesmerised
Her stunning elegance brought tears to his eyes.
Feeling electrified as his heart took flight
He sensed that he’d love her till close of his life
This was the gift he had prayed to the Lord for
As if by magic she’d appeared at his door.
His fingers slid o'er her with skill and finesse
As he held her within a fervent caress
Strumming her heart strings music began to flow
He felt the joy that upon earth she’d bestow.
Nothing but death could separate them ever
Together they made sweet music forever
They got on well and dwelt merrily in tune
Roaming the world seeking stardom and fortune.
The admirable, musical viola
That he carried in a case on his shoulder.
19th October 2021
Something Old Something new Poetry Contest
Sponsored by : John Lawless
Hummingbird..
Hummingbird with light brimming
Sing a song to awaken flowers that are hiding
On the gentle breezes I see you riding
Peace to all you bring
As if by magic you hover in time
The divine quiet of your wings drumming
You remind us to be still but never rigid
Sending us love to open our hearts
Softly you plant a seed in our doubts
When the seed begins to bud
One by one our doubts fall away
All pain dimming
Resolving lifes contradictions
Imbuing our world with every colour of the rainbow
Filling our souls with joy
Soothing heart and mind
Never wanting to be caged
To always fly free
Teaching us to live in harmony
~*~
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Inspired by Debbie Guzzi's newest blogs..
I like Hummingbird because of their magical qualities, Hummingbird feathers have long been used for the making of love charms. It is said that Hummingbird conjures love as no other medicine does, and that Hummingbird feathers open the heart. Without an open and loving heart, you can never taste the nectar and pure bliss of life. To Hummingbird, life is a wonderland of delight!
If Hummingbird is your personal medicine, you love life and its joys. Your presence brings joy to others. You join people together in relationships which bring out the best in them. You know instinctively where beauty abides and, near or far, you journey to your ideal. You move comfortably within a beautiful environment and help others to taste the succulent nectar of life.
If Hummingbird has flown into your life today, get ready to laugh and enjoy the Creator's many gifts. Drop your judgmental attitudes and relax. Hummingbird will no doubt give you a flash of the spirit, darting here, there, and everywhere. Get ready for a strange new burst of energy which may send your senses reeling.
Hummingbird hears celestial music and is in harmony with it. Hummingbird may invite you to an art museum or a concert. Follow Hummingbird and you will soon be filled with joy and experience a renewal of the magic of living!
PANDORA’S BOX
A dull tarnished box was found out amongst the rubbish.
No one knew how it had got there; it could have been lost or stolen,
but an old tramp came across it.
On a cold night he found it while looking for something to eat.
He went down an alley and opened the box up.
Inside was lined with gold; in the gold a young girl’s face was reflected.
She said I’ll give you three wishes.
The tramp’s first wish was for some food, which appeared in front of him
as if by magic.
His second wish was to be happy and his mood changed in the blink of an eye.
His third wish was to be with his dead wife; in a second he was in heaven
by her side, to be in a place of love for all eternity.
Thirsting to touch the Spirit of Ages
Rediscover that which I did misplace
A sparrow that fell out of time and space
This gilded door, travelers courageous
Glorious songs, birds escaping cages
How strange to meet your mind and not your face
Deep, yet anonymous touch of this “place”
Open, free hearts pour out on these pages
Welcoming home this orphan of my mind
Setting free the songbird from key and lock
Lava released from under miles of rock
Tight soul knots within begin to unwind
Old jail, black chains, they finally unbind
No longer to drink the spirit’s hemlock
4/8/16
Set down the rocks that have burdened me so
See them transmuting as if by magic
Into verse sublime, from burden tragic
This purgation, alchemy, afterglow
On warm, lofting currents, mingling souls know
Of realms uncharted from depths pelagic
Vibrant celestial breeze, energetic
Key to the gilded door, your hearts bestow
Awaken to the world of light, colors
To touch the transcendent truth beyond time
Rhythm of being, in image and rhyme
Once, heart’s eyes had been buried in squalor
Now kaleidoscopic multicolor
To giddy, broad vistas, this soul’s new climb
4/9/16
abbaabbacddccd (x2)
He was the eldest,
tall, handsome, all knowing
(by his own assessment).
He could roll a ‘guide and wheel’
all the way to school
without a stop. That wheel
kept rolling as if by magic.
He could shimmy up a tree
in search of wild grapes.
He could swim in deep water,
catch snakes for pets.
He could hunt squirrels with Dad,
shoot a 22 rifle.
He could milk a cow,
hitch a horse to the wagon.
He could zing you, square on,
with a dry corn cob.
He could run barefoot
through woods, creeks, fields,
and over dirt roads.
But he missed the rafter,
fell through to the floor below,
knocked himself out cold,
chasing his cat through the attic.