Best Callus Poems
I felt I’d known you all my life
When I met you and your lovely wife
Your daughter and grand-daughter too
A friendship forged, we will again renew
When I saw you at the airport today
Hugs and kisses came my way
Treasured memories of the days we met
These precious times we will never forget
Hugs Jan ***
Jan Allison
4th November 2014
FOR PAUL CALLUS
Paul, this short poem is for you alone,
Wish you lived closer,
I’d tell you on the phone,
You have been the cornerstone of
Poetry for me,
A tutor in a way,
An incredibly honest person
Who writes talented poems
You write brilliantly, and you are clever,
Whether Historical, romantic, serious or funny,
Before I answer some of your poems
I definitely research them to see if I’m right,
Not all, just a few.
I know all Soupers respect and like you
A lot, hope the feeling is mutual, where
I am concerned, Alpha to Omega
Was a rhymed poem but I suddenly noticed
After it had been posted
That a good friend of mine had not been noted
A friend that has supported me
Through-out my two years with this group
Called Poetry Soup,
Had in error, not been mentioned,
Certainly not intentioned!
All I can say is please accept my apology
I was working on two poems at a time,
‘Eve of Storms’ involved in mythology
Paul, this I knew I wanted and needed to say,
And, to wish you a relaxed and happy Sunday
Paul
Husband of Sheila, Father of Kirsty and Paul-Mark,
Grandfather of Valentina, teacher, and friend
Son of Pauline and Nazarene, brother to six siblings:
Joseph – Angela – Carmel – Catherine – Victor – Maria Concetta
Lover of freedom, honesty, dreams, dark chocolate, nuts, red wine, and windmills
Patient and diplomatic, but like a dormant volcano is liable to erupt
Enjoys sports, swimming, walking, travelling, reading, writing, painting, and drama
Detests lies, double-faced people, wars, cheats, bullying, and vandalism
Who feels for those in need, the persecuted, and the marginalized
Who fears loss of countryside, betrayal, hate, suffering, and dementia
Who would like to see tomorrow’s dawn, peace on earth, beyond the mountain peak,
Resident of Safi village, Malta, Europe
Callus
-----------------------------------------
17th October, 2014
Contest: Bio Poems
Sponsor: Regina Riddle
Placed: 1st
CHARIOT OF FIRE
I stand in silence and behold the sight,
staring in wonder, waiting for thunder.
A chariot of fire travels through the night.
The white-winged horses gallop in full flight
pulling at the reins; flowing are their manes
I stand in silence and behold the sight.
Where are they going? There’s a shining light
leading all the way, so they will not stray.
A chariot of fire travels through the night
amidst the heaven where in pure delight
resides the Master, the sweetest lover,
I stand in silence and behold the sight;
Blessings whisked to amble slowly with plight;
heartbeats race to sway, courage on display.
A chariot of fire travels through the night
armoured by God’s spirit. They ride like knights
fearless from pain; victory, their peak gain.
I stand in silence and behold the sight;
a chariot of fire travels through the night.
©O.E.Guillermo and P.Callus
Written last 5:07 pm, November 17, 2014
Passion pulses in his lines
Awe and wonder in his rhymes
Undressed is each wanton dream
Love's triumph: the greatest theme!
Cherub's voice he brings to chime
All his words etched in sublime!
Light and luscious- what a treat!
Lilting cadence: rhythmic, sweet
Ultimate the revelry
Since Paul writes for you and me
Appassionata (Paul's name for me)
Paul writes in many different genres, but my favorite of his writes are his passionate ones. Check out his awesome win in FJ's Nighttime Musings contest. Simply elegant....sensually sweet. I have collaborated five times with Paul. He'll send me a few lines that he knows I can build on and off we go. :) Thank you, Paul, for sending me some lines when my muse has deserted me. I appreciate your friendship. Can't wait to see you in Malta in a few months. Blessings...
In case you haven't had the chance to read our collabs...here's a taste:
Flights of Passion:
http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/flights_of_passion__a_pc_em_collab_731870
The Forever Castle:
http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/the_forever_castle__a_collab_with_pc_703879
A Triolet Tryst:
http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/a_triolet_tryst__a_collab_with_paul_callus_678934
Temptress:
http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/temptress__a_collab_with_pc_636554
The Day We Met:
http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/the_day_we_met__a_collab_with_paul_callus_633400
His poetic voice rides across the sea
I could swear that Paul is speaking to me
With rhythm in his words, peace in his heart
I find Paul and I are not far apart
Collaboration takes little effort
Conflicts in tone we easily avert
In Malta he writes by soft candlelight
When I’m still blessed by generous daylight
Paul takes me to depths I have never known
I feel so blessed; as a poet I’ve grown
*November 1, 2016
For Andrea’s “Community Builders Free for All Tribute”
Washed and smartly dressed in school uniform
Judy tucks into her healthy breakfast
while watching cartoons on television.
Her mother smiles. Outside the sun shines bright.
Rami wakes to sounds of jets overhead.
He pulls his worn blanket tight to his chest
afraid to look outside and see the dead.
His nation torn and by tyrants oppressed.
A friend’s birthday party awaits Judy.
With present in hand she knocks at the door;
already, music fills the evening air.
She’s greeted by hugs and happy faces.
Wails of crying mothers fill sooty air.
Where did Rami’s go? She’s been gone so long.
Each day he offers for her a prayer,
knowing well she would want him to stay strong.
Excited, she tugs at her father’s hand
as she watches the colored lights around
the fair grounds. Nibbling at her candyfloss,
she makes a mental note of the fun rides.
Will there be food today, food he can share?
It’s his duty to care for another.
He crawls through litter, finds the wee one there,
but cold is the body of his brother.
Today it was a public holiday
and Judy’s parents took her to the beach.
A lovely day has now come to an end.
Judy’s mother gives her a goodnight kiss.
With family gone, Rami takes up arms.
They’re readily available to all.
It matters not to him which side he harms;
in battle Rami is willing to fall.
Judy falls asleep in her cozy bed
as her mum softly sings a lullaby.
A fleeting smile lights up her peaceful face.
She dreams of life’s delights, cuddles and love.
To a staccato rhythm bullets fire
as Rami dashes from the ragged tent.
Of Rami’s fate nobody will inquire;
for war’s children, none are left to lament.
In another time and age
we could have written a new page
crossing paths on land or sea
brushing cheeks with destiny.
With youthful zest and joy
our ardent quills employ
to mix your ink with mine
with passion so divine
and then the words would flow
to set each heart aglow.
If our souls could sing and rhyme
beyond the horizon of time
to mirror our words with perfection
with utmost sincerity and affection
to bring distinct colors and shades
we seal a bond that will not fade
as we reach for eternity
bathing in blissful affinity.
Mirrored thoughts on a new page
in another time and age.
Witty sweet man Paul Callus
gets better with every callous.
His many splendid poems
too good! His computer broken!
8:00 am
May 16, 2014
________________peace Paul...:D :P GBU
She sits in silence at the end of day
Beside the fire that barely warms the air
Her mind in anguish, threads that tend to fray
Companionless, within a room austere.
Like a carousel swirling around me
Are faces, places, traces of my life
These disjointed images confound me
Recollections sliced by a jagged knife.
The curtains drawn; the door chains are in place
Her thoughts are roaming down the paths of night
A hint of sadness settles on her face
As shadows flicker in the waning light.
There was a man, can’t remember his name
But such fine features graced his handsome face
My wild, young heart his soothing words would tame
As I danced with him in chantilly lace.
She can’t help thinking of the years that pass
The complications of advancing age
Life hard to handle just like fragile glass
Progressive weakness in initial stage.
How easily we swayed across the floor
Effortlessly as an orchestra played
An oceanside hall at some unknown shore
Lord knows, I felt like such a lucky maid!
She fears the fading of a priceless stock
Each recollection slipping from her grip
Memorabilia gathered round the clock
Accumulated in her lifetime trip.
Oh, to feel young and pain-free one more time
But this man’s gone now, and with him, my hope
My mind wanders back to days of my prime
As I tread on senility’s tightrope.
*Poem co-written by Paul Callus and Carolyn Devonshire
You are an enigma
handcuffed to the claims of stagnant love.
Why do you not respond
to baffled me?
I stare oft into your eyes...
Am offered a light-filtering screen
across a well!
Your ways are stifling me...
I am not a mind reader.
Or yet you tease a tease.
Come Jennifer,
show me your lilting dreams.
-----------------------------------------
Co-written - Julia Ward & Paul Callus
3/17/2015
clad in rags, he wanders on Wall Street
he is invisible to hustling stock brokers
he is a man with no money, no property
a hapless struggler of excessive loan burdens
bitter winter winds whip across Broadway
he is invisible to affluent theatre-goers wearing warm winter coats
he is a man who watches them scurry past the cardboard box that is his bed
like a rain-dog, huddling in the shadows of alleys and doorways
he hears deafening explosions of New Year fireworks
he is invisible to the revelers
he is a man who cowers, recalling gunfire of a war he fought
echoing through his mind in restless nights
the incessant thumping of traumatic stress
he is invisible...a victim of post-Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq
who once bore a uniform and served his country with pride
he is invisible suffering alone, paying the price
through severe disabilities and permanent scars
with sadness, he watches voters going to the polls
he is invisible, a veteran with no voice in elections
he is a man who cannot vote without an “address”
a placard on a pavement might catch the eye
unemployed, homeless, unseen
but most of all forgotten
he is a man who seems invisible
but he is still a man
*As we prepare to celebrate Veterans Day, I would like to thank Paul Callus
for co-writing with me. Our veterans deserve more than we can ever give them.
We were going to visit Malta so Paul and I hatched a little plan
I’d bring pork pies over (his grand daughter Valentina is a fan)
Paul would meet us at the airport with his family
Valentina would be able to have pork pie for her tea!
I packed the pork pies in a cold pack and placed them in my bag
The airport security scanner didn’t mind about my savoury swag
I wanted to hand the pies over so they were in their prime
Unfortunately our plane was delayed for quite a long time
This meant we’d miss meeting Sheila. Kirsty and Valentina
Valentina had a ballet lesson to attend - she’s a gifted ballerina!
So Paul met us at the airport and we handed him the pies
I wish Valentina had been there to get this cool surprise!
We exchanged gifts for everyone and I was delighted to see
Yummy Snickers bars and a lemon cake to go with a cup of tea
*A pork pie is a traditional British cold meat pie. It consists of roughly chopped pork and pork jelly sealed in a hot water crust pastry. It is normally eaten as a snack. When I was growing up I had a Saturday job at a shop called 'Pork Farms' and they were famous for their pork pies ... I got so sick of the sight and smell of them I never eat them now!
11~06~16
A Lover’s Lament
(Paul Callus & Redfiery ( smriti Jha) ~ 2017)
A LOVER'S Lament
Summer took its toll,
Dried up the waters of our love.
We found ourselves stranded
On the arid river bed
Dreaming of encroaching clouds.
We thirsted for the promise of rain
And love’s reincarnation.
Rough winds carried away all hopes
Storm took away what we had
We pined for winter's warmth
But our frozen heart bled without love.
The spring never arrived
As dead leaves turned into ashes
We returned to our meet, our fate.
Alas! Summer took its toll.
Copyright @2017 by Paul Callus& Redfiery ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The sun slides down the crimson sky.
I watch the shadows on her face.
The sea is calm, the seagulls cry.
The sun slides down the crimson sky.
My hand is resting on her thigh
Below the silk and braided lace.
The sun slides down the crimson sky.
I watch the shadows on her face.
The evening star comes out to see
My love who tempts with warm caress.
The moon is chiding, "Let them be".
The evening star comes out to see
The hands that bind eternity;
They stray beneath my flowing dress.
The evening star comes out to see
My love who tempts with warm caress.
There is no rush, the night is long.
We know that time is on our side.
An understanding to prolong.
There is no rush, the night is long.
Controlling feelings that are strong;
We know that they won’t be denied.
There is no rush, the night is long.
We know that time is on our side.
The tide of passion ebbs and flows
Like ocean swell, and then recedes.
His ardour for fulfilment grows.
The tide of passion ebbs and flows.
For full release my body pleads.
He sends me high; he makes me glow.
The tide of passion ebbs and flows
Like ocean swell, and then recedes.