Best Ceded Poems
A body abandoned
needs to mourns its last breath in death
a heart cast aside
still aches to meet its last beat
and a free spirit yearns for a winged monarch moment
to fly in the spirit of freedom…
opportunity
flares a tongue
snaky and bittersweet.. a flicker
grows flames that twist passion’s kiss with kismet
a chance
to escape on a breath of air
an exhalation;
warm incense offered to vesper -
the wish of a scent to slip through the keyhole
above the hiss of heat
and gasps of air
rushing combustion to a roar
airy mystics spoke in the eerie smoke
w h i s p e r s
urge the purge of perishable pain
unclasping lonely-linger’s grasping fingers
soft-spun knit and purl unravels
as vintage yarn twined with sun and rain unties -
aging rays fail to stave Winter’s grays
and the ethereal thread of an earthly creation
releases its tendril
from the spinning wheel’s weave of circular seasons
from seed to harvest and warmth to chill
vestiges of sisterly hands cup a ceded sigh
chrysalis celebrates destined to re-emerge a butterfly
terminal tremble of a twilight trill is hushed
vulnerability swaddled
cradled by clouds of silver and gold
a mortal’s surrender consummates upon the pyre -
cinders cleansed of tears and cries and vices
but never the dreamy intrinsic colors
of the opal’s unfurling blaze
she ascends
a flash of embers relieved of ash
taking fire to the skies with a tigress torch igniting
molten pools spooning the spine of the western shadow
heralding an awakened afterglow to the afterlife -
lamplight gilds mare’s tails hooking heavens
pathways adrift from the burning thurible
of a trinity on the cusp of rebirth...
incense rises upon a heated atmosphere
riding the riddle of the four winds
beyond realms of soil and salt - reason and logic
yonder the profound truth of the-not-humanly-known
seeing past reflections within mere margins of a mind’s mirror
accepting the enlightening throb of the enigmatic pulse of creation
becoming one with the ultimate mystery
the wish of a scent to slip through the keyhole
fulfilled with exchange of gifts -
the offering of her sunset shroud
for the white mantle of sunrise
Categories:
ceded, angel, beauty, butterfly, death,
Form:
Free verse
Let me pass under the tunnel of trees
While shrouded in mist in tropical breeze.
Let island mysteries slowly unfold
As customs remain from centuries old.
Let me rise up to the Pali so rare
As I feel it's strong winds lash my long hair.
Honor ancestral spirits that surround
This beautiful 'aina and sacred ground.
A place where spirits of dead still abide,
Where a battle took place and suicide.
A warning to those who visit at night,
You'll meet with oddities causing great fright.
Viewing stunning Kaneohe below
Where with fierce tenacity trade winds blow,
My view from Pali I'll never forget...
That Time, too fleeting, I'll ever regret.
© Connie Marcum Wong
Nuuanu Pali:
“This is the last major battle that Kamehameha fought. This united all of the islands other than Kaua‘i, and, from this point on, for the next 20-some odd years, there was peace, other than the preparation for the battle of Kaua‘i.” Kaua‘i ceded its sovereignty peacefully to Kamehameha in 1806, without that battle ever occurring.
Categories:
ceded, culture, history,
Form:
Couplet
Crisp ...
You lay like solemn ashes
'Neath glass ... spotless, sacred
Dried to bright hues ...
The shades of her lips in chill autumn air
(Winter, whisp'ring soft)
Edges crimped ...
Like the hems of her pleated tartan skirt
You are the vestige, precious
Of a moment ...
A final moment of love, true
Sweaty, sweet passion
That found its confluence under a vault of fire
A canopy of crumbling crimson
Wafting, weaving a rustling woodland blanket
The bed for a callow curiosity
Confusing, carnal, but perfectly imperfect
Numberless months have yet ceded to the wind
(As tender as the moons they bind)
Since I rescued you from the hood of a sweatshirt
Still, your color is unerring
And your scent is ...
Her.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Strand no 780, Any Theme, Any Form" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Strand Select V Any Form Any Theme" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Writing Challenge - December - Any Poem NA'd In November 2019" Poetry Contest, Dear Heart - Wishkobi Ode, Judge & Sponsor.
( This poem was written on November 14, 2019, and N/A'd on November 22, 2019 in the Scented Leaves Poetry Contest )
Categories:
ceded, imagery, lost love, memory,
Form:
Free verse
Leadership is an in-born trait? Oh, I'm not so sure of that.
Though many leaders have the genes, when they were pressed fell flat!
Many are the leaders whose mettle during stress was ceded,
And men of lesser rank stepped forward and succeeded!
A successful leader if he is astute and very wise,
Will surround himself with sage folks to counsel and advise.
He will ever be trusted by those with whom he serves,
And in doing so will earn the respect he so well deserves!
He will heed the needs and aspirations of others,
And develop a team spirit among his sisters and brothers.
He will lead with integrity, concern and fortitude,
And for a job well done will always express his gratitude!
He'll be the first on the job at dawn - at night the last to leave.
He will mentor and encourage others to strive their best to achieve!
A leader will ever be loyal to those above and below,
And accept responsibility no matter from whence it flow!
A sense of humor is essential to soothe when tensions rise.
When company policies change he will hasten his people to apprise!
A leader will honestly demure when he is heaped with praise,
Saying, "Sir, these outstanding people of mine deserve the raise!"
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved
Placed No. 10 in Dane Ann Smith-Johnson's "Projects and Credits" Contest- Aug 2010
Categories:
ceded, on work and workingpeople,
Form:
Rhyme
my angel, fallen ...
gossamer linen, violet lace
window-dressing body, pressing
goddess of unblemished grace
beckoning - urge reckoning
clasp me, push me ... down with you.
close, to see my eyes in yours
heart of darkness, warm and artless
measured with our carnal cores
fallowed - soon, unhallowed
pull me, draw me ... down with you.
savor sweet, your taste is mine
greedy swallows fill my hollows
faultless form, engorged supine
whetted - blade unfettered
cut me, rend me ... down with you.
pity, fawn to take me in
I, the frozen quarry, chosen
bartered virtue, ceded sin
merging - madness surging
gather me, wrench me ... down with you.
each dynamic sates a thirst
a darkened oath devours both
raptured sighs so unrehearsed
spasm - plunging chasm
drench me, drown me ... down with you.
painted nails to flay my frame
stripes of lust, a jealous trust
lesions roused for fervor's flame
unversed - do your worst
stain me, rake me ... down with you.
feral places, once denied
cognate parts to blackened hearts
souls and selves we can't divide
twisted - double-fisted
grind me, burn me ... down with you.
sing to me a siren's wail
rip the rhyme from all sublime
watch the frenzied portions flail
disguised - hell, improvised
smite me, drag me ... down with you.
all in, my angel ... fallen
so sweetly, and
so deeply
down.
with.
you.
** This is a poetic form I created called “Torridelle”, (not the actual shape, but the rhyme scheme, phrasing and metre). **
~
~ 2nd Place ~ in the Poetry Soup "Wow Me" Poetry Contest, Nina Parmenter, Judge & Sponsor.
Categories:
ceded, imagery, metaphor, muse, passion,
Form:
Rhyme
You wrote the song that enchanted lyrics
Composing avid tone to melody of music
Attuning cleverly to tenor of fantasies
Sending sensual hints to passionate wishes,
As vibrant stars ceded to darker motifs.
Infantile was my dream in night's reverie
Cuddling arms of love, hugging intently
Delighting in whispers of zealous winds
Wooed by romance of affectionate feelings,
Just before the misty sky began drizzling.
It was really you, who trampled my sleep
Just when I approached beholding your kiss.
Dismantling motives of amorous destiny
You disavowed with vigor allures of affinity,
Flashing a warning, a storm was brewing.
Rejecting my overture, you left the scene.
Your seduction was real, so was your love--
Indelible prologue to tomorrow's memory,
Yet truly ephemeral, as dreams tend to be.
The dream I dreamed never belonged to me.
February 17, 2019
Placed first:I dreamed a dream contest by Silent One
Placed first: Ultimate February 2019 contest by Brian Strand
Categories:
ceded, dream, metaphor, romantic,
Form:
Verse
Hell-and-gone, my dreams are the bane of angels
Crimped with light, yet ceded to swim in shadows
Darkened wings that tremble with aching portent
Yesterday's heaven
I'm the fool that wandered the Van Gogh grasses
Just a jest, with love made there in the meadow
Callow flesh, thus burning for more than sunlight
Merging in madness
Bright and light, on toe-shoes a girl came dancing
How she twirled, with tempo to set my heartbeats
Dark desires through waterfalls and the moonlight
Joined at the marrow
Life did cleave us, bound to a course its choosing
Washed and swept by fates to a distant shoreline
Breaths and death left nothing to us but distance
Partings, unspoken
'Leave them gone', those angels now softly whisper
Broken dreams are nightmares so left unspoken
Turn your head to sight your eyes on the moment
Wisdom's sweet burgeon.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Sapphic Stanza With A Jux" Poetry Contest, Craig Cornish, Judge & Sponsor.
Categories:
ceded, appreciation, lost love, memory,
Form:
Sapphic stanza
* This is a rather intricate form I created called a “Torridelle” - I hope you enjoy it! *
~
my Angel, fallen ...
gossamer linen, violet lace
window-dressing body, pressing
goddess of unblemished grace
beckoning - urge reckoning
clasp me, push me ... down with you.
close, to see my eyes in yours
heart of darkness, warm and artless
measured with our carnal cores
fallowed - soon, unhallowed
pull me, draw me ... down with you.
savor sweet, your taste is mine
greedy swallows, fill my hollows
faultless form, engorged supine
whetted - blade unfettered
cut me, rend me ... down with you.
pity, fawn to take me in
I, the frozen quarry chosen
bartered virtue, ceded sin
merging - madness surging
gather me, wrench me ... down with you.
each dynamic sates a thirst
a darkened oath devours both
raptured screams yet unrehearsed
spasm - plunging chasm
drench me, drown me ... down with you.
painted nails to flay my frame
stripes of lust, a jealous trust
lesions roused for fervor's flame
unversed - do your worst
stain me, rake me ... down with you.
feral places, once denied
cognate parts to blackened hearts
souls and selves we can't divide
twisted - double-fisted
grind me, burn me ... down with you.
sing to me a siren's wail
rip the rhyme from all sublime
watch the frenzied portions flail
disguised - hell, improvised
smite me, drag me ... down with you.
all in, My Angel ... fallen
so sweetly, and
so deeply
down.
with.
you.
Categories:
ceded, analogy, body, love, metaphor,
Form:
Rhyme
Taking my place in your gazing blue eyes
Who stole the glow of my dawning sunrise?
As defiling your virtues you obliquely lied,
Pounding my heart till I died a little inside.
When a brilliant sunny day said goodbye
As lightening arrived to thunder blue sky
Storming my life, you left me teary eyed
Exacting high price by forfeiting my pride.
Reluctantly I disclaimed your sweet smile
As your blatant animosity put me in exile
And adulating ill-will you ceded to hate,
Trampling on destiny you altered my fate.
On my horizon cried your reign of disdain
As you rejected goodwill again and again.
Remnants of aspirations no longer claim
A desire of passions to reignite our flame.
Meaning of love soon indelibly changed
Revoking your name from souls estranged.
Hurt still remained, woefully pacified--
Lingering listlessly, till I died a little inside.
February 9, 2019
Placed first:Early March 2019 contest by Brian Strand
Placed second:I died a little inside contest by Silent One
Categories:
ceded, betrayal, heartbreak, lost love,
Form:
Rhyme
Hmm...What Discursive Poetic Theme Shall I Write About...
Today (a rather brisk, chilly,
and otherwise sat
tiss factory twirly delightful
December 18th, 2018) matte
her of fact quite
refreshing noontime, while this fat
tend plot of Earthen surveyed terrain
situated over scat
herd modest suburban tract,
(actually yours truly some watt
urbanely sprawled out) at
Latitude: 40.2538 Longitude: 75.4590,
where I sit pat
and think to write
about some reading material flat
touring my "FAKE" status
as king of agitprop for chat
hurrying class gussied up with
artistically crafted rat
tilly done up snazzy razz mutt tazz
(approved by Willard), this expat
lapsed Peterson harried tailored script,
asper previous peculiar
swiftly styled idée fixe
literary unnecessary, rat
tickly tawdry superfluity)
interspersed with dollops of splat
hard logophile, nonetheless gentle
on the eyes, yet feeling totally flat
and devoid of meaning, and quite
convincingly desperate idea this pratt
tilling far amore in the dell doth
expatiate, expound expressively, gnat
cheerily witty, (i.e. hint- please
pretend these humph fat
tickle lee meandering, rambling,
and warbling words) taxing
on mental faculty as bat
tan gruelling death march
physically, when circa
April 1942 Japanese forced
76,000 captured Filipinos,
and Americans Allied
soldiers to march about 80 miles across
Bataan Peninsula (province
in Philippines), where they died
enroute to...during World War II
on island of Luzon, espied
as a spiritual sanctuary hosted
by a knowledgeable tour guide
named Matthew Scott hood dons
genuine (musty smelling)
Tory wig to hide
as an alien alias (from the outer limits
of the twilight zone) incognito
even to himself, and especially the bride
of Frankenstein, who evinces a strong crush
toward said nondescript gentrified
vested gentry groundless thinker with pride
though, dirt poor (at least on the surface),
but deep down rich with
Schwenksville well watered
history harkening back to 1684,
when hoodwinked, jilted and lied
Lenni-Lenape Indians got fleeced
then taken for a ride
this land ceded to (stolen from) William Penn
nestled along the Perkiomen Creek.
Categories:
ceded, abuse, allusion, america, analogy,
Form:
Bio
I sleep
to visit You
in Your dreams,
oh my Esteemed -
a gauche novitiate,
there like a Laureate
You receive me
to learn Your secrets,
there wisdom is served
like as one planted,
seeded at a last feast,
where all can plainly see
myself ceded, the bread broken
the wine poured,
finally, the body of pride, broken,
You speak to me
of what Love is,
and what Love
has always been
now falls the soft wings of a dove
over the crimson and the white
melting petals over the pure
the shrouded body,
the body of
Vitae Lux
a white peacock sleeps upon a bed
of Cypress leaves, the stories bath it
in the Light, a ghost, unclearly seen
the ghost in You,
is the ghost of Love
inside me
now the crimson and the white
awakes in me, my mind
naked and glimmering
the Ghost
in You,
now writes me
as a word, into thee
pulls me upward
forward into You,
the 1 embracing me
I exist as Love
in Your kingdom
of divine music
I am
before
Your eyes
Your mirrored poetry
Candide Diderot. ‘24
Easter
Vitae Lux
(Love-Music-Poetry)
1.
Alfred Lord Tennyson. From “The Princess: Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal” (Poem)
2.
Mealor: Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal (Four Madrigals On Rose Texts) : Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal (Music)
Cypress tree. Symbolism, all.
Categories:
ceded, i am, love, music,
Form:
Free verse
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY
“We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we work and pay our respects to Indigenous Elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.
We recognise the past atrocities against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this land and that Australia was founded on the genocide and dispossession of First Nations people. We acknowledge that colonial structures and policies remain in place today and recognise the ongoing struggles of First Nations people in dismantling those structures. The struggle to seek justice, to remember and address this nation’s past is ongoing and is a necessary requirement for individual and collective healing process.
We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart to achieve justice, recognition and respect for First Nations people and a referendum to enshrine a First Nations Voice in the Constitution. We accept the invitation contained in the Statement to walk together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.”
“A Darker Shade of Light”
(First Nation Australia from mind of whitefella)
My people
see your people
simple ignorant
crazy greedy
black cockatoo
laughing eyes
smiling angry
all seeing
spit signature
fingers spread
on hands pointing
bones at my people
ochre powder
yellow cake
red earth bleeding
white fella
yellow belly snake
blowing out
the fires of our
stolen children
torn from our
mob, not yours
swallowed
by your
gadaidja fangs
sinking into the skin
of our land
poison
all around
greedy gubbah
when will you
understand
our nation
not your flag
(LadyLabyrinth / 2023)
Categories:
ceded, children, freedom, sorry, symbolism,
Form:
Narrative
The Ethical Self
by
Rick Folker
If there is evil here, it is complacency, and it is collective.
- Courtney Martin/columnist for On Being
The Moral Arc is bent
but not broken
It can be retrieved and repaired
like a shattered heart
withering in the penumbra
of great grief
If only we take back the responsibility
we have so casually ceded to the loudest, harshest,
and most unforgiving voices
Then we can become caretakers and caregivers
when the moral arc seems to lose the path of justice
and lies discarded and dismissed as so many hopes and dreams
are driven to despair
It is then that we must all the more forcefully stand up and stand by
our ethics, our morals, and refuse to blame 'evil' of some other
'uncontrollable force' when we are ultimately to
be held accountable for the killings, the cruelty, the craven fear
that paralyzes our better selves
and cynically opt for helplessness when these atrocities
could have been prevented.
Ultimately, we will be held accountable for the future we
and only we can make.
The moral arc in long and it does bend
but we need make sure that we bend
with it.
Categories:
ceded, america, care, evil,
Form:
Free verse
Sanctuary breeched
Stole cube of ice you hold dear
Grasping your power
Season weakens you
Seething and stabbing my palm
Fighting against clutch
Ceded power now
Few months away, cold revenge
encasing my world
*** These days we hold Ice dear, then winter comes and it's despised.
Adam Hapworth
Categories:
ceded, power, summer, winter,
Form:
Haiku
(Please note: this poem is a continuation after ‘last season’.)
Fly High
Left you behind to your own world
Where you said you will be happy -
The only thing that I couldn’t ceded…
The love that I felt for you could not be regretted.
I left alone once again with memories I cherished
I smiled with drops of water from my eyes.
Days seemed to me as years,
And time gave up my tears.
You smiled back once again with a new life…
And I kept my promise, I didn’t look back;
You let me go where I settled no-where…
I lost myself leaving behind allegiance desire.
I stand-alone myself without fear
A dire arouse and I took it as a dare.
I tied up myself and reveled with new aspire…
Yes! I left your memories, and I left it by.
I heard your voice once again, yet I didn’t fumbled,
Your tears then proved me -
Yes! I can live without you, with no tears,
Yes! I’m living without you, with no fears.
I smiled once again and I started to live afresh
Where I left you behind to your own world
Where you said you will be happy -
The only thing that I couldn’t ceded,
The love that I felt for you could not be regretted –
Yes! You were my love and you are
But I can live without you, with memories faded.
-----------------x----------------------------
Categories:
ceded, depression, life, lost love,
Form:
Epyllion