Best Chafes Poems
Whatever turns your crank
Whatever tickles your pickle
Whatever dunks your donut
Whatever waxes your dolphin
Whatever buffs your Buddha
Whatever pops your cork
Whatever pets your monkey
Whatever frosts your cookies
Whatever spills your pills
Whatever trips your trigger
Whatever humps your camel
Whatever melts your chocolate
Whatever peels your onion
Whatever chafes your carrot
Whatever flops your mop
Whatever rocks your socks
Whatever teeters your totter
Whatever milks your goat
Whatever pings your pong
Whatever peels your banana
Whatever blows your nozzle
Whatever tips your canoe
Whatever flicks your switch
Whatever zips your zipper
Whatever blows your stack
Whatever... whatever... whatever!
© Jack Ellison 2014
Categories:
chafes, humorous,
Form:
Narrative
Missing the luxurious lush green of verdant spring.
When autumn chafes against the soul
Reluctant of letting go all that summer had to offer
We do not proffer from resentment
Find, we may contentment with the season immediately upon the boughs,
The leaves all fallen and secretly feeding unseen mysteries in the soil
Tender shoots then rise from the breast of young men past
The good never lasts…
Renewal’s corollary: destruction is perpetual
And grass is proof there is no death
In the greatest pain of our memories, all comparative,
Seeds the future from counter-fit narratives
And while truth may die in the breasts of men…
Yet the grass is proof there is no death.
Categories:
chafes, allegory, nature,
Form:
Free verse
Written: November 17, 2023 For Charles Messina Contest
___________________________________________
In peace of mind and unwavering pride
Draw out your inner disgruntled callow
Expunge ailing masks and set them aside
Shackled and phony leaches start shallow
Untamed freedom leaves a rage of delight
Lightning strikes when volition avails reign
As the noise of fists and yells echoes fight
It implies launching rough assaults again
This momentary gladness won't last long
Dark distress derides its way to the fight
And celebrates its mocking with zest strong
Frenzied fractured fragments into full-sight
Constraintis like an itch that chafes the mind
Shields the vile impulse that we must all bind
gladness won't last long
expunge ailing masks aside~
untamed freedom roars.
Shackled leeches start shallow, rage of lightning strikes~constraint chafes the mind
Categories:
chafes, analogy, appreciation, freedom,
Form:
Sonnet
Slow drawn, steeping tea bags, in an etched glass pitcher,
Lazily infuse its Oriental musk into the sun warmed brew.
My ice crackles along with the thunder over the great Mississippi
As the ewers’ spout releases the torrents of Southern comfort
Into the tall, foggy, frost laden glass; I await my fill.
A frigid sip chafes my lips and briefly deadens my longing,
Only momentarily, as the turgid air, again, envelops my throat.
The chills grip my spine, even in this oppressive heat.
Sauntering droplets roam slowly down my bare skinned back
And puddle where my hips widen at the curve of my waist.
Hope is lost for those of us who float through purgatory.
The weight of two centuries of sorrow hangs heavily on our skin.
The burden is at its worst to bear just before autumn,
When slave ships broken by storms washed up on the river.
Airlessness provides no clemency for those gasping for pardon.
Sorrow lies heavily in the lungs of the poor souls of August.
Heat, fetid and damp, feverishly enables man’s basest passion,
To be disguised as music, that wails from the saloons in the Quarter.
Deep, boiling, fermented tales of sorrow are turned into song,
Melodic tales spun of sorcery, savagery blue and untethered souls,
Forged metals and the scat of primitive voices, break the fugue.
Echoes of blasphemy wrought suffocating havoc and destruction,
As hot jazz blows cool through the streets of the Ninth Ward.
Categories:
chafes, introspection, music, places,
Form:
Free verse
In chain-link of night
that beckons trees to crawl
stale the wink of stars inked by tears,
holding her captive within sweet
time’s passage,as his farewell voice
chafes a widowed skin;
and a body wrought from need
of safe refuge denied by rain,
pierces curved bones
while traces of evening pale follows
her gait quite slow as tresses bow,
on aisles of candles waning
till maiden veil slips on arms,
prized keepsake treasured well
on anniversary spent alone.
7/12/2015
Contest: Brevity--The Short Of It
*less than 100 words
Categories:
chafes, grief, woman,
Form:
Lyric
I drifted to this place
When might I drift away?
Am lost in time and space
Cold feet encased in clay
Afraid. I am offbeat
Next year I will as well
Shamefully repeat
Tucked inside my shell
Are false masks better than
The fear I have no face?
Why not be a real man
Contempt for this disgrace
The others seem together
My disappointed self
Chafes against the leather
Of life upon a shelf
The hourglass is filling
Sitting here regretting
I make no progress chilling
My purposeless upsetting
False Christian and false doctor
Puzzled father, baffled mate
Away with all the awkward
Before it’s just too late
Fastened here so tightly
Accurate? Or no?
Why not live more rightly?
Who has shown me so?
And bathroom glass reveals
My fortune’s lonesome actor
No alibi conceals
No outside minds a factor
Searing streak of insight
It’s I. I see that now
Knot inside my windpipe
And sweat upon my brow
The phantoms hang around
For my eyes lone to see
Cant seem to shut them down
Should I just leave them be?
I crave for life to change
But what is it I do?
Will others find it strange
To live with someone new
Stinking, stagnate coward!
Seek no outside forces!
My weaknesses they tower
Sturdy as wild horses
Perhaps best not to glance
Sure not a pretty sight
For once my courage stands
I will . With all my might
I hold fast to my ground
What ground is it I seek?
Today it shall be found
But not amongst the weak
To love and feel essential
Control , companionship
To fill up my potential
To bareness shall I strip
I steel my face with sternness
I will retreat no more
And now with manly firmness
I free my limited self
Categories:
chafes, inspirational,
Form:
Lay
As blue waters of March quiver a chime,
Near the paling ledge of Triste's harbor
Where so many stars flicker, quite sublime
On fallen crest…it hurts a whole lot more.
Near the paling ledge of Triste's harbor
I observe the dreamer inside me ache,
On fallen crest…it hurts a whole lot more
To drink, to sip this bitter wave and break.
I observe the dreamer inside me ache,
For this masquerade of glee chafes my soul
To drink, to sip this bitter wave and break;
Recalling my Nana… dug in the knoll.
For this masquerade of glee chafes my soul
Where so many stars flicker, quite sublime
Recalling my Nana… dug in the knoll.
As blue waters of March quiver a chime,
Originally written 11 June 2016
Reposted 3/23/2018
Contest: Laura Loo's Favourite Pantoum
------------
Inspired by Songs by Sergio Mendes
Waters of March
Triste
So Many Stars
It Hurts A Whole Lot More
The Dreamer
Crystal Illusions
Wave
Nana
Masquerade
Categories:
chafes, introspection, sad, water,
Form:
Pantoum
Inside worn and weathered walls,
Nobles and commoners
Gather and share
In the field of rosiness.
Together, they are
Composed, well organized.
Each one partaking in blind optimism.
Knowing truly, that
The odds prevail.
Uneasy
My eyes penetrate
The bleached and waxen folds
Of my buttoned-up, grown-up gown.
Cascading, suffocating
The pale, coarse mesh
Chafes and bites my skin.
Two perfectly fitted pearls
Glow and twitch
As I stand rooted,
Unwavering.
The train, ready for action,
Playfully courts the dusty stone.
And I rehearse and cling to
The delicate sensibility that
“I am doing the right thing.”
“I am doing the right thing.”
Anxiety flourishes and
Doubt ripens under my tender care.
The thick fruit thrives
After months of incubation.
Nimble fingered, truth
Is busy, eagerly
Fusing and wiring herself to my soul.
Driven, she hails my attention.
Waving,
She wiggles her little fingers at me
And with a barbed and knowing glare,
She pleads with me from afar.
Willfully, I repeat my mantra.
“I am doing the right thing.”
“I am doing the right thing.”
Faithfully,
The rancid chorus begins.
I flinch, and flaunt my hollow smile.
The train sways,
Excited for life.
Breathless
I stand anchored,
Clutching a condemned bouquet.
I survey the waiting rabble.
Scowls, scrutiny, scorns.
Dusty brittle hair,
Spectacles and flowery hats,
Moving back and forth
In unison.
A mutual nod of disapproval.
The gasps and murmurs
Trickle and ooze
Through the blurry layers
Of the jaw dropped gapers.
I can see him now,
Green eyes searching
Wild with fear.
My paper coat unravels,
He sees me.
He knows.
Praying, holding on,
He pushes forward.
Crunching, crinkling underfoot
Painfully,
Pressing onward.
He is just within reach.
Shaking,
I touch my fingers to my lips
And
I turn
And walk away.
Joyfully she whispers
“You are doing the right thing!”
“You are doing the right thing!”
Categories:
chafes, anxiety, emotions, truth, wedding,
Form:
Free verse
Endless curse, my love for you
A dirty life, my ritual of solitude
Quiet days and empty nights
Foggy mornings and everything that comes with lack of sleep
And silence abound
My lover, the ground
Shaking off the morning shakes
Pop a pill and try to catch a bus
Withdraw in my homey shell
A hermit crab moving at the speed of life
Swept up in tides
A bone-crushing ride
Another day, another death
Facing how my apathy is breaking down my base
I can't stand up, I can't fight back
It's easier to just let the stars around just pass me by
It's just how it goes
And thus, silence drones
A profession based on shaking hands
A difficult life for a boxer with no arms
A ticket bought with a golden voice
Anxiety to ride grows now that my cords have been cut
A loss of one's self
Stuck on the shelf
Sleep in, miss another day
Mother's growing worried and my voice mail's getting full
Lose another twenty pounds
A diet is much easier when you can't afford to shop
Bathing in light
Computer's blight
Crank out another project
Make the day's wages so I can keep the water on
Apologize for the delays
See the saccharine words flow by that don't wipe up the ink
A blot on a page
Became the whole stage
Making love to rum and coke
But it doesn't make it easier to make it through the night
Chafes and burns and vomit stains
Rise to the occasion and move to keep myself alright
Puppet on strings
The crown of the king
Shout out into the black night
Until the sirens flash and send me running back alone
Slam out further angry words
The music of this keyboard is all that keeps it from collapse
A desperate cry
The knave shall comply.
Categories:
chafes, depression,
Form:
Prose
Whatever turns your crank
Whatever tickles your pickle
Whatever dunks your donut
Whatever waxes your dolphin
Whatever buffs your buddha
Whatever pops your cork
Whatever pets your monkey
Whatever frosts your cookies
Whatever spills your pills
Whatever trips your trigger
Whatever humps your camel
Whatever melts your chocolate
Whatever peels your onion
Whatever chafes your carrot
Whatever flops your mop
Whatever rocks your socks
Whatever teeters your totter
Whatever milks your goat
Whatever pings your pong
Whatever peels your banana
Whatever blows your nozzle
Whatever tips your canoe
Whatever flicks your switch
Whatever zips your zipper
Whatever blows your stack
Whatever... whatever... whatever!
Categories:
chafes, fun,
Form:
Alliteration
threadbare night
wearing thin where morning chafes...
hints of rose stitch
22 Sep 2016
Categories:
chafes, morning, sky,
Form:
Haiku
Make me smile and feel as if I am the only one.
Turn around and leave me bitter and forsaken.
Hold me close and kiss my lips, make me feel falsely safe.
Run to her, with my taste on your lips and listen as my heart chafes.
"No woman has ever treated me better", is what you say.
If that is true, what leads your heart, body and soul astray?
Love me, leave me, lie to me, and think that I don't know.
All you are doing is making my disdain for you crescendo.
Use me, abuse me, tear me down and try to hide what you do.
For I will bide my time, foolish man, you have not the slightest clue.
Its a nice night for a stroll, crepuscular sky, with a repleted moon.
Hand in hand, we saunter through the path to your impending doom.
I lean up and gently brush my lips upon yours smelling her again.
Smiling, envisioning how you just walked into the lion's den.
My body trembles and starts to shake, you think its because I'm cold.
No, baby its because you're going to get your recompense fourfold.
My skin melts away and fur is now where creamy flesh once resided.
Bones shift, teeth grow a blood lust ensues and your fate has been decided.
My teeth gnash into your body and soon you will be forever changed.
This is your fate, now not only our DNA but part of our souls are exchanged.
If you're strong enough to survive the bite, you'll become loup-garou like us.
You will be pack, no more lies, and cheating and no more mistrusts.
For treating me like I was your play thing, this is your punishment.
People like you have souls that are black and malignant.
Categories:
chafes, fantasy, love, me, body,
Form:
Couplet
I quit
I throw my hands down
and sit, sometimes
they called for reconciliation without
justice
They called for justice without
truth
Now they ask for prayer without
confession, umpteenth,
it chafes
Has dishonesty made you inadequate
to let go the desecration
infringement
negligence
graft
shame of these violations
which bake violence?
Yet another fifth year
our memo calls us to speak
See how they dance
under a canopy of placards
and a forest of words,
a crescendo of noise,
call for peace without unity
hunger hugs not a belching belly
wretchedness forever at
enmity with riches
Fellow man,
the weight been
long and heavy
Le band's gang led
they have a dance,
You got a date, a dicot
conscience, chagrin
It's about time you made
love to your country!
Take a big deep
cast your ballot for
broken toe nails
parched throats
unattended sick
the illiterate
the young dead
wrinkled bellies
and running stomachs
Bow not unto any creed,
tongue, but go forth
eyes closed
and spit into the storm
Puaaah!
Categories:
chafes, best friend, betrayal, education,
Form:
Free verse
ON PREDICTIONS
( by S.Jagathsimhan Nair)
What paths and brambled brooks I passed to halt
In this corny beat, to question my salt
What transcends this sum and what spills over
This reminder as scowling recompense
What more in an uneven air that chafes
At its own breath. What questions after such
Unmixed wisdom come of unspoken word.
Read my palm and the tangle of lines in unsuspected stir
Read my planets making planned mystery in motion overhead
And tell your considered surmise of my roller-coaster drive
And tell if it’s right that mine is just another clueless tale
Don’t keep staring in my eyes and telling all mumbo-jumbo stuff
Unravel you can’t even the contents of a grain of sand
You can tell of goals to aim at but not the sights I lose
You can tell of failures gone through but not what I failed.
Here lies the burden there lies the dream but where is the promise
Where lives the omniscient sage the old truant sobered with age
You and I are making journeys to the death-holes of prophets
Who dies after who dies after who dies after who and when.
Try gather my conscience encapsuled in unearthy voices
Try equal my inkling into the insides of a riddle
What hoodoos what predictions what jinxes and sordid warnings
After all that and what not of just a peep into one’s life.
S.Jagathsimhan Nair
For Skat's 5th poem on soup contest
Categories:
chafes, introspection,
Form:
Free verse
a mothers touch is enough a mothers love is like a dove a mothers does her best to keep her girls safe and sound but her heart chafes with a pound she trys to protect them from pain and heartache but the words are so vain i love you soo soo please fly away like a bird so free and safe!
Categories:
chafes, fear, love, i love
Form:
Dodoitsu