Best Criterion Poems
The Double Rhyme Sonnet is a sonnet that rhymes not only the end of the lines but also the front part (metrically)! Of course, I would be looking for imagery, good grammar, meter, etc.; however, the most important criterion is that it be written precisely with both end rhyme AND front line rhyme using the standard English sonnet rhyme pattern of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG and of course, using Iambic Pentameter; therefore, the rhyme on the front is on the stressed syllable (the second one) and NOT on the first syllable.
(My entry: A Double Rhymed Sonnet)
The starkness of my world now that he’s gone
pervades in all I see and hear and feel,
but darkness swallows all until the dawn
invades. Then what I’ve lost is made more real!
I yearn for Moon’s return - her tender light
to keep me soothed, for sunshine is my bane.
I burn with thoughts of him. I need, each night,
to sleep away my longings and the pain.
He left, and now he’s far away from me
across the globe. Oh, how I love him so!
Bereft am I, but he perhaps feels free!
My loss means where he is tonight shall glow
sweet Moon, caressing him - as once did I,
and soon, I’ll face the glare from morning’s sky!
For the "Enter Your Own Competition" Contest of Cecelia Hopkins-Drewer
Categories:
criterion, loneliness, love,
Form:
Sonnet
As early dawns sunlight, of golden glass....
Now drips from the ambient forest of green
Showers of light reflected, from across the pond
Gazing amid the cabins threshold; these love laced thoughts
A nightingale lingering; singing atop the windows ledge
Faraway whispers, from the preludings winds of time....
Ushering these images, beyond the corridores of ones soul
Still waters resurgent; resplendent, upon the silverish blue
Alluvions resillence, painted in criterion before my eyes
Lavishly renewed colours, brushed gently this heart of mine....
Fireflies and butterflies, floating through the turquoise sky
Melodies atop this brilliant canvas', carousels of life ~
But, as the pendulums gravities of truth sway inside my mind
I find myself within a fortitude of ponder; fortified
By the realization that not all is fairytales and or, ice cream rides....
Pestilence of plights befalling millions and who's wrong or right?
Thus in the referendum of self, one must choose and decide
The ways of justice, balanced upon the scales of conscious
Betwixt the pabulums dividing lines of love and hate?
And a poet writes....
Peering across the pond unto the other side
Beautiful faces beautiful eyes, beautiful hearts and beautiful lives
Red Robins sing and White Swans they fly ~
Embracing them all; this knowing; these treasures inside!?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The forest green....
Categories:
criterion, hope, life, love, timebeautiful,
Form:
Fear heard the phone ringing, and negative thoughts raced through his restless mind. Uncertain what might be at the end of the phone line, Fear refused to
pick up the phone. "Perhaps I will be asked to do something different and difficult", Fear thought to himself. Thousand of "what ifs" and "I doubt its"
forced Fear to freeze, as he said to himself, "I can't".
Faith has five senses like all the rest, but Faith refuses to allow them to be locked in a box. Faith heard the same ringing, and raced to the phone, anticipating myriads of opportunities. Faith sees the same dark tunnels as do others; Faith has the same information and hears the same scary sounds; but even with mixed emotions, Faith keeps on walking because he believes that "He can."
Faith was never a lunatic or fanatic, but he realized that a mile always begins with the first step. Faith recalls that Peter never failed to walk on the water;
only that his walk was a condensed version.
09072017 PS, Contest, A Definition of Faith, Cecelia Hopkins-Drewer, POTD
Form: Didactic; Contest: Enter Your Own Competition; Theme: Faith; Criterion: Be true to form; 1P
Categories:
criterion, confidence, courage, faith, fear,
Form:
Didactic
The Kitchen
My wife’s never seen our kitchen!
It’s like it doesn’t exist
She walks right past it and heads to the garage
If she put kitchen into her GPS, it would explode
She’s going to a restaurant!
When we were apartment hunting, her single most
important criterion was LOCATION!
And that’s great
but for her it’s location to restaurants!
She always picks a second floor apartment
just above one
At night, while relaxing in front of the TV,
She gets up;
I say “Where are you going”
She says, “I’m heading downstairs
for a snack”
That’s the only kitchen she knows
I know what you’re thinking, I’m on a roll!
Wrong! SHE”S on a roll,
at least a half dozen by now!
Yeah, you may think, this is funny
and ask me
Where have I been hiding my humor all my life?
Well, it’s been in our kitchen
No one ever goes in!!
Categories:
criterion, humor, marriage,
Form:
Free verse
I must travel to that space to where I know my own perfection
To turn my eyes to the most uplifted of exalted heavens
To feed the grace of challenge and objection
As the daring confrontation to my guide to never lessen
Bearing the thrust, lifting the weight of my verdict's devotion
So to never be a slave to any untruth given
This foundation of my soul's country - its home is willingly chosen
By the criterion and wealth of its knowledge and acceptance to live in
And abide in the sweet refrain of resolve and determination
February 3, 2020
Pick A Title, Vol 13 - Lyric Poetry Contest/Infrangible Resolve
Sponsored by Edward Ibeh
Categories:
criterion, courage, devotion, inspiration, leadership,
Form:
Lyric
How I wish to renew and set my life in order.
In this season, I wish to make life’s dimensions broader
I am eager to cast my past behind and embrace a new way.
In whatever I do, let my conscience have the final say.
As I grow in age, I have learned more than ever,
That things I once deemed precious are no more dear.
What I hoarded in a lifetime does not provide
The happiness I sought or made me feel secure inside.
How much I reached out to others when needed,
Is the criterion of how I have succeeded,
How sincerely I dedicate my soul and heart,
To alleviate another’s suffering is what sets me apart.
If I can go the extra mile to show that I care,
That is more important than all my prayer.
Our mind and heart should seek the inner light,
So that our spirits with a new glow shall ignite
I want all my grievances to vanish with the dark of night,
And get the grace to greet the advent of a new dawn with delight.
Let the gentle whispers of the season lead us to realize,
The beauty and depth inherent in life’s unseen ties.
Like ethereal lamps, let our lives send out light,
Illuminating dark spaces and making the world bright.
Within each of us lies potentials manifold,
A rainbow of celestial hues waiting to unfold.
Categories:
criterion, celebration, desire, motivation,
Form:
Rhyme
Written: September 15, 2023
______________________________________________________________
In a cosmic world where marvels dwell,
There lies a well where truth does swell.
Under the surface of the cultural tide,
Dissemination of erudition, hence and wide.
Yet, amidst the waves, dishonesty lingers.
Distorting the successful and the weaker
Be empowered to deceive and ensconce.
An idealistic facade where virtue is sparse.
But in the depths of this deceitful sea,
An epiphany awaits, for all to foresee.
A childhood memory of chastity and bliss
That truth was pure, and deceit was dismissed.
A poisonous world may shroud the mind.
But the wonders of verity forever shall bind.
Akin to pollinating bees on a kinetic canvas,
Seeking nectar from flowers is so vast thus.
In this meadow of erudition, we yearn to descry,
The ageless wisdom is unflawed and comply.
In the well of truth, we perceive the light,
Ushering us through the gloomiest night.
Oh, how avarice can pinch and sting.
But verity embrace is an everlasting thing.
It displays the world with hues bright,
Cleansing the soul and bringing forth delight.
In this enormous depth of a world so sumptuous
Let verity be the criterion, the steady unctuous.
In its embrace, we descry our demesne way,
Navigating through every ephemeral day
In the depths of the well, we espy our worth,
A vestige of our genuine niche on earth.
To quest for knowledge, to master, and to grow
To endorse the elision and veracity within us flow.
And it is on this jaunt that we shall arrive.
A candid and guileless mind is graceful to thrive.
Let us, then, face the mysteries that await us.
And acquiesce in the core of verity to emerge, thus.
Categories:
criterion, analogy, appreciation, character, vanity,
Form:
Rhyme
Being mindful of my own roots as a Filipino,
with episodes of successes and failures,
with mirror images of my own culture,
show a sliver of commonality with others
as raised in accordance with Catholic religion.
Beauty in the heart remains a focal point
a criterion that captures a specific connection;
to the highest level – God with people of all nations,
an ongoing conversation between faith and culture.
But with the emerging trend in our civilization,
heroes for youth, sports figures or popular icons
are role models for them with a great deal of competition,
yet, opportunities to strive better and be achievers of honor.
Understanding the mystery of life through faith and trust
in God, whose source of love and compassion never ends;
A lodestar in my way, source of hope and spiritual joy.
King Solomon’s teaching enables me to recall
that some of our greatest actions come only -
because we fall and this makes us grow,
connect with Him and face what life brings.
As we used to say in Philosophy:
«nemo dat quod non haber»
indeed, a challenge that, for me, should be lived
along with enthusiasm and commitment to life.
The world in its movement greets every traveler,
with different salutations meant to inspire him
that in spite of a decadent age or conflicting moral answers,
God’s presence never fails to make us aligned to His own will.
It’s with an attitude of optimism that I hangs on to Him
because He is the way, the truth, the life, and everything,
His authorship and genuineness to any need in life’s quest;
He’s my great spiritual achievement, a future for my calling.
Categories:
criterion, dedication, faith, history, hope,
Form:
Narrative
Gems and precious metals are talking about volatility...
Many of the Metals said that they differ only in weight while the Gems claimed that they differ only in their cuts.
Craftsmanship is one criterion in selling one's worth, beauty and prowess of any precious gem or metal other than cut, clarity, weight, color and carat.
A gem asked, "Is volatility only applied on big-time players -- buyers and sellers?"
One precious metal reacted, "No. Everybody here is big time. And we are all here."
Another gem asked, "How do you do the buying and selling here?"
Another precious metal reacted and said, "We raise one open hand and push it forward to sell or a reversed open palm pulling it towards you to buy."
That's how trading in stock market started.
Categories:
criterion, analogy, business,
Form:
Prose
The front bar of the Criterion is filling up,
It’s after five and the patrons are filing in.
Placed orders echoing off the old timbers
Vying to be heard and adding to the din.
The Grand Old Lady proudly plays host
As she looks out over the muddy Fitzroy.
Thirsty travellers mingle with the regulars,
Escaping the heat with a time worn ploy.
The nubile young bar staff are soon kept busy
As the chaos of orders are shouted out.
Pots and schooners, Bundy Rum and XXXX,
Of their burning thirst there can be no doubt.
The old burnished timber balustrade
though hints at an earlier time of splendor.
An era lost in a more genteel age,
When the old lady was of years more tender.
There’s a Dining Room and spacious Saloon,
Public Bar and upstairs rooms in which to stay.
All retaining their charm of yesteryear,
You can imagine just what they would say.
They’d tell tales of the customers of old,
Of the dusty drovers long on the track.
To the bar to slake a hard earned thirst
Before again mounting up to “get on back”.
Of the bullockies breasting up to the bar
Still cursing that cranky old lead beast.
In language blue they summons the barmaid
And soon settle in for a liquid feast.
Floorboards ringing to the thud of hob nailed boots
As the thirsty stockmen venture into town.
Today their pockets are full of promise,
Tomorrow hangovers they need to drown.
They’d recall long ago warm summer nights
With the polished chandeliers shining bright.
When the silver cutlery was out on display,
And well set tables made for a grand sight.
When gentlemen and ladies on the town
Took pride in appearance to look the part.
When crinoline, whale bone, lace and shift,
Were well placed to land a gentleman’s heart.
And assignations conducted furtively
In consummation of illicit affairs.
All in the rooms overlooking the city,
at the top of those carpeted old stairs.
I’m sure that today’s equivalent games
Are still seen daily by those left in charge.
The same scenes repeated by a new crowd,
The same desires on their faces writ large.
Categories:
criterion, history, nostalgia, places, old,
Form:
Verse
Sports
Sports!
Enjoy.
It is fun.
Cheerful. Joyous.
Nothing to worry.
Victory or Defeat
is not the criterion.
Play games gaily in glory.
Do not get upset, never to lose.
Aspirant zeal is your sporting spirit.
05/22/17
Sports Shorts Contest by Joseph Soper
Categories:
criterion, sports,
Form:
Etheree
“A” less Museless Poem
(a lipogram)
How is to be without;
the use of my muse?
Will it be the bedrock
of future thoughts?
Would it be foreboding;
or be more-or-less just.
To shorten this penury;
of my written text.
I need thoughts to flow
from both hemispheres
to the mighty pen.
To be delivered upon
This folio of one sheet
Printed with electronic ink
referent to the book; no
criterion to the tome; no
The proto-dossier; yes
Of mine on going discovery
To plot and etch written
To-morrows upon this my
One sheet of electronic vellum; is
The conundrum to use only 24 letters;
Should be quite the simple feet.
Categories:
criterion, how i feel, imagination,
Form:
Free verse
I see how these people work to the hilt,
to offer themselves to a certain cause;
to take part in the so-called Project Hospitality
as they interact with all sorts of people.
An interfaith effort that takes its course in the island.
a wonderful institution that commits to people.
with numerous endeavors and assistance given;
they're faithful enough to lead them to light.
Giving shelter to the homeless
sounds clearly as part of the Beatitudes
Feeding the hungry and caring for the sick;
exemplify the gospel attitude
that one endeavors to fulfill God's criterion.
Beautiful souls, servants of the poor!
with great admiration they represent us all.
Like committed missionaries near and far;
a treasure, a gift, a pride of every culture.
Their smiles and hard work reflect who they are,
amid some brickbats and adversaries around;
still their foundation remains as ever
equipped with values meant for all times.
Categories:
criterion, caregiving, work, work,
Form:
Pastoral
Choices or Destiny
Choice is the Demonstrator.
Each one has its own ambition
to follow on.
Personal choice may be sound.
Individual voice may be loud.
diligence nay be profound,
yet to fulfill desires
somewhere somehow
fate may favor or may not.
Path of life is not smooth
but uneven,
even if you work hard with
confidence and intelligence,
Circumstantial conditions may or may not support you.
What to do?
Though competence
is prime criterion,
and performance
showing excellence,
yet to access
sure success
or to reach destination,
one needs permission
rather approval
of circumstantial conditions
04/19/16
Categories:
criterion, destiny,
Form:
Verse
If I were in the market for
Another spouse, I would
Check out the database of specs
To make a choice that’s good.
My top criterion is that
I want my spouse to last.
A long time he should be with me
And not break down too fast.
I'd make him get a physical
To check for hidden leaks
And broken parts, to know what's wrong
If I hear that he creaks.
I’d look how much he needs to eat
And whether he requires
A super diet. Are there foods
Without which he expires?
Reliability is key -
I need dependable.
A man who is not there for me
Is just expendable.
What if he breaks or ails, can he
Be fixed without much pain?
Will it cost me an awful lot
To make him well again?
How does he sound? How does he smell?
How does he make me feel?
This will decide the final choice
Before I seal the deal.
But I already have a man
I picked a different way,
And I’m quite happy. So this list
I’ll use another day.
September 13, 2016
For contest: If I shopped for my spouse like I shop for my automobile
Sponsored by: Cindi Rockwell
Categories:
criterion, humorous,
Form:
Quatrain