Best Cuisines Poems
You were born in a specialist clinic
I was born at the front door of my house
we both came into this world and survived.
You’ve been eating foreign cuisines and expensive delicacies
I’ve been taking porridge and traditional soups
we both have grown and are a significant part of the society.
You go to school in Jeeps and exotic vehicles
I use public transport and finish it up with a walk
we both went to learning institutions and acquired knowledge.
You roll with the high and mighty and get a super model married
I’m surrounded by the middle class
and marries one never will be in Wikipedia
we both are active in the food chain and wonderfully living our lives.
You become a CEO or rather own a firm
I get employed by you to run your empire
we both sure need each other to function and drive.
Gold and Diamonds will decorate the casket of your funeral
mine may not even be worthy of a coffin, just a plain box
we’ll nevertheless be dead and our chapter closed without preference.
It is only a pathology when the eye gets larger than its socket,
comparison cuts the muscles of esteem and gives greed a new suit,
making simplicity a very complex attribute to attain
and a life full of complexities a better friend to existence.
Life is simple, we just make it complicated.
A civil servant wants to live at par with a tycoon
allowing his throat tie down the strength of his hands.
Every destination has different roads,
be it the highway or a rocky path.
Take the one within your speed limit,
the timing may show some reaching before or better than others
but the most important thing is, the destination reached
as achievement is decorated while life stay simple.
You say: Wrong place—wrong time,
Maybe: Wrong place—not right time,
Not right place—but wrong time?
I say: This's right place—right time,
In times and places,
What is the time?
Where is the place
For right not wrong?
Is this like signs
Tearing up the scenery;
What about my mind?
Don't what? I can read the sign!
Oh—Signs of the time?
What’s wrong is not right,
Lord, I will sing this song!
Fight for what’s right
Correct what's wrong!
In all times and places
Oh, salvation!
Please, be alright,
And make it—
On time!
~~~~~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~~~~~
© Joseph S. Spence, Sr., (Epulaeryu Master) 109/11/08
All Rights Reserved, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Senior Advisor, to Founder of Motivational Strips
Ambassador De Literature
Noble Star of Literature 2018
Living Legend of the 21st Century
Pentasiv B World Friendship Poetry Featured Poet 2019
~~~~~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~~~~~
Joseph S. Spence, Sr., is the author of "The Awakened One Poetics" (2009), which is
published in seven different languages. He invented the Epulaeryu poetry form, which
focuses on succulent cuisines and drinks. He is published in various forums, including the
World Haiku Association; Poetinis Druskininku, Milwaukee Area College, Phoenix Magazine;
Möbius Poetry, and Taj Mahal Review to name a few. Joseph is a Goodwill Ambassador for
the state of Arkansas, USA, a college faculty, and a military veteran.
~~~~~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~~~~~
On a fine April day, set out in the great cruise ship, Titanic,
Into the pelagic waters of Atlantic, with the weather alluringly sweet.
Plush it was with beaming fellow travelers and amenities astounding.
A journey of great excitement under a star-studded sky at night.
With the crew so hospitable, there was overwhelming warmth and conviviality.
Wine and liquor flowed down through gullets; tasty cuisines were served.
On the deck couples and lovers waltzed, a sweet breeze kissing their cheeks.
But tragedy loomed large in the form of an iceberg, unobserved.
I sat away from the crowd enjoying the rising gaiety.
What was the deafening sound I heard from near?
With a violent shake, the huge leviathan turned to one side.
Hardly knew what was happening, but sensed death was not far.
Hit hard n' ripped into two pieces, the vessel began sinking into the waters.
Amid euphonic melody and revelry, some didn’t know what was happening.
Some in panic ran helter skelter with growls and groans renting the air.
A man gave away his lifeboat to a mother and child, his own life abandoning.
It was a moment I witnessed the beauty of selfless love.
I was inspired to give away my lifeboat that I secured by chance.
A divine spark hit me, and all anxieties vanished instantly.
Sudden was the transmutation, I saw the whole scene in a new stance.
Heaven’s fire was lit in my breast and in love, my spirit began to glow,
How great it is to give life to someone who needed it more.
I heard the angel’s voices flit, saw a new door opening wide.
Had a fleeting vision of the heavenly hall with aureate roof and glazed floor.
I knew all my agony depart and hope instantly sparking.
With God on my side, I felt sinking into the icy depth,
My mind was calm with an unusual courage filling my every nerve,
And my horizon growing bigger and enlarging into uncommon width.
My inaudible parting words were “Goodbye Titanic, fare thee well,
In the oceanic depths, you stay as a symbol of world’s fleeting glory,
Making men think that fate can shatter and pulverize human hubris.
In the sunless Atlantic lair, lie down ageless to tell your allegorical story"!
“The finest poetry
is the most feigning.”
—William Shakespeare
Smelling scent soothe my soul
Sits in sleek oven
Simmering Jack-O-Lantern
Smile so nicely
Saliva pours for
Sweet pumpkin
Pie!
~~~~~~~*******~~~~~~~
© Joseph, November 2, 2008
© All Rights Reserved
~~~~~~~*******~~~~~~~
Semi finalist contestant
292 out of 887 submissions
June 1, 2009 International Contest
~~~~~~~*******~~~~~~~
Joseph S. Spence, Sr., is the author of "The Awakened One Poetics" (2009), which is
published in seven different languages. He invented the Epulaeryu poetry form, which
focuses on succulent cuisines and drinks. He is published in various forums, including the
World Haiku Association; Poetinis Druskininku, Milwaukee Area College, Phoenix Magazine;
Möbius Poetry, and Taj Mahal Review to name a few. Joseph is a Goodwill Ambassador for
the state of Arkansas, USA, a college faculty, and a military veteran.
~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~
negativity
peel away layers
behold emptiness
~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~
© Joseph S. Spence, Sr., (Epulaeryu Master) 5/15/09
All Rights Reserved, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Senior Advisor, to Founder of Motivational Strips
Ambassador De Literature
Noble Star of Literature 2018
Living Legend of the 21st Century
Pentasiv B World Friendship Poetry Featured Poet 2019
~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~
Joseph S. Spence, Sr., is the author of "The Awakened One Poetics" (2009), which is
published in seven different languages. He invented the Epulaeryu poetry form, which
focuses on succulent cuisines and drinks. He is published in various forums, including the
World Haiku Association; Poetinis Druskininku, Milwaukee Area College, Phoenix Magazine;
Möbius Poetry, and Taj Mahal Review to name a few. Joseph is a Goodwill Ambassador for
the state of Arkansas, USA, a college faculty, and a military veteran.
~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~
Let’s fly to the celestial fiesta of the cherry blossom,
In the North Eastern Region of Shillong, named, “The Scotland of the East,
The abode of the cloud,” in the lush mesa of the magnetic Meghalaya!
The wheezing Pine forest of the whispering waterfalls in the Khasi hills,
is bustling with the nature’s fairytale of pink, white and ivory!
As far as the eyes can see, the rolling tableland is ringing, ridden by the radiant petals of cherries!
Neither Japan, nor Paris, a mere remote region of Indian plateau,
Glowing in nature’s sublime glory of pellucid picturesque pinks!
Nicknamed, Prunus Cerasoides, the cherry blossoms,
a delightful boon of Himalayas,
are blooming profusely in the magical
verdant highland of the East Khasi hills!
The November is rippling with
moonlit music, plethora of flamboyant folk dances,
pageants, stalls to cater to the globetrotters’ penchant for the ethnicity
of the fur-flung region’s tribes’ cuisines, wine, arts and cryptic crafts!
Such bedazzling is the serenity of the panaromic platonic plateau,
As folks of the vicinity, are traversing despite the rampant pandemic,
to glimpse the shangri la of the richest biome of the floral magical lane!
The resonating frolic of the chirping and twittering from the cheerful cherry bushes
are teeming with the twirling bliss, intoning,
in winters whistling whiff!
A nature’s bounty, a pamphlet of picturesque hamlets’ terrains of aromatic sensuous purity!
Blessed are they, who have witnessed the once in a lifetime scene of crystal clean roaring rivulets, murmuring brooks, the ravishing orchids, quirky root bridges, aesthetic lakes and rills, scented wild flowers, encompassing the enigmatic cherry blooms of the mystic land of the majestic mountains!
An euphoria to have a ride amidst the clouds of the misty moorlands,
gliding languidly to take the signature of the mementos of the moments;
to kiss the plateau of wild orchids, flowering Cherries and sacred woodlands of those Khasi hills,
crackling with the sprouting, cherry blossom festival of the far East!
A blessed soil which perspires cashews and coughs out black pepper,
its global banner of rice is raised so high
which is only beaten by one.
Specializing in the juices of the commonest limbless reptile
with cuisines highly recommended by the parliaments of health.
From dragons to birds;
the turtle to the horse;
the minds of its people have well been bonded to these,
making historians marvel at which exactly
helped in denting the American military pride.
A Call for "ROBOTIC SYMPOSIA"
Welcome!..Intelligent Machines.
Bytes of Chips.. Coded Cuisines.
Interface Deep Learned Colloquia
Pageant of Program-Parade track.
Sessions of Chess, Poems..Football
Network, Encrypt, Friends Firewall.
Awesome Algorithms..can you hack?
A Special Theme.. "Learn to Cry"..
Bluetooth the Heart and Brain.
To feel Love, Pleasure and Pain..
...................
HUMANS.. "Please Don't Apply "
13th September 2018
SYMPOSIA POETRY CONTEST
Sponsored by Julia Ward.
"Turn on the television",
Says an angel munching popcorn,
At the end of each century
"What are the humans up to?"
15th Century:
Columbus exploring lands on unending voyages
Enchanting symphonies of musicians
Words printed publicly
On yet another note,
Empires waging wars for supremacy
16th Century:
Shakespeare sprinkles an era of Literature
Novel religions blend together
World marvels at inventions
Oh! Their foolish twist,
Struggling against man made plagues
17th Century:
Pascal, Boyle, Newton bask in glorious Science
Folks marvel at exquisite cuisines
Discover how universe expands
But humans need a change,
How about propagating slavery
18th Century:
Darwin and Berkeley penetrate philosophic minds
Austen explores societal strata
Mozart floats among harps
Well enough, humans think
Let's plot royal conspiracies
19th Century:
Civilizations soar with industrial revolution
Pasteur creates life-saving vaccines
Giant machines uplift cities
Isn't that much for now
Time to expand slave colonies
20th Century:
Theories leave immortal traces in all fields
Carbon dating, electromagnetic rays,
Nuclear reactions building spaceships
Humans have a different need
Devastating nuclear bomb thrills
Bored, angels switch to channel Earth
Only two decades past 21st century,
Interstellar voyages, flying planes,
A primitive human wouldn't believe,
But oh they can never change,
Bubbling venom of cold wars,
Dead humanity, tortured nature,
Cheap thrills of pointless debates.
"Okay that's been a while I say,
It is time to give them a taste.
At regular intervals in this century,
Humans with their wolfish greed
Surpassing idiocy need a pause."
Combating over money, religions,
Nature, opinions, nothing else
While humans oppose each other
Forgetting to ponder their doings
Angels and demons dance together
Letting nature throw up for a while
God laughs as he tunes for showtime,
"And now for something completely different..."
May 20, 2020
I’m watching the icicles dripping,
Reminded of ten years ago,
When I held up my grandson to watch them,
All the things then that I couldn’t know.
How he’d soak up so much he was learning
And prove to be clever and smart;
How his joy in our moments together
Would tattoo him right onto my heart.
How he’d love to hear all kinds of music
And would shine when he played the trombone;
How his passion for reading and language,
Which we’d shared, he’d continue alone.
How some interests would serve to sustain him -
New cuisines, tech advances and school,
While some others would fall by the wayside -
Making maps, which were detailed and cool.
There will be so much more in the future
That his mind will grab onto and hold,
But when we watched the icicles dripping,
So much living had yet to unfold.
Wales to me is a floating melody of soothing hums,
when sea breeze to tranquil shores comes,
sprinkling buried golden hues,
over swaying grassland in recluse.
Lulling little kids to breathe free -
in spiral dreams, come sing of Wales to me.
Wales is an exquisite painting of ancient mysteries,
of the hill forts from buried cities
that once bubbled exuberance in glee
now boast of a beauty carefree.
When daisies bloom in lilac spring,
asleep under soothing blankets sing,
oft shimmering crystals on canvas-
on starry nights, come paint Wales for me.
Wales is an unwritten muse to be poured in ink
from the red brick window turning pink,
preserved in the breeding-box valley,
shimmering dew on golden hay in old alley.
Rising aroma of cuisines from wet chimneys,
hustling wind rushing through wagon dinghies,
chasing me to the castle in hilltop fields -
in long lost pastures, write of Wales to me.
Wales is a rejuvenating dream that quenches my thirst
to explore unseen soaring bubbles burst,
taking me through white patches of dusk,
in blue skies drenching me with musk.
The mornings welcomed by chirping bird,
lamb white days riding with their herd,
mauve twilight sparkling rising moon,
beholding me from afar as I swoon.
Beyond continents and vast seas free -
loving people, come dream of Wales with me.
June 10, 2020
Wales Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Julia Ward
~Premiere Contest Winner: 3rd Place
"Poetry is a way of
taking life by the throat."
--Robert-Frost
~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~
Heart broken torn apart like scrambl’d eggs;
As the weak link snapp’d momentum slow’d—stopp’d
Love wherest art thou? Torment’d now begs,
This cup of scourge, drink or not—spill’d—now mopp’d.
Et tu Brute? Whisper’d from Caesar’s lips;
Yet Romeo and Juliet once lov’d,
Like Macbeth’s witches brew—don’t drink nor sip:
Fate or faith shatter’d, vulture pick’d bones—cross’d.
Heart pleadeth upward—greater is thy love,
Open Heaven’s gate with thy purest light;
Hearest thou not the meek? Awaiting thy dove!
Remove these shadows of darkness and strife:
Greater art thou in Heaven than on Earth,
Creator of creation giveth now birth!
© Joseph, 9/4/08
© All Rights Reserved
~~~~~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~~~~~
Honorable Mentioned Finalist Certificate
Poetry Soup International Poetry Contest
Jan 2009.
~~~~~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~~~~~
Poetry Soup Weekly Featured Poem
Sunday, May 24, 2009, to May 31, 2009
~~~~~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~~~~~
Joseph S. Spence, Sr., is the author of "The Awakened One Poetics" (2009), which is
published in seven different languages. He invented the Epulaeryu poetry form, which
focuses on succulent cuisines and drinks. He is published in various forums, including the
World Haiku Association; Poetinis Druskininku, Milwaukee Area College, Phoenix Magazine;
Möbius Poetry, and Taj Mahal Review to name a few. Joseph is a Goodwill Ambassador for
the state of Arkansas, USA, a college faculty, and a military veteran.
~~~~~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~~~~~
People I used to know,
People I don’t want to know, who are
Not capable of creating life, yet—crushing
Its beauty like the road-raged driver of a
Loose truck driven over freshly fallen snow on
The landscape, where kids played, now cried.
Agonizing people, with so-called pure
Blood racing through their veins, like water
Over Niagara Falls—crushing,
Until resting in a disguised flow.
My heart is crying over life’s destructive beauty.
While dining with questionable royalty,
Giving meals to those who are hungry,
Helping indentured servants over the fences
Of plantations with repressive conditions.
Setting caged birds free from beating
Their breasts and scared wings against
The bars of subliminal captivity; mending
Souls from despair of political fear.
Hear the rising voices of Bradley, Garvey,
Marley, Delany, Kennedy, Turley, and
Inspiring students at USC Berkeley crying
For liberation. People I yet to know,
Whose touch will be like the beautiful
Butterfly with wings spread, floating
Upward in such harmony with melody.
People whose passion will let us
Know, like Harriet Stowe,
How high life is
Capable to grow!
~~~~~~~~~~~*******~~~~~~~~~~~
© Joseph, November 9, 2008
© All Rights Reserved
~~~~~~~~~~~*******~~~~~~~~~~~
Joseph S. Spence, Sr., is the author of "The Awakened One Poetics" (2009), which is
published in seven different languages. He invented the Epulaeryu poetry form, which
focuses on succulent cuisines and drinks. He is published in various forums, including the
World Haiku Association; Poetinis Druskininku, Milwaukee Area College, Phoenix Magazine;
Möbius Poetry, and Taj Mahal Review to name a few. Joseph is a Goodwill Ambassador for
the state of Arkansas, USA, a college faculty, and a military veteran.
~~~~~~~~~~~*******~~~~~~~~~~~
“Heal The World” like in Heaven
A “Thriller” many believed he was too “Bad”
The King of Pops “Black or White”
Seven times he cried—“The Way You Make Me Feel”
Then he “Eased on Down the Road”
Singing: “Earth Songs” like “Beat It,” “Leave Me Alone”
Now “Ben,”—he is “Gone Too Soon!”
~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~
© Joseph Spence, Sr., 6/28/09
© All Rights Reserved
~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~
The form is 7/11/7/11/7/11/7. The total syllable count is 61. The first line has
seven syllables, second eleven, third seven, fourth eleven, fifth seven, sixth
eleven, and seventh seven. Rhyming is optional; however, it’s a plus. Any
variation of the words “seven” or “heaven” must appear in the poem.
Invented by Joseph Spence, Sr., 2007.
~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~
Joseph S. Spence, Sr., is the author of "The Awakened One Poetics" (2009), which is
published in seven different languages. He invented the Epulaeryu poetry form, which
focuses on succulent cuisines and drinks. He is published in various forums, including the
World Haiku Association; Poetinis Druskininku, Milwaukee Area College, Phoenix Magazine;
Möbius Poetry, and Taj Mahal Review to name a few. Joseph is a Goodwill Ambassador for
the state of Arkansas, USA, a college faculty, and a military veteran.
Had a dream last night
spring has such beautiful dream...
I won't tell you!
~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~
© Joseph S. Spence, Sr., (Epulaeryu Master) 5/22/09
All Rights Reserved, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Senior Advisor, to Founder of Motivational Strips
Ambassador De Literature
Noble Star of Literature 2018
Living Legend of the 21st Century
Pentasiv B World Friendship Poetry Featured Poet 2019
~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~
Joseph S. Spence, Sr., is the author of "The Awakened One Poetics" (2009), which is
published in seven different languages. He invented the Epulaeryu poetry form, which
focuses on succulent cuisines and drinks. He is published in various forums, including the
World Haiku Association; Poetinis Druskininku, Milwaukee Area College, Phoenix Magazine;
Möbius Poetry, and Taj Mahal Review to name a few. Joseph is a Goodwill Ambassador for
the state of Arkansas, USA, a college faculty, and a military veteran.
~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~