Best Delaney Poems
Susan
wife of Bill,
mother of Brock, Julianna, Jocelyn, Marcus
Heather and Billy, Jr.
grandmother of Logan, Delaney and Isaac
daughter of Alice and Albert and sister of Michael and Diane
lover of family, imagination and artistic expression, the skies in all its moods and wild places
who is patient with others but impatient with self, is inquisitive, confident yet insecure
who embraces laughter as well as tears, the thrill of wonderment, the beauty of empathy
and fears loss of freedom, the unknown and hateful emotions
who would like to see her children’s dreams come true, the other side of the heavens and the end of man’s inhumanity to man, animals and Nature
a proud lifelong resident and beach enthusiast of the South Coast of Massachusetts
Ashley.
Susan Ashley
October 14, 2019
Categories:
delaney, introspection,
Form:
Bio
A Constanza (in Connie's own precious poetry form) written in tribute to this amazing friend and poet:
A lass so beautiful is she,
and like a dear friend I recall,
she brightens our world, for she’s Fall!
Like golden leaves on friendship’s tree -
when spring, then summer, we see pass -
for a short while stays this sweet lass.
.
So very beautiful to me,
she’s wistfulness and so much more -
an old friend that I’m longing for.
Her moments oh so quickly flee.
Then death arrives as Winter’s frost.
yet memories are never lost.
Within her grace again I’ll be,
for Fall may pass, but even then,
sweet lass – my friend – I’ll see again.
A lass so beautiful is she -
like golden leaves on friendship’s tree -
so very beautiful to me.
Her moments oh so quickly flee.
Within her grace again I’ll be.
Sept. 23, 2022
For "In Remembrance Of Connie -Autumn Theme Poetry Contest"
Sponsor: Suzanne Delaney
Categories:
delaney, autumn,
Form:
Rhyme
Be it known as convenience food, junk food or munchies;
whether spicy, melt-in-your-mouth soft, or crunchy,
food, inglorious food, seduces with ease
and ensnares with the emptiest of calories.
Disguised as a comfort food comes macaroni
with creamy Alfredo and kin, Fettucini,
To not be outdone, spaghetti entices
with large fattening meatballs and sauce rich in spices.
“Deep fried” knows our weakness for fat, which gives pleasure
and saturates fast foods, it seems, in great measure:
KFC (finger-licking), batter-fried fishes
and chicken fried steaks -high cholesterol dishes.
Even fruits will attack with enjoyment unhealthy
as tarts, pies or pastries. That apple is stealthy!
Veggies can also be treacherous things
in guise of corn fritters and gold onion rings.
Too much of a good thing is pizza (so cunning,
so meaty, so cheesy), which no one is shunning.
The taco, burrito, and big burger too
in great numbers descend on us. What can we do?
Those delectable luscious desserts that we eat
have only to sit there; we cannot retreat!
Candies and chocolate, our decadent sin,
sweetly defeat us. We simply give in.
Ice cream, a smooth foe, knows when we are blue.
On a cone or a spoon, it drips, waiting for you.
As a milkshake, a frosty, a sundae or float,
or between split bananas, it sure floats MY boat!
Buttered popcorn is one salty foe, and we love it!
The hot dog implores in our mouths that we shove it.
Baked bread, so alluring, entraps with its scent,
which wafts through the air as if heaven sent!
The standards of junk food -America’s pride -
crisp bacon and nachos, chips and foods fried,
invade our malls’ food courts and lurk high and low.
Their smells overwhelm us wherever we go!
We might try but we can’t make our junk food desist.
for only the health nuts can dare to resist.
In the war with inglorious food I adore,
I say, Bring it on! Here’s my plate; I want more.
For the The Synathroesmic Cat Contest Poetry contest of Suzanne Delaney
*So now you can all know why I try to get to the gym a lot. hahaha
Categories:
delaney, food,
Form:
Couplet
As winter trees exhume their leaves
for spring
and Autumns' sacrifice
retreats in memory
Summers of sangria blossoms
drape their crimson blooms-
exhale against an arc of sighing skies
Seasons conspire
to tempt the wanderer on,
but it’s the stolen thoughts of childhood
that bring the wanderer home.
© Suzanne Delaney
Categories:
delaney, absence, adventure, childhood, growing
Form:
Free verse
Excitement filled the bushland as December was near
Every creature had been waiting for Christmas time - all year.
Wallabies hung their stockings on a gumtree branch with care
Just as all nice children do – everywhere.
Meanwhile those more up to date logged on the internet
sending E mails to Santa to see what they could get
Koalas draped high treetops with shiny garlands green
And furry possums lined their dens in golden glitter sheen
Wallabies joined in with bright balloons hung on their tails
All the crows tied streamers, cascading from the rails.
Kookaburras’ laughter changed to Christmas songs
While magpies and peewees piped along in throngs.
A wombat and a bandicoot made honeysuckle punch
The parrots came too early and drank’ til they got drunk
And when the’ Magic Pudding’ came to help with Christmas Dinner
His taste was so delicious he left a trifle thinner.
With a Kangaroo as Santa, his pouch stuffed full of cheer
hopping ‘round the outback in the hottest time of year
Just guess what all the drovers got- lots of ice-cold beer.
Suzanne Delaney
For Children's Christmas Poem Contest for Carol Eastman
Categories:
delaney, children, christmas, december, kids,
Form:
Rhyme
Before the beginning of time when Chaos ruled Hell and Night
Into the depths of this Cosmos, a Paradise, perfectly placed.
Above this darkness, a heaven drawn forth in a burst of light
Before the beginning of time
From the Garden of Eden, henceforth, Adam and Eve were disgraced
Lo! A fallen angel changed himself to a serpent in Eve’s sight
Banished, they fled before God to a wilderness, forever displaced.
Forbidden fruit had shown them the difference of wrong from right.
In Pandemonia, Demons conspired, sin and death be interlaced.
God sacrificed his Son to save them - from Hell's eternal plight.
Before the beginning of time
Suzanne Delaney
For Suzette Crous
Roundel Competition
Categories:
delaney, bible, creation, evil, god,
Form:
Roundel
At a carnival- in my dream
I saw an old man had made
a rocket - and blasted off
I saw it go overhead and at first thought
It was a decoy
because no-one could come back to Earth safely
From such a blast
Then - I assumed because he was old
he wanted to die in a
Blaze of glory
Next I see his rocket turn into a parachute
And he has on snow skis and poles
We all make a space for him to land.
As he lands - the street turns into a river-
and he manages to land upright
on the skis - on the water.
But I think then he had a heart attack
From the joy of landing
Suzanne Delaney
Categories:
delaney, age, death, dream,
Form:
Free verse
All I Have in Life
My joyful 'witchy' friend
thinks only good of ev'ryone
She taught me how love works
conspires constantly with angels;
captured my soul in water colors
She's the true spirit of friendship
My two sensitive new friends
have allowed illness to intrude
and all I have to give them
are paper orchids and good wishes
and butterflies of poetry
Now I hope they listen to their inner truths
They are the reasons for friendship
Then there are my false friends
They faded like fog from daylight
They mystified me, made me feel regret
I try, to seldom think of them
For they were not friendship
I have friends who are
drama queens, they add 'delight,'
my favourite word, and often they
can be as distant as mountains
and as purposely absurd
I treasure moments with them
They are the poetry of friendship
I have friends whose children revolve,
like tiny planets, around them
I have friends filled with passion
too deep for expression
and some who never seem to lift their heads
above clouds of depression
They are the longings of friendship
I have friends whose expectations,
I failed to live out, and so they left
I have friends in far away places that
I'm always promising to revisit
I have friends with whom I share a perfect affinity
but with no time left over to spend with me
They are the lost potential of friendship
I have had really good friends, until
our lives drifted apart and all of our longing
we kept hidden in our hearts,
expressed in imaginary cards
and letters we often failed to write
They are the regret of lost friendship
For me there can be no end to the cycle
of friendships -I am certain
For all I have to live for
is my friends.
Suzanne Delaney
Categories:
delaney, absence, best friend, betrayal,
Form:
Free verse
These are the times
I sit and ponder at the beauty of it all,
amazed at the bounty of my blessings
Overburdened with foolish reminiscing
For the time has come for the present...
...life's never ending event
I admire the lovely wetness
of unexpected rain
Walnuts that look like human brains
Trees that sprout out of elk heads
to battle others for honor and for mates
I marvel at the convenience
of the kangaroo's curious pouch
The patience of eagles lying in wait
Chameleons (that rainbow reptilian)
shifting colors at a glance,
occasionally russet (at times van Gogh)
The industry of ants,
single file,
row
by row,
by row,
(not one little rebel)
The diamond skin of a pineapple,
amber juices aburst with sweetness
(and even the librarians in their neatness)
...not one little thing is worthy of omitting
For this bird bath of a planet
is positively brimming
with secrets to behold
Like the fangs of fire foxes
that tear into flesh
(but the story doesn't end there,
lest we forget)
For the pricks of a porcupine
are there to remind you,
regardless of strength or size
In the dark every creature
has the same set
of glowing eyes
The sunniest of marigolds
that brings the promise of summer fun
Just as much as the paper I like to fold
Cranes perched on the windowsill
(longing to fly just like the real ones)
There is magic everywhere you go,
no need to reinvent or fantasize
about some hidden secret or treasure trove
I can see the Pacific in your eyes
The Milky Way in a nautilus shell
(you can see it if you're looking,
you can hear it if you're blind)
Just sit a spell and listen
to the eternal song
of the infinite mind
Or catch a glimpse of April fireflies
(the misfit stars that got left behind)
So keep your gold, Leprechauns
Mermaids of old with your siren songs
serenade some other hapless chap
to the edge of the sea (and never look back)
And Genie of the Lamp, keep the other two,
for here's my first and only wish:
I want the earth, and everything that's in it...
...just as it is
PS. Inspired by the poetry of Suzanne Delaney and Carol Mays in their wonderful book, Poems of Nature, Enchantment and Mystery.
Categories:
delaney, animal, appreciation, beauty, blessing,
Form:
Free verse
Colors she wowed in autumn's praise
Where tinted leaves turn fiery red,
Where gamboge dye prairies imbed.
Meadows winsome in crimson blaze
Inspired poems of heartfelt themes
Strumming passions of season's dreams.
Vying glimpse of her moonlit gaze
Resplendent motifs whirled in dance
Pleasing poise of her gifted stance.
Lauding grandeur of gilded glaze
Lyrics she wrote in flawless rhyme,
How Connie's verses transcend time!
Swaying rhythms of beauteous days
Autumn's glory adorned her art:
Words that blossomed poetic heart.
Colors she wowed in autumn's praise~
Meadows winsome in crimson blaze,
Vying glimpse of her moonlit gaze
Lauding grandeur of gilded glaze
Swaying rhythms of beauteous days.
September 24, 2022
Placed1st: In Remembrance of Connie –
Autumn Theme Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Suzanne Delaney
Form: Constanza
Eight syllables per line
Categories:
delaney, autumn, dedication,
Form:
Rhyme
Anne-Lise Andresen- "Hugs"
Anisha Dutta- "Sweet Lady"
Beata Agustin- "Spiritual"
Bill Baker- "Friend from Texas"
Brandy Nicole- "Whispers & Scribbles"
Brian Sambourne- "One of my Canadian besties"
Brian Sand- Contest #10,000 (lol)-keep 'em coming, Brian!
Carolyn Devonshire- "Sweet Caroline" (R.I.P. dear Carolyn)
Christina Bowring- "Hugs & Smiles"
Constance la France- "Cats"
Craig Cornish- "Need a dictionary"
Daniel Turner- "Great scrabble player- better poet" (lol)
Darlene De Beaulieu- "Hello Mr. Messina" - (needs to fix avatar-lol)
Deb M- "Debx"
Emile Pinet- "Gifting his books"
Eve Roper- Nursey Rhymes"
Gershon Wolf- "The great philosopher"
Gregory Barden- "The Bard"
Hilo Poet- "Aloha"
I Am Anaya- "Cool"
Ink Empress- "Ink Princess"
Jan Allison- "Best for a laugh"
JCB Brul- "Never won her contests (lol)
John Hamilton- "Lyrics"
John Lawless- "WTFWT"
John Watt- "Word master"
Joseph May- "Love his contests"
Julia Ward- Never won her contests either (lol)
Kim Rodriguez- "Nature"
Lady Labyrinth- "Deep"
Line Gauthier- "Short and sweet"
Maria Williams- "My dear Aussie"
Michael Tor- "My brother from another mother"
Mike Gentile- "Caring"
Milton Hankins- "Missing him"
Mystic Rose Rose- "Flowers, flowers"
Panagiota Romios- "Pangie, the S.F. kid"
Paula Goldsmith- "A lovely read/write"
Quoth The Raven- "The Birds"
Regina McIntosh- "Love, Gina"
Richard Lamoureux- "His lovely wife"
Robert Hinshaw- "The poem I wrote for his wife"
Robert James Liguori- "Marvel"
Sam Kaufman- The finest bus driver poet I ever knew"
Sandra Haight- "My Jersey gal"
Sara Baker- "Bill's lovely wife"
Sara Kendrick- "Thanks for sharing"
Silent One- "Silence" (Rumi)
Sotto Poet- "Admirable"
Susan Ashley- "Warmest wishes"
Suzette Delaney- "The poem I wrote about her avatar eye"
Suzette Richards- "Can't do her contests, too hard (lol)
Tania Kitchin- "Haiku's"
Tom Cunningham- "Great story teller"
Tom Watt- "Another word master"
Tom Woody- "Reminds me of Milton- for some reason"
Unseeking Seeker- "The Seeker"
Valsa George- "Blessings"
Victor Buhagiar- "Missing his wife"
Vijay Pandit- "Imagery and Imagination"
Winged Warrior- "The great alliteration'er"- (R.I.P. John)
Categories:
delaney, friend, in memoriam,
Form:
List
Autumn winds chant a soulful tune
Elusive songs they choose to play
as maple branches bend and sway
Aspen trees drop their leaves too soon
Hues of umber, amber and gold
as seasonal changes unfold
Across forest floors they are strewn
Russet carpets to lie upon
when in repose a sigh is drawn
Then comes the sad cries of a loon
Haunting sounds foreshadowing death
She calls her mate with one last breath
Like withered leaves, a life was hewn
Taken from loved ones in the night
A cherished soul risen in flight
Pale light spills from a sallow moon
Beneath its glow we weep and mourn
Grief pierces like a sharpened thorn
Autumn winds chant a soulful tune
Aspen trees drop their leaves too soon
Across forest floors they are strewn
Then comes the sad cries of a loon
Like withered leaves, a life was hewn
Pale light spills from a sallow moon
September 19, 2022
In Remembrance of Connie - Autumn Theme Contest
Sponsored by Suzanne Delaney
Categories:
delaney, autumn, farewell, poetess,
Form:
Rhyme
Lightning , rainbows, mountains, oceans, clouds
What seems to be random in creation, taunts us.
Dreamy, drifting, sometimes dangerous
every emotion, every sense, every molecule connected.
Plants, creatures, meteors, moving into forever.
Seeds, stars, flowers hold impossible answers.
Time, mystery, untold generations of life forms;
every beautiful thing destined to return.
Suzanne Delaney
Categories:
delaney, beauty, change, wisdom,
Form:
Free verse
From
our pink deck with a Jarra cocktail table-set
We sit awaiting sunset with an
‘Hawaiian absence’ of seagulls
As dusk comes with violet echoes
across the spotted water,
from the resturaunts
comes a wine hubbub - table- laughter
Mountains, marshmallowed
in occasional cloud on this still night-
constant torchlight on quiet water
un-moving palms, paddle sounds
A swanky stingray drifts past
A shadowed water taxi
and strangers who wave at us
Suzanne Delaney
Categories:
delaney, absence, boat, culture, december,
Form:
Free verse
Should I whisper words
that hang on memory’s peaks,
cumulous across my forehead?
A world of words - connected
like tides to the moon.
Words that mingle and rise,
as mist from a valley
or, dwell in half forgotten dreams;
endless as ocean waves,
or vistas of flowering fields.
Beautiful words
that tell me of my place.
Suzanne Delaney
Categories:
delaney, feelings, life, nature, word
Form:
Free verse