Best Drawing Room Poems
"Be like a flower ... gentle, quiet and humble."
Quote _ Constance La France
Their blossoms faded to shades of amber filagree
Now, withered remnants of what they used to be
Sweet scent that once perfumed a drawing room
On stems cut from my garden, each humble bloom
is spent, past prime; ready to be pressed in a book
or drying in bunches, quietly hanging upon a hook
Recently snipped, arranged in a Lalique crystal vase
are their progeny, who have taken their elders' place.
How beautiful they are, dressed in cobalt blue gowns
eliciting smiles of adoration, never woebegone frowns.
Their beauty gentles my mood when they stand proud
until they too, will wither and fade, their stems bowed.
Oh, to be like a flower ~ gentle, quiet and humble,
happy to entice the pollen seekers, a bee who bumbles
or butterflies who flutter fragile wings, flying so free.
How I wish sometimes that a tiny creature I could be,
with delicate wings spread, I'd travel without a sound
grateful to be alive, without setting foot on the ground.
May 22, 2023
Writing Challenge ~ B Quotes Contest
Sponsored by Constance La France
The enclosed porch framed a weather-beaten door.
The door was slightly opened when I knocked on it.
I slowly set foot inside the musty dark drawing room;
little light shown through from the stained-glass window.
I reach and slowly move my fingers over the flower rosette
carved into the old elegant red oak staircase railing.
I do walk up the stairs to see the same as on the door frames.
Passing through in the nostalgic silence of the empty house
I could hear the echo whispers of life of its past.
4/8/2023
Writing Challenge - 'S' Words, Poetry Contest 10. staircase
Sponsored by: Constance La France
Creeping strands of ivy intensifies the gloom
of this once beautiful elegant drawing room
A faded dressing screen, a tatty salon chair
since my Grand Papa’s died I’m now the heir
Yet, when I look deep beyond the peeling walls
I can hear melodies from past summer balls
My aim’s to bring it back to its former glory
so my own family will be part of its history
Photograph 3 used
Free Verse or Rhyme Contest
Contest Sponsor Eve Roper
9/8/19
During my morning strolls along country paths
The world comes alive in all its gleam n’ glitter
What lovely autumn vistas unfurl and pass me by
What miracles of creation, what wonders of life
What variety, what fantastic medley
What serene peace, what easeful tranquility
Sights and scenes that hold one’s breaths
Sounds and songs that chase away the moody aches
Autumn leaves of crimson red, lemon yellow
And rusty orange, as they drop, they swirl and whirl
Fly in the wind, some landing on my body and tickling me-
A rare feel that this special season alone can give!
Avian chatter of birds migrating to the south,
Blended with the music of leaping cataracts,
And their echoes sent out by tall rocks and giant boulders.
All that pleases the eye and ear in euphoric delight!
Had I been a Raphael or Rembrandt,
I would have transferred those scenes onto a canvas,
Which one would never get tired of gazing at,
And kept in the drawing room for everyone to see
Or a Wordsworth to have composed those immortal
Tintern Abbey lines, inspired by these ‘beauteous forms’
To be recalled and recited by men of all ages and climes
That they ever ring resonant in their private closets!
Dec. 14.2022
~Placed Third~
Brian's Contest- You Choose
~Placed Second ~
Still Life of Autumn Scene Poetry Contest
Sponsor- Eve Roper
Filth, dirt, odour and smell
I see garbage piled up everywhere
Who will step forward? Who will care?
Is our work just to stare?
We say we love our country
And we can sacrifice anything for it
But nobody realizes a simple thing
That we harm ourselves with our wrong deeds
‘Do not spit here’
Throwing garbage is prohibited in this area
Who follows these common instructions
All I can say is wake up my fellow Indians
We have to clean our surroundings
Check proper hygiene and sanitation
Just to save ourselves from ordure and odour
And build a beautiful and speckless nation
Have you ever thought
That we ourselves are harming us
By keeping stagnant water we call malaria
We can be easily attacked by harmful bacteria
We have become so self centered
We forget to keep ourselves well-groomed
But we do forget often
That lavatories should be as clean as drawing room
We are taught about 3 Rs’
Always recycle biodegradable waste
Reuse, don’t throw things carelessly
Reduce the waste, never be in a haste
Our small step can bring dynamic changes
We can live happily for ages
Doing a sweeper’s job a day won’t cost much
Until we free ourselves from our ego’s clutch
Our mission will grow day by day and become strong
If we unite, there is no chance of anything wrong
I have started my work and I pray for the welfare of all
I hope you have also heard the nation’s call
To build these giants
It took many men
Various trades
Manufacturing gems
Scaffolders, Platers
Drawing room to sea
But one trade
Makes it happen for me
Whatever they made
No matter what they joined
My choice is not made
On the flick of a coin
These are the guys
That make metals talk
Settle their differences
With the strike of a rod
Oil Rigs like the T.L.P.
These are the creations
That do it for me
Pride in their eyes
As their efforts are towed
As smooth on the sea
Just as their welds flowed
The line above tells who they are
The Welders
Indian Elephant
I know of an Indian elephant that is small for it type, but very sharp.
It worked in a circus one day it sat down and lectured the public
those who came here to laugh at animals and sad clowns.
It spoke of the injustice, why the rich pay no tax to help the poor.
The authorities didn't like this, and it was asked if it had a working permit,
the circus owner not wanting problems fired the little elephant that was
chased out of town by an angry mob that had read bad things about him in
the gutter press that in the name of democracy were allowed to print lies.
It took up living between two carob trees,
and since no one expects to see an elephant here, they didn`t see it.
I`m an exile cannot go home to my country up North because there
I would live in penury.
My best friend was a communist leader has a small pension like mine,
we often sit on top of the elephant play cards and he always wins.
This I think it is because I`m a drawing room socialist and can easily be
swayed to lean right if they give me a bigger pension.
the old shaggy yellow spotted dog
ran quickly around the drawing room
chasing a long tale
until it spotted itself
in a mirror on the wall
and was amazed
by how old it is looking
and how quickly
time passes
remembering its youth
it laid down in a cradle in the woom
and cried
Night and day night n day now eating his bread and slops
a quiet demented dreaming dreams of sea and soft skies
But how big the seas of thought run still in the captain's sleep
a mediterranean ships cabin of sleep rocked to the sea beat in his ears
Over what blue whaled waves does he sail in a rainbow hail of flying-fishes
he can still see the ocean from his bed where he just lies
Lying he there now till the sky goes out and the sea stops
let us dust the china, feed the canary and sweep the drawing-room floor
The creaking sound on the steps
on ascending the platform to the door
matching those of buzzing bees and crickets
that serenade through the fading lights
streaming through the leafy filigree
The door opened and a middle aged man
greeted me and called me in
the thud thud of heels on wood
as we moved into the drawing room
wall shelves full of books
reading table and sofa set
We sat down and held the cups
chatting on literary topics and politics
lanterns shading the shape of our faces
casting shadows on the floor
He lived alone and away
from social groups; the urban milieu.
shielded from the goings-on
the mad race to out-maneuver
acquiring money and winning elections
as the panacea of all ills.
As I left him in the cover of the night
i wondered if he would continue
to savor the closeness to the green
or wait for the urbania to extend
to gradually extinguish the woods.
ODOUR OF DEATH
Fumes of incense sticks
Death sneaks into the drawing room
Without consent of none.
Shivering mourning, snub off
With night spreading over
Remnants of obsequies
Twelve basket full of charred dreams
Odour of death smothering
Oh! mourn Jerusalem
Son of Man is beaten.
Next morning
Death has the odour
Of stinking mouths.
Over perfumes poured
Stinking death demonstrate a route march
Shrouding her wings
Death nothing but death.
Shuddering tears
Like diamonds-
Flame of candle bowing
Over the cross.
Time has come, sun drops dead
Flames fading
Trusting two ropes
The deceased sinks to bowels
Of earth,
A sigh of relief
Death leaves a photograph on the wall
Death smiles
My friend,
Comrade.
The scene is set
Within a sumptuous drawing room
The play is re-enacted
Father listen's to his daughters pleas
Please say "yes " she pleads
Sister sits distraught, hands upon her knees.
Alfred had been gardening, planting his seeds
"I love him" Beth tells her Tad,
We want to be together so,
Please let me accept his proposal,
We've been a naughty two.
A baby is forthcoming
a marriage must be near.
Shows that even in the gentries homes
these sort of things occur.
The sister Mary looks so pale
Her story soon to be revealed
Thinking Alfred loved her
She also finds herself with child
Listening to the sordid tale
A decision must be made
"You may marry him" tad told Beth
To his daughter Mary he said the same.
Penned 23 August 2013
Contest: Charles Haig Wood
1.
observing the ardent eagerness of the wind
it is clearly understood
that nascent pollens are overflowing
the niche of her heart
in response to the signals of the river
she keeps on ringing
all long the month of earth-quakes
the bench of the rail-station
wants to hug her
the medicine-counter of the ***-end of the day
beckons her with the hand to come nearer
in the assembly-hall for musical demonstration
adorned with ash-trays
going on the rehearsal of her dancing and singing
she also distributes some life
to the meticulous dressing
of the magnolia
2.
let the swimming pool be fully absorbed
with its dark-room
when the feather of your fore-finger
becomes green
the merchant of venice
will leave his business of photo-coping machine
to start walking directly
in search of new earnings
evening sets in
on the boiler of the delta
putting on yellow-dress comes
the water-vessel of the paper-balloon
there is no singing bird
shivering with cold
in the fold of the dear bed-sheet
it is possible that the boldness of the metro-railway
may give some wood of tamarisk
on the expanded palms
yet oh the western page of night
do tell today
why so much tamed polythene
are here in our cohabitation
3.
after so many days
published in the wind
painted in wings
the recent heart’s desire
of the doors and windows
they have rolled up their fairy-tales
from the ignorant drawing-room that wanted
to set her mind to the hill slanting downward
they did not want to know
how much rheumatism is there
in the hands and legs of the bark
to whom is delegated
the control of the mason-made bus-journey
sleep hugs the eye-lids of the rivers
though there is no postage-stamp
within the reaching-point
then what magic is there
in the hill slanting downward
why the wall does not learn
how to swim like a fish
truly it is he from whom
those negligible moments of man-ism
itch for blue candle-stand
One day after returning from the moon,
Jerry found a Raccoon in his drawing room.
He was surprised to see it watching TV,
enjoying'Tom and Jerry' show with much glee.
An idea crept into Jerry's mind soon
why not teach Tom a lesson by the Raccoon!
So Jerry told him about all his plights,
how Tom was harassing him day and night.
'OK,I'll teach him a lesson',was Raccoon's vow,
'but see that I act with you in cartoon show'.
Hearing this Jerry smiled,'sure,it will be soon
changed to a show of Jerry and Raccoon'.
Then he guided him to nearby Tom's house
stealthily big Raccoon followed little mouse.
At that time Tom was having a sound nap,
the big Raccoon easily took him in his lap.
'I will throw him over there to the moon',
smilingly murmured the big Raccoon.
What happened after this I don't know, sorry
can't tell you the end of this little story.
There may be a change in the cartoon show soon,
Tom may be missing,Jerry will act with that Raccoon!
© kashinath karmakar
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By:kashinath karmakar (30th March 2011,photo based)
Long lilac dress pearl-grey tie
Casual elegant beautiful woman
Smell fresh ground coffee beans
Newly refurbished town houses
Colour swatches drawing room
House in the family for centuries
Man in tuxedo jovial atmosphere
Clock tower flowery gardens zoo