Best Duel Poems
The sun was setting, as it usually does
The town a ghost town, the main street all but silenced
The wind blowing leaves and dreams to and fro
The tension in the air was palpable
The few souls about all peering out shuttered windows
When in from the west, came a storm
Her name was Serena Storm,
They shivered in her wake, the poetess of dead lovers
Then over to the east side, riding in slow and steady
The grim reaper or so it seemed, hollowed eyes
Dead soul and dark mind, his side arm at the ready
The greatest duel in history, right here
In the town of Nowhere
The setting sun reflected of her dark long coat
The last tear drop, falling to its death in the dust
She stared ahead, face blank
Daring, with a glare, shoot me, shoot me, try
He dismounted his horse, called Heartless Soul
His eyes slits, staring down the curvaceous storm pacing untoward
His hand inside his coat, slowly pulling out a mickey
He belted down a shot or three,
In the town of nowhere
They both paced, hands at their side
Closer and closer, the saloon keeper
Not quite sure his bottle would be paid in full
Then as quickly at the sun set……
Vaso drew first.
The finest long black quill one ever saw
His other hand dropped his bottle
Magically a writing pad appeared
Serena drew second, pen at her side
The color of blood, and for good reason
She too tablet in hand, putting ink to paper
As they both furiously wrote
In the town of Nowhere
Hearts were murdered
The meaning of life was hanged not long after
Love was beheaded
The main street a river of blood
A storm of tears washing away crimson desires
An empty vassal, Vaso’s insides already dead
Dropping his pen, he pulled out his sword of mourning
The duel to end, as he lopped off his own head
She dropped paper and pen to the ground
She faced down the grim reaper, and it’s he who is dead
The only one to know, his name was Arthur
King of the dark, ruler of lost dreams
In the town of Nowhere
The poetic duel of the century
Both won and lost
Long ago
Many lovers’ kiss faded from my lips
Like summers early morning mist that dries
When timely sunrise first arrives outside
My windowpane. Can I rewrite the script
Of providence that’s handed me? Eclipse
Another, hardly. The Jekyll and Hyde
Reside in me: the good and bad divide
At first but then the worst bestirs and shifts.
A lover kisses Jekyll’s lips of wine
But soon the lovers tasting vinegar
When Hyde emerges every single time
To spoil the sweet-taste of love. Au revoir!
The final parting words that draws the line
When love dies never knowing who you are.
.....Norm Duel and Johnno of the Second Twenty Fifth.....
Were in Syria in 1941.....
They were surrounded by the French Foreign legion with....
75mm cannon and machine gun ....
Their mortar position was in a hundred gallon pit.....
They'd plonk the Vichy French just a bit....
A wounded calf was still a bellowing, with the shrapnel it was hit....
3 men tried to help it, 3 Aussies died, calf blown to bits....
Charley had his own gun pit and was snug in his private hole...
The 75 shell blew the tree away, but hadn't parted his soul....
4 out of 10 survived to live, on that bitter battered hill....
10 days cannon shell, the shocking hell, the nightmare lingers still!......
shellshock...
1942....In New Guinea green when sudden death was all around ....
Norm Duel fought a Jap Mountain gun, the screaming 75mm round....
It would explode in the treetops & shrapnel sliced your hide ....
Many Aussies caught a bit and some of them they died.....
The Mountain gun was after Norm and his Mortar team just a bit....
So Norm went behind a nearby hill burned the Mountain gun, that's it ....
Unlike the mortar the mountain gun couldn't hit them till.....
Safe behind the hill they plonked away, & then the Gun they'd kill...
As Norm said the Gun couldn't get enough elevation to drop a shell on them,......... Norm
Duel went to Syria and 3 times back to New Guinea...............So for a change the Mortar
had the advantage and won the fight...Don Johnson.....
http://www.scullywag.com/kokoda1942stoush/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZcC5hMeQxA
Both speed and intensity,
obstacles on earth’s great sea.
Srong gales top the weather charts
vying winds of valiant hearts.
Freezing forces whip about,
crowded in the hold we pray.
Faith duels with fear and doubt.
Ahoy! ahead! dawn’s new day.
written May 31, 2018
Eight Lines, (Nature) Joseph May
out of control chaos
behind the scenes
passion caution
duking it out
fists flying
teeter tottering
winning losing
caution passion
AP: Honorable Mention 2021
"Fire and Ice Love Duel"
fierce fire of love smoldered, melting chilled veins
frozen in tears from passion's masquerade game
a grieving heart shattered as glass windowpanes
ressurected by lovelight's intimate flame.
fire sparks lovers to trust words so gentle
as ice quells desires strong and sentimental.
elements contrast and hide deep affection
creates 'paradise' or blatant rejection.
*****
while embers glow softly, emotions renewed
scars from dark past wither into furnace heat
remnants of romance lost in feelings askewed
as tenderness begs to deny false repeat.
fire illuminates a wanton seared soul
for fire evokes magic moments to whole.
veniers of ice vanish in vapory mist
swallowed by love duel's eternal exist.
*****
*For Carol Sunshine Brown's Fire and Ice Contest.
*Written by: Linda-Marie The "Sweetheart" of P.S.
*Nov. 18, 2012.
Which Cowboy bites dust tomorrow at noon,
Fighting duel to end, to death the tune,
The sun at noon shows no glare,
Bystanders, time of day fair,
Outside the saloon, a hot day in June.
Poetry Competition Entry: HIGH NOON POETRY CONTEST
Sponsor: Joseph May
Date: 07/05/2022
Dark rain dripping
hands and feet poised ready
as danger appears
Two Kung Fu masters ~ trouble eye to eye
There would be no peace ~ the tension was high
Each one knew that their Kung Fu was the best
This deadly duel was the ultimate test
The earth gravitates
heat waves forming within a soul
Those watching could not see what each one thought
In this Art of War ~ composure was sought
Each knew that one move could bring their demise
Lightning strikes ~ deadly blows ~ such cloudy skies
Butterfly feet lifts
shaping sharpening soul daggers
whizz forward
Stalking in a circle ~ slow did they move
Gazes locked ~ hands cocked ~ this battle would prove
Who's fist style was the best ~ skills they did not lack
One said "Enough!" ~ he then launched his attack
Fist on flesh
electric luster crackles a visceral snarl
His hands and feet became punches and kicks
Vicious techniques in the rain did he pick
The attacked moved with grace out of harm's way
Within striking distance ~ response without delay
Phantom lightning strikes
circle within a circle
souls become blades
Raining hammers ~ the attacker felt the blows
So many angles ~ some struck high ~ some low
The one attacked moved in circles ~ here and there
The attacker was lost ~ his target seemed everywhere
What appeared aimless
was actually a glazed cover
Witnessed by all ~ the one attacked lost "her" hat
Long hair cascaded to "her" shoulders ~ all were staring at
A Kung Fu "Masteress" ~ they were taken by surprise
The attacker defeated by "she" ~ in a man's disguise
Lips curling one side
a demure little maiden
fixing eyes on him
A lesson was learned ~ never under estimate
It affects the outcome ~ it affects one's fate
........................
A Collaborated Poem with Walter T. Ashe
This poem was written in Renga-Quatrain style, ending with a couplet. It was inspired by the action movie 'The Grandmaster'.
Sweet flowing hands
Sweeping charm
Dancing slowly
Like wings
of a butterfly
His eyes - gentle, perceiving, acknowledging
In the midst of silence, he's aware of her every move
Sliding along
Shuffles feet
as arms
go back
Taking snake shape
The great cobra strikes
His lips - challenged, firm yet slightly amused
In the midst of chaos, he's alert of her every attack
Clashing sounds
Defending one heart
Each strike
finding equal
Bows the head
in honor
of grace
His hands - deadly, lethal yet softened towards her
In the midst of the duel, he shares a moment with her
Claws attack
Sweeping movements
Floating on air
Gliding souls
Within a heartbeat
Smiling defeat
His heart - beats in admiration, slightly fascinated
In the end, as he smiles in defeat...a heart is silently stolen
Originally created in 2013.
(Note: The poem was inspired by the duel scene between actor Tony Chiu Wai Leung and actress Ziyi Zhang in the movie 'The Grandmaster' directed by Kar Wai Wong. This is a 2013 Hong Kong movie that tells the life story of a martial arts master who taught the Wing Chun martial art style to Bruce Lee.)
It happened on one autumn morn
The bright sun raked the sky
The two men stood and faced each other
One of which must die
The wind blew down the dusty lane
This bright an sunny morn
Along a quiet winding creek
A gunfighter would be born
The breeze then sent a puff of dust
A spiral in the sky
And to this day at Cripple Creek
Not a single soul knows why
They wandered into town one day
Nobody knew their names
Their low slung guns around their hips
Was their only claim to fame
The sun now hot this autumn morn
The setting not unique
Two men with guns about to draw
The duel at Cripple Creek
The breeze then rattled the sunbaked corn
Its' leaves a dusty brown
In a little patch near the gurgling stream
Not far from the edge of town
The crowd grew tense this sunny day
No words were even said
They waited for the telling shot
To see who would be dead
They faced each other
Twenty feet apart
One would be wounded, the other dead
With a bullet through his heart
The simultaneous blasts of the guns
Frightened a bird from yonder tree
As one man grabbed his chest and fell
The other took a knee
I knew I could out gun that guy
The wounded shootist said
As he looked down upon his prey
Lying at his feet quite dead
I really was the fastest
The living shootist said
He hit me good, look at the blood
As he also fell down dead
The crowd now hushed just turned away
With a memory they would keep
Two senseless deaths had just occurred
On the banks of Cripple Creek
Twenty steps,
Turn and shoot,
Nerves steeled,
With many a toot,
Pistol loaded,
As am I
Why do I seem,
So eager to die?
That fiend I face,
I must prevail,
So back to the bar,
To enjoy more ale
On step nineteen,
I start to turn,
Is anyone counting?
Then I learn...
One step ahead,
Was my prey,
For he had turned
On step eighteen,
The distance between us
He had seen
To outcheat a cheater,
And his aim was true,
His bullet ripped
Through my flesh,
As it was designed to do
With my last breath I saw
Under swirling sky
This was the day,
I was to die.
I think the truth is always right.
Duel, measuredly I do count my steps.
Tired eyes, yes, the night was sleepless.
I hope the God will not leave me in the wrong.
My opponent, accepted the challenge, did not blink.
Bustling I always respect the bravest.
Yesterday's evening among the tipsy revellers,
May come up today with fresh blood pouring out.
Helen,please forgive me, later you will understand,
The hot breath only the bullet can cool up.
The day begins, my time has come...
But the coming up evening, I hope, will be starry ....
When near the doomed dark hour drew,
Dreadful deed descended through
The tunnel trap, damp and dim,
Where a duo met at their whim.
Mundane motive - love triangle,
Jealousy jailed in a tangle.
Devoured by its fatal flame
The foes counted steps to aim.
To their demise, both aimed well -
To dire destiny they fell.
Double death that tunnel led
On grim end light never shed.
Femme Fatale kept her heartache
For her future husband’s sake.
January 31, 2021
"A Duel"
By Rachel Heffington
Long ago in a valley green,
Where a thriving hamlet once had been
Was a rubb-ly castle, hidden well
By maples tall, in a shady dell.
The penants, fluttery once, and gay,
Now hung in shreds- a faded gray;
The tower was crumbly, the dias leaked,
And in the dungeon the mouses squeaked.
Now, Squire Cliff and Baron Bim,
(Both plum full of peppery vim)
Engaged in a duel on the weedy lawn
As the edge of night gave way to dawn.
The Baron, (insulted) and the Squire (quite red
With anger) their stout hearts quivered with dread.
None wanted to fight, they dallied and stalled,
"3 Paces!" which words their courage dulled.
But neither would give it up as a joke-
"What we need s'for Bim (th'old Baron) to choke!"
The sun had climbed higher, now quite in the sky,
They drew swords and poised, "Hark! Where comes that cry?!?!"
Repeated! And from the dell came a maid,
With basket and blanket, their arms she stayed-
"Kind Squire! Good Baron! You mustn't fast!
Come, bury the hatchet, enjoy this repast!
Reluctant, but grateful, each laid down his arms,
Exploring instead, a beef-pasty's charms.
They kissed and made up o'er a cup o' darjeeling,
And surely there was quite a brotherly feeling.
And so the adage shall henceforth be,
"All's well that ends with a cup of tea!"
A cowboy, and his horse with no name,
One day rode into town, seeking fame.
Where he shot the town marshal,
But it was only partial.
Now the lawman's new horse is named flame.
5 / 5 / 2022.
Sponsor Joseph May.
For the contest. A Cowboy Limerick.
High Noon.
Howmanysyllables.com