Best Dust Covered Poems


Premium Member Be a Candle-POTD

nascent 
     dawn appears
kaleidoscope 
 of 
color
  midnight 
    sighs 
       leftovers 
                     of 
       last night
    plateful of 
  unsaid
words, 
a 
 tablecloth 
  of rapier-sharp 
           folds
                 &
            fireplace 
     dying 
to be 
     kept 
           alive 

sensitive 
      hearts 
           feel
             powerful 
                          in 
            mundane
        rain 
    pelting 
petals
    think 
           of 
              others

when eating
       remember 
             pigeon 
                 food
when fighting
     remember 
             seeking 
                   peace
paying water-bill
      remember
           cloud-nursed
when homecoming
       remember  
            homeless 
                 campers
 when sleeping 
     counting stars
               remember
                      sleepless, 
               roofless
         foodless
    healthless
hopeless
                     be a candle 
                            in 
                         dark 

snow 
  mixed 
      drizzle ...
        dust-covered 
man 
    holds 
       hand
          of daughter
             dying 
                slowly
                under 
           slabs 
           of 
   concrete
life 
     illusion
         dream
           swoon
       ecstasy
oblivion

1st Place Contest Winner

Written: February 14, 2023

YOUR SELECTION AGAIN Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Brian Strand

NOTE::THIS IS AN OPEN(organic) FORM VERSE using spaces&breaks without grammatical symbols ,the ' open' relies upon 'the one breath limitation' (intuitive cadence)& so inherently requires the 'reader' (reciter) to input and responds thus making this enigmatic form a two way interplay & interpretatIon unique to the moment& changing according to mood is inherently variable.
© Sotto Poet  Create an image from this poem.

Premium Member at a loss for words

At a loss for words
Well not exactly
Words are plentiful
Thoughts a lesser commodity
Dust covered, wall flowers
Resigned to their fate

Thoughtless
Well not exactly
Thoughts think
About what other thoughts
Are thinking

Thoughts are like a masquerade ball
Concealing themselves
In duplicitous deception
Masked mayhem
Dancing alone

Words are like a barn dance
Swirling syllables
Changing partners
To a called cadence

Words and thoughts
Lethargic lovers
Longing for the other
To ask

May I have this dance.

Premium Member All Her Dreams Turned To Dust

No one followed her as she ran away
fleeing from the altar on her wedding day

She’d been jilted by Jed her handsome groom
so locked herself away in an unused attic room

The bride’s father went after Jed with a gun
you should have seen the coward run!

The desperate search for Judy was in vain
She didn’t respond when they called her name

Folks assumed she didn’t want to hang around
Many years passed by and she was never found

The house was auctioned after her parent’s died
They were buried at the churchyard side by side

The new house owners were in for a terrible shock
When they ventured upstairs and unpicked the lock	

They found Judy’s skeletal body in her dress of lace
Cobwebs hung like curtains from her once lovely face

Jed’s dust covered photo lay in her hand
Judy never got to wear her wedding band

Dust Contest
Sponsored by Shadow Hamilton

03~22~17


What Easter Means To Me

Tears of joy streak down
My dust covered face
As I just wandered by and witnessed
The utmost glorious grace

Just three days ago
I watched them crucify
The son of God himself
The man called Jesus Christ

They poked him with their spears
Wet his tongue with a vinegar sponge
Nailed him to a tree
And taunted “you’re not God’s son.”

He hung there ‘til he died
From his side water did drop
They buried him in a tomb
Where today I had to stop

Past three days the door was covered
A large stone placed there that day
But, today as I walked by 
An angel rolled it away

He had kept his promise
Only 3 days would he lay dead
To forgive us all our sins
And, I believed in what he said

He glided out of the tomb
As if floating in the air
“Do not be afraid” he said,
With gentle love, and care

He represents new life 
And all the wounds he can heal
Is Easter day your resurrection?
Can Jesus Christ be your shield?

I weep to think of the pain
He endured for you and me
So he could take away our sins
And one day, set us free!

By: Miranda Lambert
For: Gwendolyn Rixs’ contest: What easter means to me
Written: 03/21/2011

Premium Member Mars

Maybe – I wonder – just maybe – could there ever be

A way to ever find in space those famous candy bars?

Rocky, cold, red-dust covered is the planet with 1/3 our gravity.

Someday perhaps we’ll bring those chocolate bars with us to Mars!



For Line Gauthier's Bite Size Poem No14 Poetry Contest

The Dove

I stand here in this abandoned
church listening to the derelict
silence of the sombre ambience.
I look out of a shattered stain-glass
window, my mind has gone blank.
The bell rings sending an eerie
chime through the dust covered
room.
My heart is racing from the 
spine-chilling fear that suddenly
floods my body.
I look once more; a white 
dove sits peacefully on the 
window sill chirping its soft
song; tranquillity from deep
within a magical heart.
The bell rings once more,
it startles me,
I turn back to peer out of the
shattered window,
the dove was made from glass.


Premium Member A Short Vacation On the Prairie

Now the twilight was gone 
As we arrived at little Utah inn.
At the edge of the vast prairie.

We rested well savouring the bliss
Of a quiet night away from the city.

Yet early in the morning we woke
To the sound of hooves pounding 
Of the dust covered bison which ran 
Across the shrubby prairie,
Leaving a large cloud of dust.

Time for breakfast, delicious and tasty.
From our window we could admire
The evergreen red cedars and admired
The tall forest of American Arborvitae. 
But my love was fascinated by
The cultivated Saucer Magnolia.

We decided to hire a guide and leave for a park.
We were sure to see birds  flying.
Colorful and warbling to our delight.
The Reddish Egret caught our fancy
Though the Sapsucker could compete its song.

But now twilight was descending again
So back to a delicious evening fest.
How we’ll rue the time when 
We had to turn back to noisy city unrest.

Premium Member An Old Shovel

In the old dark coal mine, brought cold feeling.
It was underground and very dangerous and hard work.
Wearing dark clothes, leather boots, and canvas hat
With a leather brim with metal lamp brackets to hang off a light.  

My owner would carry me on his shoulder
When he walked into the tunnels of the mine.

He would hold me firmly with both hands.
Forcing hard with his body, would push my blade into the hard ground,
Rocked my handle back and forth to loosen the ground to get to the coal.

He came out dust covered black with me on his shoulder
All wore out needing to be sharpen for the next day. 

I pondered about winter; it would come, and snow would fall.
He'd get me out of the shed, cold chill I would be to the touch,
And shovel the soft fallen snow of the sidewalk.

Years have passed and also my owner. 
Now I hang of the wall with my blade painted.
His daughter in tribute, painted a winter scene.
An endless breadth curtain of a blue sky
As it closes the sun's view going down.
Patches of snow on the ground and bare limbs on the trees
My owner walks down a path with his dog.
As he had walked that path so many times.
© Eve Roper  Create an image from this poem.

The Old Curiosity Shop

I found myself in the old curiosity shop

Looking for something strange and different

The owner said how about Schrodingers cat

I said did not curiosity kill that?

He said its a paradox unknown

Alive or dead its something you can still own

I said no.

He said how about a spider I have living in a parlour

I said do I look like a fly?

He said you can be anything you want to be

I said I have no desire to die.

I looked further searching for something new

But everything was old

And paradoxical in truth

I said have you got a quantum box

So that I can think outside it

Maybe it will inspire me to think of something new

He said I sold that only yesterday to a Jewish man with wild hair

But I do have a super string theory residing over there

I stated I do not have any needs for a bunch of incomplete theories

All grouped up into one.

Feeling rather down of heart and feeling rather glum

I saw a dust covered book on existentialism

And said have you got a theory for being and nothingness

He said Satre took that one today by his own authority

So I decided it was time to go home and started to leave

When I saw a quantum paradigm staring back at me

I suddenly felt exited and said is that paradigm something you would like to shift

He said for you my friend most certainly

And I decided to take it

And as the paradigm shifted so did my quantum space

Now I find myself in Shambala on a Buddhist holiday.

Premium Member The Haunted House

I’m visiting the Manor with the paranormal society
It’s said to be haunted; I’m filled with some anxiety
The Duke was murdered, bringing his lover notoriety
With bloodied hands she’s found guilty of impropriety 

The Manor is so spooky, at one time it looked so grand
I startle as the door slams, my boyfriend holds my hand
I shiver when the key turns, there’s something underhand
Being locked in the old Manor wasn’t something I’d planned!

The windows are all boarded up, I’m feeling quite unsure
He tells me not to worry; we can exit from the back door
Cobwebs hang from the ceiling, they’re something I abhor
I wish I’d never agreed to go on this ghost hunting tour

Members wander off in pairs to the renowned haunted zones
Detection equipment is set up; to pick up creaks and groans
We know we must be quiet and talk in such hushed tones
Suddenly our hand held scanners pick up wails and moans

The floorboards begin to creak; we hear footsteps in the hall
A dust covered portrait of the Duke suddenly falls off the wall 
Hairs stand on the back of my neck and my skin starts to crawl
I’ve come to the conclusion I don’t like ghost hunting after all!

Tonight’s paranormal activity has given me such a dreadful fright
We hurry down the staircase; my face has turned a ghastly white
Our torches light up the entrance hall and to our great delight
The huge wooden door swings open and we escape into the night!

Sponsor Dear Heart
Contest The Haunted House

8/23/18

Premium Member Hand Made

Sweat drips from little dust covered faces in the grim back-alley factories

No time for rites of passage other than fingers nimble enough to spin and

Balance wheel spool spin and stitch regulator to their master’s instruction

	
          Anyana is not unique but one of the ‘fortunate’ ones 


Gloved hands mop up droplets of perspiration from a lace veil and seduce

A myriad of lovers before she even enters an intricate parquet dance floor 

Takes a cue from the orchestra and whirls on stilettos and rhapsodic flair


          Chantelle did not purchase her dress at the charity shop


Their stories unite as neo-liberal gangsters spin a yard on wheels of fortune

While their procession fails to trickle down moderate glimpses of hope

Some stride on the cat walk of privilege and others are scavengers in rags


          Exposed nipples are rather dissimilar but follow a different path

	
Anyana gathers her virtues and sends love across the boundary of despair

Her shoes bear no fairy tale stories when midnight strikes at the fashion

Of stolen passion from sweat shops for garments scented with perfume 


          Cause and effect cannot moderate nor gloss over amoral fabric


03rd November 2019

The Greatest Nation of Them All

Little pebbles of broken glass, litter the streets, but the children run barefoot anyway.
Stubbing toes, contracting disease, playing with cigarette butts and discarded syringes.
The teens hide by the dumpsters, and quickly pump a vein.
A homeless man, jealous of the teen; instead, clenches his timeless drug of choice, a good ole' fashioned beer.

The sun still shines on the dust covered signs.
The streets crumble under the weight of America's ever increasing obese population.
Nothing has really changed, besides new acceptance of tried and true vices.
There’s always little kids causing trouble, teens using drugs, depressed old men drinking away their shame.

America is still the same great country,
Far superior than all the rest!


Despite their reduction in crime, lowered drug addiction rates, drop in homelessness, and constant upkeep of their buildings and streets.


Well besides all that...  America is still Superior in Every way….

Mobius Strip

Stepping on a way because there is a one
though I don’t know where it will lead me to,
and while I was walking on the bright side of the way 
I found myself stepping on the dark side of the way. 

Since I am on the dark side of the way
I moved forward with cautious steps, and found this time, 
what a joke this life is, I am walking on the bright side of the way.

Although the people call the way that is straight the right way
this way really confuses me, am I on the right track or not,
because there is only a twisted way that lies ahead 
and it is called the right way.

Besides, this way seems to have an end
but nowhere can I find the end.

There is the dust covered tracks of the bulldozer 
plowed through the forest felling trees,
the hillside is cut and crushed to build a concrete wall. 

And along the Mobius strip there goes the eyeless tank 
stepping on tomorrow with caterpillar tracks carrying 
men’s endless desire, vain ambition.

From the beginning of the world many mishaps occurred 
on this mismatched ambiguous way, it still is stretched before me,
it still is going on. I call this way is the Mobius strip.
© Su Ben  Create an image from this poem.

Premium Member The Snow Bird of Paradise

Bursting from within the heart of a blizzard shock wave,
Shutters the flexing eye of this white hurricane storm,
Shattering the inner core into a blazing shards torrent,
A miracle of utter mystical enchantment occurs,
In this ancient incantations sacred spell.
It is a crystallized super nova’s raw force, exploding from
The inner guttural roar of nature giving birth, to
The snow bird of paradise.
In its translucent chamber egg of ice, resting in the
Diamond dust covered nest, lined with crystal frozen gems,
Shimmering beneath the chilling Artic sun, as the
Freezing embrace of mother earth, rocks her starling,
Kindred off spring, waiting, are anticipating its hatching.
Ever tenderly the life within stirs, as if a captured moment
Of purities grace, encapsulated in brilliance opulence,
The shells shard melts away, in a hushed display of beauties
Refinement and complete elegance.
Nature itself seems to hold its very breath, as the
Snow bird rises, for the first motions step, in a swaying
Waltz of harmony.
Behold the snow bird strides forth, fanning her plumage
Behind, a white laced peacock is exposed, unfolding its winged
Feathers delicately, one by one, until the colors
Reflect the light rays from the polar sun.
Gleaming in radiance, the fineries majestic appendages
Sparkle with razzle-dazzles adornments, yet the winds brush
At her downy softness, as if caressing the fleece of a new
Born lamb’s wool, ever so gently.
Plumages lace of snowflakes spread wide, in a splendors display
Of glitz and glamour, as the fluffy strains ripple in the night winds
Whispering, come along my beautiful creation, it is time to warm
My soil with springs everlasting promise, once more.

BY: CHERYL ANNA DUNN
© Cherl Dunn  Create an image from this poem.

My Book

Sitting on a shelf amid a thousand others
 the spine, raggedy and hard to read
 pulled it out---top, dust covered
 I am drawn to it.
Old book

 Written so long ago, the pages
 seemed fragile in my hands
 it wanted my attention,
 I too want to know more
Book

 First words—first page
 “Never lose sight of who you are.”
  tattered old pages knew me
 this tome sought me out
Losing oneself

 Life misplaced…how
 husband gone to another
 money never goes all the way around
 alone, alone, alone, with silence
Losing myself

 Turn to the end of the book
 the last line—“You may lose the people you love,
 you may lose the things you have,
 but no matter what happens never lose yourself.”
Finding oneself

 Do I know who I am?
 when I was younger—I knew what I was fighting for
 Llving for what I believed to be true
 where did that person go?
Finding me

 Name of the book
 “Root Yourself in Reality” 
 author…Me
 reminders to leave self-pity behind
Found

 The person I once was---now, search inside
 stop living in the past and in my imagination
 the book has pages to be written.
 now is the time
This is my book and my life

- See more at: http://allpoetry.com/poem/11885372-My-Book-by-Carol-Davis#sthash.Ay9w7cew.dpuf

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