Best Enchantment Poems
In a room that once commanded great respect,
stage lights began to hiss with heated anticipation.
There were sounds of alcohol infused rumblings
and laughter rolling through the rows of seats
from the tongues of young fancies whose foibles
await the reverence paid to tales that may last
a lifetime.
A baritone voice boomed in imposing prominence
that demanded attention. With such articulation,
trained by years of experience spent in circus tents
and speakeasies, the once proud barker's monologue
cracked from age and fifty years of bad whisky.
He had a past filled with evil deeds and dashed hopes,
but on he stumbled as the introduction to tonight's
show surged from his lips.
A young lady emerged mid-stage from behind a curtain.
A single spotlight bathed her every titillation,
perfectly choregraphed to a pulsing rhythm.
All eyes were fixated as imaginations were provoked
beyond reality. The white feathers of her costume
teased senses and libidos raged while she strutted,
ending with a peek that would even give a preacher
reason to pause.
As the lights dimmed and the cat calls subsided,
backstage an old women picked up her broom and slumped
upon a stool. A tear fell, caressing her weathered cheek.
Breathless, after performing the dance she'd practiced
a thousand times, the young women took her final
curtain call to an uproarious standing ovation.
As she dashed toward the dressing room,
the old woman rose from her stool and the two embraced.
The joyful exuberance was that of a child at Christmas.
Her voice cracked as she exclaimed,
"I haven't felt this alive .
in fifty years!
"My dear sister, may I wear this enchanted costume
again after your next show?" "May I, May I,"
the young girl implored.
"Of course", the old woman replied,
"twins share everything."
C.W.S.
03/25/2020
When fall’s chill fingers clasp the edge of dawn
to peel hot summer’s languid days away
the call of harvest beckons, whereupon
it yields rich crops in bountiful array.
A pageantry of richly colored trees
grace quiet landscapes on a country road
as pungent scents of spice and apples breeze
through sleepy fields where autumn’s spell unfolds.
Enchanted magic comes at crest of night
as jack o lantern’s wink and goblins laugh
where solemn graveyard spirits cause great fright
that chase away the living in its path.
With wonderment, embracing every part
the thrill of autumn’s richness warms the heart.
Written on 11/10/2019
Warm evenings have that lazy feel,
As the sun sets upon the day.
An orange ball suspended,
As all cares now swept away.
The exotic smells in the perfumed air,
That lies heavy all around.
Mimosa now that in full bloom,
As its branches drape the ground.
Do you ever look at the sky?
As the stars come out at night.
When you’re held by that someone specials arms,
And don’t want to say goodnight.
Though no spoken word is uttered,
As eyes gaze into eyes
It’s said there windows to the soul,
Mere feelings can’t disguise.
Love can just be fleeting,
With precious thoughts we steal.
And in that brief encounter,
We know that it’s for real.
"Enchantment - Duo-Rhyme"
brilliant beams of Sunlight cascade
to orange aura marmalade
enhancing love while blooming new
beneath cream skies of patent blue
sprinkling words sweet as dawning's dew
two turtledoves in wings which coo
fond melodies caress adieu'
in magic moments rendezvous
frolicked in fields of heather's hue
fake hearts faded to vapor's view
soft silver stars shed tears parade
enchanted moonlight mist charade'.
*For Andrea Dietrich's Duo-Rhyme Contest
What autumn has bedecked
with plants, founts and flowers,
in colors of divine radiance
the sun hangs in the fourth sphere,
then comes purple daybreak
beautiful sky brimful with stars,
none can match mi cielo,
the lovely parts of your face!
Your black hair lost in the forest
hands soft and delicate as lilies,
hidden partially beneath your coat
breasts and arms, engirdling your fantasy frame,
stay, elusive shadow of my beloved,
lovely illusion on this soft autumn day
sweet woman for whom I love so sadly,
image of enchantment I love the best...
Today autumn washes gently along the Gulf of Mexico,
I gather cones of pines in yellow baskets,
opening a liter of sparkling red wine,
come mi corazon, in the energy of the Harvest moon glow,
for inside your simple and tender heart
my numb dreams yearn to snuggle up,
just as when the night of autumn starts,
we cuddle like two birds in cozy nests!
Dusk jiggles and stirs evening enchantment.
A crystalline glass of intoxicating twilight
in hues of yellow, orange, magenta and blue.
Globs of honey-dipped cumulus floating
and garnished swirls of minty mist rising above.
Every drop is spilling out immense pleasure
that transcends me into euphoric freedom
and my boredom drowns in it as I drink it all.
Date: 01/24/2016
Spring Enchantment (a love poem)
As wisps of clouds creeped
overhead before a storm moving quickly east,
the moon lay down his vanilla beams
to dispel the darkness hiding our bared feet —
set side by side — romantically
touching for warmth, for love, for eternity,
hopefully, to envelop us, like the coming rain
in our lives’ thundering, combined heartbeats
…joined into those duets passion will release
all about from the great springs of yearning.
(c) s.y. Eslinger 3/2024
Thanks be to God——
Xmas enchantment
White flakes falling from grey winter skies
Flocks of daffodils beneath snowy mounds lie
Rivers of red candy canes flow gently by
Along evergreen banks, dew covered grasses,
lighted trees and sparkling wine
Covered with bows and laces
Sitting round hearths and fireplaces
Covered in quilts lying in their beds
Children dream of warm kitchen counters
decorated with mountains of treasure,
cookies, cakes ,and pleasures
Ginger bread men and sugar plum fairies
Dance with visions floating in their heads
smiling chocolate faces melting sugar
with passionate kisses and soft gooey embraces
Long stringed bands from every land
Serenade lovers and places with unparalleled restrain
Stringing chords from haunting refrains
Under blue moons and starry skies
Where soft whispers lead to lovely lies
Blood races with wine and champagne
The night unravels exciting lovers and friends
Couples planning extravaganzas travel
Staircases covered in pine scented garlands and laces
Leading to pleasant places, dreams and fairy tale lands
celebration halls with room to dance
Spreading the cheer to every face
Or any kind of differing race
Merry Christmas to one and all
total enchantment
the time I shared with you
long past the times, few
Inside my mailbox late last month; nine packs of seeds - a mystery!
I hadn't ordered anything, but curious was I to see
what might become of planting them. So grabbing trowel, hoe, and rake,
I set about to till some soil; a little garden plot to make.
To my delight, the plants grew fast. I'd saved the packs to see each name;
though Latin isn't my first tongue, I'd know each blossom as it came.
Each flower shape was like a quill, which I then took back to my room
and onto paper, words would spill from every seed's enchanted bloom.
The packet labeled "Clio Phlox" was my first taste of mystery:
the quill-shaped flower wrote and wrote a tome of Roman history!
"Euterpe Hyacinth" was next: this writing didn't take as long.
Within ten minutes, written down were lyrics of a lovely song.
Then "Terpsichore Ranunculus" - after it drew a five-line staff,
composed a lively dance tune for the song lyrics - it made me laugh!
Speaking of laughter, my next bloom; the "Thalia Agapanthus" wrote
a stand-up comic's funny script - a joke or two I'd love to quote.
"Melpomene Nasturtium" was the one I needed tissues for:
as tragic words came pouring out, my teardrops splashed upon the floor.
"Urania Hydrangea" wrote sweet poetry of sun and stars,
of comets, and alignment of the moon with Jupiter and Mars.
"Erato Rosa" wrote some rhymes of kisses under stars above,
some ballads of infatuation, some of unrequited love.
"Calliope Plumeria" wrote fast and long: one poem came -
a tragic tale of epic length, it put poor Beowulf to shame!
"Gardenia Polyhymnia" wrote Psalm-like hymns, I said "amen".
My eyes were reverently shut, but when I opened them again -
I realized it was a dream! Nine muses came in flower form.
I woke, and quickly wrote this down (believe me, this is not the norm!)
//Note: The Nine muses of ancient Greece were:
//Clio - History Euterpe - Lyric Poetry Terpsichore - Song/Dance
//Thalia - Comedy Melpomene - Tragedy Urania - Astronomy
//Erato - Love poetry Calliope - Epic poetry Polyhymnia - Sacred Hymns
//... the remaining Latin words are names of some of my favorite flowers
written 12 Aug 2020
Carve not a tower enclosing your heart
Allow our breaths to play, let warmth prevail
Sabers fling across moors searching the grail;
While armor of conquest tears us apart.
Unload all hardened marble in a barrow
How far one’s dauntlessness, how near one’s pride
A hallway of song waits as laughter abides
When ripened moment calls for love to glow.
In silken cape, you enchant the regal court
Yet lonely the man commanding alone;
Instead, let us scurry where moonlight roams
With dewdrops on our lips as we cavort.
Harken, weigh not the power you behold
A jester amuses only for a while;
But splendor of oneness lasts to beguile
Come, nurture our castle before life folds.
For Shadow Hamilton's 10th Contest Castle
by nette onclaud....2/1/2014
To butterflies, bats, and midnight creatures,
To the brilliant, the dark, and things unseen.
To roses, wine, and satin dresses,
To a lucid child-like dream.
To the musty scent of ancient places,
To thoughts distilled on a fragile page,
To open-ended expectations, and
Eccentricities of a secret sage.
To the promise that lies in what is unfinished,
To the charm in the rawness of the fray,
To quests that lead to curious changes,
And rest that unbinds peace and play.
~lifts my heavy heart
turns my frown into a smile
swap my tears for cheers...
Under the mistletoe on Christmas Eve when the children are finally asleep, a blessed silence hovers in the air that oozes with divine melody. I have to gasp as I look out my window and find a new dusting of snow glistening in the moonglow. How perfect is this enchanted night~ I swear up in the sky that must be the star of Bethlehem I see.
chaste christmas snowflakes
soft with anticipation ~
a most holy night
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Submitted on November 20, 2019 for contest DECEMBER OR JANUARY HAIBUN sponsored by CAREN KRUTSINGER - RANKED 2ND
Glittering snow globes
Pine-scented wreaths
Winds from the North Pole
Blowing a breeze
Candy cane lanes
And beautiful sights
Gather on earth
On this magical night
Snow-covered needles
Blistery branches
Frost-painted windows
Icy-cold benches
Icicles hanging from trees formed like tears
Tunes serenade from far
And are whistling near
This time presents some magnificent scenes
Everything's festive and calm and serene
This season is special and brings joy and peace
It is the prominent and most blessed feast