Best Encounter Poems
Poe laid flowers on her grave
His lost Lenore
One he’d love forevermore
But doomed to see her nevermore
Storm clouds expelled true daylight
Yet near her grave on a dead oak tree
An ebony raven stared and seemed to agree
“Nevermore,” the bird mocked, flying off with ironic glee
Clouds burst, pelting the cemetery with rain
Back to his horse and carriage Poe ran
Was Poe a pawn in this raven’s game plan
An unhealthy racing of his heart began
Arriving home, Poe sought to forget
But there was the red-eyed, sinister bird
Perched on the pallid bust of Pallas, it said just one word
“Nevermore,” was all Poe heard
Stealthily the bird had entered through an open window
“Did God summon you to add to my grief?”
Poe pleaded, “Will I ever find relief?”
“Nevermore,” cried the demon, to Poe’s disbelief
Poe tried to rid his home of the tormenting invader
“Fly away; take your word with you!”
But the evil visitor would not bid adieu
Its single word was malicious; Poe could not misconstrue
When rainfall ended, the raven flew to the windowsill
“Be gone!” Poe screamed, his voice filled with hate
It eyed him once more, leaving Poe in a crazed state
But loving memories of Lenore it could not desecrate
*Written October 1, 2014
brief encounter
a man invisible
but for his wit
landed on my world
lightly it seemed
until he left
How absolutely delightful to watch the sun sets
And all around above the sea and the beach
Some famous painter swipe everywhere in gold.
Soon night will fall and all-around bars will light up.
We walk hand in hand along the jam-packed beach,
Until we stop at the farthest end of the sandy nook.
There soft waves grace our feet and the summer heat
Relieves us delicately as we admire the tranquil bay.
Time passes in tranquility disturbed by the occasional kiss.
Sailing boats sail the Amalfi Bay, flags flying the Italian flags.
Soon we depart to Antonio, famous seafood chef.
We will sample spaghetti, with fresh clams sautéed
In olive oil, garlic, white wine, and parsley. As for wine,
Only the best: "Fiorduva": considered the Amalfi crown jewel.
Satiated from our delicious food, we return to our hotel
Accompanied by the melodious songs animating
From the thrill of a hundred guitars.
A warm smile of hello in the sanctuary of poets
The name is Arden G.; here to express not to impress
If I coud do an eye-contact and a firm handshake in the virtual land of PoetrySoup
Would be a dream come true to meet great poets called, "Souper".
If I could move heaven and earth; I'd love to meet Linda or PoetDestroyer, SKAT and Julie Rasley
The first few who commented on my featured poem, "LOVE" and welcomed me as a family
Anne Lise Andresen who always drop by and Sheri Harper that ranked my first poem entry, "A Shot of HIV"
I'll tell them a simple, "THANKS" and encouragement of "MORE POWER".
For no words could capture the emotions of knowing wonderful artists in this world.
Of course I'd like to meet and learn something 'bout Yasmin Khan
Who advocates to bind each poets; pure intentions to make us one
I'll tap her shoulder and tell her, "IT'S A JOB WELL DONE".
Now everybody's sharing their depths and self one by one.
Is there a way to meet the founder of Poetrysoup?
To tell HIM, "BRAVISSIMO" and my new "SOUPER-FRIEND" too.
Arden Gopela
One night about 25 years ago
I was sat in my car at Cothelstone
Dx-ing on my CB radio in the wee hours
when my two dogs started to growl
every hair on their bodies on end
a most putrid smell entered my car
I heard the sound of hoofs churning
knowing it must be the headless horseman
I kept my eyes down as 't is said death comes
to those who look Thor in the eyes.
I was unwilling to drive away
as earlier I had erected an antenna
outside of the car fixed to a tree
the smell was almost over powering
and I could feel its gaze upon me
it felt as if Thor was willing me to look
my dogs were whimpering then howling
no way was I raising my eyes oh no!!
'T was but an hour or so till dawn
slowly the smell faded and my dogs calmed down
As soon as it was light enough
I let them out and got the antenna down
vowing never again to spend a night here
thoroughly spooked by this experience
I looked around and saw churned ground
with clear hoof prints as the horse had
milled around my car, calling back my dogs
who gladly jumped in, we drove off
I have returned since but only in daylight
DX-ing long distance radio contacts
this is a true story there are many tales of Thor the headless horseman who rides the
hills from East Quantockhead through Shervage Wood past Will's Neck through
Cothelstone to the Quantock edge and back all agree if you look into his eyes within
a few weeks you will be pushing up the daisy's. All I can say is I have seldom been so terrified
A field trip to the new History Museum sounded like fun.
We boarded the bus as soon as the school day had begun.
I was excited, thinking seeing dinosaurs would be as cool
as Jurassic Park movies where the scary T Rex held rule.
I wandered off after eating lunch, looking for a bathroom
but the head I found was crowned with an orange plume.
I screamed! It squawked, and beady eyes stared at me.
Unable to move, I closed my eyes tight, so I wouldn't see.
I felt its warm breath on my neck and heard its wings flap.
My first instinct was to run, but I really needed to crap.
Sharp claws scratched the skin on my arms and my back,
then it screeched with a fiery roar that burned my backpack.
I fell to the ground, hoping it would think that I was dead
but I squinted enough to see the orange plume on its head.
It circled me twice, then flew away. To where, I didn't care
because I was alive, although it had scorched all of my hair.
No one believed my story, not even Mr. Tom, my teacher.
He said dinosaurs are extinct and I didn't see such a creature,
then rolled his eyes at me and I think he nearly went beserk
when I said, "and then a flaming pterodactyl ate my homework!"
January 29,2021
...and then a flaming pterodactyl ate my homework contest
Sponsored by: John Lawless
A Chance Encounter
A chance encounter on the net
I celebrate the day we met
I made you smile, you made me cry
You made me laugh, I made you sigh
You made me proud to be your friend
But life is short, time can't be bought
It weaves a path, through hills and dales
Through highs and lows on windblown sails
But my Bonnie Girl, of this I’m sure
You were the master weaver of that trek
and wove that path with strands of gold
with every ounce of joy you gave
given freely and never sold
But we can never stop the sands of time
Fate brought you to this place to be
You’ll always be my Bonnie Girl
and GOD will set you free
And Ill never rue the day we met
That chance encounter on the net
In the midst of a wet night,
Discovered myself upon a viaduct.
Straggled or vagrant, uncertain.
Not petrified by the dark, rumbling sky,
Amazed to find the place familiar.
I perceived the faintest advancing steps,
On turning back, delighted with her presence.
The cold, shivering breeze,
Waved her black long hair.
I insisted not to blink.
She ambled,
At my fore now, only whispered.
I apologize greatly, for concealment, for eons.
I was denied your presence: a shadow's grace.
Only welcoming death set my soul free.
Fate unveiled its script,
Offering me a last goodbye.
Imparting my truth before the noose claims me.
My world knows no dawn since....
Now gone, shine bright, bring me dawn once more.
Conveying my farewell,
I plunged into the water.
Bewildered-reincarnated.
Faced....
My damp eyes.
Walking down the avenue working on some things that are
on my mind, starting to wonder if I'm just wasting my
time. Feeling pretty lonely not sure what to do, when I
spotted this lovely Lady just coming into view. She was
different than anyone that I had ever knew. She had an
amber glow from her head down to her toes, I wondered
if there is something wrong with my eyes or was it just my
state of mind. Two blocks away walking straight towards me,
my eyes locked on her like I was mezmerized, As she got closer
my mind was racing thinking what should I do, feeling very shy
hopeing a clue would drop on me form out of the sky.
Now she was only three feet away, georgeous azure eyes
glanced my way, I stood there with my mouth open, couldn't
think of one thing to say. She gave me the brightest smile
that I have ever seen, brightened up the sky and everything that
you could see at least for a mile, such a surreal scene. She
reached out and gently touched my face, then she simply
vanished without a trace. My heart was racing shipping some
beats, then I realized an Angel had just touched me on my
face. I felt better than I've felt for oh so many years. I felt so fine
it blew my mind had no clue of what was on my mind. Whistling
a happy tune I walked on down the avenue wondering
If I'll ever see her again, sure hope I do.
i wish for serpentine waters
i wish for stormy skies
i wish for a playful river
i wish for you and i
i wish for stupendous sunlight
i wish for inkblot shadows
i wish for tremendous colors
hues that makes us cry
i wish to appear invisible beneath redwoods
i wish to vanish below their verdant foliage
and hear the sparrows populate the forest with song
as we release a mutual sigh
i wish to feel the wind touch my lips
and the moon quake with weakened pulse
as the flaming campfire of dusk dies out
and our spirits brave goodbye
6/13/2017
...inspired by 'The Meaning Of Life' by Allen Tate
Breezes blow, the lark sings sweet,
there's magic in the air,
yet a sense of something rumbling.
On the surface we are carefree,
yet beyond there's someone mumbling.
The sacraments we live by are
a solace to our souls and humbling,
yet the grumbling never hesitates
to aggravate, thus crumbling our composure.
A cruel word may damage us,
so, safe in our cocoons we hide.
The everyday's a constant
'til a brief encounter weakens us,
the pain will leave its mark
as we go tumbling to a sense of insecurity,
what price that loose remark?
Oops!
I slipped over,
At my door step,
Was it intentional?
Less I presume it was just a mere incident,
That almost resulted to an accident,
Walking in the street,
I meet with influential potential humans,
Wearing shirt sleeves...
Guess,
Its a formal dress code,
To achieving your dreams in the city,
Walking in the street of life,
I barely distinguish the possible impossible,
It's sometimes,
Possible to achieve the impossible,
At times,
It's obviously impossible to achieve the possible,
I keep walking...
Hoping to encounter a sudden glorious opportunity,
To solving life's inevitable mystery in simplicity.
I saw him before I saw her…(I believe she was holding the door.)
There was a far away look in his eyes as he shuffled his feet on the floor.
I felt a twinge of sorrow for him as he slowly labored past
Each step seemed so difficult…more challenging than the last.
I saw her next when she caught up to him and I thought how nothing could compare
with the smile on her face as she helped him to his chair.
She fixed his hair, she straightened his clothes with an ease, a tenderness…a grace
and as she tended to his every need that smile never left her face.
I did not know this couple whom I assumed were man and wife
but as I watched them endure the ravages of age I imagined younger moments in their life.
The moment hey first met, when they fell in love…when they lived in younger skin
I imagined them with friends and family…imagined all the places they had been…
A lifetime spent in love together was not difficult to surmise
I saw it in the gentleness of her touch…and in the sparkle of her eyes.
When our eyes met for a moment I saw how her smile was masking her pain
and I thought how the more her husband slips away…the more her love remains.
I believe when we happen upon one another…even momentarily in a day
from every brief encounter…we take something away.
It may be a look…a smile…a glance…a gesture from afar
that finds it’s way into our heart and reshapes who we are.
As I left my brief encounter and walked to my car in a misty rain
I thought about that moment…about how she smiled through her pain…
and though there was a hint of sadness as I drove home by the sea
it wasn’t her sadness…it was her love…I took away with me.
A love so beautiful…so everlasting…so quietly proclaimed
It made me smile when I thought of it…
knowing I’d never be the same.
I went for a swim early one summer morning in the ocean
The waves were rough, crashing with powerful motion
As I dove into the waves, I lost my balance and hit my head
I choked on salt water, couldn’t catch my breath as I bled
I struggled with the current, being pulled out as I sank
Deeper under the water, fighting as more salt water I drank
I knew then I was passing out and was starting to drown
No one is out here, I hope someone sees me, comes around
I then opened my eyes and saw a beautiful woman with long glistening hair
She had an angelic face, a perfect physique and glittery blue fins she did wear
She warmly smiled as she grabbed my hands and pulled me into an embrace
She then swam me to shore and quickly left me on the beach in a safe place
A lifeguard came running to my rescue and started to press on my chest
I came to while coughing out salt water, feeling exhausted, needing to rest
I asked if he saw the beautiful mermaid on the beach who rescued me today
The lifeguard laughed and said no, and that my delirium will soon go away
9/21/19
Contest: MERMAIDS Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Line Gauthier
caught by the drift
how it echoes
creating its own walls
a din undone
tying itself up in a bow
boxed and ready
to stare past souls
the substance of reality ebbs
with me amongst it, long lost
screams all at the outer edges
cocoons become brittle over time
yet may still bind those that don't shake free
I'm too tired to ask
if we've met before.