Best Exemplar Poems
friendship - we have chased that apparition, endlessly,
but it's elusive spirit - always beyond our fingers' reach.
resentment, disappointment, heads thumped in anger,
each of us in a role, obligatory - never had a chance ...
oh, how I pleaded, many times, just to be your friend -
tears perishing in the stream of lost hope between us.
it is what it is, we are who we are, oil and water, thus.
still, you have always been my hero, there's no other,
the exemplar of character and integrity, innately kind,
talented, brilliant, hard-working, and always altruistic,
letting others, even friends, wittingly take advantage,
rather than risk a slight or argument ... or alienation.
goodness and decency were the edges of your sword,
a gallant knight, willing to lay his life for friend OR foe.
yet now my heart rends so for you, my dearest father,
armor rusting in the rain, sword blunted, halted steed.
and your faculties failing - that, the cruelest calamity ...
but still, you push to stand tall for your beloved queen,
and your squire is here, true, fain to shine your armor,
'til the bellman of Valhalla calls ... for it's most dear.
A beautiful cedar developed easily,
Planted in my garden so peacefully.
A striking exemplar in deep verdant green.
Keeps my delightful backyard nice and clean.
Reddish scented tall upright virgin wood
One needs to study its habit and understood.
No one should think of pruning without learning
One must be sage and be more discerning.
Evergreen framework, growing highly incensed,
An unpleasant-tasting resin, a squirrel’s defence.
Pollination takes place in Autumn,
Until Summer cones shed their blossom.
Rustic stance to universal view wonderful
Look, is not the garden now more colourful?
How tall it grows, how fragrant is its bark
And yet beneath its branches, it’s cool and dark
Contest Alpha Lines
Sponsored by
Joseph May
27 July 2021
THE BLUE PLANET
by
JOHN M. ARRIBAS
This beautiful blue planet that we call earth
No one really can confirm its origin or birth
Some declare it was shaped by a powerful being
Others state the result of a cosmic unveiling
It just seems to be a tiny body in limitless space
With the right conditions to beget the human race
Orbiting at the right distance from a giant star
Allowing flora and fauna to propel exemplar
Giant creatures once roamed the face of the earth
But a cataclysmic event caused their dearth
Doom for the giants was a boon for the small
Leaving crevices and oceans learning to crawl
And so after millions of years we arrive at now
We’ve nearly conquered the why and almost how
Yet we still have questions that surely remain
Is there a will to cease our destructive reign
The Danube was once blue now a brownish pink
The elusive snow leopard is nearly extinct
Most lakes, rivers and even the smallest rill
Are polluted with toxins and chemical spill
Fish caught in streams and canals are taboo
Not to be eaten too much mercury in them for you
Drinking water once availed from natural sources
Are now mostly dependent on commercial choices
The rainforests of Micronesia and the amazon
Sadly, in a hundred years they will all be gone
These sources of oxygen and absorbers of co 2
So essential in sustaining the me and the you
The trends are apocalyptic needing repress
Difficult decisions and actions may render success
Problems are exacerbated by human concentrations
Rapidly expanding and demanding, teeming populations
As resources erode and demand constantly increases
Harbingers of the agonies awaiting the human species
The answers are clear but politically unheard
Populations need reductions, a thinning of the herd
Lord Jesus Christ triumphantly prevails
Servant-leader* Who never fails.
Leaving glorious home in heaven
Born humbly showing stewardship’s haven.
Saviour, rescuing from hell’s torments
Emmanuel, securing faith-works’ engagements.
Seeking sinners at love’s cost
Compassionate missionary to the lost.
Fulfilling first His supreme command
Winning souls as divinely planned.
Offering Himself as gracious sacrifice
He paid redemption’s great price.
Bearing iniquities upon death-altar
Indeed, He’s obedience righteous-Exemplar.**
*Matthew 8:1 , 23; Matthew 4:25
**Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.
Ten-Word Couplet Series
December 5, 2018
Incertitude
Who am I...?
Am I the first born son, emanating from a fire of passion?
Am I the long lost hope, rekindled, ravenous in the eyes of my forebears?
Am I the caressed cocoon, spun out of love and compassion?
Whose silken threads, entice and embellish the vain vanity of its wanton wearers?
Am I a prodding prodigy,
Aimed at excelling in every sphere ?
Am I, a porous sponge, meant to absorb every single human emotion, a mortal can bear?
Am I a doted upon enduring exemplar or a doomed ephemeral effigy?
Am I the mellow and musky mist, exuding from a bare bosom?
Am I the naive, reticent lover, imperfect, yet dearest to my beloved?
Am I the longing in her eyes, a hypnotic hum?
Am I mere an object of desire- usurped, used, seduced, shoved?
Would I be another mere mortal among the countless thriving throng?
Lashed by grief, aged by time, thwarted by fear and smitten by love?
Would I be a forgotten fable or a perennial song?
Would I be remembered as -
A peacock- proud of its plumage,
An Owl- sombre yet subtle , of a lettered lineage,
A nightingale-serenading a song touching the core ,
A mystic bird from an ancient lore,
or , a dove – cygnet soft , gentle sitting on an alcove?
Oh Time! Tarry! A little,
Before I transcend from this world to the other,
Hark ! I plead, solve this riddle.
Oh Wind! Carry away my doubts to the omniscient;
Rush against all odds, be it a mighty mountain or a rampant ridge.
Time is running, I dread to lose myself in this mystic maze,
Oh Almighty! Accept my venerations to you my liege,
Enlighten me , before my mortal remains is set ablaze.
-Saptarshi Mukherjee
TRIBUTE TO GRANDPA
This tribute to Grandpa to read,
In our family's tapestry,
Every stitch sewn with love,
Grandpa's guidance from above,
In our web of threads,
Echoes of patterns, never ends,
Colours entwining, shades selecting,
Our Grandpa standing,
Tall as a tree,
Our family's tapestry.
In him we always believed,
Memories of our olden days,
Our family's exemplar, passed away,
Endless hours, part of our story,
In perpetual light, he rests in glory....
Our Grandpa stood tall as a tree,
Yes, in him we always believed,
Stitching here thoughtfully,
Grandpa's place in life's tapestry.
Incredibly magnificent compare to the rest,
Gericault’s “The Raft of Medusa” is truly the best!
Represents realistic men suffering at the sea,
Horribly incredible when everyone sees
Showing a tragic incident of incredible war,
Sufferings of men are seen in this exemplar
It’s a romantic depiction of reality!
It’s an enchanted art committed to humanity!
A realistic portrayal about survival
Deliciously creepy and sentimental
Looking those men chasing for the raft,
Is a romantic realism that cannot be laughed
Lei Strauss, January 10 2015
Contest Sponsor: Rick Parise
Contest Name: Ekphrasis 12 Line Max
STRIVE
You know to be proud of the skin you in to keep the decorum of a winner.
Let them see you smile when frustrated.
Prepare your way.
Empowering a form that distinguishes your person, many have known a covetous
environment informs growth and stratagem.
Crazy at it they come.
You the one they are jealous of.
See yourself through their eyes.
Therein,
Strive.
A scenario...
Beautiful is your person.
Your voice is endowing throughout the world.
You have achieved double masters even in time of dilemma.
So many problems yet you face.
Never a tiring soul will embody your essence.
Crazy at it they will come.
Your fundamental nature murals an image of who you are.
Epitomizing your ideals and religion, setting the perfect example to pattern.
To end the scenario...
You just might be the first of your kind.
Exemplar, an original mind…
Endeavor on!
Titivated to thrive, you are a striver.
Therefore,
Strive.
_____________________________________________________________________|
Written June 11, 2016!
Cynosure
Umm..cynosure... what does that mean?
Oh yes, I see...something supreme.
Like dignitary, celeb, sight;
a focal point, or nucleus.
A stunner, prodigy, limelight,
a treasure, magnate, omphalos.
A hero, luminary, ace,
centrality, big gun, big name.
A famous person, worthy place,
or major leaguer of some fame.
A star, a personality;
a spotlight, center of it all.
Exemplar and epitome;
an archetype, original.
Top brass, top dog, a spectacle,
a wonderment or quintessence.
An act of God, a miracle;
immortal, beauty, eminence.
Umm...cynosure...now understood.
To me, it means...superbly good.
Sandra M. Haight
~3rd Place~
Premiere Contest: Cynosure
Sponsor: Nayda Ivette Negron
Judged: 07/01/2016
A woman of integrity,
An embodiment of beauty,
An exemplar of charity,
An archetype of dignity.
A woman of faith
Endowed with spiritual strength.
My Heart opens up like a parachute,
Ocean of heaven flows to my heart.
Her beauty gives me wings to ascend;
My spirit ascends,
Embraced by heavenly heights,
My soul got pierced by rays of warmth and light.
Voice could lift one' spirit and sweet refreshments find;
Melodious voice could bring peace to mind.
Oh, that voice of hers could mend a broken Heart.
Look at the beauty in her eyes,
A glow that shines like the sunrise.
Her smile that opens up the cloudy skies,
Her laughter that delights butterflies,
Everything proves she's a goddess.
Dedicated to Lillian Ukaegbu
I will tell you more sacrifice.
As though, I fled per artifice.
What do you mean repetition?
I have done more acquisition.
I showed my gratitude in peace.
You foresaw it would never cease.
I have not swerved to notice out.
You owed me nothing but a shout.
Fall in love and fall upon time.
I have my blood is on a prime.
This is a glimpse of exemplar.
It was a gore of the Templar.
I have come to failure by wit.
A society lacked through lit.
I recessed how to receiving.
It started blow to reviving.
I pass by, as I eye, my eye;
I see something nearer, nearer;
On the wall a reflection of myself, myself;
it isn't clear so, never clearer;
As I look upon the mirror, mirror;
Mirror polished metal or glass with an;
Amalgam back and as a TV I've gain weight, weight;
Look at my face I can see my soul in my eyes, eye;
Is this something that showing my true self, myself;
All I have is what I see what I reflex, relax;
And if I were to break this glass, my fears will last;
Thirteen years of bad luck, bad luck;
I see myself and in my reflection I say yuck-yuck;
I've been concaved, been convex;
All I have is my refection left;
Crystal and glass I can see myself, myself;
I'm I pattern for limitation exemplar, exemplar;
As I continue to see myself in the mirror;
Your a faithful reflection of a true picture of myself
Mirror, Mirror
09/20/17
--for Craig Cornish Mirror Mirror Poetry Contest
trapped,
safeguarded,
each appendage
secured in amber,
some Jurassic specimen
created for your gaze
you regard me
with a quizzical eye,
comb your notes carefully
for collected data
on my anomalies
how to straighten this limb,
shape this abdomen,
bend this thorax
to fashion the perfect
exemplar of your
scientific prowess
no manufactured artifice
will satisfy you
you deftly maneuver
and rearrange,
cut and reassemble,
manipulating your scalpel
and forceps
until you have your prize,
flawless and complete,
but for the glue
leaking from the seams
Bountiful Blessings…My Savior
Bountiful blessings have been bestowed; my gratitude grows greater.
Abundantly appreciative am I to thee, Almighty Heavenly Father.
Thank you for this natural world wrought with many a marvelous wonder.
Thank you for the myriads of miracles that mysteriously made me shiver.
Thank you for my simple style, such a sweet soul satisfier.
Thank you for enriching examples established by Thy Great Exemplar.
Thank you for lovely times in life, for lullabies, loves and laughter.
Thank you for my honey, so helpful, honorable, and a happy hugger.
Thank you for my children…each an intelligent, independent, and incredible giver.
Thank you for friends, foes, follies, and fun, for finding wisdom's flower.
Thank you for a kaleidoscope of kindness and comforts Heavenly Father did deliver!
Thank you for good neighbors nearby…nurturing and not one an oppressor.
Eternal light soars in my life to that special spiritual space, to God, the forgiver.
Grateful am I for His good gifts and for Jesus, the greatest gift, my Savior.
© August 14, 2010
Dane Smith-Johnsen
What pride and joy for me to delight,
albeit vicariously upon receiving invite,
sans commencement at
Redmond Proficiency Academy
on May twenty second at six o'clock at night,
which arrangement to Maurice silly revel
from afar, viz pomp and circumstances quite
emotional, ah...I can feel exuberance
listening to Sir Edward
Elgar - Pomp and Circumstance
March Number 1 - right
amidst envisioned glorious sight,
this prodigal beloved
young lady Marleigh Dunning, aye write
a precious prized progeny,
with modesty all agleam
no doubt with beauty, she twill beam
dazzling full house, electrifying audience
asper her due smarts, i.e. creme de la creme
top honors, and accolades galore
relishing hearty applause, and teary eyes
left for this estranged bro attempting to dream,
how proud such progressive parents
Andy (by the way belated happy birthday),
and Shari dear sister my apology, harried self esteem
(mine), who nonetheless takes stock,
how promising success story doth appear
will take said niece far and wide,
which whiz kid will quick buckle down and clear
as pitch perfect cerulean sky will engineer
experiential opportunities, whose cerebral gear
far and above this average hear
suit uncle late in his existence
admires brilliant storied
future awaiting thee
acquiring an equitable salary
persevering toward passion,
vis a vis art history
with a minor in chemistry,
abundant wit and wisdom
so blessed born free
to choose bajillion options
soon to matriculate at Ivy
League school, perhaps
becoming rich and famous
as hordes of paparazzi
furiously jostle and elbow
to savor opportunity
as demure, genteel, as ideal
exemplar of female human poise -
ladies and gentlemen the renown Marleigh,
whose shining moment under klieg lights,
this financially strapped poet
unable to rejoice in person, qua special day
duet to a pinched finances
arising when Hyundai Sonata,
thrice necessitated monetary outlay!