Best Fillmore Poems
walkway to the stars
kaleidoscope nebula
milky way beckons
by Carol Fillmore
for Rick Parise's contest: Haiku Beyond (Nature Only)
Categories:
fillmore, nature, space
Form:
Haiku
#33
the moon falls west-ward
the tule fog saunters east
summer ends early
New Siblings
puppy petite gold
bouncing around black dog's space
I know you’re in love
#25
Swimming in spring fog
wind plucked guitar string in time
Tule music plays
Fog
fog braised Fillmore
ready for full moon to wane
while waiting for Jack
Dreams while Sleeping #2
when I piss in dark
All my prayers are sombreros
night of a new moon
Wake up Calls
first chirp of the morn
different from dog barking
five better than four
Midnight Ride
some full moon wheeling
search werewolves in the quag
Robin Hood’s fire
Unnecessary Student Loans
lifestyle to uphold
says I to financial aid
just give me the loan
English Dept. Building
walk paper footsteps
through hallowed hollow hallways
already relics
Jesi Naomi
tuba bongo blues
like a freight train serenade
echoes in the night
New York Fall
tinged purple and red
nothing to rhyme with orange
rolling New York hills
Gutter Glitter
lock jaw by myself
keep me imprisoned for hours
mumbling into phone
Danny West
it's raining outside
but I'm frying potatoes
the all-night kitchen
Closing Time
staring at my beer
one blue bird in the rafters
too it's closing time
Good Witch
She has rings and bows
She has glasses full of hours
Honey from the bee
Categories:
fillmore, adventure, america, beauty, bird,
Form:
Haiku
spring renewal starts
tender shoots warmed by the sun
verdant foliage
wild flowers bloom
pure colours of the rainbow
sweet scents perfume air
birds chirping in trees
insects whirring and buzzing
squirrels scampering
for Carol Brown's "Nature Comes to Life' Haiku contest
Renewal by
Carol Fillmore
Categories:
fillmore, nature
Form:
Haiku
Kwe’ explained he’s an elder, teaches the
ways of his people from their hearts – stories
and songs; spiritual rituals link
us all – we are all connected, beasts too.
Dedicate songs played to our ancestors,
their wisdom and knowledge has been passed on
from generation to generation.
Kwe’ swept arms wide as if embracing all
Nature, “here Spirit resides, we believe.
here for reflection and observation –
meditate on interconnectedness.”
Kwe’ picked up his flute, resumed playing tunes –
owl and coyote hooted and howled then
other forest creatures added their songs
creating a symphony of diverse
voices in unison – inter connect.
by Carol Fillmore
for Tell His Story contest
sponsored by Constance La France
Categories:
fillmore, animals, life, music, native
Form:
Blank verse
Schools are closed, there is no mail
And stores hold special sales.
To honor our first president,
That’s what this day entails.
Though technically, our 16th prez
Is celebrated, too.
To make a Monday holiday,
That’s what they chose to do.
The 40-something other men
Who served the USA
As presidents were not awarded
Their own special day.
So sorry Adams, Jefferson,
James Madison, Monroe,
John Quincy Adams, Jackson
And Van Buren – all are no.
Poor Harrison and Tyler,
Polk and Taylor, Pierce and Grant,
Fillmore, Johnson and Buchanan,
Hayes and Garfield – no, you can’t.
Arthur, Cleveland and McKinley,
Harrison and Teddy R.,
Taft and Wilson, Harding, Coolidge,
Hoover, also FDR…
Truman, Eisenhower, JFK,
LBJ and Nixon, Ford,
Carter, Reagan, both the Bushes
And Bill Clinton – not on board.
Last, no day off for Obama.
As to he who’s right now serving,
I can’t think of anyone who might
Be any less deserving.
Categories:
fillmore, presidents day,
Form:
Rhyme
A life predestined, foretold by prophets-
Jesus’ fate was sealed: sacrificed life
that we could have the same everlasting.
Betrayed by a kiss for silver pieces,
three times denied by Peter – ‘don’t know him!’
Enemies awaited in the Garden,
abused and scorned and accused of blasphemy.
Sent to Pilate who questioned – ‘he’s done no crime!’
Crowd cried crucify him! - Pilate soon appeased.
Scourged till bloody, excruciating pain –
nailed to a cross through feet and hands
liked a common criminal though not guilty.
Passers-by ridiculed, shouted insults.
He called ‘Father, why have you forsaken me?’
Prayed for his tormentors, a robber, too.
Darkness descended midday, like midnight –
foreshadowing Jesus’ death impending –
catalyst – Redeemer of human life.
Three agonizing hours passed: Jesus cried
‘into Thy hands, I commit my spirit’ then died.
A spear pierced His side – blood and water flowed
washes away all our sins eternally.
by Carol Fillmore
for "What Easter Means to Me" contest
sponsored by Gwendolen Rix
Categories:
fillmore, holiday, hope, inspirational, religioneaster,
Form:
Blank verse
Paintbrush colours blue
indigo to ocean hues
and baby blue tints
cerulean daubs on canvas
next to Prussian blue patches.
Carol Fillmore
for Francine Roberts "Blue" contest
Categories:
fillmore, imaginationblue,
Form:
Tanka
High snowbanks surround
Slush puddles frozen on street
Seagull atop pole.
An Haiku from Your Window contest
Carol Fillmore
Categories:
fillmore, nature, seasons, urban
Form:
Haiku
Johnny Thunders… Room 37.
John Anthony Genzale JR, a man that did the drugs and booze,
Not only born to live but ultimately born to lose.
Born in fifty two he loved the game of baseball,
But would never cut his hair that was his little league downfall….
That and his bad dad, but Johnny Volume would soon rule..
Along with the Jaywalkers at Quintano High School.
Then in sixty eight he would go to Fillmore East,
At a bar called "Nobody"'"s"on Bleeker Street
He would learn to drink his Bourbon ice so neat.
Then he was a sales clerk at the Da Nazz Leather Shop,
He would meet some future Dolls, then they were the "Actress"'"s."
But it was just a whistle stop..
Renamed Johnny Thunders after a comic book of the same name,
The New York Dolls were formed
His life would never be the same…
Two critically acclaimed Albums
"The New York Dolls" "Too much too soon"
But both commercially void,
Not enough to buy a Coke spoon..
In seventy five the Dolls broke up
Those trash glams all with attitude ,
Even bands today look back
With nothing but hard rock gratitude.
Johnny then formed The Heartbreakers ,released one brilliant LP
Los Angeles Mother F@kers
Know as L.A.M.F.
What an album I do decree…
Though I still love "So Alone"
A solo of such class..
He drifted here and there,
Then it was alas…
He lasted till nineteen ninety one,
His heroin a complete addiction..
But his death it was a mystery
There should have been a murder conviction!
Many rumours surround his death, I do suspect foul play.
St Peters House Hotel, New Orleans, such a great cliché.
Gangster dealers gave him LSD
Ripped off his Methadone supply..
Pretty sure they killed him,
Such a sad goodbye.
His room number was thirty seven,
It was ransacked of all his possessions,
What is known for certain,
Is there has never been no confessions..
"You can"t put your arms around a memory,
Don"t try don"t try..
You"'re just a bastard kid
And you got no name
Cause you"re living with me
We"re one and the same."
Nice one Johnny..
Sadly missed.
Categories:
fillmore, deathnew york, drug,
Form:
A is for Adams, second and sixth presidents.
B is for two Bushes who were Whitehouse residents.
C is for Clinton, forty-second president of nation.
D is for Davis, President of Southern Federation.
E is for Eisenhower, a president and World War hero.
F is for President Fillmore who was pretty much a zero.
G is for President Grant, a general in the Civil War.
H is for President Hayes whom we don’t speak of any more.
I is for Isabella, two queens of England, one of Spain.
J is for President Jefferson seen by some as being vain.
K is for President Kennedy who was assassinated.
L is for President Lincoln whose worth can’t be over-stated.
M is for Presidents four and five, Madison and Monroe.
N is for Naguib, Egyptian president of sixty years ago.
O is for Obama, who is USA’s first black president
P is for Polk .who was number eleven to that office sent.
Q is for Quezon, first president of Philippines.
R is for two Roosevelt’s with five presidents in between.
S is for Saul, King of Israel, and he was a very wise man.
T is for President’s Tyler and Taylor and Taft and Truman.
U is for Umberta, king of Italy before he had to go.
V is for Van Buren, 8th president, plagued by financial woe.
W is for President Washington, number one in every way
X is for Xuanzong, Chinese emperor in long ago day.
Y is for Yeltsin, elected Russian president in 1990
Z for Ziaulhaq ten-year president of Pakistani.
These men of fame and some of shame, were leaders in their time.
Their names in history are writ and fill this little rhyme.
Categories:
fillmore, people,
Form:
Couplet
Thinking of my youth
when we rode around
in a light green VW beetle
Listening to Stevie Winwood
and the boys sing John Barleycorn
Soon enough my friends scattered
Some gone down South
Some out to L.A.
Some upstate
No more basketball
No more all night parties
like the one we had when
the Fillmore East closed
Winter has morphed into spring
Soon hot summer
bringing Coney Island nights
and Riis Park beach days
Now I live on the Lower East Side
New friends, maybe new lovers
in the offing
Fall will soon arrive with the High Holidays
I'm still here!
Categories:
fillmore, friendship, memory, youth,
Form:
Ballad
The last time I saw Elton,
He was not the leading act.
At the Fillmore, Leon Russell starred -
A most surprising fact.
It's 40-odd years later
And I just saw him perform.
For most musicians, drawing crowds
For years is not the norm.
But Elton John sure packed them in -
Deservedly, for sure.
Now settled in Las Vegas,
He no longer needs to tour.
The people flock to hear him sing
And he puts on a show.
His piano chops and presence,
Like his costumes, seem to glow.
Yet mostly, I was taken
By the comments that he'd make.
Such humble homage to the crowd
Is very hard to fake.
So here's to many years to come
In Elton John's career.
As long as he's on stage, I'm sure
The audience will cheer.
Categories:
fillmore, music,
Form:
Rhyme
A mountain man is Fillmore
but there are no mountains
where Fillmore lives
deep in a hollow.
He's never had a job
and doesn’t want one now
spends his days huntin’ coon
squirrel and possum
and that catamount
lore says is black.
At night he reads by
lantern light with pit bull
Satan poised at his feet.
Folks in town know Fillmore
doesn't feature people
so no one comes callin’.
He feeds Satan
but not too much.
He wants Satan hungry
when the thief of night
comes through the window
the way that stranger did
a few years back and Satan
had a midnight snack.
Since then Satan waits
poised at Fillmore’s feet
primed for another snack.
Donal Mahoney
Categories:
fillmore, fantasy,
Form:
Blank verse
The Fillmore East and Fillmore West
Had shows with bands who were the best.
Bill Graham, the Fillmore's promo man,
Was the performers' biggest fan.
They loved him, too, today I learned,
Respect which both ways was returned.
He often flew from coast to coast
To manage those he loved the most.
A near museum had a show
And I'm so glad I got to go.
With concert clips and poster art,
I traced both Fillmores from the start.
One concert ad, most likely rare,
Meant more to me 'cause I was there.
I closed my eyes and saw the stage,
The memory not dimmed with age.
The past is gone, my husband states,
And thinking back he really hates
But such exhibits, bittersweet
Though they might be, are still a treat.
Categories:
fillmore, music,
Form:
Rhyme
i lost you somewhere in the fog
i lost you somewhere in the fog
tuesday, the day we shared apple pie and coffee
i knew by the way you swallowed your words
and politely wiped the punctuation with your napkin
soft music cooled our coffee, black
and when tears welled in your eyes i had no doubt
you would walk away when the final word was spoken
and last glances devoured like dust in the sunlight
i never knew then, and don’t know now…
where did you go when you turned left towards fillmore street?
aimless, it seemed and yet with power and
reckless determination like a stallion in an open prairie
i see you on occasion and yet not
sometimes it is your eyes worn by another woman
sometimes your smile has been stolen
but never can another woman wear you like you did
when i hear the song that played that day
tuesday, when we shared apple pie and coffee
i close my eyes and watch you walk in the door
turning right from fillmore street
my eyes are closed, wishing that i was dreaming
waiting until my coffee is stone cold
hoping for a fresh cup with no tears
while watching the server walk away…
just as you did
© tolbert
Categories:
fillmore, loss, love, romantic love,
Form:
Free verse