Best Flaming Poems
may her flames never burn out
whilst I can rekindle active embers
all that lies beneath
fullness of beauty
this form, this aura
smoulders
though she lies sleeping
she lights the room
every aspect of her shining
I gaze upon fabric that drapes -
in awe that nothing that touches her skin
can fail to become beautiful also
she falls artfully into slumber
the very representation of a dream
shimmering as if a thousand sunsets
shroud and surround her
comfort she finds in her own frame
equilibrium, stillness -
breath may or may not disrupt
so I dare not breathe
for I do not wish to disturb this beauty
may she exist forevermore
resplendent as evening sun
for she transcends
what it is to be mortal
I woke up changed
but love stayed ~
for my cluttered consciousness
escapes into the cosmos,
where the Flame-June stars
are christened with
healing hieroglyphs
hibernating within
your heartbeat
mimicking the murkiness
of this mind that
noiselessly misses
the metered magic
you composed cautiously
into redolent reality
with acrylic colors
from dawn after hailstorms…
and I drown… O beloved
I swallow my ink...
stained with your scent
in lucid dreams
steeped in seared sienna
wrapped in stimulating silence
as faith meets me fearlessly
beneath the kiss of an angel
that left me lethargic
longing for the levitating light
of a sultry sun that
clothed me selflessly
unspooling the urge
to pirouette through peace
that looks like homely solitude
as hope rests in the
saffron soul of clouds
where your rhymes return…
so trace me amidst the
trail of thoughts I find
myself weaving
with wildflower wishes
into the glistening sky
glazed with
passionate promises
caressing my pensive skin,
while I plead
with the awakening moon
to teach the tuscan
tones of my phoenix sun
to soak my silhouette ~
a saving grace beneath my hair…
but these feelings
are not severe symptoms
of persistent exhaustion
or spiritual emptiness
this is the sound
of my pulse ~
a piercing ache
to feel the lips of
an empathetic empyrean
to breathe siren’s bliss
into the arteries of angst
like waves undressed
unreservedly obsessed
with the thought
of being seen and saved ~
a prayer perfumed
like a dream designed
in citrine gold crystals…
*Inspired by the art "Flaming June" by Frederic Leighton
It was our third-grade field trip to the Dinosaur Exhibit
We would be touring all the lands that dinosaurs inhibit
I remember the teacher saying “keep your hands inside your pockets”
Then she paired me with the meanest kid, his name was Tommy Rockets
“I dare you to take an egg,” Tommy whispered giving me a stare
The nest was full of eggs, if I took the smallest who would care?
The next day at school every child was questioned.
The museum curator was out to teach us a lesson
The egg had grown overnight and was hidden in my coat.
They made mom take me to the doctor so he could check my throat.
They poked me and they prodded, ran machines against my feet.
They questioned why I would choose that specific egg to eat.
The news showed my picture on every single station.
One reporter called me Dino Boy. I was an amateur sensation
When the egg finally hatched I had to hide the birth.
The animal that was born was extinct from this earth.
A Flaming Pterodactyl in all his blazing glory.
No one believed me, but who could make up such a story?
At first, he was easy and stayed in my closet through the day.
At night he’d fly around but never go astray.
Then I started getting blamed for things when I wasn’t even there.
Like vegetables gone from gardens leaving soil bare.
Kitty cats so high in trees the firemen couldn’t reach them.
Children so riled up teachers couldn’t teach them.
We moved from one town to another and another.
Each time it was the same. People felt pity for my mother
The next morning I woke up to a chewing sound
crunch, crunch, and crunch.
That’s when I noticed he ate my homework for his lunch.
My Flaming Pterodactyl again was causing havoc.
With a trail of Cheetos, I led him to our attic.
I made sure he was comfy then I headed off to school.
No one there believed me until they found him swimming in the pool.
Now he’s our school mascot in all his flaming glory.
A Pterodactyl that … sorry he ate the rest of this story!!
February 1st, 2021
Written for the contest: and then a flaming pterodactyl ate my homework
Sponsor: John Lawless
How the ambrosia of a crescent moon
pours honey on night's gypsy dance,
inflaming spoon of lips ... to blaze lovers' kiss!
---------------------------
12.19.2016
Moon Soon for Kai Michael Neumann
Upon red and russet leaves I gaze
My soul’s foliage is ablaze.
----------------------------------------
21st November, 2014
Contest: Crystalline
Sponsor: Rick Parise
Glimmering, Shimmering And Flaming Sweet
her eyes, shining pools
her kissing lips luscious red
desert at high noon
Robert J. Lindley, 6-24-2021
haiku
flaming leaves
braving autumn winds
ravishing courage
AP: Honorable Mention 2022
With flaming lips and fingertips
casting words of cockeyed quips
behind a face powdered in white
preys a jackyll with teeth that bite
rouge on cheeks, evil guile at play
opened bottles of rich pouilly fume'
fruit of the vine, wine more devine
than one who waits for you, supine
Painted brows and charcoaled eyes
don't be fooled by a gender disguise
a fool you are if you fall for this villain
party girl who seems more than willin'
I have a toddler who loves to play
Pretend – imaginary friend, make-believe
She pierces my heart with her adventures
Into the fantasy land of dinosaurs,
Dungeons and dragons, long lost voyages
With pirates and princes – feeling
Invincible, indestructible, unshakable
Like she has the tiger by the tail
And is sure to always win in the end
I’m still in college and this toddler of mine
She gives me a healthy dose of jeopardy
To help me see the thrills in this life
Now I try to do my homework,
While she colors, paints or plays
With a wad of Play dough in hues
Of vivid and brilliant scarlet or sapphire
I was doing homework one morning
As she colored there by my feet
And I decided she needed a sippy cup
Of cranberry juice to sufficiently be
Prepared for her day of fictitious ideas
As I finished up my homework
And headed out to the kitchen
I noticed her pterodactyl there beside her
When I came back from the kitchen
Handing her the sippy cup with the juice
She smiled and handed me a torn up paper
The homework I’d just prepared that day
As she giggled, “pterodactyl ate it, Mommy”
In spite of my shaking head, I laughed
And began to rewrite the page that
A flaming pterodactyl had eaten
...and then a flaming pterodactyl ate my homework Poetry Contest
Sponsored by John lawless
January 19, 2021
I love you so much
my co co be de d'amour
Al, you are my heart
what I love the most
about Valentine's day is,
sweet raining kisses
Love Love and more Love
two souls united,
Love Love and more Love
Armload of roses
proposal of love for YOU
flaming, Valentine !
From out of the west and the flaming Sun, an entrance he did make.
There’s none like this one, an American Eagle, make no mistake!
He’d served in all the Western wars… and cleaned up many a town.
What he was doing here in ours… Totally, held the breath of all.
It seemed the West had gone tame to him, all of a sudden, you know.
He was heading East on an updraft of Freedom, and Justice, for all…
To find just the right fight… where they needed him, to serve each night.
He’d gaze upon the Liberty Bell, stand where Washington had done right.
Still that would never be enough, when somewhere injustice struck.
Here, he was just passing thru… His shadow leaving its amazing mark.
None would ever forget, how he stood and flew so straight and tall.
He’s the symbol and shield our men serve under, in this glorious land.
When he flies over, stop and salute, our Flaming Son.
He and all those, who into battle, do steadfastly follow him.
For he is the leader of all those, who will forever steadfastly go.
.
Dedicated to my Son going into the Army on the Veterans Day.
comes
wistful,
in a gloss
of frothy drifts
she cruises near bends...
old river dressed in leaves
peach-gold like October tides.
And ripples splash through a varnished
light, crests twirling on pale twigs,wildbuds;
flaming river’s last glide …. prelude to snow.
9/25/2015
For Love of October
Andrea Dietrich's Contest
Theme; River/lake in October
Sizzling soft finger tips,
Blaze gently across my body,
Feeling the hiss of her heat,
Steam rises as we entwine our limbs,
Burning lips trace my ear as she whispers of paradise,
Both longing for this heaven to last,
Love sears our hearts as desire leaps from eyes,
While two passions melt into one,
We fly together to ecstasy before a scarlet sunset.
Copyright © 2014 Robert William Gruhn - All Rights Reserved
"A poem to me is the essence of any thought,
Being built from its foundation into tower scraping sky.
It can fly like no other bird to places never seen,
Even spaceships can only dream of taking its place."
© 2014 Robert William Gruhn
A
flimsy
negligee
betrays her
shape-
an
honest
innocence
in becalmed deep
sleep.
Ekprasis after Leighton
And Then a Flaming Pterodactyl Ate My Homework :>
Swooping down
Dinosaur
All in flames
Fiery eyes
Scary sight
Hovering
Hungry beast
Gnashing teeth
Pter…what?
Lands on desk
Thunder screams
Dragon stomps
Small reptile
Bat like wings
Thought extinct
I can’t hide
From his claws
Then he winks
Are you real
Or a dream?
All I know
Homework gone!
Not a lie!
Teacher smirks.
2-2-21
Contest: And Then a Flaming Pterodactyl Ate My Homework
Sponsor: John Lawless