Best Flank Poems
I
had
aspired
to hover high
on the horizon where
the blue sky meets the land
and fly like a colored kite made
of dreams in the air carrying the scent
of the spring from the blooming garden I left
I would float like a bird and ride on the
flank of drifting cloud taking me
to the distant unknown sky
I would make my home
won’t return to
concrete
jungle
for the string
I
w
i
l
l
s
n
a
p
f
l
y
o
n
w
i
n
g
s
kite
concrete
concrete
concrete
concrete jungle kite jungle
concrete concrete jungle from jungle
concrete concrete jungle concrete concrete jungle
concretejungleconcrete jungle concrete concrete jungle
concretejungleconcrete jungle concretekite jungleconcrete jungle
concretejungleconcrete jungle concretejungle jungleconcrete jungle
concretejungleconcrete jungle concretejungle jungleconcrete jungle
Categories:
flank, analogy, flying, sky,
Form:
Shape
The shield riders heading over the Dunlaven bridge,
They ride as swift as the wind,
already their weapons were ready,
they did glint, not, in the deepening shadow.
Ride to your fate Valkyrie,
shield maidens of the red,
shield riders of the city,
bring glory to your mighty Alahsar.
Four hundred and fifty Valkyrie,
they stream forth from golden gates,
turning to the left and right,
three hundred onto Badicha.
three hundred to Dunlaven bridge,
the final stroke from Alahsar,
death is streaming forth,
hateful screams fill the air.
One hundred and fifty shield riders,
they leave the four hundred and fifty,
heading for the Raven bridge,
Speed is now of the essence.
The hundred and fifty, they head to the right,
onto the plain of Badicha,
Alahsar's forces, taken by surprise there,
To glory or death.
Shield riders, three hundred,
they stream across Dunlaven bridge,
so close this bridge to the walls of Alahsar,
Go, fiery warriors.
Across the river, they stream,
the waters coming through a large culvert in the wall,
cool, refreshing waters, from the great white mountain,
ride on Valkyrie.
In the final stage,
the battle rages on,
dark forces never seem to reduce,
They die and yet their numbers seem to be the same.
What sorcery is this?
Bodies so tightly packed,
hardly room to move sword or spear, or axe,
the strength soon to lessen more.
The ground is being given once more,
stride by stride ground seems to be given,
the struggle for life is truly on,
the posture seems to be more of defencive.
Is this a lure for the enemy?
could it be that strength is truly depleting?
only time shall tell,
the posture changes from moment to moment.
One hundred and fifty shield riders,
they smash into the flank of the enemy,
swords and spears striking home,
HALT!
the retreat stops,
a final push,
the Arlagh's are halted,
"Walk In The Light!"
the dark man cries as the dice is rolled.
"Walk In The Light!"
the battle cry is taken up.
Now, my lords and ladies,
it is time for our tale to take a rest,
I must lubricate my throat,
we shall return to Alahsar soon.
We shall then see the outcome of the battle,
the bloody rain of Badicha's plain,
raise your horns to Alahsar's glory,
the song of Alahsar, the glory of a dream.
To Be Continued.
Categories:
flank, dark, death, dream, fantasy,
Form:
Epic
Encamped in the local IHOP patio
Doing reconnaissance on the butter pecan syrup
I discern its malicious, aggressive intentions:
To march defiantly down Mt. Stack
And wage a ruthless attack on
Defenseless over-easy eggs
Acting quickly, I wield my fork
Digging trenches in my pancakes
I flank the enemy, staving off
This unprovoked act of aggression
Victory!
Only in that moment do I lift my eyes and notice
A brood of young sparrows
heralding their hunger
The chevron of hang-gliding geese silently
sailing to destinations unknown
Majestic Monarchs flitting
stoically southward
And rival suitors:
An iridescent hummingbird and an industrious bee
Romantically pursuing myrtle blossoms
The canopy of cerulean blue
And all the life within its realm
Resolves my thoughts from war to peace
Note to self:
Don’t forget to look up
Categories:
flank, food,
Form:
Free verse
The mighty 3rd to the north did steam,
Chasing a ghost not to be seen
Guard the landing your task assigned,
Quiet the day is to be benign
At dawn the Imperial fleet does appear,
Surprise complete, ranging fire splashes near
Outnumbered and out gunned, duty is clear,
Close the range you must in spite of your fear
Laying smoke, a jagged course you take,
An account of yourselves you will make
Steel your heart and make sure your eye,
For each salvo keeps you alive
Toe-to-toe the battle, you exchange mighty blows,
Triumph impossible, yet into the fray you all go
In perfect rhythm, the mad dance goes on,
As smoke filled gunhouse loads powder and shot
Decks strewn with the dead and dying,
Teams repair to keep the ensign flying
Struck and struck again, yet to point blank you steam,
Hard to port, you cross the “T”
“All guns to fire at the turn, torpedoes away!”
The enemy scatters in disarray
Too late, mortal blows you take
To the deep, no more your enemy to rake
One final salute their captain does render,
For you fought to the death and did not surrender
On this all men do still agree,
These were the finest two hours of Taffy 3
*****************************************
On October 25th, 1944, 3 destroyers and 4 destroyer escorts of Task Force
Taffy 3 engaged a combined force of Imperial Japanese Navy battleships and
cruisers in a 2 hour running gun battle to protect the escort carriers and troop
transports taking part in the Leyte Gulf landings in the Philippines. Two of the
three destroyers and one of the escorts were sunk while sinking three
Japanese heavy cruisers and damaged three more. Due to the fierceness of
the attack, the Japanese fleet retired from the area thinking they had been
attacked by a much larger force. At the outset of the battle, the commanding
officers of these 7 ships, without orders, individually decided to attack and
headed at flank speed to the fight all knowing they would most likely not
survive the day. Almost 1600 did not. In a final act of respect, the commander
of one Japanese cruiser saluted the crew of an American ship that had just
sunk as his ship passed them floating in the water.
Categories:
flank, courage, inspirational, remember, tribute,
Form:
Rhyme
Anchored by its feet hangs the carcass
Butcher removes brisket and strings it
Chuck steak diced for stews and pies
Dark well matured silverside rests
Entrails give the dogs a royal feast
Flank minced for spaghetti bolognese
Gullet chopped into stock pot simmers
Hanging meat swings as the butcher works
Icy still from the blast chiller
Juicy steaks thickly cut are parcelled up
Kebabs skewered, placed on display
Loin of beef neatly lined up
Minced steak patties for burgers
Neck used in both stock pot and stew
Offal set aside for pate and pies
Perfectly roasted beef ready to carve
Quick flash fry of rib eye seals in juices
Rump not too trimmed dribbles on grill
Sirloin anointed by a king sizzling
Tongue gently braised in gravy or stock
Utensils casting shadows on the wall
Venison from red deer's makes tasty things
Wing rib rubbed with hot spices waits
Xhosa cattle graze in pastures green
Yellowed meats set aside for soup
Zibeline hides scrapped and cured, nailed up
8/27/2015
contest Any Poem written in August
Categories:
flank, food,
Form:
Abecedarian
The daylight hours start to fade and die
Darkness creeps upon us like a stalking black cat
Streetlights flank both sides of the road
Looming large like massive matches waiting to be ignited
Special sensors activate, striking them into life
Dim at first then building to illuminate our way
Gradually the lustrous shimmer intensifies
Glowing giant angels with gleaming halos
Sodium bulbs emitting a golden aura
Shining in the dark with a comforting light
Beaming brilliance on our world making it bright
Meandering into the distance like a yellow corn snake
Guiding us on our way along our streets and roads
Jan Allison
2nd October 2014
Contest: Find The Puzzle T A R N D A I
Sponsor: Nette Onclaud ~awarded 5th place~
Categories:
flank, light,
Form:
Free verse
He would enter the corral in the thick fog of mist,
up long before daylight would christen the air
The skies would be coral, and the sun glazed the crest
Dust clung to the heels of his old leather boots,
and gathered in shrouds around the hoofs of the mare.
Billowing were clouds, and a whirlwind of grief
that followed the storms of long hours awake
Endless were nights without the refuge of sleep
while he waited for sun to arrive and relieve
Caressing the flank of her sleek narrow, frame,
his favorite mare, Queenie, was the color of dawn
He would gather her reins, for a moment of calm
then, bury his face in her rusty brown mane
He'd watch as the light slipped over the hills,
smoothing the shadows, that haunted his world
Without ever knowing the worries we found
as we saw those same shadows, splay rapidly down,
drowning his eyes, with dark circles and frowns
Grief and the love of his horses, would ride,
together, off center....wherever, to hide,
and soften the hours, that waited for night
For the house was a shell, and the bedroom, upstairs,
became the forbidden, without her to share
The nights, ever long, were just waiting to tear
open the wounds that couldn't be shared
Up at the sunrise, and out until starlight
Where shadows grew stronger, and nights even longer
Burning the daylight, until light was in ashes,
then thrashing the midnight, with the darkness of mourning,
wading through dust-clouds, to see morning's light
Waiting for something to make it alright
____________________________________________________
4/28/15
Dedicated to my Dad
Categories:
flank, bereavement, dad, death, father,
Form:
Narrative
Shallow edged with twigs, and sodden leaves
The odors of the earth, green moss and peat
The roots of quiet trees and rotting logs
The crumbling bank where cattails wash their feet
Where tiny minnows dart with lightning speed
Among the roots where wild ducks come to feed
The very core and essence of the earth
Born of melted snow, and sleet and rain
Of birds who roost amid the tree tops high
And breathe the wholesome fragrance of the sky
Trees that sway and swoon along the bank
Shedding leaves of amber, rust and gold
Like ashes left from burning autumn dreams
To listen, standing guard on either flank
O'er twig and stone, with watchful eyes so keen
While shading coves where angler poles have been
Across it's face, a restless ripple seen
Where tangled grass and weeping willows lean
Upon the shores where struggles soon will cease
This place to spend in nature's splendid peace
Categories:
flank, natureautumn,
Form:
Free verse
The battle begins with an assault on the hill
Our men respond knowing my will
The white warriors continue their drill as before
My men are confident to the core
I order attack on the right white flank
The whites maintain their tightened rank
Generals continue to deploy the men
Since the White attack, this general must defend
My right bank archers saw the chance
Neutralized the left bank Archers in confidence
The trench warriors were stopped in their tracks
This stalemate will eventually end on the flanks
The White General moved to his right
Surrounded by warriors ready to fight
A squad of tanks guarded his side
The Master General needed to hide
My main power entered the fray
The enemy King cornered in the bay
The battle continued action to action
General to General, Grant and Jackson
Both sides fought to the end
The White warriors had to defend
I saw the opportunity to be great
My final maneuver delivered Checkmate!
A Chess Poem
Categories:
flank, games, war,
Form:
Narrative
This is an ancient land lapped by two seas in the south,
girdled by mountains the highest on the earth.
Many mighty rivers flow across this fertile land,
monsoon rains wash the land where I took my birth.
An eon old civilization grew in west flank,
permeated the native race of the land.
They assimilated flux of foreign invasion,
made country’s diversity a unique brand.
Steeped in Vedic culture and the karmic way of life,
takes pride in the invention of the zero.
In midst of medley of custom, language and belief
modern times are now coming at a pace slow.
Time will come when the nation will take its rightful place
in the world stage regaining its lost aura.
Glorious sun of eminence will rise in the east,
shine on future of my country India.
August 24, 2018
(Form used in the poem is Doha which is a
Hindi form of self-contained couplet in which
each 24 syllable line is split into two unequal
parts of 13 and 11 syllables)
Categories:
flank, birth, culture, future, hindi,
Form:
Couplet
...He reformed the routing patriots,
formed a line atop a rise, Perrine’s Hill,
brought in General Knox and the artillery,
commanding the mass through sheer force of will.
He needed to buy time for the main force
to march on and join up in the battle,
the British kept coming, soon to attack,
convinced they still had the patriots rattled.
Before in battle the Redcoats just had
to flash their bayonets in the bright sun,
that was enough to scare Continentals
and assure them the battle was won.
But they were no longer facing such men,
the Americans had learned Europe’s game,
they did not flee at the sight of steel,
gave hard volleys once the foe was in range.
Britain’s field commander, General Cornwallis,
made several attacks to break up the line,
only to run into fire and rage,
with his Redcoats turned back every time.
They he tried to turn Washington’s left flank,
the boldest maneuver of the fight yet,
but the main force had come, and pushed forwards,
striking hard under young Lafayette.
Seeing there would be no quick victory
the British withdrew there forces back,
both armies in defensive positions,
the fight would become a long slugging match.
Soldiers hunkered down as across the fields
artillery thundered and cut loose,
both sides trying to break up the other,
their foe’s ranks they sought hard to reduce.
The heat was such that many of the men,
suffered and even died from heat stroke!
One man passed out and his wife manned his gun,
fighting on alongside all the blokes.
Then Washington sent Nathaniel Green
with artillery up towards Comb’s Hill,
a high position on the British left,
from which the guns could enfilade and kill.
The British saw their hopeless position,
and quickly began an ordered retreat,
marching north towards Clinton’s main force,
having blown their opportunity.
Washington saw his enemy leaving,
and sent Mad Anthony Wayne forward,
to harangue the British as they marched off,
cutting down men despite their good order.
And through the battle ended as a draw,
for the nation it was victory,
they’d kept the field in an open battle,
and matched the Redcoats in soldiery.
This changed the calculus of the whole war,
all knew battles would be more costly now,
England would no longer campaign in the north,
hoping for easier prey down south…
Categories:
flank, america, conflict, confusion, england,
Form:
Epic
The child, now sleeping, loudly snores.
The nightlight shines there on the wall.
If you could peer under the door,
The sight awaiting would enthrall:
It seems the toys have come to life!
They are engaged in no mere game:
A toyland battle to the death!
The superheroes are to blame;
The men in green have few troops left;
Their losses heavy in the strife.
With Duplo blocks, they barricade,
Regroup their forces there behind.
They inventory their grenades,
Make mental notes of where they've mined,
Prepare to meet their tragic end.
Magneto rises from the floor,
Unleashes his attractive beam;
The troops let out a racous roar,
for they are plastic, it would seem,
thus to his will they do not bend.
A team dispatched to try and flank,
To scale the chair, come from the back.
But Hulk awaits them like a tank,
Behind a pillow, sneak attack.
The spear is blunted, further thinned.
The captain, knowing things are dire,
Determines he will save the men,
and laying bare some lamp cord wire,
he challenges Magneto then;
His sergeant understands and grins.
Magnetic forces back in play,
the soldier runs, flips the switches.
The predator becomes the prey;
Magneto, arcing current, twitches:
a turning point in this grim war.
The flash of light wakes up the child;
she bolts up, eyes now open wide.
The spell is broken; meek and mild,
the toys, inert, lay side by side.
Her head back down, again she snores.
----------
So that's an ABABC DEDEC tail-rhyme, and kind of a fun one!
Categories:
flank, dream, war,
Form:
Tail-rhyme
~ Three seasons, breathing ...
Exhale, inhale ... two transform -
One, keen, waits breathless.
One year of change weaves intervals, progressed,
Three churning life, while two ... flank life at rest. ~
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Charliekucoup" Poetry Contest, Charles Messina, Judge & Sponsor.
Categories:
flank, analogy, life, metaphor, seasons,
Form:
Haiku
Chapter..........1..........Part..........2..........3b.
The mounted riders,
they speed forwards,
Turvehr did kick with heaven's power,
his mighty horn tearing and rending,
His eyes,
afire with hates desire,
his coat,
it did shine like the raven's wing,
when kissed by Sol.
He was the destroyer of the evil fire,
to rend,
this was his work this day,
his heart a living flame,
pure hatred was his song,
to kick, toss and tear,
this would be his killing way.
Turvehr was a terror,
a light destroying the dark,
his horn now caked in bloody gore,
hatred ruled the battlefield this day,
great indeed was his majesty,
the glory of a darkened dawn.
Women watching,
cried out with fear,
when e'er an enemy came to near,
for love indeed, this day was born,
for Turvehr,
the king of the Unicorn.
Alahsar still had her gates,
mortal men,
their lives, they did lay down,
numbers falling,
Demons they did crawl,
The end of humanity? Dark hearts filled with hate.
From the gates a mighty moving,
womanhood coming forth with great haste,
Hate-filled eyes and voices of venom,
yelling out thunder as they come forth.
Now, into two groups,
these shield maidens do split,
one group heads for the Dunlaven bridge,
the other group, the fight on Badicha,
still, the foe seemed many more.
the Arlaghs ever to the fore,
a mighty foe begins to push,
the might of dark within each beast,
to hold this foe,
it would take mighty strength,
yet, strength was failing,
the Arlaghs, then, did mighty push.
Then to human dismay,
upon the left flank,
spiders, wolfs and their riders attack,
from the trees they come,
Arlaghs, they also come with this attack,
the cavalry on the left flank,
they are taken by complete surprise,
horses scream in fear as they begin to fall.
riders also crying out, as they die this day,
some shall lie on the bloody plain,
others within the bellies of flesh-eating enemies,
on seeing this, the women warriors hurry forth,
no order had the golden king given,
they had come,
against all orders.
Still, humans stand,
much blood does flow,
man and woman,
power did show,
children watching from on high,
as parents and friends slowly die,
Dark man fighting, vengeance dead,
the Tigress, she is spreading fear,
a bloody day for one and all,
"Blood For Blood," the mortal call.
To Be Continued.
Categories:
flank, dark, death, dream, fantasy,
Form:
Epic
I gave whatever you wanted-
Thy but took me for granted-
Neither you paid attention to the appall
This is an important call
Your earth I am, you dear all-
Tsunami had been a story for you-
You forgot the huge ash spew-
You quickly forget the squalls-
This is an important call
Your earth I am, you dear all-
On the surface I gave you so much green-
On using oil instead you were too keen-
Empty soon is going to be bowl-
This is an important call
your earth I am, you dear all-
The entire hydrocarbon already you burnt -
Solution that I gave never you learned-
Energy in alcohol is not small-
Never will it let cars stall-
This is an important call
Your earth I am, you dear all-
What was for the future you drank –
Pain then you felt inside near flank-
Livers and kidney now take great fall-
This is an important call
Your earth I am, you dear all-
To preserve for the future still there is time-
But you have to consider condition mine-
On me you concentrate huge steel n concrete-
For my balance it won’t be fine-
I shall spin then like a bent bicycle wheel-
Towards nadir will I go, or in the Zenith-
I might fall into the dark infinite beneath-
Where then be you and who to listen the bawl- (cry loudly)
This is an important call
Your earth I am, you dear all-
If I do not fall but loose declination degrees-
Either then you will heat or get highest freeze-
Wooden poles might become trees all
This is an important call
Your earth I am, you dear all-
Categories:
flank, earth, future, philosophy, pollution,
Form: