Best Gauges Poems
Matchstick Bikes
To tinkers and toilers
I salute,
From mending boilers
to weaving jute,
Man and boy
for generations,
I will unemploy
your occupations.
To brewers in sheds
I sink a few beers
To wet the heads
of our engineers,
From flat cloth caps
to matchstick men,
I will see the collapse
of pushers of pens.
To bakers, tailors
I wish you well,
To the soldiers and sailors
who fought and fell,
From doctors, nurses
to hobnail boots,
I will give your purses
to thieves in suits.
To the grieving docks
I drink a toast,
To tackle and blocks
and shipyard ghosts,
From warehouses, workshops
to fishing trawls,
I will flick my mop
in empty halls.
To union dues
I shake your hand,
To cleaning loos
and farming land,
From railway gauges
to industry,
I will turn the pages
of history.
To factory lines
I raise my glass,
'Neath abandoned mines
of times now past,
From overtime
to austerity,
I will frame the grime
for posterity.
To the silent mills
I tip my hat,
To what ever ills
and this and that,
From a steelworks spew
to a builders hole,
I will stand in a queue
to draw my dole.
To finance, the city
I bow in awe,
To show no pity,
to flout the law,
From sellers, buyers
to pickets and strikes
I will slash the tyres
of your matchstick bikes.
© RJVHorton2016
Categories:
gauges, society,
Form:
Rhyme
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Strange Unicorn of the Sea,
we solved your mystery.
Of Arctic Ocean fame
you are Narwhal
as named.
Unicorn
of Sea,
our fascination
crept for secrets
you had kept about
tusk's outside nerves;
what uses do they serve?
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{
Allows you to communicate.
A great aid to seek a mate.
The perfect sword to joust;
the feared enemies to oust.
Safest water space ensures
by measuring temperatures
and the water pressure too,
gauges spaces to get thru.
Long pick to break the ice;
an excellent, sharp device.
Pinpoint your hidden prey-
use a sensory-based way.
You measure out at sea;
saline levels guarantee.
Survival tools evolved,
so the puzzle's solved.
}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Deep ocean mystery
our Unicorn of Sea,
you are Narwhal
by name with
firm Arctic
Ocean
fame.
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N
A
R
W
H
A
L
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Categories:
gauges, life, ocean, tribute,
Form:
Shape
Souls, beautiful souls, hidden
They shine lazily in the spotlight
At dusk fall, their luminosity is of hope
And our gauges of distress drop
Hearts, loving hearts, delicate
Filled with love enough for a few more
When broken by the heedless hands
They stoop, behind walls, gathering their patches
People, a caring people, friends
They came as strangers to impact this life
Their generosity is like soundless bells
One hand gives, the other blindfolded
Lights, lazy rights, glow
The light for a symbol of humble beings
Beings everyone prays for
They glow when you need them, and when you don’t
Just as carriers, blessings pass through them
Ungratefulness doesn’t hinder them
Delayed by giving, they would have been rich
I pray, for more into their basket of blessing
Earth has daughters, and you are one peculiar
Categories:
gauges, appreciation, friendship, friendship love,
Form:
Free verse
He never once mentioned the pressure of his blood
or his Mam
I found dead on the floor
his Dad’s cancer
or his younger brother
not once, during the best years of my life
he fixed cars
with a pipe slowly smoking
a magician with gauges and valves
he drank small amounts of beer
most nights
talked of governments,
jays, woodpeckers and herbs
and fishing
he once caught a 200lb conger
he threw it back, no big deal
walked his dog over a hundred years old
until she died too
he never once mentioned it, but we noticed
the angle of the briar
the bedraggled churchwarden
the butter in the beans
that one extra potato
the few extra pounds
but not once ever
did he bring up our grumbles
our impoliteness
or our dirty shoes
through fleeting visits
he just smiled, understood us like Buddha
he gave without receipts
or IOUs
would it have mattered
if we’d found the tablets in his drawer
or deciphered the consultant’s scrawl
papered vaguely on the wooden table?
he wasn’t expecting guests, I guess
and then one random Sunday,
memories of mountains
and meadows
and fox cubs
and bullfrogs,
warm summers
and the scent of tobacco
went out
from 'Sawing Fallen Logs For Ladybird Houses' 2011
http://amzn.to/seDv8w
Categories:
gauges, age, death, family, loss,
Form:
Free verse
Not a god, rather a goddess
brooding in the dark, 30 miles out
a lethal, murderous monster
deciding where to attack
and oh yes, did she attack
howling in fury, venting her rage
she attacked...
Wind gauges futile and flattened
She came to cleanse, to purge
cleanse our filth and purge our sins
Whipped up by God and Mother Nature
Sent to humble us, sent to teach us
to destroy our false Towers of Babel
our self-righteous, sacrilegious temples
She was horrible. She was beautiful.
We never learn...
*Hurricane Camille - August, 1969
Mississippi Gulf Coast
Wind speed estimated at 230 MPH
Written on: 12/29/2014
Source: Biloxi, MS residents
Categories:
gauges, natural disasters, nature,
Form:
Free verse
Two-word Lines Free
with Rhyme Verse
gibbous moon The near-full moon—
ashen veil its ashen light—
phantasm strewn ghostly, swathing all
redolent pale with pale glow.
shamed hues In moonlight, colors surrender—
morbid face faces are morbid, semblance
heedless muse of those about to pass,
death’s embrace abandoned by life's essence.
gibbous moon Gibbous moon wanes, as
night reviled night warily gauges its retreat.
morning soon And with advancing dawn,
newborn child. new life replaces the departed.
Sorry, the program doesn't allow for setting up columns, so alignment on the second version of the is incorrect.
Categories:
gauges, birth, death, moon, night,
Form:
Quatrain
she set a polish to the brass pipes
with a careful hand she worried them
hours like a silent moving contemplation
she worked her way from one end of
the massive machine to the other
knowing every rivet
every dent and scratch
the hot steam leaving a sheen of sweat on her
the machines labored breathing filled her ears
alive to her she spoke to it
in a loving soft whisper
she felt the gauges and levers
with the familiarity of mother and child
knew its every creak and groan
with the heart of unconditional loving care
a steam engine is a living thing
a breathing feeling entity
a life of brass for bone
coal fire for a heart
powerful
deep
living
it loved her as much as she loved it
Categories:
gauges, beautiful, beauty, blessing, home,
Form:
Free verse
She was out there in the dark
A brooding, angry monster
She attacked, screaming in fury
Wind gauges flattened and futile
She came to purge, to cleanse...
*Wind speed estimated at 230 MPH
Sumitted for: Black Eyed Susan's contest
Categories:
gauges, god, nature,
Form:
Narrative
Hello,
I'm here for the ad, young man
I believe it was your father I spoke to
on the phone about an hour ago
Said I was coming by to look at the car on sale
Sure, I'll wait ...
by the way, that's a lovely Christmas tree in the window
(A minute or two later)
Hi, Mr. Bartier,
I'm here for the car that I saw in the ad
You sure painted a nice picture,
truth be told, it almost sounded too good
So do you mind, if I may,
take a peek under the hood
Engine looks clean, motor sounds fine
It hums real low
(Speaking to myself ... that price is beginning to look like a steal)
This auto has a retiree feel,
do you mind if I get behind the wheel
Interior is like new,
and the gauges and gadgets all work too
And the mileage is less than the height
of a Mt. Everest view
Do a final spot check on the underbody,
no leaking fluids ... suspension seems solid
Well, Mr. Bartier,
here's what I think:
This car is as good as advertised,
the price is phenomenally low,
and your maintenance has the vehicle looking
like it just came from a new car expo
Only got one question though ...
it's about the trunk,
with the rug covering all those bullet holes
Categories:
gauges, car, funny, humorous, irony,
Form:
Light Verse
Terza Rima Sonnet
aba, bcb, cdc, ded, ee
So much alike though we are twelve years apart
Different father same mother, we are twins
Rebellious, beautiful with a selfless heart
The age nineteen her adulthood now begins
Piercings, ear gauges, tattoos makes a statement
Life so far, inking the story on her skin
A trip to Europe, a week she could have spent
Instead, chose to come visit me for that week
We had a blast together, she seemed content
She is young and I am nearly an antique
I am at the age where I must guide along
From my own experience I can critique
Before her visit we had gone way to long
She plans to move here, this is where she belongs.
Jared Pickett
4/6/2012
Categories:
gauges, family, age, age,
Form:
Terza Rima
Oh matchless our delight does never end
ceaseless variety of kingdom you defend
unending the exploration of the world around
photography of new discovery found
Within the caves growth of limestone formations
lattice work and crystal chandelier creations
eons of history where water carries matter
to build visions new and particles to scatter
Exquisite designs to view above and below
daily something unknown has made it’s show
rainforests beset with capacious greenery
extensive with volumne the expanse of scenary
We confine ourselves to the walls of city
and alienate ourselves to all that is pretty
though we hail the lives of those who explore
who search the heavens and of earths floor
Infinite the knowledge the origin of planet
diversity of species of gems and stones granite
consider the growth and composition of stone
movement of water and pressure them hone
All know that many gems are formed under pressure
and human character like tested with measure
Like jewels are cut to ornament the treasure
God molds each and everyone to his pleasure
Hail I do men that fathom grotto’s and caves
like ancient seamen went skimming the waves
courage required here tis for no knaves
those who travel here are only the braves
Boldly do men survey the planets secrets
forge the trails and navigate the seaships
track and map untamable habitats
where creatures thrive on sulfur but we collapse
In darkened caverns their ever present night
there do dwell creatures with self contained light
each creature for it’s environments design is right
diverse the living things concealed from our sight
Scarcely tapped fathomless in it’s diversity
what could one discover if occupy eternity
all those who become Gods Sons possess the ages
not constrained by death or times gauges
sources Genesis Job Psalms and science
COPYRIGHT © 2009 C Michael Miller
via Duboff Law Group LLC
Categories:
gauges, animal, earth, environment, life,
Form:
Rhyme
The earth of five million was of one speech,
Build it up, higher and higher, undie,
Towers of dub man,
circumvent his plan,
Suddenly behold the man, throw it down,
Speak of Babel, people uncomfortable,
Confound and confuse, scatter, no matter,
Shem, Arphaxad, Salah and Eber, a river,
Suddenly Nebuchadnezzar, tongue teach,
The king of dreams, wise men taught to lie each,
'I know of certainty that ye would gain this time,
And you and me did drink Babylon's fine wine,
Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego burn,
It's not your turn,
It's not your turn, unlearn,
Eat grass, lift thine eyes, dominion, you earned,
People's nations, languages and value gauges,
O Belshazzar, Mine, Tekel and Peres, hand write,
Written to see sooth to say, another day,
Oh Babylonites, there is no hope for you,
That they in their wisdom, worship devils,
Babylon the great,Mother of harlots nine,
You think divine, you think divine, you lying,
The smoke of her burning, truth unlearning,
The great Babylon come,
The whore sittetch down.
I am Alpha and Omega, beginning and end,
Babylon was cast down,
Every face a frown,
A New heaven and new earth, no hunger and thirst,
He reigns now for ever,
Babylon has gone.
And with it the words of the Wizard London.
Categories:
gauges, epic
Form:
Iambic Pentameter
Nap Time
In the astral world of utterance, one overhears the whispering of sweet nothings, breathlessly whisking up a spell of portioned scents that nay, nearly spilt the teacups swirled cremes delights and demitasse gooey treats,
Behold the phoenix rise to full measure under a lunar ecliptic mystic mesmerizing trance, upon a peacocks crown, whose stretched out azure-chartreuse wings, becomes enmeshed betwixt the manes of an unbridled passionate gallop,
For it leaped towards a skipping array of a colorful rainbow's path, that was freely dancing throughout its phases within the warmth air of a frozen sky,
As it spread o'er a vast terrain of mounds and vales of gathered greens tethered to tawny treasures teeming of life with no end at joyful pleasures,
Thus at the behest of Cherubs during the advent of endless stars whose dreamy light twinkles instructions that seduces a flock of whimpering lambs a free ride on their woolly souls,
Fostering meek minions to flow in the channels of a righteous domain free of a distant storm pushed by the lashes of sunbeams tickled whips temperate to your hearts enchanted beats that steadies the gauges of innocence,
And as a cluster of mirrors enlightened volumes of your sojourned quest of luminous unconscious prominence in a period of this, your inner realm expanse, collectively storing away as romantic muses within the anthology of your memory as its key
All delicately locked by the fortuitous magnitude of your eyelids.
2019 May 16
*4th Place*
Baby Face What's You THINKIN 2
~~James Edward Lee Sr.
Categories:
gauges, analogy, angel, dream, imagination,
Form:
Narrative
The wasted knowledge that comes with age,
Has become yet just pitted rage.
Each of us just turns a page.
Only play on a stage.
Left inside a cage,
Driving like phage.
Against swage,
Gauges,
Sage
Categories:
gauges, age, change, feelings, people,
Form:
Nonet
During the industrial revolution,
Poe’s raven spoke with elocution;
“Nevermore”, now we’ve a solution,
just you wait for distribution.
We’ve invented great machines,
clicker-clankers, sure to please,
With cogs and wheels that spin with ease
and long, tired days, they will soon cease.
Wondrous gauges, invented by sages,
power-piping giant bird cages;
oh the miracles of the ages,
carefully crafted in small stages.
Just wait and see, you will adore,
hard working backs won’t break anymore,
travelling with steam, from shore to shore
is truly a great way to explore.
Guess what, you’re going to also fly,
like the birds up in the skies;
keep your glass eye, nearby
soon automobiles will be passing by.
Just don your top hat, c’mon gents;
oh, things may cost a few more cents.
just imagine the automated presents,
you can buy, let the future commence!
Categories:
gauges, animal, bird, metaphor, perspective,
Form:
Monorhyme