Best Growing Poems
FORGOTTEN TREASURE
I found the fountain of youth
When I stumbled across the forbidden garden
Right smack in the middle,
Was what I thought to be a wishing well
I tossed in a quarter!
Looking down with a puzzled face
I peeked to see where it fell
I leaned over and that's when I saw my vanity
It was always there waiting for me
The reflection in the water was my face
In wonder, I asked what this vision could be?
With one drop on my taste buds
I knew I found the one true key
The most beautiful thing that can set one free
I reached in to touch the poetry inside me
~5/31/11~
repost- My first poem on the soup
I'd married at 21 and moved overseas with my husband's work, so it had been many years since I had visited my gran at Rose Cottage. I was taken by surprise when I received a letter from her solicitor informing me of my inheritance. Her cottage had been vacated when she went into a care home, and sadly she passed away a few years later. Gran had been widowed at an early age so I’d never met grandpa. I was her only grandchild and had such fond memories of spending summer holidays with her.
ripe red strawberries
boiling in the copper pan
I label jam jars
When I pulled into the driveway I was shocked to see how dilapidated the cottage was. Green shutters were hanging off their hinges and paint was peeling from the window frames. I recalled the perfectly manicured lawns and cottage garden flowers which were gran’s pride and joy, now a forest of dandelions sprouted from the lawn and brambles snaked their way through the honeysuckle arch way. I picked my way through the vegetation which was covering the moss covered path and turned the key in the lock; the heavy oak door creaked like my arthritic joints. Gran’s cosy cottage had always been spick and span, but now every surface was covered with a layer of thick grey dust and lacy cobwebs hung from the black beams on all the ceilings. As I wandered through the empty rooms my footsteps echoed on the old pine floorboards which were littered with strips of wallpaper falling from the damp walls. My heart sank when I saw how much work was needed to restore and modernise the old stone cottage, but with time and effort and help from my family I’m determined to bring it back to its former glory
neglected cottage
in need of renovation
rambling roses bloom
Fiction poem for Thesaurus - Abandon or Abandoned Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Dear Heart
POEM AWARDED POEM OF THE DAY
06/14/20
To take each day as it comes
To gratefully praise The One
Joyfully face the new dawn’s grace,
That's now my everyday plan.
To take each day as it comes
To guard my thought as it roams
On anything or anyone
That's now my everyday plan.
To take each day as it comes
To be careful with my words
To use the value of my hands
That's now my everyday plan.
To take each day as it comes
To do everything I can
And bring a smile to not just one
That's now my everyday plan.
To take each day as it comes
To celebrate other’s gain
Not consciously cause another's pain
That's now my everyday plan.
To take each day as it comes
Not all the time comes the sun
For sorrow comes to everyone
And that I must understand.
To take each day as it comes
And know that I’m but a man
I will be glad, life’s not that bad
And do my part in God’s plan.
*A resolution during a time of disappointment.
Kim Patrice Nunez
04 August 2015
image credit: Edwin Hofert
With Divining Heart I Could Have Foreseen
With true divining heart I could have seen
little ripples of thy deep discontent.
My heart a meadow, once lush and bright green
now aching from lost days so sadly spent.
If thy heart sought the truth instead of lies
thee would have held, fast and firm loving vows.
These tears would not splash down from dark skies
as I seek anew, fertile fields to plow.
Blame I, ignorance of deception's wiles
trusting in our dear love and happy bliss.
Pray I, for miracle that reconciles
this distance, preventing thy soft-lips kiss.
With divining heart I could have foreseen
how thy lost heart would fail us, sweet Colleen.
R.J. Lindley
4-23 -1977
Syllables Per Line: 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Words: 108
Note: My ignorance of a friend and his lies once cost me ever so dearly.
Lesson learned in youth, sad but one I suspect a great many others may have learned as well.
Little wishes on great big stars.
Daughter, I make a wishes for you.
Keep on growing and keep on smiling.
And I'll keep loving all that you do.
Little dreamers wishing big things.
The world is your stage to display.
You can sing and you can dance.
Enjoy all that comes your way.
Little hopes in a great big world.
Nothing can stop your free spirit.
Make some noise, play a beat.
It's beautiful music when I hear it.
Little kisses from my now big girl,
You're growing up so fast it seems.
Pretty soon you'll leave the nest
And fly after all of your dreams.
Little girl I love you,
And I love you even more.
Because I made a wish once,
And you're what I wished for.
Written April 09, 2014
You're worthy of love
I see the scars, you're hiding deep within
they're not visible, upon your skin
you don't even know, how you could begin
to feel worthy of love...
You've been floating away, in time and space
your pain is written, all over your face
your dignity left you, without a trace
and you don't feel worthy of love
Bridge 1
I've seen so many people, just like you
they never seem to make a fuss
the only colors you know, are black and blue
and now it's hard for you to trust
The only friends you had, have long since died
you couldn't save them all, even if you tried
now you bottle up all, your feelings inside
you don't feel worthy of love
Bridge 2
I know to you living, is not worthwhile
but I can prove that you're wrong
I know it hurts to even try to smile
cause you forgot where you belong
Some may say, that you're a little high strung
you've shed too many tears, for someone so young
don't you know that you're life has just begun
and that you're worthy of love...
oh yes you're worthy of love
you are so worthy of love
You've forgotten that, you too have worth
you're the only you, on this planet earth
just ask the loving ones, who caused your birth
they'll say...you're worthy of love
indeed you're worthy of love
welcome home my dear!
you are so worthy of love!
April 21,2017
John Derek Hamilton
My thoughts drift back to my childhood days
Of so many years ago
All the family gathered by a roaring fire
Whilst outside glistens with sparkling snow
We had such fun making snow angels and snowmen
Our little frozen fingers and rosy faces were aglow
Memories of Christmas now firmly in the past
I look back on happy days of so long ago
Our Christmas tree was draped with tiny twinkling lights,
Bright baubles, tinsel and candy canes just for our delight
Oh how the years have flown by so fast
Sadly, like the snowflakes our childhood days don’t last
I scan the list of Christmas cards that I’ve got to write
Each year it grows shorter, with loved ones we now miss
I dream of turning back the clock and returning to the past
My memories of Christmas are ones I hope will always last
Sponsor: Kelly Deschler
Contest: Christmas Carols
Song Chosen - White Christmas
12~03~15
A quote from "90 North" by Randall Jarrell:
"I see at last that all the knowledge
I wrung from darkness -- that the darkness flung me --
is worthless as ignorance: nothing comes from nothing,
The darkness from the darkness. Pain comes from the darkness.
And we call it wisdom. It is pain."
The first bike I ever owned --
when I was ten or eleven --
was a Christmas gift
from a friend. He was receiving a new one
and I was gifted with his old bike.
He had cleaned it up and brush painted it
with a nice coat of red paint.
It was the only gift I got that year,
one of my only gifts as a child.
I loved that bike:
it freed me to pedal around so
I could accompany my friend
as we rode anywhere in our tiny,
sandy, two-paved-road fishing town.
Before the bike, I ran alongside him.
I was quite accustomed to running everywhere,
especially in summer, barefoot, usually shirtless.
Most years from first grade
until we were about twelve,
we spent our time together,
at his house or in imaginary jungles
or on wild, indian-infested wagon train trails.
We defended those trails from apaches
intent on taking our scalps.
Sometimes, on pirate ships, we manned canons
or forced reluctant traitors and mutineers
to walk the plank for failures and misdeeds.
We were never bored, usually outdoors.
On jungle safaris we were frequently attacked
by ferocious lions and tigers and
often captured by cannibal head-hunters
who put us into large pots to cook us
while dancing all around and brandishing
their spears. They sang or chanted
amazing, invented language repetitive
verses overloaded with frequent "ughs'
and tongue-twisting nonsense phrases.
His mother served us gallons of Kool Aid,
gave us snacks we ate with relish.
With a child’s trusting nature,
I hoped this could never end –
I felt secure in friendship and
apparent acceptance by
my friend’s parents. Of course,
things did change.
But..........I did not.
Not for a long, long time.
The Secret
Somewhere someplace not far away a couple lied together.
No talk about the future no talk about forever.
They had lovers of their own their lovers were not there.
It's best if kept a secret the love that they would share.
Lost in loves great passion covered in each others sweat.
They're going to have a baby but they don't know it yet.
In nine months the baby born a secret softly cries.
So much still for him to learn of life conceived in lies.
Often he just played alone it seemed it was his way.
Then one day the secret was sent outside to play.
He grew strong like others did he gave it all his best.
Without one clue he never knew the truth beat in his chest.
Overwhelmed again and again the sadness he can't shake.
The devil whispered in his ear “You are a mistake”.
Still he tried through tears he cried to somehow rise above.
Getting lost time and again in his search for love.
When the walls came crashing down his whole world fell apart.
Welcome to the world of secrets and to your broken heart.
Shattered like a piece of glass his dreams fell to the ground.
Somewhere up near heaven even angels heard the sound.
Tears poured from his heart and soul through both day and night.
Searching for some healing in words that he would write.
Broken in so many ways all he meant for good.
Forever somehow secret where some misunderstood.
Now he walks in shadows seeking shelter from the rain.
Don't you dare look in his eyes you'll get lost inside his pain.
Like the secret long ago he spends his time alone.
It seems being by himself is now his comfort zone.
Asking nothing from no one wanting only just to give.
The only dream he still dreams is live and just let live.
A million miles on his heart and tears that he still cries.
So it is for secrets and those conceived in lies.
Edwin C Hofert
I recall fond memories of happy childhood days
When life was so much simpler in oh so many ways
As children we played outdoors and had so much fun
No tempting computer games, just pure fresh air and sun!
We’d make a wish as we blew on fluffy dandelion clocks
and build enormous sandcastles in my yellow sandbox
I can’t believe how fast each day is whizzing by
As a child they went slowly, as I age how they fly!
I’m now approaching the autumn years of life
blessed to be a mother and a beloved wife
My son is just amazing - he’s simply the best
But my house feels empty since he flew the nest
Some days aren’t easy, they can be very challenging
But on reflection, I wouldn’t change a single thing
I know my days are limited, who knows when life will end
I’ll make the most of every one, on that you can depend
Days Contest Sponsored By Daniel Turner
Poem Inspired by ‘These are the days of our life’ By Queen
6/4/18
People walk in and out,
Through me, it seems,
My presence barely sensed.
I coil around the pain,
And recoiling I make my way out,
Heaving relief into the dark.
Around me, night crawls about like a baby,
The moon, with arms outstretched,
Cradles me gently, lovingly.
And feeling a large crack in the universe
I am swallowed whole
And taken home.
Bright eyes,
blue skies,
it's a beautiful day!
"Let's go, Mama!" her cheer,
down the tall slide, no fear.
Twisting, bumping, "this is fun"
one more bend then it's done.
from the bottom goofy laughter.
One more go, another after.
"Come on, Mama!" she tugs
off to the swings after hugs.
back and forth, smiles soar
keep on going, swing some more!
Chain rattles with gaining speed,
she kicks her legs with excited need.
"Look at me Mama, I'm going high!
Look Mama, look Mama, I caught the sky!"
"There Mama, let's play in the sand"
off the swing in a quick demand.
Castle made with stick flags on top,
another bucket and we don't stop.
Laying back she buries her toes
and wiggles when sand gets in her nose.
Shake it off she says "I'm hungry"
it's time for a picnic, her and me.
Days like this, so fun and sweet.
Mama and daughter, summer heat.
True smiles of discovery
always to be cherished... my girl and me.
Blue skies,
Bright eyes,
it's a beautiful day!
The overlapping of me and us three
Of who I was and who I turned out to be
I never ever felt I was good enough
Or tuff enough to deal with that stuff
Gentleness inside grew like a flower
by day by night hour by hour
Yet I’m not some shrinking violet
I did not could not would not cower
I allowed soft to become my superpower
No bitter bone or heart like stone
A soft voice without the sappy happy tone
Those who need me won’t be left all alone
My minds not made to be judgmental
even when others might feel anger prone
So I’m okay with me
and who you two became too
We each have our ways to be true
I’m thankful we escaped our blue
Finding our best way through
We are more than what we were
or even all the things we’ve done or do
Nothing is everything
Thankfully overlapping old ways
make way for the new.
Myself an my siblings each dealt with the trauma of our childhood in our own ways. When I was younger I had trouble accepting their different ways. Time is a lense that helps us view the past with more clarity.
Dearest Child-Adventuring Man, My Darling Peter Pan:
Since that never to be forgotten day when Wendy first brought
you my way, my heart has been enchanted thru and true with
love for you. You are as magical as your happy-thought dust
that brought me flight thru star-glimmer skies, shimmering great
joy from my soul-core straight to my eyes. With you, I have felt
amazing fantasy as enthralling reality because of the wonder that
is you and your purview.
I love Neverland, Tinker Bell, the boys and the countless joys that
made up the minutes of each day we shared. Though nothing in my
future will ever compare, I can no longer deny that I am compelled
to step into adulthood, that such is what I should do, what I am
meant to do, and must do without you. In your world, I will always
be your girl, but in the traditional world, I must let my woman
unfurl. What is calling me onward and forward is all that you
would never walk toward and risk dying adult-bored.
Turn any woe into a splendid crow of much ado, repeat until woe
has winded you, then smile to know -
~ I shall always gratefully and lovingly remember you ~
As winter trees exhume their leaves
for spring
and Autumns' sacrifice
retreats in memory
Summers of sangria blossoms
drape their crimson blooms-
exhale against an arc of sighing skies
Seasons conspire
to tempt the wanderer on,
but it’s the stolen thoughts of childhood
that bring the wanderer home.
© Suzanne Delaney