Best Gymnasium Poems
Take a look my Love
do you see how the diamonds of our dreams
are burning so brightly and violently
silhouetting the lips of our wishes against the walls of ancient Latin gold
in the sacred villa of Love's Kingdom where there is no escape
where rescue is unwanted,
where we survive and grow stronger in the gymnasium of passion's glory
did you notice that above the rose vine gateway
the phrase Sancta Simplicitas is carved deeply into the black and white marble,
do you feel the crimson love stress within your throat,
do you taste your soul's intestinal fortitude
surfacing on your spiked tongue
as we wrestle eachother ruthlessly, like champions that die in defeat,
moral armbars, clean elbow strikes to the jaw of flippancy,
pressure point pinches to the arteries of our inhibitions,
intellectual left and right hooks landing on the cheeks of our wisdom,
poetic hip throws to the mat of hard lust
defiant choke holds of love, flawless in tight execution
penetrating the blood brain barrier with the ecstasy of warrior fervor,
and as we lay sweatied and spent on the ground of this rough enlightenment
we look at eachother admiringly and realize like young romance
that we live for a single, shared purpose
to teach love what love means,
If they ever say diamonds to diamonds, dust to dust
they'll be speaking in bereavement of our beauty and bravery, of our best,
and I won't allow that,
as I know damn well
that you will not tolerate such misgivings either my Love,
instead,
we shall build a war machine of divine desire
that will destroy the proven walls of conventional psychology
erect a fortress of love that can withstand total despair,
and they will know the strength of our diamond love
as it guides the lost and lonely
through chaotic oceans of heart hysteria as with us,
no one will ever say our love died,
because we fought for it to live my Love -
Sancta Simplicitas is an ancient Latin phrase meaning...Holy Simplicity...
J.A.B.
You're smiling ...
I'm staring at you
I know you know that I know
That you like me ... that you REALLY like me
Wendy told me, and Linda told her
(After I had Dave ask Debbie to ask Linda)
So it might as well have been you directly ... yeah
I also know that you know that this is my favorite slow-dance
I made sure Dave hinted to Debbie that she tell Linda
'Cause Wendy had said that Linda told her it was YOUR favorite song
Well, your favorite slow-dance song
We have the same favorite fast song, too, "Ain't No Mountain"
But "(They Long To Be) Close To You" is finally playing
And when it started, you spun to find me across the gymnasium
(I was watching - Wendy told me that Linda told her to make sure I watch you)
Then you smiled, and I smiled, and now I KNOW we are true and steady
I KNOW it's time to make my move ...
The lights are low, mirror ball spinning
Sawdust has been spread on the gym floor
I've got my paisley shirt on, apache around my neck
Best bell-bottoms, big-buckle belt and boots
And enough Hai Karate cologne to seduce an elephant
But ... but ... but, my feet aren't moving!!
What's wrong?!?
I've planned this for weeks, and now I'm frozen ...
It's my braces ... Debbie told EVERYone that she cut her lip on them
Now I'm terrified that you might turn me down ... cuz of that
'Cuz last year Linda broke up with Dave just because he GOT braces
She never even kissed him with braces, but broke up with him ...
Just from the FEAR of cutting her lip!
('Course Dave is a power kisser, everybody knows that)
Still, I KNOW you like me ... and you ARE smiling ...
It's now or never, cuz the Carpenter's won't play forever
I feel a hand in my back - Dave, pushing me
Toward you ... across the floor
Braces be DAMNED - I'm making my move!
The night is OURS, Baby
And it's a groovy thing happening!
Yeah ...
"Why do stars ... fall down from the sky ... "
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Now It's Our Turn - DWM" Poetry Contest, Kim Rodrigues, Judge & Sponsor.
Driving past our old home on Glenwood Avenue
Memories came to life from my childhood days
Going over the park, Mom. I'll be in before ten
Got a game of hide and seek. Everyone plays
We'd take a bottle of yoo-hoo or nu-grape to drink
In winter on Clark Street there was an ice skating rink
A pack of luckies in our shirt sleeve thinking we were cool
The Bungalow was our community pool
There were Friday night dances in the gym at Saint Jerome
Maybe a stop at the Coffee Cup while we were walking home.
Movies at the Majestic and Victoria were great
Fan buses for away games. We'd get back late.
American Billiard Academy was where the balls were racked
No seat at the home game because the stadium was packed
Under the state store, the Y M C A
At the Vic a Saturday matinee
A baseball game with a sponge ball and fist
In the school's gymnasium, doing the Twist
Middle Ward playground, the movie was free
Adjusting the picture on the old T V.
A class trip on school buses to Hershey Park
Sleigh ride down Snake Hill in the cold and the dark
Walking the coal bank by Number Fourteen
Stopping at Mike's to play the pinball machine
On Biddle Street, we'd sit on the cemetery wall
Jumping into piles of leaves in the early fall
Then I stopped at Dutch Hill Park for a while
Memories of Tamaqua always make me smile.
We are all but dancers
In the rhythm of life
While some seem to dance it perfectly
Some can't get the steps down right
Don't let that stop you from dancing
We each have our own heartbeat
Whether or not you are sure footed
Or if you were born with two left feet
Though we often feel that life can be
A large gymnasium at times
Waiting for someone to dance with us
As we sit on the side
Instead of waiting to be asked to dance
Like so many often do
Where ever it is you are right now
You can dance just for you
Perhaps a ballerina floating gracefully
Across life's massive stage
Giving your own rendition
To the beauty of swan lake
Or dancing to the river
Perhaps something in modern style
Whatever dance it is you deliver
How ever far it is the mile
Dance like there's no tomorrow
To your very own rhythm
For no one else can dance like you
The dance that you've been given
It was 1971, and I wore fish net stockings at the end of the school year
I had no garter belt so I used knots but they soon fell to my ankles, Oh Dear !
December 1, 2021
ps, This is a true story. My Aunt Annetta worked in a hosiery factory
she brought me some bright pink fish net socks and told me to wait
until mom bought me a garter belt. I was so eager to wear them
I did what all the grown women do, put knots in them. But as I
walked into the gymnasium, the stockings fell to my ankles.
I never forgot the embarrassing moment. Although
it seems quite funny today, it was quite a disaster back then.
Bodyweight !.. I constantly gain..
Diet Regime ..gone in vain...
My body- totally out of shape..
Gymnasium is a total waste!
Huge shoes and clothes size-jumbo,
They tease me"Fatty Little Bumbo".
They say I'm fat and call me a ball,
Or they say I am huge wall.
Elephant, Hippo , they call me animal names,
All these words put me to total shame..
Hydrogen balloon , I am to some,
Hurting comments..yet I keep mum..
With tears rolling down my chubby cheeks..
Lonely and dejected I sit on the beach..
"Yes I'm Fat!", I scream aloud..
"Yet I'm happy and very proud!"
Confidence rises with my self esteem,
Happy and joyful, now I seem,
To all hurting comments, with a "Thank you" I smile
Leaving commenters surprised for a while..
Slowly though, one day they ask..
"Don't you feel like taking us to task ?"
"We hurt you and call out names to you..
And you only respond with a polite Thank you?"
To Them I say "Yes!, I'm fat..
So you tell me how to solve that ?
All diet and efforts have gone in vain..
Does that mean I live in shame ?"
"Comments from you , the beautiful!
Are compliments for me -the ugly fat Bull!"
My words make them feel terrible..
For ridiculing me they feel miserable..
Soon, towards me their attitudes change..
"Lady!! You are very beautiful! " together they claim
"Your inner beauty triumphs over our appearance..
Fat is Ugly..is our wrong inference.."
"Ultimate beauty !..is the beauty within...
That matters more..than being thin.".
Then they say "You are a gorgeous little beauty"..
And I wink" A gorgeous little fatty"!!
The Teacher boomed "Girls Curtsy" now "Boys Bow".
"Learn your Etiquette, Ladies first Gentlemen".
"We do not run we are not a herd of cattle, Now single file !"
"You Mr Smith will hold the door !, Thank you sir"
We filed threw the door unlike cattle as best we could.
Young Mr Smith falling promptly into the end of the line.
The girls giggled at us boys, as it seemed we were most in need of discipline.
And now to add to our disgrace we must, I must, keep from becoming violently ill.
For today we will learn to dance with Girls !
Behold the Gymnasium, the fetid hall of Torture, First Dodge-ball and now this Humiliation. Under the glaring lights of the Gymnasium devilish eyes gleamed across the way as they separated boys from girls.Damn their souls !, Begone ye pony-tailed and frilly spawns of Satan !
If only a deathly rain of frogs would find this an opportune moment to appear.
With their Ghastly shrills they would scatter to the winds like dandelion seeds !
But protected they were, the roof held steady and appeared it would for quite sometime.
They then paired us off, boy-girl, boy-girl, no chance to protest it was done.
I stood there holding her hand, staring at the back of her curly red hair.
She turned and smiled then shrugged, looking away so I would not turn to stone.
The Teacher sneered with fiendish delight and clapped her hands "Now Begin !"
Music filled the air and the frilly beast grabbed my other hand and pulled me towards her."Step-Step-Step-Left-Step-Step and Right, Boys pay attention !"
Slightly above the music I could hear groans from my fellow tortured souls.
We drug our feet desperately hoping for a Fire drill, The A-bomb, anything to end this nightmare ! The clock ticked slowly away and finally it came to an end, Death did not come we lived on.
The Redheaded Demoness turned to me "You did good" she said, and walked away to rejoin the giggling herd. Several days later a note appeared tapping on my shoulder, from the (Redheaded Demoness) "I like you do you like me Y/N" it read. It was over for me, my journey through the light had come to an end and into the darkness I fell as I pressed down with my #2 Pencil and circled (Y).
I
Hear the bouncing of the balls--
Basketballs!
What a sound of merriment they cause when each ball falls!
How they echo, echo, echo,
Inside the gymnasium walls,
Arriving at a crescendo
While the spectators shout “Bravo!”
Drowning the referee’s calls;
And the players start
To make their last dart
Amidst the reverberation ricocheting off the stalls
From the balls, balls, balls, balls,
Balls, balls, balls--
From the bouncing and the dribbling of the balls.
II
Hear the ticking of the balls,
Ping-pong balls!
What a soft and easy sound comes from their bounce and rolls!
In the crowded room that’s bright
How they fill it with delight!
Like the ticking of a clock,
Steady but fast,
Or the picking of a lock,
What tune they make with their ceaseless tick-tock,
Until at last--
Oh, what a miss that appalls
The audience that has remained speechless in the halls
How it falls!
How it scrolls!
And the erring player rolls
His fists at his own pitfalls
By the swinging and his missing
To hit the balls, balls, balls
The balls, balls, balls, balls,
Balls, balls, balls--
To hit the light and small and saffron ping-pong balls!
III
Hear the loud thud of the balls--
Volleyballs!
What feeling of suspense is caused by their great falls!
Across the nets stretched tight
How they gracefully take flight!
The watchers anticipating,
Who would win they keep waiting,
Breathlessly.
Until the umpire from his platform blows a long shrill whistle,
And the balls drop on the ground like useless heads of missile.
Then tempers start to bristle
In the air there is a rustle
From both player and spectator
To win the set or never
Hold the trophy covetously.
Oh, the balls, balls, balls--
"Pick them up!" the umpire bawls.
Once again
The balls are hit, tossed, and passed
And the game goes on full blast
While the players on each side dare not complain
Yet the audience fully knows
By the spiking
And the digging
How the game would sooner close.
Who would be covered in palls
Suffer beating,
‘Cause of losing,
And forced to receive catcalls
For dismally failing to score and keep afloat the balls,
The volleyballs--
The volleyballs, balls, balls, balls,
Balls, balls, balls--
In the scrambling and the spiking of the balls!
March 18, 2023
In the little town called Cleveland
Some many years ago
In a high school gymnasium
Met a group of girls and boys
Since early in their childhood
They were plagued by many peers
Because they lacked
The perfect look
Like many other kids
After many years of torture
Constant badgering from everyone
They decided was time to take a stand
Claiming freedom once again
The group contained the branded
The freaky geeky boys
The girls slightly on the heavy side
A few all rolled in one
They called their club the meeting
Of freaky boys and busty girls
Requirement was be outcast
From the preps the jocks “the toys”
They arranged a simple protest
Simple protest most fun
To prove that being different
Is not so bad and can be fun
They stripped down to nothing
But a smile on every face
And marched the halls of Cleveland High
In unison they did say
Though we may all look different
Inside we’re all the same
So accept us if you will or not
We’re happy just the same
The faculty at the school that day
We outraged by what they saw
Forty teenage girls and boys
Marching naked down the hall
Parents quickly contacted
Expulsion all around
For the kids labeled freaks and geeks
Their victory it was found
Though the protest was very different
The idea quite deranged
Respect was granted on that day
For the group with guts to say
Being different is not so different
Can be cool they all proclaimed
For the geeky boys and busty girls
Were proud for each that day
The moral of this story
Though odd but very true
Though outside one looks different
Inside the pages read so true
Looks aren’t that important
But the hearts all beat the same
We are all just like
The kids
From Cleveland high that day
That small town Christmas spirit...
It grew a little brighter
just after Thanksgiving.
Garlands were wrapped around
every light pole lining the main street.
Multi-colored light strings
outlined every window.
The drug store, the library.
Even the corner bar
across from the church
had a little Christmas spirit and cheer.
And, the post office, busy with workers
answering kids' letters to Santa...
Young voices rose
from the school gymnasium,
where the Christmas program
was always held.
It was the only place
where every class
could stand together
and sing a song or two.
Behind the high school
stood the sledding hill.
The highest point
overlooking the town,
was fun and magical...
especially on moonlit nights.
Beyond that snowy hill
was the grocery store.
Freshly cut pine trees
stood for sale
in the parking lot.
Every aisle inside the store
was warmly decorated.
And, by the "OUT" door
was a reminder to bring in
old coats and new toys
for the needy families.
Filling the empty bins
would be a miracle here...
When none of us
had much ourselves.
Yet, they were full
by Christmas Eve.
I guess, when you're a kid
you notice these things...
And, after the lights
were turned off,
the decorations taken down.
That small town Christmas spirit
Still lingered in that place...
In the little town called Cleveland
Some many years ago
In a high school gymnasium
Met a group of girls and boys
Since early in their childhood
They were plagued by many peers
Because they lacked
The perfect look
Like many other kids
After many years of torture
Constant badgering from everyone
They decided was time to take a stand
Claiming freedom once again
The group contained the branded
The freaky geeky boys
The girls slightly on the heavy side
A few all rolled in one
They called their club the meeting
Of freaky boys and busty girls
Requirement was be outcast
From the preps the jocks “the toys”
They arranged a simple protest
Simple protest most fun
To prove that being different
Is not so bad and can be fun
They stripped down to nothing
But a smile on every face
And marched the halls of Cleveland High
In unison they did say
Though we may all look different
Inside we’re all the same
So accept us if you will or not
We’re happy just the same
The faculty at the school that day
We outraged by what they saw
Forty teenage girls and boys
Marching naked down the hall
Parents quickly contacted
Expulsion all around
For the kids labeled freaks and geeks
Their victory it was found
Though the protest was very different
The idea quite deranged
Respect was granted on that day
For the group with guts to say
Being different is not so different
Can be cool they all proclaimed
For the geeky boys and busty girls
We’re proud for each that day
The moral of this story
Though odd but very true
Though outside one looks different
Inside the pages read so true
Looks aren’t that important
But the hearts all beat the same
We are all just like
The kids
From Cleveland high that day
HAIKU GLIMPSES #1
Busy corner
Clash of zigzag feet;
Small talk echoes
~~~~~~~~~
Post Office crowd
Orderly queue;
Minds elsewhere
~~~~~~~~~
Newspaper vendor
Overstock complaint;
Financial problem
~~~~~~~~~
Outdoor gymnasium
Overgrown kids cluster;
Mental muscle
~~~~~~~~~
Beach barbecue
Motley bunch mingle;
Strange faces
~~~~~~~~~
Holiday mood
Not much to do;
Mental vacation
~~~~~~~~~
Seaside stroll
Small crabs scurry;
Monster feet stomp
~~~~~~~~~
Listen now
Can you hear;
Mermaids singing
~~~~~~~~~
Dawn light unfolds
Dust through sunlight;
Energy percolates
~~~~~~~~~
Lonely songbird
Serenades dawn;
Regular visitor
~~~~~~~~~
My nephew Xavier
Army boy now;
Rites of passage
~~~~~~~~~
Lovely feelings
Sentimental tunes;
Yesterday's flashback
~~~~~~~~~
Leon Enriquez
24 June 2015
Singapore
Tell me what you see when you're looking at me,
probably nothing in real or something green,
I' am looking and searching for a probable to work through,
you the righteous one I warn and wicked repent I beseech you.
Heed the bitter but later sweet words,
funny you'll find your casualness in the words when I'm dead,
make it a gymnasium by exercising the art of the words,
you'll soar up high contrary to the ordinary birds.
Take out of nothing when you want something,
it's either you bend or you abide not with pride,
ignite the candle and walk through the light not with the light,
so choose of the right and yours will be positive insights .
It is sure plausible to spread the vision
Beyond visibility, with mind's comprehension-
To see yonder where the sun rises-
Over the serene blue ocean that surprises,
Where the green boughs of heavy trunks
Canopies the vast ocean below sunk.
It demands rich imagination-
'Cause it's just a piece of fiction,
But could be applied to life's entity-
Where the Sun, Ocean and Horizon forms a Trinity.
The yellow ball of fire is the brightest star,
'Tis attainable though it seems so far,
Burning, glazing and sudorific-
It requires endeavours terrific.
To grab the fireball with hands of uranium,
And a career built in the industrious gymnasium.
The blue ocean is deeper than the depths of the mind,
Yet white pearls in conch'd shells at the bottom do you find .
So dive below and extract the true jewels of His (God's) bounty,
For he who emerges to the brim is graced with aplenty.
Perchance, 'tis a task so difficult,
To merge the Sun and the Sea so occult-
Fix thy courage to the sticking place,
And victory will be thy entourage!
Be firm, fixed and ferocious,
Merge your mind and determination so zealous;
Thy willpower is the Sun and feelings the Ocean
Attainable, achievable and palpable
There lies the Horizon!
Mitigating migrating mermaids mingle marvellously. But only after consuming an oyster. Oysters can be quite operatic and operas are neither optical illusions nor organised instruments either. It is within the waves that patterns form. Darting to a mn fro. Discovering depths. Creatures yet unseen whisper to waters and sailors chant and clap several times to catch fish and avoid bad weather. The force of a tepid whiskered whale is held in high regard by a limpet. It is within a ball of nautical booms that a book is born but books made of bread should only be served in oceanside cafés and skinny waitresses in shell costumes could serve the wares from sandy plates with hair akin to seaweed dried in the sun. How rather amazing the plumage of a plummeting plum formation. Isnt that astounding really? For a dishwasher could be rather dishonest whilst all the commotion was occurring from clam tables and therefore lose the cutlery. Oh no and an oompa oompa noise means the knives have halved and dived into the perilous back of the drainage system. Must rest then the test must surely be adhered to. Like perhaps the placing of glue before washing? Yes. That would be it. Key to involving a mighty whoosh from a water machine that delivers much fresh to a stale stagnation. Static vapours only really occur when the moon is round and not triangular. Ha the curds are arriving just look at their hands painted in rainbow italics. Ha the covers of the shops are radiating a luminous glow today with ten flowers laughing from the roofs. Grafted grinding grinning crinkled paper basket in a bow tie and a trilby hat. How rather cute! And a stained weather map is a target for an ambient ship parade. Xxxxx observational z z z z z at thirty overweight groaning sticklebacks to sixteen maggots in a gymnasium z z z z z z must take to the pickle cloud a s a p. Z
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