Best Hint Poems
When leaves in whispers say goodbye
With a hint of autumn’s sun rise
Once of vibrant life to mutate
In combat with the chilling eve.
Soon to waltz within heartless breath
When leaves in whispers say goodbye
From mighty mother trees shaking
In fall’s perpetual cycle.
No more gathering of morns dew
Within the mist that spoils the view
When leaves in whispers say goodbye
Dressed in colours of red and gold.
Another seasonal imprint
Scurrying along woodland’s chase
Driven by swirling artful winds
When leaves in whispers say goodbye.
© Harry J Horsman 2022
The hint of autumn leaves in breeze
As northern states begin to chill,
When August morning frost in trees
Drapes canopies o’er sylvan hill.
As summer waltzes her last dance,
The hint of autumn leaves in breeze
Adds to the season her romance,
When dappled colors start to tease
As nature offers her first freeze.
Soon verdant leaves morph into gold.
The hint of autumn leaves in breeze
Foretells of changes to behold.
Bright autumn hues beyond compare,
As gold, ruby, and rust now please
When summer’s end began to share
The hint of autumn leaves in breeze.
8-16-22
~Seventh Place~
Hint of Autumn Premiere Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Regina McIntosh
~Poem of the Day August 17, 2022~
Thank you very much Team Poetry Soup and Members
Oh goldenrod how bright your blaze
though blooming sunrays bittersweet —
your tint the hint of crisper days
when dusk arrives on hastened feet
amidst the green tall grass you gleam
oh goldenrod how bright your blaze!
gold dust the stuff of Nature’s dream
rich sprays of flame the monarchs praise
a beacon’s beam in humid haze
a rocket flare in atmosphere
oh goldenrod how bright your blaze —
a torch for summer love to bear
as solstice fades no longer spry
and sun-dried skies brown manes of maize
beneath the aging daystar’s sigh
oh goldenrod how bright your blaze!
Susan Ashley
August 17, 2022
~ First Place ~
Writing Challenge - X'd Poems Second Chance Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Constance La France
*N/A (X'd)
*Contest: Hint of Autumn
*Date judged: September 3, 2022
Rhymes verified: Rhymezone
Syllables verified: howmanysyllables; 8 per line
Photo: Gardenia.net
The hint of his scent invited me to enter
a forbidden door, running male fingers along
the fabric of my back…silhouettes melt
on the wall; jealous stars drift afar as
moonlight trails along with heaving sighs.
And my cheery lips heat beyond eyes
smoldering in flickers of candles lit,
just there, I wished the fire of breath
had more power over my bare heart
to reject a desire to follow lure's command
when temptation dares me to accede.
Regina Riddle's Rejection Contest
by nette onclaud
A hint of red and yellow
Amongst a sea of green
A sign that change is coming
To the forest canopies
This morn's air is slightly chilled
Much more than in past months
And squirrels scurry 'cross the ground
Collecting all their nuts
There are no children playing
Nor in the swimming pools
The streets are calm and quiet
For they've all gone back to school
Some have dug out their hoodies
And others long sleeve shirts
And some have traded off their shorts
For Pants and longer skirts
The corn too, has turned colors
From green to wilted brown
And bonfires are blossoming
Like ember flowers from the ground
Ciders and hot chocolate
And flavors of pumpkin spice
And the beers at Oktoberfest
Well, they Taste just as nice
The full moon rises larger
Signs of harvest in the air
And the deer become skittish
With bow season drawing near
The sky itself seems different
It's shades of grey and blue
And the sun that hides behind the clouds
Tells us fall will be here soon
A hint of Autumn I can feel
in August when it starts to cool.
It's a small pup at my heel -
not too noticeable – yet real!
Though changes yet I cannot see,
a hint of Autumn I can feel.
More comfortable I’ll soon be.
September’s days are my ideal!
Like fruit when you remove their peel,
a zing revealed comes in the fall.
A hint of autumn I can feel.
Right now - a child - it’s at a crawl.
But by October leaves change hues.
Nature no more can conceal
the season’s beauty that ensues.
A hint of autumn I can feel.
She gazes past the golden fields
beyond the wheat that summer yields
above the solitary oak, so still
where a lazy hawk, with circles fill.
He feels the drifts in windswept skies
her soul goes drifting, by and by
she’s carried from her lonely bed
to fly away, no fear or dread.
And when the moon at night alights
her hopeful eyes, with tears delight
she looks beyond the stars above
and feels the wonder of God’s love.
The first hint
I stood at the gate
and was shocked to find
the clasp unfastened
It swung freely on its hinges
as if it had not a care
to whom might enter or leave
I looked out towards the horizon
across the wintered over field,
a stark white landscape
I saw nothing but barren trees with
twisted branches creaking,
silhouettes reaching on an opaque sky
I felt scared and nervous…
what would happen now that the entryway
to my heart had been left open
Then I felt a hand on my shoulder,
and looking to my right, there you were,
smiling a sunrise on my face
So I pulled the gate closed,
secured it tightly as I found the first
hint of spring in your kiss
Good morning Soupers
I was feeling restless and empty
And I was feeling low.
All I believed was a white paper
An ordinary pen did do.
I wanted to put a question, there
To ask first - who are you?
Fathomless emotions, eager to converse
Should I assess -are you true?
I know there is much research
Hypothetical truth; hot and valid
Seeking the inner child, facing a challenge
Asking for yourself - true and candid.
I could never hold a dead body
And, I could never treat, I would say.
Too pampered a soul inside me
Life doesn’t often happen as I may.
All I wanted to see a rose petal
swirling alone in the heavy wind.
A visitor of the grace of the time
A witness of the reason and hint.
What gave me away?
Was it my sway?
Or my long limber limbs
Like glasses with broken rims?
Oh sure, wind has its way with me,
But broken or uprooted, I’ll never be.
Neither short, not tall, could be my description.
My strength and elasticity, a better depiction.
Cry me a river is your first hint,
And for a second; I’m easily bent.
Not a flower, or a bush, but green if you please.
In a botanical listing, I’m found under trees.
What I am, I will proudly bellow.
I’m known to most as a weeping willow.
Descending acorns
Now under a hunters moon
Falling with a plunk
(Haiku Me Some Nature, Please contest )
Written by Laura McKenzie
Zebra stripes
you instantly know what animal it is,
Xanthic you couldn't call it
white and black are its colours.
Viewing and naming an animal
usually needs a certain knowledge
that comes through reading and observing
Stripes are more prevalent than spots on animals
Remaining beasts are mostly of one colour
Quite a number resemble the terrain it lies in.
Perfectly camouflaged,
on a hot day most animals lie in the shade.
Natures way of keeping cool is a dip in the waterhole
Many become victims of a hiding crocodile.
Lying under the water in wait for the thirsty.
Killing them in its massive jaws
Just the same for humans who take the risk,
I wouldn't be that brave.
However the young animals find
going without water a killer.
For they can't just pop a can as they need
everyday occurrence for you and I.
Dangers lurk everywhere in the bush
Careful now as you go
Beautiful beasts everywhere
Africa where danger is a way of life
Penned 2 October 2015
The heightened sparks of joyful days
That cheer us up in many ways,
When music raps, as voices drawl
Before the morning winds enthrall...
For his chime is a faithful song
That lifts me up where I belong,
Before star's luster mark a name
To our talks, our gazes, aflame.
Somehow the hints of love unfold
Refreshing every breath I hold;
So let this nightfall find it’s grace
To charm my thoughts with fond embrace...
Until a soft surrendering
I raise my cheeks and start to fling,
That from this moment’s rhapsody
Life speaks of a day meant for me.
In The Mood For Love
For Shadow Hamilton
11/26/2015
*Image of The Farmhouse by UNS.
Hint of Autumn
Sunstar wakes, Aurora reacts,
As light skews her southernmost sky,
A roost rouses, a rooster crows,
Henhouse's wood handle lifts up.
A replete farm inclined to rouse,
Sunstar wakes, Aurora reacts,
Four-year-old farmhand gets busy,
Baskets of fresh eggs walked with care.
A kitchen's stove burners light up,
A toaster plugged, and cooked bread sliced,
Sunstar wakes, Aurora reacts,
Pasteurized cow's milk fills glasses.
Patterned shirts and blue-jean jumpsuits,
Waits for the bus, two school returnees,
A leaf falls, "Guess afterschool rake?"
Sunstar wakes Aurora reacts.
2022 August 12
*5th Place*
Hint of Autumn
~~Regina McIntosh: Judged 2022 September 03
*HMS; 8 syllables per 16 lines
Still, a hint of musk
remained behind on
the shirt he last wore,
a faint reminder of skin
pressed up against mine,
the essence of sweat &
tears that lingers a lifetime