Best Illumed Poems
Distrait within the dismal night
while drifting down deserted track...
Beyond the bend, a lantern light
illumed alone the vacant black.
Such are the tricks that fate will feign
with passing trains in winter rain.
The darkling sky sighed, dripping dew,
beguiling to the trek anew.
Through diamond dusk old demons came -
There was no dread, there was no claim,
for distant thoughts will entertain
on passing trains in winter rain.
Through shadow’s fog a form appeared
(which slowed its pace as morning neared),
a lonesome, meek and wistful thing,
like fallen bird with broken wing.
Such are the shapes and weary strain
of passing trains in winter rain.
We paused a moment, side by side
confronting Fate in eventide.
But Passion’s Pains of yesteryear
left youthful Ardor draped in fear -
We had our courses to maintain
like passing trains in winter rain.
I often harken, flashing back,
to sense the formless twisted track
muse “Few have loved though all have toyed
inside this vast and vacant void -
The reason why ? At heart, mundane
as passing trains in winter rain” ...
Those old memories crash
Like frenzied hurricane waves
Upon our sand and stone beach
Our sacred moment
Where innocent love blossomed
We cast our childhood into the sea
That sweet July night beckons
Two pure spirits from their haven
Phantom lovers illumed before me
Awash in newborn love’s passion
I buried a coal stone in the sands
Promising you diamonds at nightfall
Laughing you covered every stone
In that moment I truly found myself
Under the summer moon I held you
Gifting you the gems alight in the skies
Embracing the lovers faded leaving a kiss
On the spot where I laid it so long ago
…So I could return to you
She is the whispering of the bluest waters
Standing in the stillness she calls to me
Within the sounds of the coursing river
I feel the ease of her comfort washing over me
Consumed by her soft flowing siren song
Cascading down the mountains banks
Waltzing in the descending whitewater
Coming to rest in a cooled pool of her caress
Illumed depths tepid in the evening sun
Enhanced of her life and ardor
Swimming free
Drinking her intoxicating breath exhaling out
My love is the river of azure water
Ever carrying me onward she moves
Whispering…
On a frigid winter evening, so still
that hot breath lingered around my face.
In snow sparklingly dry and crystalline
I encountered fresh-made footprints,
leading off my mostly trodden path.
The sun was low in evening's sky
creating long dark spectral shadows
that would all too soon be swallowed.
But for a moment illumed the footprints
in a strange, compelling light.
A fleet chilling wind whisked around
flurrying the fine, icy flakes,
attempting to erase the marks.
Against the will to forge ahead
imprint the virgin snow, I turned;
and followed the path the footsteps made.
No further prints I saw upon the ground;
no evidence of animal or other.
Though in the distance I could hear,
as darkness drew its shroud,
the wailing of nocturnal beasts.
Then deathly, eerie silence save
for crying of the wind in tangled trees;
as I was led through thickets coarse,
and forests deepest gloomy dark,
to end beneath an ancient misty lychgate.
I stood beside a solitary grave
one word; 'Father,' etched upon the stone.
I glanced back from whence I came
In snow sparklingly dry and crystalline;
one single track of fresh-made footprints,
illumed in strange, compelling light.
The grain of wheat
dies
at Thy command
unconscious
of Your living
in its shell
turning it to life
giving bread
perpetuating it
ages
without end
nursing it with rain
and sunny smiles
from seed to stalk
a golden social plant
bowing its seeded
hairy head
in breezy dance
with poppy skirts
in red
illumed by a ruby
sunset veil
with robin breasts
singing gratitude
before the night
descends
its blinding veil
to equalizes colors'
vibrant hues
in noncompeting
shades
of resting black
switching lights
of distant
trembling lamps
luminous smile
of vagrant onion slice
to make of night
a little less
than death
before awaking
to splendor
rosy rays
sparkling diamonds
on grassy
finger hands
that mist to vanish
then return to play
hanging water lamps
on leaves and branches
that drip into the throat
of parched earth
to feed the roots
and soften seeds
to sprout
perennial cycle
feeding
and being fed
and all creation
obeying
seems content
except for man
to whom You gave will
to obey or to dissent
the pupil of Your eyes
You call friend
by interests
daily affairs
being led astray
the banquet ready
for repentant heir
all set with such glorious
royal splendor
no eyes have ever seen
nor ears have heard
the marvel of a joy
without compare
beyond the imagined
no pen can write
only faith can travel
Brian Strand: First place Trophy Winner- Your Choice Again-2/20/24
Brian Strand-You Say-Third Place Winner-3/14/23
First Place Winner: Brian Strand- All yours-1/17/21
As a perfect scar, is the morning star,
illumed as Hemera asleep and dreamy
upon the breasts of Nyx, cold and homey,
staring, so stoic in gaze, perfect scar.
Of settings and fanta-scenes of my soul
she reminds. Of wild eyes cremating forms
and preserving mummies amid ash storms
she reminds. Of words bleeding from my bowl...
Of a plum, all of her engrained for ay
she reminds. Of hopeless fetish within
sowing on my seed bed any season
She reminds... of Oyin coming so nigh.
As blush fades away, green leaves come alive;
the bluish glow with doves, refills my rive.
She of sweet kisses and lavender hues,
with wild loving eyes,
to melt in each orb of fire,
and dream too long....
Disguised to resist such wild love;
untamed as a wild stallion ---
she illumed this little darkling....
with her little light of love,
vast as the hope in her heavenly heart
That I dream her little dream,
and dance to the wanton moon in her eyes;
where the heavens alight a darkest night,
where my heart swoons in sweeter meadows,
I hold her as mine;
for all time, we are One,
in this red-wedded night,
unforgotten,
(She of sweet kisses)
Will I Recognize… The Face Of Love?
Or the Wonderful, Bedazzled Appearance of:
A Moon-kist Meadow, Hushed and Dark
A Solitary Silhouette, this Beauty Mark,
Windswept Grasses, like a Babe’s Soft Lashes
Rippling across Earth, that’s smooth as a Cheek.
In the Hushed and Flowery Scented Air…
Your Face of Love Materializes, Silvery, Full
The Face of Love … is Unforgettable.
From the Face of Love … Will I Withdraw?
The Face of Love without Any Flaw;
As a Canopy of Clouds with the Splendor of Sunbeams
Piercing past the fluffy powder of Heaven, to Radiate Gleams
A Classical Cameo-Sculpture, Perfect Profile Structure
Yea… in the Bright Beacons, I see Your Smile
In the Illumed, Clear Sky, ‘Your Face’
Can Love’s Face be Touched … Attainable?
The Face of Love … is Unforgettable.
The Face of Love … I Have Visualized,
Potent, Breathtaking, The Vision Rised;
From a Sunlit Lake, Winking as Would Diamonds.
Your Face of Love, Emerging from Far Beyond
The Depths of the Lake, as My Heart Quaked,
because of the Wavering Portrait’s Peace
because of Water-Color Caresses.
That Face of Love, was so Tangible.
The Face of Love … so Unforgettable
The Face of Love … has Gazed Upon
Dreams of Mine, the World’s Not Known
… Out of the Woodland’s Emerald Mist
With Drops of Dew, Love’s Face Kissed
The Framing Boughs; My Relaxed Brow.
Floating… Breathing out the Mist of Morn Light
That I may Sketch Your Face of Love, in Life.
The Face … More Handsome, than Sons of the Womb, is Possible…
The Face of Love … is Unforgettable
(For A Medieval-Tongued Poet, I Found Here at The Soup...
Ismael Nieves, this one's for you Kiddo
Mistress MoonBee
Woven perfection posh and copious
Threads of illumed infinity converging
Thrumming life in the Almighty breath
Varying designs of diligence and entreaty
Fading to an ominous melancholy gray
Selfish as his struggle becomes greater weight
Becoming vivid hope of unrelenting faith
As our Father returns our focus to the Son
This tapestry weaves the kingdoms protection
To be seen only by abiding faithful
Still it is deaths sword wielding Cherub
For those whom blind their own eyes
Lushly emerald and ambering golds satiate
Feeding the spirit with divine courage
Stand with your Father by honoring the Son
Cherish his gift by holding the truth
The promise is eternity not immortality…
Lamp posts eyes
through cracks
of curtains
spying
sewing needles
through mine
uninvited
screeching tires
honking horns
sirens
plucking mind’s guitar
unstop.
Take me to the Sonoran
steal into a hut
while its inhabitant
hunts
fall asleep in its belly
hidden
from rattling reptiles
hunting grasshoppers
coyotes
the howling hunter mouse
monsters, giants
the Gila, the Iguana
scorpions!
Take me to the Sonoran
illumed by the Saguaro
opening its white petals
at night
a lamp post of
candelabra flowers
where lizards
on waking
take sunbeams
showers
savoring magic
of orange red
golden yellow flowers
winking at sunset
and vanishing.
Honk, honk! Screech!
Splash!
Spilled my glass
of chamomile
slumbering on the sandy
waterless beach
of the Sonoran.
Third Place Winner: Brian Strand-Premier 1196-3/11/23
First Place Winner: Brian Strand-All Yours-3/12/21
Third Place: Debbie Guzzi- Exotic-7/22/17
The vast array of colored lights illuminated the jovial faces of the youthful teens
As Ms. Durmstrang antiquely waltzed with Mr. Chestwood.
I sat alone as I watched my velvet red date swiftly fly through the crowd,
being swept off her feet from every well-dressed, cordial gentlemen.
The cushioned chair was soft, though.
It provided me with all the comfort and support I needed.
I didn’t care that she left,
I didn’t care that my feeble heart was shattered once again.
So I left.
“She can find her own ride home,” was a mantra of mine on the way to the car.
I sat for awhile.
I don’t know why, but I did.
A strong aroma of roses plagued my nose,
Swelling up from my blood-red boutonniere.
The blood-red boutonniere Valerie deceived me with.
“Why am I crying? I never cry.”
I drove home before my emotions could consume me further,
listening to melodic tunes to calm my inner most concerns.
When I arrived home it was nearly midnight,
and right above me were thousands of stars mocking me with their vibrant glow.
All the stars, nestled in the ambient twilight, sitting, staring.
“Shut up!” I screamed as insanity pumped vigorously through
my veins.
The brown hue of my eyes were flooded with fiery rancor.
I couldn’t take it. I couldn’t take the pressure.
I couldn’t take the cold-heartedness.
I couldn’t take the aching.
I couldn’t take being mocked.
I couldn’t take being, being
Used.
Used for my father’s money,
Used as a punching bag,
Used for my empathetic ways,
Used for my unwavering ability to never say no.
I sat in the dew covered grass, illumed by the pale moonlight,
and as I gazed into the endless eyes of the sky, I became empowered.
Perhaps with my own fear, or eccentric thoughts, but I felt electric.
“No!” I screamed.
“I said no! I will not go to prom with you!
No, I hate football!
No, you cannot punch me!
No, I don’t drink!
No, dad, you cannot hit me!
No, mom, you cannot get wasted tonight!
No, God, you cannot keep me here any longer!
No. No.”
I did it you know.
I stayed true to my word.
I did it.
Rusted Steel,
I said no to life.
Ice crystal flowers
sparkling on branches of tree
illumed by street lights
As I wished for a dawn -
The dewed leaf fell up on the miry earth,
And the budding friendship blossomed with the auroral sky
The birds cheeped out of their ardent nests
And I greeted another new day
Charmed by the chromatic rays.
As I wished for a morning
The jogger lo and behold by the graceful cyan,
And the solitary realm pelted along with those hasty walks
The birds twittered yet their voice fainted by the lively crowd
And I hastened another fussy time
Peeved by the discomposed sounds.
As I wished for a noon
The shadow of mine lost somewhere under my feet
And the sweated hours seemed so long with flames that illumed the paves
The birds nested themeselves peeping out from the quenched trees
And I abided another hateful infinity
Jaded by the grieving entity.
As I wished for an evening
The juvenility amended out from those felicitous doors
And the twilight that ignited the sky above with the shining moon and the stars
The birds whistled along with the faithful breeze
And I dewlt by the golden rays sparked in the sky
Honoring the sun with a good-by.
As I wished for a night
The spiritual approach to life was fended by the saltatory notes
And the solitary moon esteemed the streets with the splendor of love
The birds benumbed along with the intimacy that followed
And I whispered to the midnight mo
Awaiting for the next dawn to another midnight wo.
The natural& the normal,synthetic yet,small scale,regular and the
irregular, embossed.Illumed in the artificial light .Drawings and legible forms intrique and beguile creating mind-games in memory.
Characature & cartoon avant-garde of the geometric in three dimensional desire.
Walking along the road
In untimely darken evening
That of heavy snow fallen
Amber light illumed on it
With steps of clumped feet
Sound of crack with slush
Frozen cold aroused
Melting the memory in the past
Silent cold and music of steps only
Walked ahead but without any aim
I am taken in cold by the memory
That is reborn without reason
Uncovered stock still hands give a pain
When I come out from the past
Put my hands in to my pouches of the jacket
Being silent of my determined mind
Pain and length of the walk
Like a careless driver I had
Breaking the memory of the past
Return to the way back to my place
Udaya R. Tennakoon