Best Illumes Poems
* A collaboration with the awesome Liam McDaid
Fair maiden who sails on each crested wave
Drawn from the deepest ocean currents
Galloping white steeds landing on golden sands
Within each beat growing stronger feelings
Exploring beauty inside this magically universal dream
Developing under every passing moon
Joining with shadows we unite souls
I see a starlight shining so brightly, blinking
Destinies promise to join our kingdoms
Each one bringing you closer into the heart
A thousand gifts wrapped over and back
As silk white ribbons inside out beams upon your grace
The greatest pleasure is dancing with your love under the moonlight gaze
On the horizon, darkness approaches
Ominous storm clouds from the north
Fear in your eyes as moon turns black
Steeds neigh in the maelstrom
Utopian dreamscape becomes Dante's nightmare
You release my hand, thunder shakes our universe
Lightning illumes the sky casting ghostly shadows
I call out to you as you mount your beast
But alas, the cacophony drowns out my pleas
Waking up the eyes sting, salt based
Missing someone special with whom I shared once upon a time
Lost inside the loneliness, nowhere to turn
Stuck within a bubble of feelings
Where someone will never leave or hide away
Standing for a moment in the cold morning mist
Listening to the crows call
Haunting thoughts drift upon a cloud
With picture memories stored, deeply beautiful
Tonight, I will once again close my eyes
and dream of you
Categories:
illumes, desire, dream, romance,
Form:
Free verse
There stands a desolate castle on England's venerable shore,
That once sheltered a royal line that ruled its sprawling realm.
Now, according to local lore, eerie things are seen and heard,
In that castle by the sea, in that haunted castle by the sea!
On blustery nights a spectral sentry is seen pacing its towers.
Clad in mail, armed with lance, he's heard to herald the hours.
His disembodied voice is heard e'en o'er the raging storm,
Atop that castle by the sea, atop that haunted castle by the sea!
On stormy nights as thunder crashes and the savage gale shrieks,
Lightning illumes a princess wraith, tears coursing down her cheeks,
As she waves to her handsome prince who goes forth into battle,
In that castle by the sea, in that haunted castle by the sea!
On moonlit nights a phantom hearse drawn by six ebon steeds,
Trailed by ghostly figures intoning haunting dirges is often seen.
As drifting clouds overshadow the moon, it fades from view,
Nigh that castle by the sea, nigh that haunted castle by the sea!
If only those barren, lichen covered walls could only speak,
But, alas, they now stand forlorn, eternally mute and bleak.
The haunting secrets they might reveal are forever buried,
In that castle by the sea, in that haunted castle by the sea!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved
Honorable Mention in Debbie Guzzi's "Jack OUT Of The Box" Contest - Jun 2011
Categories:
illumes, mystery
Form:
Ballad
Night falls and the mirror moon illumes the
heavenly starry skies with gleaming ivory beams.
Shiny and mellow, a splendrous silver orb,
the delight of the night sky!
It is the evening of the 15th, and the cool air is fair,
filled with chirping crickets and reason for revelry.
Kinfolk gather to rejoice within the warmth of their hearth,
toasting with mulled wine ; munching moon cakes!
But today is also sacred and solemn, and offerings
must be made to Heaven and Earth. Thus, scented
sandalwood incense are lit ; apricots and pomelos are placed
upon lacquer plates before the plaques of divine gods,
and dear ancestors.
Away from laughter and lanterns, besides a quiet lake,
and under a lofty peak, sits a sagacious couple. She smiles
and plays the guqin, sending with each skillful stroke,
soft and serene sounds that grace the ethereal night's air.
As for him, he stands pleased under the pavilion, inhaling
the sweet scents of blooming peach blossoms, and admiring
the moon as it rose and the beauty of his wife before the
bright shimmer of moonlight.
Content, he recites a poem:
“The moon is luminous,
Heaven is harmonious,
Autumn has come,
And Summer is gone,
I toast my cassia wine,
To a harvest most fine!”
All rights released into Public Domain
Categories:
illumes, appreciation, autumn, beauty, mirror,
Form:
Free verse
Its ghostly, desolate shell reposes atop a craggy tor,
Overlooking the restless sea on England's venerable shore!
Though its walls have withstood the ravages of countless ages,
Its name and former majesty are lost in history's pages.
What gay times must've abounded within its sturdy walls!
Sumptuous repasts with joints of meat and elegant balls!
The chase for stag and fox with the running of the hounds!
Celebrating with games and picnics on its compelling grounds!
Now, according to local lore, eerie things are seen and heard.
Scenes portrayed by phantoms of events that once occurred.
On moonlit nights a spectral guard is seen to pace its towers,
Clad in mail, armed with lance, he's heard to herald the hours!
On stormy nights as thunder crashes and the savage gale shrieks,
Lightning illumes a princess wraith, tears coursing down her cheeks.
She waves to her prince sitting astride his steed of white,
Who goes forth into battle, this, her handsome, valiant knight!
Did in this once magnificent mansion reside a royal line?
We are forever left to wonder about its calamitous decline.
If these, cold, gray, massive walls could only speak
To reveal its secrets! But, alas, they now stand mute and bleak!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved
Entry for Shadow Hamilton's "Castles" Contest (12 March 2007)
Categories:
illumes, nostalgia,
Form:
Rhyme
The moon won’t rise.
Unless lady gravity is holding her
Moonflower that’s still, shining bright.
Silver steps silver gown.
Spiraling up to the stars above the ground.
A heart she really cares.
Every night she illumes our light everywhere.
She does not mind time after time.
Walking countless steps so we can have nightlight.
Be grateful of our lady of light of the night.
With out her we would be blind at night time.
Categories:
illumes, fantasynight, light, light, night,
Form:
Heroic Couplet
Ghostly presence seen nightly
When lighthouse illumes brightly
Fishermen claim to see her
Confounded old tars concur
Her lover swallowed at sea
by fierce waves, old tars agree
Lighthouse beam, sailors concur
Was gone, not even a blur
March 15, 2019
For Charlie’s Jueju-Qijue With A Twist Contest
Categories:
illumes, history, sea,
Form:
Jueju
Illuminating Soul (COLLABORATION )
by~ George Stal
I had felt this age had won;
as my sword was rotted as spring appeared.
The earth burst out as a blossom.
And now saileth in the boat of sunrise,
come forth,
O, quiet Heart-
For I have avenged thee
on the day when thy dead shall live anew.
Shutting thy eyes on the world,
sublime in thy abnegation.
See it break on thy face;
Soul illumes*
by~ Poet Destroyer
Ageless with the world that comes and goes.
Mist Upon this blossom Morn,
Thy eyes bleed for the beauty arising -
Your gentle hues atop the green lawn
Casting a rock~ upon the horizon land.
The world grant's the sun a final flirt of passion.
I will taste the silent air'
Longing on a new deathbed!
With earth breaking the intimate and final push.
Soon thy will see the silver line
Send it down thy watery grave,
Thy soul will illuminate and sublime with the universe.
~A Poet Destroyer Collaboration~
Categories:
illumes, earth, imagination, world, universe,
Form:
Free verse
Lost between the passing of moments
Unscathed by times constancy
It is your spirit adrift upon the Ameles
Disregarding your earthbound verve
Now a spent and forlorn wanderer…
Lapsed between the transitory minutes
Unabashed by any human wont
Your placid essence seeks explanation
To the changing pieces of the enigma
That illumes and achieves life’s puzzle…
Lost between the spaces of times passing
Nescient to all things once beheld
Your spirit wakes from its myopic oblivion
To continue on in the terrestrial trials
Unaware of lost spaces in times passing…
NOTE: The Ameles is a river in Greek mythology. It is said that when you swim in
it or drink from it you forget everything.
Categories:
illumes, imagination, introspection, life, time,
Form:
Free verse
As the moonlight shone over the mountains
The stars starts to flicker one by one
Humming winds eases the roughness
From the day's unforgiving sun.
Chilling wind caresses the darkness
Serenading them softly and low
Night critters goes out to mingle
Under the moon's mesmerizing glow.
The calm river chimes in its flowing
Flickering waves illumes the riverside
The chilling winds keeps on pushing
Quenching the thirst of the countryside.
As the sun lifts the shroud covering
Of mountain tops to the grass of the plains
Leaves and flowers bow to dew drops falling
As the sun kisses them once again.
Categories:
illumes, animal, day, moon, nature,
Form:
Rhyme
The sun illumes a land in precarious peace,
There was a time when heroes walked with ease,
But now, complacency reigns shamelessly,
And the distracted people take weal for granted.
The decaying dynasty finally crumbles and tumbles,
The peaks and gorges are once again scorched,
By the scourge of purges and the roar of warlords,
Stately cities are reduced to ashes as they clash.
For the fortunes of men forever wax and wane,
Burning ambition paves the way to perdition,
With their towering arrogance, they brandish lances,
They charge with fury, seeking eternal glory!
The hooves of their bolting steeds tread rudely,
Upon the hopes and dreams of common rubes,
Lauding themselves as the rising ascendancy,
They conquer and scheme without empathy.
Amidst such strife, men and women cry and sigh,
They brood as they are driven into servitude,
Streaming away from the ruins of their hearth,
They weep over fading memories of bygone mirth.
As for me, I am well aware of the follies of men,
I sought not pomp, power or to lord over and reign,
Thus, God rewarded me with an oasis in the chaos,
A quiet utopia of everblooming peach blossoms.
Of clear skies, lush gardens and teal colored lakes,
Day and night, I gait gently to the tune of a flute,
And compose poems while gazing at silky moonglow,
Everyday, I delight in this wondrous Eden of my own!
The faith and virtues I so steadfastly accrued,
Have freed me from the bane of men’s feuds,
For I now dwell in the secret place of the Most High,
And abide in the shadow of the Almighty!
All rights released into Public Domain
8/27/2016
Categories:
illumes, beauty, blessing, christian, city,
Form:
Epic
*Image of Candles at God's Acres by Pixabay.
Happy 93rd Birthday Mom
June twenty-four mom's ninety-third birthday,
No candles or cakes except the bouquet,
Flowers for her and no banquet setting,
Just keepin' it plain -- no scene and fretting,
Illumes shed true we've aged, noted we've grown,
Blooms laid neath her imaged rosette gravestone.
Inspired: 2022 June 16
*HM*
Bite Size Poem no.47
~~Line Gauthier: Judged 2022 June 23
Categories:
illumes, birthday, blessing, happy, heaven,
Form:
Couplet
Beneath the sea of glistening stars,
Between the ethereal evening air,
Lies a forest of glowing dreams,
But as diverse and rich as they are,
None escape the same Moonbeam.
Under the lucent morning glow,
Roll waves of raving emotions,
Turbid fortunes and cruel woes,
The burning craving of billions,
Yet the same Sun illumes them all.
Princes, beggars and pretenders,
All dance their own tango with
Fortune’s jeering taunts and tantrums,
Each gambles to grapple with fate,
Yet upon the same soil they all tread.
The canopy of a grand old oak
Casts a wide and mighty shadow,
Ruffling with a myriad of leaves,
Adorned by blooming blossoms
That sprout in spring and wither in winter,
With branches amber in autumn,
Green in summer, and lean and bare
In Saturn’s season of barren frost.
Yet for all its lush richness, it still rests
Upon one abiding unchanging trunk.
So even as human affairs steer here and there,
And wander and meander like wetland streams,
The timeless source remains the same,
For all ripe fruits return to Buddha’s root.
https://purelandsutras.wordpress.com/2017/01/21/the-buddhas-masterplan/
Poem released into Public Domain
Categories:
illumes, allusion, analogy, beautiful, beauty,
Form:
Rhyme
***This poem was written at a hard
time in my life when I needed my
spirituality most, but could not
easily do so due to the death of
family; I fortunately realised that
only my mental state had changed,
not my spirit and love of life***
I had once plunged headlong
to that darling place,
that gallant tease that exists
still;
Gilded-Golden Hill,
not wasting the thrill of chase
and pall bearer blues,
I flew
Death hid away to darkest wit,
mocking the none still thrift
and lit the lamp of decay ---
no more, and poor ---
so poorly my bones made way,
little money little to say,
but gladly, sadly?
give me my day
What is it? which numbs
that taketh away ray and hues
and gladly sun,
warm-shiver hugs, love?
We are not there and despair,
to part unfair ----
we see grey-pale everywhere
and longing for death,
life ----
(illumes the former wings still)
Written and antholigized in 2012
Categories:
illumes, death, depression, endurance, family,
Form:
Rhyme
Mist glides above the pristine waters,
Divine clouds rest gently upon the peaks,
Of fair and turquoise Walensee.
Night falls and moon-glow illumes,
The everblooming and serene hills,
Of clear and lofty Walenstadt.
Hidden within the lush green flora,
Leaning against the majestic forest,
Is the little house by Lake Walen.
An elegant cottage with cosy lamp light,
Flowing outwards into the air of night,
That wreathe the pearl of St.Gallen.
Within, a gramophone brings forth,
The mellow sound of a slow lyric waltz,
And the graceful couple of Walen house,
A flaxen lady and her gentle, stoic man,
Delight as they gait softly in warm embrace,
To the still and beauty of fair Walensee!
All rights released into Public Domain
8/25/2016
Categories:
illumes, appreciation, beauty, dance, environment,
Form:
Free verse
A candle left
lighting through the dark,
lighting in our land, dearly it mourns you.
A candle left
as it lies by your body, seduced by your ode
futile to tame it's light
solid, illumes the crossed fingers
entwined.
date: 11/3/2012
craig cornish contest: Loss
Categories:
illumes, loss,
Form:
Free verse