Best In Vain Poems
( An old poem, slightly modified)
How I wish my poems could,
soar higher and higher
like a bird of limitless wingspan,
dashing into horizons far!
But they skim like web footed water birds,
tilting their wings in vain,
unable to fly to any desired destination
helplessly watching larks and eagles
flying to the far edges of the sky.
How I wish my poems could,
sail across the limitless expanse
like parting ships bound to distant lands
carrying my fancies to the ends of the Earth!
But they remain like paper boats
set to sail by mischievous kids
that drift hither n’ thither on muddy puddles.
How I wish my poems could,
wind their way down slopes and dales
like a fountain stream running down
to join the sea, travelling miles.
But they slither like snakes,
struggling to move on polished floors.
How I wish my poems could,
grow out from chrysalis to butterflies
to flit around flowers and feed on nectar.
But they ever remain such creepy worms,
destined to hide behind blades of leaves.
How I wish, like an inspired artist,
I could paint on my canvas, with deft hands,
the luster and glory of the setting sun,
the freshness and beauty of the spring flowers
the scary grandeur of the mountains
the silence of the lonesome lagoon
the dark majesty of the unlit groves
the sunlit glades of trackless forests
and scenes and sights, so varied and myriad
that I could array before you in magic shades,
the wonders of an unseen paradise!
But, Alas! What I leave on my canvas
is just a banal scene!
My poems, like kites tangled,
among the branches of trees
are denied forward movement!
Still I don’t regret my efforts…..
Like the lyrics of a half forgotten melody,
my poems delight me,
in my sequestered hours of loneliness!
Categories:
in vain, analogy, desire, poetry,
Form:
Free verse
How I wish my poems could,
Soar higher and higher
Like a bird of limitless wingspan,
Dashing into horizons far!
But they skim like web footed water birds,
Tilting their wings in vain,
Unable to fly to any desired destination
Helplessly watching larks and eagles
Flying to the far edges of the sky
How I wish my poems could
Sail across the limitless expanse
Like parting ships bound to distant lands
Carrying my fancies to the ends of the Earth!
But they remain like paper boats
Set to sail by mischievous kids
That drift hither n’ thither on muddy puddles
How I wish my poems could
Wind their way down slopes and dales
Like a fountain stream running down
To join the sea, travelling miles
But they slither like snakes,
Struggling to move on polished floors
Alas! My poems, like kites tangled
Among the branches of trees
Are denied forward movement!
Still I don’t regret my efforts…..
Like the lyrics of a half forgotten melody
My poems delight me
In my sequestered hours of loneliness!
Feb.6.2023
2022 Poetry Marathon Qualifier's Final Placement
Poetry Contest
Sponsor- Mark Toney
Nov.14.2022
2022 .Poetry Marathon mile.20. Contest
Sponsor- Mark Toney
Placed First
In the Brian Strand (1050) Poetry Contest
Sponsor- Brian Strand
Categories:
in vain, birth, fantasy, words,
Form:
Blank verse
"Paint in silence”
“The Weight of Temp”
Colour your canvas and spill your Art
shake and awaken many a heart
Untether your soul
from your whole
escape mundane and time
and let your brush rhyme
Have Man radiate
pour oil colours on his trait
Carve his seized dreams
and his insight of flowing streams
Let me read his cry of birth
and see the drops of tears on earth
A valiant core, the shell is worn
could not be broken, though torn
You display a challenging stand
behind a back forced to bend
*****
Radiant and on the wane
Bliss and pain
Loss and gain
A Life to hail
Trodden paths not in vain
Shall we complain?!
*****
Alienated and empty
but oozing out Faith and Beauty
Once hailing many a dawn
now only dusk to look on
Of resistance, endurance and devotion
bow in dignity to God’s laws of creation.
https://images.app.goo.gl/VvcUK547YBxBkN9n7
Besma
August 6th, 2021
Categories:
in vain, dedication, deep, devotion, endurance,
Form:
Ekphrasis
No Wait in Vain : Poets Meet
For decades I waited
and you did not come
to listen to my rude insertion
finger a sound at back of my throat
and the vibration of my name
For decades I wanted to meet
a small mountain as I read her
plain words in innocence
a bell in her Heart rang deep
with children running sweet
For decades I longed to touch
a struggling mottled moth
as he ached for new wings
smooth ebony cheeks
passionate with letters of adoration
For decades I watched for
a painter to mirror my songs
uncover a talkative witch who
still trampled from place to place
broken shoes echoing my silent breath
For decades I wanted a smooth ride
where conversation was free of tasks
words on both seats of equal length
with ripe apricots for the scoffing
almond chocolates wrapped in red
So I upped my thumb to a veteran one
who read from his leathered collection
notepads and pencils strewn about
space in warehouse oozed slivered glee
No wait in vain !
Categories:
in vain, age, appreciation, mirror, poetry,
Form:
Free verse
----I thought I had posted this a while back...guess I didn't. Oops. : ) here it is...couple years old.
When sorry words offer but sadness and pain,
When weary thought drifts into the tides of shame,
When heavy darkness fills my soul,
Freezing last embers upon the coal,
The love in my heart burns in vain
It burns in vain, for I can never quite reach
The paths that entangle, while the demons breach
It burns in vain, for I try so hard for naught
My tears in a frost-bitten muddle—construed and caught
As snowfall sifts ice onto disdain,
As afternoons crawl into midnight shade,
As every mistake has torn me apart,
This foolish soul crushed—bashed from the start
The love in my heart burns in vain
It burns in vain, for reality is but a fret
Knowing tragedy shall befall, though it comes not yet
It burns in vain, for I have hurt you still
As I try to escape the furrowing doubts that kill
So now I cringe, and cower, and remain
So caught in your sorrow as I turn away
So sorry and hateful for what I put you through
For as I falter, you are ever true
The love in our hearts burn in vain
Yet, somehow the yester-embers among the frozen coals return
Upon the frost-bitten windowpane—somehow they burn
Categories:
in vain, absence, allegory, anxiety, heart,
Form:
Rhyme
Many a day I’ve wished, through the futility of time,
That love’s immortality would come one day to be mine,
But each day that I’ve wished brings ever the same,
For each day that I’ve wished has ended in vain!
O’ for a love everlasting, O’ for its heavenly grace,
Yet each day always begins with a vacant embrace;
I’ve wished and I’ve wished, but resultantly the same,
Comes darker the day, for it has ended in vain!
Alone each day I remain, for nothing comes to redeem,
Tho’ each tomorrow is kept by an amorous dream,
But as each day dawns, the night falls ever the same,
For each day that I’ve wished has ended in vain!
O’ in the firmament of love I am never to stand,
As inevitably thus my fate seems to demand,
Yet onward I wish through the darkness of pain
While seeking the day that has not ended in vain!
O’ for one true love, O’ for a love immortal of mine,
Then this I’d grace with each moment through time,
And then I’d wish no more for that everlasting flame,
Which has brought each day that has ended in vain!
Upon many a day I’ve wished for just one love to keep,
I’ve wished each night for this that haunts me in sleep;
O’ I’ve wished for the love that will lighten my bane
Of seeing each day that has ended in vain!
Categories:
in vain, anxiety, longing, love, love
Form:
Romanticism
They say,that,it was a great day,
Friends were busy,with a kind of play.
Only Maa was in great pain;
But,she said it was in no vain.
My parents held me in their hands,
In the oblivion,the fate stands.
They say I'm an answer to their prayer,
But,somewhere was smiling the mankind slayer.
I was the apple of their eyes.
Beautiful was the place,I borned:
Ugly was soon to be dawned.
My sire' s lap was a place dear,
Who knew that soon it will disappear.
The dawn chorus soon turned;
My beautiful place was burned.
Sitting in the refugee camp
And looking at the burning lamp,
Wondering where is my sire' s lap;
Where I used to sit with crowned cap.
Maa once more keep your balmier hand,
That held me for a dauntless stand.
I lost my family and existence to the slayer,
Tell me what was our fault?you bloody destroyer.
The fountain and the bed of roses,
Is now a place where my family blood oozes.
The oblivious fate has arrived on date,
Only to take away all,and nothing is left.
Slayer fought,destroyer fought
But why? My everything was lost!
Do they really know why are they slaying?
Because,I only see the innocent mankind dying.
The beautiful family photo was framed,
But you ugly destroyer got it maimed.
Maa for you no vain was that labor pain.
But,for me,without my family this life is in Vain.
You win!slayer,at the cost of inflicted pain,
But,alas!your success is totally in Vain.
And,I was the apple of their eyes.
Categories:
in vain, remember, writing,
Form:
Narrative
We Loved Her In Vain
The bones of your life lay there
you were gifted far too fair
You travelled a path far alone
before we saw, you were gone
The castles you left so pure
truth was part of your allure
Did you gift us your very best?
or save that for your new quest
Sunday morns you would go walk
there, strange dancing as you talk
Your return consumed us with glee
loved in your sight only me
You are now very deeply missed
we adored you, were not kissed!
Robert J. Lindley, 09-14 2014
Syllables Per Line: 7 7 8 7 0 7 7 8 7 0 7 7 8 7 0 8 7
Total # Syllables: 102
Total # Lines: 17 (Including empty lines)
Total # Words: 87
Note: I am deep into math, love numbers and patterns.
I wanted to create a poetry form . So I took two special
years of my life to start the foundation for a new form.
Years 1977 and 1987, thus I chose 77, 87.
Developed the form as sonnet type based with 14 lines but
with a syllable count as shown above comprised of three
four line stanzas, followed by a two line conclusion.
Rhyme scheme to be aa, bb, cc, dd, ee, ff with ending couplet gg
Perfect form would be to hit the max number of word count of 87.
with each stanza syllable count flowing as shown above,
7,7,8,7 , 7,7,8,7 7,7,8,7 8,7
Total words(perfect) to be maxed at 87 and minimium word total to
be 77 words.
If interested give it a try... to stretch your poetic muscles.
Categories:
in vain, appreciation, beautiful, creation, dedication,
Form:
Rhyme
A new wind blows I can but see
A hidden depth to agony
A coming drought of faith again
O Lord, let me not seek in vain
To know beyond the veil of life
My purpose here, for what my strife
In your sunshine and in your rain
O Lord, let me not seek in vain
Your love to know and ever share
To cast off fickle bands of care
And trust you through the fires of pain
O Lord, let me not seek in vain
To right life's wrong on human kind
And lead with patience too the blind
To the fountain cleansing our stain
O Lord, let me not seek in vain
Nor with the flatterers here join
For paltry praise and rusting coin
Against thy grace and truth's domain
O Lord, let me not seek in vain
Kingdom's crumble, silent the word
Love shot down, a featherless bird
I hear anew sins rattling chain
O Lord, let me not seek in vain
But let me hold your cross still pure
And stand with you forevermore
Where thunders roll and floods are fain
O Lord, let me not seek in vain
Categories:
in vain, faith, hope, visionaryme, me,
Form:
Kyrielle
Hoping in vain
We all live today,
hoping for tomorrow
then it disappears
I drift away,
illusions dearly held
but they're vanity
Chorus
Hoping in vain
Everyone is hoping in vain
Hoping in vain
Everyone is hoping in vain
Empty words,
swirling in the strong winds
of a hurricane
All I see,
crashes all around
none able to explain
Chorus
Hoping in vain
Everyone is hoping in vain
Hoping in vain
Everyone is hoping in vain
It's no use,
hope is an illusion
that you cannot see
Days all done,
time slips through your fingers
that's reality.
Chorus
repeat
fade
John Derek Hamilton
September 03,2016
Categories:
in vain, anxiety, confusion, depression, hope,
Form:
Lyric
Nothing hurts me now, been the one to fall, painless, no feelings for my friends, not caring for the family
I once died for, another mind, another perspective, nothing holding me back, my time wasted building a life,
now is gone, breaking every promise i now hate this, gone by for blood, searching for the horizon, theres
nothing to look inside my chest, you wont even find the minimum, my soul, in vain i fought, i didnt wanted
money either the world, just respect, my tribute offered for faithless, i dont have eyes for this anymore, get
up and leave this room, dont talk to me with pity on your broken tone, i dont care if you offer me your soul or
your slavery, leave, i dont need you here, dont look my way anymore, dont even ask about me again, i hang
my feelings nights ago, i suffocated my heart with good memories days ago, i forgot the man i was, become a
cold and reckless one, my cold instinct blinds the wind you breath, heavy fall to my dark little world, far gone
from this land, far gone for this place, out of your side and out of your mind, your now left alone in this life
with no one to cry too or to talk too, long rest the man i was, he is dead, gone, dont mourn for him, dont
write about him and dont talk about him, is over for You and your pityful little game.
Long rest the feelings tonight!
Categories:
in vain, depression, forgiveness, friendship, funeral,
Form:
Occasionally I despair,
an eternal uphill struggle,
a hopeless walk to sanity:
what else is there for me to do
but scream?
Occasionally my stomach rumbles
as pain, hunger and strife
make it grow distressingly tight.
Occasionally I try to fight
and seek that elusive light
at the end of the tunnel
only to find an inky blackness,
ebony obscurity of darkness
that smothers the soul.
Occasionally I search
for a twisted street or
an endless channel
only to discover a world
devoid of any kindness,
languishing in defilement,
foul-smelling with pollution,
tarnished with infamy and slander,
and an ever-reigning lust.
But often I stand up,
for myself if for none other
and look down towards the horizon
and find what I require: hope and trust.
PS Sorry I left Poetry in the lurch but was hospitalised for three days. I hope to read your poems soon. But please give me time.
Categories:
in vain, pain,
Form:
Free verse
From the fast melting clouds comes the rain
you might wonder, and ask does it fall in vain
the question the river and the forest don’t pose
you would not either if you care to look close
see how from mellow hearts kindness drains.
From the deep darkness comes the sun again
you might wonder, and ask does it rise in vain
the question the day and the birds don’t ask
you would not either if you know how to bask
in the glow of the inner light the soul retains.
From desolate desert’s core comes the fountain
you might wonder, and ask does it spring in vain
the question Bedouins and the oasis don’t frame
you would not either if you know how to be tame
in the turmoil of tough time where destiny reigns.
July 6, 2021
Contest : Completely Your Choice (45) Any Form Any Theme
Sponsor : Brian Strand
Categories:
in vain, destiny,
Form:
Rhyme
you’re hanging in my head
and I’m wearing you like glasses.
shades of purple make me laugh;
you’re all I see today.
I’m listening to your music;
to the voice I’ve never heard.
the world’s voices are distinguished
by your muted singing.
the rushing in my chest,
the biting of my lip
dissipates embarrassingly in vain,
when I wonder if you can hear me smiling,
or if you’re smiling loud too.
because you’re only the
hope
hanging in my head.
Categories:
in vain, hope, life, love, me,
Form:
Free verse
Deep Wounds Do Bleed in Vain
Even the Greatest of the heroes, humble and handsome today, morrow
Must Inevitably make themselves immobile static carcasses,
Their Doom must shall stab their mates into Deep woes,
Their vail of Agony stays mulish in 'em as the dark patch of sorrow
Grievers gotta grieve in futility, deep in that dark shadowy billow
The Unwise do so, for it's futile to make the Reapers-foes
The sagacious truly know of the Essence of Life; Soul's
The All-permeating immortal of the body, for its presence, isn't shallow
The Unwise too are the ones to fall for their instincts,
With visions of being bein and the only ones to lead,
It's true that some indeed become weeds
For the real humans not always can stand in their stead,
With fallin', Hope falls too; But in this
Capricious game of Chess, The once failed twice succeed
Categories:
in vain, hope, sorrow, spiritual, success,
Form:
Italian Sonnet