Best January 3 Poems
Lace hankie tucked inside her jacket sleeve
Hard candy filled the tin beside Mom’s purse
Gray mournings, nature’s gifts for those who grieve
At times when it seems nothing could be worse
So many dresses filled her closet space
And most of them I’d sewn by hand for her
I folded them as memories gave chase
Recalling the fine fabrics Moms prefer
Her perfume bottle nearly stood half full
Its fragrance still brought thoughts of Mom to me
And when I packed her scarf of finest wool
A teardrop fell that only Dad could see
For as I stowed Mom’s things, my Dad looked on
He knew I’d pack again when he was gone
*January 3, 2020
The cat rules our house, and she has us well trained:
We jump at the sound of her slightest complaint.
The day starts at six when I hear her loud cry,
Her pitiful wailing. I run to find why.
Queen passive-aggressive, she sits there and stares
Until I feel guilty. She silently glares.
I check on her food – only half full the dish!
I pour her fresh water. That wasn’t her wish;
She still has that look! In the bathroom I check:
The litter box maybe? Yes, there is a speck.
I scoop and I clean, and she, pleased, walks away—
She just wants it nice to use later today.
She squeezes right next to me onto my chair,
My pants and my sweater get covered in hair.
But she is so sweet and has such a soft fur,
And I like to stroke her, and hear her cute purr.
She made me become what I swore not to be:
The crazy cat lady- I think that is me.
January 3, 2018
For contest Crazy Cat Lady
Sponsored by Line Gauthier
Snowfall prancers
Ballerina dancers
Gracefully, they pirouette in the air
Frosted crystals, though never a pair
Scene enhancing
Vision entrancing
Ballet romancing
Costumes white
Tumbling flight
Snowflakes flew in for their audition
Each posed in an Arabesque position
Swift Allegros
Slower Adagios
Pointed tiptoes
Emerging sun
Recital done
With risen mercury, the sunlight pelted
Each tiny snowflake had been melted
Ballerinas lost
Tragic Holocaust
Performance tossed
* * *
January 3, 2021
Trinet Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Joseph May
Beholding my eyes, You can see my heart
exposing depth and breadth of love’s essence
I gained from Your compassionate presence
forever to stay; never will depart.
Looking into Your eyes with pure delight
my illumined faith expresses love’s bliss
You keep on granting that I cannot miss
with Your gift of eternal life and light.
My Saviour God Who loves me as I am
You deserve my love, since You first loved* me
esteeming You always is my earnest plea---
while caring for others, Your sheep and lamb.
Your love for me, Lord, is sublimely great
enabling my devotion that's earnest
commitment of gracious and fervent zest
surpassing thrill of romantic joy's weight.**
*1John 4:19 We love him (GOD), because he first loved us.
October 23, 2021
**Last stanza added on January 3, 2022
1st place, "Forever My Love Valentine" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by BJ Legros Kelley; judged on 2/8/2022.
The road to my father’s house
is paved with hills and valleys
outstretched horizons
and sunfilled crystal skies
How he loved the land
each slope each field
with a consuming veneration
fueled with layers of history
and virtuous sweat of ancestors
There’s a serenity within me
sublime that swells as I get closer
except my eyes aim higher now
slightly above the horizon
somewhere behind the clouds
above the hills and valleys
Published in my photo/poetry book ~THE ROAD TO MY FATHER'S HOUSE~ 2019
AP: 1st place 2022, 2nd place 2022, 3rd place 2020, Honorable Mention 2026, Honorable Mention 2026, Honorable Mention 2026, Honorable Mention 2020
Submitted on January 3, 2020 for contest STRAND SELECT 3 sponsored by BRIAN STRAND - HONORABLE MENTION
Golden rays filter through rustling red leaves
Oscillating fall colors to rhythms of evening
Amid sounds exotic as animals roam freely
Deep into wilderness, where rare birds sing,
Where trees groove merrily to musical winds,
Whirling, weaving motifs of autumnal glee;
While leisurely they stroll, exulting playfully,
Exchanging stolen looks of notions romantic,
Divulging, without words, secret love-missives
Lying dormant, yet simmering for some time,
Virgin passions strumming enamored minds
Revealing now openly, fervent beats of life.
“Oh! how I wish” she says, “to live in a cabin,
lingering timelessly, savoring realm pristine,
of blazing autumn prairies, burbling streams,
wandering to spring reveling your company;”
As moonlit vibes sparkle, love in bashful eyes,
Rejoicing first-ever kiss, blissful in paradise.
January 3, 2023
Placed 7th: Feel Free Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Sara Kendrick
“Autumn leaves don’t fall; they fly. They take their time and wander on this, their only chance to soar.” Owens, Delia. Where the Crawdads Sing.
Based on quote 7 above.
~~~~~
Sometimes I feel like a hunk of Limburger cheese!
Poets pass my poetry as if it had the great aroma
of unwashed toes and knees.
.
These poets are the ones who pretend to be my
PS friends?
But off in the distance, they live in Big Ego City,
just beyond the bend.
.
They avoid better poets than I,and tis no surprise!
Prancing about the soup with guile and smiling disguise!
.
So,it's a damaging, unkind game they play.
My peace...is knowing Karma is coming their way.
~~~~~
January 3, 2020
11:45 pm PST
One day I decided to aggregate what I own
Realizing soon enough I couldn't count it all,
Though I never thought I had all that much
What I had was oddly beyond simple math.
Determined I was to know what I'm worth
And I knew the formula for how that works
So I added all assets and deducted liabilities
Yet, never could I derive the right answer.
My assets were tangible, so easy to add up
But when I thought of lives I had touched
And receipt of generosity they bestowed,
I could not appraise the value of their love.
Swiftly I subtracted what I owed to others
Feeling proud of self for I didn't owe much
Till I took account of much that was given
Not expecting from me anything in return.
When I finally accepted futility of my effort
My worth resembled faces of my loved ones,
Not susceptible to any numeric computation
Well beyond the bounds of ordinary cognition.
January 3, 2019
Placed 2nd in Food for thought poetry contest by Silent One
Just getting wet
Saddened
By things done and undone,
Unhappily
I seek to abandon
Thoughts of reason,
And I step out in drenching rain
As angry sky takes revenge
On opaque clouds
Blocking its vision,
Unprepared,
I pretend to have fun
Trying to convince myself
I'm dancing in the rain,
But if truth be known
I'm just getting wet.
January 3, 2018
Placed 1st: Strand Pick 8 Contest by Brian Strand
peeking through the snow a small green leaf appears - the color of hope
January 3, 2018
My gift from on high
God only knows where you came from, your shining silhouette follows you,
I have been so blessed- I'll never take for granted, my gift from on high
January 03,2020
John Derek Hamilton
The ancient anguish of a hurting heart
Bequeaths no beauteous scene to me today.
It’s just a jagged chasm gashed apart,
A stream with boulders strewn in disarray.
Like rusted leaves that bleakly canvas fall
Or barren trees that bear the winter snow,
Its listlessness conceals a stonework wall
That bars the beggar from his bungalow.
A long-abandoned barn where pigeons flock
Beside three worn-out crosses marking graves,
It’s lonely as a lighthouse on a rock
Forever battered by the crashing waves.
Their ceaseless song may soothe a sleepless soul,
But how, I sigh, can sad be beautiful?
---
Date Written: January 3, 2019
Contest: Beautiful Sadness, sponsored by John Hamilton
Bouncing up with gratitude
my heart leaps midst jubilant beat
rising to praise God* for His blessings
overtaking me this New Year.
Propelled by the Holy Ghost
my faith strides steadfastly
ascending along trust’s push
to triumph midst obstacles.
Advancing the Saviour’s kingdom
my spirit promotes righteousness
surmounting hatred with His forgiveness
gripped by love’s transforming drive.
Plunging in prayer to overcome gripping selfishness
my soul serves the Lord with His might
reaching-out to others in compassion
lifting the needy, propped by care’s zest.
Vanquishing skeptic doubts
my mind hurls negative thoughts
to prevail through Scriptures’ assurance
and zoom toward worship bliss.
Empowered by Christ Who leads
my life accelerates in His control
since He upholds me by His grace
hoisting me from sin-downfall.
*Psalm 86:12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
January 3, 2020
Honorable Mention, "Jump" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Sheri Fresonke Harper; judged on 1/24/2020.
Philosopher, Lover of Life, Wise One
What I would give
To see the world through your eyes
To picture the haze of freedom
Where there reigns injustice and chains
To capture the shadow of dignity
Where there thunders cries of hunger and pain
To carry the veil of hope
Where there lurks despair and death
To paint a watercolour rainbow
Where there is but sorrow and starvation
Teach me to find meaning
Where there dwells only desperation
Teach me to see with your eyes
AP: Honorable Mention 2020
Submitted on January 3, 2018 for contest BEST FREE VERSE OCT-DEC sponsored by JOHN HAMILTON - RANKED 3RD
and on October 9, 2017 for contest MID OCTOBER STANDARD sponsored by BRIAN STRAND - RANKED 1ST
A hopelessly poetic guy met
A scientist studying climate.
Nearly all that she said
Went right over his head,
But at least he was able to rhyme it.
---
Date Written: January 3, 2019
Contest: Limericks, sponsored by Joseph May