Best Jaundice Poems
Look past
the faded little girl braids and bows
in a polaroid picture
buttery yellow skirt
curtsying a smile
frog prince
imprisoned in her palm
under a creamy pound cake sun
(her grandmother’s recipe
sugar and spice folded carefully
with love and guilt
into a thick summer sky)
daisies like polka dots
piecemeal on her bonnet
seem to stare down
her face with jaundice eyes
slanted above ensnaring weeds
swirls of sorrow linger
in knee-high field
where flowers grew wild like
freedom once felt
Look closer picture fading
She is running
legs bent shouting from the page
stockings peeled off
lanky legs running
through her pain
till her heart detaches
from a barefoot soul
She still feels spiky burs in her heels
drops of blood
zigzag numb
beyond the treeline
memories meld
love and loss
euphoric rush warm winds fuel
an urgency her creation
until lightning strikes
her grief rushing to catch up
through crushed wildflowers
fragmented patterns
under paths at her feet
tears flooded her field overgrown
She remembers to forget
Her mother
buried under
a distant willow
She was taught
by her grandmother
to be composed
poised like other girls
wad up unpleasant feelings
slip them into a corner
of the cedar chest
under layers
of afghans and quilts
she laid them to rest
long ago but
never stopped
her fidgety legs from weaving
through floral tapestries
of field and meadow
wild brush turned emerald green
in mourning
Her daddy passed away
ten years ago today
He was buried with wildflowers
tucked softly
in his lapel and praying hands
he always said windswept blooms
reminded him of his girls
If you look closely at the picture
of that faded little girl
you will see her running
from the graves
as the wildflowers crush
beneath her feet
Categories:
jaundice, daughter, death, family, memory,
Form:
Free verse
There was change, an odd pulse,
a new cadence and tone, in the place I grew up
where my mother had been...
Where white fences stretched out to cradle our home
but where zones, unfamiliar, were on now on the cusp
On a make-shift bed, I was lying awake
Windows cracked open,
a wind coming in, ....
Intangible nights, in the familiar old room,
alone with my thoughts, while sorting out things...
There was a strange, jaundice glow, from the porch light, left on,
and my pillow felt cold, where the moon used to go
The sound of a moth, batting wings against glass,
was begging for warmth, while seeking to ask, a place that made sense
And a place to fit in
My father was sleeping, with his newlywed bride
in the same maple bed, where my mother had died
And a new child was dreaming in the soft yellow room
where I spent all those nights, ... just me and the moon
I was happy for him, and for the child that he gained.
I was there at his side,
when the changes became.. a part of his life, ...... a part of mine too
but was lost in the amber, like a moth batting wings
Eventually, I would grow with a fresh point of view,
but the child that I was, still waits for the moon
I'm older and wiser, maybe stronger than then
but, the moth will look in, escaping the moon
ramming the screen
seeking the flame...
batting its wings,
while resisting the change, ...again, and again
11/3/14
Categories:
jaundice, change, childhood, conflict, father,
Form:
Free verse
A sun reminds them through a dark cloud,
long before we are even asleep, or the moon is awake
and they reply, like guardians of simmering,
blossoming sunbeams, sprouting like wheat from cold concrete floors
A shoreline of long legged stems, tips that look down
Lamp lighted sentinels, that jaundice the ground
For the dark holds chance, and the hollows hold fright
unwinding a trail of stories untold ,
hemming each row, that might lead us to somewhere?
Where helter or skelter we're racing like the sheep
Tall stalks of flaxen, sending up flares, watching us scurry, into night's air
taking for granted, the pace or the glare
An illustrious disco, dances on tires, splashing the street, with stars that ignite
Lamplights will flicker like friendly old ghosts, hosting the present, or memories lost
Making a halo, of gold at our feet
.........then, dying in shadows that shorten the street
_________________
For Nette's Contest: "Street Lights"
By Carrie Richards 10/2/14
TARNDAI
Categories:
jaundice, light, night,
Form:
Free verse
Green is more than a color it’s true;
In viridescence there’s the promise
Of life springing anew,
Or maybe that’s found
In hues vibrant chartreuse.
Pea is the eyes of a jaundice and spite
It’s a virulent shade
Which foreshadows a fight
That’s driven by envy—
An emotional blight.
And once March is near
Let’s not forget Shamrock--
To the Irish it’s dear
For old countries remembrance,
They even color rivers and beer.
And the list could go with endless zeal
Shades of green with names
Like Moss, Mint and Teal.
Pear, Avocado, and Apple
Each have their own a-peel.
JSC 3/23/2015
"It's Spring--Show Me the Green" Contest by Francine Roberts
Categories:
jaundice, color, emotions, fun,
Form:
Light Verse
End Game
Daylight, collected by ancient violins
Breaks a cadaverous rhythm
From dreams of a crashing heart
And all encumbered the features of its crag
Rages pitiful
It is a sigh, which leaves the unsleeping cushion
To bury knuckles in tired eyes
Daylight
With the auspices of its vendetta hanging cryptic
In riddled made promises
By the sun catches
Nothing
The mirror in its jaundice of coffee, continues
And stares melancholy from its own reflection
Hangs bloodless
Daylight
In its search for continuum
And its succession to hope
Clings remorseless
To love
In a steadfast silence
Holds its will to its own faith in strength
And so anchored on peace, the day begins in patience
And cast as grain to the eternal dusts
The ancient chord of violins
With sorrows bow draws upon the strings
Of my heart
Daylight
And with its first thought; turned on love
Categories:
jaundice, love
Form:
Free verse
Not in tea leaves, in shoelaces tie existence--their harsh and meshing material
bound, tethered, undone with a gentle pull.
The bunny ears
and clumsy fingers bouncing along the faux-marble
hallways: the future politicians and CEO's and poets
wiping caked mucus on the white-washed brick foundations--
babbling babbling babbling babbling.
A blood-stone bed surge of tidal maturation,
soon to be lost in the variant eddies of life;
the finger-painted puzzle-box open and unsolvable.
Their parents, for they are honorable, as
picket-fences are honorable, as
tracksuits are honorable, as
Zoloft is honorable, sit ajar
on school streets of vibrant myriad cars quietly dilapidating
behind Armor-All dashes. Old ladies waving dutifully
at lifeless lawn ornaments like lifeless lawn ornaments soon themselves in front of homes because
the youth only want something old when it's time to marry,
Googling what the heart feels for the occasion.
Smokestack color windows of depreciating souls searching drunken
down the glossy oak
bar through bent light of whiskey glasses and broken values
they blame on Nietzsche and the price of condoms,
finding a sad reflection seated at this world's dampened end to spread
like ashen snow
again and again and again on sweat-stained futons,
after the lurch toward the water, sloppy with kisses
and lace.
Church bells sound off one and two
O! clock tower
marching Heaven to Hell but got lost in Devil's Lake. They do not hear
the beaten shopping cart radio wobbling like a tripodal Dog,
telling us Jesus stayed inside because White is translucent in the rain.
But,
the wander-footed waywards, leaden eyed, tranced in droning hums of small town streetlights--
or red red copper hangers
or lucid jaundice confessions
or gangrenous light-slivered closets--
break half-empty
beer bottles on familial-faced slogans plastered to an under-bellied bridge and sway
like ebbing wind on the unsure-step shore banks, drooping wasp legs
over the ever-rising precipice
to vein-rush Hellgrammite powder
with their one remaining shoelace
and leave their shoes behind.
Categories:
jaundice, home, old, lost, lost,
Form:
Free verse
Thy love rings like bluebells caught in spring’s breeze
Singing out to my heart heaven’s chorus
Such beauteous song brings larks to their knees
Humming birds charm-ed stilly and voiceless
Thy radiant smile beclouds the sun’s rays
Jaundice daffodils wilt in thy presence
Thou favour emits an opium haze
Lovers’ Lorelei reborn in essence
To mine folly I court thee with ardour
Thy golden locks weave a web ‘round my soul
Beguiling eyes yield thee my surrender
Sempiternal truth insanity stole
Foreseen temptress thy counsel I not heed
Forewarned I ne’er beheld such love from thee
Categories:
jaundice, lovelove, daffodils,
Form:
Sonnet
Me: I’m sorry, I didn’t catch you name
Him:Yellow, but my friends call me Yell
Me: Say again? I’m somewhat hearing impaired
Him: Yellow!! But my friends call me Yell!!
Me: There’s certainly no need to YELL at me sir
Him: Son of a…I said Yellow!! But my friends ca...
Me: Ahh, I see, so you’re a yellow fellow then?
Him: Okay whatever, yeah, I’m a yellow fellow
Me: Well, there’s nothing at all to be afraid of sir
Him: You givin’ me a BAD case of the red-ass here!
Me: A red Ass? Might I suggest that you dye it y...
Him:You and me are fixin’ to visit the hospital bud!
Me: Well, I’m certainly no doctor but it could be jaundice
Him:You’re gonna NEED a doctor, you yellow bellied…
Me: Sir, I'm certain that my abdomen is flesh toned, see?
Him: Oh lordy me! Pull your FREEKIN’ shirt back d....
Me: By the way, do you remember that song Mellow Yel…
Him: (Slam-Bam-Ooof!!)---Pretty sure its Donovan, right?
Me: No hir, my name ih NOH Donovan, ih’s Him Ryerson
Him: Gonna make me do this AGAIN? (more slam-bam-ooof)
Me: Excuse me hir, it heems I’ve fallen and cannoh geh up
Him: Call Life Alert and tell them you need a dentist...
* Edited and extended version of a previous post
Dedicated to the VERY talented poet Monterey Sirak whose contest this poem placed in...Thanks Monterey!
Categories:
jaundice, color, humorous, violence,
Form:
Light Verse
Before you know my name
You might want to know a little about me
I came from the land ends
From a bittersweet dream
From the end of seasons
From beyond the future
I brought honey bees
Ancient’s jaundice
But short memory
I came to turn back to the sunset
To ignore the crown rooster
To cross oceans
To insult the faith of candlelights
Before you know my name
Let me hug you
Kiss you
Warm you
Let me feel your soul
Hear your prayers
Calm your ghostly fears
Let me take away all the madness
All the sadness
All the happiness that has been overshadowed your way home
Before you know my name
You might want to know who I am
I’m the spring’s promise
The summer stars partying on the sky
The autumn leaves returning to the firm ground
The winter’s tender laziness
I’m a Polar Bear in Sahara
An eager cry of hope
A prophet wandering in the darkness
I’m the new moon’s prudent smile
The wind whistles in a gloomy night
A mad thunder spitting fireballs
I'm the ancients' dream
A hope of oppression
A freedom's flame in a lost cage
I'm the universe's blind spot
A diamond stone spiked in the sun’s heart
A jellyfish's sad equation
I'm the memory of love
The son of death
A double edged-sword
Before you know my name
Please tell
Who am I?
Categories:
jaundice, nostalgia, universe,
Form:
Dramatic Monologue
Darkened room's creeping oil slick walls,
pressing hollow fear trapped breath,
tears falling in shameful streams,
victim's self inflicted dreams,
poison broken bloodshot eyes,
sickly yellow jaundice betraying lies,
hated liquid in false love slips down,
another sorrow's ghost trying to drown,
fire ignites soul deep inside,
deceive myself at dawn's new light,
just to sleep I laying lied,
in the murky liquid savior hide,
God in a bottle where this lamb died,
here the light inside was weighed,
penitent vomiting black bloods words,
remember I once prayed,
seeing death smeared on my hands,
the day that I was saved.
Categories:
jaundice, visionary,
Form:
Free verse
It was the yellow rose of Texas that did me as she pleased;
It was a case of yellow jaundice that took me to my knees.
When the yellow sun was setting I lit a magic smoke;
It was a yellow colored squad car that almost made me choke.
While peeling my banana with skin that’s colored yellow;
I cooked me up some gelatin and made banana jello.
They say that yellows mellow but that’s according to ones taste;
Yellow streaks upon your back can make you out of place.
Dorothy was on a path of yellow colored bricks;
And part of Oz was nightmares loaded down with tricks.
Yellow in the bathroom, yellow on the jeans;
Yellow colored lamp shades and iridescent dreams.
Black and yellow bumble bees, looking for some honey;
There’s the black and yellow prostitutes that are looking for your money.
I’ve nothing else to say, about the color yellow;
If you liked this poem I wrote, I’ll be one happy fellow.
Categories:
jaundice, funny, imagination, parody, me,
Form:
I’m sorry, I didn’t catch you name
‘Yellow, but my friends call me Yell”
Say again? I didn’t quite hear you
“Yellow!! But my friends call me Yell!!”
There’s certainly no need to yell at me sir
“Sh-t…I said Yellow!! But my friends call”…
Ahh, I see, so you’re a yellow fellow then?
“Okay whatever, yeah, I’m a yellow fellow”
Well, there’s nothing at all to be afraid of sir
“You givin’ me a SEVERE case of the red ass here!”
A red donkey? Might I suggest a paint job?
“You and me are fixin’ to visit the hospital bud”
Well, I’m certainly no doctor but it could be jaundice
“You’re fixin, to NEED a doctor, you yellow bellied”…
By the way, do you remember that song Mellow Yel…
(Slam-bam-ooof)-----“Yep, Donovan did it"...
Date written: 12/1/2014
Submitted for: Shadow Hamilton's contest
Categories:
jaundice, color,
Form:
Light Verse
MAY CAUSE:
Fever, Stiff Muscles, Sweating, Confusion,
Uncontrollable Jerky Muscle Movements,
Fever, Chills, Body Aches, Flu Symptoms,
Sudden Numbness, Weakness, Problems With Vision,
Headache, Increased Thirst Or Urination,
Loss Of Appetite, Nausea, Dry Skin, Vomiting,
Drowsiness, Jaundice, Dizziness, Convulsions,
Weight Gain, Fast Heartbeats Or Uneven,
Upset Stomach, Choking Or Trouble Swallowing,
Anxiety, Insomnia, Constipation,
Rash, Itching, Diarrhea, Tooth Decay.
THIS DRUG HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE FDA.
Categories:
jaundice, health, drug,
Form:
Rhyme
I got bruises and imperfections.
Addictions and insurrections.
I'm just looking for a place to find some rest.
I got goosebumps and yellow jaundice.
Ain't had a haircut since bout last August.
Wishing for a place to lay my head.
.
I'm just searching for something real.
Not looking for another way to feel.
Wish I coulda seen that Wheel, within a Wheel.
And for what it's worth . . .
I sure hope I find it soon
And stop this howling at the moon/I'm just running in circles . . .
.
I'm flesh and blood, but I'm living in a plastic mold.
I shouldn't bleed when cut, or at least that's what I'm told.
But I still feel the scrapes and bruises,
I'm so tired of feeling used, and I'm getting old.
.
Met a man they said had all the answers.
So I stood there to watch his dance.
But he had 2 left feet, the same as me.
So I packed my doubts up and walked away.
Couldn't believe anything he'd say.
The others stayed and hung on his every word.
Why can't I be like them?
Just blindly trusting him.
Why must I question everything I've ever heard?
Guess I'll never learn.
.
I'm flesh and blood, but I'm living in a plastic mold.
I shouldn't bleed when cut, or at least that's what I'm told.
But I still feel the scrapes and bruises,
I'm so tired of feeling used, and I'm getting old.
.
Then one day I heard a still small voice, coming from within.
Said son I love you, but you have a choice, I've been beside you everywhere you've been.
I said yeah but what about all this sin?
The pain and the doubt I'm living in?
He just said come to Me . . .
Then you'll see . . .
You can still be free.
.
I'm flesh and blood, but I'm living in a plastic mold.
I shouldn't bleed when cut, or at least that's what I'm told.
But I still feel the scrapes and bruises,
I'm so tired of feeling used, and I'm getting old.
He just said come to Me
And now I see
Love has caused me to believe.
Categories:
jaundice, addiction, angst, confusion, depression,
Form:
Lyric
I contracted a disease called jealousy,
the physician said I got symptoms of neurotic insecurity,
caused by deadly venom in my brain,
poison more deadly than a mad-dog's tooth,
I possessed by a mad devil and a dull spirit at the same time.
I find myself in a love competition surgery,
Roadmap to where I feel unloved,
I develop more self-love than love,
full with hateful thoughts to languish and to pine,
I fall deeply into the fear and apprehension of superiority.
I felt like having a kind of civil war in my soul,
driven by low self-esteem;
and extremely difficult emotion to shake off,
I quickly slip to jealousy and even hatred,
The surgeon said I poisons my own banquet, and then eats it up.
The damning tho't stuck in my throat and cut me like a knife,
the amber sweet of love and respect turns into gall
I fall into the injured lover's hell – Jealousy
I took the gun and shoot my selves on the forehead,
End–up in a grave of affection and jaundice of my soul.
Categories:
jaundice, bullying, christian, crazy, dream,
Form:
ABC