Best Joy. Poems
I stand at the wooded edge
where goldenrod bows with the wind's wave
its yellow heads nodding in agreement.
A chickadee perches
its heart a tiny drum of joy
echoing the forest's pulse.
In this moment a smile radiates—
not mine but the earth's—
a ripple spreading
a gentle caress touching all it meets.
A maple leaf lets go
red-gold luminous
spinning down in a silent dance
a quiet farewell to summer's warmth.
I catch it as a gift.
How strange, this silk
between bird, leaf, and human
this quiet belonging that holds
as frost approaches.
What is this feeling
but love's quiet whisper?
This moment
but life itself, distilled
to its essence?
And now, having tasted
this wild sweetness
how will you carry
your one precious life?
Categories:
joy., autumn, joy, nature, smile,
Form:
Lyric
“and the birds twitter like whispering violins”
Quote by – Constance La France
Whiffs of fragrant breeze propagate tranquility
Kissing delicate roses, blushing amber beauty,
Rustling leaves of willows, as if tenor of music,
Swaying blades of grass shimmying moods of winds,
Sounding lyrics esoteric echoing voice of spring;
Humming softly to rhythms of dancing daffodils,
Quivering golden rays peeking through trees,
Burbling on rivers, rippling giggling tributaries,
Fluttering in glee, whispering to sunlit prairies,
Swinging tender revelry lilting in shadows,
Thrilling meadows budding through wintry throes,
Reviving weary realms, thriving withered knolls;
Grinning from mountains, atop lush valleys,
From shores of Pacific to shores of Atlantic,
Through the mighty Rockies, across Great Plains,
Lyrical, jubilant, exuding aura of happiness,
Enchanted by sweet ballad of robins’ daydreams
Strumming melodies of mellifluous spring.
May 16, 2023
Placed 2nd: Writing Challenge A quotes – Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Constance La France
Placed 8th: Brian Strand Premier Contest
Categories:
joy., bird, joy, spring,
Form:
Free verse
I am the diamond
that breathes
in your hands;
The fine lace to sway in
breezes through windows
as I crumble dedans la pirouette;
The cyclone, the earthquake,
implosion of power
in your arms.
Spin me a room,
Weave me a rainbow,
Pull me to you and
push me away.
Burn me, absorb me.
I tumble, trip, fall,
to be lifted by you,
elevated, levitated;
Finest rags, softest fringe,
ripple around
last evening light;
Raise me slowly
on tiptoes;
Rescue me, scream my name
loud.
Spin me your laughter,
Catch me, don't drop me,
Pull me to you,
never push me away.
Dance, don't stop.
Never stop.
***
May 10, 2017
Copyright © Darren White
Categories:
joy., beautiful, dance, inspirational, joy,
Form:
Free verse
Jesus gives me directions
To love as He has loved
With a sincere compassion
That knows no conditions
This love of His has no limits
It goes beyond worry and strife
It fills the heart with a joy…
That can only be expressed in rebirth
This love of His has a purpose
To give generously, without constraint
With a true sensitivity to the feelings…
That someone else has felt
This love of His has been given
To bring salvation to the sinner
Reaching into a wretched heart…
And bringing about a complete surrender
This love of His holds the answers
To every question we might ask,
Creates a sense of peace on the inside
That could never compare to another serenity
This love of His sends us promises
That our greatest fears will be overcome
By the assurance that no harm can arise…
For those who trust in God’s only Son
This love of His mends what is broken
Whether it be a heart or a spiritual pain
It restores the one who feels shattered…
With a promise of true hope and faith
This love of His succeeds where nothing else can
Pleading victory from these nail scarred hands
Reaching down to the poorest, lost sinner
And giving a new life, a new way, a second chance.
This love of His is worth more than millions
No amount of money can possibly buy it
Through grace, it is eternal salvation sent to us
Who simply have the faith to accept Him
Categories:
joy., christian, faith, god, hope,
Form:
Free verse
Where once a caterpillar ceased to crawl
knit into a temporary tomb
a chrysalis shell now lies, empty, broken
observed from above
by the butterfly, now set free
Where once a pine cone lay on the topsoil
awaiting a crucible of fire
tested and tried, but not to perish
releasing its seeds by the wildfire's heat
a burnt shell now lies, empty, broken
observed from above
by the new pine tree, with uplifted branches
Where once a tomb held a broken and torn body
stricken, smitten, and afflicted
awaiting the promise from on high
the disciples gape at the rolled away stone
"He is not here, He is risen!"
saints and angels rejoice in God's master plan
There is joy in the emptiness
//certain pinecone varieties only release their seeds from the heat of a forest fire, ensuring the repopulation of trees after a devastating wildfire.//
Written 10 Apr 2022
Categories:
joy., easter,
Form:
Free verse
**Back smile/smile Back **
With your heads way up your :]ssa[:
You will never accomplish the win
I got shots that will protect me from your rabid ways
After you fell into a non-stop falling disease,
Your movements weakened
Straight from a dried up well,
Every day you frolic in a disorder that causes more brain damage
With progressive mental retardation
You continue to lick the top of your cleft lips
He is the saddest sadist human that ever lived!
So sad he has to live with himself every night
Kissing his young ones Goodnight
In ways I can't even breathe to tell
The way he follows rabbits down the bunny hole
Killing each laughing hare
Wiping smiles, leaning in,
The madness in Alice's Wonderland
Madder and Madder The Hatter
Revealing
Your boldness is nothing more than baldness
A man in a monkey suit
Molesting the minds of his idiotic circle,
Trying to kill the joy, not knowing
We don't care about his false Harvard WAY
I rather stay here dropping out, than pretending
Following his made-up perception, a cropped out waste
His taste, my best copypaste, he jacked on
A stench, they left behind when open mouths laugh
He educates by attacking women better than his own
Silently to the top of his knife, he stalks nakedly
Removing a few poems he plagiarized
His Poorness, brought many to donate to the salvation of his army
Sadness Delivered by the Joy Killing Poet and his little pigs
Cross My heart and hope to die!!!
~SKAT~
Categories:
joy., adventure, deep, hate, irony,
Form:
Epic
Having lived on earth for some time now
Impatiently he dwells, harboring self doubt.
In face of impediments he loses his mind
Acquiring dispositions like hate and lies,
Hosting showmanship to look good and wise.
Never does he claim his world to be saintly
Letting dreams reign and thoughts go wild
Acknowledging failings incapable of verity.
Risking happy tears, triumphs he celebrates
Saving saddened ones to mourn disasters,
Banking on the strength of worn-out hands
As unforgiving minutes tick-tock forever.
When he gets a turn at the wheel of fortune
Losses seem to mount at every pitch-and-toss,
Regretting moments when he says:"hold on"
For he loses the ground on which he stands.
Yet he carries on, in treacherous currents
Swimming boldly in shark-infested waters
Accepting the reality of fish-eat-fish world.
Unsatiated reveries bestow vacant dreams
Never ever venturing to walk with the Kings,
Commoner he is, like his friends in drudgery.
Pride and joy of his family, a Man he's already!
Truth he owns, is the truth he delineates,
Being a flawed man, for forgiveness he prays.
October 21, 2018
Poem of the day on October 23, 2018
Placed first in..In response to Rudyard Kipling's poem IF
Contest by Silent One
Placed 3rd: Strand select 12 by Brian Strand
Categories:
joy., integrity, life, men, people,
Form:
Verse
Prayer For Her, This Wounded Heart Healed
Please keep this dream in my lost life
remove painful sting and life filled with strife
Let her dance and sing another sweet tune
as I hold her under this, merciful God's moon.
An excerpt from: "As I Hold Her Under This, Merciful God's Moon"
(written 7/26/2015)
For- Your Best Poem #2 contest, sponsor Shadow Hamilton
Now Submitted for contest: July 19, 2019
Contest: Arbitrium Divisa 3
Sponsor: Gregory R Barden
Categories:
joy., appreciation, creation, emotions, happiness,
Form:
Rhyme
.
Tiny
Little
Hummingbird, O how
You
With your
Emerald wings
Inspire the imagination
Set our minds free, And give us wings
As we flit and dart through pine scented sunshine
Gathering dreams, singing a new song
As troubles melt away
And the joy of living
Returns to us
With every
Heart
beat
A
New
World
Unfolds to
Embrace us
With love
And
Joy
Categories:
joy., inspirational, nature,
Form:
Concrete
Yesterday’s joys are more than a few.
In my mind they reside endlessly
like bright recollections rosy in hue
or the notes of a sweet melody.
Sorrow and pain won’t burden me, for
yesterday’s joys are more than a few.
Rich in blessings, I’ll never be poor.
Happy memories carry me through.
“Good old days” end; along comes the new,
and so much of it also is sweet!
Yesterday’s joys are more than a few.
With the new ones, my soul is replete!
Sweet recollections never will cease,
for no matter what strife may ensue,
I know in the end, I will find peace.
Yesterday’s joys are more than a few!
For the Bring Me to Life Poetry Contest of Aiyah de Torres
Categories:
joy., joy,
Form:
Quatern
This gypsy soul is on the road
It leaves castles far behind
It abandons ghostly mist
which sabotages the caravan of life
It passes along the mountainside
by golden hay fields where daises bloom
By streams of waters which sweeps a withered rose
towards the decayed lumber fume
This gypsy soul is on the road from Edinburgh to Loch Lomond
against high winds,against the rain,against aquatic monsters of pain
This gypsy soul is on the road to the woodlands of your heart
where I would camp inside your tent as our blissful thoughts impart
This gypsy soul within myself and all the woman in me
would wantingly await your fingertips to compose soft pastels'fantasy
The smell of early coffee then fills our empty cups
The song of the cicada would echo in the shrubs
And as the chimney smoke drift sideways in the breeze
as warm dappled light filters through purple pansy leaves
The pressing of my lips would leave their crimson mark below your sun-kissed cheek
My arms would cling around your once muscular physique
We laze upon a hammock strung between two old oak trees
I play on your guitar my hundred melodies
As the incandescent half moon rises above the dusky hue
and orange paper lanternes float high in cobalt blue
We'd chase the opalescent glow of a million firefly
You'd be able to touch me before last embers die
This gypsy soul is on tne road in search to be set free
Across bridges on a journey,your compass -my destiny.
This is a repost of a poem I've written the 30th of April 2014
Categories:
joy., adventure, joy, love,
Form:
Free verse
I think I know the Name of Purity,
It is Your Name -- it holds clear water well!
A Chalice carved almost to shattering,
A white rose, that alone, grows in the dell
With drops of ice adorning its still face
The warmth of heart that comes with falling snow
The few flakes that adorn your lashes, by grace
Delightful cold that creeps up from below
Loquacity that speaks only the Truth,
Amazed by every small, delightful thing
Ubiquitous praise and unbroken Youth
Right Trust, that gave your finger to the Ring
Inevitable Joy, and whispered Love
E'er faithful, that this all is from Above.
2/11/2019
Submitted for: Standard Poetry Contest 175
Sponsored by: Brian Strand
Categories:
joy., for her, innocence, integrity,
Form:
Sonnet
The flower that is given little light
tastes not enough of joy and cannot thrive -
then fades away like dusk into the night.
The soul who struggles just to stay alive -
much like the flower wilting in the dark -
tastes not enough of joy and cannot thrive.
How can a fire be lit if there’s no spark?
Without hope’s gleam, the soul will waste away -
much like the flower wilting in the dark.
This is the plight of one whose world is grey:
Though others say a paradise exists -
without hope's gleam, the soul will waste away.
A man upon this earth who tastes no bliss
is like a soul brought low who droops his head
though others say a paradise exists.
How sad that someone rather would be dead!
The flower that is given little light
is like a soul brought low who droops his head,
then fades away . . . like dusk into the night.
Written 11/15/12
For the "Hope" Poetry Contest of Craig Cornish
Now for A Brian Strand Structured Poetry Contest
Categories:
joy., flower, hope, joy, paradise,
Form:
Terzanelle
aye …
on such
divine evenings, thus,
are perfect odes not freely spun?
the Perseids, dancing their
jocund jigs -
capricious, evanescent stripes of
golden ire under a tapestry
of wonders …
watching rapt, ever-attentive,
streaking, burning ephemeral, as if the
gods themselves trace their
fingertips gently on
a phosphorescent brine …
but this, yet,
a sea of suns, amaranthine …
I wonder, could it be …
they are fleeting?
the hopes of idle angels, perhaps,
dying bright in the veil of Zion -
plunging to the earth
as if mortal …
perchance, they're pearls of Sol -
strands of liquid morning,
to adorn, pure, the breast of Heaven …
could be …
they're forsaken souls -
lost spirits, given one last chance to
burn their id on the firmament …
or even yet …
the wondrous wishes of children,
sparking to life in the midst of
their deepest dreaming,
and then … gone …
oh, surely,
it must be that,
their bright, momentary glory can
be meant for ONLY such
tender fancies,
the imaginings of youth,
the one fit and worthy vessel for
such runes …
and I, but their ever-willing caretaker …
picking each one from
the fiery vault like precious
gems from a parcel,
and plopping them, sweet,?
into the deep, soft pocket of my joys … thus,
on such divine evenings ...
aye!
~ 2nd Place ~ in the "Shooting Stars" Poetry Contest, Nayda Ivette Negron, Judge & Sponsor.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Your Choice (5), Any Form, Any Theme" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "2019 Poetry Marathon Mile One" Poetry Contest, Mark Toney, Judge & Sponsor.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Cosmos" Poetry Contest, Thvia Shetley, Judge & Sponsor.
~ 4th Place ~ in the "Spring" Poetry Contest, Craig Cornish, Judge & Sponsor.
~ Poem of the Day ~ on Poetry Soup.com, awarded August 7, 2017.
Categories:
joy., august, eve, joy, metaphor,
Form:
Free verse
There is silence in turmoil… joy in the midst of pain
Sweetness in the bitter… music in the rain
There is light in darkness… illuminated faith shines
Hues of colorful sighs… insights into the signs
There is beauty in unsightliness… kindness in the lost hope
Gentle warmth in a chill… that leaves a way to cope
There is laughter in the sorrow… mirth in the grim
Even though there is mourning… that leaves the eye dim
There is a whisper of inspiration… soothing away the cry
Allowing a tear to pierce the heart… mute the brightest sky
There is grace in the loathing… even hatred brings insight
Precious moments of understanding… can bring pure delight
There is goodness in the shame… for it means a heart is contrite
No dishonor in remorse… even disgrace is brighter in the moonlight
There is warmth in the winter… even though ice chills the bones
Fires breathe tenderness… to those who won’t throw stones
There is caring in the selfish… when they mend their greed
Welcoming the attention… of those who are selfless indeed
There is love in the callous… even a hard heart can be thawed
When there is the compassion… to give mercy we should applaud
2022 Poetry Marathon Mile 9 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Mark Toney
July 21, 2022
Categories:
joy., inspiration, rain, silence,
Form:
Couplet