Best Lake Erie Poems
From the Ohio River to the Great Lake Erie.
If they come from Cleveland, or south in Cincinnati,
these talented persons’ works are the ones we should see.
They have written some of this site’s greatest poetry.
They may live in the cities of Canton or Akron;
or perhaps in Columbus, Youngstown, or in Dayton.
They also come from many smaller towns in between.
They’ve written some of the best poetry I have seen.
Many of these folks have graduated from college.
Those that have not still possess incredible knowledge.
To them, poetry is both a science and an art.
Our Ohio members are all naturally smart.
I used to call Michigan my sweet home,
growing up used to camp by Lake Erie,
now this state has left me sad and alone,
honestly there’s nothing left there for me.
Jet’s Pizza was my most favorite food,
Jimmy’s Coney Island every Tuesday,
now all the loss and death has changed my mood,
and to leave this state is all I can pray.
Renaissance Festival in the summer,
used to be a place of laughter and fun,
but now Michigan is a big bummer,
and pleasurable moments I have none.
Michigan used to feel like home to me,
but maybe I should move to Tennessee.
December 29, 2016
I have this small birdbath
in my backyard
apparently the talk of the
whole Bird-town -- not much
larger than a good-size hubcap,
one would think it was Lake Erie
size takes on different perspective
in the desert; like a prairie dog
is fat pheasant to a snake -- a jackrabbit
seldom fast enough for a hungered, blood-thirsty
coyote once targeted -- even a cartoon Willy would
shed his cartoon ink, in the real desert~ life here, first
is all about drink.
Half a mile from the shore
boats turn into diving fish,
the sky roars by
derailed by the horizon.
The Lake Erie ferry
skims the crashing crests
rises as a seagull,
scooping up the flying spray.
We passengers go below
abandoning the deck
to the scouring winds.
Children are gathered up
into protective huddles.
I catch my reflection,
my grin is fixed and stiff.
The skipper calls out:
this is normal for the time of year!
The tense mood of the cabin calms.
My jaw aches
for the rest of the day.
ufos fly lake erie
blowing air force theory
each tows a sign
flashing this line
we stole a cow from oleary.
If you look closely, you will see
the masterpiece Winter painted
along mighty Erie’s shore
in the darkness, well into the early morning light.
You will see his fondness for delicate shades of gray,
How one by one he bends and sheaths the tall ornamental grass
in rounded silvery whiteness, and
how he paints ripply footprints at the water’s edge.
If you look closely, you will see
the fluttering gulls in the distance,
Seemingly small, yet not insignificant,
Every detail a pixel of life.
There’s more, if you look closer,
If you’re willing to brazen the biting wind,
Like the pile of jagged sticks, and mossy green rocks from summer,
Now a single creamy white ice sculpture.
And if you hold your eyes and heart wide open,
you can read the painter’s signature
written in the battleship gray sky—
December
Beautiful Lake Erie bound by New York
Romantic honeymoon, bottle and cork
It went up with Viagra
spilled unlike Niagara
racing fast to arrive before the Stork!
2/24/16
Cheers!
Death By Murder:
Murky water left to drink
floating particles of death.
Erie presence leaves discontent.
As something wicked floats in it.
The bone chilling cold wind doth blow
off Lake Erie with flurry snow.
Late at night off cold dark shores
shadows of a floating barge.
Clouds of soot from steamers clogged
Pollutes the air with killer smog.
When something wicked this way flows
poverty on desperate corners pose.
Perverts prey on angry streets
Homeless children on which they creep.
Desperately at the mercy of,
as something wicked this way comes
Young ones get plucked,like sweet ripe plumbs
As something wicked this way comes
.
Contaminated, where no herbs could purge her
Strictly becomes death by murder.
Others with blood dripping from lips
Every scary thing flung and flipped
No caring soul feels to investigate
As vampires odors fumigate
There's no friend to even extend
a stick to beat the bush or defend
The evil deeds that ignorance brings
desecrates the graves of all good men
We make loud noises and pretend;
While something evil this way spins.
The screams are loud but know one heard her
Ignored are cries upon lake Erie's borders
Spores that spawn.. these deaths by murder.
Elements Part 3: WATER - Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Brian Davey
I've seen pictures but never the authentic beauty,
for one can never explain such flowing cascades,
Niagara Falls has stolen my sadness while broody,
what a marvel mother nature has made.
Wonder one of the seven seen within earth's creations
Above Lake Erie bordering Canada while cascading
Torrents of Niagara Falls impermeable from hydration
Exquisite attraction in America, I watch the cataracts fading
Rain and snow activate the collecting of precipitation
Falls of water chute down strong, my essence serenading
All the spectacles have exceeded my curious expectations
Lingering tourists are enthralled, streams can be persuading
Latitude of distance the water enforces without explanation
Watching the strong current energize while it invigorates,
I wonder what the crystallization would look like if the falls could solidify.
I can't imagine seeing a single glimpse as the frosty snow saturates.
In wintry weather the streams don't freeze; requisite while the falls mystify.
~Date Written: April 2, 2016~
Murky water left to drink
floating particles of death
Erie presence leaves discontent
As something wicked floats in it.
The bone chilling chilly wind doth blow
off Lake Erie with flurry snow.
Late at night off cold dark shores
Shadows of a floating barge
Clouds of soot from steamers clogged
Pollutes the air with killer smog
when something wicked this way blows.
Perverts creep on angry streets
Children homeless are their prey
desperately at the mercy of
She gets plucked like a sweet ripe plumb
as something wicked this way comes.
There were no herbs, left to purge her
This was strictly death by murder
Blood dripping from their lips/
Every scary thing they fling as;
Vampires odors fumigates,
the evil deeds, their gluttony brings.
They've Desecrated the graves of men;
Though we stand by, we cannot extend,
at least a stick to beat the bush;
Or make loud noises and pretend;
While something evil this way spins.
© Vicki Acquah | Year Posted 2014
Inspired by Ray Bradbury
reposted 2017
THE LIGHT HOUSE
The shimmering white beacon off the shores
Of Marble-head, let it's flickering light shine again,
In restorations amber glow of hope.
For are we not the custodians of our own history.
Allow us to relight the spark, igniting the flames
Kindling, a tinderbox of explosive force,
To expose our historical past for others to enjoy.
Than shall we not pass the torch forward.
It is up to us, to save legacy's heritage,
For the future generations to come.
Crumbling monument’s cry out to be
Remembered, times cruel weathering, does
Ascend tearing at the walls of mortar,
And chipping at the layers of paint.
Can we not lend a helping hand, to aid in
Such a worthy cause, to preserve our past.
Allow us as human beings, the keepers of
The lighthouse, to fuel the fire for preservation.
Let us leave a historical landmark, a piece of
The past worthy of saving, to be restored.
Hand-N-Hand, brick by brick, layers of
Humanities historical records need
Preservation reclamation.
It is a proclamations that should be heard,
For prosperity's sake alone.
Rise up Toledo-ans, see the torch light from
Afar distant island, let not this flame be
Stamped out, or fade away.
No not here in the grand state of Ohio,
In the light house, off Sandusky Bay,
Shall it's rays of brilliance shine again.
Against the Lake Erie waters, standing
Tall, as a beacons light of hope,
For future generations to come.
BY: CHERYL ANNA DUNN
Pellucid pearls in northeastern North America
since planetary birth
Comprise Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron,
Erie, and Ontario dearth
Largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth
Straddle Canadian–United States border
tethering partial global girth
Constituting 21% of world's surface
fresh water species hearth
Total surface equals 94,250 square miles
And total volume equals
5,439 cubic miles immeasurable worth.
Lake Erie from Erie tribe, abridged form
of Iroquoian word erielhonan “long tail”
Lake Huron named by French explorers
for Wyandot or “Hurons” whence they did sail
Lake Michigan likely from Ojibwa word mishigami
“great water” aka outsize gold quail
Lake Ontario i.e. “Lake of Shining Waters”
shimmering like hammered coat of mail
Lake Superior coined from French
“lac supérieur” "upper lake", an emerald watery dale
Ojibwe people called it gitchigumi medicinal
to cure that, which might ail.
These five lakes each reside in separate basin
Form a single, naturally interconnected body
of fresh water caisson
Linking east-central interior of North America
to Atlantic Ocean akin to an escutcheon.
From interior to outlet at St. Lawrence River,
Water flows via Superior to Michigan-Huron
southward to Erie to avoid a shiver
Finally released northward to Lake Ontario
as like a well taut archer with his quiver.
The lakes drain a large watershed via many rivers
as an Olympic team
Populated with approximately 35,000 islands
this estimate not x stream.
The Great Lakes region contains
many thousands of smaller lakes,
Often called inland lakes undulating
in cascading analogous to a fluid ream
Lake Michigan the only one located
entirely within United States
While the others border between
United States and Canada – essentially a liquid seam.
Nessie, Wattie and Kin
A full ten years before Nessie was first sighted
Colonel Arthur Trimble visited Loch Watten
A dark, looming shape Trimble’s interest ignited
It’s now speculated Nessie has some twins
Oceanographers say that before the Ice Age
Loch Ness was connected to the Atlantic sea
So let us turn the history book back a page
A similar creature’s been seen in Lake Erie
American cousins for Nessie and Wattie
Giant sea serpent’s been spotted in Lake Champlain
He is known as Champ and Lake Erie’s is Bessie
Four ocean cast outs roam an inland sea domain
Could it be that the plesiosaurus lives on
In Scotland as well as in North America
Trapped in these lakes when the Ice Age seas had withdrawn
At same latitudes, but not killers like Orka
So if I make my way to see bonnie Scotland
I’ll be chartering a boat, bringing diving gear
In hopes of catching a glimpse of Nessie firsthand
As I explore Loch Ness’s undersea frontier
*Entry for Thvia's contest
An alternate track is via Illinois River (from
Chicago), to Mississippi, up the Ohio, and then
through the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
(combination of a series of rivers and lakes
and canals), to Mobile Bay and the Gulf.
Commercial tug-and-barge traffic on these waterways is heavy.
Pleasure boats can also enter or exit Great Lakes
by way of the Erie Canal and Hudson River in New York.
The Erie Canal connects to Great Lakes at
east end of Lake Erie (at Buffalo, New York) and
south side of Lake Ontario (at Oswego, New York).
Statistics:
The Great Lakes contain 21% of the world’s fresh surface water:
5,472 cubic miles (22,810 km3), or 6.0×1015 U.S.
gallons (2.3×1016 liters). This is enough water
to cover the 48 contiguous U.S. states to a uniform depth
of 9.5 feet (2.9 m).
Although the lakes contain
a large percentage of world's fresh water,
the Great Lakes supply only a small portion of
U.S. drinking water on a national basis (roughly 4.2%).
Winter 2009–10 was somewhat mild, the precipitation
was below normal for Great Lakes Basin.
Mean lake levels are thought to be slightly below or
at their levels of 2009. An ice jam in February 2010
dropped the level in Lake St. Clair. Since jelly roll more 'in jam
was removed the level has come back to its average.
As of March 2010, the lakes were at the level, or slightly
below, where they were in March 2009.
The combined surface area of the lakes is approximately
94,250 square miles (244,100 km2)—nearly
the same size as the United Kingdom, and larger
than U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut,
Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New
Hampshire combined.The Great Lakes coast measures
approximately 10,500 miles (16,900 km);
however, the length of a coastline is impossible to measure
exactly and is not a well-defined.
In golden dawn of day
Fish the color of lake and sky
Swam Lake Erie wide in eye.
Twenty thousand years past
Fins chased by glaciers:
Blue pike survived
Until too many waves of our breed
Swept them from the lake
With taint and nets of greed
In a hundred years-long dusk.
Too much like Sandburg’s Buffalo Dusk
The Blue pike and their fishermen are gone:
Too much chased from ice to nets
To gray smoke dusk,
Black empty night –
The Blue pike and the men who saw them
Gone.