Best Midstream Poems
A long hard look softens to the touch
life lines rivers that ebbed and flowed
the midstream upstream fight
has left its nicks and scars
but the brooks that babbled batting lashes
that sent splashes over laugh line rapids
and pooled in floods of pain
have all eventually
come to swirl
in the curled corners
of an ultimately unerodible smile
11.26.2019
The Metaphor of your Face Poetry Contest
Sponsored by John Lawless
Melodic tunes resound with night
When stars begin flamed hours’ delight …
There is a lilt circling the air
As east winds rustle to prepare,
Nocturnal valleys gently calm
Releasing their ambrosial balm:
We listen how jays croon again
From verdant shrubs along the lane
And love notes echo with graced ease
The soft song of the summer breeze…
Where fireflies red invite a dream
Till kisses drift, weaving midstream.
9/4/2018
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One In Five II Contest of Joseph May
Phrase No. 5
A poem unlived
is a poem merely written --
sustenance our words
let the body digest with heartfelt
regurgitation – a poem unlived
is a poem merely written
as well as tasty center, a healthy chew
needs skin-like peachy, tickly sensation,
emotive mastication – best often
lost when discarding fussy peelings
also feelings
a poem unlived is a poem merely written
endless editing...crumblings tossed
our salads before the main course
heavily garnished
each poem with a dipping
thread link – we warm at
the lava lip...deep, glowing
convulsing start, long before the page is stirred,
shaken – ready for bubbly tip
a poem unlived is a poem merely written
the sea we sail both tranquil and rage
creation an unkempt voyage of possibilities,
a nameless work rocks back and forth
cradled it longs to escape wild fluctuation
and transverse,
seeking theme and form – sanguine
transfusion, repetitively jabbing for fluid release
we call upon the mariner, captain, surgeon of
ancient crafts -- muse of many incarnations,
sage, fool of countless courts – both wallflower
and dancer – homebody and restless prancer, where
we have been and yet beam
to go – uniquely fermented we uncork
for a spotlight blow, for grand revelation
introduced with a toast, a click, a sparkly
crystal glow
staging both our fond darkness and
light – an author preparing to take
literary flight
a poem unlived
is a poem merely written --
like stopped midstream
without a river flow, banks
turned away
tepidly applauding….
A stagnant sip before the
moved-by lauding….
Though poetically smitten
dearly kittened
a poem unlived
is a poem merely written...
When visions crawl into his dream
to grate against a hilltop’s ire,
a sheriff flicks like soft campfire
where hazy winds dip low ,midstream.
Bandit frays stab a roguish past…
he gazes at Time…in lone sojourn
as plucks of hummed guitar return,
to soothe a mind now calm, steadfast.
Though old wounds bite the edge of glow
a hundred stars bathe eyes quite whole,
and moonlight kindles to console
the raid of dark through glazed halo.
From where he rides, the visions fade
in homage to a pure moment…
that on warm breath of contentment,
morning knights his final crusade.
4/18/2016
For Rob Carmack’s Lyrics Contest
Inspiration from lines of the song,
‘God Hates a Coward’—Tomahawk
In moments when the twilight sparks
To gently flare as dark embarks,
Tender comes eve swinging a hum
While air-brushed clouds, on flight, succumb.
Yet, through the lull of sky, I hear
Their voices billow quite unclear
Whispering mildly, still I know
Those refrains from seasons ago.
Somehow, before the call of morn
When foggy mist glides on hawthorns,
And daybreak hails a new sunset
I trace past journeys now at rest.
Amidst the quiver of my dreams,
Beloved voices float midstream
On to pathways that bless each name;
Marked deeply in my soul, aflame.
Andrea Dietrich's Let's Get Technical Contest
~new poem~
there is a peace
deep-rooted
that echoes through
as if by some enchantment
its gentle breeze rolls
tumbling in slow motion
toward the lands
barely disturbing
skies of azure blue
wispy clouds serene
quiet and disarming
suspended in mid air
midstream as if
to hold back time
barely a whisper
disturbing the enchantment
of a midsummer afternoon
AP: Honorable Mention 2022
Submitted on January 1, 2022 for contest A STRAND (1044) sponsored by BRIAN STRAND - RANKED 1ST
Originally posted on December 29, 2021
Two drops of water fell from heaven
Unlike any other, they were in love
Holding each other they stayed together
Dreaming of river and deep blue ocean.
It wasn't easy to skip the flower-garden
And ignore appeal of a thirsty fountain,
But they persevered rushing down street
Being trampled by traffic and splashy feet.
Bouncing, giggling, reaching tributaries
Riding gleefully, foaming, and sprinkling
Jumping in delight, riding wavy vibes
Sensing river was near, rushing with joy.
Panic set in when they got separated
Holding essence of a shattering dream.
Feeling like being abandoned midstream
One drop teared, the other saw cheer.
Drop that teared soon learned to cope
But as the ocean neared, it lost all hope.
Little did it know as it fell into the ocean
Other drop waited to catch it with elation.
March 4, 2018
~When "light upon yon window” tends to break
into my hollow head by early dawn,
such brilliant prose pours in as I awake
but by the time I stretch the words are gone.
And like two roads that ’verged in yellow wood,
some perfect metaphors have come my way,
but in a blink, they're merely gone for good,
and where they go, I simply cannot say.
”How do I love thee” surfaced in a dream
with similes of everlasting charm,
but in a flash, I lost the thread midstream
so, “let me count the ways” soon bought the farm.
Those brilliant words of art would just astound
if I was quick enough to write them down.
10-6-22
The ink of sky engulfs my dream
While night’s cinder darkens the shore,
And tattered leaves pivot midstream
To infect my grief much like before.
Dreary this roam, this roam so cold
Attended by a tree's limp veil;
Like ghastly air with woes untold
Of slumber deep, his tomb, my nail.
In a gush, a mist blots the view;
As forceful winds begin their howl
His shadow appears, to pursue
My lonely cry, as weeds befoul.
Oh those grim eyes wail down on me,
Unto our shore bleak as debris.
................
Contest for Edward Ebbs submitted 1/24/2016
Only for those NA's Contest
Poem entered 12/15/2016
Through The Eyes of A Twin
(Faux Limerick)
Sometimes I wonder is it just me
Visions in my head that I can see
Fear grips at me so strong
I thought boy this is wrong
Rebuking Satan told him to flee
I went to the windows looked outside
Then moved from room to room with great stride
Oh girl you need to quit
Was I having a fit
I began to pray fear didn’t subside
In my mind I was seeing this attack
Just stood still didn’t know how to react
Lord where did that come from
Why did I see this harm
Was I having an awful flashback
Continued to pray and shook my head
May be it was something I had read
These thoughts I did not need
They just could not proceed
An attack I would certainly dread
A week later on I got this call
My twin began to explain it all
The vision did occur
What I saw was a blur
As she spoke all I could do was ball
Over the miles I had heard her scream
The attack was broken in midstream
Through my eyes I could see
The Lord had heard my plea
Now I see it was not a daydream
When Spirit lead we must intercede
For there just may be an urgent need
We must stand in the gap
Stop Satan in his trap
The Lord will answer our prayer indeed
DOn't bite the hand that feeds you
Don't burn your bridge behind you
Don't cast your pearls before swine
Don't change horses in midstream
Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
Don't cross the bridge till you to it
Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.
Don't keep a dog and bite your self
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
Don't wash your dirty linen in public
Familiarity breeds comptempt
Feed a cold and starve a fever.
Don't upset the apple cart.
Don"t try to walk before you crawl
Don"t teach grandma to suck eggs
Don't throw the baby out with the birth water.
Don't spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar
Don't rock the boat
Don't put the cart before the horse
Don't meet troubles half way.
Don't put new wine into an old bottle
There are more ways of killing a cat than choking it with cream
There are none so deaf as those that would not hear.
How lustrous the first of morning,
When Aurora spreads her brocade
Laced tassels weave through daylight’s ring--
As she glitters on fragrant glade.
While midstream, breezes decorate
A harbor lined with tulips red;
In vivid inlays quite ornate
Till birdsong explodes, overhead.
Imbued by some godly delight
Hopeful revelry shines aloft--
That I, a keeper of the night
Lay wide- awake on prairies soft.
Beholden by dawn's jubilee
The wisp of heaven breathes in me.
Uplifting Contest sponsored by Laura Loo
Re-submitted 8/30/2017
A crisp Outback day. . . .
Two jackaroos pause midstream.
Breathing in nature,
they hear cool rushing water
and feel the sun at their backs.
Written 2/21/12 and based on a picture
of Australian cowboys.
When passion's flickering flame died,
its early demise brought sad cries.
And having no substance or weight,
it disappeared before your eyes.
Sequestered deep within your heart,
fear fuels anguish and despair.
And you realize that love is
unpredictable and unfair.
Reality trumps illusion
when scavenging remnants of hope.
But it doesn't make sense anymore,
sliding down a slippery slope.
Meant to last an eternity,
love is no longer in your heart.
And dreading possibilities,
your dreams begin to fall apart.
Wishes cut adrift in midstream
are shanghaied by lies and deceit.
And scuttled in a sea of tears,
washup on the shores of defeat.
(Quatrain)
6/19/2015
Sometimes I think, what might have been
Some choice I made, once way back when
A chance I took, to chase a star
Not caring then, how long, how far
Should I have stopped, went back to start
At least went back and got my heart
I've never been one. to stop midstream
I risked it all, to pursue my dream
I see what is and where I am
Now I don't have a tinker's damn
But in for a pound, in for a penny
Hindsight's always twenty twenty
Daniel Turner