Best Nightly Poems
REVISED OCTOBER 16, 2019
New Jersey’s cloven-hoofed devil
makes his way to the jetty
beneath the blanket of twinkling stars, anguish unabated
his appetency growing stronger each day
her song rose like mist upon salty tide
creating an irresistible allure
perhaps a mermaid so fair
can be the auspicious boon he badly needs
he calls to her, certain she will listen again
as she has done so many nights before
his soul’s torment she has learned to alleviate
patiently, she clings to one boulder, waiting
for she alone can absolve him of past misdeeds
she motions for him to draw near
“Kiss me now,” she begs,
“Before anything more can go awry.”
he moves toward her, still in atrocious devil form
holding fast to the rocks as a storm approaches
perhaps this time their magical kiss
will forever end his loneliness
October 14, 2019
For John Hamilton’s “Crazy A’s” Poetry Contest
The New Jersey Historical Society provided information about the New Jersey Devil and the mermaid he is said to connect with each night by the shore.
Unrequited Love And Sad Nightly Calls
Wherein solitude, shades long day's travails
my desire for your true love yet remains.
Nights arrive, I battle through living Hells
death knocking loud with heartbreaking pains!
O' that your deep sorrows, you had not found,
into your private island had not fled.
Now, I am buried in unholy ground (*suicide*)
each night a pale ghost rising from the dead!
Yet I struggle, in haste to fly to you
with ghostly arms, begging you to follow.
You heard sad moaning voice, asking not who
your refusals, bitter pills to swallow!
O' that I had lived and gave you my all.
You would love me, not hear such nightly calls.
R.J. Lindley,
August 7th, 1975
Sonnet on (Death, Unrequited Love and Suicide)
As summer begins,
frequent visitors woo me;
Mosquitoes in stripes~
Stealing kisses on my cheeks,
Leaving kiss marks left and right.
September 9, 2021
A Buggy Tanka Poetry Contest
Sponsored by M. L. Kiser
2nd place
The shadow in the night beckons.
I slowly rise from my warm and cosy bed
Only to follow the urge that drives me mad
Into spectral half-fledged woodland,
That spreads beyond my lonely tower.
Without volition, I approach slowly
A great, gaunt gate that towered
Over a ghostly path among the ashen trees.
A pale moon lights the blanched greensward,
That covered thinly the winding trail,
And from afar, I hear a river,
I hear its humming, throbbing, low, ferocious call,
Meant to disturb the serenity of my soul.
But I force myself into my somnambulism,
And perhaps, lull myself to dream of angels.
silence
across the table
sat with him
dressed in black
in the death of night
while his world slept
they waited there
refusing to slip quietly
in the hush of night
AP: Honorable Mention 2020
Posted on March 3, 2019
Evening enchantress, she carefully selects
The most exquisite place in the sky to repose.
A marvel is our Luna, inspiring
Silver poetry, tides, and young forbidden love.
Delicately pretending to not watch
At the same time, missing nothing
Stirring imaginations, inspiring music and song.
Tempting the super controlled to be more brazen.
Inciting riots and applauding unfamiliar
Maniacal behavior in her full of herself state.
Evening enchantress, never going lightly
Especially when she is full.
Magic evening enchantress, revered by all.
Showing her face, and her wiles.
Sharing whispers with hoot owls and wolves.
Visiting nightly, outside windows of dreamers.
Written 3-08-19
Contest: Liquid Luna Lace
Sponsor: Chantelle Anne Cooke
I see that you have been in a coma for two days and I hope you can hear me,Johnson, I'm going to check your vital every two hours just to see if there ant changes,Johnson,my name is ruthie your nightly nurse, and while I'm here with you I will see to it that you are giving the best care while you here,Johnson, I will clean your wounds and chang your bandages too and when I'm finished doing those thing I will comfort you,Johnson, my name is Ruthie your nightly nurse I'm going to check your vital every two hours just to see if there is any changed,with tears in her eyes, thses are her words, I going to sit right beside you,I'm going to write your wife and kids for you Johnson,I'm going to tell your wife how much you going to miss her and how she's going to miss you,I going to tell your kids that you love them and you wish that if it God will that you can be there to watch them grow-up,I'm going to hold your hand while you are here,Johnson, my name is Ruthie your nightly nurse ,I will be the person you will hear talking with you and I will be the last person to hold your hand, and I'll kiss you for your wife and kids and I'll tell them how good a soldier you was Johnson,I'm going to tell your parent that you are a brave soldier and that you love them very much,and I will also write and tell your conrade to always keep you in there heart,and Johnson when it's my time to go who will sit beside my bed? and hold my hand? and who is going to write my husband and kids and tell them how much I'm going to miss them and who is going to kiss me one last time???Johnson, my name is Ruthie, your nightly nurse It's time to unplug you from my machine, I can't check your vital anymore, I'm going to clean you and dress you in your dress blued and pin your awards upon your chest, and call for someone to bring your body out PVT Johnson will be miss. time of death 1400hrs. stay in a coma for five days....................this is dedicatedto Pvt johnson and his family and love ones......................SSG KIRT JACK
Trough nightly whisper
A pale moon hides behind clouds
With dancing shadows
A far murmur from the woods
Soothing gurgle from the creek
-----------------------------------------
Nächtliches Flüstern
Ein fahler Mond hinter Wolken
Mit tanzenden Schatten
Ein fernes Murmeln vom Wald
Ein sanftes Gluckern vom Bach
-----------------------------------------
Susurro Nocturno
Pálida luna detrás nubes
Sombras bailando
Murmullo lejano del bosque
Suave borboteo de ribera
Although even in childhood, the nightmares sometimes came
They grew far worse when Dan died, and I shouldered the blame
He followed me when I chose to swim across a lake
In the middle he cried out, “This swim I cannot make!”
Engaged for just one day, wedding plans had not been made
My attempts to save him will never from my mind fade
It was then the nightmares came nightly; treatment I sought
And I became reliant on the first pills I bought
Amitriptyline, a well-known mood elevator
Helped alleviate bad dreams, but my need grew greater
I cannot sleep a wink without my medication
I have tossed and turned and cried out to our Creator
When I run out, I sometimes wish my life would soon end
On nothing and no one do I desire to depend
Even with the pill, I can wake up screaming at night
But if you take them away, no dreams will I invite
*Written August 22, 2014 by Carolyn Devonshire
( NIGHTLY ROUTINE )
I look up to the stars above,
and I wish for your love.
I close my eyes so hard and tight,
and pray to God with al my might.
This is my nightly routine,
I ask for the boy within my dream.
I hope someday it will come true,
and I'll spend the rest of my life with you.
But when I do re-open my eyes,
I do not see you. No surprise.
Instead, a darkness inside an empty room,
except for the small light of the moon.
Fire in the sky.
The sun must have exploded.
Now darkness descends.
Like the moon pours its light
Over a forest, in silence
Echoing the music of solace
Graceful like the sigh, inspiration
Healing darkness, nocturnal
Blessings venturing beyond the moon
Stars in glimpses of hopeful shimmering
Promising to make wishes come true with their laughter,
Blessing the heart, the soul – with
Knowing that even the densest undergrowth
Feels the melody as the moon
Casts its shaft, elegant, supple – flowing
Over the night, beckoning paradise, stirring the soul to life
As it parts the oaks, the pines, singing
Through the limbs, gentling lyrics
Opening hearts, in the clearing –
Where moonlight restores the joy
Burning through those who know, alone
Isn’t always lonely. Sometimes,
Alone is like a touch from the most holy
The Clearing Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: craig cornish
February 10, 2023
Drops of oil
Scar the soul
Scare the mind
Steal the life
Dead
Cold
Frigid and still
Creeping vines
Inching in the dark
Sealed rosebuds
Fall to the ground
Trembling in the wind
Vultures
Beak and Talon
Silhouette against the moon
Darkness under the wing
Tick
Tock
Midnight
Tick
Tock
Die
Once upon a time I saw night like day
Having no fear from absence of daylight
Sun or moon, I enjoyed both in the same way
Loved the coming of stars in the twilight
Peaceful became dread like the greatest sin
Fearing not the dark but what lurks within
Hidden well from sight are those beings that wait
Existing between the folds of darkness
They are not obvious, made dark like hate
They invite the warmth to leave for coldness
Truly frightful to meet one yet sublime
Creatures of night never seen from daytime
Hardly ever felt at night, so beware
The shadows held no secrets once before
But one dreadful night, I chanced upon it
Ghost! Might sound ridiculous I admit
Yet it was as real as the moon lit dime
Glaring from the desk, like a great comic
My hearth skipped a beat for the first time
My brain urgently forwarding logic
I could not focus on its form on first sight
It stood in the gloom capturing no light
A presence which started out as a blur
Hairs stood on ends at the ghostly figure
Stillness became my only objective
Confronted by him I could not believe
The apparition was there yet not there
Seeming to take form within the darkness
Seeing through him like glass, he seemed harmless
Spirit or ghost I did not know for sure
Scared witless as I was I could not say
My only thought, how to keep him at bay
The specter was then kneeling near my feet
We stared at each other for a long time
To have seen him almost felt like a crime
As if we were never suppose to meet
I could make out his figure very clear
Sadness filled his eyes, removing my fear
It seemed to be pleading, but not with words
A Cheever ran along me like a sword
Are ghosts unable to make any sound?
He seemed ready to howl like a hound
Suddenly, a hand rose towards my face
This disturbing movement hard not to miss
My eyes strained to follow the fathom hand
As it swooped towards me, unstoppable
Ghosts can’t be stopped; it’s the law of the land
To make him gone, I felt incapable
I hid under covers for protection
Shutting my eyes from this confrontation
Uttering in my head, be gone, be gone
Until morning light chased away the dread
I never saw a ghost ever again
My conscience being as heavy as led
Following your endless wander
A cold comfort embraced me
As you dove into the unknown
I could only follow your vague figure
Chasing someone, something I don't understand
As I caught up to you and turned your face
Your enigmatic face still fragile as ice
Fixated at the empty space ahead of you
Even then you were selfish as ever
Even after I threw my tasteless dreams away
Even after I gave myself away
Even as I flew into the endless sky
With only dust on my hands
Always, you said otherwise
Tell me, tell me something I don't know, something I couldn't know
Only as I fell did you tell me
Tell me you had been my friend
Comforting me as I descend
Thank you, my melancholy