Best Petra Poems
A stairway of tinted boulders reveals
The fable of old gods marking a past,
Etched on tall red-stones divinely claimed…
And as I ascend to touch a warm glow,
My feet quiver among hallowed mounds
Of blazing rocks, of sacred pillars.
In awe, I listen to Jordan’s songs
As one city’s heart flames through Siq winds
Humming through early noon’s desert trail
Which climbs inside my pulsed breath…until
Tears stumble into a warm prayer
On a rosy frame of blest temples.
Journeying to Petra silences me,
From tribal gems and inlay jars soaked in moonlit dust
To camel rides with Beduoins exploring a grandeur
I can only own within my thoughts…
For its mystique spreads on life’s essence
Where I greet the humble soul within.
Foreign Travel Contest
For Thvia Shetley
Submitted 9/26/2017
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City of Petra, Jordan-- one of the 7 wonders of the world
*Siq-- the entrance that lies between
Petra's red-hued mountains
You are a Venus of beauty multiplying at night,
As your City Lights adorably carpet each mountain,
The moon smiles above you with its gleam so bright;
A breathtaking view which a repertoire cannot even contain
In admiration of your panorama springing like a fountain.
The sun rejoices each day upon your vast splendid arid ground,
As spectators stride along your cascading stream of gorges,
You enchantingly cradle them into your bosom blissfully around;
Your architectural stone-mountain range spectacularly astonishes,
You are a Rose City- all is agog with your carved stones in red roses.
Oh, Petra! You’re widely admired with your unique environment,
A treasure of the world, the Nabataeans’ magnificent masterpiece;
A haven of everyone’s dream to ride and walk on every pavement,
Catering sumptuous experience in lavish pleasure making all feel at peace,
And ‘tis ballad of mine isn’t even enough to laud your great wonder and grace.
Nov. 12, 2013 6.36 pm
Petra , Jordan is really a very beautiful city/place! I was there last Oct. 21-22, 2013.
My avatar was taken there;))))
First Place
Contest: Best Poetic Form
Judged: 11/17/13
Sponsor: My greatest poet & sis PD
Fifth Place
Contest: Any Subject, Any Form
Judged: 11/15/13
Sponsor: Poet Charlotte Puddifoot
There are doors but you can’t knock upon them
And if they were opened
There is nothing to see if they did
Just a hollowed out space
Large enough for the width of a door
And no more
Some temples are like this
A dry sandstone and façade and fascia
Not the delving warrens of the tombs of Kings
There is nothing deep to them
The architecture is all outwards
A structure chiseled only far enough
Into the rock to suggest mighty halls within
All inwardness is written upon the outside
Depth only suggested
Rooms for these ancient vaults of time
Would be mere adornments
Their purpose is confusing
Perhaps they point to an interior
That is on the outside
An edifice that attempts to mirror
soul
An amazonian appears over cliff ledge
Looking down at her butterfly allies
To defend her they promise with a dying pledge
In the fields beyond her stone enemies arise
She leaps into the fray, grinding rock into clay,
The butterflies rally with glimmering wings,
For they know her optimal skills have won them the day.
That’s why the butterfly chorus now sings.
Gold glittering on all sides--bright, overpowering, strong.
The butterflies dance in the breeze heading her plea.
CRASH! A landslide tumbles and rumbles… destroying the throng.
All alone now the Amazonian cries…. Two choices fight or flee….
Slowly she arises once more
Looking out at her friends hidden in the trees
She’s damaged- a site to abhor
They betrayed her and now she has fallen to her knees
A light glows from her core
“Petra must be stopped at any cost”
And she lets out her strong feminine roar
Shantelle has defeated the enemy even if she is lost.
March 1 2020
Title Chosen: Shantelle Prime
Shantelle Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Julia Ward
On this one house
Not to be struck twice only once
Ever a hiding place for one and all
Surely a pillow anointed with oil
The shepherd of Israel fullness of fruit
On this built Zion no other foundation laid
No rock like our living God others ground sand washed awry
Even the mountain Jesus we cry grace grace to thee