Best Piped Poems
Excitement filled the bushland as December was near
Every creature had been waiting for Christmas time - all year.
Wallabies hung their stockings on a gumtree branch with care
Just as all nice children do – everywhere.
Meanwhile those more up to date logged on the internet
sending E mails to Santa to see what they could get
Koalas draped high treetops with shiny garlands green
And furry possums lined their dens in golden glitter sheen
Wallabies joined in with bright balloons hung on their tails
All the crows tied streamers, cascading from the rails.
Kookaburras’ laughter changed to Christmas songs
While magpies and peewees piped along in throngs.
A wombat and a bandicoot made honeysuckle punch
The parrots came too early and drank’ til they got drunk
And when the’ Magic Pudding’ came to help with Christmas Dinner
His taste was so delicious he left a trifle thinner.
With a Kangaroo as Santa, his pouch stuffed full of cheer
hopping ‘round the outback in the hottest time of year
Just guess what all the drovers got- lots of ice-cold beer.
Suzanne Delaney
For Children's Christmas Poem Contest for Carol Eastman
Categories:
piped, children, christmas, december, kids,
Form:
Rhyme
from suffering and pain
that is piped into veins
by the organ-less master
who relentlessly plays
from a congested gutter
of fake themes
hiding in deception
and callous clutter
from distaste of the old
the sick the poor and uninvited
from the self-imposed
silent deaf and short-sighted
I rise
as a bed of plume feathers
carry me gently towards
an untainted treasure
klimt gold ash pours over my body
soothing the distress I allowed to infest
I stroll along the mountains aurora
feet sinking into a bed of stardust flora
gazing out at mankind
a dull drum beat of the blinding matrix
trudging in sync to a contrived greatness
oblivious to the thundering roar
of perishing seas
animals lie floating
in warm global soaking
smoldering sun with rusted rays
shivers in the sky
with disheartened malaise
the illusion is breaking
a decision is undertaking
a red beaked sparrow beckons me
to look off into the darkening blue
a great tempest is coming
and long overdue
Categories:
piped, environment, humanity, political, truth,
Form:
Free verse
Alone,
slicked with sweat,
and hearing the locusts’ cries
deep in my neck,
I stood over the remains
of Sal Paradise.
The spotty grass
around the tombstone
was browned and littered
with trodden Camel filters
and corroded bottle caps.
I reached into
my inspired rucksack
and discovered a Deutchmark,
forgotten like a sleepy drunk
at crowded a tavern.
I placed it on the granite,
amid the years
and a crusty half-empty
whiskey bottle
a different friend had left.
I hunched over the grave,
my head bowed,
but not really praying
or thinking about him.
And now I sit across the street,
seated by the window
in a little Italian restaurant.
I am the lone customer,
ensconced by piped-in light FM muzak.
Categories:
piped, america, confusion, death, funeral,
Form:
Free verse
Let me fly
Let me soar
soar like a bottle rocket
soar like shooting star
star of the sapphire sky
star of the multi-verse
multi-verse of endless song
multi-verse of ballads formed
formed of shatters she's
formed of immortality
immortality unformed
immortality of thought
thought of rainbows
thought of waterfalls
waterfalls of prism light
waterfalls of tears
tears from children
tears from mothers
mothers warm
mothers home
home with yellow clapboard
home with a cat
cat with whiskers
cat with purrs
purrs with cuddles
purrs for dinner
dinner stewed tomato
dinner hot
hot mouths
hot skin
skin nee dip
skin in the game
game to play
game to try
try me
try shusi
sushi pink
sushi rolled
rolled in sesame
rolled in the hay
hay the field
hay Nane Nane
Nane sang
nane piped
piped the harmonic
piped to the star
stars shine
stars explode
explode
shine
*dedicated to Mr. O
Categories:
piped, growth,
Form:
Verse
Skipping along with three friends by her side
Anticipation was high.
Whirling tornadoes had long disappeared;
Not a dark cloud in the sky.
Yellow as daffodils was the brick road,
Yellow the ripening corn,
And it had coloured the heart of the lion
Leaving him sad and forlorn.
Suddenly Dorothy stopped in her tracks
‘Was that you, Scarecrow’ she said.
‘Whispering jibberish under your hat?
I didn’t quite catch the thread’.
‘No it was me’ piped a tremulous voice
‘Cast your eyes down to the ground’.
Yellow as summer sun, creeping along
Such a sad creature they found.
‘Please can you help me escape from this path,
Life is so treacherous here.
Camouflaged as I am with the brick road,
For my own life I do fear’.
Off to the Wizard they wended their way
Shy caterpillar in tow,
Full of bright hopes of a change to their lives,
For it had been promised so.
After the Wizard had heard the bug’s plea
This was his bitter reply.
'You must return to the yellow brick road
And life will change by and by.’
Heavy of heart, and with tears in his eyes,
Back to face danger he crept.
So much for miracles, life was unfair;
His fate he’d have to accept.
Change started happening after a while,
Feelings he couldn’t explain,
But as he flew o’er the yellow brick road
His heart felt joyful again.
19/11/18
'Off to see the wizard poetry contest' : Sponsored by: Charles Messina
Categories:
piped, fear, friend, hope, sad,
Form:
Rhyme
The lemurs perched on branches,
Fluffy tails all hanging down;
Their faces looked like rubber
And their fur was russet brown.
There might have been a dozen
In this part of the display,
When something happened that
I don’t think happens every day.
A piercing, noisy, clamorous
Cacophony of sound
Erupted from these animals;
Their terror was profound.
Such agitation, so intense,
(This was the real megillah)
Was triggered by a man who made
The noise of a gorilla.
I guess it was convincing
For the lemurs were quite crazed;
And those of us who witnessed this
Were equally amazed.
When they calmed down, a child piped up,
“Dad – make that noise again.”
The father acquiesced, to prove
The intellect of men.
The lemurs, though, did not react
For instinct did suffice
To let them recognize the fool
Who’d try to trick them twice.
Categories:
piped, animals,
Form:
Rhyme
In the skies over Inverness
is light-play on an annual quest
and pipers in kilts come to play along
with the aurora’s lovely song.
Moonbeams shy in aurora’s light
give way to flowing waves so bright.
Cosmic charged particles from the sun
are sure to leave no coloring undone.
Echoes of piped tunes will dance
while colors in sky do entrance;
as high above the highland lakes
the sky performs a waltz of grace.
3-13-2021
Scotland - One Rule Poetry Contest
Julia Ward
Categories:
piped, light, nature, places, poems,
Form:
Rhyme
I took myself walking the other day,
not far from the city's decay
A small patch of solitude beckoned to me,
'til I came to take rest,by the old stump of a tree.
Sure I took myself walking and alone here I sit,
disgusted with life and close to a fit.
With face cupped in hands and eyes a-staring out straight,
I thought to myself, "What will be my fate?"
Self-pity had just about taken it's toll,
when that old stump piped up, with the voice of my soul.
"Look here young fella,what's got you so low?"
"Life's got me defeated', I said kinda slow.
"Life's got you defeated--just look what I've got,
a face charred by fire and a heart full of rot.
I've got critters chewing me inside and out,
and I'm darned close to dying,there is little doubt.
But am I discouraged?--not on your life.
I've served a good purpose, with my offspring and wife".
And looking around, what should I see,
but hundreds of saplings and another old tree.
"We've given the earth much more than we've taken,
if you do the same, you won't be forsaken.
Just go back and face life with it's ups and it's downs.
Back to your life in cities and towns.
But come back again, if you feel yourself slippin',
If more people went walking, there'd be less of them flippin'.
I
Categories:
piped, inspirational, introspection, life, nature,
Form:
Rhyme
massive oak timbers
hearty men piped to action
mighty war machine
planks resisted cannonballs
like our nation, still afloat
Categories:
piped, analogy, endurance, patriotic, power,
Form:
Tanka
(Transit Lounge, Dubai International Airport, circa 2007)
He answered
that he was from far Kazakhstan,
“Exotic place,” he added,
which I know but could not pinpoint
on my mental map.
She smiled
and said, “I am from India somewhere
farther to the northeast bordering China.”
“Hence her fairer skin,” I thought.
And she piped in,
“From Ethiopia,” and I could not
but think of just how much she paid
to have her curly hair straightened.
From the counter
of their air-conditioned, compact
caravanserai, they all chorused
the suggestion that I opt
for king prawn salad
which, indeed, was so delicious
to the hungry eyes but just so rich
for my already travel-thinned billfold.
Thus I settled
for some salmon sandwich
and a bowl of curly noodles
that the Chinese had perfected
long ago in those steaming kitchens
of their fabled silk road inns.
“Fragrant tea
from out the hot and humid hills
of southern India,” the Ethiopian
said with flourish, bringing me
my mug to wash away
the fishy taste still lingering
along the silk roads
of my taste buds, as I vainly tried
to pinpoint far Kazakhstan
on my travel-weary mental map
while waiting, sleepy, for the call
to put me, once more,
on my way.
Categories:
piped, travel,
Form:
Blank verse
Oh, my, how excited, elated, I would be
to receive sudden financial prosperity.
The true appeal would not be the tangible
but the freedom I have longed to handle.
It is so easy and fun to imagine
the idyllic dream-cottage I would fashion.
If my pen and intent have successful flair,
Perhaps I can transport us all there.
One super, great thing about my new home
is the location in a unique, universal zone,
where society, by law, must leave me alone
and never again cause me or mine to groan.
First, I’d hand my home dreams to Thomas Kinkade
whose involvement my enthusiasm would persuade.
He would build my perfect cottage in a glade;
quaint goose bump appeal with each modern update.
Country, antique and Quaker furnishings throughout
would be joyously bought using my new clout.
I would slowly decorate within and without -
extend the thrill, I would without a doubt.
A Walt-Disney-mind will fashion green grounds
over which perfect billowing clouds will abound.
Cute, gleeful birds will provide uplifting sounds
and precious flowers will pop color all around.
Somewhere on my lush, beautiful property
will be awesome fun for others and me;
ATVs, a bowling alley and bumper cars;
a racquetball court where everyone stars;
a baseball field where rivalry will spar;
an inviting lake twinkling beneath the stars
where fishing and swimming are never barred;
and, a babbling brook playing nature’s guitar.
Every morning will wondrously begin.
Before any voice has even spoken,
a gorgeous song will be piped in,
Cat Steven’s singing, “Morning Has Broken.”
Categories:
piped, beauty, dream, fantasy, freedom,
Form:
Rhyme
Old Elms in the Snow
It snows this day
upon Your work.
The elms seem sad,
their bark wrinkled fingers
aimlessly appoint.
Piped in ermine, winter
ballerina limbs
take permanent position,
frozen supplicant or
petrified pirouette.
Winter grows still
my God.
Kathryn M. Collins
Categories:
piped, tree,
Form:
Verse
I turned the key,
pressed the gas pedal.
The motor belched
the starter grated.
“No. Not today!
I can’t be late.
I’m teaching the class.
I have to be there!”
Our three-year-old
piped up from the back seat,
“Try it again, Mom.”
The motor coughed, caught,
settled to a steady purr.
My little two-cylinder Fiat,
slow, but steady as she goes,
took me everywhere.
Again, from the back seat,
“I knew it would start, Mom.
I prayed.”
Categories:
piped, child, faith,
Form:
Narrative
today I was shopping
in a moment found spotless
a basket of groceries...
a list in my hand..
old music piped in
the lyrics forgotten
from a favorite rock band
today I was shopping
when my thoughts interrupted
the reach of my hand
your face and your laughter
popped into my head
there on the shelf
in the jar of green olives,
in the crust of the bread
in the provolone cheese
a six pack of beer.. of pale summer blend
was your face staring back
that brought back the years
and the hot sting of tears
and out of the blue,
the moment once spotless
is swallowed again
by the ghost from before
in the aisle of the store
on a day I was shopping
on the edge of the war
I came out of the store
stepping into the blue
wondering who
I was, long before...
before there was you
__________________________________
Open Poetry Contest: Finalized 7/19/15
Resubmitted for Laura Loo's Contest: 2nd Place Only III
Categories:
piped, emotions, grief, sad,
Form:
Free verse
God in shorts, I never thought I'd see the day,
gloves and boots and grease on the eyebrows too
the bell went for round one, I threw a left, then he
smiteth me to the body with great vengence,
then yay....I had him on the ropes at last and a fierce
exchange followed, and his trainer, Jesus, shouting
in a rage, "come on dad!...don't give old Nick a win,
twill send the world into a spin,"
and then he caught me with a roundhouse to the jaw
it sent me tumbling to the floor; up on one knee
he misunderstood, saying, " rise up my son, I am your God,"
I jumped up quick, and punched him square, and Jesus
shouted, "hey that's not fair!": the last round came, the
crowd went wild, then God behaving like a child,
dancing, taunting me in tongues, I knocked him flat
into the gunge; with gnashing of teeth and a bible punch
he caught all five, a fiery bunch, and came a great commotion
and a God almighty crunch: the lord was down twas no mistake,
but came the decision, on points and gore, that it could only be
an acrimonious draw, then a band of angels siezing this chance
began to sing their choral dance; typical I thought and piped up
my demons from the crowd, a merry scene twas it indeed,
to share our world...the love and greed.
Categories:
piped, conflict, courage, evil, fun,
Form:
Free verse