Best Playful Poems
MISDEMEANOR
A soft lisp runs through blonde summer grasses,
shoving at kites or the hems of long skirts.
Umbrellas and hats stir as it passes,
jumbling at picnics, it teases and flirts.
It picks up speed while playing with Marty,
and takes his land legs as he tries to walk.
The unseen source can raid a yacht party,
by strewing boats that are moored to the dock.
Laughing in whispers or screaming in storms,
a mythical being, felt but not seen.
Its guests are blind to the brail it performs,
it can be gentle, or just as well, mean.
Wickedly hurling a house in the air,
or docile enough to tousle our hair.
-Edlynn Nau
© May 21, 2018
Sly low tide sneaks up to smooch the smooth shore
that holds old footsteps left behind us
and lends itself to sand castles
standing guard until high tide
plovers dart on fleet feet
across sodden sands
spindle-legged girls
hunt conch shells—
starfish
found!
Blue
waters
glistening
aqua appeal—
white-horse sea magic
spindrift manes rise from crests
awakened from lowest ebb
high tide arrives on thunder hooves
body-surf Neptune’s steeds to the shore—
my wet hair dries to sun-bleached beachy waves…
Feasting on my splendor ravishing to your eyes
Greet me seductively, watch me bathe in sunrise,
Breathing me in, devouring scent of intimacy,
Caressing my breeze teasing you affectionately
Cuddling love’s essence in elysium of my affinity
Holding me in your trance of her magical allure
Enamoring doting senses of passions I conjure
Feeling her tender beats in fragility of my heart
Indulging softly in her fascination for romance
Tempting me longingly in glamor of her glance
As purple cheeks blush, titillating my ruby visage
Fantasizing silken lips inflaming euphoric kiss,
But, dare not pluck me young man, till I’m willing
Undressing sensuously, revealing inner beauty,
Unveiling my core, arousing petals of yearning~
Only then I will be ready, worthy of your promise,
When you present me to her, she’ll be beaming
For I am the rose of her dreams, elixir of ecstasy.
September 25, 2021
Placed 1st: “P” Contest, New or Old Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Constance La France
Theme: Playful
The joy of God gifted out loud.
and darting, darting not from fright.
A playful moon amidst cold clouds.
I saw a lovely moon last night.
Full and fast — I’m fully engrossed.
A beacon scanning the sky-sea.
This mannah, an orotund host,
created perfect just for me!
1/28/2021
There on the velvet grass so green
I sprawl and yawn 'neath sunny skies.
Came all at once upon my scene,
this fluttering of butterflies.
I sprawl and yawn 'neath sunny skies;
stand up, get ready now to pounce
this fluttering of butterflies.
Into the air, I leap and bounce.
Stand up, get ready now to pounce,
these butterflies, my newfound toy.
Into the air, I leap and bounce;
my playful jumps, a thing of joy.
These butterflies, my newfound toy,
came all at once upon my scene.
My playful jumps, a thing of joy
there on the velvet grass so green.
February 19, 2016
~1st Place~
Contest: ''P'' Contest, New Or Old Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Constance La France
Judged: 09/27/2021
Theme Chosen: Playful
There are goldfish swimming in the recesses of my dendrite pool.
They are flashing their tails and being ever so cool.
I am trying to ignore them, thinking they might go away.
Trixie is laughing, for they very much want to play.
Okay. I say, just for a second or two,
Then frankly, I have a bit of work to do.
The fish are sassy, funny and smart.
They laugh and include themselves in my art.
I am drawing them now as they splash and they wiggle.
They have enormous gold eyes, these fish that so giggle.
These goldfish have taken me hostage today in my mind.
I guess a poem about them would to myself be a bit kind.
So here, goldfish. Here you go, a poem about you.
I have drawn you a canvas and given you fish food too.
Here you go, goldfish. Wait. You want to be king?
There is somebody already there. Okay. You want to sing?
They are singing a song now, serenading themselves and me too.
There is nothing like goldfish, Fish One and Fish Two.
They are smiling so wide, their gills waving and flapping.
I cannot help but be amused, and now they are clapping.
A palette of the mind,
Crayola colors now entwine
and symmetry thus unwinds
life is never color-blind.
Dreaming seas of abstract bliss,
waves of chromatic kinesis;
I would be, oh so remiss,
if inspiration, I dismissed.
As I awaken and grab a brush,
muse I never dare to hush,
to paint and easel, I do rush;
and allow her joys to gush.
Such elation she bestows,
as pigmentation begins to flow,
as if she’s dining on gateau,
dream-images emboldened glow.
To run with daybreak’s ambient wind,
sliding past a legion of balmy trees
while fragrant vapor meets the dew;
like a satin ribbon twirling ‘round
fresh dawn, awakened: and it playfully
ruffles my dress through mild whispers
brushing my air-tossed hair:
~One more soft roulette
of tangy draft pats my flesh
gentle as hushed kiss!~
Morning's gust speaks in lilts to play
among a bevy of flowers, oh invisible
yet felt ever lightly while it chants afar,
only to glide back and enfold me
with a brighter touch of a symphony.
Strand No 800 Finale
~ Second stanza: senryu form DH
In spring we come out to see life,
out from our long cold winter's nap.
Bears are so loving not wildlife.
Love can be grand.
I am your big fun bear asap,
you are my fury playful wife,
I love to see you in gift-wrap.
Tonight we need some fun nightlife,
eating fish not from a flytrap,
using my big claws not a knife,
Love can be grand.
clouds up playfully dancing in the sky
scrapes and patterns nonchalantly floating by
shrouds of marshmallow forms that mystify
cottoncandy shapes in guises quite flamboyant
grounded gusts released on wings of butterfly
landscapes enjoy their suitors so gallant
magical theatrics in slow motion
whimsical courtship games incite emotion
AP: 3rd place 2025
Submitted on June 9, 2019 for contest RIMA OTTAVA sponsored by CHARLES MESSINA - RANKED 3RD
playful shadow
four feline paws pounce
ambush in sleek black satin ~
gold eyes hypnotize
4-5-22
Contest: Black Cat Haiku
Sponsor: Robert James Liguori
playful breeze
tickling lilac blooms
for fragrant giggles
AP: Honorable Mention 2020
playful artists in august sky
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
here is my rose
my heart on a stem
a gentle whisper
a soft caress
a murmur bent on a melody
a sparkle in the night
sweetest perfume
to catch your attention
a kiss blown your way
a playful wink
under a full moon
a siren's call
AP: 2nd place 2022
The sun shone brightly
On this breezy spring day
A black cat stalked a yellow bird in play,
As he stepped lightly across the fields of hay
Covered with dew , Alarmed , the bird flew
Leaving the cat with nothing to do
The sun shone brightly
on this breezy spring day
As the mouse appeared suddenly
through the field of hay
And once again the cat turned to play