Best Prodding Poems
Upon the arc rises familiar visage of tenebrous dawn
As birdsongs protest, yet another day gone wrong,
In anguish of emptiness thrashing~ stygian, forlorn,
Screaming relentlessly of despondent, indignant void
Blasting his emotions, clasped in poignant thoughts.
Nothingness was the theme of his darkened night
That brazenly shrouded luminance of starlit skies,
As the waxing moon turned pallid, refusing to shine
And benevolence of Venus dolefully uttered a sigh
When dreams, too, acceded to nightmares’ assault.
Life has been a long journey, trekking hills of misery
In hollow pursuit of hope, always despaired trying~
Every forward step of progress unresponsive, lacking
To rescue him from oblivion, from gravity of abyss,
Where silence echoes fear, warning there is no exit.
He knows intimately, she too feels dread of anxiety:
Of ocean-storms unseasonably rushing summer heat,
Parching her delicate notions of blossoming spring,
Of harsh winters encroaching on her autumns fiercely;
Yet, she stands steadfastly, defying the curse of grief.
Prodding goodwill of divinity she tolls bells of harmony
Giving voice and meaning to life’s reassuring feelings
Clamoring for a day to brighten halo of their morning,
Demanding relief; with her clenched fists at the ready…
Forever, if it takes that long, to alter path of destiny.
December 20, 2021
Poem of the day on December 22, 2021
Placed 1st: Pick-A-Title, Vol 27 Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Edward Ibeh
Title: A Shout Into The Void
Categories:
prodding, anxiety, emotions, life, stress,
Form:
Verse
I have the rhythm of a winding road
how do I consign myself to being confined...
rows of poplar pillars prop
the rendezvous canopy beneath we meet
—I self-cajole on ooh-la-la afternoon
yellow eyes; daffodils watching
lean into gossip groups nodding
a prodding breeze instigating deep-freeze—
I am a sweet weed in this place of sway and betray
with a stranger I stroll my arranged betrothed
height of his black top hat challenges trees
much like Corinthian columns
guards of an aisle I must walk —dear God! must walk
trepidation trips down my bridal spinal column
tiger eyes; lilies watching wish they were me
dare they dream they could uproot their roots like me
wish they could wedding waltz like I must —like I must
but their envy-leaves remain embrace-less
—I envy lilies’ empty arms of yet unmet love
daffodils; empty-headed —laugh
they try to read my mind to fill their own
what do I care their curdled thoughts lemon tart
and orange lilies’ brocade brimstone
what do I fear of fire-breathers burn of words
undergrowth feels square heels of my lace-up boots
post impression grows more expressive than first—
beware French tongues of sundew and burdock burr
marriage-carriage rolls in ruts to Versailles
where my coerced corset of hooks and ties lie
rhythm of a winding road dies in minuet strangle-hold
Categories:
prodding, angst, conflict, endurance, engagement,
Form:
Free verse
A tease on the wings of summer's breeze
A tickle in the touch of whispering winds
A glimpse at the art of museum paintings
A stare in the eyes of flowering spring--
A poem is a song of my innermost feelings.
When I'm lost in confines of my thoughts
Solace I seek from brilliant cosmic stars
Prodding for answers to question marks
Uncovering truth in words of a paradox,
As the beat of poetry reignites my heart.
Verses I compose in fragrance of Jasmines
Linger merrily around blossoms of roses
Listening to voices of fluttering tree leaves
Soliciting rhymes from elate vocabulary,
Evoking the cadence of rhythmic melodies.
A giggle in a stream, a smile in my morning
A romantic kiss in the splendor of evening
An aesthetic dream in my night's revelry
A lonesome tear of my un-consoled grief--
My poetry's the answer to call of my musings.
February 23, 2019
Poem of the day on February 25, 2019
Placed first: Contest #570 by Brian Strand
Placed first: Poetry and me contest by Silent One
Categories:
prodding, metaphor, poetry, poets,
Form:
Verse
In embrace of your love, blossoms my eager night,
Strumming themes romantic fervid passions recite
Invoked by scarlet-eventide glinting arc of twilight
As final breaths of dimming-day golden rays ignite
Signaling to emotive vibes twinkling on starry skies
Now’s the time for constellations to bedazzle eyes
In magenta, red nebulae buoying upon stellar seas
Navigating tides of joy as smiles of Venus appease
When enamored we stroll lauding exuberance of glee
Bequeathed by dreams, mystiques of desires spree,
In missives of forever-love verses of hearts decree
Responding to overtures, aspirations intimate plea,
Giving voice to latent hints echoing proffers of soul
Vying reveries esoteric sensuous heartbeats cajole
Prodding us to waltz, to rhythms of nocturnal tune,
Attuning beats of hearts beneath love-struck moon.
May 10, 2023
Placed 1st: Couplet Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Sotto Poet
Categories:
prodding, romantic,
Form:
Couplet
dadgum doctors, heads up their butts
poking, prodding, pricking skin
neurologist a psychopath
gets pleasure as electric volts pass through my body
family doctor showed little concern
made me paranoid about irregular heartbeat
EKG failed to determine cause
left me more in doubt than at ease
dentist like a character from Dustin Hoffman’s “Marathon Man”
the more pain inflicted
the more he rejoiced
deep root cleaning caused severe infection
bloodwork done by Vampira clones
labs filled with tubes and needles
results not shared with me
yet I footed the bill
optometrist an Oriental who moved so fast
didn’t care if the prescribed glasses worked
boo on you, dang aristocrats
waving your credentials
nurses so slow to respond
MRI promised on CD, but couldn’t be obtained
just like the blood tests, needed a “report”
doctors driving me insane
each should share my mental hospital bills
*Based on ongoing health tests and written for PD’s contest. Assignment Free Verse, 25 lines, category slam, sad and educational, title: Mental Hospital Bills
Categories:
prodding, education, sad, slam, me,
Form:
Free verse
Knowing She Sees How Deeply She Is Missed
(Tribute To That Greatest Of Love, A Mother's)
Blue-cold morns rising to light a fire
mother, cooked on wood stove truly ancient.
She out of sweetest of love's truest desire
provided nourishing food so patient.
Not asking praise for her unselfish deeds
washing dirty clothes in an old wash-pan.
By love's examples she planted new seeds
windy-flames of reliance such did fan.
Now time, with its many decades have flown
beloved mom, passed on to her reward.
We, her thriving huge brood, are now all grown,
feel her love and know why she worked so hard.
Knowing she sees how deeply she is missed
we thank her, each beloved face she kissed.
Robert J. Lindley, 8-11-2017
SONNET, (Tribute to our mother and to mothers everywhere, THAT SACRIFICE WITH THE DEEPEST OF UNSELFISH LOVE FOR THEIR CHILDREN)
------
I started this poem back in May, 2017. I finished the last two verses this morn.
Hesitant to post because I feel it is not worthy enough but alas (!), I also know with my meager writing talent , I can do no better.
Thus, with my wife's prodding, I post and pray it is deem worthy as a tribute by all that read and love ever so dearly their own wonderful and loving mothers!
Beauty That Rivals The Red Rose
He the gardener she the rose
She was only flower he chose
Days he gave her his very best
Under moonlight glow they both rest.
With great care he keeps her from harm
Always enamored by her charm
Whenever she mentions her thirst
Sate her needs, he is always first.
At dawn's first calling she wakes up
Her petals with his hands he cups
With true love, admiring her grace
This dark world together they face.
His life for her beauty so fair.
Together, love's beauty they share.
Robert J. Lindley, 8-10-2017
Cyhydedd Fer Sonnet,
8 syllable lines
.. a. a. b. b. . . c. c. d. d. . . e. e. f. f. . . g. g
Syllables Per Line: 8 8 8 8 0 8 8 8 8 0 8 8 8 8 0 8 8
Total # Syllables: 112
Total # Words: 88
Categories:
prodding, devotion, love, romance, rose,
Form:
Sonnet
Into this night for my love I went,
for all its splendor and lush wines,
and majestic tapestries that unfold;
velvet sheens, sheets soft with each other...
the world is lost to her heart held near,
and the breath of her curious kisses...
It is this moon silver-rayed I pledge ---
without her I cannot walk this world naked,
raped of who I am ---
but a thing to serve her,
lest I roam this desolate landscape as a prodding ghost;
a great fever of torrid emptiness...
what is this which grips me?
an ancient enemy ---
but my friend it bestows a fearful kiss;
between the twain I cannot choose...
Do I trust to give this heart of mine,
into an untrustful night?
To lay all that I am at her feet? ---
what a fragile flower my heart does sing ---
wondrous things,
though wild I do not know ---
that which I love,
fruitless ---
I am less a thing than love,
but does my heart tell me so?
She ---
the greatest good,
for it is without mine own love,
she does give;
that which none shall fulfill,
I tear into this night,
and its dark ---
fearful of being unafraid,
will it stay my doubt ---
my heart for her to hold?
Into this night for my love I went,
what comes, I do not know,
what prevails in thine song of love for me ---
for you my love I go,
even unto the shadow of things
(I need you so)
what comes I do not know,
Into this night for my love I went...
Categories:
prodding, courage, love, mystery,
Form:
Romanticism
TIGHTWAD TIMMY
Tightwad Timmy bought some very cheap meat
With fresh vege t'would be a nice tasty treat
But something was wrong
There was a strange pong
And maggots were dropping off by his feet...
FINGERLESS FRED
Fred lost his finger in a meat grinder
Offered a huge reward for the finder
But short sighted Sue
Used it in her stew
And felt poking and prodding inside her...
Written 14th January 2022.
Categories:
prodding, humor,
Form:
Limerick
Celebration of Wind and Fire
Celebrate the unseen face of God’s eternal Spirit
Embracing all before creating light;
Action word of the eternal dance
Hovering over the chaotic genesis of creation;
Leading exiles out of exile through empty seas with fiery pillars
Feeding wanderers hungry for heavenly bread at dawn;
A living shadow pushing away the shadow of separation
Planting salvation’s seed deep within the sanctuary of a young girl’s yes;
Wearing the face of a dove descending on the Word
Leading anointed redemption into the empty desert place of prayer;
Driving wind and flames arriving on a festival morning
When fearful souls stood up to speak the languages of the world gathered;
Raising up a new tower of adoration reaching Heaven’s ears
Uniting with eternal words no longer babbling;
A fire, that never burns, burns through dust of days long past and now
Still hovering, descending, overshadowing, and dancing;
A sacred nudge delighting in coincidence
Filling up the thirst that gnaws for serendipity in surprises;
Inspiration birthed by the invisible hand of holy mischief
Inviting ambivalent, wavering, steps to roads of rightness in quiet whispers;
Lowering mountains, preparing highways now made straight,
For pilgrim’s feet gathering flowers in wild wastelands;
Caressing, prodding, in moments of a-ha ever evolving -
Timeless mentor of universal innovation;
Handiwork of the restless holy leaping up in wild fire
When old hearts dream dreams and young eyes see visions;
Laughing, dancing divine whimsy pirouetting through stars and galaxies
Never the same when touched by the Spirit dancing.
12/2/19
Original Contest: Holy Spirit
Chantelle Anne Cooke
Categories:
prodding, creation, dance, fire, inspiration,
Form:
Free verse
January 29 Scripture Meditations Based on Numbers 1-5
Key Verse – Numbers 1:50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.
MY GOD, THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO MINISTER
Thank You for the privilege to minister, helping others, thru Your calling
According to Your purpose-sealing…
Despite my unworthiness in fulfilling
Still, You enable me to be willing.
Thank You for the privilege to minister, helping others, thru Your commanding
According to Your definite instruction-feeding…
Despite my incapacity in heeding
Still, You drive me by Your prodding.
Thank You for the privilege to minister, helping others, thru Your charging
According to Your precious Word always encouraging…
Despite my weakness in faith-plunging
Still, You push me toward deeds that are life-changing.
Thank You for the privilege to minister, helping others, thru Your preaching
According to Your immutable precepts with valuable teaching…
Despite my shyness in beseeching
Still, You come to me with Your mercies’ reaching.
Thank You for the privilege to minister, helping others, thru Your blessing
According to Your bountiful provisions indeed unceasing…
Despite my weariness in pressing
Still, You pull me to strive for good works’ increasing.
Thank You for the privilege to minister, helping others, thru Your exhorting
According to Your divine plan with heavenly profiting…
Despite my frustrations in goal-setting
Still, You let me stay in Your will of blissful worship-meeting.
January 29, 2022
Categories:
prodding, blessing, christian, faith, god,
Form:
Rhyme
‘Hey stomach,’ says anus,
‘Would you cut the crap.’
“It’s not me,’ stomach says;
‘I won’t take the wrap.
It’s what they’re eating,
So blame teeth and mouth.
I’m innocent,’ says stomach,
‘For that filth down south.’
Brain has a good laugh
At organ expenses,
By prodding infighting
Over false offenses.
‘Are you kidding me,
You two dumb kidneys.
Always a teamed pair
For a fight that’s not fair!’
Roared livid liver
Who was hardly pleased,
That they blamed him
For the smelly feces.
‘Oh stop it now, liver
Just sit there and filter.
We said no such thing;
Don’t get out of kilter.’
‘Tee-he-he,’ laughs brain.
My plan’s working well,
To keep each organ
At odds over a smell,
That they have no power
To change or repair,
And since they can’t think
They’ll stay unaware.’
Hands and mouth kept
Eating junk by the hour.
Having been brainwashed,
They blindly devour.
Long ago brain trained eyes
To focus on the news,
Now it was time for all
Parts, to pay ‘their’ dues.
Bones pipe up, and say,
‘Something doesn’t feel right,
Hey muscles loosen up;
Why do you squeeze so tight?’
Muscles answer and say,
‘Colon and intestines
Are the guilty squeezers,
Causing congestion.
I’m just doing my part
At the request of the brain.’
‘But muscles,’ says bones,
‘It’s causing me pain.’
And after a while
Brain has all body parts,
At odds with themselves;
Over endless bad farts.
Organs, blood, and guts
Could not get along;
They once did their jobs
Keeping the body strong.
But brain has the answer,
‘Let’s vote on what to do.
Either I run the show,
Or you deal with bad poo!’
Yes, brain got them quibbling
And each held a grudge.
All based on false info
That made brain, ‘King Judge’.
So each part gave in
To that sneaky design,
And waited for orders
From brain to assign.
But brain was a liar
And steered organs wrong.
The body collapsed;
It didn’t take long.
Just like brain, most statesmen,
Fool us like we’re tarts.
Let’s not die for their lies,
But stay whole, not apart.
Categories:
prodding, analogy, betrayal, body,
Form:
Rhyme
Ode to Rain Drenched Paper And Rapidly Disappearing Ink Stains
Previously Penned a Moment Ago, Dissolving, Swirling Cyclone of Water and Ink down the Drain!
Silly Poet Stranded, Emotionally Sifted And Strained
Enchanted by Calliope's Impish Minstrel
Base Cappella of Rumbling Thunder, I Shudder!
Serendipitous and Wet, Expatriate Poet Without An Umbrella!
For You See I was Haunted and Teased By Moisture Filled Breeze
I Reached With My Pen and Tickled the Heaviest Cloud In the Sky With Ease
Silly Poet Provoking Poetic Rain, Prodding The Water Supply
Tickled and Poked With My Pen, The Cloud Bellowed, Then She Cried
Prism In A Pearl Raindrop In Custody of The Now Smirking Nimbostratus
Under Hyades Guard, My Penalty For Intrusion Pending Status!
Sitting In Humid Air, Amidst the Jury of Haughty Rain Nymphs Stares
I Should have use the Feathery End Of My Pen for the Inked Tip Created A Tear
Silly Poet, Drenched In Conjured Rain, Penalty for Pain, I must Rhyme Away From Here!
I Should Have Visited Erato's Garden to Borrow Her Myrtle Wreath!
Or Even Tea and Biscuits with Melpomene Could Have Been a Theatrical Treat
Euterpe's Sultry Flute Interrupted My Internal Musing, Rainbow Cruising Inky Hues
Silly Poet Seeking Poetry's Muses In The Conjured Rain In The News!
Conjured Rain Trance, Whimsical Chance, Pen In Hand, Here I Stand! Poet Pseudonym Debut
I'm Soggy, Not Sorry For My Attempts To Pen In the Rain, I Will Try Again, No Shame!
For Now My Sentence Has Come To An End, The Paper Filtered But Never My Pen!
Categories:
prodding, fantasy, poetry, rain,
Form:
Free verse
My bathroom mirror amplifies
tired eyes and lines of discontent
a harsh reminder of the unfairness of life
and forces me to stare in the face
the cards I have been dealt but cannot change
I am not vain, but the bathroom mirror
believes that I am, prodding my esteem
with it's taunting illusion of superficial
desires and making me sick with longing
for all the things I do not have
Frowns furrow into my brow
and once carefree features twist
with violent acknowledgement
that I cannot go back and undo the undone
the bathroom mirror plays tricks on us all
waiting for those quiet moments
when we doubt ourselves and resolve
to change who we are entirely
But we would not have got this far
in life without being ourselves
and the bathroom mirror is a terror
that reflects back regret
and long lost dreams
failures and good times lost
the bathroom mirror amplifies
tired eyes and lines of discontent
a harsh reminder of the unfairness of life
and that's why I rarely look at it.
Categories:
prodding, allegoryme, mirror,
Form:
Free verse
Our Christmas dinner was served,
With traditional veggies and meat,
It’s a roast with the usual crackle,
Plus gravy to make it complete.
And then it is time for the sweets,
It’s a pudding with personal pride
From a recipe of our grandmother,
With money that’s hidden inside.
Now each and all hope and they pray,
The pudding that’s put on their plate,
Will be blessed with a monetary gain,
In the pudding that’s meant to be ate.
There’s picking and prodding the pudding,
Through custard the searchers persist,
But for one of the kids at the table,
A sixpence has duly been missed.
There’s panic and tears from the error,
For the sixpence that slid down his throat,
But young Barry is wisely assured,
That the loss of his coin is remote.
The family all gathered together,
When our Barry was called to the ‘loo’,
For now it is time for the sixpence,
To hopefully come into view.
With a ladle, a knife and a fork,
The search was a family affair,
In a delicate operative fashion,
To see if the sixpence was there.
And there in the light glow of the ‘loo’,
We noticed the head of the queen,
With the tongs now the sixpence is back,
Although it is a little unclean.
Now the sixpence is safe in a drawer,
Back settled from our Christmas cheer,
But here is the pertinent question…
I wonder who gets it next year?
Categories:
prodding, christmas, humor,
Form:
Rhyme
Temptations teasing in the night
as embers glow within the pit
just you and I in pale moon light
that begs our passions to submit
I see the look within your eyes
and tender smile that beckons me
a promise of love’s sweet surprise
I know this night was meant to be
and as you reach and touch my arm
my yearning heart begins to race
with longings just to know your charms
and feel your sighs upon my face
temptations prodding to pursue
as stars peek down from up above;
our time is now, I beg of you
...please don’t make me wait for love.
April 17, 2021
Categories:
prodding, desire, longing, love,
Form:
Rhyme