Best Prompt Contest Poems
Drenched to the skin,
Propelled by the urge
Of eager anticipation
He rushes to greet her
Undeterred by freezing rain
And slashing, bitter wind…
Same day
Same train station platform
Same urgent desire
He refuses to accept
Her untimely demise.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
40 words maximum ~ Picture A
Short Verse Picture Prompt Contest
Sponsored by Lisa YY
Placed 1st
© 25th July, 2022
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Do you think I don't know you after all these years,
Sitting so quietly as if listening with raised ears?
Am I supposed to pick you up for such loving posture,
And reward you with a treat to hear your happy cheer?
You toppled the litter box and ran to your hideout
Pretending like except you no one will find out,
Emerging only when I cleaned the mess you made,
Walking away like you never heard anything I said.
Now you sit there as if to assure me all is well,
Looking for my approval of your cute, gentle swell.
I know you are scheming to ask for my forgiveness
With playful moves and kisses, trusting my kindness.
Yet, I see a look of determination: love me or else,
As if you know how to live here without my help,
Displaying cuddly charm neighbor's kids adore,
Hubris in your pose says they love you even more.
You left that space on sofa for me to sit next to you,
So I will lift you up with a gentle hug as I always do.
Stop pretending if you want to make up to me,
Be yourself and run to me to sprinkle kisses of glee.
First Place
October 28, 2017
Picture Prompt Contest
Sponsor: Julie Leigh Rodeheaver
He disappeared without a word.
There was no writing on the wall
to let her know what to expect.
Was she naïve and blind to all!
Her expectations drowned in tears.
A thousand thoughts her mind assailed.
The world around her crumbled down
Was she to blame? Where had she failed?
Confused emotions left her nights
in disarray consumed with guilt.
The pain within was hard to bear;
felt like a sword plunged to the hilt.
She searched for answers but in vain
looked deep inside her crystal sphere
till her reflection laughed and said
she was a fool to persevere;
And in that instant she saw light,
elucidation from above.
The loss was his. She would move on.
He was not worthy of her love!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A Picture Prompt Contest
Sponsored by Brenda Chiri
Placed 1st
3rd March 2020
Give us food,
And give us hunger too
so we can eat,
We lost our appetite
we know not when.
We are alive
But we live not,
Give us a life to live,
We died
we know not when.
Give us nights to sleep
And dreams to dream,
Give us a place of our own,
We lost our homes
we know not when.
Give us a tomorrow
free of grief and sorrow,
Give us back our joys,
We forgot to laugh
we know not when.
Give us a hymn,
Give us a prayer,
Give us a place to worship,
We lost our God
We know not when!
~04/02/16
~Image #1 prompt contest by Silent One
Maybe God wanted to paint
this charming creature white;
but when about to finish,
ran out of paint;
And the result—a pied beauty!
***
Winner (5th Place), Picture Prompt Contest, sponsored by Julie Rodeheaver,
November 8, 2017.
Life can turn on simple decisions;
I, myself, am proof that life can even be given a start based on the same.
My father rode into Germany at the end of World War II,
His mission: to help clean up the mess that war can leave behind.
His kismet came in the form of Germanic blue eyes
accompanied by a coquettish smile
atop a feminine form with an intelligent mind.
Paperwork was his excuse not to join his platoon on a trip to the outskirts of town;
The real reason was to chase a skirt he was mesmerized with in town;
What his fellow soldiers saw in the first discovery of a German Concentration Camp, scarred them for life;
My father was spared that horror and that trauma to his soul that may have made it impossible for him to fall in love with my mother that afternoon.
Were it not for his lame excuse;
Were it not for the chance to try out his newly learned German on a beautiful girl in a beaten down city in a defeated country;
I would not be typing these words in the autumn of my blessed life.
There would be no author to pen this tale,
No tale to tell,
Had that young soldier performed his duty that day
instead of drinking coffee in the cafés of Berlin.
Written and posted on 1/12/2016 for the "Last Line Prompt" contest.
When the sky is full of blood
purple rain will fall on the faces he foresaw
when he sang shrill and wailed on guitar
as nobody had ever done before.
Hearts will bruise the pain of being
with each insistent beat,
feeding nerve endings, bone deep,
blood forming fists like buds full of scent
to battle "and blossom in purple and red."
May 31, 2016
for Last Line Prompt Contest
Hey, you, chillin’ in my spot,
why did you not ask
if I’d mind you sitting there
in your Bandit’s mask?
Couch potato (not some man)
just a real cool cat.
Where’d you get your cattitude?
I want some of THAT.
Where might be my popcorn bowl
left where you now sit?
Did you steal it? Because I
wanted more of it!
With your bushy big black tail -
knowing what to do -
you sit comfy on your tush;
making me serve YOU!
Here’s a kitty treat, ok?
Roly poly pet,
let me rub your tummy tum.
How purr-fect you get!
Written in 7/5 Trochee Poetry form, Oct. 23, 2017
for the Picture Prompt Contest: Write Me Something Funny Contest
of Julie Leigh Rodeheaver
BANDIT RAP RHYME
I am a cat
I sittin on a couch
I wear a mask
My names BANDIT
Ain't nothin wrong wit tat
I got it made
As I rest along side this plaid pillow
I'm a distinguished kitty with fan mail just chillin
Most can't handle it
Got my own Facebook account
Rub my belly and I'll "PuRR"
You'll find me on the couch or in the kitchen
I'll never go outside, I stay indoors
"Meow, meow" I know yall can't stand it
Cause I'm living the life of a BANDIT
11/21/17
FOR CONTEST: Picture Prompt Contest Write Me Something Funny
Sponsored by: Julie Leigh Rodeheaver
Outside the city where the pomegranates grow,
There you stole my heart and I didn't even know,
Under the shade of tall trees in the green land,
You looked in my blue eyes and held my hand.
I think of you, though far away thousand mile,
It is so hard to forget the charm of your smile,
Outside the city where the pomegranates grow,
There you stole my heart and I didn't even know.
In my dream I saw you waiting with open arms,
And I came running passing the barn and farms,
Outside the city where the pomegranates grow,
There you stole my heart and I didn't even know.
The magic of your love has changed me so much,
Sometimes falling leaves make me feel your touch,
Outside the city where the pomegranates grow,
There you stole my heart and I didn't even know.
May 1, 2016.
A First Line Prompt Contest
Sponsored by: Julia Ward
I’m just a lazy and c r a z y pussycat,
proud to be sassy, pampered and fat-
BANDIT'S my name,
and I’m to blame,
for falling asleep while I sat.
I’m world r e n o w n and all that!
Catnip is my guilty pleasure, you see,
no one can get as hyper as me-
I need MORE!
So, go to the store,
how cruel can you be
for causing such a n x i e t y?!?
When the work day is finally done,
and you rush home for more fun,
don’t b l a m e me this time,
you’re way out of line,
you know I’m always the innocent one-
I never scratched your BRATTY son.
Leave me alone when I’m moody,
don’t swish me away or smack my BOOTY-
I’m cute as a k i t t y,
so curious and w i t t y,
sometimes a little kooky and snooty,
and when you awake me I get broody.
The picture frame was already there,
I never knocked it over, I SWEAR!
I wouldn’t do that,
I’m a p e r f e c t cat,
so, don’t cross your arms and stare-
Blaming me for world hunger ISN'T fair!
I LOVE YOU MAMMA always and forever,
leaving you, I promise I shall never-
even when I eat your socks,
or d i r t y the litter box,
I may be ill-mannered, however…
this FRIENDSHIP we share won’t sever.
Picture Prompt Contest: Write Me Something Funny
October 23, 2017
I love to sit on the settee
And surf the channels on tv
With no apparent skills
Don’t have to pay the bills
Yet I get pampered, you’ll agree!
I have my highs, I have my lows
My whereabouts I don’t disclose
A sucker for romance
Maybe I’ll take a chance
One day to Julie I’ll propose!
If you look deep into my eyes
You’ll see I’m Batman in disguise
I rush to people’s aid
For justice my crusade
Do I deserve a Nobel Prize?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Funny Picture Prompt Contest
Sponsor: Julie Leigh Rodeheaver
Placed 2nd
© 28th October 2017
“The park’s the bestest place I know.
I hope you’ll take me there today.”
Four-year-old Bud would get his way.
His Papa also likes to go
to watch the lively children play.
Bud rushed right to the carousel
and claimed “the horsey I like best.
He’s magic. He’s not like the rest!”
His Papa recollects quite well
his own fun fancies lived with zest.
Bud’s magic horsey comes alive,
not at the park; but many nights,
he takes him on fantastic flights.
Though Magic leaves when dawn arrives,
the daytime holds its own delights.
rhyme scheme: a b b a b c d d c d e f f e f
March 29, 2020, entered in Eve Roper's Picture Prompt Contest placed 3rd
December 3, 2021
entered in the "Z" Contest New or Old--Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Constance LaFrance
First Line Prompt Contest
Sponsor: Julia Ward
Outside the city where the pomegranates grow,
where fruit bears life whispering to the breeze,
seedlings turn into roots and roots start to sow,
where caution flies between the pomegranate trees.
Outside the city where the nectarines grow,
where sweet lips pucker with such fine ease,
abundance that trickles sugar with winds that blow,
where laughter flies between the nectarine trees.
Outside the city where the mulberries grow,
where grandma makes pies and pleasing memories,
there’s nothing like grandpas face aglow,
where bickering flies between the mulberry trees.
Oh, may fruit bring essence to the lovers that flow,
where the warmth of love breaks through any freeze,
there’s nothing our affection will ever outgrow,
where devotion flies between two family trees.
Date Written: April 30, 2016
You Have to Hand it to Couched Bandit
There's a cat just like me
A couched bandit on the spree
Her raccoon eyes hankering for more grub
... and another belly rub
Did I say with baby oil?
For she pre-purrs to be spoiled
Carte blanche in her pocket
Bells and whistles on her docket
For the remote control is hers
The newspaper she'll read first
The conversation she'll hoard
Wield, wield her mighty sword
Fur, fur the couch is all hers
That ... should I say, she pre-purrs
This epiphany glistens !!!
Honey, honey are you listening?
10/24/17
Picture Prompt Contest: Write Me Something Funny - Poetry Contest