Best Pumice Poems
Burping sulfurous fumes
its fiery belly heaves
and gas and ash erupt
knocking me to my knees.
Beneath the pumice beats
a throbbing heart of heat,
and I can feel its pulse
surging below my feet.
Treading on crackling skin
I weigh each step I take
or risk Icarus’s fate
and pay for my mistake.
I approach carefully
knowing that I could die
for beneath its chard brow
I spy the monster’s eye.
Mount Etna's dragon stirs
my imagination
as molten rock boils in
caldron of creation.
(Quatrain)
11/19/2015
Diamonds are a dangerous commodity.
Topaz brickettes pave lost roads
for the unfortunate paths
of bewildered Dorothy's
(and misguided second-removed cousins).
The birthday cards
I send myself,
are never returned to sender;
they're forwarded to you.
Rubies are ominous and a crucial burden.
Red. A vibrant statement.
Look at me! I'm red!
Quite a pathetic gemstone.
(Dorothy - you need to re-dye your slippers).
The birthday cards you've sent me
are now forwarded back to you.
Diamonds and rubies
are dangerous commodities.
Quartz tickles my fancy.
Limestone abandons my will.
Emeralds? I visted that city; once.
The PO Box for my re-routed
birthday cards are registered there.
My second-removed cousin
tiles his palacial floors with them.
Diamonds, rubies and emeralds are
dangerous commodities.
Sapphires are worthless crackerjacks.
Amethyst is a word that
(half the population of Idaho can't spell).
A Rock of Gibraltar. The man you needed.
The dupe you wanted.
The patsy who refrains from
visiting your morosed petting zoos.
The gemstone you suckle?
Who is it?
No!
I'm not your diamond;
sweetheart.
Hardly, am I your ruby;
cupcake.
Perchance, an emerald?
Doubtful!
Quartz, limestone...a sapphire?
You orchestrate personal deaths
upon the metallic
bands around your rhenoid fingers.
A gemstone I'm not a part of.
Being there -
I was the part of your life
that was accidentally flung over
rusty-coat hangers
stuffed in moth-ridden closets.
I was the gemstone
that never glossed
your fancy fingers.
Diamonds?
Emeralds?
Rubies?
Sapphires?
Quartz?
Limestone?
No...pumice;
my love.
Understand, pumice doesn't sink!
I'll pop back into mischievious
blackened-hearts anytime I please -
and you will welcome me for
a sincerity that warrrants no appraisals.
However,
my utmost truisms sparkle
decadent- bright
like diamonds -
a dangerous and rare
commodity.
.
Igneous rock
Geological role
Puck or pumice
Sleazy plays
The tone
Keep your hands clean
Dig in your own dirt
There are circumstances in life
that frighten people from finding new thresholds
as the random footstep trepidates the mellow rabbit,
the immense,monumental,momentous achievements of our lives
oft commence with common & innocuous prevails
over mild and trite tribulations,
impulsions,risks,spontenieaties
are the instruments of the gallant,
the anxiety of the meek,and the ruin of the impetuous,
as discretion is the anvil of Justice,
the sage & accomplished do not seek out the epic
because they are well tempered like the hammer of Justice,
the courageously wise kiss the epic twist,
the tough,tenacious & triumphant need the epic
like stars require the dark for shine,
a castle without seige is just a large lonely home,
epic provides aspirations,
epic emotions, epic companionships, epic animosities
throw us into pits of peril and the satisfaction of survival,
inspiration,creation are Godsends not habbit,
epic pain, epic joy, epic heartache & hardship, epic strength
are the fruits of the lightning struck tree,
let the crows,and eagles rest on thee, golden habitat,
adore epic dreams, epic fidelity, epic failure and epic resuscitations,
heed the sqwuak of the shy scavangers
who mock,jeer & hide from epic presentations,
let your Soul require epic strain,stress and salvation,
without Epic there is only starving eagerness for existence
which will grind spirit upon stone of pumice -
J.A.B.
Clarity
She dwells near the bubbling stream.
And she will wash her hair to smell the nature.
As the flowers flow in the sauna, where there is a silence; not to imagine a good or a bad dream.
Oh clarity, for long we have yearned.
From the chaos and trouble I abandon, for five days and many months I overlearn.
The sweet smell of lavender, for my weariness it will clean, in this stream.
I finish this visit today, because I did not plan well and hope better for the following days.
Today there is a little rain, just like last night on my electronic it had played.
And with the pumice I erode this skins that had to endure the fabrics of clingy dreams.
Clarity, as I swim and laugh at that frog comes over me.
And now many people come over to join this team.
As we laugh and play water games in the stream.
Saunas, cool stream, frozen one’s and more it is a place we must visit.
The clarity, unescorted by noise pollution; how I would miss it.
But again to the industrial site I play the synthetic sound on my phone for a nice dream.
And try to cease the pondering as I listen to six-hundred minutes of a running stream.
A simpleton mewls.
Streams of martyrdom
sate white porcelain.
Sins and suffering
hover like pumice.
Pruned fingertips
scratch metallic
drain passages
seeking escape.
Dread subsides
as bubbles
vanish and
whimpers
simply
laugh.
From now on, I depend on God* for my salvation
Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven’s mansion
He, thru His blood, paid for my redemption
As He reached down to me with His compassion.
Thus, I possess His eternal life geared for transformation!
From now on, I rely upon God for my growth’s progress
The Father feeds me with His provisions without stress
He leads me along His truth and righteousness’ fortress
As He nourishes me by His wondrous grace and divine caress.
Thus, I advance for His business, never His will to suppress!
From now on, I trust God for my pursuit toward holy living
The Lord cleanses my filthiness that makes my soul starving
He sanctifies me from my worldly, vain and carnal craving,
As He assures me that my sins He is constantly forgiving.
Thus, I, for His name’s sake, keep on virtuously striving!
From now on, I lean on God for my stability
The Savior strengthens me by His tenacity
He assures me His presence amidst any calamity
As He upholds me whenever I’m into adversity.
Thus, I’m clinging to His unwavering capacity!
From now on, I cleave to God for my contentment
The Spirit fills me with peace and encouragement
He satisfies me by His Word’s empowerment
As He secures me thru His perfect settlement.
Thus, I now rest in His promised victorious commitment!
From now on, I obey God in my stewardship and service
The Master called me to work in His great office
He guides me with wisdom that can biblically police
As He rewards my diligence with sacrifices’ pumice.
Thus, I’m now enjoying my labor, moved by earnest practice!
From now on, I entrust to God my welfare and future
The King fulfills His plan for me so I can virtuously mature
He prepares me well for heaven’s glorious grandeur
As He excites me on what to happen during the rapture.
Thus, I now await His coming in my spiritual adventure!
*Psalm 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
May 9, 2018
Edited on May 23, 2018
5th place, "From Now On" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Nayda Ivette Negron; judged on 6/9/2018.
Volcanic spat and gracefully fleeing,
clawing free from cloying breath.
Flame and fire, bolt and thunder
Lofty pride puffs its wheezing lungs.
Pumice stone, hiss possessed,
Soar and tumble, spew and tremble,
pyroclastic gush, clean sweep scrapes
Its hellish gush claws the land.
As pumice specks float on layers new,
Tumble- turn- spin, climbs to climes.
Clouded cold as tears cling to specks,
And weighted grief drags them down.
Freefalling grace and rainbow hewn,
Falling to destruction and soft explosions.
They assault the growling beauty beast,
As its serpents hiss rages at rest.
Gargling
Hurling
Glowing
Sprinkling
Gargling, hurling pumice, ash, tephra,
Sprinkling glowing red lava trickle down.
Bursting
Firing
Flushing
Rushing
Bursting, firing red flames, cries, anger
Flushing, rushing lava, passion, power
++++++
Sixth Place win
Contest: Sound of colors by Monterey
Stone Washed
By Valerie D. Staton
stiff denim fabric
attacked by gang of pumice -
heavily distressed
Pompeii
Amid ashes pumice lay
Life in cinders Pompeii in disarray
Vesuvius plumed angry swell
Archeologists unearth deathly knell
Volcanic vomit ample spume
from sunlight golden to darkened gloom
Roman bathing in waters pure
Nimbus of fires blazing coiffure
In 79 AD it's eruption did occur
No time to flee , No time for prayer
For sure a wrong analogy of mine
but this 'Furnace' it froze in time
thank you
The earths end, sky, sea;
pumice stone, windward lea
life grasped, grey alpine scree
Christian hinterland barren be.
Pillars, lentils, altar stones;
ground from Lug’s ancient bones.
Life minute, crevice formed foam
Erin’s core, St. Patrick’s home.
Where sweetness blooms, oh so rare;
petals leach such perfumed air
From seeming nothing fairest fair,
Ah, the Burren’s take me…there.
Anger always ask against antidote
Billowing blusters break, blindly break
Callous conversations cannot connote
Diligent discourses dilated dispeak
Emeralds emitting energy enthused
Forces fabled fragility fusing
Gravity's greed governless galloping
Homeward, haunted hillsides horrid hues.
Infernal interest in imaginary incidents
Juxtapose jeopardies jostling jeers
Kindred kisses keeping kind Kents
Loving leisures listening long leers
Memories mean mastering messages
Nimble neanderthals nested near Nice
Only orphans oscillated offerings outrages
Pious people pretending pale pumice
Quit questing quarrels, quit quanderies
Rest restores resolutions restive right
Sad soldiers slumber seeking safe-less securities
Tenderly tasking tabulated themes trite
Use, utter untold unctions unto us
Vain victims varnished, vintaged virility
We wander weeping while winds wondrous
X-ray xylophonic ????
Yesterday yearns yielding Yeate's yen
Zeus' zestful ???? zen
I didn't think anyone would ever argue that I am broken
Life has thrown up one too many challenges to me
I survived but I suppose i am more like magma from
Volcano
I am like molten rock that's been aerated by fire
I am to be fertile soil eventually
I still have fire in my soul but my substance has been burnt out
I lack beauty
I am ash
I'm told Ash makes great fertilizer
Perhaps I can fertilize your soil
with words
Tired and accelerated ... exhilarated
it rises
and I see it cresting through my window.
And as it does
I feel as if I am brand new
Granite and limestone
and I am gold
I am frankincense and I am Mir
Lines on the mountains
I am a million years old
I am 600 million years old
I am worn but I'm like that white rock you find on the beach
You can't help but respect the beauty of the lines that show up in a rock
jostled and beaten and tormented by the sea
I am purely round and all of my edges are gone
I am no fairy tale nor whimsical dream
this small white rock "knows"
pumice that from Volcano was born
only to become ash and then to become soil
and then become the fodder
forth from
new life
Small rock
Big Story
It was more than
I could take.
The phallic paranoia.
Can I come out of
your body and kneel
before death ?
Less than dark
I dream of the nipples
spurting out venom.
A pumice raft
of the crowd, sailing
on the waves of narcissism.
Invisible sharks
on high seas
open the lambs for salt.
Can you eat your
words please ?
There is nothing left on the plate.
Satish Verma