Best Quickened Poems
Enraptured by blue Sea, Sun chose a place
above Sea, on a cliff. To touch her face,
Sun then sank low; final radiance fell,
a lover's fingers on her mighty swell,
with passion's touch her cobalt blue to trace.
A last caress. . . and then with quickened pace
arrived dark night with sable and black lace
to softly drape the one he loves so well. . .
enraptured by the sea.
A man went to that cliff and pled for grace,
for he had come with heart ache to erase.
The sea, grown icy cold, still cast her spell.
He knew that only she all pain could quell.
Like Sun did too, he fell to her embrace
enraptured by the sea
April 21, 2022
Submitted June 12, 2022 for
Mark Toney's 2022 Poetry Marathon Mile 1 Poetry Contest
I chase you through the alleys of my mind
Your quickened steps ensure you're out of reach
My tears collect then run much like my feet
You cannot see or hear their silent speech
And in the shadows of forgotten dreams
I strain to see the beauty of your face
Before that blessed dawn of surety
Illusive to my heart, you leave no trace
The fragrance of your body lingers still
And creature like possessed, I follow on
It promises your presence just beyond
Pursuit's reward unreached, for you have gone
I wander still through alleys of my mind
There to remain until your heart I find.
Eileen Manassian
I tried to keep my love with me
behind a garden wall….
with willow trees and roses sweet
and berries in the fall…….
But there he stood, looking through the gated door.
I tried to keep my love with me
on a ship that sailed the blue….
With gusty winds so wild and free
And birds that proudly flew.
But there he stood, looking toward the shore.
I tried to keep my love with me
Upon the tallest mountain peak….
With air so pure and vistas grand
Where angels came to speak.
But there he stood, looking at the valley floor.
My love is now gone from me
With quickened step he went his way…
With heart in hand I said goodbye
My love, I could not beg him stay.
But he turned and smiled at me, as he went through the door.
Within the cinereal swirls
of clouded skies
I hear the quickened beat
of my pulse, fall within my steps
and the echoes of mind
on these empty streets
as i walk alone, lost
beneath the shadows
of buildings that fall
from lambent light
of crescent moon
in its slow rise
I see the glimmer
of thousands of faceless stars
among night's ebony drop
as they trace the darkness
scribbled through fate,
the distance between us
is just as great.
I feel hidden from life
like the last leaf
on near naked trees
beneath winter's frigid touch
yet i cling beneath the winds of time
ungrounded, yet untouched
There's an earthiness to each scented breeze,
and a warm caress in the Sun's embrace:
revealing the telltale signs of Spring's tease.
The ice melts as rivers slowly unfreeze,
while the daffodils dare to show their face:
there's an earthiness to each scented breeze.
Based upon the weatherman's expertise:
a shift of seasons is set to take place;
revealing the telltale signs of Spring's tease.
Where Chinooks wrestled Winter to Her knees
weaving snowflakes into patches of lace:
there's an earthiness to each scented breeze.
Robin-red-breasts herald the honeybees,
while snowmen disappear without a trace:
revealing the telltale signs of Spring's tease.
Anxieties instantly start to ease,
and doldrums depart at a quickened pace.
Revealing the telltale signs of Spring's tease:
there's an earthiness to each scented breeze.
The gentle music flows
from every drop of rain,
as it just lightly taps
against my window pane.
The wind begins to whistle
it's own melodious song,
while the wind-chimes
dance and play along.
The soothing sounds cast open
the windows and doors.
I close my eyes and breathe.
The energy surrounds me as my spirit soars.
I hold out my hand and feel the raindrops
as if they were at play.
My breath now quickened with emotion.
I taste the rain on my lips as I embrace the glorious day.
The curtains blow inward
the breeze itself is warm,
my mind is so peaceful
in the calm before the storm.
The sky's voice trembles
from above a darkening cloud,
as the rolling thunder
speaks it's thoughts aloud.
The thunder awakens
the flash of light.
The part of nature
that sends some to flight.
I chose to embrace the power of nature
in the earth and sky.
And bask in the wonder
that fills my eyes.
The rain seems to be letting up
as it puddles on the green grass,
and the once powerful winds
are now calming down at last.
The gray clouds are parting
and a bright rainbow forms,
proving that something beautiful
can come from such dangerous storms.
My eyes close and I breathe
in the scent of the cleansing rain.
The brilliant hues of the rainbow
dance in my mind where I feel no pain.
The sun peaks from behind the clouds
just to say hi.
I feel the warmth against my face
as I view the beauty with a sigh.
Written by: Kelly Deschler & Nature Boy
For Jared Pickett's contest - "Collaboration"
I am amazed by the power of you words,
They seep through my skin
Like ink’s aphrodisiac,
And I feel powerless to stop them,
The mere thought of your hands
Touching me makes
Atoms explode inside my chest,
As if a universe is being born,
A light sweat glistens over my form
As my eyes devour every syllable,
My heart beats to the tune you write,
With quickened breath
I feel it consuming me,
This sexual fantasy wax lyrical,
I fail, not miserably but excitedly
To control my minds dirty idiom,
Where do the thoughts of lust go?
I feel them cling to me
Begging to be made manifest,
Tonight your pen is my phallic pleasure,
Take me and make me your muse.
By a little log house that I used to call home,
In the hills and the woods that I once used to roam,
There the seasons would dance with the grace of a swan
Till the music was stilled and the curtain was drawn.
And the dance of the spring filled my heart with delight,
From the rose-tinted dawn to the sweet-tempered night;
For the blooms of the rose were a gossamer gown,
While the carpet of flow'rs was the softest of down;
And the warm, gentle breeze was the touch of a hand
That from heaven had quickened the land.
Oh, the dance of the seasons is dear unto me
As the little log house by the old oaken tree,
And I wish I was back there again.
There the dance of the summer was pleasant and long,
All the streams and the rivers were bursting with song,
Every sweet berry bush was a wonderful friend,
And the garden a feast that I used to attend;
Flocks of birds wheeled as one like a cavalry drill,
And the butterflies danced on the hill.
Oh, the dance of the seasons is dear unto me
As the cool mountain stream 'neath the old oaken tree,
And I wish I was back there again.
Then at summer's last fade stole an autumnal wave,
Both as quiet and swift as an Indian brave;
All the leaves on the trees were transformed into gold,
And the warm summer days turned to frost and to cold;
It was then that the apples were blushing like girls,
And the rainbows that fell shone like pearls.
Oh, the dance of the seasons is dear unto me
As the leaves that fell down from the old oaken tree,
And I wish I were back there again.
Cloudy winter was filled with the dance of the snow,
With the faint smell of smoke, with the firelight's glow;
And I oftentimes walked down the path to the hill
Where the snow-angels danced round the old cider mill;
And the house dressed in snow, and in icicles too
Was a cave by the seawater blue.
Oh, the dance of the seasons is dear unto me
As the snow-covered woods by the old oaken tree,
And I wish I were back there again.
By Isaiah Zerbst on the seventh of October, 2013
In youth we shared a breath of time
I cherish yet today.
The plans we made for life ahead
Would soon be underway.
The dreams we shared, those lofty dreams,
Were all within our reach;
As we both planned to sail away
To learn what time could teach.
Then time took on a quickened pace,
It hastened more and more.
Our hopes and dreams became the wings
To lift our hearts and soar.
When they took flight they carried us
Away from all we knew,
And in a fleeting breath of time
I sailed away from you.
I drifted aimless out to sea,
Alone and cast aside,
While everything I’d ever known
Was swallowed by the tide.
I rode the waves, withstood the storms
And cursed the loathsome cost.
I thought I’d wander evermore
Without the love I lost.
Then time allowed another chance
That cold and stormy night,
When I returned to captured scenes
Of whence we first took flight.
To see us there, embraced by time,
In moments fond and dear,
Rekindled embers of the bond
That haunted me each year.
We cannot know the yet to be,
The yesterdays slipped by;
But we can grow in love and hope
And by our faith we’ll fly.
So take my hand and join me now,
Let’s learn what God has willed;
For in this fleeting breath of time
Our dreams can be fulfilled.
Three Sonnets tell a story, in sequence.
[From the narrative poem, "Don't Go to Wyoming Alone"]
I. Natural Instinct (Chivalric Sonnet)
He saves a wad of cash and designates
the stash to finance trek in far-off land
in hunting boots and custom gun he built
for me with love and hope for trophy grand.
"Is this a trip I've dreamed about?" I ask.
"Can I enjoy the hunt, savor the kill?"
I contemplate the danger in that land -
will heat, dry thirst and bugs defeat my will?
Might this be atmosphere I cannot stand?
Excitement builds as I heft gun with ease
and find the answer soon on target range
as my bull's eye displays my expertise.
Though I have no inborn instinct to kill,
my reason tells me not to waste this skill.
II. Lost Vacation
Our trip is planned, we'll soon be on our way,
he's called and found the perfect spot to stay.
The husband leads you out to hunt the wild
as room is cleaned, clothes pressed, wife cooks gourmet.
Alas, things change, his current bent is new.
While Mom and I go west without a clue
he flies the skies to satisfy desire
from Air Force days where first the hunger grew.
But circumstance forced him to stay aground,
our funds were tight and kept him budget bound.
Since children now are wed and off the corn
he's free to choose to play or bum around.
When we return from trek out west by train,
he's spent vacation cash to buy a plane.
III. New Dimension (Couplet Sonnet)
What fun we've had in years of golden age
as we, in freedom's row, our thirsts assuage.
We climb above the ground in utter glee
and view the earth below from Cherokee.
We join a pilot's group and meet new friends.
We travel now as time and space portends.
Each time we fly we bring two more because
two empty seats invite our friend's' applause.
But soon we build a smaller home down south.
I close my ears as words come out his mouth,
"The plane's for sale, I need a tractor now
to plow off snow and grade the road." It's how
our trip to Africa, in quickened time,
became a tractor. Surely, that's a crime.
A thousand dots of bulbs flutter wildly
exploding into my summer’s redness
to gather awed murmur upon these lips,
my amazement tossed beyond open sills—
How I watch you glitter from a dance
as late afternoon spreads the outline
of your voluptuous curves tapping
beneath warm sunset now giving way
to that quickened female rush ...Just then
against gauzy light—a steady pause,
another different movement quite innocent--
weaves on fine voile of your tiny bosoms...
Until comes the stillness. The nobility
enhanced by caressed petioles
delicate as slow flame unto night’s halo:
I claim tranquility. I become meditative
unaware that grind of day tears my sensibilities.
O you, dear Asian vine grant quiet radiance
hanging leisurely through my window's slumber.
4/03/2019
Written for Craig Cornish: Bougainvillea Contest
How the movement of light
seems to trace
my ardor lingering in whirls of flame;
where glimmers of a cherished dream
become this heart’s desire
to journey with you
along waves of endless moments.
I cuddle hours waning through faded notes,
for my affection always clings
inside your breath...but trickles of rain
sweep this sweet intent I cannot ever have;
yet I memorize those fingers well,
knowing my love is one-sided...
O painful the ache of a moon blue
releasing your quickened look
as the train whistles of farewell
while you hug me mildly...
calling me 'dear friend.'
For Nayda Ivette Negron's Contest:
Unrequited Love 11.30.2016
Not long ago our destinies aligned
and of all the people it had to be you
your fragrance in the wind is left behind
as you walked by as i held the door for you
we wined and dined and hoped to outshine
the glittering stars of the night
you came at me in the midnight and held my hand
with no constrains you took me away
hand in hand amongst the sleepless souls
Side by side through the half empty streets of mainz
our brilliance playful act of love felt so alive
Sitting down spacing out to thoughts and memories of you
uncertainty overshadows every dream of you
piggyback rides and lingering goodbyes
of the same mind tonight i hope we could be two
mesmerised by the sparks between our eyes
passionately yielding to this sensation you and i shared
with fastened lips and no words to spare
the essence of love was in the air in a surreal like dream
time stood still for you and me
Sitting down spacing out to thoughts and memories of you
uncertainty overshadows every dream of you
an unseen dramatic contraction
of what seemed to be a lasting attraction
Unanswerable questions are left in wander
Unquestionable answers are left to ponder
Words of love and poesy used to quickened you
bittersweet traces is all that I now leave you
Silence is all that remained that only a wonder can break
To enlighten your heart and brighten your smile like a summers day is my aim
Home is in the village then?
A stranger queried of when:
We met on a roadside bend.
Two men walking, who did tend,
To chance on becoming friends.
Visiting from the South you say?
Headed over yonder way?
Let me tell you of this place.
Over there lives Lady Grace.
We move on at quickened pace.
Hikers on a country road,
Seeking neither food nor gold.
This journeys wealth did unfold,
In the tales that we’ve since told.
Old friends who met on a road:
I quickened my pace into life,
Gazing at the sun as it burns through
and the moon as it glows.
Worried as some of my terror
resulted from my errors.
Walked through melancholy with
drops of tears.
Abdomen murmuring and wont stop
torturing, beckoning the worms to feed.
Dizziness overclouded, so the door gets
closer.
Feel my head spinning, but still.
Lips dried like the desert.
Body, pale like a dead bird.
Mischievous thoughts crawled my medulla.
Take by force whats not yours.
Cried for night fall, comes another day.
Hoped to be saved by the day each day
I fell asleep as I fight deceit.