Best Rankling Poems

The abscessed wounds of
a betrayed heart fester 
from desertion and deceit.
.
She takes solitude in shadows
gnawing herself red and raw,
rankling in private torment;
gnashing her teeth.

Until pain and grief turn noxious
with a fury justly sworn
to the retributory scourge 
of a woman's woeful scorn....

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Grandma’s brown knuckles crinkled 
As she gently peeled the heirloom 
Potatoes, discarding the brown-
Skinned strips into the garbage
Bin. She was at home here, alive 
And aloud, tastes and scents mingling 

In the air like wispy fairies in Neverland, mingling 
With the mauve, sun-kissed raisins lying...

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Therewithal, profluent life ettles it's while.
Thitherward, from Death's bleak campanile
Grim antiphonals serenade.

A capriccio, the slashing swipe of the reaper's scythe
 will serenade.
Stringent Death forthwith anoints the mithridate to
Life's cantankerous and rankling ado

Hither now come, anon recondite Azrael, neither protend
 nor annex this throttled contretemps.

The antiphonal...

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This poem was entered in Julia Ward's contest but I've decided not to write for her.

At the footbridge I pause for one last glance
at naysayers who never gave me a chance.

River rushes in a roar, stronger than my rage,
my anger uncontrolled like the aggression of...

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for Jean Franco   ?(March 15, 1907- April 15, 1992)
              
                    ...

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Inspection Time 2018!

Understandable dear reader, 
     how this scribe bull lime
me bloke omitted mention of 
     one bedroom flat as
reason nigh rote this rhyme

Ma faux pas faw axe pseudo dent lee 
home hitting minor specific 
 ...

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The night that breeds dark clouds of rankling dolour
Within azure sky of my mind’s great earth,
Delusive affection of thine enlivened fervour,
Of joy of life and lustre triggers dearth.

Thou rememb’rest those fragrant ways trodden,
Back i’th’ longest journey where spring ablaze
Laid the flowers blown down the wood...

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The Week


I have seen the results of such causation in the
Flow; the rankling of souls in the current schemes
Unfold; a swift retribution of all that falls
In timing, in days united by one moment, one
Succinct cause; it binds the Master to some purpose:
To make Him writhe...

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Will you break off with me,
my beloved,
morsel for morsel laddu*?
My dream doesn’t come to me, 
my bed is divided,
my heart – dry,
fire is rankling me.
You’ll regret,
my beloved,
if you taste it –
outside it’s sweet
inside – bitter.
Twice more,
my beloved,
your tear will run fast
if you pass me by...

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Inspection Time 2018!

Dum...dum...dum...dum...DUH -
     anxiety shot thru stratosphere upon
     good news notification aboot
a fortnight from this last
     Friday of August tooth

     house sand date teen,
    ...

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Whether virtual or actual paths cross,
     aye great thee ahoy
no fear Mademoiselle or Monsieur,
     thy harried style haint cloy

rather, when embarking
     on introductory acquaintance
     ship, aye employ
swiftly tailored indistinguishable,
...

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