Best Replaying Poems
When she dreams/ with Jennifer Noble
(It was a) different time...
a different world
Long ago she learned that..
trust can turn
(Everyone said) such a pretty girl...
Her porcelain skin so soft and new...
but...no one had a clue
Chorus
She still hides from the danger
and when she dreams she's far away...
In her mind...she's living in a better place
No one can take-
take away
Broken bags-treasures saved
I rushed on by but,
could not look away
I could not breathe- so surprised
saw my reflection-in the stories
in her eyes...and...I saw her shine
Chorus 2
She still hides from all the danger
and when she dreams she's far away...
In her mind, she's living, in a better place
no one can take-where she feels safe
She won't tell you her problems,
she won't do as she's told
Sometimes I go and sit beside her
and..watch her universe unfold
Bridge
Where the danger keeps replaying
in the...hollows of her mind
and I try to piece the pieces...
try to give her... some of mine
Chorus 3
We all keep our secrets silent
we walk faster -turn away
We're all looking for a better place
Where we can be
We can be seen...
Where we can dream
Original write February 21,2018
John Derek Hamilton and Jennifer Nobles
final revision January 15,2020
collaboration with Jennifer Nobles completed
March 15,2020
A field of wheat cloaked in dewy silence
the orchestra tunes up with avian arias
bullfrog basses and a choir of cawing crows,
xanthic sunflowers turning their heads to better see,
the daylight trajectory commencing with lazuline layering,
a breeze glissandoes on harps of oak leaves
tomorrow is now today,
and I am grateful.
An officer of the law taps on my door
my breath and heartbeat screech to a sudden stop
preparing for the next-of-kin speech, or
where-were-you-on-the-night-of-the-23rd interrogation,
instead she informs me my car is ten inches in the red
and with a smile suggests I move it before I get a citation
pulse resumes as oxygen reunites with lungs,
and I am grateful.
A mask sitting by the front door; my ticket to commerce
the media replaying riot scenes, lockdown measures,
sporting event cancellations, worship restrictions,
death tolls, closed restaurants, and drive-by graduations.
Yet I am virus-free, housed, gainfully employed,
surrounded by family and electronically socialized,
I have my necessities: I am well-fed, well-loved,
and I am grateful.
written 30 Aug 2020
Eyes closed he hums the melody
replaying in his mind each note
in search of fitting instruments.
------------------------------------
Image no. 3
Paul Callus ~ 3rd January 2015
Contest: 3 by 8 image
Sponsor: Nette Onclaud
Placed: 3rd
Red moon rising, a globe ruby, an opulent theme,
A scarlet smile, a sight tranquil, a heavenly dream,
Weaves fabric of passions deep, as desires gleam,
Notions-romantic, undulating joy on stellar stream.
Hues iridescent paint a canvas of chromatic skies
Luring gazes, inflaming fervor of enamored eyes,
Glued to vision, intimate pleas of hearts surmise,
Inscribing crimson, where motifs moonstruck rise.
Embracing red moon, heartbeats rhapsodic tiptoe,
Caressing adoration of emotive eventide aglow,
Where, breezing affection, zephyrs amatory blow,
Whispering sweet-nothings, secrets fervent bestow.
As rhythms of our heart, lyrics of our soul rhyme,
Avowing pledges revered, through the song of time,
Reciting words divine, replaying promises sublime,
Under the red moon, we laud, bliss of love in prime.
Across celestial beauty, as impulses-angelic scroll,
Hypnotizing minds, captivating essence of soul,
A red moon tantalizing, O, sensuously we extol,
Weaving fabric of passions fantasies moonlit cajole.
Hear the screams in the night, they are shattering
moonlight breaking, reverberating, splattering
Down the hall, she feels so small, cradled by the dark
blood red like roses are finger petaled swelled slap marks
Makeup smears with tears like a clown in a funhouse mirror
With a voice of a mouse in a barefoot house, no one hears her
Body is sore she explores all the aching joints and pain
replaying the nightmare she steers through the shame
And the stories of "if only's" are jokers justifications
A marionette that never forgets the devils grin
This endless circle like the phases of the showoff moon
comes the ride of the tide the anger drowns her too soon
Licking wounds she is a submissive to the open hand
convincing her legs she is too weak to ever self stand
But she whispers "heaven help me" as closes her swollen eyes
raw throat choked she prays to God to let her die
Hear the prayers in the night, they are streaming
shackle freeing, hope believing, promise keeping
Just listen.
I've dreamed of things and might have beens
with hopes and love in back lot shadows.
Replaying these cold-heart wrenching scenes
that will bring no dawn to my tomarrows.
And as this play plays out each act,
my role fades from lead to second best.
Mere words no longer cause effect
to cure the faults of love's ill rest.
I pray to God, re-write these lines
that I might toss aside regrets
and bring the peace for which I pine
to a closing scene no one forgets.
I'll take no bows, of that I'm certain
as stage lights dim on this final curtain.
Inspired by the song "Last Kiss" by Pearl Jam
You had just gotten your first car, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air,
We were only seventeen years old and neither had a care,
You came over after school and asked me to go for a drive,
We longed for freedom of the road, we never felt so alive.
Always the gentleman, as you opened the powder blue door,
But, after tonight you would be doing this for me no more,
I remember how the moonlight shined off of the chrome,
When you picked me up and I would never return home.
I cannot ever stop thinking about and replaying our past,
I still remember your soft kiss, and it would be our last,
Because, this tender embrace would never happen again,
There was no way that either of us could've known it then.
The impact was so sudden that I felt almost no pain,
As the car swerved out of control into the other lane,
It all happened so fast, there was no time to scream,
Now my existence is a nightmare, just some bad dream.
My body grew cold fast, but I could still feel the heat,
Of the warm blood dripping down onto the leather seat,
I lay there silently, nearly lifeless, held against your shoulder,
It was then I realized that I would not be growing older.
The radio faded away as I closed my eyes for the last time,
What happened to me was an accident, and not a crime,
I will wait for you on this spot, by the very same tree,
Where most people don't notice, but some of them see.
It's an anniversary, it will be 58 years around midnight,
The misting rain and lingering fog will keep me from sight,
As the headlights go flying by, shining from modern cars,
I'm hoping one of them will be you to take me to the stars.
When I do leave this world, side by side we will stand,
And this bad dream will finally be over as you take my hand,
I am waiting to go to heaven, only you can bring me there,
In your brand new, powder blue 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air.
A speckle of light
appears in the dark
barely visible to eye sight
it is always there.
I think it is my grandmothers
wandering soul
here for some purpose
what for I don't know.
I can still feel her presence
like she'd never left
I can still smell her essence
still feel her warm breath.
She speaks to me at night
while I rest in bed
replaying old home movies,
memories in high def.....
I miss her so much
so much I can't bear.
I miss listening to her stories
while she brushes my hair.
She's a ghost wandering aimlessly
with unfinished business to redeem
and when her time expires,
I'll again wish her godspeed.
Jared Pickett
3/3/2010
Asavvy1
Racing through fields with hyacinths pink
The wind mushes my hair, stroking my nape
As cicadas hum out to me of life's grandeur,
That I pause pause as bouyant brooks roll on :
All around me the enchantment of earth mother,
Her waft replaying tales of seasons we lead...
Together we are one, listening kindly
Amid creation's songs without question
Until night's melody gradually ends.
Here I pirouette beneath the crown of sky,
Moist grasses tickling my feet,
While fragrant air peals songs of joy and agony
Until ancient forest trees nod at me,
I nod back, a rosy twinkle on my lips
Awakening the little girl within.
.....................
Brian's V Contest
Daddy was… I don’t even remember but he wasn’t there
I don’t even remember why you were so angry
I got back home that night and my dog was lying in front of the garage
AT NIGHT in front of the garage!
I dial the keypad to get in the house but the door was locked and you took the key from its place so I couldn’t get in
I rang the doorbell
Knocked on the door
Rang the doorbell
Knocked on the door
But I didn’t make a scene
I carried my dog to the door on the fence, climbed over the fence, let my dog in and looked through the sliding glass door
You were asleep
I’m very happy for everybody that the sliding glass door wasn’t locked
I get inside and noticed you were passed out drunk!
The Grey Goose revealed it all
I kissed my dog goodnight, gave him a treat and BOUNCED
With YOUR keys and YOUR car
I’m so fed up I’m just SO fed up
The Bible says honor thy mother and father it doesn’t mention son and daughter
BOLOGNA if you ask me
NO child begged to be a part of this planet!
What does honor mean anyway?
Webster says merited respect… okay so maybe it’s not bologna!
I canNOT stop replaying my past
You are still here!
You are from the past!
I have let go but when you dig it up and throw it in my face
I pick it back up!
I try to be strong
I really do and EVERYONE notices I’ve made great improvements
You’re one of the people who’s praised me!
I’ve been having these occasional fluttering sensations in my heart for the past few years that I’ve mentioned to you recently
I still haven’t gone to the doctor
Neither of us will forget that time I was crying on the phone to Linnel about the two guys raping my semiconscious body and you busted in my room and said, “I hope your p____ fall’s off”
I can’t forget that time I confided in you about an unusual discharge and you said, “I’m just gonna let you suffer…”
Thanks for eventually taking me to go get tested but why did you have to say that?
I felt bad enough
Very true, Mom, I don’t have any friends…
I’m not even sure if I’m in excellent health and that I’ll make it many more years
Still, while I’m here
I just want to be able to help my people… somehow
Send me back home where I truly belong
Cut the chains dear, please let me depart
Why does your brain keep replaying our song?
Let my melody drift to your heart
Making me haunt you is very unkind
I'm no ghost dear, please grant my parole
Why bottle me up inside of your mind?
Set me free to go dwell in your soul
The girl sat up at night
a mountain of tissues by her side
trying to wipe away the memory of him
All the happy memories
going through her head
"What did i do wrong?"
She yelled
A mixture of anger
and sadness
came together
"I will never love again"
She thought
Something was building up
inside of her
The earthquake inside of her
had split her heart in half
She now understood
the true meaning of heartbreak
She thought, as the clear capsules
holding all of her emotion
dropped from her eyes
She remembered what he last said to her
"It is better to have loved and lost
than never have loved at all
-Alfred Lord Tennyson"
She wiped away her tears
as she said
"Tennyson was an idiot"
The girl's heart was shattered
into countless pieces
After all she had been through
she couldn't help but think about
what might have been
It was then she realized
She still loved him
She stared blankly at the wall
able to feel nothing...
Numb
The memories went through her head
replaying over and over again
Like a song
eternally on repeat
Suddenly anger
nothing but anger ran through her
She grabbed at what ever was close
and threw it at the wall
She picked up what she had thrown
It was a picture of the boy
She sunk to her knees
and cried
The night was a lonely time
No one was there to comfort her
as she cried softly into the pillow
Darkness filled the room
and her heart
The doors of her heart
had now been locked and chained
With the key thrown away
And the candles of light
blown out
So nobody could find a way
She sang herself a lullaby to go to sleep
A slow,sweet song
to numb the pain
and the feeling of loneliness
She twisted and turned
For the pain was too great in her heart
She ran the happy memories through her mind
once more
"How will I live?"
"How will I survive?"
She said
As she drifted to sleep
Themes are overlapping
The current keeps criss crossing
Dreaming and digressing depressing and unkind
Mish mash meandering in a labyrinth of minds
Wonder lost.....fingers crossed....
Misdiagnosed and so stupidly maintained
Disjointed mistake.....
Contorted remorse
No kingdom no horse
Replaying the scene
Rehearsing the song ... unmended
Keep doing wrong
How do I check my tongue?
Why does it always come out wrong?
Ill get forgiven - of course
And then I transcend it - much worse
Imprinted my thinking - not right
I keep on repeating .... my plight
Until I get along, its best I walk alone
How to undo this old refrain
Your spirit I fractured - time and again
My Favored
My heart beats faster when you are near.
I can not think straight.
I have been blindsided by a moving truck,
that has no tangible substance.
Your beauty is breathless,
as that is the feeling I have...
I can not keep up with the dreams
that I wish to make... with you.
The hopes that I want to dare... with you.
Nothing in my life will be the same, ever.
I will long to learn to replay time.
I will build a machine.
I will travel back and forth,
again and again,
replaying every day from the first moment
to the last, even smaller than a second.
The sound of echoes across the span,
angels weeping not with sadness but joy.
They laugh as I dance for God.
I make a fool of myself,
only...
and for you.
I stand on the wide oceans beach,
and am ready to swim.
I stand at the cliffs edge,
and I am ready to fly.
But if I drown so be it,
But if I fall, I die.
I will have lived long enough,
to have loved beyond,
all thought ever possible,
and humbly measured
not by tape or rule,
but of faith,
empathy.
The Christmas lights can’t shine bright enough
To overcome her pain and the screams inside
Loneliness merging with past replaying ongoing
And the images will not go away with any storm
She tries to stay in the moment, but she still cries
Pleading for answers, kept from her far too long
She’d like to run away in the soft snow instead
And leave not a single footprint behind to see
Maybe then the memories will not catch up to her
No avalanches to keep on falling and surviving
The past has a way of doing this, with strong surges
While it merges with present for things long overdue
She’s tired of waiting under the streetlights at night
Where the snow falls around her, but she is not seen
12/10/16