Best Retained Poems
With his icy fingers he stole my smokey breath,
laid a sheet of slippery freezing cold by my feet
and then whispered in my ear right to the drum
that echoed in my brain with excruciating pain.
She, his wife was of a complete different temperament
quietly without fuss she crafted blanched cotton flakes,
each a masterpiece, unique as if she retained every design
she had ever imagined so each time she could create anew.
He however with his bravado with his swelled chest
would pepper speeding glass-like pellets into the air.
Sting our faces without regret. Salt our wounds.
Mercilessly bite into our flesh with his frosted fangs.
Daintily she'd sprinkle the sky with the magic of her cheer
feather the atmosphere in a delicate splatter of alabaster.
Layer by layer she laid soft sheets of snow to the delight
of everyone alike creating a playground of endless mirth.
His breath reeked of dreams frozen, nipped in the bud.
Already he had high jacked his sisters, the Autumn twins
sent them packing, hurried, gathering their rustic garments.
He had no love of his siblings except his baby sister, Spring.
His wife loving and caring would temper his yearly onslaught.
She knew of his pain, deep, abandoned by his father Summer.
At times she'd blow slightly warmer air to provide respite for
us mere humans and allow the sun to warm our weary bones.
They would sit together and it was her would bring out
the albums of family photos view pictures of his mother.
Her smile like music would soothe his stone cold heart.
He loved, when she'd visit in the guise of an Indian Summer.
With his icy fingers he stole my smokey breath.
I felt her presence there to temper his harsh avail.
Winter had arrived but when they walked as one
this magnificent couple dressed in their royal winter whites,
without a second thought you would bow in front of their regal
stance, a sight to behold, one that encompassed the entire land.
04~01~2015
Sponsor: Shadow Hamilton
Contest Name: Seasons
Categories:
retained, winter,
Form:
Personification
Trickle tender tears - those that take their time
born to bathe and baptize bereavement;
dew drops cling to fragile petals of forlorn feelings ~
aged and alone
sentiments from sorrowful soul slowly seeps
revived in rising rivers of rhythmic release
emptying from eclipsed eyes
in reverberant regrets and reveries ~
retrospective reviews with resilient realism
offered to an overdue oldster oppressed by outliving others -
reflections retrieved and remembrances retained
gifts given from the gravestone-garden of growing grief
watered with wept woebegone wine
cherished with chaste caressing care
memories and mourning ~
hallowed in a harrowed heart
Susan Ashley
March 24, 2018
~ Second Place ~
Contest: Alliteration Poem
Sponsor: Silent One
Categories:
retained, bereavement, emotions, grief, loss,
Form:
Alliteration
Snow covered trees line the highway with white
I drive while seeking, yet another new sight
Things in life come with a high price to pay
I tell myself often, I will find my way
A flock of birds fly in gray sky with freedom flapping wings
They know where they're going, any outcome, each one sings
I often find myself on a slippery slope
I seek out my muse, ways with words to cope
Imagine falling like an angel in the snow...
There are those special things in childhood, we'll always know
How to make that angel, be that angel, on a cold winter day
Memories are retained of lessons learned during play
I keep driving, passing the trees that make me think
on a highway full of thoughts with every blink
There is a span of things I know and many miles to travel
Just to know what I can let go of or otherwise unravel
I'll try to spread my arms like the angel in soft snow
Wrap my beliefs so they don't melt, holding onto what I know
Heidi Sands
12/11/24
(C)opyright
Categories:
retained, angel, introspection, winter,
Form:
Rhyme
In winter’s grasp, an aging woman stands
Emerald eyes like jewels gleam
Slightly touched by the passing of time
But a lifetime etched 'pon her wrinkled hands.
Her pressured youth has long passed
Yet grace and compassion are retained
Wisdom gained through joys and tears
Reflected in those eyes pine-green untamed
Shamrock eyes, deep stories they hold
Many sheltered secrets remain
Tales of love and loss will forever bind
Her heart to truth that is tamed
Behind those eyes, a universe unfolds
A journey filled with triumph, joy and fears
Like ancient trees, their roots forever hold
Essence of her dreams throughout the years
Categories:
retained, age, life,
Form:
Other
I began to tell of the two pens (my couplet) I always carry tucked away in my shirt
pocket, and of my humble closet which contains nary a pocketless shirt.
My thoughts drifted to what by.. and how I am inspired, when my love and I began speaking
of a subject very dear to me.
When we finished .... in what I believe to be an infused prayer,...perhaps inspiration to
some,... I saw what seemed to be liquid glass like droplets ..falling slowly from above ..
as a slow motion shower into an atmosphere of what may have been, space and time. I saw
no earth or sky.
These liquid glass droplets were falling without disruption through a pellucid barely
recognizable outline of a figure that I perceived to be a poet.
Somewhere from within I asked why the poet could not be lined somehow with a shell to
capture these apparently valuable liquid glass treasures. They were so clear that the
atmosphere through which they were falling, appeared as a gloom gray.
I understood that these treasures cannot be contained or retained. They must fall
through the poet who must also be like these liquid luculent treasures in order that these
particular gifts may come through the poet ..continuing to transform same and all others who
allow these treasures to permeate them.
There is no clearer description within me to give. ...
And then... I was no longer free and came back into the pain,
discomfort and seemingly bloated entity
within this shell.. that I call me.
Categories:
retained, inspirationalmay,
Form:
Free verse
Spawn of the arcane, glutted, she sprawls upon the sands
of mythos. As victims, star-crossed lovers, outcasts,
we have all seen the traces of these nether lands.
Sphinx-like, besotted, she lays among the bodies dashed.
A pixie smith has cast her silver chains, retained her
inside this mystic plane, stained her hide vintage rose.
Among the cards on the table, it is plain; she purrs.
Do you know what she knows; guess, a riddle she poses.
Protection sought from life's trials is at her command.
But, few coupled or single have journey past her grasp.
Unknown, to the unschooled, their senses unused, banned,
Christendom, the sacred fecund grail has miscast.
From Hatshepsut's visage, bound to Sekhmet she's sworn
beware, beware The Chariot's card once it is drawn.
Categories:
retained, myth,
Form:
Ekphrasis
Crater Lake
Looking down high above in sunny skies
A view through aircraft window down below...
A sublime scene of beauty cast in eyes
Of a crater lake, crowned by pristine snow.
The island in its center brought such cheer,
A picture postcard flocked with evergreens,
With a sense of serenity so near
In glory of this lake and what she means.
The deep azure of water shined like glass,
I will never forget our stunning view.
Enchantment stole my heart which came to pass
I vowed to visit there one day with you.
God's hideaway in mountainous terrain,
A sacred sight retained within my brain.
1-13-22 rev.
~Second Place~
Winter Wonders Within Nature Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: M. L. Kiser
*Photo from Wikipedia by WolfmanSF
1-3-19
Sleeping Volcano Poetry Contest~3rd Place~
Sponsor Eve Roper
Categories:
retained, beautiful, january, snow, winter,
Form:
Sonnet
The mighty dragons which came
roaring on that fateful night
took great pride in disintegrating
everything in their sight
Nothing was left that was not
scorched by their flame
although to the fire-breathing
dragons it was all but a game
No trees were left standing
and nay grasses retained green
it took three and a half years
for the streets to scrub clean
There was no building that
wasn't burnt to an absolute crisp
The laughing dragons noted down
another wondrous trip
All the churches did indeed receive
three hundred and thirty-three degrees
The poor clergymen were seen praying
whilst fallen down upon their knees
As the puissant dragons kept up their
ferocious attack, some pastors were heard
screaming for the good lord to come back
When the libraries burned down
it was such a terrible loss for the town
as the most intelligent of the peoples
were nowhere to be found
Then all the pubs and neon clubs were ravaged and wrecked
The fire-breathing dragons just said, "We don't give a feck."
Categories:
retained, environment, fantasy, fire, firework,
Form:
Rhyme
At the feet of the Master there sat a disciple,
Looking straight to the eyes, learning the truth what lies;
Oh! The word from the Master where none can give,
The wisdom that discern, with the truth to live;
A teacher is he that show the right path for you and me.
At the feet of his Master for more than an hour,
He think of himself as a treasure hunter;
For the knowledge he gain is beyond the price what he retained,
The gold are worthless, for what he have is the best;
The understanding he acquire, is wonderful beyond his desire.
He extoled, “There’s no one to compare,
Beyond our understanding you are there;
For what we are capable, teacher you are able.
As a candle which shines its light, you shared us the deepest insight;
Who would have known your struggle, yet, you gave your time and always available,
Teacher you are incredible”.
Categories:
retained, appreciation, teacher,
Form:
Free verse
Dismal tale of men and women in the dirty rail compartment
No conception of the charm being knitted by the movement
Of the necklace of gentle light in the pants shirts and blouses
All is too occupied in their struggle to notice the kind crescent
As they are returning home from their respective workplaces
Piteous story of apathy and woe all of them are absorbed in
An old lady chewing parched rice taking it from a rusted tin
In a dark corner is seated a youth with shirt all bloodstained
Suffering from tuberculosis and looking very fragile and thin
A worthless life of empty existence still wretchedly retained
Though no threshold he will come across leading him to a
Plate of rice and curry as at least one square meal a day
A hawker of playthings approaches them in a smiling face
A second vendor selling some human figures made of clay
A gloomy motion picture of life running in an unfair race
10/07/2017
Rhyme Time with 5 Poetry Contest sponsored by Laura Loo
Using the five words viz Piteous Bloodstained Threshold
Conception and Dismal
Categories:
retained, discrimination, loneliness, sorrow, stress,
Form:
Rhyme
I’ve loved her dearly since my childhood days
Watching her subtle movements under the sun’s hot rays
She was sheer beauty when calm and warm
And magnificent in the eye of the storm
She lured me with her magic charms
To far away places and a woman’s arms
To mysterious places and exotic sights
Under the Southern Cross, romantic nights
She reached inside me and touched my soul
She took my life and made it whole
The longing for her, my heart retained
A fading dream is what remained
I still dream of sailing her waters once more
As I stand alone along her shore.
Categories:
retained, seadream, longing, dream, me,
Form:
Sonnet
Tik Tok Lost Its Pace
When you turned, I got a glimpse of your face,
And then time stopped for me, though you moved ahead...
When I resumed from there of that moment,
It's the playful thoughts only retained and it was so pleasant.....
Now that I'm recalling that moment,
giving words to those scene and events,
The chime of wind which then sing, When you turned back to me,
It Touched your face, blew your curly hairs, then revealed the pleasing face....
And then tik tik lost its pace.... Wou ou aa aa a...
I don't know why, you starred at me,
You spoke aloud or just smiled at me,
I don't understand you left no clues,
Or you blanked me out, no I was fused,
Now that I'm bringing back, to elicit yes I've to trace
Why tik tok lost its pace..... Wou ou aa aa a...
I remember those expressive eyes,
That sharp look like of a spy
I wonder how you adorned them
So blue they were like the sky of heaven,
Do they sing some cosmic song
Yeah it's a spell and it's so strong
So tik tok lost its pace...
So tik tok lost its pace...
So tik tok lost its pace...
So tik tok lost its pace...Wou ou aa aa a...
~Ashok Kumar Mishra
Categories:
retained, addiction, appreciation, crazy, fantasy,
Form:
Lyric
God has not forgotten you, Mighty Horse.
At one time you ran through canyons,
and green meadows
never before seen by men.
You were as free as the icy waters
which come from snow-capped mountains.
Free to go anywhere you wanted.
You tossed your head in defiance.
Your mane shimmered with magnificence.
Like a king, you stood,
hidden away in a dream-like world
of sweet, fragrant grasses.
God allowed men to rule over you.
But He never allowed men
to tame your spirit.
It remains proud and free.
Even though you are a servant
to men now, you show great strength.
You have retained the noble spirit-soul
of a Warrior King.
Janet Marie Bingham
Categories:
retained, beauty, blessing, courage, happiness,
Form:
Prose Poetry
BLING IS THE THING!
A gold looking briefcase that glitters
And glows,
A shimmery sequin diary that likes to
Know that it shows,
Crayons of every, and any colour that
one may desire,
Small yet things that indicate that of life
I will never tire!
Adult colouring books and cartoons that
I sketch,
Continually inspire and evolve and
Fantasies fetch.
Bright coloured cushions that contrast
Yet match,
I am now in a world of daydreams,
My very own safety valve patch!
Fond memories, imagination, wishes and
Illusion,
This is the only way of keeping away
Lingering delusion,
African ornaments and trinkets I collect,
And a big bright blue evil eye to protect,
Myself and my family from evil or envy
Even a stuffed monkey wearing the colours
Of the rainbow carelessly hangs on my mothers
Coat rack, she gave it to me, it reminds
Me of her as tears roll down my face,
For this is my sanctuary, my own poetry space!
This is where I find my inspiration,
As fond memories I recall with vivid imagination!
This life may only be afforded to some
They are the ones that collect every bit of life,
Every crumb,
This is the glitz
Of life which brings out the blitz
And bling, which may sound to some, absurd,
To live life in such a colourful, imaginative world,
Almost like Peter Pan or Alice in wonderland,
These people have retained a lot of the heart
Of the child in them – My husband loves me even
More for this,
As he enters my poetry space I give him a big
Hug and kiss.
I believe what I do and how I do it, has de stressed,
My body, mind and soul,
Making sure I take in my stride stressed times, when
They call, and that threaten to take their toll!
Categories:
retained, fantasy,
Form:
Rhyme
My life is filled with silence.
Sound diminishing day by day.
Living is merely an existance,
My voice with nothing to say.
Laughter was never far away,
it's joyful echo remained.
Now, sadly and in dismay,
There was nothing retained.
Once music lived within,
a lilting melody, and uplifting song.
Then unnoticed, silence crept in,
then music no longer belonged.
There were always voices,
drifting through the halls.
Lively, as a heart rejoices,
now there is no sound at all.
Just echoes of silence now,
fall heavily upon my ear.
I must bring back the music somehow.
Filling my heart, the song I want to hear.
Categories:
retained, heart, music, silence, song,
Form:
Rhyme