Best Reverberating Poems
Memory verse-recitation
enriched our phone conversation,
concluded with, “Mommy loves you,
but God loves you the most!”
Gaining consciousness after his accident,
“Mommy” was the first word he uttered.
He’s 22, but he’s like a two year-old, longing for Mom.*
God-instilled Mom’s love
reverberates in the heart**
oblivion can’t shut
*Such son is among the children whom I have become a mother to in our orphanage. He was brought to our custody when he was 1 and 8 months old. The last time I saw him was in 2018. He started to call me in May this year, and we had regular fellowship hours through phone... until the 2nd week of June. We are praying for his recovery as we await for his transport back to our place, to be in our care, hopefully after the community quarantine. He met an accident on June 24 in the Visayas. We are in Luzon, so he is an island away from us.
** Psalm 57:7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
July 10, 2020
3rd place, "A MEMORY" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Line Gauthier; judged on 7/13/2020.
I think form in poetry
(in all sorts of writing)
is akin to math: without meaning
until we are talking the likes of
apples and oranges; buildings
and their elucidating inhabitants:
what goes into, and then comes
from our hearts – minds that dream...
The crux of any communication
is what is being said, how it is
being said~and whether the discourse
is perceived alive or sterile –
I do not want my works to have the
equivalency of genetically modified seed,
producing one crop, going no further than
one mouth; adding no reverberating
crunch to the ear of humanity~myself preferring
cremation to the dormancy of an embalmed grave....
Gripped with various sounds of silence...
How can my counselor’s heart
and social worker’s mind escape being affected?
Disturbing and confusing
Eerie sounds of silence I discern
Aftermath a lover’s quarrel…
Then there’s the oppressively afflicted
Hurting silence-sounds I loathe to entertain
Followed by vexing sobs of attention-seeking teenagers…
Never could I ignore the agitated and restless
Enthusiastic yet silenced sounds from special children
Persevering to behave but cannot control themselves…
With this exposure, I always aim for soothing silence…
Reverberating sounds of hope and faith, serenely blissful
Vanquishing skepticism mockery that echoes doubt-shouts…
Midst my communion with the Sovereign
Who listens to me, understanding my heart… just as I am.
*Habakkuk 2:20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
August 3, 2019
1st place, "STRAND CHOICE 7, any form, any theme" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 1/27/2020.
“To be or not to be: that is the question”*
Shakespeare’s wise words, worthy of introspection…
Such was first brought to my young mind’s discretion
During an English grammar class instruction
When teacher in her earnest presentation
Discussed “infinitives” to their full fruition.
In my high school poetry recitation
That line echoed with mirth’s retrospection
As it reigned along distinct elocution
In grand oratorical recognition
I gained despite stage-fright’s attack- affliction
For confident, convincing enunciation.
Its essence drove my being into action
Through productive student participation
Midst conflict confrontation and solution
Facing the opposition’s proposition
While defending with prudent circumspection
Attainment of triumphant culmination.
My college literature was no exemption
For its intellectual reverberation…
“To be or not to be: that is the question”*
Was voiced in dignified articulation
I took as valued leadership direction
Toward assured vision realization.
Now as lecturer in Communication
I’m called to project such with love’s devotion
Having been bestowed virtuous provision
By God’s grace, wisdom, power and compassion
Living well by faith that “to be ”** assertion
Abounding in gratitude’s satisfaction.
*Line from Hamlet of William Shakespeare
**1Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
February 1, 2020
2nd place, "Famous poetic lines that inspire" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Silent One; judged on 2/2/2020.
Echoes of wonder streaking lightening from the clouds above
Transcending, ascending and descending in ways that defile the norms and laws of mankind
Beautiful moments that caress anew purely, initiating continual healing of broken pieces of hearts together
Floating, flashing and striking across the footprints of the dust of earth, illuminating bright with scenarios overshadowed with the history of the stars
Leaving signals, signs, symbols and legacies from one generation to another
Paving ways for the seeds of tomorrow planted by our forefathers
We perceive their legacies inscribed onto our hearts as the salty streams emerge at the sites and sight of hollow grounds
Alluring, deeming, redeeming, intriguing, captivating ~invigorating
Lost in an alluring unconscious state of fantasy
These hymns soar delivering kisses of liberation to every creature~soul
All is soaked, buried and trapped within this “interminable” infinity
Like tiny drops of pure silk and honey melting into an ocean that swirl from the eternal seat of a source unknown, unfurling with butterflies sucking nectar from flowers
Silently I lay helplessly numb, emotionally stunned at the taste of original beauty
While my heart is frozen
My hands and feet submerged cold
Watching a drop of water slowly gathering into oceans and seas that drift their coolness caressing the shores
These hymns strike chords that send currents of shock waves of eternity into my soul~spinal cord
Ripping my sorrows apart
Washing my soul's slate clean
The fabric of my skin suddenly becomes the template ~molecular workbench of musical strings generating rhythms~inscriptions~symbols unknown
My heart the source of its swing~melody and rhythms that bend sound waves into malleable shapes unseen
Perforating transparent light waves of different rays that intertwine with assorted colors spinning me around as I sink sleeping into this unending infinity
Gradually and quietly diminishing as seeds germinate, sprouting into flowers unfurling their petals to freedom under the eternal liberation ray of the sun’s shield.
After the rains,
it was a full moon
in summer night.
Fleeing from a subculture-
of violence, she was
nestling in the arms of clouds.
A lost killer swearing
with bruised arms,
raking up the old vendetta-
beheads the phallic
image. A brutalizing
score, when we were celebrating
the moon’s arrival. There was
no impropriety in spilling.
Sperm was the conjugal bliss.
Satish Verma
Horrible snore
Startled me to the hard floor….
Couch to explore
Can’t remember what you look like or even the way you smell
I’ve gazed upon many who fit the description but are any of them you, who’s to
tell?
I’ve told myself I’m over it time and again
But the feelings of abandonment nag at my soul and my aggravated spirit
cries, “Daddy, where you been?”
I’ve ran through bedrooms and barrooms hoping to receive compensation for
your debt to me
No covering over my shame and proudly wearing my badge of illegitimacy
It’s crazy
I named my son Jeddidiah
Simply because David was his father
And mine too
Then from David to Dawud
Man, I don’t even know you
But I do know that I love you
How very strange to me
That my estranged daddy
Has the ability
To evoke from me, a stranger
The most powerful of things so effortlessly, albeit I’m
angered
I was a pretty little girl, so sweet and just as good
How or why did you leave me as unprotected prey for wolves?
I don’t understand, didn’t – don’t you love your offspring?
I mean, don’t you care about the precious things,
About my happenings,
About anything that has to do with me?
Do you even remember my name?
Remember it was me that you potty trained
Now think back to that day you left us in the rain
In front of my aunt’s house over on Paine
Nobody was home that day so we just sat on the stoop getting drenched by the
shame
My mother barely seventeen, us loving you in vain
There have been stepfathers who abused
And many years later, men that have used and thrown me away like refuse
And I prayed and begged to be rescued by you
But it’s all been of no use
I suppose I could go on for a lifetime
And still never find
The ultimate locution to express my hurt over this matter
And even though I was constructed from half your matter
You’ll probably never read this anyway, so what I write really doesn’t matter
But just in case mere happenstance causes you to peruse the configurations of
my pen
I need you to know that over the years I’ve needed you and to my chagrin
It has truly been
A reverberating sin
That your oldest daughter has never known where in the hell you’ve been
Daddy, where you been?
Vibrantly thrilling...
such romantic experience prevails
as I recall those moments
when soul lingered in sublime ecstasy
midst delightful heartbeats
expressing joyous countenance---
blest indeed!
Reverberating with bliss…
such romantic story still reigns
as I picture the one-flesh* union
enclosed around fidelity-covenant
during assertion of marriage-vow
while eyes radiating with love
were glued to dearest darling.
Today lingering so vividly…
such romantic impact keeps me inspired
as I witnessed their love to blossom
beyond sweet honeymoon’s triumph
weathering marital struggles
cleaving to one another so intimately
as husband and wife, grateful to God.
Constantly cheering me…
such romantic history glows vividly
as I narrate Dad and Mom’s love story
ignited by faith-commitment’s cord
quenched decadence-coldness
by Christ’s caring warmth
sealing their “…Till death do us part…”
affirming “Be mine; I’m yours” partnership.
Moving me to testify joyously…
such romantic encounters enrich love-treasures
as I thank the Lord, the God of love
Who allowed Adam and Eve to enjoy
the first ever romance in its purest sense
to thrive along the Creator’s sovereign design
and here am I as a living proof.
January 10, 2022
*Matthew 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
9th place, "Be Mine" Free Verse Poetry Writing Premiere Contest
Sponsored by Regina McIntosh; judged on 1/19/2022.
High fidelity
reverberates well
truth of God's message
ringing yon eardrum
reaching depths of heart...
...toward freedom
soul's salvation
liberating
faith to spread news...
...echoing
love and grace*
joy of peace...
...clear for
all to...
...hear!
*Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
April 18, 2024
Song
Tugging
Inner lives’ passions
To gleam abroad all…
With song
becoming light
— of the soul’s embracings within —
longing
for the open, full atmomosphere ~
Released to resound
Fully
from the buds of all Earth fields
The still-reverberating echoes
Of that Day One of Music’s created
Omnipotently-composed origin.