Best Rowe Poems
an ugly gray rock, so I kicked it along
amused by my memories, humming a song
it was jagged and rough - I gave it no mind
and punted it thrice, then left it behind …
I changed up my hum and walked on alone
not thinking it special, (it WAS just a stone)
yet the farther I got from where it had been
the more I considered that "plain" rock
again
something about its proportions or form
contrasted just slightly, was not quite the
norm
the way that it tumbled, or lay there, just SO
or maybe the way it had bounced off my
toe
whatever it was, I could not quite discern
but decided right then, it was worth a
return
so, I spun myself 'round, headed back to
that spot
still not sure of WHY - just a feeling I got
but when I returned, it had broken in two -
an incredible OPAL flamed red, green and
blue!
scant had I known just what "ugly" could
hold -
all the prismatic colors that smoldered,
untold!
well …
I couldn't help think that a lesson was there
of the plain folks we see, that we pass,
unaware
for they are more precious than any gray
stone
with such wonders inside - yet we leave
them alone
perhaps if we gave them a wink or a grin
we might find the bright of their beauty
WITHIN
the colors that light their charisma and
grace
the complexion of charms that don’t show
on a face
the places they’ve been or the roads they
have run
their moonlight romances and days in the
sun
the wealth of their spirit, their talents and
rage
they’ve a story to tell, if we’d just turn the
page
so, I keep in my pocket, a piece of that rock
to help me recall what I learned on that walk
not to take "plain" for granted, or push folks
aside
but instead, look for sparks of their fires …
deep INSIDE.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Overlooked Beauty" Poetry Contest, Jesse Rowe, Judge & Sponsor.
Here lies Sidney Snoozer, a lover of sleep,
His last nap eternal – relaxed, six foot deep.
For Epitaph Contest 2
Hosted by Jesse Rowe
© 15th April 2019
Wisdom is
the pebble
remains
of a mountain
chipped
away.
7/27/2019
One Sentence Metaphor Free Verse Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Jesse Rowe
Sorrow is
the night’s rainstorm
lashing an impoverished psyche
wandering lost with loss
‘neath weeping eaves in murky-minded alleyways
without an umbrella.
Susan Ashley
July 29, 2019
~ First Place ~
Premiere Contest: One Sentence Metaphor In Free Verse
Sponsor: Jesse Rowe
My wife deplored her duty
But O' was she good-looking
She sold me on her beauty
But killed me with her cooking
~ 3rd Place ~ in the "A Funny Epitaph" Poetry Contest, Jesse Rowe, Judge & Sponsor.
She remembers the shimmer
of one Sunday morning
The sun had grown dimmer
on the overcast seas
The color of yellow,
spread long amber fingers
And the sycamore trees
cast strange somber shadows.
There was a threat in the sky
and the faint sound of thunder
Then a flash in the hills, in the blink of an eye,
Clouds gathered so quickly on the hillside, nearby
They rudely unlatched all the floodgates within
When a minute had passed light shined once again
and a radiant sun spread like gold end to end
At the old oak table, she sat in the kitchen
Staring at paper, with a pen in her hand
Searching for muse and the words for a poem,
seeking the magic, to paint with a pen
Hoping for gold in the late summer's bend
While hearing the tapping of rain and the plunder
And as quickly as storms, come out of nowhere,
a floodgate of verses resounded like the thunder
and flashes of lightning struck lines here and there.
Pouring on paper, like rivulets on windows
a floodgate unleashed, were the words in a row
Painting a river, a poem she could own
and words that would capture the late summer storm
___________________________________________________________
Contest: "Titles" Required using titles of our first 5 poems.
9/17/15
(Titles of my first five poems:)
The Old Oak Table
Dimmer
Yellow
Sunday Morning
Unlatched
Entered again: 'Second Chance for the Unloved Poem' Contest
Sponsor: Jesse Rowe
I am a voice,generations later
Who will shed the image sown
You will not paint my picture
I will not be taken down
I won't play your fiction stories
I am not what you percieve
Do not give the world a handbook
Do not tell them what to see
Staring me down,seeking errors
Not your barbie,not your show
I'm woman in every sense of the word
Human being and you will know
You force our men to fear us
And leave us without love
And encourage women to hate us
Making them feel they are not enough
You tell us lies,and some believe
And so they walk in irking shame
You're insecure and childish
And so you have created a game
I'm strong and bold and fierce
I scare you,I don't fold like paper
So step aside and watch me be
Say I'm least,I'll prove I'm greater
Don't use a face to judge a heart
We're made the same of flesh and blood
The most obsurd of streotypes
A thing that tears this world apart
I do not wish to cause offense
This is not a war,it is a plea
I tire and sore of self defense
I just want a shot at being me
5 April 2013
Wendia Rowe
* This is a lullaby, and it is written completely in reverse, meaning not only can the lines be read in reverse, but the words and lines can be read in reverse, and in all three ways it will rhyme. (#1 - left-to-right, top-to-bottom; #2 - right-to-left, bottom-to-top; #3 - left-to-right, bottom-to-top). I hope you enjoy it! *
_____________________________________________________________
!abeam there float
bright shiny stars
gleam and bloat
Venus with Mars
dancing forever
they are eternal
entrancing, clever
brilliant and vernal
night is yawning
voided and dark
bright day dawning
flames to spark
soon close eyes
sleep to scheme
moon with skies
blink and dream!
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Reversible Poem" Poetry Contest, Jesse Rowe, Judge & Sponsor.
To post a poem is not a marathon*
when entered in a contest to be placed-
but rather there for others urged upon
to read- become inspired with its grace.
Unlike a sports Olympics, contests are
to challenge inner selves to meet a theme;
accomplishment alone gives us a star
for creativity that makes us beam.
We all are winners, who can shape our words
to paint the sadness or the joys of life,
with joyful metaphors like flowers, birds-
or those that pierce the heart with a dull knife.
When entered in a contest- win or lose-
our trophy is the journey with our muse.
September 17, 2016
For Contest, 'I Got A Darn NA Again'
Sponsored by Lu Loo
*Except when entering a real poetry marathon, like the one
sponsored by Mark Toney!! :)
---------------------------------------------------
~NA~
Contest: Second Chances For The Unloved Poem
Sponsor: Jesse Rowe
Judged: 09/11/2018
~NA~
Premiere Contest: 150
Sponsor: Brian Strand
Judged: 04/13/2018
At times we are on the bottom and other times , the top
No matter what we do, we cannot make time stop
Like this poem with lines that read with a backward flow
I wish sometimes that backwards I could make time go
I know sometimes we stop and think about the good old days
Time keeps moving forward in each evanescent phase
Get busy and enjoy your life, for time does not wait
Things that happen to us – I believe they’re all our fate
No matter what we do, we cannot make time stop
Sometimes we’re on the bottom and other times, the top
Sept 3, 2018 for the "A Reversible Poem" Poetry Contest of Jesse Rowe
Lord of my life is Christ* whereon my faith does stand
My loud praises for Him are worshipfully grand
As they laud His greatness along graciousness’ brand,
To my promised land journey through His guiding hand…
Now, I tread on service lane midst divine demand
Vanquishing commitment’s bane of slothfulness’ strand
Propped by His strength against vain bang in my errand
Reaching out to others with grateful stewards’ band.
*Colossians 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
March 4, 2019
9th place, "Word Morph Poem" Premier Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Jesse Rowe; judged on 3/24/2019.
Here lie a dentist and his wife.
Long in the tooth they left this life.
Young Smith inherits in the will
Two gold crowns and a dental drill!
13/09/18
' A funny epitaph contest' : Sponsored by Jesse Rowe
Two empty coffins...with unknown names
Saved for the unfortunates...of Jesse James
Made for the men, they say...Jesse killed
Only a matter of time, they'll both...be filled
An Epitaph To Make Me Laugh Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Jesse Rowe
4-22-2019
Beneath lie the remains of unlucky Jim
A great white shark made a meal of him
Fell off his surf board and hit by a wave
Half inside ‘Jaws’ and half in this grave.
Written on 13 September 2018
For a funny epitaph poetry contest
Sponsored by Jesse Rowe.
Here lie the remains of Ethel Brown
A circus clown from County Down
She’s buried wearing her red plastic nose
‘Twill be the last of Ethel to decompose!
An Epitaph to Make Us Laugh 2 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Jesse Rowe
4/12/19