Best Selections Poems
Second Chances
Sometimes in life, we work so hard
to do the best that we can do.
Spend hours perfecting what we think
others will love and cherish too.
With gems created in the arts,
like those of written poetry,
The imagery comes from our soul,
the very depths of you of me.
Sometimes our hope for a reward
in judgment of a finished write,
does not fulfill expected goals—
although selections may be right.
Then comes along a second chance—
contests for 'Screwed' and 'Trashed' on list!
Perhaps a poem of heart and soul
will earn a placement that it missed.
Two heroes here in this great 'Soup'
provide for me that second chance!
New eyes to read, enjoy my thoughts;
perhaps a win, my score enhance.
Broken, your kind and gentle heart
can feel the depth of what I write.
Your sensitivity comes through
to see my words in different light.
And Rob, your love of poetry—
of metaphor and perfect form,
has given me the chance to shine
let meaning of my words perform.
So thank you Rob and Broken Wings,
you offer us that chance to score—
showcase our words and thoughts again.
Your second chances we adore!
Sandra M. Haight
~7th Place~
Contest: PoetrySoup Heroes
Sponsor: Catie Lindsey
Judged: 11/12/2015
My PoetrySoup Heroes:
Broken Wings
Rob Carmack
Categories:
selections, hero, poetry,
Form:
Quatrain
1996 when any music styles created became instant hits
To much R&B, rock, rap and any other genre that fits
I remember waking up early, to see my mom say hay hun
Well, she thought that but truth was I was waiting on sailer moon and pokemon
Walking to the bust stop is in good memory like yesterday
Jump the fence then take the cut and hide out until the bus rode away
I still can smell the summers I shared with my loyal crew
Entire days of hide n’ seek, manhunt, freeztag, and any other thing we wanted to do
Once I argued with my brother because he had taken my favorite color
Not just any color, but this was the green ranger, and he could’ve chose in any other
We settled this the way all things were handle back then
Paper, rock, scissors, any many mighty mo best 2 out 3, and over and over again
That contest weren’t based off skill or talent within, but somehow we thought the winners
were the real men
I won the contest of men and then we would begin, every neighborhood kid chose a fictional
character to be
After selections were made the battle royal start and quickly in and in catastrophe
Johny Twisted his ankle, jasmine was cut with a roof shingle, and then there was I
Thoughts of Ohh man I’m the greatest power ranger ever before my mother would use her
belt to make me cry
Im whipping you out of love she would say
I would think I love you to so is it possible we could turn this in my favor the other way
Then the days would fade
And rest for another day 1996 chaos in craze,
Just like yesterday, yep those were the days
Categories:
selections, adventurelove, i love you,
Form:
Narrative
My devotion is bigger than the ocean
Because i know that He is my portion
for miracles
my peacefull feelings
My invisible guard and powerfull rod
that devides the sea's before me
My devotion is constant praise
When I feel my salvation
in the middle of days
Not just salvation from hell fire and death
But salvation from earthly trails I've left
My devotion is pure
because I escape satan's allure
it is my protection from ungodly selections
that make those suffer
what they cannot endure
from earthly damnation there is no cure
My devotion is sacred
it runs from all hatedred
from pride and predjudice it hides
and harbors the message of the wise
to be faithful and when I die
my faith in Him will bring me back to life
Categories:
selections, devotiondevotion,
Form:
Light Verse
In the dimmed theater, the stage is set
not for a play though, yet a performance
one of baton, brass, notes, timpani
the performance I have waited for has come
As the stage lights grow brighter like sunlight
the theater grows dimmer yet, almost dark
but for the brilliance of the stage lights
then out you come with French Horn in hand
Along with thirty of forty other musicians
you take the stage, you are first chair
therefore you must be at your best tonight
and I know that you will be, you've practiced
The Conductor arrives on stage and announces
Welcome to the Black Hawk County Honor Band
I am sure you will be pleased with our selections
The Conductor takes the podium, opens his arms
With baton in hand he signals instruments ready
You raise your horn along with the others
ahhh the sound is fervent with excitement
the theater is alive with Parker in G flat
I can pick your horn from all the other instruments
you are playing the best you have ever played
you are caressing your horn like a fine jewel
and it sparkles in the light brilliance unimagined
Like your brother the writer of poetic beauty
you also have talent, musical talent like I
you now can hear a song and play it, by ear
like I you are learning the guitar, teaching yourself
The next song, Bach, such beauty to my ears
you and your fellow musicians have mastered the master
two years you have played, it sounds like many more
I film the whole concert, to preserve the moment
The concert ends with a Beethoven, in B how lovely
again you played masterfully, never missed a note
You even hit high G, and you thought you couldn't
well done son and it's all on tape, and in my memory
Red faced you leave the atrium, you worked so hard
I hug you and tell you how proud I am of you
all you want is a drink of water, you drank and
the redness is leaving your face, well done I hug you again
I wish your Brother could have been here to see and hear
he would have been proud too, and would have hugged you
You see, talent runs in our family, Me, you and Jared
all have it, So I guess it's in the gene pool, must be for you see
The Nuts fall close to the tree !
Categories:
selections, family, lovebrother, brother,
Form:
Narrative
can't even fart anymore
without kicking up a hurricane
halfway around the Earth
according to reports this has occurred
at a great loss of life and mind
within minutes of the methane
the dominoes began to rumble
and poor Flash who was
merely greeting the morning sun
became history's first flatomaniac
Flash was burly with hair
up and down his back like
a mink in a 5th Avenue perfumery
his girl Florence was in cartoons
playing the hope card
in a séance with the laboring masses
at the Union of Opposites hiring hall
I was giving the citizens
an anatomy lesson your Honor
I should be given a stipend
for public elucidation
Flo was the key if not only witness
thought she saw the god Apollo
leaping out of a moving taxi
the effect was so dramatic
that she had to leap too
and hasn't stopped since
her testimony was a monstrosity of detail
in conclusion my rebuttal established
several seemingly salient selections
I am a dissector by trade your Worship
and a taxpaying asset to any community
Flash was sentenced with stern admonishment
you will henceforth exercise your libido
within the confines of spherical propriety
to which Flash assented
without the slightest ********
er objection
and somehow strangely unafraid
the Flasher of Costa del Mar
disappeared one night
sucked into the belly of an alien craft
over the cattle lip badlands of Montana
they commenced their hideous experiments
as Flash mused without anesthesia
on the incalculable immensity
of the starry Universe
and watched a mobile home run amok
across 9 lanes of traffic
From "Engine of Didactic Beauty" available on Amazon
Artist Portfolio: http://walteralter.byethost32.com/
Categories:
selections, how i feel, universe,
Form:
Free verse
a well crafted necklace
surrounds your neck
(long
smooth
inviting)
delivers subtle accusations
of adultery…
…cannot be faithful,
only you alone must endure
these constant
passing’s by of tempting selections;
forced still
head down
layered
like a deck of cards hopes for a queen,
curses the joker.
slowly i pull back your fastened ribboning
the very fabric that hides
your forbidden fluid, ceremonial aroma
floats orchids across the breeze
plucked perfectly from your long stem
to pour all of you
fulfills
all of me...
selfish me!
scent trembles
excites my senses
eyes seduced to closure,
your taste never alien…
no longer forcing away your temptation
firmly grasping
caressing your thin waist
exiling premature hesitation
lifting,
tilting,
our mouths become one
pouring every ounce passionately
a want that cause angels to turn,
afflicting the harvest moon to blush.
swishing you around my tongue
leaving a masque of satisfaction
(clouds losing breathe)
exhaling slowly
looking into your eyes
pleasant is this longing
(smoke barrels, oak crates, blackberries)
passing one simple statement:
“I am thankful for bottles of Merlot”
Categories:
selections, happiness, imagination, passion, satire
Form:
Free verse
Her angelic smile and darling face,
Melted away a bitter place,
Her graceful presence, genuine and sincere,
Helped my purpose to become exceptionally clear,
For pleasing sounds ran through her hands,
On zebra keys they seemed to stand,
Her unfermented, pure, natural sweet
Performed notes that danced to noble beats,
A delightful fragrance of sheer perfection,
Gave way to an emotional resurrection,
Beloved friend with a cinnamon heart,
Words cannot express where I yearn to start,
When describing a bud that has blossomed into a rose,
Pleasing to the eyes and delightful to one’s nose,
Careful selections of words must be conveyed
For her exquisiteness dries up all weeds that once laid,
In her garden of rejuvenation
Nectars only inspiration,
Not one part of her is stale, dull or stifling to ones appetite,
She is simply beautiful throughout the day and beyond the night.
By: sabina nicole
Contest: sweet
Written: 7/7/12
Categories:
selections, love, passion,
Form:
Couplet
10/21/19
Living I'm blessed to do
I reckon to you
There's more than a dimension or two
Life continues to beckon through
In any direction it's true
Worse and better selections
Good and bad intentions
Let this be a lesson to you
Eventually the great depression ensued
Folks that do or don't leave impressions on you
Some have a profession or two
The questions grew
It was or wasn't a great suggestion to you
You either did or didn't make a confession or few
Eventually engines blew
Won by the last second or two
Will or won't have misconceptions of you
Continually the tensions grew
Some beginning to threaten, having aggression toward you
Wanting possession of you
Other's dangerous obsessions grew
Paying nothing but attention to you
Make a mess of you
Been far ahead of you
I'd expect nothing less of you
As good as dead to you
Watch out, or it'll have ended for you
Will or won't find out if heaven is true
The only mention of you
Left behind seven shoes
And eleven Rubik's cubes
Best wishes on what you're destined to do
Wisen up when life gives lemons to you
Work harder and on more revenue
Show you in person, don't need to put it in pen for you
If need be, I'd have bled for you
Stick out my arm, leg , chest and neck for you
Like I always said to you
There's nobody else instead of you
Because I have a connection with you
Still will follow through, on what I set to do
I wish my best to you
To tell the truth
Either way, I'd go to heaven, but not hell for you
Many methods grew
In the midst of a quest or two
Finishing the job, is what is next to do
Categories:
selections, dark, fun, life, poetry,
Form:
Rhyme
What were the odds they did not know?
So many, many years ago, according to the records
they had left in there, it seems the answer was, quite low.
How strange the paradox of nature, how unpredictable
the outcome of its selections, how some variations
with the best chance to survive
became the human species,
became nature reflecting
on itself,
yet could not understand
that to stop adapting to its environment,
instead to change it, exploit it, a tipping point
would be reached, a no going back extinction event
would be unleashed, and adaptation would no longer be
an option.
Oh the stories we have found! The art fantastic as the sounds
of sea on shore, birds awakening with the golden dawn and
the scent, still present in its capsule, of an ancient rose.
How primitive their science, yet how predictable
the future was for them in small steps undertook with effort:
they knew slide rule soon and to the second
when Apollo would return from the dark side of the moon;
they knew nano chip soon and to the second
when and where an eclipse of the sun would pass at noon;
they knew too soon and to what degree
rising temperatures and rising seas foretold their doom.
What were the odds they did not know
how precious was this Eden, how rare an oasis in a vast unfriendly space,
when they sealed this vault five million years ago?
(Should this poem go in the vault? If so,
we have ten years left and then we'll know
and they'll know, too . . . we knew.)
- original poem written on the 5th of December in the year 2019 CE
Predictable poetry contest sponsored by Nina Parmenter
Categories:
selections, angst, art, bereavement, environment,
Form:
Free verse
Fish madam?
Price Edwards a Welsh man taught me how to poach eggs fish and rabbits
The recipe for poached eggs is universal
Poached perch is.....Take fillets and cheeks saute in butter with a dash of mead
Poached trout........Wrap in aluminum foil with herbs.. throw in small fire
Poached rabbit.....Debone saute in olive oiland butter...add mushrooms and leek
Poached venison I’ve never tried
Categories:
selections, funny, social,
Form:
Blank verse
My sonnet has the temper of a screaming child
because I'll not allow it to run free and wild
Mired on a pad, it damns me. "I want to fly free!"
"You're not ready," I whisper. "Put your trust in me."
It cried, trying to hold on to its pregnant dreams
blaming me for aborting expressive rhyme schemes
"Ask your muse to find more decorous selections."
On her advice, I began to make corrections.
I purged all the rhetoric and made a new start
resulting in the birth of a sonnet with heart
I danced for freedom I'd granted to my verses
No longer do I hear the yowling of curses
I will continue to write with a pliant quill
and an open mind with the ink I choose to spill
Categories:
selections, poetry,
Form:
Sonnet
On a blustery winter night my loved one comes to dine.
The table is set for two in front of a cheerful fire and
a candle flickers in delight beside one perfect yellow rose.
I greet my love with a kiss and a glass of Napa Ridge Sauvignon
Blanc. We sit for a while and enjoy fig and Humboldt Fog
goat cheese crostini, while we sip the sweet nectar of the grape.
Soon it is time for me to serve a salad of grilled romaine with bacon and
cherry tomato vinaigrette. We enjoy our quiet conversation while
listening to a compilation disc I made of some of his favorites…
Chopin piano sonatas, Billy Joel ‘s Uptown Girl, The Phantom Of The Opera
and a few selections from an old Beetles album.. Now the entre,
Lamb Chops with a garlic and mustard crust, haricort verts in browned
butter and potatoes gratin . With our entrée we splurge on a bottle
of Screaming Eagle Zinfindel..A bit later I bring out a huckleberry tart
with homemade vanilla bean ice cream.
It was an an evening of culinary delight, made truly special by being with
the one that keeps me safely in his heart.
Categories:
selections, food, love,
Form:
Narrative
To be, or not to be
To do or not to do
To head ahead, or cease
To blossom, to wear out,
To fight, to loose, to stand,
To fall, to rise again, to trust
To grow… to love.
It’s all laid before you,
A day more of your existence
Adds more to the clouded shelf of choices
There is more if it’s a year more
Confusion; it comes in with more picks
When the weak and the strong are known
Not only for the right selections,
Even in the wrong ones.
Crap hands for yourself
Write a letter to your heart
Praise it for the Job well done
For two decades and a day
Hurry! To the queen, it’s never easy
Make your pick, as long as you are happy
As long as the smile doesn’t fade
So long as it doesn’t deform that beautiful
face
You don’t always get to choose
Some choices are God’s to make
Some things are worth trying
Some fears are not fears, rather signs
Some days are a sign too
Some people deserve a room in your heart
Some words are best understood when done
To more years of happiness
To more years of peaceful sleeps
To more years of friendship even more
To more years of “boys lie”
To more years of beauty
Categories:
selections, birthday, crush,
Form:
ABC
“Hello, and thank you for calling Acme Products! Please listen to the following selections as our menu options changed 5 years ago and we want to make sure you have them memorized.
If you need help with billing, press 1.”
silence
“Are you sure you don't need help with billing? We have such nice people in our billing department.”
“Operator.”
“No can do. The system requires entering your selections via the keypad. Please repeat your request.”
G R R R R
“Well, if you're sure you don't want billing, press 2 for a listing of all our latest products.”
0 0 0 0 0 0
“That is an invalid selection.”
“Aaaiiieeeeeeeeeee.”
"You know, you really should take a look at our newest products."
N O N O N O
“Please remember to listen carefully as our options changed 5 years ago. For assistance with complaints on an already-purchased item”
3
“Invalid selection. Try again. For assistance with complaints on an already”
4
“I'm sorry. Input not understood. For billing, press 1. To hear about our newest products, press 2. For customer service on existing orders, press 4.”
4 4 4
“Thank you. If you did not receive your order, press 5. If you have a complaint about your order, press 6.”
I fyk djgm Acme Products. 6
“Please remember to use the keypad to enter your selections. If the complaint is about a box damaged in shipment, press 7.”
silence
"If you received your item but it is defective press”
8
“Please enter your name using the telephone keypad.”
W I L E E X O Y O T E
“Please reenter your name.”
W I L E E I H A T E A C M E C O Y O T E
“Customer 'I hate Acme' not found. Please try again. Please enter your name using the keypad on your phone.”
W I L E E C O Y O T E
“Thank you.
For questions related to Acme Invisible Paint, press 9.
For questions regarding the Acme Do-It-Yourself Rocket Sled Kit, press 10.
For questions regarding Acme Iron Bird Seed, press”
11
“Sorry. That is not a valid entry.”
K I # L L A * C M E
“Sorry. That is not a valid entry.”
“For questions regarding Acme Iron Bird Seed, hang up and dial 1-800-555-1212. Have a nice day and thank you for calling Acme Products. We appreciate your business.”
crack crunch shatter
signal lost
Categories:
selections, business, funny, hilarious, parody,
Form:
Prose
DIRTY HANDS
by
JOHN M. ARRIBAS
Little boys playing with mud and silty sands
Will return to their houses with dirty hands
Mom will scold them, but knows what to do
A little soap and water, they’ll look like new
Soap and water doesn’t clean off all stains
Especially those amassed from ill-gotten gains
Those boys will grow to men and go on their way
Confronted with selections each and every day
All have the choice, a conscious creed election
Conduct with principle or live with deception
Ethics apply, rules obeyed, as society demands
Tread the line cautiously avoid dirty hands
A quick gain of treasure due to fabricated facts
Will no doubt lead to more disingenuous acts
Wealth will grow, applause and fame may follow
Despite images to the contrary the core is hollow
Conscience is muted a false illusion commands
Its always the same for those with dirty hands
Predation of the ignorant by well connected gentry
Swayed by promises that usually come up empty
Lifelong politicians rise to the top of the heap
Fooling the public with promises they never keep
Attaining the apogee and the attention it commands
Could not have been possible without dirty hands
Wealth and power is the ultimate goal
Dirty hands are the symptoms of a toxic soul
Categories:
selections, abuse, betrayal, corruption, introspection,
Form:
Rhyme