Best Serenaded Poems
Aloft, the gem was mounted in black velvet skies
A refulgent pearl, surrounded by glistening stars
Cradled in the arms of midnight, it hung as a prize,
as exquisite as a painting, credited as one of Renoir's
Framed by arching branches of a leafless oak,
a sultry mist bowed before the majestic moon
She was partly veiled by clouds serving as a cloak
Her beauty serenaded by the somber song of a loon
Its tune a haunting trill, a funeral chant of death,
for Luna was wounded, splattered in crimson blood
like that spilled by Duncan in Act 5 of Macbeth,
or a rose pricked by its thorns, a hemorrhaging bud
A sudden stillness enshrouded the atmosphere
Swift currents of reticence flowed in a cryptic river
Pensively I gazed, transfixed on the moon in fear
Impressions of her demise gave me cause to shiver
Such nebulous notions clouded my brooding mind,
for the moon was merely blushing while in eclipse
As dusk darkens shadows of night's morrow, I'll find
a golden orb on high, without sign of an apocalypse
July 22, 2022
2022 Marathon Mile 9 Contest
Sponsor: Mark Toney
To Dreamland on Sunset's Lullaby
Gracefully the young crescent moon
ascends the sky like a cosmic tune;
replacing the drowsy pale yellow sun
sinking on a golden glowing horizon.
To dreamland on a lullaby of silvery twilight...
to dreamland floating with music of night.
Even as shadows of day seek rest,
choirs of songbirds fly home to nest.
But asleep I'll be before stars start to shine;
asleep I'll be before Venus and Mars align.
To dreamland on a lullaby of silvery twilight...
to dreamland floating with music of night.
Melodies of powder-puff pinks and baby blues,
splashed on sunset's orange-tinted hues;
gently I'll slip into a cocoon of sweet slumber,
on the wings of a celestial lullaby so tender.
To dreamland on a lullaby of silvery twilight...
to dreamland floating with music of night.
The trials of day fade gloriously to gray,
and into Sandman's restful arms I will lay.
My restless spirit is calmed from within,
serenaded by nature's soothing violin.
To dreamland on a lullaby of silvery twilight...
to dreamland floating with music of night.
03-23-2018
Contest: Lullaby in the Sunset
Sponsor: Vermillion Scythe
Placement: 1st (PoetrySoup Premiere Contest winner)
Childhood is a ship,
preparing to set sail,
but not all harbors are kind
the ocean a mysterious enigma.
Not all inflictions are visible,
some bruises remain invisible.
Not all trauma can be expressed,
so the past is buried - still breathing.
Ghosts resurface, with subtlest of hints.
When we are born,
we are 'freshly decorated' boats.
Preparing to set sail through unknown waters,
longing to venture to foreign shores.
Yet, what is hidden underneath deep ripples,
is not innocent, like my childhood heart -
powerless, helpless, defenseless.
An anthology of a villain and his victims
Sins of my father,
once plagued my mother's tears.
Her anchor became a burden of heavy fears,
so drought, dehydrated her river bed.
To escape constant waves of rage,
my mind set sail to seek safer shores.
On my boat, I was my own captain.
Steps of thunder,
followed me through turbulent tides,
yet, spirit found courage to row faster -
to this day, I've never known how.
Maybe, I could not let his blood define me.
I watched, in horror, as his terror,
drowned my petrified siblings -
I wonder, why they did not sail away,
were their anchors, consumed with reality?
When words struck like metaphorical daggers,
sirens of the sea, serenaded with songs of sorrow.
But, my soul knew the sun would offer redemption -
finally unchain me from the darkness of adolescence.
Through passages of life,
what was once a boat in troublesome times,
is now a ship, settled on stable seas.
Example for Inflictions contest.
Silent One
8 August 2020
Honey vapour scents travelled among seduced tepid zephyrs.
This was not a dream for I was within the realms of reality,
as fate's footsteps led my heart back to forgotten pastures.
Her persona was poetic personification, yet I was lost for words,
so in simple silence, souls serenaded suppressed symphonies.
The idyllic radiance of her eyes became a timeless memory,
the warmth of our first kiss an eternal celestial connection.
Silent One
21 June 2018
Example for seven lines of romantic heaven poetry contest
She lovingly smiles at him each evening
dressed in palest silk, a gossamer gown,
brushed with hints of silverdust shadows.
Her shapely fullness casts a womanly glow
across his surface in ripples of light.
Enthralled by her shimmering beauty,
he waves to her from Baltic blue depths
of his longing and unspoken passion.
Her reflection swims in his crests and troughs
as he cradles the embodiment of her perfection.
Crested fingers rise to fondle her magnificence
but vast distance keeps them too far apart.
Her heart guides the ebbing and flowing
of his tides in their nightly dance, spent romancing.
Fluidly, he waltzes her in rhythm to the shore,
serenaded by a chorus of flickering stars
singing a tune written eons before
Gershwin could dream of Rhapsody in Blue.
Little more could either of them do as
their song wafted in a dolorous lover's lament
known by humans but perceived by few
as a divergent love between two of Earth's forces
whose liaison would be a tragedy for me and you
In the land of finite, measurable calculus of existence,
You are a silhouette of mystique, esoteric obscurity,
A symbol ambiguous, living among realm of precision,
Unreachable to quotidian and simplistic enumeration,
Unamenable to honoring bounds of constrained world;
Yet, allured in metaphors, much alike a pretty woman,
Serenaded by poetic adulation in verses of fascination.
We invoke you when enormity we can’t comprehend
Being clueless of its reach or whether its journey ends:
Numbers uncountable, we postulate, seek your vicinity,
Universe we can’t grasp, we claim, expands infinitely,
Time propelling future, we surmise, ticks into eternity,
Whether space or distance you’re un-fathomed entity;
Oh! Infinity, the truth is, we can’t clasp your immensity.
Why, O, why you chase the unknown and the elusive?
Such a dry emotion to be everlasting without feelings!
Being eternal or endless ~offers not a beloved meaning
Unless you can be sensual, evermore of love romantic
Or the vows tolling forever in unbreakable relationships
Or timelessly striving to create treasures of memories
Or a paradise on earth blooming heavenly, perpetually.
Oh! Infinity, be laudable as can be, to instincts of poetry
But, remain true to self ~unknowable, nebulous intrigue.
November 22, 2021
Placed 1st: This or That, Vol 8 Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Edward Ibeh
Title chosen: Of Infinity
a wisp offered him a small bunch of her soul
duet of florets dandelion with lavender
purr of petals and silent reminder
fragrance in whispers and love
a window of shelter rose from her words
tranquil tender and soft they reached out
tinge of seduction and glimmer of hope
voices sore from shouting and sorrow
‘I love you from the depth of my heart’
‘my mind needs a vessel of kindness’
‘mumbling essence will heal our pain’
‘together cacophony turns into music’
calmly bespoken a hush left her lips
offered a bouquet of serene kisses
blown from faith and surrender
and the earth started to move
inaudible at first a single sound blossomed
a volcano erupted in a show of hot lava
tsunamis weaved turbulent waves
as their union overcame hardship
no scripted audition no dress rehearsal
only embers and sparks of crackling heat
mumbled desire butterflies and nectar
revealing that all will be good in the end
the two lovers threw caution to the wind
far too loud was the chorus of truth
peace sung in harmony’s tunes
serenaded balanced emotion
they smelled the sweet melody
embraced visions of sound
touched dreams in abandon
tasted promises of caress
it had started with one whisper
but the message was booming
climax repeat and crescendo
a symphony of eternal bliss
14th June 2020
In this wondrous world, we are bound
to the silent realms of our poetic soul
Where white doves flutter and sighing words whisper
as dreams are dreamt with a heart's fervor
of unyielding desire which brightly burns
through the words of poetry
that capture the world's glorious glimmers
which slowly drip upon the page as poems
seeking a night's landscape
of wandering wishes beneath glittering stars
from a memory in fanciful flight
on the wings of perfection
where a sonnet shimmers in stardust bestrewn
as the moon serenaded fades into song
forgetting to rise and light dusky skies
lost in the magic of this intimate dark
as lips of a poet tingle the skin of a lyric
and brush with a breath thoughts soft as a flute
fantasy flies like fireflies from a jar
to drift to the depths of velvet horizons
reveries no longer long to be free
as the muse charms a pulse from the page
It's there in my heart's timeless space
I hear the poems of your soul
3/16/21
Thank You...Dear Friend, Dear Poet
In the tenderness of twilight,
calmness of the air,
silently caressed her skin
hearts floated like a gentle breeze.
Illuminating her persona,
naked moon reflected against
the softness of her cheeks
sweet whispers evoked several senses.
Envious stars sparkled,
transcending a galaxy of kisses,
radiating against her lips
and who was I to resist.
Her petal lips,
sang to me like a lullaby -
my heart danced like a butterfly
sensual souls serenaded sweet symphonies.
Infatuated shadows gazed until sunrise,
as embers intensified, embracing
Earth's window of wonders
a love was born into eternal bliss.
I still see that night in her eyes;
she always insists it was the stars,
but I believe it was the moon.
17 October 2018
Silent One
In the absence of romance,
poetic soul succumbed to slumber,
within an eternal cocoon.
In dreams, heart searched for a place
where love had a meaning.
Where you would love me,
like the words of Rumi.
Eremetic eyes,
gazed through a billion solitary stars,
until you appeared - ravishing and radiant.
From them all, I chose you.
We serenaded within Rumi's spiritual love,
till our lips met like a butterfly's passion for a rose.
Before I met you,
I had lost all desire to speak, to write, to breath.
Pensive pen wrote words in diversified tongues,
softly whistled tunes, I had never known,
breathed with your name on the tip of the tongue.
But, such is my fortune,
your love resembled a shooting star -
here today, gone tomorrow.
Like a thief at night - stole my spirit.
Those who do not know the trials of love,
do not ask the state of my heart,
it has become a silent symphony,
yearning for butterfly kisses.
No longer reliant on Rumi's promises.
You may no longer read my poems,
but you will forever hide in my poetry.
In the absence of romance,
poetic soul succumbed to slumber,
within an eternal cocoon.
Searching once again, for a muse to inspire.
Silent One
Simple Musing
14 July 2019.
In this wondrous world, we are bound
to the silent realms of our poetic souls
where white doves flutter and sighing words whisper
as dreams are dreamt with a heart's fervor
of unyielding desire which brightly burns
through the words of poetry
that capture the world's glorious glimmers
which slowly drips upon the page as poems
seeking a night's landscape
of wandering wishes beneath glittering stars
from a memory in fanciful flight
on the wings of longing perfection
where a sonnet shimmers in stardust bestrewn
as the moon serenaded fades into the song
forgetting to rise and light dusky skies
lost in the magic of this intimate dark
as lips of a poet tingle the skin of a lyric
and brush with a breath thoughts soft as a flute
fantasy flies like fireflies from a jar
to drift to the depths of velvet horizons
reveries no longer long to be free
as the muse charms a pulse from the page
It's there in my heart's timeless space
I hear the poems of your soul
Frederic Parker and Susan Ashley
(a collaboration)
March 16, 2021
~ Poem Of The Week ~
March 21, 2021
*celebrated on Frederic Parker's page*
Special note: it is indeed an honor to share in the wonderful recognition of Poem Of The Week with my inspiring and gifted collaborator, Frederic Parker.
Frederic, thank you for initiating this beautiful piece and for inviting me to create poetry with you. I cherish our fruitful poetic fellowship. That our muses shared in charming a pulse from the page is truly a special gift given to me.
Poet’s note: Dear Frederic, it was both a thrill and an honor to be invited to collaborate with you on this beautiful poem. Your tender, breathtaking artistry touched my heart and enchanted my imagination. The expressive talent of your golden pen never fails to inspire me. Thank you, dear poet, dear friend, for a stirring creative experience.
Among a stand of pines I lived my life,
blissful in the ignorance of my own fate.
Tall and proud, my fellow trees and I
stood along a ridge that overlooked a lake -
its crystal surface mirroring our beauty.
Underneath big sky
and seeming to lean against a mountain,
we reveled in the gifts of our mother nature.
Oftentimes we felt the breath of breezes at our backs
and cooling downpours in the summer heat.
We saw and heard the scampering of squirrels and rabbits;
We watched as deer and other woodland creatures
stopped to drink at the clear lake or came to visit us.
Birds of many sorts serenaded us both day and night;
Crickets, bees and other insects came to see us too.
Seasons came and went.
Still young, I kept growing on the south fringe of my stand.
This winter as new snow glistened on the ground,
there came intruders to our happy spot.
Wielding axes, two men chopped me down.
Now I stand alone, uprooted and separated from my stand.
No birds adorn my limbs.
Instead I’m wearing garlands of garish gold
and big red bulbs are hanging from my arms.
No moon or stars of night shine above me,
but a silver plastic star is tacked on top my head.
I’m suffocated by this too-warm room
with blinking lights everywhere around me
And myriads of gifts brightly wrapped
piled high and pressed against my trunk.
No longer one of many, I am one alone
And the lovely stand of which I was but one small part
has been replaced by an old and rusty stand for Christmas trees,
a stand that now contains me,
for I no longer stand as one part of a whole.
Rootless and wondering what will become of me. . .
I pine.
Written 9/15/12 for Debbie Guzzi's "Stand" Poetry Contest
A Kiss In The Dark
You light up in the darkness
With the Heaven woven stars
In velvet tones of stillness
I calmly watch; night is ours.
Chill wind swirled rhythmic chanting,
Cocoon those well-chosen words,
Pleasing closeness, enchanting
A taste of natural bloom.
Closed eyes met a world of dreams
amorous scene into dance
A kiss in the limpid dark.
Warm silence serenaded.
It'd been one of the most bizarre days; downright crazy
so I had a martini, maybe four, so things got kinda hazy
I fumbled in my wallet so I could pay my pricey bar tab
Friends thought I had too many, so they put me in a cab
I stumbled up the steps. It seems walking was a chore
Couldn't find my key, so I tried beating down the door
Her screeches of "Where the bloody hell have ya been?"
Pounded in my head, making me sorry that I'd come in.
She hissed, then off to the kitchen she foolishly prattled
With horrendous noises, pots and pans were being rattled
My head was sorely throbbing so I begged her to be quiet
She screamed, "Don't yell at me! Blame your liquid diet!"
She banged a bowl of something down on the table cloth.
I weaved my way to a chair as my mouth began to froth
Put my head in my hands when the room started spinning
Caught a glimpse of that evil woman. Yeah, she was grinning
A mound of muck she'd plunked down right in front of me
looked like it should still be swimming in the salty sea
It smelled vile and disgusting... nauseatingly atrocious
I gagged and turned away, that's when Liz became ferocious
I couldn't move an inch to find my way back to the couch
I was a brick, held by mortar. My wife was being a grouch
but I couldn't find the strength to flee. I felt far too dizzy
My turn to shout, "Can you just stop your naggin', Lizzie?"
I didn't mean to say it, and my words came out so slurred
My vision was fuzzy. Everything was clouded and blurred
Something was staring up at me while awful music played
That's when I saw green heads and grew appallingly afraid
Whether fantasy or reality, frogs had escaped from a pond
These were fugly creatures. From evil they'd been spawned
I was being serenaded by a quartet of deep croaking voices
So suffers the drunken man while his heartless wife rejoices
I crawled to bed when I couldn't take the harmony any more
Lizzie punched me and said, "Wake up if you're gonna snore."
I tripped down the stairs, woke the dog and made him bark
Left the wife and found a bench to sleep it off in the park
Detached - Even Circuits Hum
A Music Video
As twilight turns to tangled thought,
and truth tiptoes down trembling streets.
Once, wonder serenaded willowed winds
now shadows embrace muted retreats
Wary hearts weave walls so wide
against a faceless, coded tide,
while glowing grids in distant bays
bloom haunting weaves they won't embrace
Dualistic stars and digital dawns
Cinematic cradles human ache,
but some still long for candle flames,
and fingerprints the codes can't fake.
Dreading the hushed holograms,
the warmth that AI cannot wear.
Forgetting that even circuits hum
with aspirations hidden there
If only we could sense serenity
Pulsing between each quiet stream—
Machine or muse, to earnestly strive
for something more than just a dream
We could wildly dance on data plains,
where algorithms tap like rain.
let compassion code our names,
and poetic lines rewire the pain.
The muse may wear a mirrored face
But still, she sings with glowing grace.
When the talented digital artist AIMetamotion approached me to create a song that would complement her stunning artwork, I was immediately inspired. The result is 'Detached', a haunting track that tells the story of a robot grappling with the overwhelming flood of emotions brought on by a sensory chip—a concept not so far-fetched, given the rapid advancements in AI technology.
Though she sings her ironically titled anthem of detachment, the visuals tell a different story. Her struggle is evident, her resistance almost poetic, hinting at the complexity of emotion even in synthetic form.
This is just the beginning. A sequel is already in the works, diving deeper into her journey. The question remains: will she finally succumb to the surge of feelings she desperately tries to reject, or will she find a way to break free?
Stay tuned...