Best Shied Poems
They quickly pass, the waning days more brief,
like love once shied beneath a garish moon,
expose the truths betrayed by Autumn's thief.
Infatuation always ends too soon ~
still tethered to the oak, a hopeful leaf...
for Andrea's "Half Past Summer" Contest
Among the long grass of the land and reed,
there is a lonely place where thoughts are freed,
Saint Martin's summer spreads upon the lake
in warm conditions all domains partake.
The blazing, orange skies, on earth reflect
perfection's lingering details connect
a red, still hanging leaf has caught my gaze
spotlighted in the sun's last golden rays.
This leaf, upon the branch, began to wave,
(it's ending, little life I could not save),
and swept away by Autumn's windy rake,
imprinted ripples on the peaceful lake.
The leaf was carried, as my eyes complied,
then drowned inside the lake's blue waves that shied,
the sweeping northern gust, the leaf discerped,
that neath the surface is forever kept.
Written by Kelly Deschler September 19th, 2014
Revised by Giorgio A. V.
The summer air was still, 'neath golden sky
where lively birdsong filled motionless trees
sun shied away while cirrus clouds passed by
air cooled and briefly birthed a subtle breeze.
The scent was fleeting, but I recognised
the petrol fumes mixed with newly mown grass
the present scene replaced before my eyes
with summer childhood from some decades past.
Dad's Suffolk Punch striping the long back lawn
mums gossipped, back and forth like free range hens
kids coming home, hands muddy, trousers torn
a snack, a drink, then off to play again.
Though age must smother youth, those times long gone
memories on the breeze will linger on
For contest 'one in five', sponsor Joseph May
January 28th 2018
I read it so, the Bread of Life
without discourse, without contrive
did lighten, nourish, so arrive
that building up, to merit, live ~
That in my lines
I found your strife
did so surround with beauties hive
that honey of discourse revive!
This leavening of love's requiet,
that injured particle, that pride,
that unaccomplished effort's stride
that unforgiven song's abide!
That haste, that entry unrelied
were all a Godly plan, not tried,
that love unsettled so applied,
unmixed, unsettled faith ~ no bride!
Is love, thus meddled with denied,
pourous regrets hidden and shied,
how puffed up, spoiling shape's decried
this fatness trail, unholy mile!
Be waiting, like a homeless child
so love relinquished dies servile ~
to thee I give, last frenzied mile,
wherein thee walk, wherein thee . . . . smile!
My gorgeous sweet Bill Bulldog
There will never be another
So handsome was his visage
A phizog loved only by his mother
For some folks thought him ugly
And shied away in fear
Never gave a second glance
Never coming near
But first impressions can be wrong
For he was such a dear
A sweeter personality
I’ve never seen ~ I’ve never found
A British Bulldog’s only flaw
A stubborn streak, but nothing more
The worst thing Bill would ever do
He’d place his head upon my knee
And lovingly gazing up at me
He’d spy my legs were free from clothes
He really loved the taste of those
Lovingly licking down to my feet
To him this was the ultimate treat
So please I ask don’t ever judge
a book just by its cover
Open up your mind
And be surprised what you’ll discover
Unconditional love
from the sweetest breed I ever had
For each and every single time
I opened up my door
Bill was there to greet me
Sadly Bill is there no more
Written 30th September 2019
4th PLACE
Contest Name: Write a Rhyme about your favorite PET living or not
Sponsor; Regina Riddle
26th December 2019
Contest:STRAND SPECIAL 10,
Sponsor: Brian Strand
HONORABLE MENTION
Joanna Davis
You can pass it on, with just a touch,
It really doesn't take too much.
A wink, a smile... unspoken look,
There is no end...to love’s great book.
Your heart will feel, soul can tell,
Passions rise, to form a spell.
Once it’s cast, none can break,
All earthly riches you’ll forsake.
To feel its heat. Breathe it in...
Love’s not a game you play to win.
Cost to give, free to take,
Price you pay. Heart the stake.
Some will accept, others berate,
A single kiss will seal your fate.
If lovers knew, they’d never win,
This game of love, would not begin.
They’d be no children on this earth,
If women shied, at pain of birth.
For as long as life, they’ll lovers be,
Love’s here to stay...
In Perpetuity.
Toasty mornings with teakettles whistling bring to mind Danish days on Marata’s
horse farm, ponies prancing in the unusually warm sunlight, and new fangled
sparkling silver water fountains. Mirada, Karen and Laura’s Mom hosted Bob, Jamie
and I for a summer vacation. We had just settled into the whitewashed kitchen
when the problem was presented to us. For years the housed herd of guest horses
had been watered by filling lovely old white porcelain cast iron tubs which had been
scattered all over the rolling green fields of the farm in Faum.
Mirada had the forward thinking idea of saving farm hand time [and her the hourly
wage] of piping water to these beautiful horses with new fountains! Yes, my
lovelies, all you have to do is push your nose right here. Out bubbles crisp cool clean
water, minus the dead flies, which often drowned in the old tub! Seems horses are
very suspicious. Nope the herd was having none of it. Soon, if not cajoled, they
would be passing out from lack of water in the Danish summer’s heat. What foreign
creature had replaced their friendly old white tub of water? Where was their water?
They saw no water. Sure there was a scent of it from that pole but “What the
heck?” snorted the black stallion shaking his head at the girls.
We were told there would be no breakfast, lunch or dinner for us until we helped
get those horses watered. So off we went, shuffling our feet to a meet and greet
with the herd. Marata and the girls knew the horses. We almost knew a horse from
a cow. I went right up to this large black beauty, pet his nose and rubbed my cheek
on his face, love at first sight! Blackie started following me and we walked toward
the fountain. Then the sun glanced off the dreaded thing and he shied. I pushed the
control, filled my hands with water and brought him some. Lordy, lordy he drank
from my hands! The herd behind him whinnied. I tried to get him nearer the fountain
but it was a no, go. He’d drink from my hands but not the fountain. It just goes to
show you, you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink, is really
TRUE!
*The next morning Laura begged her own pony AGAIN to drink. He finally did the rest did too then ;)
My children, standing 'round my bed,
Are whispering and crying.
The fuss they cause would make you think
Some poor old soul was dying.
I laugh inside and ask myself,
"What do these youngsters know?"
The spring of life still flows in me.
It's not my time to go.
I count the times I've cheated Death
And sent him on his way.
Through fever, illness, injury, age,
I've held that thief at bay.
I chuckle now as I recall
The time he almost won--
The day he staked a claim to me
And my new baby son.
I shook the fever from my brow.
Death shied away and fled.
Since we escaped his clutches then,
I've nothing now to dread.
I suddenly am very tired.
I'll close my eyes and rest.
I'm sure tomorrow holds for me
A new, exciting quest.
written, late 1980's
Date: October 28, 2017
Contest Title: Standard Contest No. 45
Sponsor: Brian Strand
Often bullied, more often tried
In darkest hours, never cried
Endless encounters with hope died
On steepest odds, yet never shied
I welcome abuse, give it your best
Hunt like a dog, squish like a pest
All this while, I take my rest
Until forebearance comes to test
For then, you must answer for your screwing
Ponder upon all of your doing
Ignorance is bliss, so is your unknowing
Where I shall take you, no one loves going
Do not take me for where I lie
For my colours deceive the brightest sky
Your pestering shall render your end nigh
(Be warned) There is more to me than meets the eye
you’d whisper into my ear
but it was my heart
absorbed your words
when you loved me
way back than
you wrote your words and they made me cry
you wrote those words and you know i died
when you did your round about
when you turned on the heat
turned over every single leaf
left me out alone
in the dead of spring
or
was it winter,
it must of been
'cause i thought I’d freeze
thinking back
you never shied away
you’d whip back your thick black mane
(shined like the sun hid there at nights)
exposed your china white skin
never said hush always ready to play
still remember your dice
the ones in gold
with embedded gems in blue
you loved to roll them
the snake eyes bit
i'd swallow the poison like lemonade
handcuffed and whipped
your ceramic nails
tearing into my back
wore my white shirt
'till someone screamed
from behind it was blood red
i dripped on the floor like a lit candle
melted
you clicked your ruby heels
and you were gone
climbed the ladder
briefcase
Armani suit
never shed a tear
i would yell like a cowboy
riding a bucking bronco
not once did i ever fall
again
but i knew who i was
make no mistake
every rodeo has its clown
and I spoke fluent bull
the only knifes i carried
were still in my back
i lived with the pain
when i saw you yesterday
i held my breath for longer than i ever had
i thought the room would flip like a double sided coin
we spoke
i saw it in yours eyes
regret
you’d heard of my success
how fine i looked in my silk woven garb
you said
drinks
but i looked at my watch
and i think your teeth fell out
when i walked away
i could hear your tears
you threw it all away
when you decided
to look the other way
it broke me inside
i'd never be the same
i never turned to look
yesterday
the message i sent was clear
we’d never be we again
how did i feel
me
me
i'd give my right arm
for one pass of your breath
against my lips
'An Ill-fated Person Meeting His Loved One'
It snowed
And she appeared like the snow
She appears like the speed of a storm
I do not know when she arrived
Like a pleasant breeze
Why do I look for her somewhere else?
She is all wet in the heavy rain
The filth of the mind gets cleaned on her arrival
I get swayed when I see her
Why am I so?
The leaves have fallen dried
But she blooms at her fullest
Though this life is hers
Who am I becoming so covetous?
There is scorching heat, but she doesn’t sweat
She arrives like the hailstorm
But it’s me who sweat
Why am I so?
She smiles when we meet
She shies away when she sees
It seems my loved one sings and plays
But I go unmoved when I see her
Why am I so?
She appears in the early hours of the sun rise
But never disappears
And I keep imagining her
Why am I so?
She keeps saying, and I continue listening
It appears the life has begun glittering
And when I peep into her, she shies away
Why do I but peep to see her?
Those deer-like blue eyes
Tightened arms
Those movements of a cat-walk
And I wait her coming at the cross-road
Why do I wait her
When I do not know
The date and time of her arrival?
The God carved her
And showered his blessings
That the laughter and the joy be with her
Let no one do her any wrong
It has been ages that I haven’t seen her
But I can’t still forget her
Why am I so?
It snowed, and the snow melted
And then she rose
She bloomed and shied away like the storm
And then there is the scorching heat
I remember her in this heat now
I melt when I imagine her
Why am I so?
I don’t know why
I couldn’t get a sleep today
And there came a snowfall of the next year
I imagined a body like the snow
And thus my eyes opened
I met my loved one
What a fate I have?
Her legs staggered
Eyes wet with tears
Puckered lips
I could not tolerate the marks of lashes on her body
Why can’t I look at her
Even when I see her?
I heard to her sobbing voice
Exhausted shies and gestures
The snow melted unnoticed
And she too disappeared
What an ill-fated person I am
Meeting my loved one!
A hot breeze blew the other day, as the Chipmunk Kid rode into Troll Lake Town.
He rode on the oldest, slowest steed, that I had ever seen, a Snail called Abilene.
He came a packing, with a six shooter acorn gun, riding low, for an easy draw.
Armadillo Billy The Sling Shot Kidster, was his intended target, you know, y’all.
Sheriff Bunny Garrett said, he’d shot Billy down, but the word had gotten round.
Billy was alive and in our town, so The Chipmunk Kid wanted him found, right now!
A meaner glare, had never been seen, as it slowly moved, around our town. Tho…
Something seemed amiss; perhaps it was his crossed eyes, and petulant frown.
Climbing down from his stead, he landed face down, in the snail slime of his stead,
On that fateful day, Billy solemnly shook his head, at the craziness of this strange Kid.
The Chipmunk Kid had moxie, but little else of praise or glory, I can honestly say.
For when we told him Billy was here, The Chipmunk Kid, then fainted straight away.
Not to mention, his snail stead, old Abilene, shied away, when this happened, too.
Now, he could have grabbed the reigns, for Abilene had only moved, an inch or two.
But the Chipmunk Kid was a bit flighty, you see, as he took his lasso from his side.
Before he was done he’d tied himself up, and Dear old Billy, couldn't help but smile.
Armadillo Billy knew he’d won in that minute, not having to fire a single slingshot.
That’s how, it should be done, he knew, after seeing what the Kid had wrought.
He was happy, to just once see, ALL come out alive, still knowing that he had won.
They became fast friends, with time, as he taught The Kid the true meaning, of life.
They had lots of time, you know, as Abilene, couldn't seem to make it out of town.
Poor old Abilene was winded, from extended travel to find our beloved, little town.
It turned out; he wasn't a snail after all, just a very confused and ancient old slug.
So, as you might have guessed, we did naturally make room, as we usually do…
Yes, for the illustrious Chipmunk Kid, and Abilene, his dear old slug.
I can't help but smile at the thought I'll be seeing you
Butterflies rise up in my stomach, possibly a whole zoo
You don't even know, how many times you crossed my mind
Walking to get a drink of water, I glare at you side by side
The dimples that rise in your cheeks, whenever your smiling
They deepen and flush into a mixture of pink clouds, blending
In class during tests, you sit right behind me and my hearts beating
Trying to act normal, and once it's done, I turn around and our eyes met
Quickly looking at the trophies of the shelves, pretending to look around
Your eyes were a bit moisty, you seemed so caring
And did I tell you that they're my favorite iris, and color of all times?
I felt so lost, I hope you know how much you're worth
It took me seven months to realize, all the snap shots in my mind
I can't help, but sit on the floor with the chair, from all of this and hide
The moment you gave the sweetest compliments
Well, your voice was like the whisper of the wind
Calm like the baby blue skies, clear
Sweet, like the simple things, hello
Going down the stairs, I see you catching up
But I hurry, embarrassed, walk slowly and pacefully
One step at a time, I wait for the special walk
And there you go, you take the opposite direction
I remember every single word you said
They're all in my mind, all in my head
You surprised me, by the weird things you say
Told me to wait, just wait and expected a hug
I remember the first one, and I couldn't reach you
You were whispering in class to your friend
Looking down, hair covered your face
You glared, and I shied away, in grace
is this that word, that rhymes with rush?
Starts with a c, and says "hush?"
It's raining, what to do
Time is passing, im fond of you
Hope it doesn't take too long
Oh no, it sounds like a song
hopefully this will all go away
it is wasting my time to stay
Was this skinny love
Or maybe just a dove?
I heard about God
In a church full of strangers
Who dutifully regurgitated words
Before enthusiastically adjourning to the bar.
I whispered to God
"Can you hear? Are you real?"
I opened my ears, expecting His reply
But my ears failed, like my memorized prayers.
I reached up to God
Desperate for the touch of His hand.
But it came back empty . . .
As empty, I thought, as my destiny, my future, my purpose.
I shouted at God
"Where is the Father I long for?
The One who doesn't hurt His children;
Who knows what it's like to be in pain, persecuted, alone?"
I surrendered to God.
I was silent, still, open.
He spoke to my heart, saying:
"At last, my child. Distraction is the enemy of relationship. Now we begin."
I walked with God.
Baby steps, falls, bruises.
Some ahead on the road laughed.
"Judgment is the enemy of growth," my Father said.
I shied from God.
"I don't belong here!
"I am not good enough to walk with you."
"And now, you are mine," and He took my place. "Arrogance is the enemy of love."
I trusted in God.
I walked on, striving to improve my gait.
Sometimes I fell behind, caught up . . .
Not seeking to advance beyond the
reach of those who were lost or fallen.
I thanked my God.
For a drop of forgiveness
In a life parched with guilt and shame.
I drank in His goodness, and hoped to overflow to a dehydrated world.
10/25/2015
Years have drifted by as I live by your memories to garner
Silently I quivered for your love, but shied to whisper
You lived in tumultuous ignorance of my passions dearer
The heedless winds blissfully enveloped you, leaving me lonelier
March 28, 2016
Contest: Love Without Hope
Sponsor : Sara Kendrick