Best Sleight Of Hand Poems


Premium Member Folly of Autumn's Fog

               A coloratura rises 
                          from the suede-edged shape 
                               as the gnarled grande dame
                                comes to light..    a vision 
                            draped in sweeping evergreen  
                        and a pale cape of kidskin haze -

                   a beguiling soprano in soft-
               focus fools the guileless sunrise 
         with a diva’s deception --
      for in the vaporous golden hour
    she can still be breathtaking

  the age of change
  is beclouded - softened
   in gray’s cashmere atmosphere 
    where blending and bending of
       over-ripened perceptions
           are smoothed with a dewy smudge.. 
               roughened boughs 
                   and litter-fall is obscured --
                       unless, you get up close

                            harsh lines become artfully coy 
                              in the bosom of the pearl mist;
                          a bedimmed dreamy blur of 
                   Impressionism masks her reality
          with the sleight of hand and a mockingbird’s aria


Susan Ashley
March 8, 2020


~ Third Place ~
Premiere Contest: Brian Strand Contest No 1183
Sponsor: Brian Strand


N/A
Contest: 2022 Poetry Marathon Mile 6
Sponsor: Mark Toney


*coloratura: runs, trills, and other florid decorations in vocal music.
A lyric soprano of high range who specializes in such music*

*aria: an elaborate melody sung solo*
Categories: sleight of hand, age, autumn, life, nature,
Form: Free verse

Quacking Crackers

Donald Duck Chancellor of this fowl kingdom 
wearing an upside down smile's raging hypocrite backwards 
this deranged Duck twitters to and fro as his unhinged subjects 
unwittingly applaud him onto a victory march that never appears equal 
except in his alternate universe of oneness 
 
Calamity Jane perchance is on the horizon 
while war looms close by this feather prides himself 
on his big show asking for a mirror to check his orange glow
he jokes and preens fading in and out so it would seem logical
tearing down all good morals he alienates with his constant magic escapades
 
 
Sleight of hand reflections move 
with this fake news it gets exposed
the big top rotates under an eclipsed lie
fire breathing condemning all those against his way
entering the arena for the next late show
 
Now Big Bird has been caught fibbing 
just when they thought everyone was safe
getting off the band wagon or so to speak
Just signing the pact with her feathered friend 
letting on they are getting on so well for the world to see buddies 
Almost joined at the hip like in their loyalty reigning over truth 
in this ungodly circus of the vainest sort
 
Where the funfair clowns abound
under fabrications an orangutan watches on 
beating his chest in an ape like manner and solid hands 
he has no way to express words
puffing and panting swaggers
living under thee umbrella protected from the truth’s influence
 
 
Alvin and his chipmunks sing the national anthem 
while the confederate flag waves goodbye over democracy
begins the three little pigs stages as they enter the building 
their houses from clay flamed with truth
ransomed for vanities sake no good ending can come

Earthquakes separate the earth
floods come with grave disaster  
hurricanes winds rise from the greatest source 
even this cannot deter or distract this awful Duck
one mission under a selfish chant of 
quack a doodle quack, quack a doodle quack, quack a doodle quack
which only translates to me 
only me, me only me, me only me!



a co written piece by Donna Loughman and Liam Mcdaid
Categories: sleight of hand, anger, conflict, fear, irony,
Form: Political Verse

Premium Member Quacking Crackers

Donald Duck Chancellor of this fowl kingdom 
wearing an upside down smile's raging hypocrite backwards 
this deranged Duck twitters to and fro as his unhinged subjects 
unwittingly applaud him onto a victory march that never appears equal 
except in his alternate universe of oneness 
 
Calamity Jane perchance is on the horizon 
while war looms close by this feathers pride himself 
on his big show asking for a mirror to check his orange glow
he jokes and preens fading in and out so it would seem logical
tearing down all good morals he alienates with his constant magic escapades
 
 
Sleight of hand reflections move 
with this fake news it gets exposed
the big top rotates under an eclipsed lie
fire breathing condemning all those against his way
entering the arena for the next late show
 
Now Big Bird has been caught fibbing 
just when they thought everyone was safe
getting off the band wagon or so to speak
Just signing the pact with her feathered friend 
letting on they are getting on so well for the world to see buddies 
Almost joined at the hip like in their loyalty reigning over truth 
in this ungodly circus of the vainest sort
 
Where the funfair clowns abound
under fabrications an orangutan watches on 
beating his chest in an ape like manner and solid hands 
he has no way to express words
puffing and panting swaggers
living under thee umbrella protected from the truth’s influence
 
 
Alvin and his chipmunks sing the national anthem 
while the confederate flag waves goodbye over democracy
begins the three little pigs stages as they enter the building 
their houses from clay flamed with truth
ransomed for vanities sake no good ending can come

Earthquakes separate the earth
floods come with grave disaster  
hurricanes winds rise from the greatest source 
even this cannot deter or distract this awful Duck
one mission under a selfish chant of 
quack a doodle quack, quack a doodle quack, quack a doodle quack
which only translates to me 
only me, me only me, me only me!



a co written piece by Donna Loughman and Liam McDaid
Categories: sleight of hand, abuse, betrayal, conflict, deep,
Form: Political Verse

Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry


That Sense of Being

What is this sense of being?

That I am, I have been, I will be-- is it a blessing 
to ever feel time's razor edge, gathering its moments in my
memory as a squirrel hoards its seeds and nuts for winter,
food I will eat when my youth has long since melted down?

Or is it a curse other animals are spared: to know that 
uncalled day will arrive, rudely, perhaps violently-- 
the one day we are bred to fear?

Yet for some unshared reason I have never feared that cold 
day, that day of burning ice--not as a child, when I sensed it
signaled a return to heaven's luxurious playground, nor as a 
young man when I thought dying to be no more than oblivion's mask.

Now I know death is only a sleight-of-hand, a party trick
of that great illusionist, Time, who is itself but a vapor, 
a wisp of smoke veiling eternity....
Categories: sleight of hand, allusion, angst, death, hope,
Form: Free verse

The Land of Legerdemain

Let's look to the land of Legerdemain
locale with surprises by sleight-of-hand.
Cards, coins, magic wands tax one's eyes and brain;
absorbed, we watch street performers grandstand.
Legerdemain - skullduggery pre-planned, 
audience rapt in magic so diverse 
assistants can pinch your wallet or purse.
True talent of prestidigitation 
would never aid legerdemain’s perverse
misuse of skillful manipulation.

March 22, 2020

entry in Beth Evans' Delightful Dizains
Categories: sleight of hand, 11th grade, magic,
Form: Dizain

Tis Simply Love

it moved on its own like electricity 

shimmering 
sparking in the wires
arcing light
or 
like air in my tires
...you rolled 

drove me
roved me with sleight of hand 
melt of my belts 

turn of the wheelhouse
you slid me to left
rocked me hard to right
dressed me 
cloaked me
in one single wild flower
you caressed me 
with silk
stole my manners...you left nothing of me 
I was the milk and honey
you drank 
grew tall and I small 
humbled before the tidal turquoise caverns 
deep trenches
rip tide pull

I am round as the supple pie
you lithe as stripped bark
my rings go round and ripple outward into the world
you satellite me 

I forever circle you
Categories: sleight of hand, love,
Form: Free verse


Prestidigitation

A zephyr blows
a warm kiss
on the back 
of my neck
conjuring desire;
serving Eros—
with sleight of hand:
a gift of flowers—
psyche succumbs.
Categories: sleight of hand, love,
Form: Free verse

Directions

conclusions drawn in crimson 
they're the hardest to erase
as is seeps from every pore
pooling on the tile like waste
I guess some would call it
a bitter aftertaste

it shrouds like a hooded cape
never quite fading away
it's there in all of my dreams
remaining here when I wake
gnawing like a critter
that is trying to satiate

is it all illusion?
a cruel magicians trick
a smoke and mirror side-show
the sleight of hand is quick
now you see it, then you don't 
one quick glimpse, before it goes
it's a double edged sword 
that I have fallen upon

it is the fickle hand of fate
and maybe it could be worse
the whole thing has me pondering
if I could have changed the course
hindsight is 20/20
you don't need glasses to see
it is hard to change directions
in the middle of what will be
© Jo Bien  Create an image from this poem.
Categories: sleight of hand, introspection, love
Form: Verse

Premium Member The Ballad of James 'Umbrella Jim' Miner

'Umbrella Jim' was the sneakiest scoundrel west of the Missisip'!
Usin' the shell game and sleight of hand, of yer purse he'd gyp.
He'd set up shop 'neath an umbrella whether inside or under an oak.
Usin' three thimbles and a ball he cleaned the jeans of many a bloke!
'Umbrella Jim' was a renown huckster as well as bein' quite witty.
He'd warm up his potential victims by singin' this delightful ditty:
"A little bit of fun now and then,
Is relished by the best of men!
Select yer shell!  The one you choose,
If right you win, if not, you lose!
But I'll warn ye, yer chances are mighty slim,
Of winnin' a prize from Umbrella Jim!"
'Twas his regular trade to deceive the eye with sleight of hand.
He was very adept at what he did and his every move was planned.
The fate of 'Umbrella Jim' as far as I can tell is unknown,
But I'd bet some sucker saw him hung from an oak, if truth be known!

Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
(c) 2014 All Rights Reserved
Categories: sleight of hand, humorous,
Form: Ballad

Premium Member Riverboat Gambler

He plied the Mississippi River on the paddle wheeler 'Dandy Dame'.
Gamblin' was his profession and three-card monte was his game.
He became very creative at palmin' that elusive ace of spades.
Such dexterity and sleight of hand he had practiced for decades!

He embarked in Saint Louis for a cruise to the town of New Orleans.
On his arm hung one of his gaudily dressed bordello 'queens'!
He wore diamond rings on each finger and impeccably tailored suits,
A homburg hat, pearl studs, gold-tipped cane and alligator boots!

He toted a concealed derringer just in the event there was trouble,
And he took a table near the door so he could lam on the double!
He ordered Jack Daniels bourbon for the dudes he was soon to con,
And sized up the naive and hapless victims who dared to take him on!

The gambler let others win a hand or so to make them feel at ease.
His shill closely watched as the gambler, his moment was to seize!
His winnin's piled up as bettors tried to locate the shiftin' ace.
Losers dropped out of the game and other suckers took their place!

One astute monte player saw the scam and called the gambler's hand.
He drew his forty-fours, chairs toppled and folks fled to beat the band!
The gambler drew his rod but he met his God, blood oozin' on the floor!
His sobbin' 'queen' clasped him to her breast to know his love no more!

Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved

Placed No. 2 in Paula Swanson's "Pick A Card, Any Card" Contest - Jun 2011
Categories: sleight of hand, funny
Form: Rhyme

Premium Member Energy's Suffocating Gallop

Energy’s Suffocating Gallop
                                  by Odin Roark

Ancient blood soaked sand
Plumes its sticky residue
Beneath rapacious hooves 

Dust storms of evil stampeding beside pipelines
Goad flow to tankers
Where ubiquitous black gold addiction 
Steers toward pervasive profit-docks  

Behind sweat lathered greed
Winds of historic baggage
Tether their historic words and song
Blessings and curses
Exciting swirling vortexes

Windmills of molten fire
Entitlement’s rape and pillage of breath
Of pores once absorbing purity
Evil’s global bubble
Appearing as mankind'

Robed in white zealotry
The blinded hawk-minds
Embrace the Middle East predatory contaminant
Wallowing in solipsistic riches forgotten
Awake only to pick tomorrow’s gluttonous prey

The world turns on turbine propulsion
With oceans bowing to its slavery
Delivering liquid smokestack suffocation
Silent killers preparing ghosts 
Of time’s new-century-plague 
Ignored

As oil gorged tankers find port  
Release their pandemic sleight of hand
A destruction as innocent as rabbits from a hat
Charms the ignorant
Beguiles the wannabes

Wheeled transport
Delivers the demise of children’s hearts
Left to take a number
Unaware there is no lottery
Only loser-consciousness 
Adult indulgence clinging desperately
To evil’s mane and tail
As it whips gullible eyes
Into cataract submission

Alien life hovers above
Grieving the minions destined
To find black energy’s ashen dust
Sprinkling its fool’s gold
Upon a barren planet
© Odin Roark  Create an image from this poem.
Categories: sleight of hand, political,
Form: Free verse

The Piano

Ebony and ivory, noted for sound,
Digital playback, sleight of hand.
Songsters echo, vibrant pound,
Upright, organ, cottage, grand.

Strings attached, taut with suspense,
The Master Key hammers home
Letters of note; chords of tense,
Past and present; timed metronome.

Naturally played with flat and sharp
Sweeping the board. Ayre of nonchalance.
Orchestral manoeuvres performed with harp
Brass and wind; counter balance.

Peddled depression, ayer lingers on 
Distant wave; caressed...pianissimo.
Emotive conductor, under the baton
Chorused voice harks, keyed to the piano.
Categories: sleight of hand, music,
Form: Light Verse

Strychnine Chameleon

The Strychnine Chameleon

Such playful things 
My playful dreams
Bananafishbones
And wild mood swings
So strange is behind me 
And strange is my place
Laughs screaming so LOUD
I fell far from Grace

  Strychnine Chameleon
Designed so unique
Laughs screaming LOUDER
I’m fearing my fate 
Love~ lies to leave me
Despised turned to hate
Laughs even LOUDER
So dark in my mind
Crisscross me chaos
It’s me I can’t find
Death comes then leaves me
So painstaking, what made it?
Cynic of colors

~This pain, “I CAN’T TAKE IT!!!”

  Strychnine Chameleon
The needle in my vein
So vain
I’m only happy when it rains
My reign
So tragic how it all began!
Wicked I stand
Arm raised
I solute
My god praised
Filth
Repute

  Strychnine Chameleon
Black and death are my soul
Sick in my taste
So sick in my hole
Suffering upside down
And suffering for more

My misery
The penetration of my agony
No death does part
Bleed me all
In treachery
Bleed me all
Eternity

So
Give me you
And suffer me

Sacrifice
This soul of mine
Consequence
In this world of mine
Judgment comes
No tomorrow’s mine

With sleight of hand
Why doesn’t panic set in?

“WHY DOESN’T PANIC SET IN!!!”

With these pictures of you
Why doesn’t my easel set true?

It isn’t enough for me to love~
Categories: sleight of hand, addiction, drug, gothic, grief,
Form: Dramatic Monologue

Maximus Parthas the Word Wizard

Man you a wizard warlocking written to spellbinding spoken word.
Jargoning prolific prophetic like the bible real truth.
I'm xeroxing you so x-ray this diagonally
Awe inspired me like Edgar Allan Poetically
Your magic wand sleight of hand transform to a mic.
Hand quicker than the eye trick.
You the spoken word godfather -  whose
Hawking pen spit out
A magical abracadabra mouthpiece
Poetic secretions flowing from heaven
From page to the stage
A hocus pocus Houdini spoken word escape
Unlocked the handcuffs of the page
True illusionist of poetic illusions brought me to this conclusion.
Categories: sleight of hand, inspirationalme, spoken word,
Form: Acrostic

From Where I Stand

From Where I Stand


(A take on Romeo and Juliet)

The fates of time were too unkind 
You left the little girl behind 
Too long the passage time cannot heal 
We play the cards the gods do deal 

Yet still you are so young and beautiful 
And I love you so, your lips of cherry wine 
Your eyes that doth shine 
Shame the stars that glow 

If sleight of hand or trick of sight 
Could have brought their love to light, 
So many long years ago 
Into the river of love they’d flow 

The water’s pure would take our love 
Then reflect on these years we didn’t share 
Worth the wait you’re everything I adore 
So take this heart I offer to you 

Their minds and hearts entwined as one 
To finish what their love begun 
To dance the dance that lovers do 
You with me and I with you. 

Fate did find, eyes and arms satisfied
With your angelic smile your gentle touch 
Your kiss so tenderly I plea, never set me free, 
And you’ll forever be young and beautiful to me!

© Harry J Horsman © Mandy Tams 2016
Copyright © 2016 harry horsman
Categories: sleight of hand, lost love,
Form: Free verse
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