Best Somberly Poems
~
Clouded skies somberly cascade
upon motionless vistas,
floating unrehearsed melancholy hues
where muted feelings roam
on an autumn morning echoing
a weary winter dream
I sit beneath a weeping willow’s
unhurried leaves fluttering
like silent wind chimes,
quietly pacing unheard melodies,
as dandelions seek the sun now
merely an absent reflection in my own tears
And I reminisce of the days when
magnolia petals were our sunrise,
sweetly scenting the virginal dawn
in soft aromatic whispers,
lazily lingering upon our skin
when your smile was my every morning
Now I wait below wilting branches,
listless arches desperately reaching
but never touching the ground,
allowing desolate thoughts to wallow
as the soft earth reclaims me
from an infinite finale in gray
~
Inspired by Sandra Adams poem Crimson Tears
Categories:
somberly, dark, sad,
Form:
Free verse
A welcome sight the lights ahead - like misty globules on ink black foam
The billboard elicits a sense of foreboding - Welcome to the Midnight Bazaar
A lack luster moon adds to the mystery – nervously I enter to ask my way home
A familiar song plays in the somewhere, the name eludes me - how bizarre
Somberly dressed people scurry past- eyes focused on illuminated screens
Refusing contact, shoving past rudely as I ask where this place would be
One of them in riddles tells me - this is home - the place to be it seems
I wonder if the scales of reality have tipped in favor of insanity
A stall arouses my curiosity and I look as a butcher of sorts places
Bleeding hearts getting desired effect - starts a pushing jostling frenzy
Uninterested in the clowns on stilts with their painted morbid faces
Children walk with sullen looks - expressionless eyes that fail to see
Crowds clamor to buy sea food - how absurd - especially as a smell of decay prevails
Fresh produce on sale with dyed color bleeding and truffles of mud is there something amiss
A man wanders around with passports on offer - Buy yourself a Life - his sign displays
Relief at last - a stall with books and maps – here is my escape from this tainted Abyss
This God forsaken place is not where I wish to stay
And I must strive to leave it before the light of day
An exorbitant sum I pay eager to escape his cloying breath, his black toothed smile
A commotion at the far end - some sort of bidding - curiously I venture courage giving me wings
A sign proclaims ‘Souls For Sale’- in rage I scream ‘you cannot sell souls - This is so Vile ‘
Dark soulless eyes in chalk white faces – Bore right through me – Look right through me
I run screaming, falling, clawing the map that shows all roads lead back to this Hell - I scream
Waking myself - knowing the name of that song still in my head - Shaking from this macabre dream
Footnote:
This was not meant to be a pretty poem. It exaggerates the state of a world that has seemingly lost its focus and empathy. Let's not let this happen
Take a bit of Dean Kontz, Stephen King and the unnatural things going on with food enhancements and you have the stage set for a macabre nightmare!
Categories:
somberly, dark, dream, fear, scary,
Form:
Dramatic Verse
A dry and barren moat
around historic tower, London’s pride
for many years in restful dormant mood
dreaming of days gone by
when swords clashed and armour creaked;
the yells and screams of battle filled the air.
Testament of courage and pain;
did those who fought there die in vain?
A dry and barren moat
now back to life to mark Remembrance Day
with a gushing flow of poppies dressed in red
reflecting thoughts of Flanders.
Who dedicates these scarlet blooms,
to souls that rest in earthen tombs?
A dry and barren moat
its open bleeding heart that drips with recollections
of destructive devastation and needless deaths.
Governments rise only to fall;
cries still trapped in the tower's wall.
A dry and barren moat
where visitors now see the red carpet
in place to praise bravery.
Haven't families of lost soldiers
earned a red carpet too?
Let them saunter somberly
above the moat, across the fields.
Such is the costly price of war;
buried loved ones we'll see no more.
A dry and barren moat
encases the historic tower,
a silhouette reminder at sunset
that no one wins a war.
A lone bugle plays taps;
it resounds through the crisp air.
A sad family walks away,
leaving tears on a floral spray.
---------------------------------------------------
Paul Callus & Carolyn Devonshire (Nov. 2014)
Categories:
somberly, remembrance day, war,
Form:
Free verse
Shedding Feathers
One by Two
By Two and Three
And Three keeps shedding
because there is more,
Divine Feathers
which held and defined His soul.
He let them be White,
Paper White,
but proud as a Knight,
fighting enemies and Holy battles
on a destrier with a saddle.
He let himself be unconquered,
His Soul intact.
Many brawls and fights won
though corroding shield and armor,
a warrior with no starmer
and no history,
no claim.
Lest those feathers shed,
which claimed his immortality,
from slight gray to slate
they precariously turned.
'Here are feathers'
he somberly called his
Dear Friends,
fledging each one.
'Let me come down and drink
and give alms.
I'll soil myself and shed my feathers.'
he roared
while his friends cheered.
'I give thee my own soul'
he said almost passing out,
'to which one and two i hope you do enjoy.
My Plumage is with me No More
but forever with you evermore.'
Categories:
somberly, fantasy, imagination, introspection, peopleme,
Form:
Written: May 2nd, 2024
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quixotic quest quiddity
As dusk sapidity emerges,
Casting a shadow
Weeping waves smash
in foamy scatters;
seraphic strophic sojourn
groans in a gossamer gaunt
Arid shadows fade.
In a hazy blur,
emptiness lingers.
Shorebirds console each other.
in epicedes of
velvety whispers
and elusive sighs.
Horizon amid
cinereous graffiti of
tear-stained threnody and
raven blooms.
It breaks my heart, too
with crimson, auric, and
plum, plum, purple wings,
why haven't you
returned
to me in spring?
to our moon-smeared love
& diaphanous elixir
amethyst kisses of
emerald ablaze,
spiraling in seductive
sapphire scarlet sounds,
Your love, a fiery flow
Flames aflame,
with gemstones aglow.
Dark ideas settle in
my head is akin to
a tombstone,
Obstructing—my judgment
early hours are lost
in the fog,
their significance dimmed
I succumb to allure
of nightfall and
I shut my eyes.
Acquiesce to inquiry
in heaven, each flower
boasts a mirror
to inveigle into each valley,
Beneath a sky of
countless clouds;
quaint lodge stands out,
surrounded
by a myriad of
shimmering ponds
capture a vast expanse
of coastlines.
Uncharted shores,
where vessels veered
toward vast seas,
untrodden by any praxis
As twilight falls,
coastlines curve in a crescendo
across horizon.
Cloaking hill peaks in mist.
loquacious verbosity
recognized in wisdom
beyond spectrum of
circumlocution.
In a flurry of
fading flowers,
faith-filled fields, &
fugacious felicity.
Snare drum rotunda
somberly chimes
within a forest,
Its dulcet echos rhyme.
We've wandered down
curious trails
basking in the sun
warm embrace;
In depths of shadows,
We've sought with fear,
an ambient arena,
vast and near.
Unveiling a shore infinite,
In an abyss where
every heart resides.
With its boundless skies
Categories:
somberly, inspirational, love, nostalgia,
Form:
Free verse
Escaped! furtive glances
Manifest of enchanted trances
Arrested by crimson faces averted
Too soon, too soon, they'd flirted
The air yearned with sensation
Surreptitious, delicious anticipation
Peering deeply into each other's eyes
Too soon, too soon, they'd rhapsodized
Tilted heads on swooning necks
Lips toward targets puckered, flexed
The moment arrived, two souls to merge
Too soon, too soon, they'd felt the urge...
Somberly returned, Cupid's bent arrow to its quiver
Too soon, too soon, murmured love's melancholy river
Categories:
somberly, innocence, lost love, sad,
Form:
Rhyme
I can see you through your hell.
Heaven doth mock you until you spill.
Just like old friends,
Hand in hand,
We bled.
Tame the shrew,
Untouched by filth
And rob her as she shrills.
All the while,
I’m spiraling
A disease that makes everything unwell,
Smiling through the kinks,
You undyingly dwell.
What’s an angel to do
When no one can love you?
Why does it have to be this way?
Clouds pass thee hence,
Dark neighboring expense;
Why are you this way?
Master you will...
Pay me through your blood lead dense.
Does it weigh you down today?
You’ll find a perfect place to go
Where you can die.
Ash torn ember will be your grave.
Judgment hath remembered how far you’ve gone,
A distance,
Unwarily unsought,
Somberly carried;
It’s with one last message I leave you….
Suffer and weary.
.
Categories:
somberly, angst, death,
Form:
As the moon and sun share the fabric of a fading song of ancient blues
a ceremony of torch light identity ensues
chieftains in regalia of royal feather headdresses and mantles of warrior mania
approach the flagstaff that Clark and I stand under with a procession
of musicians clad in the symbols of their souls
playing instruments that speak the language of their knowledge,
after being bedazzled by the brute majesty of the music and pomp
our men give gifts of tobacco carrots, knives, beads and small bells,
chiefs Wueche and Arcawechar tap both of my shoulders
with their ceremonial spears, a gesture of friendship and blessing
after which we toast to the fortune of patient eyes with a dram of whiskey,
my elocution of America's intentions and jurisdiction
is delivered with sincerity and alacrity just as an eagle protects it's range
and with the wit and instincts of a wolf Chief Wueche
agrees with the terms of allegiance but also admonishes us
not only of the pirates of the Plains,
but that supremacy is the child of wrath for the natives
especially for the dominant tribe of the Sioux Nation, the Teton,
he seems to somberly realize that his Yankton people
must either become a weapon of America's war machine, or be destroyed by it,
J.A.B.
Categories:
somberly, america,
Form:
Epic
crumpled scriptures, idolized whores, broken down doors, decayed floors;
it is doubtful Jesus planned on this when he bought Moses ten commandments from the local convenient store
no, I believe he wanted something more
but the Devil said, "To Hell with it, burn it to the core"
as he sent his evil regime to ruin the American dream..
now we’re left asking, “Where are you, Lord?”
meteors dropping towards us like pop-stars keeling over, no luck found; leprechauns must have grabbed all the four leaf clovers
chased the rainbow in a trance pace 'till there was no more rainbow to chase
and just like chasing the dragon I will somberly stumble while dragging on ‘till even the dragon itself is gone and in the end..
no improvement was made, just burning away in hot flames even with the earth’s surface for shade..
COMMENTS AND THOUGHTS ARE MORE THAN WELCOME, THANKS!
Categories:
somberly, imagery, religious, simile,
Form:
Free verse
The night was black , thunder boomed and lightening cracked
The earth shook with mighty groans as I watched
And I did moan as the animals headed for home
I walked somberly thru the night , reflections of my soul showed bright
My soul reflected the darkest light , the perfect reflection of the night
Something shook, struggling to appear, violence stirred from deep within
Showing the permanent scars from youthful kin
I shook with rage while it did linger until it passed with unflinching lies out thru my fingers
I sat and cried till all was revoked
Then I listened to inner thoughts and finally spoke
I cried unto the heavens amidst my fears and many pleas
I tried and tried but they didn’t hear, nor cared that I cried
The layers too deep, the skin too thick and unable to attain
It was of no use , it was all in vain
To enlighten the darkest moments I hid behind my veils while I got old
Then fearing at last it was to no avail
I was rewarded with a light , a bright white light , as bright as can prevail
Forty years I did wander , a soul lost in harsh abandon
Reflections did appear spotted with blight ,and dark as in a deep dreadful night
Perversion , evasion , all the tiny tears cemented the cracks of personal use
Till I could hold no more and asked the heavens to keep me safe , secure in earthly womb
I cared no longer for the vague twilight
Twice I rose and twice I fell
Failed beyond measure and all the rest of the jails , till at last love prevailed
Gone the struggles, gone the pain
Yet sometimes memories still prevailed
A hope, a star shining bright, a pure white burning light
Seen from afar the beginning , the end ,my life, my home
I will not rest till I attain the sweet victorious refrain in my poem
Categories:
somberly, mystery, night, light, light,
Form:
“Anna, put on the shoes your dad gave you.” I obeyed.
He had given them to me for my birthday before he
Was taken away. I haven’t seen him since that day.
But, mom tells us that we’ll see him again someday.
Melancholy had masked my mom’s face all morning.
My brother and sister sat on their bunks with sorrow.
It began to run and grow down their pale pastel cheeks
As mom somberly told them…
“Your sister and I are going away, promise me you’ll
brush your teeth and always pray. Peter, you take care
of your sister, you’re the man of the house now. It’s not
that bad, oh my beautiful babies—don’t be sad. I love you!”
“Let’s go!” as the guard pushed me and my mom. She picked
me up and placed me in her arms then harmoniously
hummed my favorite bedtime song. Then, we walked into a chamber.
She said “Close your eyes” and that’s the last thing I remember.
Submitted for Abe’s “Leather Voices” contest
Categories:
somberly, history, loss, sad, warmom,
Form:
Free verse
Decades have clocked past since we were capped by roof
As you take your children down the history without and in us
We fondly and times somberly reminisce with you
When it was just dad, mum and three carefree children
Now we hold faces of ten -
Mature features of the kids parented within us
How we miss the innocent shrieks of month-olds
The laughter and playful nature your siblings and you shared
Phases changed, wrinkles formed, and one by one, bid bye
The hollow you guys left still is ocean deep
Your occasional visits became occasional fills
You talk of mum’s discipline that we know too well;
That she would become this soft someday, we too couldn't have guessed
How your eyes brighten as you elaborate her nightly stitch work!
To testify we can – her now cracking joints are fruits of care, hard at work then
You fondly recall father’s silent ways of achievement,
How he taught not through words but by action
We sigh with you to shake off miss’s hard grasp
Feeling your deep regret that not you all, could be as him
The green, brown, gray, yellow hues as well, we picture
Yes, you did drag your feet to the fields before sun said hi
Yet beams you all were when “healthy colors” repaid your hard toil on the soil
How sad those glorious seasons come by rarely
Memory of the first grandchild is a treasure
The dozens more, we call them blessings
Great grandchildren, how they rejuvenate us with their plays!
Your older sibling would have loved these moments
History’s trickle has to come to a halt, as responsibilities call
With the farewells, loneliness is ushered, but hey…that’s just life
We remain standing, gazing with you at the fading figures of your loved ones
Glad for your presence and hopefully awaiting another visit
To go down this inexhaustible memory lane
©GraceM Composition
Contest:4 Walls (by CT)
Categories:
somberly, family, imagination,
Form:
Personification
Autumn breezes signal October's arrival
with windswept revelry they blow.
Golden leaves, like confetti, flutter aground.
Bare maples stand, and at their feet a carpet,
emblazoned in russet, amber, and crimson.
October offers bountiful treasures from the earth
Fields and meadows are ready for harvest,
nourished by Summer's afternoon's of soft rain
and a wealth of sunlight's warming rays.
Orchards have matured with fruits ripe for picking.
Gifts from God in plentitude to sustain human life.
Oh, how October dances until her cheeks blush
with beauty glowing in golden highlights on hills
and in the sheen of aubergine mountains at sunset.
Autumn's queen wears a crown of silken threads
from spider webs in her dew kissed hair, and a gown
woven from a myriad of colors in her twilight skies.
I walked among October's lustrous glory
then leaned upon a stone wall to catch my breath.
I heard the rustling of wind-blown leaves
as though they were murmuring a sad farewell.
My heart was burdened with funereal regret,
but October hushed me with a lyrical breeze,
"Do not mourn. There's a reason they've fallen."
I dared not question Autumn's melodious voice,
but at the wake of dying leaves, alone I somberly sat
until darkness shrouded them from my sight.
October 4, 2021
October Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Regina McIntosh
Categories:
somberly, october,
Form:
Free verse
I would often hear my parents somberly recall
That fateful December that changed it all
The morning was Sunday, ....a day of rest
They were getting ready for church, wearing their Sunday best
The radio was playing Glenn Miller's "In The Mood"
There was a sudden interruption of the peaceful interlude
Although war had been brewing on distant shores
This day was beginning, just as all the others before
The sea was calm and the sun was shining
The trees were waving, and the roses were climbing
Hawaii was awakening, and the morning was calm
Unaware that devastation would arrive with the dawn
From out of the clouds, like a flock of birds
Hunting the prey, not a word....not a word.....
From the sky they appeared, those hawks in the air
Planes diving low,....then bombing everywhere
The sign of a sun, creeping in on death's wing
Ships in the harbor...became graveyards so obscene
Men sleeping in their beds, woke up to a hell
The winds of war would last till the last survivor fell
War has blackened peace on earth, a shameful violent path
History keeps repeating with each twisted vengeful wrath
My parents listened carefully to Roosevelt's chosen words
And prayed for hope, that as I grew, that words of war would be unheard
Categories:
somberly, day, morning, parents, war,
Form:
Rhyme
Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Heartache is my name that you somberly call.
Friends are quick to say, “This too shall pass…”
But they can’t see my heart is shattered glass.
Categories:
somberly, angst, betrayal, break up,
Form:
Rhyme