Best Spars Poems
~ This poem is written in the 8686 syllable count style of one of my favorite Emily Dickenson poems, 'I Felt a Funeral in My Brain.'
'pon roiling sea a fierce storm brewed
waves crashed within my veins
fueled by heady winds, they pursued
to drown my life with rains
With tympani beat, thunder roared
bold lightning flicked and flashed
we pulled, we pulled, oh how we oared
with nature's ire we clashed
Then came a clamor from astern
our ship had split in two
in my veins, swells still pound and churn
until the moon breaks through
Calmed now, the vile tempest from Hell
sky riveted with stars
Man holds no power to dispel
nature's wrath when she spars
~ For Chris
Categories:
spars, nature, storm,
Form:
Rhyme
I have from the earth grown pumpkins
Pregnant with a golden lust for words
And scattered seeds white as stars
Across the long green of desire. Birds
Have left wing loops in my brains, spars
Featherless in the wind for me to sail
But never did I want to be persuaded
For what are our horizons but sweet myths
One flight beyond dream left me jaded.
Words tell such lies sometimes, time sits
In the uterus of its design, being nothing
But memory chasing its ghosts like kites.
Yet I am addicted to the thing like spring
The white mounds melting into green sight
And all the places I want to walk with you
And hold your caress in my fingers love
And drink the melon till we are drunk.
Indeed, better to dream of cataract moons
For all you will tell me
Is ancient medicines in modern spoons
"Farm the earth, the skies, the stars just so
"You'll be persuaded ..."
What vanity of icicles dripping sunshine
From the rainbow's heart. What blind
Ecstatic before the season of beauty ...
Categories:
spars, fantasy, on writing and
Form:
Free verse
SENSITIVITY
They’re all ignored by us, but they have feelings too :
A black gravestone in New York, down in the world,
Recalling its halcyon days as a part of
The impressive strata at Palisades Park.
The statue in the museum of Androcles and the Lion
Daydreaming - oh, for the good old days just lying sunbaked
On the beach surrounded by
Fossil shells and shrimp at Sables d’ Olonne,
With the feet of the famous resting gently on you.
And the marble fireplace in our living room -
He can still see in his mind’s eye
The Carrara quarries in bygone days…..
Why, some of his great-grand-daddies were
Hacked out of there and taken to Rome for the Via Appia.
Oh yes, stones have feelings too.
My carved ship-of-the-line from Nelson’s navy
With her masts and spars and decks and cabins
Lies awake at night thinking of her days
In the pine forests of Norway; and next to her
This old cedar jewellery box, with intoxicating
Smells of the coast at Prince Rupert
Where she lay on the beach for weeks
Before the saw mill changed her shape and sent her to me.
The new sapele door in our hall spends hours
Wishing for his buddies in the jungles of Uganda
Where the ants would tickle you
Half to death with their constant scurrying
Up and down your branches, building this or that.
Listen closely and he’ll boast that some
of his relatives ended their days as propellers
on German zeppelins, I kid you not.
Everyone has to feel special.
And what about those unassuming steel forks in my drawer
who can still tell stories
Of their days as iron ore in Finland,
And how their brother Ernie became
A bumper on the President’s limo (supposedly).
Or my wife’s copper bracelets with their pathetic tales
Of being shipped from Cyprus
and remelted into ingots in Bimingham.
I have overheard the wings of a 747
Recollecting in the hangars at night
How their existence as bauxite in Jamaica was so idyllic,
“Wit all dat reggae and smokin’ and god knows what, man.”
They too have their memories.
And, man, de smell in dat hangar!
Categories:
spars, funnynight, old, beach, feelings,
Form:
Free verse
" Ship of Doom "
Ship of doom so sailed to sea ~
Dark her course... 'twas meant to be ~
Into seas this great ship sped ~
Her past... her history... of naught but dread ~
O'er those waves her bows did'st cleave ~
Her memories... but silken webs to weave ~
Thunder on her decks was heard ~
Yet sailors aboard spake no word ~
For ship such as she was doomed thus so~
Gone north into winds then fierce a'blow ~
Down her bows crept steadily then ~
None to know which verse thus then ~
For rime was abound on her decks those days ~
Yet aloft was fire seen from her stays ~
Off afar from crow's nest was hailed ~
As below in her belly that crew did bail ~
For her planks ridden with dark worm & rot ~
Such ship did'st sail from whence known not ~
Far corner o'globe she ran from ever ~
Home her port seen oft yet never ~
Equator her line of happenchance ~
Capricorn her thought yet not her stance ~
Now she sails a spars a'glisten ~
A'deck her men all a'listen ~
Now speaks thus such sorrowful ship ~
With voice akin to crackin' o'whip ~
Hail! Ye Lads.... heartily all ~
Sail we've had & such so a'ball ~
Now deep down Davy Jones' way ~
I'm thus bound this cold north day ~
My sprit I drive now into next wave ~
Darkness & silence I do now crave ~
Gone from me now pleazure o'sound aloft ~
For me hull is naught but now gone soft ~
I'll seek that bottom at sea's very depths ~
Were there I'll find my wager thus kept ~
With devil I’ve played throughout these years ~
Now I’ll so lay to rest all such fears ~
Sail with me now lads & lasses bold all ~
Into realms which di'dst us then enthrall ~
Gone only now our fine spark & fire ~
Quenched so by life's sodden quagmire ~
Off now go we & heads look a'forard ~
To see what 'twas behind & now not toward ~
Rocks... reefs... depth’s sandy shoals ~
These so now our woe begotten goals ~
So to break up these planks hath caused me to live ~
For as ship o'the main I was once known to give ~
Now all such gone with wild sea's winds ~
As now my time... mirrors death's sins ~
Down down down do I speed ~
In need o'sleep... dark do I need ~
Run now quickly from my decks so I say ~
Or with me in devil's depths ye shall play ~
Bouzouki in hand I now last am at rest ~
For with song always I have been best ~
Tsifteteli my dance so join me now so ~
For life is naught that which e'er we'll know ~
SeaWolf
©
Categories:
spars, adventure, me, dark, fire,
Form:
Rhyme
On par to manage joyful course
Approach to live without remorse
While dictums of insanity
Are grinding spars impaling me
Perchance to light upon derail
The most melodic harmony
The rest express to no avail
Irrelevant profanity
Experience of life prevails
Experience no sailing smooth
Pause to enjoy a hilltop fair
The valley comes, despair resumes
Categories:
spars, angst,
Form:
Rhyme
Never, always, sometimes, have I scorned your love so
Dear, sometimes, always, never, I caused you brackish tear
When glow’s pale moon-bow’s crescent, upon the altar rocks,
We rest by surging water, where grayling’s gadfly hops
And never, always, sometimes, have you held my beating heart,
In hands that crafted future, love-born from river’s lark
But now the failing sunset, bids bye to never-years, while sometimes
Through our always, a slipping tongue quick sears;
And should the morn bring cloud and rain, where sunshine spars
With rooks, my jail dear lies within you, while I the eager crooks
Categories:
spars, devotion, longing, love,
Form:
Verse
Cap'n & the Wench *part the fifth*
Says the Wench to the Cap'n " We'll dabble in Real Estate!"
So says the Cap'n to the Wench " 'Twould seem 'tis our Fate!
As Tales are often Told from Time to Time & Again~
So doth it go twixt Wenches & those very Bold Men~
This Great Saga of the Cap'n & that Wench so Very Dear~
Had been begun then to continue Year after ever Year~
But all Sailors well know if'n they've oft Smartly Tacked~
Yer in Irons fer certain if'n yer Royals are Backed~
Makin' speed astern would allow such One chance to Box~
Mindin' Gales gone a'lee creatin' Naught but Fear~
Only a keen SeaWolf might again Sail as would the Fox~
All surely believin' his Great Ship could naught but Wear~
'Twould be a course destined by Fate were the Helm hard a'Lee~
Maidens of the Depths gatherin' as Winds did'st now Howl~
Yet t'was a plot laid by SeaWolf as his heart Set him Free~
For Great Winds & Waves now did'st appear & Truly Growl~
From Deep Down under this Tormented Surface~
Came now to the ears of all Those now Enraged~
Softly with Empathy & Fanciful Purpose~
Silent Sounds heard well ~ all distinct Reason had Swayed~
Lee Rail's buried beneath Wind Torn Sea~
Gale a Howlin' thru the Riggin' & Spars~
From SeaWolf nary a word nor any Certain Plea~
His Eyes & that 'sprit a'fixed on Far Stars~
This Tale oft whispered in Taverns & Pits.......
Ye'll hear it fer certain Bit by little Bit.....
Pay Heed to Lessons Learned thus Herein.....
'Twere it to be Pleazure in life yer Truly to Win~
For Never Again Will Be Seen that Great Ship at Sea~
Only possibly for some who truly Set themselves Free~
In Dream Foggy Nights fiesty with Calm Swells~
Listen Well off in the distance for that Great Ships Bell!
SeaWolf
©
Categories:
spars, adventure, girlfriend-boyfriend, history, romance,
Form:
Ballad
"Damn Bird"
All the King's Corsairs & Grand Sailors them all!
Went to winds in efforts enthralled~
Ken o'lone sailor whot's ayre so then gone~
Nay naught e'er whot's seen any day's dawn~
For once they did'st sail seas then so steep~
Naught o'fear o'anywhot's ayre 'er deep~
& the corsair's king has gone off to sleep~
Arrrrggh...then did'st a'come a'thunder & gale~
Off far away from a distance seen her sail~
Sloop sleek & stealth by her wake~
Hard into harbour fast did she make~
'Round embattlements under cannons hard roar~
O'er her topmast that damned bird did soar~
Eye at meown & hard as cobalt~
As if it all were meveryown fault!~
Now did'st damn bird aloft at me back~
Find in me mainsheet a tad o'such slack~
As to lay 'er booms wind'ard & set all a'back~
A'baft shall we then ride as one with a tide~
Blown 'ard fer lee shore & set to 'er rail~
Damn 'er foine line settles well in tall swell~
Cut now merry little sloop o'er those waves~
Fer damned if ya don't ye be a landsman & knave~
Begone silly bird yer toime 'as run through~
Such glass as ye know 'tis known but by few~
For all such 'as sailed seven seas~
E'er 'er tantrums & fury to please~
For all then they whot's e'er a'sea~
Such sea whot they didst tease~
Nay~Nay~ Off with ye now~
Damned bird 'overin' at me bow!
Ne'er ne'er shall a day be again~
Whot ayre me 'ad call any damn bird me friend~
Feathers whot 'as all they got good~
Better yet whot's ayre them's all but food~
Off'n me rigging damn bird ye drat~
Off'n me spars whot 'ave ye that~
Out from me cabin & away from me bow~
Out or I'll be a'chasin' ye now~
Woe be damn day whot brung such a bird~
Not ne'er o'such 'ad e'er been 'eard~
Chewin' me spars & flailin' me lines~
All round me boat & under me chines~
Where be me wind to blow off this beast~
When does me waves take away this tiny feast~
Send me a monster of feathery touch~
If'n me 'as to be put up with such~
Off damn bird & outta me 'air~
Out with ye now I'll give ye a scare~
Fly like an Eagle so ye say ye do~
Ne'er no Eagle were that which ye knew~
SeaWolf
©
Categories:
spars, adventure, animal, me, bird,
Form:
Rhyme
A squinting eye peers through a lens.
Far down the aisle, a tri-pod bends around bouquets,
to snap the file of wedding guests,
dressed sublime, in summer's finest
who now arrive to share the day
Her older brother, winks a smile, and in his eyes
a warm embrace. The moment comes and he will play
a trace of Bach, on his guitar
Her youngest sibling sings along, and thinks
of spars, high jinks, and pranks, her laughing face
that sparked their childhood bond
Her father ponders her first bike
mosquito bites, her freckles and a scabby knee
A fortress, high, among the trees
where a princess climbed, to castles, fair
where songbirds watched from cradled nests, above her braided hair
He'd turn the world from end to end
to spin her back to then again, .....but that was then....
...and this is now...he must now release her hand, somehow...
And through my tears, a child I bore, is dressed in white
She'll soon unite, ...her knight awaits
Their eyes are bright with confidence
For just this once, if time could grant a moment's grace
to freeze this moment, time and place...
He waits for her. She lights a smile......
Her satin slippers walk the aisle
He lifts a veil and they are more
than who they were before
~
____________________________________________________
Inspired by Craig's Contest:" A Collage Held Dear" 10/2/13
Categories:
spars, daughter, family, love, memory,
Form:
Free verse
You gaudy stars do not get giddy when I grieve
Nor wrest through clouds to melt this darkness
That so befits what logics to your destiny weave
For all dreams, and all theories prove finiteness
Where death draws the line,
And purposes find terminus
And we a quick, withered gust
To its vexing carnal fate resign
While amoeba dares the boundary we cannot pass
And earthworms wallow above our graves in grass.
O Tanya, I would talk to God for you, and ask him
Why you had to be murgered in your youth, I may
But cannot tell which way your feelings, it is a dim
Realm without news, and you may there, rather stay
Where security bars do not fail
For murderers and murdered, keep
Alike the common pillow of sleep
And nothing changes where prevail
Death upon soul. But what rightt even then that you
Should one day keep company with murderers too?
It was the Sabbath, and all the angels that around us
Share the worship of our hearts, how did they Lot alone
Beheld in peril, did they not hear and join your chorus?
Since stars are only burning gas, and not jewelled stone
What other myth of man must fall
What other thing have I now to know
That misplaced faith may bring no woe
When sorrows chain the back to wall
Take them all, Lord, except the truth of your soon coming
No other hope is left when earth about us begins crumbling.
ii
Tonight the light left the stars
Ashrouded in dark veils of sorrow
Neglecting callous clouds, and spars
Yearning against damocles tomorrow,
Agrieved my heart for a young life lost
Lady woman, I conjure her majesty
Orchid unseared by sun or frost
Winnowed and wilted by a tragic end
Earthly fragrance flood heaven again
Farewell, sweet teacher, hush to sleep
Anthems from your voice hold memory
Resplendant while yet bereft we weep
Evincing faith in the cold claws of misery
Well you made your example yesterday
Elusive mortality, how you discomfit us
Levelling us in our glory to common dust
Litany now, ye angels, bring Christ and his day.
Categories:
spars, death, faith, may, stars,
Form:
Elegy
" WildWind "
This wind does howl with glee it so seems~
'Cross me bows & alongst me beams~
Wild abandon seems so such her realm~
Challengin' now to stand fast at me helm~
Aaarrrgh! Says me to this wind o'wild sea~
Drat yer random gusts & whirls gallantly~
Sail we will through & through such you send~
Our sails & spars you're tempted to rend~
HarHo! We go! Wild as yourself~
Faster than even a mighty winged elf~
For so you now see we do love such a glee~
As that which is given by wind & wild sea~
Down blue waves & up to white clouds~
Such whirlin' wind as does shake back our shrouds~
Yet stand fast we shall & hold her helm well~
That all must hear just one great ship's bell~
For 'tis true upon blue & oceans so grand~
Such as found now may be ne'er o'land~
Only 'twas that which had us a'fright~
'Twas thought o'sailin' seas we ne'er might~
Now we feel your grand tempest abate~
What so then did you thus create~
Naught but a shiver at back o'me neck~
Blow again wildwind~ Blow 'cross me deck~
SeaWolf
©
Categories:
spars, adventure, me, blue, me,
Form:
Rhyme
Eyes wide open flourish reason,
battle yet is not something thou deed;
yet a subtle sense of all hearts mission,
convey's me somewhere beyond our being,
viola clumps an spars everywhere beaming;
vision of an old linen, textured in gold,
lusting to eliminate deamoning,
tender for existence uphold
bursting love in a fictious breathening.
Tho' no one that bold to reach out grab an fold
for no one on earth betold; what thou linen kept untold.
Date : 09/24/2016
Categories:
spars, crush,
Form:
Elegy
The lakes edge
Shone in silver light
A moon , so bright,
in a dark forest night
The moon rose silently
In a clear starlight sky
The creatures of the night
Came out in a dark forest,
to play, in moonlight
Such unnaturally tall trees,
with no branches in sight
No leaves
Stood still
In a dark forest
Under moonlight
As I drew closer
The tall trees were all in a row
No branches in sight
I pulled away the tangled vines
I could see...
Masts, spars ropes and lines
The ships!
The wood in which a ship is made
Returned to the dark forest
Where the keel was shaped and laid
The wooden ships that carried the Heartstone
Across a sea, so blue
Had returned to a forest
That the timbers once knew
When a ship comes to die
It must return
To where its timbers were born
A ship to lie....
Amongst the trees
The masts, swaying in a gentle breeze
The whispering trees
Took the ships
Took the wood
Made it their own
As any magic could
In a dark forest
Graceful ships of wood
No longer hear the sea roar
instead of sails they once wore
They hear birds singing
Leaves rustle
Masts creaking
Ships, run aground
In a dark forest
Back to wood
Back to trees
Waiting to be found
Leaves replaced sails
Spars became branches
Became something new
Categories:
spars, nature, sea, uplifting, visionary,
Form:
Ballad
Broadway
Awed play
Groovy
Movie
Bernstein
Earns screen
Bernstein
Churns scenes.....
Gangs meet
Slang streets
Race lines
Defined !!
View steps
Duets
Spars tossed
Stars crossed
Whole sides
Collide
Sweet glance
Meet-trance
Win chance
Then dance
Soul mates
Stole fate
Tonight
New fight
Doves scorned
Lovelorn
One brute
Gun shoots
Last breath
Fast death
He died
She cried
She mourns
Peace sworn
Stress ride!!!
West Side!!!!!!
Categories:
spars, death, lost love, sad
Form:
Epigram
HALLOWEEN FIRE SPIRITS’ REVIVAL
Before building the fire
We dug out a lawn square
To keep the ash we knew would be there
And stacked the sods near the pyre.
The lawn fits back well –
No ghost of last year’s flame.
Each Halloween it’s the same –
There is no grave hole to tell.
Papers, cardboard, gasoline, - oh !
The hissing from a heap
Of slippery wet leaves
Like a snake’s last scream.
Swarms of sparks stream
In hot gas gusts to the eaves,
Burning out as they leap,
Falling as warm grey dust.
Soot flakes like scattered crows
Fly skyward, black and ragged
From damp dead wood’s jagged
Heat - soaked spars’ and oars’
Life-after-life in a final burst.
Each deadened ember
Sends a second soul
To the lifeless hole
With a final life to remember.
Categories:
spars, halloween,
Form:
Ballad