Best Stillness Poems
Like a frozen soul in silent stillness,
crisp mist returns like forgotten debris.
Carpet of scarlet leaves lay on green grass,
dew drops seem like tears from crying trees.
Lost in thought in a world I’ve created
Gazing at trees in their autumn attire
Tears are falling like the vibrant leaves
In their final grand spiral of fire
I am the sadness of the season
in turn I anticipate the impending chill
Stability fades and my emotions churn
I can’t see beyond this steep hill
Nature's palette has turned my golds to grey,
as broken branches compose songs of sorrow.
Canopy of clouds mean sun casts no shadow,
and each path before me is dark and narrow.
A collaboration between Silent One and Judy Stickels.
15 October 2020
Judy has not written in a while, so I wanted to encourage her to write.
The beauty of poetry is that we can share and together make words stronger.
Saturated by solitude,
I breathe the scent of wild flowers.
Nearby a lake, I recline against a willow.
The lake mirrors wisps of twilight’s clouds above.
A lilac trail in the sky is darkening to grape.
Here, where all is serene,
not even a breeze disturbs the willow’s slender limbs.
Hardly do I miss the hectic pace of life
which I have left behind.
Instead I allow my soul to linger
in evening’s long, sweet caress.
Soon, moon’s face will glitter in the water
as I lie back peacefully
in stillness.
Nov. 1, 2021
for unseeking seeker's
'Vibrant blissful stillness ' Poetry Contest
At last, in the mute of twilight hums
I am possessed with silence shaven,
whiteness of peace touches the breath
melting the morsels of earth’s flesh
from soiled, weary shirts: my unzipped body
dehydrated from needles of toil, soil, boil.
Dear time, be my friend in these hours;
the linens of cells are bathed in morning’s sweat
and raging howls of a day ache for an ounce
honeyed by the balm of a tearing mind...
along blades of sky coasting, faint light
brushes my dreary lips cradled
on a nest like tattered notes unsung.
At last, losing the self to the din
of night half-dark half-light, I cling
to the lingering octave of solitude;
the oneness with my crawling skin
as I release all the pining from the womb,
that in stillness, I taste fresh pulp of life.
For Celebrate Life Contest
Sponsor: Christy Teas Reposted 5/16/2016
When Night Brings Its Stillness, Silence And Tick, Tick, Tick
Collaboration with Robert Lindley
8th March 2019
Town was quiet, its heart barely beating
midnight hour came and went so fast
moon and stars blinked through open window
silence echoed in the town's invisible pulse
Strange how life gives night its powers
its more peaceful and murmuring tones
we that too oft wake to its untimely sounds
feel crushing aches in our despairing souls
Clock watching becomes our pride-less new sport
with tick, tick, tick, its rallying calls
and when that strain promises to explode
we pray dawn's falling rays wakes world's all.
We thought not to wake too soon
yet feared we may not wake at all
and tick, tick, tick, rhythm hypnotised us,
we watched no clock, but listened a while,
until it lulled our weary eyes to sleep;
we woke uninvited, but unknowingly compelled,
tones unheard would not have been peaceful
and nights powers made us beg for our lives;
the town purred with morbid contentment,
moon and stars stroked its back,
between midnight and dawn we writhed,
the quiet town passively cursed us.
The gift of quietness, sometimes ignored,
may go unclaimed throughout our busy day.
Unless that time of stillness is embraced,
we'll miss our joy to share in the reward.
The gift of quietness- its silent song-
can play to calm our weary hearts and minds.
The empty silence spreads tranquility
to balance yin and yang where they belong.
The gift of quietness- its emptiness,
grants fullness of an aura without sound
that soon uplifts the spirit once again
to face our busy lives with happiness.
May 17, 2019
Form: (Only 1st and 4th lines of each stanza rhyme).
This may be a new form invented by Timothy McGuire and
given the name BOOKEND RHYMES by Andrea Dietrich.
Interlude, brief and profound,
Where echoes of existence softly resound,
In this quiet chamber, dreams take flight,
A moment to ponder, in the tranquil night.
In the realm of love, where hearts may grow weary,
An interlude of space makes the bond less dreary.
Through quiet reflection and understanding gained,
We rekindle the flame, with love unchained.
Amid challenges, when thoughts seem unclear,
An interlude allows for clarity to appear.
With a mind at ease and emotions set free,
We face the world's puzzles with a fresh decree.
As the sun dips low, painting skies with hues,
Interlude whispers secrets, ancient and true.
A bridge between echoes, a pause to contemplate,
An interval of stillness, before the day's fate.
...the birds having nothing on you
each tasty morsel drips
deflowering of night
and day
where sun has chose to stay
close
your lips to mine
piercing the aire
beheld in Pierian time
kindled and caressed in kiss
late night hours waved
as arousals arrive
and reside
touches pulsed by rhyme
symphonically conduced
more than mere interludes
that never conclude
stillness our tune
ignition the flame
morning whispers
silent into eyes of Jade
hesitating, she breathes once more
meandering Elysian fields of gold
When Night Brings Its Stillness, Silence And Tick, Tick, Tick
Town was quiet, its heart barely beating
midnight hour came and went so fast
moon and stars blinked through open window
silence echoed in the town's invisible pulse
Strange how life gives night its powers
its more peaceful and murmuring tones
we that too oft wake to its untimely sounds
feel crushing aches in our despairing souls
Clock watching becomes our pride-less new sport
with tick, tick, tick, its rallying calls
and when that strain promises to explode
we pray dawn's falling rays wakes world's all.
We thought not to wake too soon
yet feared we may not wake at all
and tick, tick, tick, rhythm hypnotised us,
we watched no clock, but listened a while,
until it lulled our weary eyes to sleep;
we woke uninvited, but unknowingly compelled,
tones unheard would not have been peaceful
and nights powers made us beg for our lives;
the town purred with morbid contentment,
moon and stars stroked its back,
between midnight and dawn we writhed,
the quiet town passively cursed us.
A Robert J. Lindley and Lawrence Sharp collaboration
3-08-2019
Note: Yet again you honor me by agreeing to compose poetry with this old and far too oft very tired poet. I knew your verses would be golden and continue this piece wonderfully to its conclusion. Thanks for gifting such magnificent verse to this our newest creation..
How beautiful the snow sparkles tonight like tiny little gems.
As the moonlight shines down so peacefully on them.
The stars how they twinkle so softly..what a sight.
Such a wondrous beauty I behold in the Heavens tonight.
I sit in awe of the stillness that encompasses all around.
Whilst downy snow falls like feathers floating to the ground.
God has given my life such a quiet peace to behold.
Such treasures a many my heart finds in the cold.
So many gifts tonight these brown eyes hold so dear.
Quiet befalls this wonderland that only my soul can hear.
Transporting my thoughts to where angels fly so high.
As I imagine what heaven is like and I breathe a soft sigh.
Sweet dreams will invade my sleep where I lay me down to rest.
Enveloped in Gods arms of love knowing He gives me his very best.
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder Poetry Contest //Sponsored by: Crystol Woods
Contest Judged: 8/14/2025 5:19:00 AM
( 1st Place )
Written: August 07, 2025
They say stillness is absence, an empty space between worth noting,
but I have heard its melodies in the pre-dawn chapel where stillness reigned
and still the walls exhaled calm.
I have found stillness and not loneliness---
but in two hands clutching without speaking,
the heart knowing inside out
language would only raze.
Silence is like sunlight before it shines,
the tranquility after I sleep and
the reluctance before "I forgive you",
It grips what chaos cannot express--admiration, agony, dread.
Even when grieving and when at a loss for words,
calmness is at hand and says it all.
So let the world fill with echoes.
With clamor and vivid proclamations.
I will still turn up beauty.
In the lull between storms,
In the hush between instinct and doubt
In the sacred calmness, that hark,
Not to respond, but to understand.
Silence the waves that hit the shore,
Silence the birds they call no more.
Silence the souls lost in night,
Silence echoes no more they fight.
Screams the waves that crash and break,
Screams that cause the thin air to shake.
Screams that tear the soul apart,
Screams that pierce to the heart.
Silently, the screams fill the air,
Screams rising from deep despair.
Silent screams, scream silently.
Silently I scream …. defiantly.
I saw
the dark
and cold night
creeping, pushing
away Sun’s glorious
light. I heard its hopeless
sounds of sleeping feeding on
despair’s delight. I felt the pain of day
dreams dying, flowing through my heart and
soul, and heard dark night's empty stillness crying,
ringing loud its silent toll. But, in answer to my prayer,
God sent me a dream of the dawn’s glorious Sun,
as it was in the beginning of His first day…
His most warm and brilliant ray.
Through the dense, dark
webs that my night
had spun, born
again was
hope of
day.
stillness hovering
in mother's midnight garden~
gentle sudden breeze
* a tribute to Constance's mother's garden *
AP: 2nd place 2026
Submitted on July 22, 2020 for contest HAIKU OR SENRYU sponsored by CONSTANCE LA FRANCE - RANKED 1ST
I went walking in the silent and stillness of winter,
It had snowed softly on this cold, cold night;
Homes glowed from deep within and sparkled bright,
A lonely snowflake kisses my cheek like a feather.
Wandering deserted town streets a solitary walker,
Park benches buried in the pure white snow;
Quietly an icy and frosty stream still ripples and flows,
And the shops are luminous in the town center.
At the church stained glass panes are welcoming,
The pristine snow lay on the steps in tranquility;
I bow my head in prayer recalling memories of family,
Whispering snowflakes fall on my hair blowing.
Faint a sound from something left near the church,
I approach the snow draped box, unsure;
And a mewing, mewing within the wet enclosure,
Then, a small forlorn white kitten lurched.
I cuddled the kitten in my arms brushing off each flake,
A lonely girl and a lost kitten together this night;
While the snow was falling and falling in sheets of white,
Kissing her head, I named my kitten, Snowflake.
_____________________________
December 6, 2014
Enclosed Rhyme Example For Contest
As nightfall wanes over the hills
To trail away, in quietude
My calm eyes watch a hollowed view
Evanescing into dusk’s edge.
Night Silence Contest, Nayda Ivette Negron
6/14/2016