Best Submission Poems
How reverently he removes the seal,
anticipating the fragrance,
the first small taste,
remembering the warmth and
laughter of the party,
parties, the bar, the taverns,
the men, the women,
long-tailed cigarette smoke curling.
His tongue unconsciously caresses
the corner of his mouth
as his left hand cups
the shoulder of the bottle
gently and firmly as a lover.
Drawing a penknife from his pocket
he pulls open the blade to cut
the black band binding the cap,
his lips slightly pursed,
engrossed in the process.
Deftly flicking the cap,
he lays it aside and pauses;
it takes only a moment
for the subtle vapors
to lift to his nostrils.
Not quite a smile,
something even more
expressive of pleasure,
a submission,
a peace that fills him
as if coming home
from an arduous journey.
He pours.
scratch, scratch
strike a match
throw it in
and burn the batch
lies, lies
an orphan cries
loveless words
made to despise
scare, flare
from here to there
likely tale
that goes nowhere
books, cooks
bishops, rooks
games played now
by saints and crooks
lies, flies
a prophet dies
holy writ
as moon star rise
reason, season
almost treason
heralding in
a winter season
lies, lies
death and flies
loveless beast
in light’s disguise
wake, shake
the sleeping snake
light and truth
reveals the fake
from his desk
master of the universe
lizzie at his feet
AP: Honorable Mention 2021
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECENT SUBMISSION
REVISED, RE-READ and RECONSIDERED it but REGRET
To decide not to include it in our issue next.
WISH YOU LUCK IN YOUR FUTURE PURSUITS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECENT SUBMISSION
The editors are also writers and they too
Receive WORTHY REJECTED poems of their own
AND DON’T LIKE SENDING THEM OUT
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECENT SUBMISSION
We will have to pass on your poems
IN FACT INDEED IMPRESSIVE INPUTS you have
UNWILLINGLY WISH you success elsewhere.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECENT SUBMISSION
The poem is PRETTY UNFIT to our needs for publishing
HOWEVER HORBOR HIGH HOPE for writing
WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECENT SUBMISSION
To consider our magazine as an outlet
WELL WRITTEN WORTHY WORK, but regret
TO USE THIS PARTICULAR SUBMISSION
====================================
(Oxymoron and Alliteration)
Seventh place winner in
Contest: FREE FOR ALL DO AS YOU PLEASE In honor of Charles Henderson
Thank you for your recent submission
We have reviewed it and decided not
To include it our next issue.
Wish you luck in your future pursuits.
Thank you for your recent submission
The editors are also writers and have
Received numerous rejection notices
And don’t like sending them out.
Thank you for your recent submission
We will have to pass on your poems
Though you have impressive credentials
Wish you success in placing theme elsewhere.
Thank you for your recent submission
They do not meet our publishing needs
You harbor a very great love for writing
We appreciate the opportunity to review it.
Thank you for your recent submission
To consider our magazine as an outlet
For your creative work, but regret
To use this particular submission.
Thank you for your recent submission
Without your hard work the journal would
Be impossible. It’s not an easy task.
Thanks for sharing your writing with us.
+++
**Based on the real experiences in 1997-98
September 8, 2014
Form: Free verse
First Place Win
Contest: Rejection by Regina Riddle
Distorted open wings jolt with fresh memories solve the mystery and the curse
comes back to me, does the punishment fit the crime it fails in comparison and
falls to decadence. It moves beside you unseen and unphased as innocent
becomes clean. Silence simulated alliance gather around and listen to your
unchanging love song a simple dilemma relax in trance unsatisfied dreams
sway under hypnosis this is what it seems foot steps under a filthy sky we beg
the reasons why. Illuminated cryptic words spoken on solstice verge undenied
washed away with the coming tide it cries out to be known it crawls turning to
stone a thousand years trapped and scorn. Lusted and weak enchanted it
speaks with addiction it weeps savage it sleeps a masterpiece underneath black
we leave it at that.
I retreat into myself,
Cursing my name like an idiom.
I realise my curse;
It is but this phase I have dived into.
I just detach myself from the glass.
It is always a stressful game.
I long for the heavenly pride.
Such a tide comes when I take such a stride!
I cannot help but wait for a lasting punishment.
I cannot save myself.
I cannot help but escape within.
I cannot but be used to my salient classics.
There was a remarkable midnight,
The last time I closed my eyes.
My brain is being fragmented;
Now, my heart is but an illusion to me.
Though we are in fallacies,
My other selves have turned, just as I have.
I am accustomed to being my own paradise:
Yet any sanctuary I build serves only to trap me within.
Moving....
Hard decision.
Necessity once more;
Glimmer of hope he'll be happy.
Trust God.
take me to the edge of pain
that drowns the crowding thoughts
and builds my nerves on edge
to break in a cascading rush
draw out the gasps and shudders
turn the wrenching sobs around
in tandem to the breaths I breath
make this pleasure drag unbound
Melt my mind into your body
pour your music in my ears
and drip your scalding magic
on skin that tears so clear
bind these limbs that fought my fears
these wrist scarred with secrets sought
take my omissions into your heart
my body broken for your protection
tie up the world that spins around
all the daily in-consequences
so that once my heart is vulnerable
the walls we built are truly broken
melt this pleasure-pain submissive
into a safe word that shows your care
blend my psyche with forceful dare
but let my soul know your true intentions
With a touch of my hand...
You are mine..
With a kiss from my lips to yours..
You are mine...
Words from my soul that enters yours..
You are mine...
With my fingertips tracing the curve of your back...
You are mine..
With trust from your heart..
I will be...
YOURS....
crazy electric guitars raping your consciousness
bruising your sense of focus like a madman in a defeated village
bruising a lonely prostitute
and you think you got something to prove
and you think it's all but a phase
that kisses your cheeks and leaves
no headphone's gonna kiss your bleeding ears
no scream will bring your malady ashore
it's dirty but it's not earth
hold your breath for a little while and open your coward eyes
let the vomit find its way outta your skin and into the alley
let the blood dance like a beheaded cow at a tribal feast
let the sense of timelessness enter your ribs like a rusted knife
like a shrapnel
no water will do any good to this melting room
spit the cowardice and inhale the ash and cough all the hunger
away
let the phone ring and the samovar turn itself off
for the flame soon will cover them both
you see the unshapely red and black and gray thing?
that's the bastard son of your books and your poor coward cat
put the stupid water away and watch the festival of births of
shapes and copulation of things with the void.
On the edge of paradise,
woeful tears fall, cold as ice.
On that edge where I stand still,
ashen whips jut onto my will.
On that edge you sear my helm!
Kibble it like a spider; overwhelm!
Steering through many an eve.
Conceive, weave, cleave then grieve!
Render and espouse; knight and serf.
Guardian of your tear, gate, and turf.
Enact then re-enact my astral dream.
Put me to sleep, hinder my scream.
Dreary lips given a wide berth,
to unheard hiss that typifies rebirth.
Author my flesh unto caged envy,
yielding my soul: break the levee.
Sail amongst my translucent runes,
your siren of electric moons.
I sing for the breaker to inveigle,
tepid winds I once played regal.
Make me forget and make me pay,
for losing my way and drifting astray.
For getting so close then letting go,
missing the blow, ruining your flow.
You are pandora's quantum prison,
a bounty begging to be riven.
Your pride diverts your nemesis,
resurgent carcinogenesis.
Beshrew the darklight spring,
sustained by your phantom wing.
Slake it inept and enthrall its nectar,
woven and entwined in void-like vector.
We had a place like that...
out behind the wood shed!
Where it was all over but the doughnuts and shrieks!
Speaking of doughnuts...
the long arm of the law, or should I say strong arm,
has a post of submission too.
Yep they beat you until you confess in submission.
She was
all compassion,
her softness his delight-
as pliancy in power,did
alight
See more on this topic at
Gen 2:20 2 Cor 12:8 & Ep 5:21/22
cool, calm submission
this peaceful place calms me down
brings warmth to my life