Best Surmised Poems
You have raided my night again,
as the burst of a sudden storm,
sneaking into my loneliness,
at the most unexpected hour,
plunging me into swirls of pain
too deep for expression,
leaving me in utter disorientation.
I now drift aimless with muddled thoughts,
through the dingy avenues of the past,
never once able to sever the chord,
that binds me so tight to those memoirs,
exposing me to torrid heat
with my soul, burning down….
like a piece of smouldering coal.
Sleepless are my nights.
Dreamless are my days.
Like the sundown shadows growing bigger,
with every stride I take,
the farther I move, the closer you follow.
Can I convince you ever again,
I never meant any harm to you.
How wearily have I watched the flies,
lured by the dazzling light,
char into diminutive specks of black,
by the scorching tongues of flame.
Still, why did I let you burn,
in the flame of my accursed passion?
You were like a flower admired from afar,
afraid of even the gentle breeze coming near,
lest it might jolt the delicate frame,
and shake the petals down, sooner than due.
Yet vulnerable turned the moment,
when all of a sudden, it started to rain.
Like a child, eager to play in the puddles,
you ran out into the pouring rain.
All soaked through and through,
You came in…. awhile my gaze,
rested on the filmy fabric,
seductively clinging to your curves.
Then, that wild surge…. beat me down.
And Alas! Under a magnetic pull,
surrendered your fragile self with ease.
At that moment of self-abandonment
looted off all that you held chaste.
Never surmised, you were crying,
when I felt your cheeks, so wet.
Now I know, it was agony,
not ecstasy that I, then, beheld on your sentient face!
You refused to respond to my calls.
Unanswered went all my anxious queries.
Like a hibernating toad,
to some dark underground cave, you slid.
Abruptly, alerted on call,
by an alien sound, far from familiar
I hastened to the casualty ward,
and saw you lying limp,
with drops of blood, still dripping down
from your slashed wrist,
staring at me with an open mouth!
As I watched you lying still
with your eyes refusing to flutter,
I knew my world tottering below,
and my heart, set ablaze,
into a funeral pyre.
Categories:
surmised, angst, death, depression, farewell,
Form:
Free verse
There once was a fox, as wise as can be,
He lived in the hollow of an old oak tree.
Not so very far from an ol’ Farmer’s Farm;
A farmer he knew would do him great harm.
Also, on that farm lived a lively young goose,
And he caused the fox’s dry mouth to juice.
Without a care, the goose gandered about,
Causing the fox great apprehension, no doubt.
One day they met at the edge of the farm:
The goose knew, for sure, the fox meant him harm.
Mr. Fox, I know you can eat me, he said,
But, I know a better way you can be fed.
The farmer has many an egg you can eat,
and they are more juicy than feathery meat.
I’ll tell you just how to gain your supply;
as quick as a wink, or the blink of an eye.
The farmer is rich and he doesn’t have need
for all of his wealth, and all of his greed.
We poor of the earth, he cares not about:
We should take eggs from the lecherous lout.
Sure, he feeds us, and quite well in fact,
But he profits from the sweat of our back.
We animals are brothers, and should take heed
About each others wants and each others need.
You can sneak around by the ol’ mill gate,
while I distract the hound, down by the lake.
His threat to you I shall circumvent,
and you can then eat to your hearts content.
The sly ol’ fox, he surmised this odd tale:
Hen’s eggs were delicious, he knew quite well.
Oh, this we will do, he quickly agreed:
Eggs, he knew, were quite delicious indeed.
So, the goose set off, the hound to distract,
And also the fox, to the mill gate out back.
But, the goose had another plan in his mind;
A problem solution of a far different kind.
He enlisted the hound in his subversive trick,
To solve the fox dilemma finally and quick.
He sent the hound round to the ol’ mill gate,
Leaving himself to just piddle and wait.
Then suddenly upon him with claw and tooth
Pounced the fox, ‘fore he could honk or hoot.
In this moral lesson we all can deduce,
Why no-one says: “he’s as sly as a goose”.
The SLY fox knew: “If the goose would betray
the farmer that feeds him, he will betray me too.”
Lionel
Categories:
surmised, parody,
Form:
Quatrain
Sometimes when I write, I tend to stretch the truth.
Same as when I gossip; I've done that since my youth.
It's not so much deliberate, but to tell a story well,
Folks tend to stray from tedious facts to magnify the tale.
This habit's often utilized a bit, I have surmised,
In speeches heard at funerals for loved ones eulogized.
By writers of the news I'd say it ought not be employed.
But “doozies” can be found inside almost any tabloid.
I think, for my defense, especially writing nonsense,
I need to find the place to get my own poetic license.
I pose to you this question- In my practice as a poet,
If I get myself a license then, to whom should I then show it?
for Let 'er rip (the mention of poetic license made me want to do this one!)
Categories:
surmised, humorous, writing,
Form:
Rhyme
What’s In The Urn
Strangers offered me to join them in a drink
I met them on a mountain edge while skiing
They seemed like friendly normal people then
So what could happen in a simple cabin?
Finding that which is not there or vanquished
What is there that cannot be perceived?
Placed upon the mantel piece are ashes in the cabin
Brass vase, a receptacle for lost souls sits in repose
A death vase to glare at over cognac
By the sober flames cast by
A fire place glow observed in action
Liquid spirits pour out their poison
In the cozy living room inside the cabin
Drinks alone cannot remove this feeling of distraction
The urn is piercing through my soul
People belong in cemeteries you know
With all due respect for the dead
Scatter them at sea when they‘re deceased
Not paraded around in gloom to cause unease
Or as a center piece for living rooms
I’m not relieved to find it is a lizard on the shelf
To be exact, an exotic iguana family friend entombed
And to assume that fact makes this matter optimal
I beg to differ on that point and voice my opinion later
There must be a plot of ground outside
Or toilet somewhere to flush it down
But better left unsaid, as they are bereaved about the death
And I am their invited guest
Iguana tried consuming the family’s cat
Another favorite pet I guess
It is surmised, that’s how it met its end
Wound up expired inside the urn
The receptacle was there and going nowhere on its own
I swear it follows me from room to room
By embers glow and ash, shadowing my every move
A brass smile casting off the urn, leaving me concerned
I could not take my leave
The container followed me
So I waited, fixated on the thing
Is it coming back to life to eat more bugs or me?
Finding that which is not there
Is easier in the dark
Rising to the occasion of the day that breaks
I must escape the premises to continue skiing
Into the frozen world outside I fly
With no discernible signs or paths to lead or learn
I get away, no time to say good-byes or find my way
Never again will I say; what’s in the urn
Categories:
surmised, adventure, animal, anxiety, conflict,
Form:
Quatrain
The Haunted House
An aging Victorian graphite three story house sat on a
promontory, lonely, deserted, weathered and forlorn.
Broken windows showed signs of cruel abuse from
passersby amused by throwing rocks we surmised.
This skeletal shell of a one-time elegant beauty
became a welcome refuge for my sister and I, wet
and chilled to the bone on that stormy autumn night.
Our car had broken down about two miles away.
There were no other homes or buildings nearby.
To our amazement the door was open and after
knocking loudly with no answer, we let ourselves in.
Cobwebs clung to our faces and hair as we entered
and brushed them away squeeling disdainfully.
I had a small torch on my keychain and with it we looked
around to try to find something to dry ourselves off.
We moved in unison across the creaking floor, shivering.
It was then that I felt cold fingers grasp my shoulder.
Wide eyed I slowly turned my head but no one was there.
We both heard errie laughter as chills ran down our spines.
We ran to the door but now it was locked and we were
trapped inside as panic set in with our hearts pounding.
Then all of a sudden two creatures appeared before us
standing there with matted hair and we both screamed
so loudly we scared each other, but with my little light I
could see we were looking at ourselves in a full length
dusty antique mirror. We laughed hysterically in pure relief.
I tried my cell phone again and miraculously got a signal.
I managed to contact the auto club who estimated 2 hours.
We waited impatiently until the auto club came to rescue
us and our car. The driver sat outside and honked his horn.
We screamed to him that we were trapped inside. He came
up to the front door and to our shock the door flew open.
We hurridly left that haunted house and never looked back
as the driver quickly drove away in the pouring rain.
8-27-18
Sponsor- Dear Heart
Contest- The Haunted House
Categories:
surmised, autumn, fear, horror, house,
Form:
Narrative
The September I met him remains etched in my mind
One by one the minutes rolling by ever so slowly
I sat in class awaiting an explanation that never came
I surmised he’d been a burn victim ~ suffered and healed
How could he now sit there so serene and nonchalant
Over my inner spiel I hadn’t heard a word he said
So consumed was I in wait with my unanswered questions
Then spending the second half of class feeling stupid
Regretting the meddlesome monologue in my head
It was three hours of my life I would never get back
Really ~ how was it any of my business?
This was all way back in those pre-internet days
Before google searches easily unraveled any mystery
For weeks he never spoke about the elephant in the room
It boggled my mind why I expected he ever would
In a short time I became enchanted with this man’s soul
Respectfully in awe of this cultured learned gentle man
A poet possibly a genius ~ he was ordained to touch lives
To shake and rattle foundations ~ disentangle paradigms
A transcendent grace exuded from his every word and glance
AP: 1st place 2021
Posted on May 2, 2020
Categories:
surmised, introspection, school, teacher, tribute,
Form:
Free verse
My yard harbors lots of big trees
And in them live squirrels, with ease
In comfy twig nests
They do what is best
To live and survive as they please.
I feed them some nuts every day
And watch how they run 'round and play
They know me so well
And come 'ring my bell'
By tapping the window this way:
They come to the back kitchen door
Jump up on the rail from the floor
On the window sill
They sit very still
With paws against, glass beg for more.
I push up the window with glee
They know I'm their friend, for you see
My hand holds their prize
They watch with bright eyes
And take nut away tenderly.
Now, one day I thought I would try
To give something new, and so I
Supplied day-old bread
With smooth peanut spread
They loved it so much, with a sigh,
I made little sandwiches soon
On bread, spread nut butter by spoon,
A new treat for them
But so surprised when
I saw chunks of bread below- strewn!
They learned how to get at their prize
Nut butter between, and so wise,
With paws, they would pry
The bread part would fly
Enjoyed just the spread- I surmised,
Like kids open cookies to get
The cream that's inside, never fret
To throw rest away
Enjoy them that way-
The squirrels saw their need was met!
Too nutty, these squirrels taught me
They're smarter than I thought they'd be
They do things their way
With we humans play-
Together we live happily!
October 13, 2015
~1st Place~
Contest: "N" New Or Old Poetry Contest Contest
Sponsor: Constance La France
Judged: 09/21/2021
Theme Chosen: Nutty
Categories:
surmised, animal, fun,
Form:
Limerick
Oh Juliet! A memory of a love long lost in vain…
thy bridal song, a dirge of darkened madrigal becomes.
Yet thought of you, for me, brings more to mind of hate than pain
and all because you stole away the one who was my Love.
Whilst all the rest swoon ‘Juliet’, their precious turtle dove,
I left my love to serve my Lord, but thou – a concubine!
for Romeo forsook his first and foremost, Rosaline.
Let none be fooled! So cold and cruel thy wicked heart disguised,
behind a face of snow white youth and eyes of clearest blue
resides a witch, a sorceress; I swear it, though surmised.
Thy tender lips with somber kiss bore poison drops of dew
to steal my one and only love, my son of Montague!
Unfair the pair in Heaven will forever live in death,
whilst I, without my Romeo, yet he has Juliet!
*written from the point of view of Rosaline, Romeo's initial love interest before laying eyes on Juliet...
Categories:
surmised, sad love,
Form:
Rhyme Royal
A kiss, the kiss that will be remembered
It’s a mighty kiss, romantic and true
Umbrella we held was quickly rendered
Then the rain landed right on me and you
It’s a mighty kiss, romantic and true
Harmonious moment in time expressed
Then the rain landed right on me and you
We held each other tight as we confessed
Harmonious moment in time expressed
Our kiss flows with the rain beyond our hands
We held each other tight as we confessed
Umbrella bumps our legs as we command
Our kiss flows with the rain beyond our hands
It’s surmised our hearts will always be one
Umbrella bumps our legs as we command
Leaves us standing in the rain like the sun
It’s surmised our hearts will always be one
Umbrella we held was quickly redered
Leaves us standing in the rain like the sun
A kiss, the kiss that will be remembered
Russell Sivey
Categories:
surmised, life, love, rain,
Form:
Pantoum
From buckwheat bloom to goldcup flower,
From my sill of shade, to your wealthy dower,
The junctures, the times, we came upon together.
Now these goldcups, finally had color.
Transpiring your truths, I tally a noble four,
And they, are like roses in the moor.
For you, there'll be no more crying.
For you, I can go on, thriving.
Your pansies in the yard, choired to sing,
And clover clads, don't serve the deceased.
But shuns us away, from the vile who surmised,
And tying our knot with the glories of morning.
The flag of my disposition, compels to insist.
And my body's static, begging to persist.
'Till you took the first step, willing to assist.
Over day, overmorrow,
Wherever you may go, I would eagerly follow.
Since you made me one, when I was an aeolist.
If the Almighty may endorse, I certainly would,
I'd hold your hand, reminiscing what zinnias could,
I'd squire you round the gay meads, laden with gold,
As we turn to eye the darkness we left behind.
Pondering, juxtaposed in our lore,
On the patches of green, where we once tread before.
I love all the roads we will walk together.
I love all the sceneries we will witness together.
All the questions we will shyly ask each other,
And all the answers to them in every moment.
So I pray, that He won't take you from me
'till death clads us together,
Forever, in our Eden.
Categories:
surmised, devotion, feelings, flower, for
Form:
Rhyme
She came to me with hooded eyes,
her frank suspicion undisguised,
pushed to the brink, I surmised,
come to hear me prophesize.
Candles flickered in the room,
shadows darting through the gloom,
she smelled of musty, cheap perfume,
I recognized the scent of doom.
My hands caressed the crystal ball,
gazing in, I saw it all,
I tried to make my face a wall,
to shield her from the pain I saw.
What I told, I chose with care,
yet, stunned, she sat back in her chair,
people seem so unprepared,
but why'd they ask, if they're so scared?
She glared at me with baleful ire,
spat at me, called me a liar,
fled as if her hair was on fire,
the psychic life is God's satire.
©Danielle White
Categories:
surmised, mystery, on work and
Form:
Rhyme
While my happiness hawls in a dark cave of self-doubt, I smile.
Burying my brain cells in the grave of immense fear, I speak.
While my dreams burn in the dreary path of desolation, I suffer to sleep.
Shedding rivers of blood
enough to fill the midnight ocean, I walk.
I welcome each morning with a hammering heart.
I extend warm handshakes with cold hands.
I dance to the looney tunes with quivering feet.
I share my bold thoughts with frozen blood in my veins.
That day when I gave a presentation,
I received applause and appreciation
Everyone called me a brave heart,
But deep inside, I remained a cadaver in graveyard.
That day when I first met your family,
I broke the ice with a soothing melody
Everyone in the abode surmised me as chirpy
My chest alone knows the pain it endured in that pseudo joyful journey.
When you saw me strong, I was undeniably weak inside.
When you saw me smile, you saw me who wasn't at all there.
When the sweetness of my song bloomed your heart, bile was burning the walls of my throat.
When you were witnessing my collar lifting moment , I was actually stopping my collar bones from breaking.
I wish to wake up to the tick of alarm clock but wake up to the thump of my pounding heart.
I wish to hug the dreams in the deep night's sleep but I fall prey to the paws of nightmares.
My eye lens capture a non-existing image
My brain maps the present to a buried past
My heart fears a fictitious
occurance
My body absconds into an unknown destination.
You feel I'm insane
But I'm enduring excruciating pain
No! No, I'm not overplaying,
And no, I'm not at all
shamming
I feel I need not be sorry for what I am
Because I'm riding above the clouds to do my best in this lifespan.
Categories:
surmised, depression,
Form:
Free verse
Oh! THOU art lost and gone perhaps forever
By equi-vocal pronoun now replaced
Where once were I and THOU in shared endeavour
Abandoned and neglected left to waste
Since THOU departed there’s a missing piece
Within the language where we speak of love
A vacuum in syntax of our caprice
Where once we two combined as hand in glove
For it’s surmised that each communication
Must be between two single souls that be
Though there be multitude of iteration
I only speak to thee and thou to me
So come THOU back in thy pellucid essence
Enhance truth and grace in language with thy presence
Categories:
surmised, language, political,
Form:
Sonnet
I adopted a cat around Thanksgiving
He was the sweetest thing in the beginning
To my surprise
He’s in disguise
With The Joker kitty I am now living
This balmy yuletide season Milo despised
My silver tinseled Christmas tree he demised
Never expressing gratitude
A clawing catty attitude
Yet a contented kitty I have surmised
Categories:
surmised, animal, christmas, humor,
Form:
Limerick
And though I’ve surmised my eyes with
Men in different lighting
I see a fair facade of girls and you trying to glide him
It’s just my absurd JEALOUS DRUNK TONGUE mocking
Maybe, or maybe falling is haunting,
Maybe there’s some magnetic force around him
That shall I feel too, but for I forbid it
For the lie of my life,
I don’t feel envy
For the lust of my life,
He shall want me
Shall for the love of my life,
Shall permit is to let him in my runes,
But if shall there be, for the loss of my life,
Shall turn him in my next broken muse
Here, I lay
With his arresting smile near me,
I can always
See why you would want him
For that, I too, want him too
His eyelashes sparkling like booze
That burns me DRUNK ON LOVE like a fool
His painted cheeks as flush, so pink
Oil paints my face in sweat, unhinged
His smile, his height, his hair, his hands
Are too enticing too excite me, so unfair
His simple brown eyes defeating ocean blue
Cascades my plan of “not falling for you”
Touché, I am LOST and so are YOU.
Categories:
surmised, angst, dream, heartbreak, longing,
Form:
Couplet