Best Survival Poems
I walk and walk
and in my mind
I walk toward
something someone you
I walk and walk
in a motion I wish was soothing
somehow it’s nowhere that I walk
never getting closer
I wonder how it is I’m walking
riding life’s evermoving sidewalk
going against the tide against the grain
never getting closer
static not getting anywhere
and not getting further
I’m left alone with my illusion
of somehow getting closer
AP: Honorable Mention 2022
Submitted on May 31, 2022 for contest A BRIAN STRAND PREMIERE CHOICE sponsored by BRIAN STRAND - RANKED 5TH
but i wouldn’t fault you words spilling from a loose connection
i forgive the negative
they are tied to your artistic temperament
your heart
translucent
exposes wires tattered and frayed
a myriad of internal cuts and bruises
i can hold such damage
with barely a touch
soothe the gnawing of varmints uninvited
draw out a collage of smiles
patiently waiting to adorn
the you i see
i can draw your laughter
deep and resounding
i can love you unconditionally
for better or for worse
be that handy little light
one carries to duel the dark
Thu Mar 5 2020
The bark peels back like old skin—
Mine, yours, the cinnamon scrolls
Of what we shed to live. August
Bleaches the world to bone, the bark’s faint spice
Rising in the noon glare,
Heat tasting of salt and sand. And still this Crape crowns
Itself with Myrtle fire. Still—
I cannot explain what breaks in me. Still I press my cheek
Against its flaking flesh, feel
The pulse beneath—magenta,
White, pink, the deep red
Of what I've never
Bled for anyone.
Each blossom a small fist
Opening with the muted pop
Of summer rain on dry earth. Each petal, tissue-thin
As the lies I've told myself
About enduring. The Eastern Shore sun
Has made this tree what survival
Looks like: stubborn—
Beautiful, built for the burning
Seasons that strip us
To what we are. Winter comes,
And I am learning
How to be naked—
These mottled limbs
My teachers, conductors' hands
Mid-gesture, never finished
With their fierce music
Of staying alive. Of reaching
Up through the killing
Cold, brittle air ringing
With the clink of frozen twigs toward something
Green promises I cannot fathom—yet still I know
Lives in the light returning.
Cardiac cadence
of mama tides
keep zodiac time
tears like tides
taste of brine on baptized lips
sway me sea
in cradle-swells
between the crests
coddle me
in a pink-wombed
conch shell
for I like driftwood
have died yet survived the storm.
weeping willow trees
unbreakable in grace bend
survival and hope!
June 11th, 2018
Inspired by Victor Buhagiar "Barren Branches Of a Willow Tree Die"
In the valley of tall golden fire, I rest
listening to the sound of the earth heartbeat.
Africa's eastern breath presses its cheek against mine
as I bask and savor the exotic serene moment.
I listen and watch at the tapestry of wildlife gather,
a world of tranquil beauty.
Together we forge a strong valley,
but still a world of survival; nowhere is truly safe.
4/30/2019
Poetry Contest: 'Writing Challenge 4, May 2019, No Placement'
Sponsored By: Dear Heart
"Lion" received an N/A on 5/3/2019 in the contest; MAY 2019 PREMIER 1 ANY THEME, ANY FORM,UP TO A MAX OF 14
THE PHASES OF GRIEF
bereavement pain physical
spiritual and philosophical
SHOCK & DENIAL
can’t find relief
overwhelming numbed disbelief
PAIN & GUILT
unbearable preemptive suffering
remorseful chaos excruciating
ANGER & BARGAINING
growing bitter frustration
time rewinding negotiation
DEPRESSION & REFLECTION
grieving bitter loneliness
memories filling emptiness
THE UPWARD TURN
adjusting calmer living
affliction less unforgiving
RECONSTRUCTION & WORKING THROUGH
willingness to survive
becoming functionally alive
ACCEPTANCE & HOPE
handling new reality
reinventing integral repartee
AP: 2nd place 2025, 2nd place 2025
Submitted on October 8, 2018 for contest SIX-WORD COUPLET SERIES ENCORE sponsored by MARK TONEY - RANKED 1ST
He stood shivering in the biting cold
Shreds of dirty, flimsy clothes clung to his frame
All around his fellow skeletons huddled
Waiting for the inevitable walk to that sinister place
His wait had been longer than most
He had been subjected to terrible cruelty
He had seen all of his friends and family go
Yet in his mind he had remained free
His physical torment seemed detached when lost in his memories
His little girl chasing her puppy in the bright sunshine
Friends and relatives around the festive table laughing, chatting, eating
Walking hand-in-hand with his beloved around the moonlight lake
But the freezing wind jolted him back to the hellish reality
He looked towards the barbed-wire fence which bounded his world
There sat on the top wire was a little bird
It sang the sweetest of tunes seemingly just for him
It looked at him as it sang with such innocence
And then with a flutter of its tiny wings
It swooped towards him, turned and glided back over the fence
It pecked at the hard earth before flying into the woods beyond
He knew it was his time
Into that building he trudged
But he had a strange sense of elation
Closing his eyes at last he was free
The morning light shone brightly
The little bird was at his side
It guided him on as they soared through the sky
With the shackles of hell cast aside freedom now prevailed
He and the little bird would never go back to that place again
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz on 27 January 1945.
To all the fallen of Covid 19
whose deaths were unrecorded and unseen
To those who languished in intensive care
where Fear unmasked itself to mock each prayer
To mothers shedding tears from dawn till night
while clutching keepsakes of their children tight
To fathers who must raise their kids alone
who stoic in their grief, suppress each groan
To nurses, doctors, first responders, all
who risked their lives in answering the call
to face the mayhem, doing what it takes
Yet every day the virus raised the stakes
To those deprived of saying their goodbyes
who could not wipe the tears from closing eyes
To those who stood alone beside a grave
who mourned the youth that doctors could not save
To you now isolated in your house
who care for stricken child or unwell spouse
To you whose nightmares will not let you sleep
who plead of God your loved ones' souls to keep
What comfort can I give you who remain
when in the news there's talk of a new strain?
Just this that Covid 19 will not win
To let it crush our souls would be as sin
One day we're sure to leave the "hiding place",
and not to face our deaths, but live in grace
Though normalcy may not be like before,
I know that there are blessings still in store
Our faith and dreams remain pandemic free...
These Covid cannot steal from you or me
Humanity has learned what things are dear
We found new ways to keep our loved ones near
Eileen Manassian
I chance upon her
in the far reaches of the backyard,
a place I never go. There she trembles.
A tiny tiger, whose newborn eyes blur the world,
secreted in mother-scented-shadows
below blackthorn shrubs.
Faint mews draw me closer.
The power of her vulnerability
fills my veins with a ripple rising,
brimming me with a nectar needed,
like a dry stream bed restored by remedy rains.
How helpless she is with new eyes open.
Her eyes like skylights — clear
and filled with new-wild-blue innocence.
Neglected yet beautiful, I sense in her
the familiar phenomenon of the impulse to pulse.
Her outsized feistiness belying
such a petite package of plea and need
with teeny needle claws and barely a wisp of a hiss
...and I recall when I felt the fear
of being small and voiceless in a choiceless world.
Born a feral kitten, her mother likely lost
to speed-wheels of a car or snap-jaws of coyotes,
whose throats float steaming howls above black
saw-toothed pines to haunt the long night moon
...and I wonder, if she wonders,
if the sweet-milk-purrs with soft belly fur
will ever return to snuggle her.
She’s been cold and alone for far too long.
So I gather her in the hug of my hands
warming her as I draw her in and curl
my chest around her littleness.
A shield formed against her lone-ness.
...and I, a long-ago-child abandoned,
a child whose silent cries heard only by stoic walls,
reclaims a voice that helps me make a choice
not to let Nature decide how birth and fate collide.
So I sit with her, swaddle her, love her.
Nourish her with eye-dropper milk where
hearth embers still glow after the fire,
to heal the orphan and raise the phoenix within.
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Strange Unicorn of the Sea,
we solved your mystery.
Of Arctic Ocean fame
you are Narwhal
as named.
Unicorn
of Sea,
our fascination
crept for secrets
you had kept about
tusk's outside nerves;
what uses do they serve?
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Allows you to communicate.
A great aid to seek a mate.
The perfect sword to joust;
the feared enemies to oust.
Safest water space ensures
by measuring temperatures
and the water pressure too,
gauges spaces to get thru.
Long pick to break the ice;
an excellent, sharp device.
Pinpoint your hidden prey-
use a sensory-based way.
You measure out at sea;
saline levels guarantee.
Survival tools evolved,
so the puzzle's solved.
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Deep ocean mystery
our Unicorn of Sea,
you are Narwhal
by name with
firm Arctic
Ocean
fame.
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The snow mobile stops and sinks to the level of the snow, no more to go
Which way do I take for shelter the sure or the maybe
Deciding on a surety hoped the 200 miles was the best option … but how
can I survive this, gathering the necessities in a bag light enough to carry
leaving a note on the vehicle I start my journey slowly
snow shoes aren’t easy to manoeuvre when you’re tired and afraid
must gain ground by nightfall a shelter of snow to make.
Plenty of boiled water to keep me going today, but hunger tangs can’t be laid
Food: I must make a hole to fish, a fire to make and that shelter to build
I cut blocks of snow and make a shelter for the night
Had means of lighting a fire to give the bears a fright, cut a hole to fish
Am sitting here like a child with stick and string hoping for a bite
A great big tug tells me one is here, I pull with my might to land it near.
Hit its head to kill him with ease, I cut up and cook enough to please….
Suddenly I hear a whimpering noise I look up to see
A husky type dog looking at my tea, I throw it some fish didn’t touch the sides
As with a big gulp was soon in his insides, then he laid down close to me
Sharing my water and fish and the fire …..
Weird sounds of nature all through the night
My sleep was shallow as I worked out my plans
Had an early fish breakfast then started to walk
Had a companion with me didn’t feel so alone on these many days
Looked for berries not the white ones am told…will
Keep up my strength until I get home…..
The greenery I am advised are precarious to devour
Best keep to fish and berries a little every hour
Oh my what’s this lumbering this towards us
A bear , a black one, pulled my anorak over my head, I pray
Arms akimbo so I looked huge and made very noisy yells, bear walked away
A trappers hut smoke I can see, hope he will be as pleased to see me
Did I steal your future?
This I am not sure.
Have I tainted your past?
And make your memories obscure,
Have I infected your present?
Leaving you searching for a cure,
Questions are many,
Answers are few,
But I know your ultimate survival.
Is totally within you.
Where can I find healing?
Tell me, where does it hide?
When death stalks and steals
When pain is surreal
When illness invades
When sorrow pervades
Where can I find healing?
Where can I find healing?
Tell me, where does it hide?
When friends are untrue
When robbed of one's due
When war ushers hell
When fear casts its spell
Where can I find healing?
Where can I find healing?
Tell me, where does it hide?
When passion turns cold
When honor is sold
When dreams slowly die
When wings can not fly
Where can I find healing?
Where can I find healing?
Tell me, where does it hide?
When faith fails to save
When faced with the grave
When prayers lose their way
When God's far away
Where can I find healing?
Tell me, where does it hide?
Tell me. Surely you know!
You live life with ease
You do as your please
You blossom and thrive
You don't have to strive
You don't shed a tear
You claim God is near
You do not feel pain
You see the inane
You don't pay the price
You smile, oh so nice.
It's easy for you
You know what to do
Where can I find healing?
Tell me, where does it hide?
Ah... yes...
It's buried...
It's buried deep inside.
Eileen Manassian Ghali
I gaze up at the pellucid sky
a red tailed hawk is flying high;
it scans for prey, which soon may die ...
rabbits run for your life I want to cry!
I watch transfixed, I am spellbound
and watch it swoop, without a sound,
perhaps its next meal has been found -
with luck its prey flees underground.
Give Me 8 Lines of Rhyme Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Tania Kitchin
11/9/19