Best Swipes Poems
And so it goes. Seated, contemplative. A sudden cacophony abiding. Many floods ebb then flow; good/bad. Memories distilled, truth distorts. Folly found fair ‘gainst fear flames fanned. Shame ignorance opened, book bound veracity logged. Guardrails bent, bowed, betray. Step, then step again, mindlessly tumbling ‘cross lifescape willy, tilting nilly. Ramble shambles consequences unvetted. Year strategy unfolds unscripted. And then once more. The chronological avalanche swift recall swipes quickly to next. Where I have been, never again, yet reminiscent, always. Trails erased and failed anew. Aging days no longer brighter, burning coals dim to ash till heat demise.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
erosion attitude
season’s grind edges away
saves stack each upon each
Lurking in the darkest shadows,
she looks for one of us to hound,
trying to catch a little glimpse
as she staggers along and limps
Spittle and drool keeps dripping
from yellow teeth and snarling lips.
She whines and hunches her back
picking out one of us to attack.
Alone because she's made enemies
of those who once pitied her, but
she never let us howl our intentions
and blocked any effort of intervention.
With watchful eyes she tries to be sly
and has an ego that's rude and annoying.
She's always waiting for the chance
to trounce, then do her trophy dance.
She takes swipes and nips at our butts
when she thinks she has the upper hand,
but her whining doesn't matter to us.
Our pack calls her 'the ornery old cuss.'
Let her coo and take those falsetto bows,
and let her think she's a ruling queen,
but we all know she's just a looney hyena
while we laugh at her haughty demeanor.
^. .^
1/31/17
Poetry in an animal's view
contest by Jamie
some moments are mindless
insanity with twisted reality
he says
he says a lot
leave pain behind
an endless word flow
a whale's
fountain
his face mirrors mine
his finger swipes dark
dust, blows waves
into deep oceans
where I drown
Hide in dreams
he says
dream a bull to swim
across the ocean
he says
to the light that hides
behind reality
I close my eyes
to dream
his way to mine
and reach my hand
through the bars,
touch his wings
his broken legs
dance
leave dark behind
he sings
and far away
where fingertips can't reach
I am heard
***
Copyright © Darren White
January 12, 2017
It’s quarter after six, Friday evening. He thought with a smile, besides the rain, everything is looking great. Table set beautifully just for two. Dinner looks delicious and minutes away to be served.
Annoyingly he hears his cellphone pings.
Seeing the name of the sender, he smiles and swipes to read it. Message read, RAIN CHECK, NO SUNSET IN THE RAIN. Instantly the smile fade and his heart sank.
He can hear the rain beating down on the roof, but too numb to move. Dinner is now left untouched. Disappointment weighs him down, yet again.
Alone again and much to ponder.
What is really us? Life doesn’t wait for no one. The rain falls whether you like it or not, sunset or not. The daily excuses are worn off.
At last, he sends her a reply that says, RAIN CHECK DENIED, I don’t need this anymore than you do. We are two different souls, we don’t speak the same language of love. Goodbye!
He packs his bags and drives away in the
NO SUNSET IN THE RAIN.
Akkina
8/25/23
Well, la di da, just look at you.
I see how far you’ve climbed.
You think the common words you speak
sound like sweet poems rhymed?
So are you really all that great?
That sparkling new veneer
you show to us – with a few swipes
I know I could besmear.
Oh, la di da, you act as if
in awe we should kowtow
to you, who think you’ve got a roar.
It’s just a cat’s meow.
I know the you that lies beneath
the fancy clothes you wear.
You think you’re better than old friends -
yet still breathe our same air
So, la di da, Oh, la di da
to you and all your kind.
With toilet paper all the rich
are wiping their behind.
No different or better than
the rest of us are you.
You married up, but give it time . . .
your act he will see through.
Floating in the sanctity of a tiny tranquil sea,
hidden from the world by only a fragile wall,
unaware of the uncertainty of their own mortal future.
Wide innocent eyes blinded by a bright light,
unable to see the evils and prejudices of mankind
and the society that emulates his selfish nature.
Virgin ears silenced by their own innocence,
unable to hear the chorus of suffering
mankind has brought to bear on himself.
The sound of salvation beats within a tiny sea
while the impatient fingers of death linger outside
waiting for a chance to plunge in and stop the beat.
Each time Satan's hand swipes by the virgin soul
dangling helplessly from life's frail thread
mankind's last flame of hope begins to flicker.
Shall a world chorus of cries ring in their births,
or shall a soul numbing silence fill our vacant hearts?
"Where is the sun, where is the moon?"
the mirror asks.
He sees the silence in the other's gaze—
crouched against the wall
an empty face where once
two small diamonds burned
and cut in two
who once was whole
"Where is the blanket for the cold?"
the mirror asks.
He swipes a star
from far to balance on his outstretched hand
it tears a trail of blood
through fabric frail
and skin so thin below his ear
he stitches squares of dark
with sparks of warmth
to cloak against the night
"When will you make me whole?"
the mirror asks.
He strikes a match to light the star
and from his hand small grains bright sand
glimmer in the fickle white
he spills them on the floor
before his empty him
"I can't be us"
he says with faint apology
and buckled knees—
while in the other's eyes
life fades
without a fight
***
August 12, 2017
Copyright © Darren White
1st place in contest: The Poet's Shadow
Sponsor: Greg Barden
(A Double Divine-form not include in your list)
She digs into her pocket's hollow space
and snags a tissue, swipes her eyes.
Her fingers touch a bar,
a rich, dark treat.
She chooses dash as treasure's resting place
then cranks the key, gets a surprise
when heater in her car
melts hoarded sweet.
She zooms around her town without a care
yet feels her appetite evolve,
while scent from heater vent
plays a coquette.
She knows the fault is hers but deems unfair
as still her nose betrays resolve
and brings about consent
to buy briquette.
As the light dims and dances on the horizon
A menace stirs from its slumber, slinks from the shadows.
The game move to and fro, staying sit means certain death.
The eyes of death blink with certain deadly cunning,
paws step lightly and then begins the running.
The cry goes out to all, Life is being written in tooth and claw.
Animals become scatterings in the night, dust and sand dance between their feet.
The sound resonates slowly steadily, like the first rains of the season, until lighting strikes.
The roar is deafening, tooth and claw bearing.
The cry goes out, the shadows of terror are about.
Tawny flashes move back and forth, distress and fear prowl among the animals.
Brown eyes stair into the blackness of the night.
Knowing that courage musters to challenge the assault on their fallen comrade.
STANDING TO ATTENTION IN RANKS OF HOOVES AND HORNS
BORN TO BE WARRIORS OF THE BUSH, BUFFALO STAND TALL.
FORGED BY TRAILS OF NEAR DEATH AND ESCAPE
NEAR MISSES AND SWIPES OF CLAW AND PAW
FORM SCARES AND MARES ON THEIR THICK HIDE
WAVES OF FEIRCE RESISTANCE RISE AGAINST THE TEMPESTUOUS TIDE
Bombardment of bodies against that tawny terror.
Horns heave, shove, push, and move.
The earth beneath them quakes, shifts, and trembles under hooves.
However determination of suffocating and straggling terror.
Grips, bites, and holds.
The ranks brake and scatter, did there effort even matter.
No one knows, which way the battle would go.
The battles have been decisive,
Now the law of tooth and claw,
It has been written, sealed, and decided.
My naked feet feel the slick, moist grass in the quiet park
as my fingers pluck and trace the soft edges of a flower petal.
My back is pricked as I lean against a spiked, tree trunk
while my hand swipes off a sticky, delicate cobweb from my face.
As I pull off the cobwebs, tree sap drops onto my hair
penetrating my scalp, and I attempt to pull off it's gooey sap.
Suddenly, I feel the thick, sandpaper lick of a dog's tongue
on my cheek, and I laugh, petting his fluffy fur with pleasure.
Written on 8/31/2015
You're a tiger in the jungle, elusive, strong and free;
I'd wondered how I'd meet you, for I live in the sea.
And though I'd dreamt that one day soon I'd be no more alone,
That it is you my heart awaits I never could have known.
I've seen the waters far and wide, the shallow and the deep,
I've swam with fishes just like me but none could my heart keep.
I've met the sharks, the dolphins too, the turtles and the rays,
I've been to every inlet, every cove and all the bays.
I've even met the gulls who soar, who freely roam the skies,
They tell me nothing's there for me amidst their woeful cries.
And so I travel aimlessly, evading many threats,
From predators and jealous kin to massive human nets.
I find myself quite lost once more, no longer in the sea,
I'm swimming now in waters fresh, I think, where could I be?
But not much time permits to pass, I must keep self aware,
I've narrowly escaped the grasp, the claws of great brown bear.
This bear it seems will not give up, he swipes and swipes again,
I tire now and lose my strength, I fear I've met my end.
Then all at once, it seems to me, the danger is no more,
I'm rescued now and safe again thanks to a mighty roar.
This roar it bellowed loud and deep, and it had kept me safe.
I wondered who could be the one who'd rescued me, a waif.
As I look up I see above two golden eyes like fire,
A steadfast creature watching me, in orange striped attire.
This beast he has the largest fangs and claws - sharp like a blade,
And yet, as I look into his eyes I just am not afraid.
A moment froze, we both are still, our spirits now connect,
His weapons borne are meant for me, for I he must protect.
The sun it sets, we've spent the eve our hearts entwined in song,
And yet we know the truth draws near, it mustn't be prolonged.
For you, my dear, you dwell on land and I swim in the sea,
And how could you or I change lives? It simply cannot be.
As I depart to swim away I feel I cannot cope,
But then a thought has dawned on me, and now I feel some hope.
For how we met was not by chance, and we are all we need,
The land it meets the sea year-round; only once was my heart freed.
Red dot of light
Glides across the room
Must capture this intruder
She crouches down
Ready to attack
As the dot moves closer
Pouncing into action
She slides on the floor
But the dot eludes her again
Determination in her eyes
She attacks once more
With a fury of paw swipes
The dot disappears
She frantically glances around
But it is gone…
Defeated, she wanders to her food dish
When the unforeseen mistrel swipes the land,
tiny warriors trudge against the force.
“Back down! Retreat!”, the general commands.
The musketeers recoil back on course.
Then the torrent readily disembarks,
the entire army rolls up horse and foot.
A few lucky ones hop on Noah’s ark,
their chiseled armors soaked with sludge and soot.
When many lightning bolts descend to strike,
the runnel puts on a golden brown cloak,
keep spinning to show and tell, like a tyke.
Unheeded, the beast goes berserk and croaks.
Then emerges an ugly tsunami,
too marred, the canoe gives in to this strife.
Unyielding, the orts repair unity,
primed to take it down head-on with their lives.
When the wreckage is wrecked with such a flair,
then their raw thumbs stands upright in the air.
(sung – in a round pussy willow warble - to the tune of --
Oh Where Oh Where has my little dog gone)
With a flam boy hunt deft jais nais sais quois
firm lickey split tongue
and two bell yule yar pissant
little nappy ruck berry filled up paul ling sacks
viz peppy la pew doth not peter out,
and weathers clawed rained swipes
from hello kitty when faux pas gets swung
assisting climbing Jacob's ladder
(without pussy footing,
orb bing a putz like the president)
advancing quick to attain orgasmic rung
while heading into a slippery sloping sluice
(with prickly endeavor emitting cleat trill
smooth sailing along a ****
re coarse upon phallic shaped pung
crossing la brea tar pits (peppered
with lai bee ha tricky bridge over the River Kwai)
comprising ideal place de la resistance
to woo tang clan foreign nee Kate,
where two puckered rill lee fleshy ruffling rills
tinged pinkish lips overhung
a challenging escarpment,
where many a brave Tom, Harry or Dick get hung
up, particularly while searching for fabled “G” spot,
cuz portcullis hamstrung
even the most fiercely determined
Engleburt Hump per dink
necessitating the moist risky ski maneuver
as most studs know tubby gelandesprung
though booby prize wool worth any slimy setbacks,
where sticky gook gets flung
from angry cat,
who does not in the least find amusing,
and if further pricked with rage
not averse to hurl dung
gar (with) ease at snaky,
retractable hardened beastie boy twill clung
for dear life and limb (er, or twig and berries),
while applying crampons (bivouaced
within his maxipad), viz bung
gull low, essentially a ball peen size cove
hammered out by Dashiell Hammitt, where coiled,
kinked follicles strewn tightly inlet among
pheromone laced verboten fruit.
Place: Malvan beach, konkan, Maharashtra, India
By: Sashi Prabhu, Date: 3rd march 2012.
As I trudge along with fancy and conceit,
Tender soles and bare feet.
Sandy saunter through virgin sands,
Pathways lead up to blue waters of Malvan beach lands.
A groove of coconut palm stands swaying tall,
Shady steps embossed as pass on us all.
Yellow-Green thatched leaves shades, cool breeze swipes south west,
Ham mocked nets to cradle me lax if I rest.
Cool breeze blows now is saline but strong,
And the blue water melts to white foam.
Lone eagle soars blue virgin skies,
Many more from the brood join in and swirls as fishing boat gently pass by.
A murder of crows’ pelagic fish they feast as on wet sands they briskly hop,
Siberian crane, solitary sweep grabs sandy fish &thaws into the backdrop.
I trudge along with fancy and conceit,
Tender soles and bare feet.
In the heat, indiscreet……….
All clear ,no signs of jungles of concrete