Best Tempts Poems
I lift you up, delicately
like a bouquet of flames in pink patient fever,
romantically, I rove your surface with fingertips that tingle,
the texture of your treated cover tempts an impatient lover,
I read your Title, Her World, Her War
subtitle, Surviving Sorrow & Love,
your emblem, embossed in opal
a quill spun across a heart spelling your soul,
I spread you open with both hands
my grip holding the breadth of your body
a scent of sensuous ink unfurles into my inquisitive senses
raising you into my fascinated face
smelling the cleavage of your binding
sailing my lips down the center of your special secret
having your silky ribbons root around my fingers,
breathing, in warm curiosity on your exotic fibers,
Loving me as I hold you in wonder,
as I finger your pages with fawning pursuit of pleasure,
speedily you whisper my name with no refrain
as my moist voice recites
your poetry of paradise and pressure points,
I venture deeper into your voluptuous volume
feeling sensations of starlight I do consume,
in your tome of thick passion I find a home,
I like to read you in the suspense of night
searching your love lines, tasting your grape vines,
touching your emotions, embracing your sweet seductions,
you get into my nerves like electric sugar
illuminated by your poems of ardor and prose of candor,
intrigued by the penmanship of a Princess, curvaceous and calculating,
I turn to the Introduction, to see a photo of the great Authoress
a face pretty in courage, a smile of beautiful strategy
your body of work legendary,
I kiss you because I must -
J.A.B.
Are Flowers for Picking?
I question myself,
silently standing beside
the quaint wooden kiosk
in the centre of the square.
My eyes scan the freshly
picked assortment of roses,
carnations, lilies, and orchids.
The array of colours tempts,
softening niggling doubts
arising from tender pity.
I enter the hospice, briskly
making my way to her room.
Her haggard face lights up,
slightly masking her fragility.
A wan withering rose…
I swiftly hide my pain
behind a loving smile and
the fresh flowers in my hand.
-------------------------------
Placed 1st in Brian Strand's
Pick 1 Contest (April 2020)
In the realm of battles waged by fate,
Where heroes rise and villains bait,
There dwells a force, unconquerable, vast,
A nemesis, whose shadow is cast.
With nefarious intent, it seeks to harm,
An archenemy, a symbol of alarm.
It weaves its web of darkness deep,
Inflicting punishment vengefully does creep.
No hero can escape its relentless grip.
It thrives on conflicts, which none can skip.
A generic motivation, it lacks,
Driven only by the thrill of attacks
Its hubris knows no bounds; it knows no shame.
It believes it is beyond any blame.
But in the realm of battles, there lies a truth
Hubris and nemesis are intertwined, as wisdom and youth.
The nemesis, with its cunning ways,
Lures hubris into a treacherous maze.
It tempts the ego, fuels the fire,
Until the hubris burns, consumed by desire,
In the face of adversity, heroes must stand tall.
To face the nemesis and conquer it all.
But beware oh brave ones, of the hubris within.
For it blinds the wise, leading to their own sin.
In the realm of battles waged by fate,
Where heroes rise and villains bait,
There dwells a force, unconquerable, vast,
A nemesis, whose shadow is cast.
With nefarious intent, it seeks to harm,
An archenemy, a symbol of alarm.
But through perseverance and strength of will,
The heroes rise, and versus all odds, they fulfill
They learn from the past, the mistakes they've made,
And with newfound wisdom, they start to evade.
Word Bank
1/ Hubris: Excessive pride, presumption, or arrogance
Grandiose belief in one's personal ability, privilege, or infallibility
2/ Nemesis: A long-standing rival, downfall, or ruination of someone or something
Wellness and worry are by no means friends.
To be well, your mind of worry you must cleanse.
Living with worry, there’s a price to pay
worry will kill you if you let it stay.
If you want to enjoy physical health,
beware of worry it creeps up by stealth
then causes your nervous system to stress,
and in time, you’ll be a physical mess.
Worry also affects your mental health.
Its effects can creep up on you by stealth.
Worrying can lead to anxiety
which makes you withdraw from society.
Worry can steal your emotional health
Like a cat it moves in silence and stealth.
It gnaws on your joy, making you feel sad.
Before you know it, everything seems bad.
Worry can ruin spiritual health.
The crafty old lion stalks you in stealth.
He tempts you to doubt and distrust your God.
Before you know it, your life he has clawed.
Worry is a thief; he is after your health.
Give him a chance and he’ll steal your wealth.
When worry shows up, don't open the door.
Trust God instead, and feel your spirit soar.
I will always be a gypsy- woman filled with curiosity
Running wild beneath a moonglow grasping fireflies;
Then to quickly scribble impressions on leaves, my poetry:
How zest ignites visual arts — charcoal, acrylic, oil—streaks upon
Drawing boards until night’s rhythm forgets to ebb :
Nor do these limbs pause when bewilderment tempts hours
Of dance, weeks of exploration in unknown realms
That this spirit ever free, ever me flames an inner beam…
Nomadic meditative dauntless as a caravan of light and life.
9/27/2018
---------------
Anthony Slausen’s Your life in Nine lines...or less
`
I have so many friends on soup,
it’s hard to pick just one
To narrow down to just a few,
it just cannot be done
Heidi always brings a smile
Brenda tempts my heart
Sandy posts poetic dreams
Connie’s whispered art
Gershon really makes me laugh
Maureen, she can write
Hello There and Andrea
make my mornings bright
John, who makes the soupers sing
Nina, she’s a hoot
Kim can pen most anything
Pixie’s words so cute
Sunlite you are number one
you’ve always been my friend
I’m sorry I omitted you
it won’t happen again
Anne-lise always makes me think
Ilene sure can rhyme
Brandy’s thoughts are beautiful
Eve makes poems shine
Limericks are Jan’s forte
Affection is Cay Cay
Alexis, Chantelle, Carolyn
take my breath away
A warrior who floats on wings
A very Silent One
Bobby May bring happiness
and Spock, no wait, his son
Disco, Beth and Jeanne are new
at least they are to me
Janice, Tania, Sandra Weiss
much talent in these three
Line and LuLoo and Dear Heart
well, what more can I say
So many poets I call friend
on any given day
There are a few from long ago
when I first found this site
I can’t forget to mention them,
it just would not be right
Charmaine, I miss her the most
Paloma just as much
White Wolf wrote some crazy stuff
Darren had the touch
Agnes, Leanna, Anne-Marie
all were friends of mine
Becca, Dale, Lisa, Sue
Poetry so fine
Christy, Daniel, Freddy, Lin
so many from the past
Forever doesn’t happen now
it seems some things don’t last
But back to what I’m trying to say,
before this poems’ done
So many here that I admire,
it’s hard to pick just one
So, thank you all for all you do,
the kindness that you show
I’m blessed by every one of you
and wanted you to know
Inspired by but not written for Bobby May’s Pick A friend on Soup poetry contest
Oh hell, I going to enter it anyway. I know it won't win because it doesn't follow the rules but rules are meant to be broken, right?
No
A small little word
And yet so hard to say
It tempts me to say
Maybe
Maybe I can make it work
I so desperately want to say yes
It hurts
Crushes me
To see you disappointed
Those times when I have no time
When I am stretched to the limit
Commitments
Piled
One on top of the other
The important less important things in my life
When I have no energy
No extra to give
No way of knowing if I'm making a mistake
I say no to give myself a break
Some space to breathe
Sometimes no
Is meant to protect
No you can't go
To that party
Spend time with that girl
Hang out with that guy
No I won't change my mind
Even though I have to be the bad guy
No is a declaration
That I care for you
I want only the best
I want no harm to come to you
No is a tool I use to strengthen you
No you can't quit
You must finish what you start
There is no better feeling
Than seeing you succeed
Those times I said
"No, you can do it on your own."
Even though I desperately wanted to help
No meant I trusted and believed in you
You can do more than you think you can
No one is more proud of you
I wish you to know
The power of no
When it comes to a girl
No really does mean no
When you are put in an awkward place
You don't have to say yes
Choose your no wisely
No I don't want to go
No I don't want another drink
No I have somewhere else to be
No I will not let you treat her that way
No you cannot cross that line
No I deserve better than that
Yes, no is a small little word
It can change your path
Give you time to breathe
No, opens up possibilities
To choose
The yes
That is right for you
Yes or no
I believe you will choose wisely
Even though no
Can be a hard word to say
I smell something so beautiful!
Many different fragrances are drifting toward me.
So many sachets of poetry are prettily displayed.
Such visual delights!
I stoop to relish one - a citrus blend
with sweet anise and cinnamon.
Ah! How fun this poem is with its taste of licorice!
And here’s one that is rather sensuous.
Its aroma is the clove,
clary sage, bergamot, and rose.
How luscious! I linger at this one for a while. . .
Now I lean in toward the scent of chamomile.
This poem soothes the spirit
with its lavender and jasmine blooms in it.
Oh, here is one not only sweet but spicy!
Coriander wafts my way
with cinnamon and ginger. Such a treat to savor!
Next I view a bowl
filled with myrrh and frankincense.
And what else?
Why, it’s the earthy scent of sandalwood
with a touch of patchouli for good measure.
My, this is an epic poem to treasure.
Right next to it I spy a tiny one -
a packet of herbs and other little things,
But oh, how sweet its fragrance
of nutmeg, citrus and vanilla. Indeed, I’ve found a gem.
And here is one completely fresh - a most creative blend
of lemon, lavender and pine. It is divine!
Now a strong scent of sweetness comes to me,
This time from lavender laced
with small petals Of germaniums, and again,
the wondrous cinnamon
that takes my mind far back
to sentimental scenes of childhood.
Balsamic and earthy is the final poem that tempts me
with cedar wood, spruce and fir -
another one with thoughts of life and nature
to ponder as I linger one last time. . .
Then I must leave this sanctuary.
Day after day -
how I love to fill my senses
with poetry potpourri!
May 1, 2016 for Linda's Poetry _______ (fill in the blank) Poetry Contest
(hope I did it right this time!)
Blue
vision
Dipping toes
feel the softness
The warm breeze of the summer joys tempts me
Crystallized sand like feathers on the toes
Gold in my eyes
Breathe taking
and pure
bliss
05/09/2020
Sun :) - A-L Andresen :)
Copyright © All Rights Reserved
Double Tetractys 2 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Eve Roper
# 2
3rd place in the contest
Calm Waves On Peaceful Seas
Within Nature rests a rose scented breath
Its whispers a call against mortal death,
When brother sun it tempts to rise and shine
Sets dawn and morning light to this define,
As sweet life meant to be,
Calm waves on peaceful seas.
Within vibrant beats of romantic heart
Gasping echoes, sounding true love starts,
By ones destined dream that often decrees
Giving up harvesting fruits from greedy trees,
As sweet life meant to be,
Calm waves on peaceful seas.
Within man's earthen plight, oft treasures lay
Among the shadows of sun's dying day,
Begging love seeking souls to soon be found
And born to heart as free spirit unbound,
As sweet life meant to be,
Calm waves on peaceful seas.
Robert J. Lindley, 1-3- 2020
Rhyme, ( As Life, Love and Living was meant to be )
Note:
Looking back upon life's glowing mirror,
it casting images that tender heart so craves,
aghast at many things now so clearer
and praying deep, that something remembered saves.
O' Shadow, This Soul Dares To Ask Of Thee
O'
shadow,
pray tell more
before midnight clock scores
and in its echoes lays to waste
souls yearning for life's sweeter taste
hearts pining to youth and romance's deep appeal
not those never ending sorrows from which this dark world steals.
O'
shadow,
do not delay
truth I thee pray
of dark clouds spinning now
about life, love and black ship's prow
shorelines weeping loud and in hot red-spit flames
pleadings from ravenous and ghastly pits, savage accursed games.
O'
shadow,
do not deny
terror and the why
your master in secret demands
death and pains grow upon bloody hands
as it tempts we of earth and sad mortal breath
through our desires even until our woeful and weeping sad deaths.
O'
shadow,
do these pains explain
waves of loss, life's stains
storms born from Hade's deep dark abyss
ravaging through our world as truth we dismiss
I beg do not laugh at crying heart and turn to flee
nor attempt to utterly destroy, small light flickering within me.
O'
shadow,
fear not its wrath
nor losing way in its dark paths
speak to me, let truth thy lost heart save
as wisdom dictates, hope rewards heroes truly brave
listen as grieving heart asks for this needed reprieve
and sets about sweetest of divine mercies, saving both you and me.
Robert J. Lindley, 7-14-2019
Rhyme, ( What The Shadow May Know But Never Dare To Tell )
at the break of dawn
a Hummingbird starts his rounds
Morning Glory sought
flaunting a red hue -
Mexican Sunflower tempts
looking hot, hot, hot
the Don Juan of birds
sucking nectar from Beardtongue. . .
drunk on French kisses
Goldenrod at noon. . .
Zephyr carries a sweet scent
beneath a gold sun
between Rose bushes
the Flower Kisser gets lost
in Blue Infinity
Sweet Pea and Bee Balm
entice with purple petals. . .
Bees join the orgy
Monarchs swarm in droves
when blue Hummingbird alights
on Butterfly Bush
Evening Primrose
waving in the dusk’s last breeze. . .
the proper lover
the Flower Kisser
leaves his harem sated as
white Moonflower glows
*The capitalized names for flowers
represent some of the most popular
flowers visited by hummingbirds.
SPRING
Testing the water with bare toes
I will recoil
to the misted edge of hoarfrost
softened soil
peek through eyes of Crocus
and Jonquil
at the emptiness my promise
must fullfil.
I’ll whisper to the branches shy
with cold
to remember seasoned stories
they were told
beckon to the passing birds -
alight
let us celebrate this
un-chilled night.
My warming fingers, reaching gently,
thaw river ice
as softened earth imparts my scent
to foggy spice
worms wiggle in the drizzling
April showers
as dawn tempts the stretching vines
climb empty bowers.
I will touch each aching heart
with sunshine’s gift
releasing all from stifling
Winter’s grip
nestle with the Cardinals
and Jays
languish in renewals
warming haze.
1/2/2015
submitted to Seasons – Poetry Contest
sponsor – Shadow Hamilton
When sultry ripples take a hold
Replacing naive dreams
And fantasy becomes so bold
Seductive in its schemes
It moves into her mundane life
And tempts her with such skill
That she would follow anywhere
Against her weakened will
On soaring moonbeams she does fly
She mingles with the stars
And cushioned clouds become her bed
Seduction holds no bars
Loved and wooed by many
She wows the globe’s elite
Life is just a game for her
A playground at her feet
Sips champagne under starry skies
She dines with kings in Greece
Moves like Bardot in Monte Carlo
Goes au naturale` in Nice
But true love does elude her
Wrong choices to defeat
Gambles sometimes take a turn
Taste bitter from the sweet
Evening shadows enter
Before darkness takes its toll
And Paradise was just a lie
When naïve dreams did fall
EVE OF STORMS
As I look towards the horizon,
Without hesitation,
But with determined yet
Heartfelt trepidation,
And see a distant angry
Storm forging forth
Its spluttering vicious curvaceous
Fearful advance holds my gaze
With historical ageless
Heartfelt emotions,
That sink and dive,
And furl and curl,
Knowing no one may survive!
Poseidon and Neptune take centre stage,
And Eve of storms unleashes wrath,
Tempts oceans rage!
The beginning of time
Is about to meet Mythology
Eternity about to clash
With oceans and Astrology
The mystical ocean gods,
Meet Eve, the beginning of human
Temptation, against all odds!
The reptile has achieved
Its evil aim and intent,
Causing chaos and fear
Alone is it’s content.
The gods call upon God our Maker
To drown the serpent tormentor,
And quell this tidal wave
Ten storeys tall,
About to wipe out all,
This massive water wall!
Eve of Storms has angered God
She had already lost the keys
To Paradise, now interferes
With Poseidon and Neptune,
The gods of seas,
God the omnipresent and the
Only truth sends Eve back to Earth,
Is Eve of Storms,
Fiction, or myth people say,
But to this day
Whilst looking up
At starlit skies
We are no more the wise!