Best Toasty Poems
Another year has come - chillingly -
and more chillingly for me than in decades heretofore.
I watch it ranting from my window as I recall. . . .
The year already past had tugged me from those tame and toasty days
when I lay face up to sun
dreaming that my summer would never end.
It brought me to this winter when it withered up and died,
but half a century and more of memories
had fallen for me by now.
Like pretty crystal flakes they fell, drifting through my mind -
places, events and people.
Oh, those people I looked up to in my youth -
fallen as the snow!
How many pretty snow flakes have melted now away?
Only my memories of them remain. . .
memories now piled up like snowdrifts in my brain.
Yes, the newborn year has arrived.
Just one month old and already, it has lost its crawl.
This infant’s aging process parallels, on the larger scale,
that fleeting span of time known as life -
a time that all the living undergo.
The new year carries on (as must we all) to soon complete its cycle.
Let it bluster. Let it wail. Let it rattle at my door,
for soon enough, all signs of it will cease.
Written 2/12/11
Now used for 'A STRAND (1061)' Poetry Contest
Categories:
toasty, me, new year, time,
Form:
Free verse
Indigo ink dreams
Dripping from heart
Tattoos tongue with kinetic kiss
Green electric buzz like sip
Of fine blueberry wine so sweet
Dreamy turquoise love touch
Filling me up with red desire
On fire for your romantic antic
Sweeping me off my feet
Carrying me with ease
Of a blue breeze to deserted love island
Where tan sands caress like brown hands
White waters flow warm and toasty
Fast slow then in closing cold
Never let go of this love
For it floats like a boat
Categories:
toasty, appreciation, beach, black african
Form:
Free verse
Take away my static hair,
My thick, wool toque, my glassy eyes.
Take away the chilly air,
The endless clouds, the covered skies.
Give me back my sun-streaked hair,
My floppy hat, my shaded eyes.
Give me back the sea-salt air,
The fluffy clouds, the crystal skies.
Take away my dull, dry skin,
My soggy mitts, my booted feet.
Take away the frosty wind,
The icy paths, the slushy streets.
Give me back my sun-tanned skin,
My denim shorts, my flip-flop feet.
Give me back the toasty wind,
The sparkling dunes, the sandy streets.
Take away harsh Winter's sting,
His gales of hail, his banks of snow.
Give me back my darling Spring,
Her rising sun, her lovely glow.
Categories:
toasty, seasons, me, me,
Form:
Quatrain
there’s something so endearing
about a late fall sun
so mellow so sultry
a warm toasty glow that lingers
and penetrates your skin
reaching through to the bone
your body craving it
moments so rare
you want to treasure
and stretch out
knowing how few and precious
those last rays really are
before the clouds and snow
winter will be long
and the cold disheartening
so soak up the energy
of that october sun
let it kiss your cheeks
slowly utter its last goodbyes
Published in my 24-page photo/anthology ~BYGONE DAYS OF SUMMER~ 2020
AP: 2nd place 2025, Honorable Mention 2022
Submitted on June 14, 2020 for contest BRIAN'S SELECT H sponsored by BRIAN STRAND - RANKED 1ST
Posted on September 20, 2019
Categories:
toasty, appreciation, autumn, change, longing,
Form:
Free verse
Gone, now just a memory the warmth of summer,
winter's icy fingers now take a harsh grip turning
land to frozen waste. Blanketing it in snow as the
nights draw in, reflecting the bright moon.
Children having fun sledges rushing down the hill
and snowmen appear standing as sentinels to winter.
The whisk of skiers as they fly past speeding downwards
their colourful ski suits adding splashes of vivid colour.
Jack Frost hard at work decorating trees with icicles
some short and others long sparkling, reflecting light
appearing like gems amidst the sprinkled snow covered
branches. Once more winter reigns supreme.
Icy winds howl across the valleys causing drifts
of snow some eight foot deep, chilling bones
making us huddle down in fleece lined coats
Rosy cheeks blaze out from under hoods,
And fingers freezing cold from handling snow.
contentment in every face as people head home.
To cups of hot chocolate and toasty warm fires
shutting out for now winter's icy blast.
Categories:
toasty, snow, winter,
Form:
Verse
Tumble, crumble cornmeal, salted flour
Stream olive oil
Feed water and toasty yeast with sugar
Crinkle, rumple, crease, and fold
Smooth a silky, doughy globe.
Cover, leave the orb to grow
Keep baby warm
Wrap with snug and swaddling towel
Linger, loiter, wait and proof
Sing a sunny, happy tune.
Overturn the ball on flour
Dust a wooden pin
Feed heart and conscience with honey
Rotate, flatten, compress, admire
Make a downy, level sphere.
Bridge the stretchy bread to pan
Curl edges like leaves
Swirl and ladle a coat of tomato
Thick, chunky, bright, and red
Sway to kitchen melody.
Peppers, onions, olives, chokes
Sausage for some
Rain down the mozzarella and Swiss
Turn and toss, precipitate
Drizzle a snowy blend.
Push the pie into a hot cathedral
Pray for happiness
Think about joy and contentment
Pause, watch, patience, serenity
This journey bakes the future.
Copyright © 2016 Tess Harvester
Categories:
toasty, food, meaningful, metaphor, philosophy,
Form:
Free verse
The trees are bare, now comes cold air
The breezes howl this night
I’m toasty warm, secured by charm
As we hold each other tight
This winter evening…
As the sun descends…
The moon is smiling…
No love pretends…
It’s all for real, dear…
As we stay inside…
The winter frowns…
While in here, we hide…
Our winter pleasures…
Are year round dreams…
When come the fires…
With snow filled scenes…
We’ll feel the softness…
As our hands embrace…
Reflecting fires, bright…
With red cheeked face…
Winter winds chasing, while love’s erasing
The many sounds we hear
We’re holding so tight, by the fire this night
As our bodies stay so near
Old mister winter…
Turn away from our door…
For we won’t answer…
We won’t give you more…
The room is ignited…
By this fire inside…
On this winter evening…
In here, we’ll hide…
Categories:
toasty, seasonswinter, fire, fire, winter,
Form:
Quatrain
"All alone! Whether you like it or not,
alone is something you'll be quite a lot!"
Quote from- Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go! And The Larax
________________________
Sometimes I am utterly, totally, entirely lonely,
There are days all I want to do is eat macaroni;
And on the carpet play roly-poly with my doggie,
Secluded and apart, toasty, cozy and all solitary.
Alone in myself, all alone wholly and sorrowfully,
Altogether silent, oh I enjoy the quiet completely;
Lonely can be good for writing a long, long story,
Or penning a sweet verse or rhyming a little poesy.
So when you feel lonely, just be still and write poetry,
And don't be sad, don't be afraid and don't be angry,
Just be lonely.
___________________
August 7, 2015
Poetry/Rhyme/"Utterly, Totally, Entirely, Lonely"
Copyright Protected, ID 07-698-175-07
All Rights Reserved, 2015, Constance La France
For the contest, Dr. Seuss Quote Prompt,
Sponsor Casarah Nance
Seventh Place
Categories:
toasty, loneliness, writing,
Form:
Rhyme
The buzzing wakes me,
The intercom.
It's the family.
We take off her coat,
Her little scarf and mitts.
She climbs in beside me.
Snuggling
Cold cheeks,
Little blocks of ice
Against my body ,toasty warm.
Shall we play?
Out comes Big Ted,
And the favourite book.
I read.
Big Ted looks on.
We sing twinkle twinkle,
Big Ted dances.
We sing again, Big Ted claps.
We take a bow
And we laugh.
I read again
From the favourite book.
Two pairs of eyes
Sit entranced.
One, brought into reality
By the imagination of a child
The other pair locked into
A world of fantasy.
Warm, safe,
Wrapped in the arms
Of family love.
We sing again.
Big Ted is tired.
I am tired,
The family see.
It's time to go.
We put on her coat,
Her little scarf and mitts.
Little arms hug tight,
Baby soft lips plant
A wet kiss on my cheeks.
And so her warmth leaves
With a wave of the hand.
I feel a familiar chill
Of emptiness descend
Upon me.
Then a new sound.
It carries through the letterbox,
Ascends the stairs
And reaches right
Into my heart.
Just four little words.
I love you Nanny.
Categories:
toasty, childhood, family, lovefamily, family,
Form:
Free verse
Photo: RIVERVIEW AMUSEMENT PARK
~POSTED BY MY GUARDIAN ANGEL~
We were just kids in silken ribbons and braids,
Playing cut-outs in Chicago's summers toasty shade.
The clanging streetcars ran in front of our homes.
Who cared, we were licking delicious ice cream cones!
There was no such scare as " sugar is evil."
Anymore than the chance, that we'd find an intrepid boll weevil.
There was no TV till we were a tad older.
But we went to movies every Saturday and laughed so hard that
we cried on each others shoulders.
We shopped at Woolworth's Dime Stores.
Bought "Blue Waltz" cologne and little lockets, girls our age adored.
The big treat was going to magical Riverview Amusement Park,
The alchemy of the stars made it totally magic.....after dark.
Swimming back in the oceans of my heart's time,
I see how God blessed me to read books and learn how to rhyme.
Mom and Dad bought me many books.
I had a roll top desk, such a lovely, bright wooden look.
We loved saddle shoes, boy were they cool.
We'd sit and polish them,so lovely,we would drool.
We sat on the stoops and watched men in uniform, go to war.
Some sadly, with our tears, we saw their blue eyes no more.
On your back porch we sat on the great family swing.
Hearing songs and stories-the essence of my past,is so overpowering!
10/31/2020
Tribute to Joanie, my best friend since age seven!
Thanks for decades of memories!
Love, Panagiota
Categories:
toasty, best friend, childhood, joy,
Form:
Couplet
He and I went to the same school,
we were in the same class.
He never studied with me
or played with me.
He was too cool for me
and I didn't know how.
When we each went our separate ways,
back to our homes,
he had help with his studies,
while sometimes I found supper.
He got to sleep with just a blanket,
feeling warm and toasty,
while I slept with just a blanket, too, feeling cold as if I was outside,
perhaps I was.
I never wished I was him,
why would I?
why would I want to be someone,
someone who wouldn't want to play with me?
He never got the higher grade.
Now as he receives his paycheck from me,
he asks me how.
How did I?
I paused and smiled,
you never played with me,
no one did,
so I kept myself busy.
He said thank you for his bonus,
I said, no!
Thank you for not playing with me.
Categories:
toasty, appreciation, class, life, poverty,
Form:
Free verse
Just as snow begins to drift and fall
Outside still my lover comes to call
Yes the fire is toasty warm,and bright
On my rug we curl up nice and tight
For awhile we kiss and murmur sweet
Casually he gets me on my feet
Hanging in the door there's mistletoe
Reaches for me as our feelings grow
In his arms he twirls me and I sway
Soon we realize Santa's on his way!
Tree lights twinkle bright across the room
Merry Christmas on our lips does bloom
At long last I unfold from his arms
Softly pull away from all his charms
Let us give each other just one gift
On to pretty packages we drift
Very soon it will be Christmas Day
Ending the night,we listen for that sleigh!
Categories:
toasty, holiday, lovechristmas, me, christmas,
Form:
Acrostic
Twirling flakes float down blanketing the ground
they give the earth a covering of white,
flakes fall silently, they don’t make a sound
this winter wonderland brings such delight.
Young children awake and rouse from their beds
and they open their curtains with great glee,
a quick breakfast, then they dust down their sleds
and say ‘Mum we’ll return home to eat tea’!
They pull on snow boots and warm winter clothes
and they slide down the glistening white hills,
warm clothing protects small fingers and toes
which are toasty; they don’t feel bitter chills!
I love to see children go out to play
Perhaps they wish it would snow ev’ry day!
9/18/19
Categories:
toasty, children, fun, snow,
Form:
Sonnet
The drinks were brought before us,
The rusty pretzels dangle,
Tonight we were exquisitely attired,
Long silk threads and spangles!
Tablecloths in toasty ecru,
Flowers floating in water,
Candle holders lending light,
Loose sparkles; no bother!
The band was playing soothingly,
Strings kissing the atmosphere,
Black and white piano keys,
Spreading music, without peer!
Without a perfect spotlight or
Other prominent disclosure,
They entered, sat, and ordered
Something fruity, perhaps ambrosia!
The splits of champagne followed,
They chatted, giggled, and pranced,
The rustle of their dresses,
Caught our attention, as they danced!
Through glints of light
When they returned,
We watched their coming in awe,
Very sure of what we’d see: So attractive!
We dropped our jaws!
As each of their dress folds fell,
Red and green satin covered by lace,
We adjusted our ties and realized,
How elegant their taste!
Categories:
toasty, appreciation, beauty, celebration, night,
Form:
Quatrain
On a dreary day, the sky hangs, like layers of grey cotton wool
As I am curled up warm and toasty next to a roaring fire
Across the armrest, my old throw casually lays
Favorite magazines leisurely tossed upon the floor
I am now restless; too cold for a walk and feeling melancholy
I proffer distant stares through wide expanse of window
Slipping into a welcome daydream, my coffee mug in my hand
Imaginings take forms as I look past the frosty panes
Like magic, I deeply inhale streams of moist, clean, fresh air
As warm, mellow sunshine slowly invades the gloom
I see the brave rose bush awakening, clad in young leaves of green
Her precious, new buds peering from sockets upon trimmed branches
There goes a busy hummingbird collecting nectar as she sings
And in my mind at that moment, in pure delight, I glimpse, spring!
~*~
Note: For Francine Roberts's, "Bring On Spring" Contest
Categories:
toasty, life, seasons
Form:
Free verse