Best Tropics Poems
The Tropics: Earth womb
Nature’s seed incubation
Prefaced: world conquest
Palm trees in white sand
Sea breeze sways banana trees
Stoned on sun and rum
Huddled together
Around fire place we draw nigh
To combat coldness attacks...
Singing joyous hymns
Grateful to God* for love’s warmth
Exempting us from Winter**.
*1Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
*We live in the Tropics, yet our family resides in the one of the coldest provinces in the country.
January 14, 2022
2nd place, "Winter Sedoka" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Charles Messina; judged on 1/25/2023.
it is heaven on earth, some say;
a paradisical playground,
peopled by bronzed angels in miniature
and permeated by fragrant incense, by jasmine,
by the toll of a temple bell.
it is an eastern jungle,
a tangled fairytale thicket of woven dreams and flimsy ecstasy
- the land of milk and honey...
a tantalising idyll, i do agree,
but in my bullet-riddled heart i know the truth -
i have penetrated the veil.
alas, my darling, i hate to break it to you
but that milk you sup is curdled...
and the honey is mixed with blood...
and those angels are devils
hiding behind gaudy masks and heartless smiles
turn your back for a moment, they'll rob you blind,
leave you sprawled on your back in a dirty alley,
a knife lodged in your spine
....not that it matters,
because we love being led like naive lambs to the slaughter,
we flock to paradise in droves,
eager, thirsting, with zombie eyes,
to have our purses drained,
our hearts broken and the smiles torn,
in cold blood,
from our chapped and sunburned lips.
masochistic to a fault, we thrive in a den of sin,
in this turquoise sea of personal degradation,
on the malicious glint behind the smile of a tropical queen
...but in the darkness before dawn,
as we cushion our heads on tainted sand
and gaze up at unfamiliar stars,
we are forced to confront the yawning gulf inside,
the hollow yearning that drove us here,
wealthy waifs and strays dowsed in Chanel No5,
to our spiritual deaths on this island paradise
under the impassive stares
of those wee iron-fisted angels,
beneath this yellow oriental moon
steady warming sun
shimmering waves cresting spray
flock of flying fish
September 24th 2018
For Julia Ward's
Haiku in the Tropics
Poetry Contest
Summer of blazing sun’s delight
offers good health and wellness flight
smiting intense heat wave blight.
Season for nature-trip leisure
mountain treks devoid of pressure
while sweating out with pleasure.
Tropic’s Summer sizzles with zest
vacation bliss and bonding nest
in warm hugs of loved ones blest.
As parched land parcels thirst for rain
humid air wafts bestowment gain
God grants golden harvest* grain.
Proverbs 10:5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
January 21, 2021
1st place, "ALL YOURS (Feb 5)" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 2/6/2021.
Awaiting rain pours
Arid lands seek God's goodness*
Alarmed midst warm breeze
Ailing for green grass carpet
Aim now for harvest venture.
*Psalm 52:1 … The goodness of God endureth continually.
pink plumeria
fragile and delicate wisps
hawaii twilight
Written 9-24-2018 Haiku in the Tropics Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Julia Ward
a butterfly fish
winged fins and colorful too
dazzling the tropics
Watching travelogs about the tropics
I yearn for the warm sunny beaches
Don't get me wrong I still love Canada
But miss those gentle summer breezes
The fresh sea air drifting across the water
Soft and exhilarating sun on my skin
Heaven like feeling matched by my mind
Always accompanied by a grin
Too old now to expect things to change
Will forever be an unfulfilled dream
But I can still dream about the tropics
Still can till I finally run out of steam
like a hungry monster
devastating was the earthquake
swallowing Haiti
leaving total destruction in it's wake
the dead and dying lay about
from Port Au Prince to Leogane
mass graves being dug
while this tropical island screams in agony
the warm winds of desperation
blow along the severed highways
sad souls stranded without food and water
hoping to see another day
feathered fernery
paradisiacal pose ~
tropical très chic
“Winter” in the tropics... wow, indeed great!
Great with God’s love*, warm of excellent rate
Binding hearts around great care
Beyond great kinship’s welfare
Blessed family of great reunion-trait.
*Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
January 11, 2019
2nd place, "Same Word Winter Limerick" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Charles Messina; judged on 1/14/2019.
Completely unrestrained, sun drenched and yummy,
Tasting of the tropics, flavors so tender,
Falling from the coconut tree to greet my tummy,
Great amounts of fiber found in each bite….
Scrumptious like the mango, cashew and cherry
And, just like these – they aren’t nuts at all,
Instead, they’re a drupe, fleshy and a little harry,
The coconut palm is the national tree of the Maldives.
Coconut trees can bring 180 coconuts per yield,
Such a delicacy should be mentioned as quite tasty,
They bring so much sweetness to those who’ve peeled,
Despite those who thought coconuts were afflicted with a curse.
Though I didn’t realize the wonders of this flavor,
Now I know what it means to use coconut oil -
Feel the marvels of this amazingly beneficial savor,
Enjoyable in so many ways I can’t even illustrate.
Coconuts are more than just nuts that fall from the tree,
They pour out wonders in oil, butter and beverages,
Lasting long enough to prove that, to some degree,
Their charms make hearts flutter with appreciation for the drupe!
heaven’s rain showers
vanquish humidity’s wrath…
great harvest*-bounty!
*Jeremiah 5:24 ...The LORD our God, ... giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
September 25, 2018