Best Understated Poems
Alliteration always awesome
Ballad beyond barnyard basics
Crystalline calls careful consonants,
Diamante delivers deeply
Enthusiasm excites eager ears,
Fanciful frolicking faerie
Generously gives grateful glee
Hyping haiku to heavenly heights,
Imagery and imagination
Jubilantly jumping joyfully,
Kimo kindles king-sized kingpin,
Lamenting the lily-livered lunacy
Momentous muse modulates melody,
Necromancer normalizes Neverland,
Opulent Opalescent orchestras opt
To pollute poetry previously pristine.
Quixotic quorum of questioners
Respond and recover rhymes rapidly
Serendipitous sentimentality
Turns timely tanka traitorously toward
Unmistakably understated Uranus,
Vindicating verses vilifying Vashti.
Whacking wannish warblers west,
‘Xaggerating ‘Xtemperaneous X’tra special poems
Yet yielding a yeomanly yearning toward
A zealous zany zingaroo of zest.
Categories:
understated, 10th grade, 11th grade,
Form:
Alliteration
I know the power of a kind word
When feeling isolated or alone
To know someone is there for you
You are no longer on your own
Feeling victimised or vulnerable
Judged or dismissed
Ignored , mistreated
Invisible …..like you do not exist
The power behind a kind word or gesture
Is somewhat underrated
It has the strength to move mountains
Its human connection and worth understated
Categories:
understated, encouraging, giving, life,
Form:
Rhyme
Filled with fresh flowers
An understated beauty
Well-designed garden
Captures attention
Magic really takes place
It relieves my stress
Summer garden fair
Creative spirit revive
Beautiful touch
A-L Andresen 08.06.2015 :)
Copyright © All Rights Reserved
Categories:
understated, beauty, flower,
Form:
Haiku
The aunites gossip back home
About how you've grown
Out of your white cotton frocks
And into red silk saris
They talk about how you're ripe for marriage
About how quickly boys flock to you--
Your family's rich and you are beautiful.
Like a princess but with none of the excess.
Their perfect Indian girl is rather simple.
But, the real you they can never comprehend.
Those brown khol-rimmed eyes with
That understated nose ring confuses them.
They'd rather ignore your luscious red mouth.
Those soft lips were like velvet as they brushed across my lashes as you pretended to blow sand out of my eyes one drunken night on a Konkan beach.
Both too scared to be the first to say anything
We just sat there drunk and giggling
When the aunties speak of you
I can't help but imagine
Things that leave
Little to the imagination.
I am a woman
And you are a woman
We're on the same page.
The boys will wait.
Categories:
understated, friendship, love, romance, red,
Form:
Free verse
My verse has been chosen as Poem of the Month at Sherborne Abbey!
The curious offerings of sacristans
Are given in obscure humility
The symbol of the cupping of the hands
Enshrines the essence of this mystery
The dawn unlocked; the turning of a key
The mystic world behind the little door
The mourning weepers, watching, silently
The quiet foot upon uneven floor
The layered shadowed centuries; the pass
Of long dead worshippers before the throne
Slow shifts of coloured pools of stains of glass
Soft drift of latticed light on pillar stone
The empty candle, thirsting for new oil
Unscrewed and filled, screwed up again and lit
The hidden corners, carved by masons’ toil
In which a wary flickered flame may flit
The covering, uncovering; each fold
Of linen and of altar cloth an art
Within the starch of white, on marble cold
The space to hold His living, beating heart
Here, understated wafers wait in line
For blessing, as an unblessed congregation
Here silver, water, light, and red wine shine
Anticipating sacred consecration
Here eye, and hand, and mind, seek symmetry
In objects placed, in psychic ebbs and flows
Seek that perfection only God can see
In right angle and scented mystic rose
When all are done and gone, her hands will shake
The fragments of His flesh on holy ground
Shed drops upon the earth its thirst to slake
Pour water through the light without a sound
When all are gone, all blessed with wine and bread
There, in the East, where better men have trod
She kneels and presses to the step her head
And, lost in awe, she speaks these words to God
I am that ancient soul you always knew
A part of you, from when time first began
The I am that I am, the that in you
That serves thee, as I will, while still I can
I come to you as Christian, Muslim, Jew
Agnostic, Gnostic, Druid, Angel, Man
The cupping of my hands I give to you
The curious offering of a sacristan
© Gail Foster 2016
Categories:
understated, blessing, god, mystery, psychological,
Form:
Iambic Pentameter
Monet
Brush strokes of elegant refinement
within eloquent sighs of awed inspiration
fluid scenery grasping Nirvana's refulgence
emotions painted vividly seasoned
music ringing from canvas's power
clinging to old master's sway
essence dipped of cultured omnipotence,
technique as enticed strumming violin strings
oyster'd pearls secrets of holy waters
in timely charms surrendered relevance
reevaluating a lost art's composition,
indistinguishable as snowflakes
in swirling paths of poignant distinction
relentless reflections ravish the eye
simply understated in complex polish
artfully dressed in sweet indulgences
delectation for the heart's yielding,
anointed of fire as elusive sands of time
like poetry misting off a gossamer pond
whilst wildflowers bloom amidst flair's allure
illusions that permeate spirit's indulgences
perception's pondered in provoked persuasions
amidst spells of splendiferous pièce de résistance,
concepts of genius's hand worked achievements
imploring deliverance of pondered breaths
exhaling hued aspiration's destined treasures
perfected jewels in classic showpieces' distinction
Monet's artistic pulchritude engraved for posterity
Categories:
understated, art, beautiful, imagery, inspiration,
Form:
Free verse
Immaculate invasion in a cryptic, tiptoe way
Emulating doves while landing - soft and understated
Gaze upon one bright star in the sky's celestial lay
Entranced, some shepherds see a host, hear glory's tale narrated
Deception? No, for prophecies were made in ancient day
Now child in lowly manger lies, this glad day long awaited
// Rhyme scheme = ABABAB with the last letter of each line's
first word determining the first letter of the following line //
Categories:
understated, christian, christmas, jesus,
Form:
Rhyme
Lovely blossoms of bougainvillea
Under a moonlight serenade
Ostensibly I contemplate the root
Of the affinity drawing me to you
Abiding fighter and bounteous lover
Rendering your essence freely
For the love of the gift
Candid without a care
Asking for less than nothing really
A few drops of water enough for sustenance
You have no scent nothing to call your own
Or to flaunt your offering
Subtle faint understated and low-key
Waiting to be discovered
To be loved and treasured
Simply for what you are
And not for guiles ruses or ploys
Swaying silently you wait as I
In the moonlit summer breeze
AP: Honorable Mention 2020
Submitted on June 22, 2019 for contest sponsored YOUR CHOICE FLOWER VERSE sponsored by BRIAN STRAND - RANKED 1ST
and on March 17, 2019 for contest BOUGAINVILLEA sponsored by CRAIG CORNISH
Categories:
understated, introspection, longing, love, moon,
Form:
Free verse
You dear are my fascination
Exceeding my expectation
Thrilling me making my heart race
There’s something in the way you move
I love how you sway to my groove
With every step you match my pace
Waltz, rumba, salsa or tango
More delicious than a mango
Sexy wearing leather or lace
My fingers explore every line
More intoxicating than wine
The allure began with the chase
Yes it’s true you played hard to get
Not looking at me when we met
I was enamoured by your style
Your easy understated way
Tapping as the music would play
and a subtle hint of a smile
Eventually you took my hand
Moving to the sound of the band
Breathtaking moments last a while
In my arms you are meant to be
Being with you makes me feel free
floating above the earth a mile
your movement is a form of art
Everything is more colourful
since you tangoed into my heart
Written May 12th 2018. For Connor Lott’s Hutinashrow poetry contest. Challenging but fun. I hope I got it right.
Categories:
understated, dance, romance,
Form:
Rhyme
Alas, dear Birkenstocks!
In a closet left, surely not because of theft.
Buried under a pyramid of your shoe sisters and brothers.
Rykas, Easy Spirit, Keds, Alegria and Crocs of course!
All those comfy wear from which I shall never divorce!
Metallics, flowered, Mary Janes, red, white.or any conservative color?
No chance, not for me.
In no way for you,sisters nor shoe brothers!
And that's no shame I slipped old Birkie's on last night.
Ah~my old,dear Birkie friends.
My toes can breathe and because of your toe bar and cupped heal.
I can walk easily with steady balance again.
A new pair of Birkie's coming to join our family.
Silvery-strapped numbers, I love so..
I don't dress understated and love to be flashy!
My feet love to breathe not closed in shoe coffins.
They are living things, which love the blue sky.
And now breathe oxygen, they must have.
My,oh my...these feet of mine.
February 22, 2020
1:30pm PST
Categories:
understated, clothes, color, fun, how
Form:
Free verse
You. From out of the blue a dream come true, every since
your debut my life flourishes anew.
When I first caught your eye my heart became electrified
but I was acting kinda' shy so you simply passed me by.
Then you turned for another look, the Earth shook,
nevertheless, clueless but hooked, you remained a
closed book.
I stood intimidated for you seemed so complicated, so
the conversation you initiated and I was elevated. You,
So beautifully understated.
Hence your elegance leaves me in suspense, however
it's very clever the way you use common sense.
Nonetheless, I acquiesce your beauty, your finesse,
amazing and I'm forever impressed with such
faithfulness. You... Timeless.
Categories:
understated, beautiful, best friend, confidence,
Form:
It was a pleasant, sunny day
when the Sands on the friendship shore
said Hi to me
And I said Heidi to the Sands too
The impressions of her pen footprints
led to an inspirational cove
It was all so feel good and refreshing to the soul
There she speaks with understated grace,
her voice calms the waves of any current heartache
Her loving enclave dissipates the hate
With forever positive thoughts
that contravene all negative contemplates
And as I rested upon the Sands,
the alluring, poetic voice that said Hi to me,
sent forth a warm, compassionate breeze
And in pure comfort, I said: thank you, Heidi
This is a tribute to my beloved friend,
the talented poetess Heidi Sands
Categories:
understated, friend, how i feel,
Form:
Free verse
Living simply
rejoicing
in their callings
He, a shoemaker
finest quality
long-lasting leather
She, a seamstress
understated grace
in bridal gowns and accessories
home - Lower East Side
1930's NYC tenement-style
hearts - in Jerusalem
Their bags packed
ready to go
Hark, Elijah heralds the dawn
Categories:
understated, jewish, journey, joy, new
Form:
Free verse
Robbinsville January 1943, a visionary artist was born to be
Country strong style, is his-story; par-excellence to you and me
Electric guitars just newly seen; would play one day, on music scene's
Where women will swoon, and young girls scream
Hard saved dimes, to his 'turn' would see; at Young Harris, in Towns county.
A Georgia boy made good & some stories, in country-rock/pop R&B!
A world I wouldn't miss, was 'born' to be; under the hands of Ronnie Lee!
Smoky mountain rain fell on our hearts, through cracklin radio's to early starts
'Pure Love' played all its lively parts; at park or mall & in K-marts.
His music echoed in the '70s & '80s, along with chrome mag wheels & feelin free.
Milsap impacts listener land, to date he stirs the soul of man,
His flow is rolling, verging on unplanned, his 'Local Girl' understated-grand
My finding is; my verdict says there's 'more of our guy' on the way!
When I'm feeling weary or senses grey, a 'hit' from Ronnie lifts my day.
Cross Missouri mudflats, on Florida sand; he moulds emotions in his hands.
©JOE MAVERICK 2-11-2015
Categories:
understated, america, celebrity, cheer up,
Form:
Rhyme
While ambling down the boulevard,
I spied a swanky canopy.
As member of the avant-garde,
The classy bistro suited me.
When greeted by the maitre'd,
I nonchalantly said, "Just one."
He smiled and nodded graciously.
My gourmand venture had begun.
As soon as seated, promptly pounced
A waiter dressed in gray and pink.
"My name is Jacques," the man announced
And asked what I prefer to drink.
I ordered an aperitif
And proffered menu then perused.
In panic mode, I thought, "Good grief!
It's all in French. I'm so confused!"
When Jacques returned, with easy air,
I asked what he would recommend.
When he'd advised the bill of fare,
My gaze did then the room attend.
A masterpiece of elegance,
So understated and refined.
No chandeliers nor opulence,
Artistic taste and chic combined.
Came appetizers, quite a few,
And tiny salads, each unique.
With wines and cheeses right on cue,
'Twas gourmet dining at its peak.
For entrees there were perfect meats
With succulence beyond compare.
Then followed some exotic sweets
And coffee quite extraordinaire.
While savoring a fine cigar,
I said their chef deserved to win,
For haute cuisine the best by far,
Another star from Michelin.
When mammoth check was given me,
I calmly said I could not pay.
"Though penniless, you must agree
You've gained a customer today."
Was booted roughly out the door
With expletives obscene and rude.
In gutter prone, a vow I swore
That for assault I'd have them sued.
I did, however, leave a tip
On seventh race next afternoon.
That Jacques should into savings dip
And bet it all on Silver Spoon.
Categories:
understated, adventure, food, french, fun,
Form:
Rhyme