Best Untangling Poems
Can it be, into this world we are dropped
from heavenly streams that have never stopped?
With sweet hope gifted to our souls delight,
oceans of love and its fiery desires;
ladies so fair, we thank our keen eyesight
and leap into romance hottest fires.
Can it be, wonderment is our reward
given for living in a world so hard?
With love's soulmate waiting a heart to touch,
deepest seas of hot sexual pleasures;
daring to embrace and love very much
this bountiful store, of life's great treasures.
Can it be, that in life's short duration
we go beyond mere infatuation?
With deeper dreams that bless spirits in need,
grant romantic nights of sweetest relief;
birth greatest pleasures of harvested seeds
fruited in soul's spiritual beliefs.
Your questions asked with pulsing energy
of lovers’ wonderland of synergy..
Gifts do flow from fountain to foundations
of souls inspiring minds to understand;
seductive passion’s yearning flirtations
of red embers roused to lusty flames fanned.
In awe you long to know love’s mysteries,
untangling threads in tender reveries..
Of all the gold offered in sun’s rich rays
Sol would be poor in the worth of our love;
for never could there be more wealth of praise
than for ambrosial taste from gods above.
During this life as our lustrous hearts’ beat
we can transcend mundane with love’s white heat..
Our physical plane of mortal being
is heightened with intimate unity;
body and soul in tantra foreseeing
weaving love’s strands into eternity.
Robert J. Lindley and Susan Ashley
(a collaboration)
July 31, 2018
*For the purpose of this collaboration, tantra represents the weaving of strands into a unified whole and liberation of energy and expansion of consciousness*
Categories:
untangling, appreciation, romantic love, sensual,
Form:
Rhyme
The Amorous Mystique
Can it be, into this world we are dropped
from heavenly streams that have never stopped?
With sweet hope gifted to our souls delight,
oceans of love and its fiery desires;
ladies so fair, we thank our keen eyesight
and leap into romance hottest fires.
Can it be, wonderment is our reward
given for living in a world so hard?
With love's soulmate waiting a heart to touch,
deepest seas of hot sexual pleasures;
daring to embrace and love very much
this bountiful store, of life's great treasures.
Can it be, that in life's short duration
we go beyond mere infatuation?
With deeper dreams that bless spirits in need,
grant romantic nights of sweetest relief;
birth greatest pleasures of harvested seeds
fruited in soul's spiritual beliefs.
Your questions asked with pulsing energy
of lovers’ wonderland of synergy..
Gifts do flow from fountain to foundations
of souls inspiring minds to understand;
seductive passion’s yearning flirtations
of red embers roused to lusty flames fanned.
In awe you long to know love’s mysteries,
untangling threads in tender reveries..
Of all the gold offered in sun’s rich rays
Sol would be poor in the worth of our love;
for never could there be more wealth of praise
than for ambrosial taste from gods above.
During this life as our lustrous hearts’ beat
we can transcend mundane with love’s white heat..
Our physical plane of mortal being
is heightened with intimate unity;
body and soul in tantra foreseeing
weaving love’s strands into eternity.
Robert J. Lindley and Susan Ashley
(a collaboration)
July 31, 2018
______________________________
*For the purpose of this collaboration, tantra represents the weaving of strands into a unified whole and liberation of energy and expansion of consciousness*
Categories:
untangling, art, beautiful, deep, devotion,
Form:
Rhyme
"Notes on a Wrist"
the pulse felt
under nibs
of fingertips
translates a life
the semicolan
stretches like
the devil
hungers
it can
wait a long time
eternally feeding you
drip by drip
ever present
the missing
hovers, like a
hummingbird
never sits
beak and feet
wet in the detail
tasting the temptation
to cut strings
fleeting
and fickle
like a child
switches graces
the keys
black and white
the forest contains
all your precious things
hard to leave
leaves, all their
autumn winter stories
sentences written
and spent
like veins
singing stinging
the body of work
temporary rent
(LadyLabyrinth / 2023)
"There is a fable in the forest
whispered by branches as they blow,
a tale about the truth of leaving
things that no longer help you grow.
For on the surface it looks simple;
like you need only lace your boots,
but there is nothing quite as painful
as untangling your roots.
And proof is found in tree stumps
of the price some pay to flee,
that they would cut
their lives in half,
to cut the time before they're free.
Yet from the little left behind
Life has been known to grow again,
for unless you take your roots,
a part of you will still remain."
Categories:
untangling, journey, muse,
Form:
Narrative
I rise from the white-wine siesta,
letting go of the serpentine songs,
like a crimson-winged dragonfly
lost in the poppy prairies of Persephone,
untangling my prisoned heart
chained by the churning
deceit of Hades’s immortal chains,
savoring pomegranate promises,
pirouetting through petrichor nirvana,
as the sky smells like a saffron rose
above the castle of emperors
dressed in fallen flowers.
Yet the diamonds sometimes are
engraved with ominous omens
and remorseless remnants,
while I return to cinnamon seclusion,
dancing to the mood of my moon.
O divine dandelion,
in your eyes I see suppressed sighs
of a splintered sunrise,
flickering balmy zephyrs of paradise,
as my soul is tied to the softness
of your delicate dusk~
like a faithful disciple,
forever following your footprints~
while velvety roots of florals
face the glows of alchemy,
amidst the array of arrows,
left as ashes of gold gone cold,
and the gracious gusts of gloaming
devouring the unscrupulous wounds
of a fragranced dawn.
I am the aching pigment
in your palette of purples,
longing for butterfly blurs
to bring me back to a
kingdom of kindness,
where I’ll forever breathe tender lilies
rinsed with wind-swept wishes.
But amidst the clusters of jewels
and raining sakura,
tonight I choose to walk with
specters of scorching stars,
allowing curves of my scarred skin
to burn from the blazing breeze
that bleeds nefarious narratives
upon the bleached borders.
So watch me waltz into the
infernal waters of the deep, bruised bay.
There I’ll write an elegy,
for the sorrow that swallowed your spirit.
I will find an anchor to pull
you back to the land of paper lanterns
as I surrender to the
haunting hues of the horizon;
the sweet sacrifice of a beloved blackbird
singing farewell in silence
to save you from the devilish underworld.
As dandelion dreams
are designed in lucid lies,
carving my essence into wintry wires
of woes and verdicts
from the
growing vines of a
villainous valley.
I feel the blackbird weep, it’s everything
I see the blackbird quiver, it’s what you bring
dreary
d a n d e l i o n
Categories:
untangling, dream, gothic, imagery,
Form:
Free verse
When memories melt like sunset skies,
mirroring my thoughts,
slipping into the salt-dipped
skin of the deep, warm ocean,
I drink from the stardust chalice
of your unspoken sonnets,
r a i n i n g from cologne-stained clouds,
steeping me in aromatic cravings ~
as my heart weaves
love from Juliet’s jewels
within the aching sighs
of mauve moonlight.
And here I dream within
your spider-silk cradle ~
cresting in this chrysalis heart,
drawing butterflies above mulberry trees,
an illusion etched between lifelines.
For in my h o m e s i c k quiescence,
I wear you ~
my magnetic miracle,
twin flame that never dims,
the constellation sparkling above…
So take me where love knows no more~
you and I will forever breathe poetry,
tercets written beneath
the cobalt blue horizon
where eagle feathers soar ~
caressing the inner demons
that grieve in sunflower silence.
As it is through the kohl iris
of your russet romance
I’ve learned the language of loyalty ~
untangling knots of woes
that braided my sunrise mane
into a murky maze of madness,
sprouting mismatched metaphors…
Tonight I shall dwell in the amethyst afterglow
of your dahlia devotion,
illuminated by the aesthetic
k i s s
of kismet roses…
Categories:
untangling, emotions, romance, romantic,
Form:
Free verse
Night
unpins
her dark hair
untangling stars
as Dusk sets the Sun
down in the Sea
She'll comb it
while he
sleeps...
Categories:
untangling, dark, night, sea, sun,
Form:
Ninette
Ah yes, the joys of Christmas
Excuse me if, I seem a little listless
Just thinking about, all of the work
Turns my smile into a smirk
Carrying boxes, moving things around
That fake tree weighs a hundred pounds
Untangling lights, that came unwound
The headache caused is quite profound
Assemble the tree. What fun! I guess?
Unwrapping ornaments, damn what a mess
Decorate the tree, well, more or less
Did you know popping bubble wrap relieves your stress?
After all of that, it's on to the shopping
Gotta have something to put in your stocking
Unruly children, screaming and flopping
Looks like Christmas cheer, went island hopping
Then family time, so short and sweet
Cooking the food, for all to eat
The hugs, the smiles, the tears we weep
Don't wake me up, if I fall asleep
Finally it's over, do it all in reverse
Put everything back, while you swear and curse
I can't make up my mind, which is worse
The work or the crowds, I need a nurse
So I won't be sending Christmas cards this year
No buying gifts or decorating, let me be clear
I say, "Bah-Humbug", let the ghosts appear
To hell with all of this fake Christmas cheer!
by Daniel Turner
Categories:
untangling, christmas, humor,
Form:
Rhyme
I wish I could go back in time to childhood,
Go back, back to when I was a little girl;
Full of Christmas happiness and joy,
And the anticipation of Santa coming.
O, how I loved Christmas with my family,
The cooking and the decorating of the tree;
Mom fussing, grandma dusting and me helping,
And dad untangling the lights (swearing).
The fireplace was crackling and glowing,
And outside the snow was beginning to fall;
And us kids were so excited waiting for Santa Claus,
Mom was telling us Christmas stories.
Oh, on Christmas morning sneaking downstairs,
And all the presents stacked beneath the tree;
How could mom and dad and grandma be sleeping;
I checked to see if Santa had eaten his cookies.
Yes, only crumbs remained and his milk was gone,
How did he always know what I wanted;
It was the miracle of Christmas this adult thinks,
I still enjoy waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve
You, never know he could really exist for real,
Just because we cannot see him, he could still be;
That jolly man in a red suit, with white whiskers,
Riding a red sleigh with his frisky reindeer.
_____________________________
November 19, 2015
Narrative
For the contest, Story Poem About Santa Claus
Sponsor, Carol Eastman
First Place
Categories:
untangling, christmas,
Form:
Narrative
Every time I get happy
the Nana-Hex
comes through.
A dog's canines
change into chainsaws,
toothpicks turn into knives,
coral reefs diverge into dirty sponges,
a sandcastle into a mausoleum,
a soldier-ant burrows deeper
into my borrowed grave,
reveille trumpets tap
a tip-toed timpani of
disenchanted malevolence;
all for the Nana-Song.
I am eleven.
I am naked.
I am screaming.
I am kneeling in the shower
and every time I shriek:
"I feel like dancing today or
look, I can tie my shoelaces or
my bruises have healed or,
my neck is not scarlet like
the underskin of
Grandma's fingernails" -
it plays again, it reprises -
like a Bizet refrain
scraping pitchforks
against agate slabs,
shaving fresh flesh.
All for the resurrection of...!
All for the redemption of...!
the Nana-Hex.
Now, I am fifteen.
I don't talk. I fail to eat.
I scratch poetry and snivel.
My front teeth
are chipped and broken
like the high-browed brim
of Nana's low-ball snifter.
I picture four undertakers
from my windowsill.
Three of them are for me -
the fourth filthy fist,
clutching a scratched
chromed rung,
is for her.
Throwing confetti
from a guarded train
as she selfishly vacated me,
Dr. Zhivago evasive and...wait!
"look I've made my bed, dear Nana.
I lost another tooth, I received
an A+ in geometry.
No. I'm not part of one's family circus,
I'm not a crippled duckling
in a shooting gallery anymore."
Mom, Momma - I...
I can't catch her confetti, Mother.
I can't, poor Momma - but...
when her swastikad locomotive
bleeds into the
frozen chambers
of Auschwitz's
omnipresent shower heads,
and my stifled tears choke
your starved larynx
like a rabid cat
untangling balls
of matted string; then...
and only then -
dear God,
please tell Grandma Nana -
I've formidably said:
hello.
Categories:
untangling, lost love, lovetime,
Form:
Free verse
'Tis that time again to bedeck the tree with decorations!
Untangling the string of lights is one of my annual frustrations!
Naughty words are said but when all is said and done, you'll,
Happily declare that sans a Christmas tree it wouldn't be a Yule!
Placed No. 9 in Kim Merryman's "Here We Go A Caroling" Contest - January 2013
Categories:
untangling, funny, holiday, tree, tree,
Form:
Quatrain
GUARDED HEARTS tiptoe carefully through conversation, keeping it factual, functional or useful.
GUILTY HEARTS side-step conversation, escaping judgement, obligation and responsibility.
TIRED HEARTS shuffle through conversation, wearily anticipating reactions; knowingly predicting inevitable outcomes.
ANGRY HEARTS flee from conversation shortly after their fist-pounding, finger-pointing and door-slamming outrage.
CRITICAL HEARTS dominate conversation with personal attack, hurtful insult and stereotypical disregard.
LONELY HEARTS desperately long for just a little conversation, even risky conversation.
INTENTIONAL HEARTS march through conversation with purpose, direction and desire.
FORGIVING HEARTS remain through tearful conversation, mending the treasured and broken pieces.
HAPPY HEARTS dance gracefully in the midst of conversation, leading, following, untangling each honest expression with willful ease.
I don't know about you, but I just wanna dance.
Categories:
untangling, dance, emotions, february, heart,
Form:
Free verse
In my dream I lived on the edge of the future
Untangling the schemes and webs of the past
I sought out the leaders of nations that reigned
with havoc, division, hatred and blame
I gathered the cannons, and missles that blast
The bullets, the hand grenades, the rifles and bombs,
Daggers, and hand guns...and one by one...
all the weapons of mankind, were sent to the moon
I melted them together, in a bubbling brew..
Cooled, them, and molded and shaped them anew
Into a bright shiny spaceship. of alien steel
With smooth silver skin, and a promise within
A silver-scaled symbol, with a flaming red tail
To blaze the frontier, with amazing new trails
Imagine the journey, as we circled the stars!
On this voyage to the heavens, every leader joined hands
We soared like a comet , 'til enlightened were we..
Learning new ways to heal earthly scars
When our war torn planet had been given a rest
With restored human kindness, .....we returned from our quest
Back to our home, and more gentle our steps
In dreams our for the future, ...is it too hard to find?
I would take you along, if my dream comes again
Such a quest for our future, is a place to begin...
___________________________________________________
Categories:
untangling, fantasy, hope, planet,
Form:
Free verse
You have managed to unravel me
Which must have been a lot of untangling
But I fear the truth you see
And I fear the force you must be channeling
You see me with no carapace
And I enjoy being uncovered
My soul completely relocates
When I become discovered
I see a life that I never saw
and that life is looking right back
I see a reformed outlaw
and a calm, lovely maniac
I pray that my true self is not too hideous
I pray that my guard has come down enough
I know my past is so perfidious
With the anger, the violence, the handcuffs
I sweat with glee and anticipation
at the outset of a new proclamation
Yet my worry paralyzes me
Like I am some sort of over burdened amputee
Categories:
untangling, analogy, anniversary, april, motivation,
Form:
Rhyme
untangling his nets,
the hardy homeowner
lays out Xmas lights
on his snow-covered drive.
Categories:
untangling, christmas,
Form:
Imagism
We were kids, we had our squabbles
I'd have a fit, and run to tattle
A few disputes, a fib, a shout
Until mom would come to sort it out
Untangling kids she'd gladly strangle...
She'd send us off, to think, or pout
But you were my star,… so tall you stood…
And .. 'though I tried to reach that far
I never could-
Oh sure, I was little, and had laughed
at my attempts to do a task
I'd blow a gasket, but soon I slipped
into my teens...
And then so fast, the time had passed
and you were off to see the world-
And how I longed, to have you back.
While looking back, I see more clearly
and loved you dearly, for being there...
For being fair, for being you...
And something else. Did I tell you?...
You were my idol
You were my hero, you made me proud
I'll say it now, I'll say it loud
that you still do.
Did you know…. My darling brother,
all my life, as we were growing
I looked to you, to make me climb
a little higher, and all that time
I saw the world, a little better
I looked to you, a little older
to make me try a little harder
For, I was shy...and you were not,
You gave me goals, to reach the spot...
To try my best, to reach the gold
As we got older, it was so clear.
And we grew near, so very near
Which says a lot.
You were my star, and you still are
You helped me know, you helped me grow
Did you know you had inspired
that little spark…
Did you know how I much admired?
How much the years gave me the fire
To keep alive that little fire, and how I
….strive
…… to toe the mark ?
Categories:
untangling, family, love, me,
Form:
Narrative