Best Updraft Poems
In the nighttime hours
As the world deftly creeps by
I summon my powers
Spread my wings and fly
Past cotton clouds,
Snow-capped mountains, white
I am lost and I am found
I am beauty and blight
Past the midnight chimes
A soul searching for home
Tangling myself in rhymes
So as to not feel alone
Catch the updraft of hope
Friendship sun on my face
My place in this world in scope
Loathing, with love replace
The hawk lay upon the lazy late afternoon
air currents;
Floating, circling, spiraling, ever downward.
Its wings spread wide, white feather-tips splayed.
It teetered on the updraft
above the terraced alluvial plains
in the lea of the Himalayas.
Landing with a compression of desire
upon the crumbling limestone outcropping,
It stood preening.
Waiting,
For the next breeze.
Boisterous clouds are churning, roiling air-mass in warm updraft
Declaring on callous inhabitants of earth, a dark ferocious war
Manifesting malevolent force, imposing anger on spatial norms,
Conspiring with anguished winds to invigorate violent storms.
Colossal is their expanse that threatens the rise of new dawn
Offering a preview of what face of death would encompass
When enraged nature punishes humans for irresponsible acts:
Burning dirty fossil fuels, and decapitating vast forest lands.
Atmospheric inferno defies galactic harmony of equilibrium
Suppressing sun’s orange glow striving to uplift amber horizon,
Shrouding advent of nascent day to teach humanity a lesson
Collaborating with mighty oceans, stirring hurricanes and cyclones.
Overshadowed by the reckless commotion of ghastly gray,
Emerging marigold expression of ascendant tangerine daybreak
Grieves for the lost vegetation and deserted parched terrains,
Thundering a warning to foretell why the birds have already left.
March 28, 2020
Placed 1st: Gif #2 contest by William Kekaula
Winter swirls on the morning mist
Undulating clouds blowing west.
Cobwebs clear with a forceful fist
Winter swirls on the morning mist
A snatch of red wool to untwist
Caught in an updraft on the crest
Winter swirls on the morning mist
Undulating clouds blowing west
The glow of lights beckoning home
A snatch of red wool on the hook
Soggy from the day’s windy roam
The glow of lights beckoning home
Curled before the fire alone
Sweet calico purrs in the nook
The glow of lights beckoning home
A snatch of red wool on the hook
A kestrel dips into an updraft
thinking he knows the world
tranquility gurgles
through silent valleys
over mountains
around the earth
refracted
through the wind
The creature soars ever higher
in great swoops and dives
the horizon curves as it eludes vision
the stars pulse their siren
but thrill denies
adrenaline overrules
their ambient warning
Gust to gust each fades
quicker than the last
whispers carry the weight of wings
and their soulful song breaches sanity
prayers of rightful good
where petty purple banners
crest twinkling hearts
The last thermal ridden
last lyric dies
as flight’s drone fades
upturned wings alone
the sky empty oblivion
as the sun aligns its beady eye
to the looping path of the bird
Two brittle forms
grapple in light
which blots out the senses
and protects
what can never be touched
divine oblivion
smites the naive bird
an archangel buried
in a crypt
six feet deep.
From out of the west and the flaming Sun, an entrance he did make.
There’s none like this one, an American Eagle, make no mistake!
He’d served in all the Western wars… and cleaned up many a town.
What he was doing here in ours… Totally, held the breath of all.
It seemed the West had gone tame to him, all of a sudden, you know.
He was heading East on an updraft of Freedom, and Justice, for all…
To find just the right fight… where they needed him, to serve each night.
He’d gaze upon the Liberty Bell, stand where Washington had done right.
Still that would never be enough, when somewhere injustice struck.
Here, he was just passing thru… His shadow leaving its amazing mark.
None would ever forget, how he stood and flew so straight and tall.
He’s the symbol and shield our men serve under, in this glorious land.
When he flies over, stop and salute, our Flaming Son.
He and all those, who into battle, do steadfastly follow him.
For he is the leader of all those, who will forever steadfastly go.
.
Dedicated to my Son going into the Army on the Veterans Day.
Updraft
by Odin Roark
He sees the journey endless
Yet knows well of endings
He senses the other side of heart
That way station of life
Where respite or more challenge
Follows getting beyond
Yesterday’s beauty and pleasure
Perplexed with what to do
He rejects conceding as not enough
After all
Who will hear the melodies
Blood’s ebb and tide ripples
See rainbow vibrations
Atop a sparrow’s whistling breeze
Smell the freedom of flowers
Opening by dawn’s fraternal light
Taste longevity’s savory consciousness
Touch anxious brush-strokes of dreams
Still seeking canvas?
Restless
Aware the final movement
Of life’s symphony inexorable
His spirit soars above the clouds
Not yet willing to embrace
Dead air’s finality
Patience smiles
Another updraft rises
Unable to grasp the the context
Despite her greatest resolve
The Queen Bee frowns at her, vexed
Into the background my girl dissolves
Hive order is a nasty one
Mean girls, stingers in back
Each social stratum is hard-won
Her skills of nuance do lack
Their fell dance she does not get
Not made to bow to throne
Forever on the outside, yet
Safe, hidden, and alone
From lonely heights she sees
Hot updraft carries higher
Her mind flowing with an ease
Than the hive could never aspire
So safe, but wishes she weren’t
Within abides crimson yearning
Others to share the current
While below, vanities burning
4/30/16
© Thomas W. Quigley
For my Daughter, who shares the family "gift"--
The mixed blessing of an independent mind,
and its social challenges.
For further elaboration, see my poem "Of Asses and Burgers"
Butterfly Wing Man
OH …. would I……could I……should I…..????
Write about the butterfly…….and why?
Awakens from his past ---full fledged
while beneath I stand ---still pledged
To hold my ground – on sacred soil
watch his translucent wings uncoil
A gentle breeze his birth ….. updraft
first touch of joy ‘neath fragile craft
Duty bound in ancestry
I envy him his being free
Watch him praise the rising sun
bathe in the heat that I must shun
Nestled in his petaled bed
I see him slowly dip his head
Promises to nature kept
tears for those who never wept
Wings that change the course of time
Wings – that sadly – are not mine.
12/3/2015
submitted to – Write About Butterflies – Poetry contest
sponsor – SKAT A
The clouds hung low as oft they do
still I went out to play.
They said hello, as I passed through
a-skipping on my way.
Then in the flow an updraft blew
I got caught in the spray.
I did not know, but high I flew
clouds carried me away.
Both to and fro, I swear it’s true
in clouds I soared that day.
Earth sank below, the gold sun grew
“You’re flying now,” said they.
I had to go, what could I do?
We’d gone too far astray.
Down with the snow, a chilly stew
I snuck and slipped away.
I passed a crow, with his small crew
black freckles in the gray.
“Hark,” warned the crow, his words undue
“Go home without delay!”
“The clouds will know, 'twas only you
their fun who did betray.”
I ran, but lo, clouds did pursue
in threatening black array.
I was too slow, my home in view,
such fright words can’t convey.
So I let go, I bid adieu,
the storm would have its prey.
“Wait!” screamed the crow, “take me in lieu!”
A price not his to pay.
The clouds rose slow, and then withdrew
but to my deep dismay,
by lightning glow, black feathers flew,
in scattered disarray.
I do not know how to construe
what happened on that day,
when clouds hung low, as oft they do
and I went out to play...
05/07/15
September Song(for Sarah)
Chill September days
show off
silver gulls,
suspended as they are
on strings of blue.
Caught in the updraft
I think of you,
and do not fully understand
how you turned my life around,
Or
how below became
above.
Descending,
I manipulate and manoeuvre for the updraft
Spluttering,
I spiral down, then briefly up again, to glimpse a glowing sky
Flapping,
I fall forever faster, flat-eagled
Plunging,
I watch the unwelcome gloom envelope my horizon
Tumbling,
I twist, turn and turbulate, ... then the thudding thump
Gasping,
I groan and exhale, a noiseless moan
Curling,
I recoil as innards become outward form
Emerging,
a base inside-out creature crawls and creeps
Tasting,
the tongue-tied intestines and the unseeing socket eyes
Groping,
a gruesome grub befriends the worm and slurps the slug-slime
Engorging,
as flaunted members flail blood and flick licky, sticky fluid
Reforming,
dim visions populate carnal shapes with awful movement
Gaping,
a fearful half-formed and startled face averts its gaze
Residing,
in deep gutter niches... these are my companion dwellers
Wallowing,
I sniff a redolent upswell of dank fissured earth
Disturbing,
I scrape, cleave and wipe away a smear of covering soil
Trembling,
I sense a warmth of body, a stretching of exotic wings
Enquiring,
I mutter clumsy overtures and crude enticements
Retreating,
I hear unmistaken rebuke and a sigh of disappointment
Imploring,
I elevate my utterances and seek a further hearing
Caressing,
I feel a welcoming and forgiving response
Pulsing,
the creature's cocoon gives way to nebulous female form
Ascending,
at first a cherub woman smiles playfully down on me
Transforming,
a stimulating and sensuous siren cavorts and teases
Uplifting,
wings gather me in for a swooping flight of fancy
Revealing,
from above, her intimate view of dwellers in the hinterland
Coaxing,
she fills me now with empathy and understanding
Alighting,
my body-mind lies prone beneath her
Tingling,
I feel her form and thoughts slowly enter and encompass me
Exploring,
I arouse and we gently probe between lips and sphincter
Delving,
I follow our rhythm of kiss, taste, touch and thrust
Wandering,
I experience our ambiguous male and female desire
Playing,
I laugh at how we tickle our innocence and sophistication
Loving,
I know for delirious moments what it is to be another
Consumed,
lost in coexistence with a like- but more extraordinary- mind
Their wing span stretched to full extent
to catch the updraft compliment.
Still bodies caught in endless flight
Gray backs roll to sleek plumed white
Ever on they plough the ocean
Held aloft with graceful motion
Testament to His creation
Marvels of natural aviation
Bodies turn on the slightest flip
As they swoop and soar, bank and dip.
Then one by one they disappear
And suddenly the sky is clear.
Eternal love is considerate, in its presence ~ gliders grace with elegance—Poet
All true and deep love is a sacrifice—Carl Jung
*
As winter’s snow drifts upon the meadows
I await the thaw, *
and the caw of the cockatoo
perched on the magnolia tree branch
White icy avalanche melting, *
nourishing the soil ‘neath the brittle bush
*
As the first cherry blossom blooms
An umbra of blushing pink
A white parrot whistles his tunes
Spring dissipates dark ink laden clouds
Left behind are the remnants
of snow squall shrouds, *
*
Fall's
* cascading
eminence
*
A new moon dawns
To defy autumnal of March
would be to deny
the swans of their elegant arch
Of their everlasting love
for each other, fidelities peace
As peaceful as the dove,
As loyal as geese
*
They roam, lead bird navigator,
social dominance his experience
Holds sway as an avian aviator
Riverboat pilot steering the helm
Like the migratory birds with no homes
find comfort on the majestic elm
In serene and bluest of skies
flocks fly in V forms *
Trailing birds ride an updraft effortlessly
glide along the breeze
While other birds fly aimlessly
Swanning over the hillside with ease
*
Gliding above the oceanside
are the seagulls without any destination
Robins let their tails
just brush the ground
To spat isn’t the mountain quail’s thing
Just charming chit chat *
Or a love song he’ll sing
The parrot in the cherry blossom tree
Elegant, considerate feathered friend so free
The whole world belongs to you
In warmer weathered early Spring
The ocean, eternal, spreads wide
Reflecting slate, somber storm clouds
While beachgoers, eight stories down,
Gather towels and scurry fast
From a squall shedding white lightning,
Dull, delayed drumbeat of thunder
Touching my ears as your fingers
Cover my hand on the railing;
Surf line we watch fade, grow obscured
In a curtain of pallid rain
Encroaching the pale, vacant sand
As single-file palms bob green heads
When an updraft, cool and sudden,
Tousles your soft and silken hair
And balloons your light cotton shift—
Bare beauty nearly shared—
We retreat, sliding glass door to,
Sequestering the world away
Save your bold, yearning expression,
Gentle kisses to hungry lips,
Cotton slipping, slacking, falling,
Then persistent, gusting patter
Of rain like long-pent love.