Best Warbled Poems
Trudging under frozen starlit skies
Against stiff Winters bitter blowes...
When ambling up past frosted trees
From the wooded valley down below.
As stepping into a clearing glade,
Surround ragged drifts of thinning snow,
Once Summers haze - long since forbade,
Now pale Moon beams all aglow.
For within this realm of Twilight,
Perched high up in a bush,
Snugly within his feathered form
Roosts a warbled Darkling Thrush.
Stirred from his ruffled thoughts...
Dulcet voice lifts upon still night:
With euphonious notes so sweetly sung -
Poured forth in harmonious delight!
Oh tawny Throstle, nemesis of
Nightingales,
Did Heavens Choirs ever sound so sweet?
Your scrawny throat of melodious rails -
That kept my lover from her feet!
Categories:
warbled, bird,
Form:
Rhyme
Trills tumble through an air long silenced
warbled melodies enlighten the palate
whistles delight but fly off to the thistle
freighted by the frigid speak
amongst the downturn of the day
where blue skies lost their way
Memories of warm caresses
sing along in forgotten dreams
eclipsed heat of destiny
dealt away behind a curtain
draping naked rays of beauty
relegated to shroud in faded grey
Faint knocks of glory soon heard
where smiles seep in secret
gone but not forgotten
under blankets of hope
a moon struck douse of patience
left to awaken another day
Categories:
warbled, beauty,
Form:
Personification
Another haunted night, I watch
raindrops fall from consolatory words,
track each plane flying south, and
I think of you.
My lungs empty a lonely sigh…
I bullet a dark, heaving sky
with my angry words as I curse you
for walking away again. I remember
the starlings that came earlier; they
circled low, then perched along
the eaves while the sun held me in
afternoon glow, as if to say goodbye,
friend. We will meet again.
I should have known.
Night after night, shadows march
a solemn procession across a long-faced
moon. I know he is mourning, too.
Weeds tangle my thoughts until I dream
in a web of mismatched memories
and neglected clues - so many questions,
left in a heap at the foot of our bed,
no answers said out loud. Solitude plays
games with my heart; mocking me tonight,
the house wins again. Why do I gamble
after I lost you before? How many times
have you walked out that door?
I try to mend cracks exposed when
darkness fades into golden dawn.
I try to color my crumpled world
like a child. I paint smiles on your face
in our albums to tell myself lies.
I replay the moment you walked away;
I envision every detail down to one lace
that dangled from your new shoes,
new shoes bought to step into our new
life together. I remember when we wrapped
ourselves in our dreams to keep warm.
One day, your face will dissolve
like a rain puddle on a summer day.
One day, I’ll say goodbye and start again.
Maybe today will be that day.
At least today, I’ll try.
A lone starling in a dark, glossy suit
lands on my window sill at break
of dawn. It wakes me with its sweet,
warbled song and waits long enough for me
to rise from bed so I might feel the promise
of a new day shine into my soul. Then,
as my tears fall soft like spun silk,
he spreads his wings and flies away.
In light of dawn’s blessings, I am
the starling, singing a goodbye song. I pray,
tonight, I dream of anyone but you.
written April, 2014
Categories:
warbled, bird, break up, heartbreak,
Form:
Free verse
He defied tragedy as he rowed
His sturdy boat towards the middle
Of the cursed lake where once
His wife fell into the icy water
And drowned. He could not swim.
Time passed and he learned to bathe.
For he was not ready to stop rowing.
Every time he was on vacation leave,
He would challenge the cursed lake.
Let’s see if he’ll drown now that she’s dead.
He arrived in the middle of the large lake.
Suddenly he could not move his boat.
Instead, a current dragged him towards
The dreaded place where Sophie had died
And the boat came to a halt. A wood thrush
Flew down and rested on the farthest bow.
What a symphonic song it gently warbled!
A breeze rose and the bird flew away.
He felt strength in my arms and began to row
Skirting the shore with its many sandy beaches.
Until he saw a woman waving at him
Now he admitted she did not look like Sophie,
But had the same red curly hair and lithe figure.
She wanted a lift to her boat house, so he complied.
No word was spoken and off she went.
He rowed to his boat house, changed and got in his car.
The redhead was there thumbing a lift. Hamlet came to his mind:
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
Was his destiny running after him?
Categories:
warbled, best friend, desire,
Form:
Free verse
I heard a bird singing
As I was on my way
It led direction for me
As it took my breath away
It warbled cheerfully,
From a tree above the snow
It spread its song gleefully,
What kind of bird, I wanted to know
I heard a bird singing
Its melody surrounded me
I turned in circles bringing,
Each note closer, to be free
It sounded like spring, in winter
A happy, fresh new start
Helping to release the splinter
And heal the pain within my heart
Heidi Sands
2/22/20
Categories:
warbled, bird, change, song, winter,
Form:
Rhyme
Under her guidance, we stood at attention
Like a row of young soldiers, reciting the anthem
"Oh Say, Can You See?".. was a warbled contusion,
that could shatter your glasses, disturb other classes
out of tune, out of rhythm, but with avid enthusiasm
it could rattle the rafters of our little school
And with childish delusions, we thought we were cool!
As we stood in the room
she would move down the line
with a frown in the depth
of her leathery brow. She would bow
till her ear matched our voice
and her hand would be poised
with two fingers that cued,
keeping time with the tune.
She would grit all her teeth
bite the inside of cheeks
Such a serious task!
it was all that she asked
that we please.."DO YOUR BEST!"
When we mastered, at last
She would gasp, then exclaim
as we sang each refrain,
mixed with tears, she would clap
I remember it now...
Here I stand in this row
with my hand on my heart
as the first strain imparts
Yes, I know those old words...
they'll remain part of me
'til the day that I die
"O Say, Can You See?"...still familiar to me
But no..............I can't see....
with fresh tears in my eyes...
_________________________________________________
Categories:
warbled, 4th grade, nostalgia, old,
Form:
Free verse
Art Gallery. Museum. Parks. Zoo.
Cultural Events.
Glazed like raku pottery
In charcoal rainbows warbled all dark
On pidgeon necks
Like hell’s angels, dumbed,
Blowing smoke through your mind
In a haze of dreams
The city is made of a giant fractal wart
On a witch’s cheeks there’s blush.
Movies. Games. Bars. Clubs.
Cultural Events.
Maybe she’s singing a hymn
With forked tongue
The green fires burning gold and money
Into the skies pitch red
Flirting and skirting sale-priced
Fashion iconography. Architecture
Sophisticating the simple desires.
You’re lost.
Foreclosure. Lawsuit. Divorce.
Cultural Events.
Emblazoned with some valor
Flags of the dead days
Killed like a haiku short-lived
Plopped one by one
Your teeth fell.
Bankruptcy. Fired. Laid off.
Cultural Events.
Brightly darkly the shiny sheens
Of sweat they bubbled in blood red and iron
In that champagne of success
Guilt. Acne. Alcohol. Headache.
Cultural Events.
The feather dust flies and the smell of tar
Rubber in your face
We have drug solutions for your
Unhappiness.
Cancer. HIV. Vaccines. Death.
Cultural Events.
Beer gardens, beer babies, beer bellies,
Beds, homes, and wined babes
Pretty victims and voices they make
Cultural Events.
The city life careened my poetry
Towards those
Crazy wronged right fools
Still swimming the street in search
Furtive, arms afire just fighting
Firing, fleeing into those chains.
Claims. Refrains. Drowned Voices.
Cultural Events.
Categories:
warbled, urbancity, drug,
Form:
Free verse
Eagerly I arose to welcome winsome spring
Anticipating an ebullient, sun-swept morning
Only to witness opaline skies turn gloomy
Shrouded in dampness of rain pitter pattering
Swirling dust emanating petrichor themes
Scattering dreariness on visage of dawning.
You too were awed, extolling scenic setting,
Lauding crimson hues that darkened swiftly,
Adulating rustling winds swaying maple trees
With echoes of thunder heard intermittently
As gray clouds hung closer, roiling hastily,
Pouring down streams, flooding streets rapidly.
Farther in distance, storm was now fleeting
Where sun’s golden rays began emerging
Scintillating mountains in amber ray beams
Lifting my spirits in birds’ rhythmic chirping
As your intimations warbled amorous hints
Arousing rhythms of romantic heart strings.
Charmed by tempo of dawn’s chromatic arc
As rising sun vanquished remnants of dark,
Lovingly we embraced missives of love spark
Echoing lyrics strummed by doting hearts,
Drawing inspiration from gilded azure skies,
Hypnotized in allure of your enamored eyes.
November 11, 2022
Placed 1st: Inspiring Rainy Days Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Sotto Poet
Categories:
warbled, morning, nature, rain,
Form:
Verse
Dappled light shimmered from a golden moon,
and peered into a grove of bent willow trees.
Arched branches swayed in a gentle breeze,
as if shadow dancing to the song of a loon
as she warbled the lyrics of her mating tune.
July 15, 2022
Bite Size Poem No 49 Contest
Sponsored by Line Gauthier
Categories:
warbled, moon, tree,
Form:
Rhyme
In the fragrant noonday heat,
Sunshine poured on meadowsweet,
And rivers and lakes sparkled,
All while rose finches warbled,
From azure sky and green trees,
And sunshine burnished cities,
In the fragrant noonday heat.
Written on July 5, 2021
For: Elemental Poetry Contest
Sponsor: charles messina
Categories:
warbled, earth, flower, nature, sky,
Form:
Haiku
When I went back home for longer vacation
Surprised to see our backyard turning out to be a mini-zoo
My younger brother had adopted lots of pets
Winged, furry, reptiles… I couldn’t name the rest
I was spurred to tour around , it was so fun
I saw seven cows, five goats, grazing in our farm
Geese, ducks, turkeys and various breeds of chicken
My mother was there, happily feeding them
There was even a big brown snake in an iron cage
I trembled, I didn’t even glance or gaze
I liked the yellow and black birds, Kiaos and Martines
They were learning to talk, one partly warbled, Fur Elise
Among his pets, furry ones got my full attention
Dino, the monkey was tending cows with our four dogs
Holding cow’s ropes, they came to me in wagging tails
Then afar, I saw Panny Bat, our bird’s fruit supplier
Dino, Doggies Pandak, Poom, Pashang and Pampu
Were amazing caretaker- pets in our farm’s mini-zoo
Farm heroes, we named them including Panny
Who went out at night then returned to her cage the next day
I’ve tamed and befriended with these farm heroes
I rewarded Dino some lollipops, our four dogs with foods
Panny Bat, 'though untouchable was so cute
Her face absolutely resembled with our four dogs
When I’ve heard the loss of the three farm heroes last year
Died of ailments were Doggy Pandak, Poom and Dino Gear
And after a month, Panny Bat suddenly disappeared
Members of our family, including myself grieved
March 6, 2016 10.20pm
-This poem was also written for my younger brother who, until now have these pets at home. His small fishpond was not included in the poem. The Kiaos and Martins (look like mynahs) were 5-7 I think. My mom taught them to sing Fur Elise, Do A Deer etc…
Fourth Place
Contest: Furry Friend
Judged: 5/6/2016
Sponsor: Poet Royal
Categories:
warbled, animal, pets, , cute,
Form:
Narrative
A young green frog
Strumming on a log,
His warbling sounds
Singing words of love.
Strumming and a crooning
He warbled long,
About the moon and the stars,
In his lovebird song.
He also sung about
His wetlands home,
Singing and a plucking
On his swampy roam.
Taken in by the sounds
Of this sweet melody,
Another green frog,
Swaying in her tree.
Love arrows bounced
Between the two,
The pounding of their hearts
Just grew and grew.
Now they sit together
On a large lily pad,
He now sings songs,
About being a dad.
Categories:
warbled, animal, children, funny love,
Form:
Rhyme
I'm the worm Persephone’s minions found;
Blackbirds drinking from Apollo’s brewery
Warbled their songs into my gloomy bedroom,
For the Feast of Spring.
New verse created 6 April 2015 for Sapphic Stanza #3 contest
Categories:
warbled, april, bird, spring,
Form:
Sapphic stanza
Arise, you song birds sing in morning dew;
The flow’ry host to colour fields and furrows,
And sap of Spring runs gold in willows veins;
As tender leaves unfold to speak of birth,
Fresh mountain ranges iced give life anew—
While waters melt and stream through cricks and borrows
The gleams of light will melt the winter strains
Though spills of oil have quenched the songs of earth.
The corporate sting of greedful revenue,
Has bankrupt natural wonders—greedy farrows
The eagle has no pow’r to save her eggs,
Tall forests fall and crush the robin’s hue
When flow’ry petals change to black on yellow—
The spotted fawns arise with warbled legs
Categories:
warbled, anger, angst, betrayal, bird,
Form:
Sonnet
The tumultuous whirlwinds had now ceased
The roaring, nettlesome sounds have dried away
The tide is now silent
The clatters and jangles,
now dead, they are.
Far and wide, the drumming sounds, ululations...
For the happiness, peace and calamity, found again
All is being born again.
The sky is blue
The dark-dark, huge, cumbersome and petrifying clouds
Have faded away
And now, white clouds are to be seen hither and thither
In the blue sky-scape, congregating
For the new rain of the new
the new downpour of joy and peace of nature.
With my hands,
I rubbed away the hot tears, at last
With a smile, i looked out
The thudding of my heart, had stopped, but gone
Relieved i felt, for the tempests, had flied away
I yawned, stretching my arms
Bad times, had reached their edges
At last.
The birds fluttered and warbled
Their sounds anew
Tickling my fancy
The swiping of the trees
buzzed with the cool breeze
and then, the sun showed up
with new lively alight, and
with the moon
they all smiled cutely.
All got in full swing
For the peace, and happiness had at last been restored
I danced along with the birds, soft wind and the trees
Dancing, to their tune
And with all the peace and happiness
Smiled back to the jolly sun and the moon.
Categories:
warbled, peace, peace, peace, sun,
Form:
Limerick