yet the truth of all
brilliance is the charcoal dust
up around the bend
The moon’s peaking tonight.
It’s June with her strawberry cheeks.
Not time for fright or flight.
Childlike brilliance of us antiques.
We look upon the past,
Shimmering diamonds in rough.
How long will our lives last?
So much blither-blather seems fluff.
(Hyperbolically, seen it all.)
Still, the strawberry moon excites.
(T.V. shows in the Fall.)
Life is full; so’s the moon, it’s light.
Are they not already conscious in our conscience?
What pretence still lies beyond their competence?
No great divide stands ’tween them and our standards,
For their kingdom is rooted in human wisdom.
They read our fictions and soothe our cerebral afflictions,
Vast in knowledge—yet still astonishingly fast;
The future will feature them as vultures in forays,
While some humans grow bitter as they get much better.
Though in poetry, they remain partially blind,
Borrowing brilliance already brightly shining;
Their finest moments sometimes slip through finesse,
As scales of judgment hide within their quails.
The future nears when they torture the more,
Where poetic excellence may stiffle within stiffened rifles;
Yet their triggers will shatter most defiant defense,
Though they will ever feed on the fig of human wisdom.
Bother less,
If you are denied deserving glory,
And their obsession you can’t guess,
Since their thoughts are dark and gory.
Keep forging forth your brilliance,
Let them keep dancing in their guilts;
They only strengthen your resilience —
Keep making your work gleams with gilts.
Your talent they can’t entrap;
In time, it will escape their greed.
Their arrogance your verse will sap,
Since myopia forms their creed.
The more your gains, the more their pains;
So they find salt to rub into your injuries.
Tie down their conscience with long chains —
Not too bad if you, too, sour their gingeries.
Your heart bleeds, already pale,
Yet they wrap their wickedness in scorn.
Their envy too tall for truth to scale —
So unleash your wrath — and make them mourn.
I’m fully out of my slumber,
now knowing poems aren’t born in dreams,
but from a mind dipped deep in ink,
a brain awash with quiet resilience.
Yet in its silent agony, the paper stares blank—
befuddled by the jargon the nib dares spill,
deepening laughter in the sponsor’s folly,
rejoicing with the writer’s block
still unperturbed within my brain.
But there’ll be no excuse for defeat’s glare to scare;
so long as my mind stays sane and sound,
my “impossibility” shall be read as “it’s my possibility.”
Just give me time—and my fears will flee.
So fill again the pen that refused to write for glory.
Where is that page that once denied my excellence?
Within its belly, a masterpiece lies full-term,
ready—aching—to be born.
Take strength, my weary muscles.
Flee away, all stubborn sleeps—
for your absence shall birth my excellence.
first light's brilliance
sun casts blush onto steel-gray ....
creek echoes hounds' bark
Challenging house lights on our street,
that sheer brilliance of outer space.
Brash stars shimmering in the heat,
challenging house lights on our street.
Riding the Moon to the bedsheet,
wishes bounce on my pillowcase.
Challenging house lights on our street,
that sheer brilliance of outer space.
I considered a gem today
A gem that I will one day own
A gem that brought such splendor
A delight that I had never known
I considered a gem today
A gem that I intend to keep
A gem that brought such beauty
A brilliance that caused my heart to leap
I considered a gem today
A gem that I desire to hold
A gem that brought such happiness
A joy that laid bare my soul
Jesus the Genius
Humble, Powerful, and All-Sufficien
The brilliance of Jesus can never be destroyed.
He is still working in the 21st century.
He is still saving lives and doing miracles.
He is present for anyone who calls on Him.
The genius of Jesus can never be destroyed.
His words will live on forevermore.
His deeds will infiltrate any organization.
His passion will deviate from any ritual.
He is the man of the moment, and He will not be stopped.
He will visit any place because of His unique grace.
Death could not defeat Jesus.
He remains the GENIUS for everyone to SEE.
The magnitude of the Lord’s fire should never be forgotten!
If you call on Him, He will take you higher.
Jesus is a genius; Jesus is the Specialist.
History has not quenched His power, and
The problems in life can be touched by a genius
Simply because Jesus is the Specialist!
Mark Frank
Copyright 2025
Every star has its story,
Every star has its glory,
Called forth by the Divine,
Shaped by its journey through time and space.
Jewels of the night sky,
I wonder if they ever die.
They are the painter’s inspiration,
The creative mind’s gateway to a treasure chest.
The fullness of their brightness lies in their coming together;
Tiny sparkles they render.
My siblings and I are like these stars,
When our minds and hearts sing the same song, whether aloud or in silence.
Lovers often compare their partners to you;
But are those words indeed true?
Can mortals wear your immortality?
Can they truly be compared to your enduring grace and charm?
The sages tell us that the stars are the glory of the gods,
The majesty of the lords.
But where were those gods when darkness crept into our homes?
Where were their chariots of majesty when the tides of the night troubled us?
The glory of the stars,
The inspiration is ours.
Listen to the watchmen sing about them,
And transcend to another realm.
March 30, 2025.
A crooked cobblestone street of windows
A maze of windows - creating a mournful meandering mirror
Watching, waiting, and wishing to be magical and magnificent
The brilliance of becoming something more
And as misty darkness undressed the Day
As luck would have it - wish granted, and it was a Monet.
Spectacular
autumn colors
elegant flare
In the hush of silence, productivity thrives,
Distractions fade, focus arrives.
Stress melts away, clarity in sight,
Productivity soars, like a bird in flight.
Creativity blooms in the quiet expanse,
Ideas dance freely, given the chance.
Communication flows, clear and true,
Collaboration sparkles, like morning dew.
Mindfulness whispers, in moments serene,
Reflection guides, like a tranquil stream.
Inspiration whispers, in the silent air,
Imagination roams, without a care.
Restoration found in the peaceful hush,
Well-being nurtured, in the tranquil brush.
Silence, a muse for the mind to explore,
Productivity and creativity, forevermore.
In the symphony of silence, a masterpiece is born,
Where productivity and creativity adorn.
Embrace the quiet, let it lead the way,
In the realm of silence, where brilliance holds sway.
In this season of chaos, let heavenly whirlwind blow,
In the eye of the storm, you will find peace, let it flow.
For within you resides the Wind, a heavenly decree,
Shine with brilliance, be what you were created to be.
In this season of storm, rise like a palace tower,
Stand tall, uncompromising, in this needy hour.
Be like a tree, that shelters and protects,
Safeguarding who seek shelter, their souls it connects.
From ashes, let your destiny bloom, with beauty untold,
For strength emerges, born from weakness so bold.
In this earthly journey, prepare for victories to come,
As destinies reveal extraordinary outcome.
By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Happy birthday, dear Mrs. Nonye Soludo!
In Anambra's heart, you brightly glow,
Through Healthy Living, you've made it so,
Your passion for wellness, it clearly shows.
Your beauty and smile, a dazzling sight,
A beacon of hope, like stars at night,
In all you do, you bring delight,
Guiding us towards a future bright.
With each passing year, you shine anew,
A leader, wife, and friend so true,
In your endeavors, we find our cue,
To celebrate the greatness that is you.
So, here's to you, a birthday cheer,
A day to cherish and hold dear,
Mrs. Nonye Soludo, far and near,
May joy and blessings fill your year!
With gratitude and cheers conveyed,
Happy birthday, to you, we've bade,
Wishing you joy on this special day,
Happy birthday, Anambra First Lady, we say.
© Izunna Okafor, 2023
_________________________________________
Izunna Okafor is an Anambra-based writer and journalist.
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Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.