On a soggy dusk, long time ago,
When shadows huddled at every corner,
When rain had gone and birds had roosted,
You held me close and whispered in my ear;
“In your eyes I see, the blue of the sky,
In your soul, you hold the depth of seas,
Love swells, like tides on rise,
My life, I vow, by Jove, never to part”
Your voice, like a tremulous rivulet gurgled,
We stood staring at each other in a warm embrace
With passion sweet, your eyes glowed.
They were like a blue lagoon, deep and peaceful
On my dimpled cheek, a kiss you planted,
A gesture warm with abiding love.
Crisscross lain as warp and weft,
We hoped to weave the garb of life.
Words and deeds that served as balm to soul!
Still, they echo, gushing a flurry of thoughts,
But alas! To a far unknown land you fled,
‘From whose bourn, no traveler returns’,
Pencil jumped out of my right hand and gave my left fingers a tiny tap
Three new ideas came to me in a quick snap; I needed pencil back.
Pencil refused to take direction, gave my cheek a tiny slap.
It was my fault for personalizing him and naming him Mack.
Mack wrote for an hour and ten minutes, never taking a break.
I noted it was all about himself, and most of it was fake.
Serves me right for giving him free rein.
Having an arrogant pencil is a bit of a pain.
I tickle inadvertently
This funky little bone
He hides amongst the others
With nowhere to call home
He could have been a rib
A cheek, a thumb, a scapula or more
But no, this little fella
Was just left behind the door
When bones were being issued
With nowhere good to go
No fancy latin title
He was given the elbow
I wouldn't be without him
Although he hides away
The best friend I could want for
As he brightens every day
Jinjagoliath
14th July 2023
Humorous poems # 2 contest
Sponsored by: Jay Narain
PLACED 7th
Today I invite you to join me on my walk with but one simple action to employ…
Add to my list…or make up your own…of things that bring you joy.
Family, children, grandchildren…the wind whistling through the trees…
When I hear my favorite song…flowers dancing in the breeze.
Looking at old photographs…a short or long road trip…
Warm cookies fresh from the oven…my favorite’s chocolate chip.
That feeling I get when I’ve finished…successfully completing a job…
Eating warm peach cobbler with ice cream on top…or corn still on the cob.
A kiss on the cheek…a long…tight…meaningful hug….
The moment I realized a butterfly was more than just a bug.
The sound rain makes on a tin roof…unfolding any map….
An unexpected phone call from a friend…any dog sitting on my lap.
It’s funny how you find when you make a list of things that bring you joy…
You fill it with things both big…and small…
And how you realize
sometimes…
those things that bring you joy…
aren’t really things…at all.
Written: June 29, 2023
______________________________________________________________
Cockle, two hooves clung over a hundred brothers.
You discovered unmatched comfort such as no other.
An awl compiled your flight of stairs to a dynasty.
A lasting legacy of resilience and strength to foresee.
A hundred tides, over a thousand plovers of sunshine
You've witnessed a time journey and a legacy divine.
In the castanet you erected, you're overweight.
Memories are archived on a home limestone site.
Without us, you'd be as peaceful as dawn.
But we found your deeds, a ruby to fawn.
Witnessing your consciousness is a sight so rare.
As eyes leave your cheek, a glimmer, an affair
Saturn flashbulb lobes are viewed using a lens.
Stunning and appealing, transcendent loveliness
The snow breaks apart in a universe-wide ballet.
The rings are on exhibit; they are a marvelous display.
A motionless, tilted cap, a mark of your grace.
To learn how to leave things alone, embrace
Ocean Treasures A story underwater unfolds.
A quahog species, so ancient and bold.
“I need some space” said with a sigh;
But I had something in my eye.
Said she, “It is not you, it’s me”;
I suffered from an allergy.
“Let’s be friends!” – a trite refrain;
There on my cheek a drop of rain.
“I am not the one for you”;
While in my face, a cold wind blew.
“I’m sorry” said with true regret,
And on my lash, a bit of sweat.
What fell when she said her “Good-bye”?
A tear? No way – I do not cry.
No such thing as gloomy days
Your eyes outshine the brightest rays
That beam from space and light the earth
To wait for you is more than worth
The longing that I sometimes feel
When lonely for you, my ideal
Day begins right by your side
I wake before you but would hide
The crazy smile on my face
A kiss I would on purpose place
Right on your cheek, a little sign
Reminding me that you are mine
And I am yours, the day has come
When I can say that you're the one
I pinch myself just to be sure
That this is real, a dream no more
If you long for a licking thrash,
Then, touch a guy's earned cash:
A move ingloriously rash!
And you shall equally clinch a has:
On either cheek a… finishing gash!
The nearest thing to A Trash
Is eyeing someone’s cash,
To it in some bank stash…
Teeth shall ceaselessly gnash
And cornered one’s future dash;
A name lose in a flash
Or have it mixed up with Ash…
Like it had happened to a Nash
And it wasn’t a little crash.
For the caught Petty thief,
It is still big grief!
Through mirror’s bilge, Mariana on deck -
Wick’d queen, licks lips, with a delicious scheme.
In mock ascent, ego gives cheek a peck.
Suddenly daughter’s reflection - a gleam,
As snow forms queen’s exhale into a scream,
Her rubious threads covered in bright light,
Mariana’s hair in cascading flight.
Furious dark red strands taint apple’s flesh.
Fruit’s innocent beauty beckons a fright.
Hoary-shapeshifter tempts Eve - step-hate fresh.
8/15/2020
Contest: Pick-A-Title, Vol 21 - Dizain
Chosen Title: Incandescence
Sponsor: Edward Ibeh
Dizain in 10 syllable lines
ababbccdcd
Checked by howmanysyllables.com
What can I say about a person
who's turned me into their prey thing?
I've turned a cheek a few dozen times.
Taken on the burden of their procrastination.
Always at a heavy price.
You look at my passiveness as weakness.
Another opportunity to pile on more B.S.
You've shrugged off, even snickered at my ideas.
Only later to turn them into your own.
Your rewards were at the expense of my defeats.
My defeats are a light in your beacon.
The powers that be don't even see it.
You're an expert at waving perfume over your stink.
….and it's not just me.
There were many others before me.
With similar stories, but we're voiceless.
Because you're a brown-nose supreme.
I was warned about your mischief.
Your sleight-of-hand gift for manipulation.
I didn't listen.
I even took your side at times.
But they were right
You take advantage when it fluffs your ego.
Then sweet-talk your way back into line.
Then rinse and repeat time after time.
Here I am awake again
the night as black as hell
Is there someone out there
so dark I cannot tell
Mostly everyone's asleep
there is no sound
there's not a peep
Am I the only one awake
it feels that way
this brand new day
I’m looking for the moon to see
but even she's not there for me
No stars that twinkle up above
even Venus Goddess of Love
forsakes me as I search in vain
her sparkling face I yearn to see
But now the dark is scaring me
has the world come to an end
I’m here completely on my own
alone without a friend
No one is here I’m full of fear
and on my cheek a single tear
But wait ~ is that a sound I hear
a sound I love ~ a sound so near
to free me from the nightmare
that entombed me all night long
The sweetest blackbird serenades
me with his early morning song
and as the darkness of this night
begins to vanish I see the light
Fears fade into oblivion
as this darling blackbird sings his song
And one by one my night time fears
are banished with my night time tears
My handsome blackbird sings his song
and all my night time fears are gone …
Written 18th April 2020
Contest Strand Pick C
Sponsor Brian Strand
HONORABLE MENTION
your hand lengthens down my barren neck,
i'm enthralled by your motivation to love me-
you whisper in my ear, on my cheek a peck,
i needed you back then...oh, can't you see?
when we met twenty years ago i was a wreck,
and all the hard times are dusted in a speck
you handle me with care and sincere affection,
believe in me like no one else ever has before-
for we have a rare bond, a strong connection,
you touch my nape and hush, "adore me more";
separate we're flawed but our love is perfection,
bestowing graceful introspection and reflection
in the depths of my heart you reach heights
beyond any mount or eagle in the azure sky-
i'm fascinated when we turn off the lights,
your opium induced passion makes me high;
yes, there have been struggles and fights,
but i'll never let go of all the romantic nights
the way we came together, how love did blend;
you are my mate to my soul, line to my life-
all my heartbroken moments you did mend,
i'm so grateful october made me your wife;
little notes you compose and roses you send…
shows me our love shan't come to an end
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12.25.19
-luloo
YOUNG AGAIN
I looked into the mirror yesterday
And in it saw the ravages of time.
Tired eyes and hair that long since turned to grey,
So many years since I was in my prime.
I felt despair; how quickly time had flown.
So much undone that now would never be.
And then your face appeared beside my own;
I had not noticed you were watching me.
I studied your reflection so serene;
And saw your eyes still full of tenderness
Just as they were when you were sweet sixteen.
Your fingers brushed my cheek, a brief caress
But in that moment I was free of pain;
The darkness lifted, I was young again.
7th June 2019
2019 Best Sonnet Contest
Sponsor John Hamilton
Oh, God, spare me the bloodied, thorny, rose
call it naught by the color of its shame
promises of loves unending future
masking the silent scent of love’s demise.
Glory not the crimson of its passing
nor weep as crying petals hit the floor
hold tight to thorn stung stem - a bloodied lust
at rest upon the stillness of her breast.
Oh, God, spare me the sodden, teardrop rose
too late the touch of kindness comes again
to kiss the dwindled cheek – a faded passion
a coldness that defiles the touch of death.
Oh God, forgive the rose its indiscretions
for beauty is the bauble of the weak.
©8/6/2018
for Brian Strand - August 2018 Premiere poetry contest
Your hand lengthens down my barren neck,
I'm ENTHRALLED by your motivation to love me-
You whisper in my hear and on my cheek a peck,
I needed you back then...oh, can't you see?
When we met twenty years ago I was a wreck,
and all the hard times are dusted in a speck.
You handle me with care and sincere affection,
believe in me like no one else ever has before-
For we have a rare bond, a strong CONNECTION,
you whisper in my soft ear, "adore me more".
Separate we're flawed but our love is perfection,
bestowing GRACEFUL introspection and reflection.
In the depths of my heart you reach HEIGHTS
beyond any mount or eagle in the azure sky-
I'm FASCINATED when we turn off the lights,
your opium induced devotion makes me high.
Yes, there have been struggles and fights,
but I'll never let go of all the whispering nights.
Rhyme Scheme: A-B-A-B-A-A
May 24, 2018
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