The door is open.
It has been open for three days.
The sky outside is an endless,
terrifying blue,
a ceiling with no rafters,
a sprawling room with no corners
to press my back against when
the shadows stretch.
The poets outside write sweeping
verses about my clipped wings.
They weep for my songs of sorrow
behind iron bars,
projecting their own claustrophobia
onto my feathers.
They don't understand that the bars are ribs,
and I am the heart suspended inside.
If you crack the ribs wide open to
the wind,
the heart does not suddenly sprout wings and soar.
It is exposed. It stops beating.
I hop to the threshold, look at the
boundless, hungry sky,
and pull the little brass door shut with my beak.
Click.
Ah.
Freedom.
The noisy train runs down
the track.
It carries boxes on its back.
It blows out smoke both grey
and black.
I live in the country
where the crickets still click
my bull frog outsings them
his voice is incredibly thick
the fireflies all came here
to escape the smog and the city
our Queen Anne’s lace
is incredibly pretty
I live in the country
where varmints roam at night
hoot owls, bats, coyotes, playing so light
the crickets still click
where they can be heard
I love where we live
being a huge country nerd
How alive you still are, Hercule!
Your mustache perfectly coiffured
The rain has come,
to my mediocre town tonight
We were all holding our breath
as if waiting for more than water
My small mind
still works out puzzles
that are answered
by wiser women than me
Agatha Christie, I wish I could
treat you to Devonshire tea
Would you take the bait?
You are worlds ahead of me,
in the head, in the heart
of submerged, unchartered
understanding
Call Hastings!
There is no time
for remonstrances
We are not dealing
with ordinary criminals
today
I was waiting for you to catch me,
Miss Christie
Swoosh, click, rolling
Like the sound of a pinball machine
Or it’s 2010 and we’re bowling
The table is velvety green
Tight denim creaks as your back dips
Rigid and diligent spine
Roll off my tongue and drip from my lips
Hot words which reveal that I pine
Swoosh, click, rolling
I preen and I swoon at your praise
The look that we’re given is knowing
I wonder who knows in this place
Who knows, when we laugh, that it’s different
Who knows that look in your eye
A smile so sly it’s not innocent
A smile that begs to be mine
Swoosh, click, rolling
Come, baby, get me a drink
We’re tipsy, our faces are glowing
The syrup in my words is thick
Swoosh, click, rolling
I thrive when it’s easy to flirt
Adoring the bear that I’m poking
I pray that we don’t wind up hurt
.
i thought 'bout sneak'n up
on her
jump'n thoze bonez
ruff'lin hern
down
i did i did
okay
and she thought
i it
were
expressively even
wit
my
click
There is no time, yet a clock ticks;
Break the rhythm—that's the trick.
See the poetic truth: tomorrow never comes,
Don't starve your soul while you settle for crumbs.
We chase the status, the money, the fame,
While true connection is brushed off as lame.
Look up, dear souls, from your glass-walled bowl,
Before the silence takes its final toll.
There is no time, yet a clock ticks;
While we chase the future, our own coffin clicks.
*Rage bait screams~
We bite like hooked fish.
The reel spins.
Chew, chew, chew.
Fury feeds algorithms.
The screen glares crimson.
*Rage bait is The Oxford English Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2025 and is defined as online content designed to provoke anger or outrage, typically to increase engagement. (Source: indianaexpress.com and dictionary.com)
many times! I hit "Radiant Verses A Journey Through .." by mistake
All the birds in the skies stopped singing
All the clocks on the walls stopped ticking
All the bells in the halls started ringing
Once the gun in his hand started clicking
Click, Clap, Ego Inflation
They sit behind the veil of screen
thinking cheating is a site unseen
each clap a cheer that was never earned
everyone laughs, for the spotlight is on
shining light on the fraudsters pen
vain deceit
ghostly stats floating in silent scorn
their own applause, no one cares
what is a Baker
if your bread is stale and unsold
your store is empty
a hollow soul
cheaters cheat, they never glow
Feeling catish this morning, surrounded by Zio lies and cheating is easier for me to see when happens elsewhere too, peace be upon you.
Two opposites, unknown of their fate,
Randomly surfed the wide internet before it was too late.
From one end of the country to the other end.
Scrolled and scrolled, like it was never going to end.
Oh! It was just a click, that's how we met.
From hesitant texts and calls,
To glee when texts and calls are received
And later turned to elation.
Oh! It was just a click; that's how we connected.
Excitement and nervousness just rushed
When we met for the very first time, we just blushed.
There was no lack of delight.
It's hard to forget that sight.
Oh! It was just a click; we felt something ignite.
Later, it turned into hope and positivity
The foundation is built on trust and love, togetherness and unity.
We met, the folks met, and the process went on.
And finally, we tied the knot, vowing to never be apart.
In happiness or sorrow, in light or darkness,
In beautiful times or ugly times.
We vow to share each moment together,
And walk through all the odds and evens together.
Oh! It was just one click,
That we found each other for life's sweet and bitter journey.
the old klunker was my friend
he lasted till the end
clickety click
clickety click
i'd sit back feeling free
words would come to me
i'd have my glass of wine
a sip at every line
the images would soar
until they could no more
clickety click
clickety
AP: 3rd place 2025
Submitted on March 8, 2025 to contest ONLY MARCH 2025 POSTED sponsored by BRIAN STRAND - Honorable Mention
Fake the caress of a loving hand
Felt the pain of lust on demand
Fingertips touch much more than skin
Awaken thoughts purely filled with sin
Love no longer is an action
Words committed too soon after redaction
Tainted by deceitful ball&chain true interaction
Overhauled hype in our eyes distraction
Endless display of desire on screen never one main attraction
Too little hope in our hearts satisfaction
Getting ahead by thumbs likes and
reactions
Never living up to high Def photo shop
Only to let ur self-esteem drop
Hard to believe any real emotion
When one click causes a derail from devotion
The day that you left me to go off to war,
you hugged me and said with a shy little grin.
Don’t worry son there’s nothing that can stop me,
from making my way back home to you again.
I remember the next time I saw you dad,
you had holes in your arms where those needles live.
An empty shell of the soul you were before,
the demons in your head took all you could give.
I know you was alone when you met your fate,
sitting on the floor with your back to the wall.
I wonder did you know that I still loved you,
or maybe you didn’t feel anything at all.
The army man saluted at the graveside,
and then he gave your wife a flag for the man.
Who left his home a husband and a father,
but you never came back from that foreign land.
One click, did you think it would ease my sadness.
Did you think my hurt would stop getting bigger.
Did you think maybe it would end the madness.
Did you think of me when you pulled the trigger.
Just because you faded away from me dad,
it does not mean the things you love ceased to be.
All you left for me is sorrow and knowing,
I’ll live in a world without you here with me.
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