Cockle Poems

Mary, Mary, Not Quite

The oldest version dates from Tom Thumbs' 1744 songbook. Modern versions keeping with times, caused 'Mistress' to go dark. 'Cockle' is a seashell.

Mistress Mary sang like canary,
When they surround her stronghold,
Swiped silver bells, hid pearly shells, 
And pretties weigh all in gold.

Road Splits

New encounters
goodbye tears
life is less
like turns 
and twists
more like 
roads that join
and split
till all roads  
finally meet
to forever
in two split
if God's light
is kept alit
right side 
will surely pick
and love harbor 
will reach
where all hearts
in unison sing
joy of life
in peaceful bliss.
Without tempting
devils' forks
minds on roads
fall asleep
missing fight
to choose and win
glory crown
and banquet feast.
In His wisdom 
God ordained 
wheat and cockle
together thrive
giving time 
to wayward sons
steer the helm
to Jesus' balm
opening eyes
at every split
to seek forgiveness
for mischief
and enter gate
to eternal bliss
not descent
with bandaged eyes
to the damned 
fiery abyss.


Fifth Place Winner: Robert Liguori-Life-10/23/23

Influencers

Influencers
Miracle Man
8/7/2023

Each one is an influencer every day,
either with a positive or negative slant.
By the things we do or words we say,
We influence others and ideas implant.

Being an influencer is a marketing toy,
they line their pockets without sweating.
Many times, good looks, is used as a ploy,
to distract you from what you are getting.

Be an influencer for Jesus.


“Any time you think you have influence,
try ordering around someone else’s dog.”
The Cockle Bur

Quahog Legacy Unveiled

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.

Happy-Time Fun Nursery Rhyme

Tom Cat with his fiddle
stood on a wall
and played his fine song
to bring one and all

Together to dance
to his Meow tune
beneath the full Sun
along with Half Moon

Hen Cockle, Doo Rooster
and Puppy named Woof
joined Bird friend called Dove
who flew from a roof

As Moo Moo, the Cow
arrived, took her stand
and twin pigs, Oink Oink
marched in- hand in hand

They danced to Tom's fiddle
till down went the Sun
This group of best friends
shared happy-time fun!


February 25, 2023

Contest: Nursery Rhyme Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Eve Roper
Used Image #1

Haeccity Heard

Hastily stretched, crackled urgent ocean edge relents
Ashamed attempt to escape rejoins campaign of mass
Furtive dig below propels conspirator spasm, next next
Murders brash bouys, cranky spa champagne embrace

Swum undulations, bare back mermaid's dips resurface
Her furvour ploughs halobiont plenty scape, nourished
Snapped lobster lavishly celebrates bountiful turquoise
Sway gaze brazen by bobbing safe island encouraged

Crill swirl sweeps dripped lips, sun baked rock decreed
Beacon mound majesty painted daily in sea gull exhalt
Coconut snow flakes sparkle on cockle clamour bleed
Wave blown eroding scales slow exhales evaporate salt

Ripe globes ground reaped glug nectar so gluttonous
Fibres hibernate ivory rich liquors tipsy Secret Benefits
Land languish survivor devours sugar shards sumptuous
Wipes moreish mouth aft treasure trove haemorrhages




        Fifth May 

      Finesse Saves

Dreaning of Yellow Poppy Fields

DREAMING OF YELLOW POPPY FIELDS

Soft among the yellow poppy fields,
I clung to clocks of Dandelions,
Driven by my seeds of youth.
Breathless in their grace,
They gather all, rolling in the summer hay.
A bravura blow of what youth should be,
Chasing down the summer's lease.

Cockle shells and pinafores.
On a beach of wave wet toes
and sandwiches,
Longing for a summer of swimming
and sun warmed skin.
Remembered in the blush of girls, laughing'
Lying on our backs in the moon rise apogee.

Midsummer light steals the dawn.
Climbing the hill to summer's peak;
Dreaming long of those fire hot days,
Sleeping in yellow poppy fields.

Shoreline Art

A crinkled shore on the Upper Peninsula.
We are hunting Golden Eagles.
Cameras fully loaded.

You find a small stone,
on it, a crimp and cockle
of wind and waves
has rucked an impression
of an eagle in flight.

“It's only ripple art, not even
a good depiction,
just water-wear. “
I say.

You throw it back into Lake Huron,
won’t hold my hand,
won’t even look at me,
until I admit the possibility
of prophetically placed crinkles.

Understanding Crinkles

On its surface a crimp and cockle
of a purling tide have rucked an impression
on a stone.
We are here to find Eagles
but the sky is too low and the wind too high.

You show the image on the stone
as if this were the very thing
we had been looking for.

I look at it squint eyed:
could be a crow

You throw the stone into Lake Huron,
won’t hold my hand
won’t speak again
until I admit to the endless possibilities
of crinkles, tides and wind
to produce
magical eagles.

Scavenger Hunt

scavenger hunt

sandy summer beach
welcomes a scavenger hunt ~
 hot sand samba dance

lacy edged scallops
rippled shells like wind kissed surf ~
 trim tidal ball gowns

fallen stars – starfish 
through clear waters see the sky ~
 starlets seeking fame

building spiral rooms 
nautilus remodel grows ~
 under construction

precious sand dollars
bear reminders of the cross ~
 hidden doves seek sky

from many seashores 
loves sandy, sheltered, beaches ~
 cockle shells sea hearts

grazing the seabeds 
 cerith night hunter in swirls ~
 aquarius shell

many alias 
 periwinkle and magpie ~
  whelks create red dye

lazy summer days
 tidal froth splashes through surf ~
 shells decorate beach

Primed To Coalesce

season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
citrus squeezed, lemon and lime ~
love’s carrot-top drizzle.

the umbrella man primed to coalesce,
his yellow crop of hair blends
with watercolor scent.

grinning in the rain, she wears cocktail dress ~
tummy band stretches nine months
as he pays for her drinks.

cockle shells and wedding bells nonetheless.
a beached whale rests on the sand ~
bouquet’s ready to pop.

1/29/2020
Famous poetic lines that inspire Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Silent One
“Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” By John Keats

You Are What You Think

Like a baby
screaming out 
exciting
mind to action
speechless heart
thinks in silence.
Happy thoughts 
stretch a smile
sad thoughts
wet the eyes
jealous thoughts
invent a lie
envious thoughts
grab the knife
fearful thoughts
talents hide
tying jails
the inadequate.
In the garden
of the mind
left unwatched
cockle thrives
love unlocks and
grows the talent
watered by the truth 
of adequate.
If asleep instead
of driving
mind is driven
by the pattern
learned from
the cradling past
following easy 
path of habit.
If awaken mind
can choose
which thoughts
and start a new 
path of action
by design
and become
what one desires.
Heart's feelings
can demand
only mind
opens hand
and the lips
to forgive 
and the heart 
to love again.
Branch attached 
to the Vine
open to
His flowing life
is impowered with 
divine
healing faith 
fearless charity 
guiding hope
Spirit 
of eternal life
flowing from the Vine
to a branch
once inadequate.

Ninth place-Brian Strand No 1201 Contest-3/22/23

The Shoreline Stone

A crinkled shore on the Upper Peninsula.
We are hunting Golden Eagles.

You find a small stone.
On the surface, a crimp and cockle
of wind and waves
has rucked an impression
of an eagle in flight.

“It's only ripple art, not even
a good depiction,
just water-wear. “
I say.

You throw it back into Lake Huron,
won’t hold my hand,
won’t even look at me,
until I admit the possibility
of divine crinkles.

Moment Spent With a Mermaid

Under the sparkling waterfall, cascades
of rushing amber waves. A breathless
spirit of invigorating grace - she fades.

Just as quick, she reappears, with cockle shells
dancing upon her bikini’d breast. The mermaid
sways my sigh, with a melody that no mortal can slay.

With splendid scales of jade and gold,she riles the deep.
The briny sea swallows her whole — 
but then she sweet talks the whirlpool.

Such beauty gargles and spouts like a whale
as rainbow fish frantically scurry
and sail to their slippery domain.

The half-clad fish trills once more, than heartily laughs
as she tells me the secrets of her lovers.
This lass with two sea legs leans to her tell.

“I wait ‘til the bloke knocks himself out
or nearly drowns or until
he drinks himself over the side of his charter.”

We cackle together, Galia and I, as tears cascade
down the buoyant cheeks of sea pals.

9/23/2019
MERMAIDS Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Line Gauthier

Toad

Whither now hunker-shins?
You have a sweet countenance,
a squat grace,
always middle-aged
on the still edge of a speeding sun.
Another swift day has begun
yet here you sit among the traffic
unflinching, a bold 
bladder quelling gravity
with low-sprung shanks.
You deep-seated recliner,
standing-pat over upholstered hams.
A lumpy Mona Lisa,
with your come-hither girth
and just a thin membrane
between you and chaos.
Your skin an alien chiaroscuro,
a candle-lit atlas,
and in the cockle and crimp
of your glistening skin
a truculent contrarian gleams
beneath your world-dismissing
Buddha smile.

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