Express Through Compression Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Nette Onclaud
3/10/2026
Nightingale - Compression Poem
morning darkness
I hold her feather
in my city's dead breath
walking on muddy streets
her song heard somewhere
sweet where rain's left
nightingale tune
upon steeple limb
in cool of summer swoon
up, down, up, down dance in
scarlet gauzy light...
lull waxing moon
the lonely strains
like a haunted dream,
so many sad refrains
left...to drift in the wind,
now memory-born
tears when it rains...
written March 10/26
for Nette Onclaud's Compression Contest
breaking the ice
of eerie silence
to make its mate entice
jargons on and on from
the shrouded bower
is truly nice
Place: 2 nd
guttural croak
black as starless night
demonic tales evoke
fear of shifty ravens
it's an 'unkindness'
raven-type joke
Night voice
In dark woods
Your song crosses night
A star within the mist
My heart listens
Pure night
wild messenger
signals true passion
mystery presenter
trickster intelligent
casts light into dark
black questioner
_______________________
Hiding from rain
Lies a slick raven
That old wisdom retains
Loves shades of loneliness
Traps all stirs of sounds
Bears mounts of pains
Black like the night,
he soars and tumbles,
an acrobat in flight.
Keen is his sight, and he’s
a playful mimic.
This bird is bright!
nightingales sing
mostly through the night
many phrases they bring
with long range and power
inspiring tunes
which poets cling
Contest: Express through compression
Sponsor: Nette Onclaud
Date: 07.03.2026
Little in size,
Chestnut orange charms,
Streaked with black, soars the skies,
A bundle of colour,
Cute whistling birdie ~
Sunrise surprise.
Comfort* prevails
since Mom’s lullaby
lingers and never fails
like nightingale that cheers
with God's melodic
bliss as life sails.
*2Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
March 6, 2026
3rd place, "EXPRESS THROUGH COMPRESSION" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Nette Onclaud; judged on 3/13/2026
Branch-hugging cry,
Ancient, mournful tale,
Underneath the large sky,
Soul-filled singing, brown bird,
Pouring forth its heart,
Never to die.
Kingfisher blue
Holy halcyon
Fleeting, flashing brand new
Brightly and beautiful
Occasionally
Spotted by you
Moon mounts up high,
passion bird sings soft.
Stringed love and pain tunes tie
in heart’s nocturnal niche.
Darkness echoes thrill
through silver sky.
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