"Rhyming a ditty to give Charles a Memento.
Timing and tempo must be part of my Lento.
Conditions of his contest are to have fun.
Renditions with humour, to be a happy one." The Poet.
Ending dinner the ladies went to wash the dishes.
Recommending a cafe that served excellent fishes,
became a topic of the two old men left at the table.
"Name of that place? To remember it, I am unable."
"What's the name of that flower? Its like no other,
Lots love it" said one old man. "A favourite of my mother."
Stalling, the second old man asked if it is a rose? "You're right !"
Calling his wife "Rose, what's the name of that fish place last night?"
The push and the pull
can be so graceful
and then again, it can be rough
where we dig in and get tough
back and forth
we balance work life
and input
who is getting heard now
who is getting pampered
who leads
who follows
and then it switches
at the drop of a hat
Never know
what is up for the day
so many hills to conquer
and things that get in the way
motor on
expend energy till it's gone
and recharge
and let the other take charge
handing the candle back and forth
the safety and sharing develops
the caring intensifies
the daring becomes bolder
topics shift
as we go within
hopes and dreams
past and future
now and how
in and out
it's quite the parade
deep focus not a charade
real caring
heart on sleeve wearing
taking note of each other's state
not staying up too late
Never know
what is up for the day
so many hills to conquer
and things that get in the way
motor on
expend energy till it's gone
and recharge
and let the other take charge
and life motors on
just like this song
over and over
but I sense happiness too
deep release
peace
till we wrestle next with a thought plan or objective
then it's on
we knew at dusk that the day of the dead was officially on fire
a skeleton couple rose up from two different pyres
the audience was startled in place as they began to dance
they were soon surrounded by lookers, Old Emma and Lance
They had been married over sixty-two years, one onlooker said
It was a fine evening to watch them, on the Day of the Dead
They did the tango, the Watutsi, and a chicken dance too
Their keen dancing did not stop until a quarter after two
They were best friends in life, we knew they’d be back
This was said by Lance’s best man, he called himself Mack
My wife is gone too, but she does not dance any more.
We felt sorry for him, we could see he was sad at his core.
Under the cherry blossoms, we stand,
Your hand in mine, soft as the sand.
The world is loud, yet here it’s still,
Our hearts in tune, our spirits thrill.
We giggle softly, sharing a look,
Like secret pages in a book.
Your laugh, a melody so sweet,
It makes my heart skip every beat.
The way you smile, the way time flies,
I see soft skies in your eyes.
They hold a world so calm and bright,
Like stars that sparkle through the night.
With every step, the world feels bright,
Like stars that twinkle through the night.
We’ll write our story, me and you,
Beneath a sky that’s always blue.
Love has tied me in ways I never desired
Longing of you has carved your heart inside me
Under the Twilight , beneath moon I gaze pearls of pain
Every sigh whispers the silence between us
Love has tied me in ways I lost you...
He says that he loves you, but he can never say why.
He says he only has eyes for you, but turns and looks every
time another girl walks by.
You think that you love him so much that you can hardly breathe.
Not realizing it is because he has pressed up against your neck, his knee.
He says that he loves you and wants to spend his lifetime with you, the
true love that he has found.
Yet, how many times do you find yourself alone, calling everywhere for
him and he is nowhere around.
You keep trying to pretend that you are happy, but your friends know you
can't be with him, treating you so bad.
How many times has he forgotten special occasions, and you smile at them
saying no problem when they can tell that you're mad.
He keeps saying how much he loves you and he wants to marry you, but
now is not the right time.
Knowing every time he says this, you get a feeling that one day he is
going to walk out and leave you behind.
I know how much you love him, but the question is does he love you?
Cause if he did, then why does he keep treating you the way you allow him to?
A flame flickers,
toying and teasing
some jazz in the background.
Like stealth on tiptoe,
the darkness settles in
as the tables await couples.
Night descends upon
come-hither invitations
and your future awaits.
AP: 2nd place 2025
Do you remember the time,
When we used to carry only a dime,
No gold, no dollars,
But the world were like yours and mine?
The bliss, together we share,
We comfort each other in every despair.
The fondness that seems unending,
Our love that's bound, unyielding.
But oh, how can we not fight against time?
In its power, we can only resign.
Your long black hair, now silver white,
Now your eyes, and it's degrading sight.
We both fear that every morn and evening is our last.
That's why we wish not to fall asleep too fast.
Everyday is like meeting you for the first time “Hi!”.
And every night is like saying a painful “Goodbye”.
snowing.......vape pen line
fire.......hail fountains
mountains.......hillside wave
Tree.......fruit's mom
bird.......flower soaring songs.
ocean.......dear me.
Weirdest mushroom couples met in the park.
One of the men began to howl, whistle and bark.
His wife who was taller said “Wait a second! Hark!”
The other couple thought they were joking, suspected a lark.
Tourist husband with a camera around his neck.
Said to his wife “that other wife’s hair is a wreck.”
The wife said to her husband “it’s worth a bushel and a peck.”
The other couple heard but said “what the heck.”
JANE AND TARZAN
Me Tarzan,
me Jane.
I love you....
Ôooooooooo...
this is Love....
Auuuuuuu....!
ROMEO AND JULIET
the biggest love
of the world...
united in life
and in death
forever...!
TRISTAN AND ISOLDA
she in arms
of a stranger...
he sadly
crying hopefully...
She offering herself
but loving her Tristan love...!
BONNIE AND CLYDE
The crime
doesn't realize for much,
but love
doesn't elaborate too much,
loving is enough...!
LAMPIÃO AND MARIA BONITA
they were evildoers
of the world...
But were benefactors
of their love...!
my darling, you are the first red flower
in my garden of devotions
and the resident at the highest tower
in my castle of emotions
but also, the first day of spring
and all the life you bring
like the new fawn born at dawn
in the green valleys after mom
an eclipse worshipped by the Mayans
and the shine of the stars on the belt of Orion
honey, you are the compass that points North
To everyone you meet being dragged South
Luna full that lights up the darkness
and also the cure to full moon madness
the aroma of fresh coffee churning
my reason for a good morning
the love of someone with no hope
when I could not cope and wanted a noosed rope
and also an ocean flowing love potions
bliss in motion until our body's explosion
love
I hope with this I covered all that you be
because to me, you are everything!
even just imaginary...
(Written for Jim Eslinger )
DEVOTION POEM 5, “Unspoken” ***** (for Jim Eslinger)
Young and new to each other,
There was always too much to say.
Glancing around in restaurants, we’d notice
What so many friends remarked on when seeing
Those older couples staring at their water goblets
Or their fingers and never conversing —
What seemed
Not a breath spent one to the other...
Thus, we swore, we’d never ever be like that.
Until now, we are as the telepathy of time
Often does story — full with unspoken exchanges
And kindnesses, like when I want more coffee
And Jim has signaled a waiter before I signaled him,
Or there are things regarding our surroundings:
The commotion and din; or notes about raindrops;
And the phases of the moon; points of quality;
Jabs of conflict; moments of pain; and expressions
Of known love between us. Thus so,
Our lives joined
Evermore outside of dictionaries and essays,
Even overtopping poems...
We speak in being:
Together.
********. ********. ********
(c) sally Young eslinger 2020
Thanks be to God
He said he likes my tattoos.
I said "Yes but darling can you kiss all my scars?"
The tattoos are beautiful but self-inflicted.
What about the wounds I never asked for?
Tiny imperfections,
pinpricked from years of abuse.
You laid asleep as I showered your body
in cotton candy kisses
A whispered I'm sorry
for the row we had just before bed
My anxiety creeping in
with each rise of your chest
Heavy with realization
that this fall might be our last
I listen to your snores
counting seconds in silence
Memorizing each movement
preparing for an imaginary pop quiz
Your love is still my mountain
steady and strong
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