Believers and non-believers collide
Where hope and bridges are built to unite
Swords and blades sparring in stark, open side
Oil in flames devouring grounds that ignite.
Pillars and towers of creeds in graphite
Melting away like rhyolite of quartz
Freezing as ornaments, crystallized parts.
Hidden away, I watched a demon Marcus cleanse his soul,
Midst sage and stone, the ritual took control.
A blessed prayer to purge the dark within,
To find a future free of ancient sin.
Cleansed and renewed by the candle's ray,
Marcus rose to face the coming day.
Precious crystals heavenly perfumed...
Raindrops* quench parched lands of scorched scent
Creating refreshing blend with grassy redolence
Radiating hope of sweet harvest against malodorous dearth.
Celestial treasures from cottony clouds...
Raindrops soothe leaves in their anguish for rejuvenation
Softening sun-cemented earthy lawn
While cooling souls and warming hearts
Since showers of blessings are God’s answers to prayers.
*Zechariah 10:1 Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
January 20, 2026
3rd place, "LET IT RAIN" Free Verse Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Nette Onclaud; judged on 1/28/2026
I drape your darkened night in sheets of white,
Making you shiver under my dense flakes;
To hide your blighted roots from mortal sight,
I pour my drifting crystals in your lakes—
Your whispered warmth in return is all it takes.
The wind I fashion blows with silent chill;
I bury all your tender skin in wool.
Your fun, I shift beside the fireside’s thrill—
Warm drinks I set by your warm hands to pull,
Though I creep cold-footed, still my smile is full.
I hide the tilling of your soil beneath coldness,
And blight in the seeds of your barn I heal,
So that your planting season stands clothed in boldness—
A whispered promise I set beneath your heel,
While from the sky thick drifting flakes I steal.
My mission finished, then I give you way,
For grace in me to meet the gentle sun,
Who dries the sweat concealed in warmer day
And widens paths for open-fielded fun—
But not until my quiet work is done.
I love my temptress
Revisiting my encrypted inscriptions
Fingers running down her spine in hieroglyphics
Azurite chemise hanging off her skin
Aureate lilies floating across her eyes
Releasing tension from her clenches
Bahri belamour
You're fatale, I can handle more
Umber tones the undertones of my paramour
You're narcotic, I can handle more
Sa'ës'ït floramour, my viole d'amour
frost refracts m
o
o
n
b
e
a
m
s
prismatic interlacing
lights waltz seamlessly
The sodium street lights
Your few striped freckles
The makeshift tattoo on my palm
A couple? Never. It's always been a triple or even a single at best,
A circle of medics healing medics.
This distortion is fine
It's a revolution of entrancing revolts.
Relics ignite for every star in the ground,
Scattered upon my brain.
To my pressed, dear, deadest flowers...
You keep leaving me out!
Crystalise for me, so I can die again for you.
My precious opalite,
Your purity is a miracle.
My beloved flaked obsidian,
Your impurity is a fiasco.
Both are much to be worshipped.
But now what am I to you>
The myriad, or the clone?
You keep me enshrined.
You rekindle yourself.
You say the circle is perfect, but it ends 4 corners behind.
I guess I'm only history.
Set me alight
If you dare.
Carnelian, please, I need my strength;
Tell goldstone to be here in lengths
And dragon stone will guide me through,
With rose quartz here, for loving you.
My pyrite guides me to the left.
Labradorite leaves my hand, bereft.
And though my quartz is tattered and shattered,
Tell amethyst that it never mattered.
Just let me cry and let me sing--
Just let my heart explode again!
Snowflake obsidian strips me naked.
Strengthening contrasts are so sacred.
I'll put this rose quartz to my disposal,
Gift opalite ring, accept my proposal
And be with me forevermore.
Please, please be mine, forevermore
ice crystals on glass
frost over countries viewing
snow is what you'd see
placing a pen upon the desk
aligned with paper
grooves of wood and knots in stain
as if absorbed in thought and mind
they seep from below
as if the stars there influence a blueprint
of aeroplanes
of vision
or easel's frames direct the brush
that strokes
pushing colour
pushing shade
and crystal imperfections
guiding a cutters tool
of life and all it throws
I remain the asked man
Crystal rose shines
amidst wine fog~
nine star-seeds traced.
rain washes away all sorrow
so there's rosier tomorrow
when pearl dreams unfurl empty lies
sparks of fireflies design my skies
as cosmic crystals I’ll follow
crystals of sorrow
from her beautiful blue eyes ~
heaven felt her pain
Forgiveness frees a fickle psyche
Grateful hearts give thanks for mercy.
March 8, 2023
Sponsor Tania Kitchin
Contest Name A New Crystalline - Any Theme
brumous air transforms
into glistening jewels –
minus twenty-one
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