Boiled kasha
Steamed cassava
Sell at plaza.
A craftsman's bowl in glass
resting on the table
Unsure if for dainties meant
or for short-stem flowers, its intent
Her sides reach outward, fingers
beckon beauty to enter there and stay
No takers found she, but her spirit unbowed
sunlight-kissed glass by small setbacks uncowed
Daily bouquets from me just for you
Sprays of fresh dainties each morning anew
They're not made from flowers as one would expect
But corsages of orchids of music bedecked
Posies of pieces played straight from my heart
Unspoken words, melodies of art
Unclad and uncovered, my soul now in view
Be gentle, these bouquets are played just for you
These vast expanses and love for luxuries,
The dint and dainties ever luring,
The beams that bend our narrow necks,
The cares compelling all to the gate,
Our wars and wearying ways for filths
The ego fanning fist for fights,
And these for vain we vaunt and vent.
We wane in time, and leave em’ here.
Alabaster staircase framing chandeliers
Picassos, Renoirs, Van Goghs lining the walls
Marble floors, dazzling in the starlight
Polished perfection staging the Night
Dainties, delicacies, tray after tray
Sweetmeats, exotic fruits, more on the way
Debonair men in their tuxes emerge from limousines
Women goddesses wear sequined gowns, leggy queens
Playboys, playgirls of the Riviera making the scene
Jealousy left wondering what it all means
Afternoon Tea
in a bone china cup
Tastes nicer
don’t you agree
~
Earl Grey tea
especially
when poured
from a teapot
after brewing
not stewing
~
For exactly the time
that it takes
for to make
a nice cup
of Earl Grey tea
~
Lay out your best china
Royal Albert ~ Liberty
On a tray
On a cake stand
there all for to see
~
Brown finger sandwiches
with salmon
with ham
Scones and whipped cream
homemade strawberry jam
A plate full of dainties
exquisitely made
Washed down
with a cup of
Earl Grey
or Assam
~
So typically
English
is afternoon tea
Always a treat
both
for you
and for me
Written 5th June 2022
Contest A BRIAN STRAND PREMIERE CHOICE
Sponsor Brian Strand
FIRST PLACE
Hangnails are painful, wish for a cure
Wish they'd disappear, need a pedicure
That's only for the ladies
Tough guys ain't dainties
We just grin and bear it pretend it ain't sore
When discontentment grips my soul
stricken with “if only” litany
midst tormenting doubts attacking…
…helplessly beseeching for escape flight
while wallowing in failure along frustration angst ---
My Lord hoists my faith, reviving my heart
toward triumphant service.
Cognizant of uncertainty-filled response
to future upon insecurities' “maybe" flood
my carnality pursues gainful personal whim
making me swerve from devotion-vow
retreating into convenience and comfort ---
My God drives my commitment ardor
in building lives, vanquishing selfishness, indeed vain.
As skepticism obscures sublime vision
magnifying “sometime” pleasure
distracting heavenly focus…
my human nature succumbs to festive dainties
yet suffocating my spirit ---
My Saviour through His redeeming love*
reaches out to me with revival peace glow.
*2Corinthians 13:11 “… Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
August 4, 2020
3rd place, "If only, maybe, sometimes" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Silent One; judged on 8/5/2020.
I will wash the feet of my enemy
I'll eat the dainties of the flower leaves
I will kiss the bright of the Sun
I will sit amongst the branches of the trees
it comes to me
life is only begun
like the northern breeze
forgivenessit comes to me
4/13/20
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr 2020
Serenity bliss in gracious communion sweet
engulfs my grateful soul… while heavenly windows
open themselves wide for me, “amid jagged shadows
of mossy leafless boughs” --- in my worship retreat.
Wondrous meeting with the Lord, joyously divine
Revives my spirit, anticipating blessings
Conquering sufferings from crises oppressings
Assured by bountiful dainties, preciously mine.
Gripped with adoration zeal during altar call
My heart exalts* my Saviour along trust fervor
Triumphing over guilt by His pardon’s savor
Propped am I to follow Him to stewardship hall.
Thus, “amid jagged shadows of mossy leafless boughs”**
I can behold service-buds blooming through God’s light
Since my faith He upholds to conquer distress blight
Enabling me, despite flaws, to fulfill my vows.
*Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
**Samuel Taylor Coleridge
November 28, 2019
2nd place, "Writing Challenge 3- November - Any Form" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Dear Heart - Wiishkobi Ode; judged on 12/3/2019.
I will wash the feet of my enemies
I will eat the dainties of the flowers leaves
I will kiss the bright of the Sun
I'll sit amongst the branches of the trees
come to me
life is only begun it comes to me
like the northern Breeze
I relish all of these
sweeten is forgiveness
7 X 70
10/27/19
James Edward Lee Sr 2019
LOOKING ON COOKING
You finish your meal
in fifteen minutes or so.
Just think for a while:
Hours of exertion are put
on preparation of food.
Each agrees: Cooking
is great indubitably.
Cook best for sweetheart
He or she will remember
lifelong and forever.
Home is loveliest
where tasty dainties waiting.
Breakup won’t occur,
If hubby or better half,
either is competent cook.
07/29/ 19
NA.
'Cornucopia Cooking ' Contest by Chantallene Anne Cooke
'NA Return -2' Contest by John Hamilton
Grace granted us a say on our knees:
a thousand pleas pummeled the sky,
stirred the heavens. The Lord moved,
gentle thunder rumbled:
My daughter's back home!
Our hearts sank, too heavy to bear,
for Janet was a sweetheart, a mother
we've hugged for twenty years and more—
never saw anger crease her comely face
or her girth tinged with the pride of life.
Janet exudes the glow of midsummer noon.
With a voice that strikes heaven's chords,
she thrills songbirds to spin at sessions—
at Shekinah Nights while sky dresses in gold.
Now, birds hush! Whither our songstress?
She's gone!! A while longer would've been
our joy, sharing the dainties of Janet's large heart.
But how long will we mortals hold up the call,
knowing a day of death is set at birth?
The Lord has done His good pleasure—we bow.
So, we wish you Goodnight Mama Janet,
in hope of the Glorious Morning.
Celestine S. Ikwuamaesi
March 2019
Well you are the Virgin of Chasity
All fired up in a warm shade of Indigo
You are the unification of cosmic
Forces in the shadow of Mercury
An adaptable soul but you never
Compromise your virtues
Born of the earth and the sardonyx
You are a beautiful maiden of
Royal dainties at summer's end
Your fruit is ripe and by a harvest
Moon your table is set with
This and that and it's never
Old hat oh at summer’s end
On a fat Wednesday night
Well you are a wonderful
Humanitarian touching many
A heart and many a life yes
You are the unification of
Cosmic forces in the shadow
Of Mercury and the last few
Days of summer all fired up
In a warm, warm shade of Indigo
In the wake of September
Enter, enters VIRGO!
Every year at Chanukah,
Like from divine command,
My grandma made the cookies
All her grandkids would demand.
These humble sugar dainties,
Cut in shapes and rolled out thin,
Served as harbinger that Chanukah
Could finally begin.
But each one, crisp and delicate,
Came with the possibility
That part of it would snap away,
Because of its fragility.
So lions rarely kept their tails
And candles lost their flames.
The sturdy dreidels, still intact,
Were prized for lack of maims.
A colored sugar dusting
Coated each and every shape.
From sugar sparkles on your clothes
You never could escape.
My grandma passed her cutters down
To me, and so I strive,
With floured hands, to help to keep
Her recipe alive.
Today I gamely baked a batch;
My kids made the request.
I picture grandma’s smiling face
And think she’d be impressed.
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