Direful Poems | Examples

The lost Gem

The lost Gem

With a sunken heart	
l uttered a wail
one that sings 
of a direful loss
ravaging the heart 
with rhythms of soulless beats  

far sighting a scene  
fuddled by a murky sight 
l began to stutter 
as l saw sight a scene 
which were aforetime a gem
now rubbished with germs

Whenever The Soldiers Go

These thoughts will follow
whenever the soldiers go...
to be with them into the battlefield,
reciting the shortest prayer
to protect them as a shield
in moments of uncertainty and fear!

A heart penetrated by sorrow
shares their belief deeply,
there will be many anxieties
appearing on their undistracted
and unyielding faces sunk in darkness,
so that they must never relent or show
weakness when their lives are threatened
and troubled by the unmerciful enemy!

This mind pervaded by horror and grief
struggles with the thought of death,
why must one give one's precious life
and free those oppressed by tyrants?
And would this life be enough to relieve
the direful desperation of horrific visions,
simply by knowing that there's someone
out there willing to join them in their fight...
despite the horrible pounding in their chest:
whenever the soldiers go to achieve their quest?

Gloomy Lagoon On A Foggy Day

No gondolas are gliding under bridges, 
it's a lagoon without classic songs;
pigeons are huddled and do not coo, 
they're frightened by the murky blue!  

Carlo sings some lovely Neapolitan songs,
tourists sing along with him and smile;
they all dream of sunny Southern skies,
of another distant city they admire and love!

Venice sinks in direful sadness lowering a spirit
that seeks adventure without a definite limit;
the tower bells have stopped ringing in dim light...
ghostly streets of midday miss the treading feet!

Gloomy lagoon on a foggy day, transform emotions;
don't surrender to dismal silence numbing the senses,
it's not bleak winter yet to stop all sounds and voices...
give us more delights as the sunset enthralls dreamers!

Russia Attacks Ukraine - Revised

It does not fit in these now modern times-
the news that's dominating our TVs.
With some gains made in world diplomacy-
these scenes of war are too hard to believe.

The Afghan war went on some twenty years;
yet threats of World War III seemed off the board,
since direful risks of nuclear weaponry
did grant discouragement for future wars.

And yet, it's happening before our eyes
two countries now engaged in fight or flee-
with fears of bringing others in the mix-
all NATO countries heading into war.

Though unprovoked, Ukrainians are caught
in war with sins against humanity!
Russia discounts rules of engagement, so
all women, men, and children are fair game!

How did this war slip back to brutish times-
now watching that Ukrainians must flee
to save their lives against the Russian plans
bombing their city Kyiv- and many more?

We had progressed ahead of former times
as fighting wars unveiled the awful costs.
But now, this war misfits- and perhaps peace-
is obsolete when enemies serve greed.

March 14, 2022

Contest: Kyiv Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Kai Michael Newmann

In Very Direful Times

In very direful times,
I'll wipe off every tear
and resurrect the faded smile
buried beneath a book pile...
where letters are hidden from dust,
or from surly days that are long gone!  
Can anybody escape from it unless despair
finds delight in madness, even in thoughts not so robust? 

In very direful times,
I'll pay more attention to your moods
whether they should be understood
to prevent injury to yourself emotionally
or physically; they never should be ignored...
I can see myself living through loneliness and misery!

In very direful times,
I'll stay closer and listen
to your needs that arise from emotions;
if words are truthful and real
and have a worth of their own, 
stand by and wait for my hug:
I'll save you from the bountiful tears of hell...
promising you a golden ring!

Coming Back Reincarnated

A stifling calm hung over the enlivened eve,
Across the gulf of years and time,
Ambitions and aspirations shivered into solids and dust,
I must have existed here before now.

It's hard to cry, complain and die soon,
I'm familiar with the earthly pain and joy,
Doubts didn't beset my lonely and daring soul,
Amid the direful calamities of existence.

But if the truth be told,
I wish to be reincarnated in the air you breath,
So as to always be with you
Until your dying day.

But now the truth is sold,
I'm now like a thorn in the flesh,
With words entwining you in thraldom,
Because I've murdered the fear of death,
Since my only fear is coming back reincarnated.

A Husband's Nightmare

‘Twere a foolish youth indeed
that ne’er his parents’ voice would heed.
“We hear you’re courting Mary Lue.
Dump that flirt, what e’er you do!
Once you’re wed, she’ll run you down.
Her name is known throughout the town.”

Alack! O woe! O Sorrow’s pang
upon the morn those church bells rang!
No altar’s blessing could subdue
the direful glares that came to view.
Of a nightmare I must tell,
 the very sort that springs from Hell.

Mary Lue met loathsome Jake,
a drunkard, gambler and a rake.
A distraught husband roamed the dark
and met a couple in the park.
With one fell blow he struck Jake dead.
Panic-stricken, off he fled.

Now strapped tight to a certain chair,
he endured his parents’ stare
through a slot of perspex glass.
A priest in black arrived at last..
Will this nightmare never end?
Angels and  ministers of grace defend!

When he awoke , what should he view
but his two bonny kids by Mary Lue!
From the kitchen came a song.
‘Twas Mary Lue in voice full strong.
‘Twere a foolish youth indeed
who ne’er his pleading heart would heed.

Have You Ever Tried

How dare you say you understand me
Have you swam in the same ocean
That drowned me? -- freezing, macabre

Have you ever encountered
The direful monsters lurking
Under my creaking, rusty bed?

Have you heard their voices
That command me to end my life
Whispering to wrench my heart into pieces?

Have you ever tried
To avoid going to sleep?
Because of nightmares, my eyes stay wide.

Have you drank hundreds of pills
Just to escape all the gruesome pain
But ended up breathing still?

Have you cut your wrists
And bleed intensely-- almost near death
But all that remain are numb fists? 

Have you tried to jump on a cliff
Due to sufferings and hopelessness
But still can't because of stupid beliefs? 

Because you never walked on my shoe
Don't you dare tell me
That you know what I'm going through.

For Gaia

Hold my heart
Let me bleed into your veins
Let my breath be your breath
Until your lungs breathe again

Let my tears quench your direful thirst
And quell the fires raging within
Use my skin to stitch your ragged wounds
Use my voice to sing

My bones will keep your spires strong 
Free to rise and rise and rise
My eyes will mark the beauty there
As joy draws ever nigh

As far beyond shadows of doubt 
We are one, we are each the other
Far beyond shallow and pale perceptions 
I am thee
We are Mother

Your Brief and Our Shiny Days

Like Abraham Maslow's highest Hierarchy of needs theory,
You are a ruler, self actualized and need not to worry.
You look down to downgrade the poor from your mansion,
That has been your passion.

You shine so bright like a light,
Brightening the paths of your loyalists at night,
You have stood time still,
Crushed emotions, souls and let their blood spill.

You buried the hapless, unknowingly they metamorphosed into a seed,
They germinated. In you, that sprung up greed.
Many are still afraid to be massacred,
Seeing you from afar with their beautiful eyes that are not mascaraed.

Your marginalization pierced them like arrows,
The pains registered but they lacked no songs like sparrows.
Amid the direful calamities of the time,
They stood tall beneath the cold glare of your desolate crime.

As they rule their world, the death of your dynasty and tenure came so fast,
In anguish, you are dallying in maudlin regret over the past.
I'm sorry you have collapsed into a dreary and hysterical depression,
Making your days to be brief, shadowed and full of condemnation.

King

But what is man, but an insignificant insect in my dominant domain?
A wasteful clan, pernicious and prejudicious roaming the open plain…
Using a destructive plan, a killing machine building their festive feasts,
Invading the Sudan, hunting for their prey calling me, the King of beasts.

Am I not an animal, only killing when I hunger to feed the restless pride?
And a lion lacrimal, for I also shed tears when I lose my bar caged bride…
A fading fractional, our dominance diminishing amidst the wilderness wing,
A feline fallible upon extinction, but for this direful day, I’m still the King.


Pic #3

Background music: African chanting

Voice: Male Virtual Voice

Music at the end: Maroon 5-'Animals'




April.30.2019
Free verse or Rhyme 
Sponsored by: Eve Roper 


Placed 3'rd...Thank You

Direful Billows

ominous rain clouds 
appear in the gloomy sky
preluding a storm 












4-22-2016

Reverie

The sun has set behind the golden hills
And silence reigns within the forest deep.
The dice of life fall as the goddess wills.

The shadow grows, the birds are fast asleep,
A somber night is beckoned by the breeze.
‘Tis direful from the cup of lore to seep.

The wind of autumn murmurs through the trees
Adorned by rusty leafage on their crowns.
Alone are those whom secret wisdom frees.

Upon the lake, the whispers softly drown 
In playful croaks of frogs around the shore.
Accursed is he on whom sly Venus frowns.

The goddess moves, the silence to restore
And soothe the vulgar crowd into repose.
Unwise it is her wishes to ignore.

Find my poems and published poetry volumes at www.eton-langford.com

Fear

At the dead hour of the night
I was shaking with severe cold
It was not fever when I checked
An uncanny fear gripped my soul
The bricks of the walls of my room
Looked back at me with direful eyes
When I casually looked at them
They started to dance with funny sounds
With a bed  sheet when I covered my head

In my mind that fearful moment
Rushed in many a scary thought
what, if they come close and in voice low
could I claim protected and safe from fear
for just being covered from head to toe?
no way, yet, in the morning
i found myself alive and great
for this, half of the credit goes
to my will power another to my fate


If the incidents were in reality
Or mere my illusion
To day what is that to you to know
I passed the night with much hardship
I am alive and I wish to let it go
But I have learnt a bitter lesson
If you live in ghetto, in between many a wall
On the skin of your neck a persistent fear will crawl.

Afraid of the Dark

The wind comes up and moans like an old crone
In darkest night that I have ever known.
My car has stopped, the battery is dead.
Black closes in and I am all alone.

I lock the doors, prepared to spend the night.
Oh what I'd give for just a little light.
When I left home I didn't take my phone
There's no way out of this my direful plight.

Tomorrow, Mom will scold, Dad will be mad.
'Til I explain the dreadful night I've had.
Mom will insist I sit right down to eat.
I will be safe and warm and loved, and oh so glad.

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