The harvest is dead, and the orchard grows cold,
October has arrived in its crimson and gold.
They lit the great bonfires to burn out the chill,
And led you in velvet to the top of the hill.
The autumn wind sang for the darling, the blessed,
While I walked the shadows in a ash-covered dress.
They feast on the apple, they drink down the wine,
Ignorant of blood that runs thicker than brine.
You stood at the alter of dying fall light,
Reaping the glory I sowed in the night.
The frost on the iron, the rot in the thread—
I gathered the dark so your orchard stayed red.
You weep for the dying, you pray for the year,
While I am the butcher that conquered their fear.
When October's shard cold drives the winter down deep,
It isn't your mercy that let's the town sleep.
You call me a creature of malice and spite,
A shadow that haunts your mid-autumn night.
So blow out the lanterns and step to the glass,
Watch how the autumn leaves wither and pass.
We were twin branches of one dying oak,
You are the fire, but I am the smoke.
If I am a curse on the rust-colored earth,
Remember: I died so you'd have your rebirth.
Thanksgiving cats get into the pumpkin pie.
They drink down bourbon, saying “here’s mud in your eye!”
We see them arrive with a thump, a clap, a thud and a sigh.
They will put their tails all over every allergic-to-cat-guy.
They are climbing the walls now, riding the tree to the floor.
Grandma Maizey is angry, she counts them, they’re four.
Get rid of those mangy beasts, she says, irritated with them.
One is patting down her tummy, another is riding her hem.
Where did all these cats come from? Uncle Bill yells.
They are making all kinds of noise, ringing neck bells.
Two more arrive, wearing top hats, carrying red canes.
It is all we can do to not sing “cats” songs, with their refrains
My love,
the time has come
to turn a leaf, anew
for our union, succumbs to end.
So let's have our last supper, this evening
drink down the wine of destined times,
linger on luscious lips,
until next time,
My love.
12 July 2022
Radical Rictameter Contest
Sponsored by Caren Krutsinger
Checked via Poetry Soup Syllable Counter
Daffodils are oh so hard to grow
In soil hardened by lost souls
Meadow larks are fast asleep
Do not disturb the passing hours
Don’t drink down oceans resting
Or step on land mines slumbering
Planted in our dreams we keep them safe
For their own sake we bury them
Ornery crows scream in discontent
Wake the state of harmony
Rusted devices planted years ago in holes
Hide by design in places meant for flowers
Below the surface of the mind
Just as potent and just as old
Alarmed by vibrations or slightest of sounds
Please don’t step on land mines
It would be a crime to wake the sparrow
It would be an atrocity
So keep it quiet when you explode
We must keep the peace you know
we became bitter
his cat box would obliterater
need a cat sitter
my face would turn green
what does a cat meow mean
maybe something obscene
bad word did predict
With cat from Connecticut
used a poor predicate
Kabul must kabash
dirty clothes will never wash
so in sewer will slosh
was such a sag goose
She suffered from much abuse
so had to cut loose
wore dirty under ware
produced a sanitary scare
did fuel much despair
looked into interior
said she was superior
to her am inferior
did declare a truce
up myself decided to spruce
drink down my orange juice
the lettuce
is wilting
let us pray
for salad days
but
so said by Shaw
about gardens
and god
he's in the ground
but digging a bed
isn't the same
as a grave
so she was sown
from seed to sprout
now an heirloom
with an older tune
but still blue bells
toll in a breeze
they toll not for you
not due at least
another season to greet
spring up with the sun
drink down the rain
summer's slumbers
never one to complain
never one to distain
caffeine laughing
Zia Romaine
I'm Sorry that I wasn't enough for you to be around
I'm sorry I wasn't important enough for you to put the drink down
I'm sorry that I always craved your love
I'm sorry that I was your son, and you wouldn't give me a hug
I'm sorry for crying in the corner while you and mum were fighting
Smashing plates and shouting, I'm sorry that 3 year old me was hiding
I'm sorry that I got in the way, I guess you didn't need me home
I'm sorry, that you and mum went drinking and decided to leave me alone
I'm sorry that I cried as a child and got in the way of your drinking time
I'm sorry that when I got took into care, I didn't pretend I was fine
I'm sorry that I only wanted you to take me to the park
I'm sorry that I always craved to be important inside of my dads heart
I'm sorry for needing food, I understand why you made me go without
Your alcohol addiction was more important, i'm sorry you didn't want me around
I'm sorry for not crying when you died when I was 14, but I didn't feel a loss
But I'm not sorry for finally finding myself in a world where I've mostly been lost
I hope you find a way to overcome what you're going through
I hope tomorrow brings you a Brighter day
Find the strength to battle your demons away
Learn to do it yourself because there won't always be someone to save you
Don't become a prisoner to what you think about
I hope you find the courage to put the drink down
Don't let fear prevent you from texting your crush
If you give it your all, don't let anyone tell you, you didn't do enough
Don't let them control you, learn to control your emotions
I hope you find it in you to quit smoking
Gain strength from your pain, move on from whoever left your heart broken
Learn to take words from what isn't spoken
I hope you can put the blade down and become self-harm free
I hope you learn to open up and set your heart free
Wear your scars with pride, don't be ashamed
They show that you survived it through the pain
I hope you find a way to overcome what you're going through
I hope tomorrow brings you a Brighter day
Find the strength to battle your demons away
Learn to do it yourself because there won't always be someone to save you
Singing Sounded Awful
When singling he howled like a hound
And had emitted such an awful sound
Like metal being scraped with a trowel
Sometimes sounded like a horned owl.
For his singing no one gave a hoot
Of all evil singing was surely the root
About his singing we kept on stewing
What beer next should we be brewing.
His singing ended after reaching its tail
We did drink down a pitcher of pale ale
After we had drunk it down the hatch
On his big mouth we applied a latch.
Now his singing no longer can be heard
To hell he and his soul were transferred
Down there poor souls hear his singing
When he is herd they still start cringing.
James Thesarious Hilarious Horn
Retired Veteran and Poet
Send this to the Vegas Vagabonds
Who in yard have many plush ponds.
hahah
yeah i'm laughing
yet i'm dying
i want to die
i've needed to die
i look out the window
see all the smiles and happy faces
while i'm inside just sitting
looking at a bottle of pills
and a bottle of whiskey
i'm ready to just take them
i'm ready to lay down and die
i lost the love of my life to someone else
i saw you kiss
you saw me
you tried to explain
all i could do was stand there
i want to let go
let me let go
i just sit there laughing
i was so foolish to think you would stay
i was foolish to think you loved me back
i was so foolish
i take the pills...
i empty the bottle in my mouth
i drink down the whiskey
i'm ready
but you come home...
you see me crying
you cause me to throw up
"why didn't you let me die?"
i yells at you
you just looked at me as you held me
i passed out
the next day you left
i cut so deep
i was finally letting go
finally
i passed out as i looked outside
i slowly lost consciousness
my life was fading
the light in my eyes was fading
so close
almost
just a little more...
and...
gone...
i was finally free
from you
from the world
from myself...
i was finally at peace...
finally...
Put that drink down
Stop looking down and look at me now
What has gone bad for you?
What made you so low like this?
I don't give a damn about others
But I care a lot about you
I can hold you if you wanted to
Though not much that I can bring
To keep you smiling again
My friend
Why are you crying so much?
The world still hasn't ended
Does it hurt so much?
Baby, I'm still here to give you warmth
Let's get out of this place
Some wretched life that person has given you
Wipe the tears on your face
The sun is rising
Baby, you still have a life ahead of you
Pick up your bag
And let's leave everything for today
We're going to see the wonders in life
Those little things that you missed
Something that's worth crying for
Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:11 am
Cool Nights Asparkin' Sally Ann
Hard days work completed , done my best
driving home on Saturday for a short rest
Later a quick shower and a bite to eat
off to town for a sweet and tender treat
No time now to spend money on my Sally Ann
Got myself a deliberate and fantastic saving plan
No time for the boys nor to drink down by the levee
Saving my greenbacks to buy that 57 Chevy
When that beautiful car belongs to me
Going to drive here bouts for all to see
Me and my gal riding in my bright blue car
to the drive in or my favorite honkytonk bar
If that doesn't give her a thrill
we'll go sparkin' again back of Judd hill
got a clever plan you should rightly know
complete with diamond rings to brightly show
Gonna' make that pretty gal my wife
settle down to a farmer's life
Children we will be a practicin' and growin'
Then the car won't be only thing I'll be proudly showin' .;) , Z.. -Tyr
I sit and I drink
I drink as I think
I think I should pour
My drink down the sink
I sit and I ponder
The thoughts that I think
I wonder what's lost
Down the drain in the sink
I sit on the porch
And stare at the sky
The stars and the moon
Twinkle deep in my eye
Lord how I love
The blanket of night
Some fear it most
But I see the light
Then when morning comes
And I rub my eyes
I see a blue beauty
With sun in the skies
Rockman :-)
Under the influence is how you live.
You seem to enjoy being a div.
Not because you lack some charm,
Not because of some past harm.
I'v no idea why you insist on drinking,
Why you refuse to stop from sinking.
On the floor you are once more,
But I wont worry, your up in a hurry.
One drink down and heres the clown,
A few pints more and you feel like a bore.
So "to hell with it" i hear you say,
"I know best how to play".
Solos bound from your guitar,
Did it really have to go this far?
I watch your stool rock side to side,
There it goes your sense of pride.
On the floor just like before,
A place you always seem to adore.
I'll leave you there just a while,
As you choke on your own sweet bile.
The crowd dont notice,
While you pose for photos.
To them your just a great night out,
But me, i'll always want you about.
Perhaps with your liver still intact,
For this is just a simple fact.
You like to drink thats for sure
I dont think we'll find a cure.
Lets stay in, just for tonight.
No wine, no beer, no big fight.
No free drinks, no fans to shout,
Just you and me,
Please, lets not go out.
I sit at the bar silently,
but listen closely to many conversations around me.
I hear the pilot in for the weekend story,
the astronaut-in-training story,
the millionaire story,
the I'm really not married story.
I drink down my beer and chuckle at the stories
being thrown around like a pair of dirty socks.
If only some of the stories would/could be true,
I would gladly buy them all a shot and a beer.
Unfortunately, my money still sits in my pocket.
I raise my glass to fluff in bars everywhere!
For "Fluff" contest sponsored by Carol Brown.
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