Here, I am,
Before your altar I stand, oh, PoetrySoup,
At attention,
In awe,
Not out of fear, but out of respect,
With my heart filled with gratitude,
Ready, an offering to make:
This humble new book of mine,
That
Was conceived among your poetic pages, and
Was nurtured under the watchful eyes of my fellow poets,
Who,
For almost twelve years now,
With their criticism,
Their encouragements, and
Their appraisals,
Helped me put it together.
THANK YOU ALL!
-
-
© Demetrios Trifiatis
22 June 2026
* "THE OFFERING" refers to my fifth book entitled: " IN SEARCH of the LIGHT WITHIN." Amazon, 12 June 2026, 356 pages. In mid-August, God willing, I will be 82 years old. Blessings to all.
The tempo of the music
adds energy to the rhythm of the night,
and the pulse of warm blood rushing through sinewy veins.
The mixture of perspiring bodies,
cheap perfume, and tepid whiskey adds a pungent aroma
that permeates even the tattered tablecloths.
The scene, obscured by dimness
and a haze that slowly envelops the dusty paper lanterns,
gives the room an eerie ghost-like glow.
Writhing, creeping forms
undulate, moving sensuously
to the repeated thumping of resonating bass strings.
The soulful melody of the saxophone
weaves its way over, around and through the crowd
as it playfully caresses the thick air.
Remote conversations and laughter
mix with bold encouragements from the crowd
as a lone dancer, with little effort, executes her sexy, sultry moves.
A breeze blows, ever so slightly,
as the door opens and more revelers enter the stifling room,
the lanterns swaying in the breeze.
A thin shaft of moonlight slowly creeps across the bare floor
as the aroma, the haze and the music
waft through the opening and into the rhythm of the night.
These voices, a cacophony of din,
ring in my head, but most of them aren't mine.
Somehow, they found their way under my skin.
Most are not nice, anything but benign,
masquerading as my true voice within.
Their suggestions, it's better to decline.
They tell me I must do all kinds of stuff,
because, otherwise, I'm not good enough.
Oftentimes, a voice has rescued me -
the one that says, "you're down, but you're not sunk",
when there's no shred of hope that I can see.
It says, "take one step" to shake off my funk,
when my life feels so bad, I want to flee,
it helps me face troubles from which I've shrunk.
Because of these encouragements I am alive.
They tell me what I must do to survive.
Another voice, I like more than the rest.
Inspires me to discover and create,
to love with the heart beating in my chest,
who says, "the time is now, no time to wait,
your love, my friend, must always be expressed",
and, day and night, it leaves me feeling great.
These are the words that show me how to give,
not self-blame, or just survive, but to live.
Elephant trunk palms column, canopy claps hands
Undergrowth glad heart shape leaves spiral
Navigator vines map branches, brace boa banyan
Utile duenna diary with my duties conspiring
Chaperone rope binds silent beside my grand plan
Helpmaster holsters my faltering stride, hips squared
Essential weapon for war against mediocrity
Netted fruit bag binds ideas, ripe inspiration shared
Collaboration binges exchanges evocatively
Oversees growth, buffers fumbles, humiliation spared
Unbias advisor straddles drama, miniscule mosquitos
Raised beyond current, stilts lift clear of silt
Above ravaging river, twig leg log cabin cosy kudos
Guileless sunrise server castrates lumpy guilt
Enmeshed mirror wishes bud symmetrical smiling rose
Mentor each moment monitor prods my furtive dreams
Enlivens rainblur haze, unravels twisted maze
Narrows channel between now and zany zone supreme
Twines possible to present, pours zesty praise
Strengthened, gender invalid, my meridian self esteem
9th June
Carbonised Agenda
In his blue eyes there are beautiful smiles
Whispers of joy, inspirations flowing
Encouragements to help me through trials
In silence, my love for him is growing
Gentling my spirit with tenderest grace
Whispers of joy, inspirations flowing
Light falls over my heart, like an embrace
Comforting all loss with such restful peace
Gentling my spirit with tenderest grace
When he kisses me, the joy will not cease
This love frees me to be me, without shame
Comforting all loss with such restful peace
He surely loves me and no one’s to blame
With passion like fire there is real trust
This love frees me to be me, without shame
Romance like this is first found in stardust
In his blue eyes there are beautiful smiles
With passion like fire there is real trust
Encouragements to help me through trials
UP TO 20 LINES Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Sotto Poet
April 30, 2023
Encourage someone today
O' passions flower
Father's Sons and Daughters
Old withered tree beneath thee
Rain clouds over me
Unto the altar
I have done judgments
And for them always
Encourage someone today
Someone's feelings sad and lonely
Encourage someone today
Bother you do
Just but where our my brothers keepers
Oh! Lord oh! God my brothers my sisters
Amidst the church steeples
Do they love me
Chirstian humanity any one being
Whatever my encouragement
Least be known, there's more than none
Encourage
Encourage
Encourage someone today
Those patients flowers the Father's children
His Sons His Daughters as the tree beneath Him
Roots grow
Beyond reaching coming to the ocean
You have done judgment and you have grown
Ooh! Lord God so love my brothers-sisters
Do they love me
Where are my encouragements ?
encourage someone today
When someone's down and sad and laden
Encourage someone today
3/26/23
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr 2o23 (c)
Psalms 119:121-128
Sounds all around
Not heard
Speechless
As time passes on
A crowd
Frozen not a word
Shyness around
Voiceless
Reality myth
Spoken in doubt
Words of encouragements
Life's about
Voice was heard
The crowd in a pause
Suddenly it was loud
Thunder roaring
People running
Prayers lifted high
What a time, oh my my
Silence withstands
Non-fear
Taken up gears
Voiceless.
The end results
A safe place
The voices of joy
Spoken out
Non-doubt
Voiceless.
"I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart) I am never without it"
Quote _ by E.E. Cummings
Your touches, kisses, embraces; and each loving gesture;
Your angel-filled, heaven-filled even phantom-filled stories;
Your flavorful delicacies; thoughtfully-spun vesture;
Your care when I was ill, more than my mother, for my ease...
I competed, at your thrust, picking cashew-nuts and plums,
Your encouragements made me successful in little works;
Though I could find never a single tooth in your pink gums,
There was a miraculous balm in your smile, with no smirks...
Your dutifulness, compassion, warmth, affection and trust,
Coolness in dealings; respect to all, full of innocence;
Never feeling bored, as with everything you could adjust;
Optimism and other virtues have become my essence...
Rest In Peace, O Grandma, at the hands of eternity,
Until we meet again in heavenly fraternity...!
10 September 2022
Writing Challenge- In My Heart- S Forms - Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Constance La France
Theme: Lost to Heaven - Grandmother
In a backpack they fit
All around they envelope
Encouragements by teachers
Bits of satisfaction gained
Insights of students comprehending
Patient words in the lessons
Kindness in the notes of praise
Create joy from the feat of learning
Making the meaningful difference
Students seize to build intrepid lives
At night she comes to say hello.
Adorned me with love and beauty.
Shining her soft, caresses light on her earth child.
Whisper sweet encouragements in my ears.
Shower me with sweet kisses on my cheeks,
Tell me her deep secrets.
Where she hide during day light,
And about all the lovers that come at night.
How she wept for human kind.
When they are consumed with hate.
And how she prayed with those who lost their faith.
Her beauty never fades.
Even if she sometimes changes shape.
Remind us although we not always whole,
And go through different phases, we must never lose hope.
She will constantly watching us.
Speechless, a non-word thinking
silence in the air
knowledgeable, within reasons
wiser, with words of wisdom
in a view of knowing how to speak
what words to say
as the day by day exists
in the moment with words of encouragements
not damaging to the one that is in most need
the trust builds in
a seed planted
in truth, and with honesty
silence before words is spoken.
Alone,with my thoughts, my dreams I reflect, look upwards from this couch.The sky through my window is blue,I see infinity,my gaze travels endlessly into space. My thoughts carry this silent meditation ,my prayer to God.I wait,and share my concerns,about me, where I'm at today.Slowly my ennuidissipates, dissolves. These vapours of introspection enlightened by encouragements transmute to positive dispositions.I get up and write.
Copyright © Brian Strand | Year Posted 2013
HARSH WORDS WILL NOT TAKE ME DOWN
IT ENCOURAGES ME EVEN MORE
I HAVE MY DREAMS AND GOALS
SO GO SOMEWHERE AND SIT DOWN.
THE NEGATIVE STATEMENTS
GOES DOWN AS QUICK AS QUICKSAND
YOU MIGHT NOT BE MY BIGGEST FAN
I AM FOR MYSELF ONCE AGAIN.
BY WORDS OF NOT ENCOURAGEMENTS
IT LETS ME KNOW THAT I HAVE SOMETHING
YOU CANNOT SEE IT OR REFUSE TO BELIEVE
LIFE GOES ON ANYHOW.
FOR I AM DETERMINED TO PROCEED
BECAUSE GOD SUPPLIES ALL OF MY NEEDS.
I’m so far from perfect
But I know someone who is
Perfect beyond words or ideas
He is the Master, the Savior, my friend
I’m so far from perfect
But the one who makes my life real
Is the one who walks on water
And saves my soul from the worst sins
I’m so far from perfect
But I know a man who gives to me
The assurance of the Holy Spirit
Joy that reaches so far beyond me
I’m so far from perfect
But I know the one who sends me
Love that is without any conditions
And fills my heart with sincere hope
I’m so far from perfect
But I know the man who lives
Up in heaven, by the right hand of God
Making intercession for my heart and soul
I’m so far from perfect
But I know the one who stills my soul
Gives me the opportunity to grow
And be someone I might want to know
I’m so far from perfect
But I know the God who continues to give
Sweetest encouragements and gifts
With a love that knows no ending
I’m so far from perfect
But I know Jesus is my best friend
And He will always lead me forward
To the places He means me to live
which words pried the sounds
the rusted hinges of doors long ago shut
then words gave voice to
stringed and percussion suited encouragements
that gave meaning with no translation
each word he spoke to hear her repeat him
those who could answer with rangey octaves sang
the songs which words had no meaning
gave way for a man to
do his thing
Soprano(malo) SAURAS JAMAIS BAISER
BAISER LA CHATTE
L'OEIL PEUT-IL TE FAIRE
DEVENIR ENCEINTE
HOSSEN' RACINE ULISSE
baROTONE(LE fEMME) sAURAS JAMAIS BAISER
BAISER LA CHATTE
L'OEIL PEUT-IL TE FAIRE
DEVENIR ENCEINTE
HOSSEN' RACINE ULISSE
SHE ACKNOWLEDGES ME IN THE RESPECT OF LOVE
TO ESTABLISH NORMAL WAYS OF BEING
MIGHT WE DEVELOP AN IDENTITY OF OUR TOGETHERNESS
LEVERAGING A DIVERSITY OF LONELINESS
MIGHT WE COMMUNICATE SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND
EVEN THOUGH OUR WORLDS ARE DIFFERENT
TOGETHER, AS LOVERS, I'VE MADE YOU MY FRIEND
TOGETHER AS LOVERS!
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