Heart of emotions
spinning out
colors
seeding on stone
to germinate
hope
tears of the night
moon and star
ice
dew sparks
that vanish
in gold of
compassion
fountain of colors
wheel of precision
changing
earth gown
to fit
the season
recolored by
heart
capricious motion
spun by
words of emotions
what's spring joy
of colors and songs
to a heart
weighted down
by sorrow
or winter
dark ice
to hot love fire
burning the judge
of the eye
sun color fountain
can brighten the day
God's Word enkindles
the heart
with everlasting fire
of life's joy
First Place Winner: Brian Strand-A March 2025 Posted-3/3/25
I was drawn to the mammoth conglomerate blob on the hill.
It looked like a misshapen hulk, but it appealed to my soul self.
When I got closer I noted rivers of translucent opal running through it.
Eyestone opal takes on properties of many other gemstones.
She is soothing and calming.
She enkindles optimism, enthusiasm and creativity.
I sat on this blob for an hour, soaking in her translucent brightness.
My creations would shimmer and sparkle more than ever before.
She gave me a calmness that soothed my soul self
Army of Napoleon Bonaparte,
Was so rhythmically marching,
Gliding across all rough paths
Like condors to conquer the Alps;
A woman aged in experience,
Warns him consequences dire;
For never ever in her lifetime,
Had she seen anyone coming back;
He, overwhelmed by love for her,
Gifts her diamonds vastly valued;
Tells her to spread the great story
Of Napoleon daring to come back;
The army in reluctance rebels,
To move ahead to such hazard;
Telling them it’s a matter trivial,
He enkindles their spirits to soar;
Indeed, they had seen a hill,
And enquired their master about it;
‘Alps Mountain is great’, he said,
Lo, this resembles nothing of it;
They climbed it so simple and easy,
And expected another expedition tough;
Reaching the plains he smilingly said,
The Alps has already been conquered;
Relentless was Napoleon’s ways,
Victory-oriented his daring deeds;
His faith mingled with intelligence,
Charisma combined with confidence;
Motivation merged with military trust,
Handled rarest of rare predicaments…
01 July 2021
I listen to whimpers as duskfall nears
Finding a gangly waif rile from burnt skin;
My feet throttles along…his grin appears
With palm half-filled with dimes circling therein.
We talk warmly about this waif's despair
Of how prayers- heal abating such plight--
As he shares moist wheat-bread in hours that bear
A street child’s gentle spirit… on etch of night
Gazing far I see the boy wave his arm
As if to echo our words that console :
But from heart’s pit, he enkindles a charm
Restoring my sense of kindness… now whole.
*
3rd place
NA- Re-run 7 Contest of John Hamilton
Originally Written 6/9/2020
Judged 6/9/2020 Re-submitted 6/14/2020
Streaks of anguish like drooping trees
Entrap pale hours across nightscape ,
Then crushing low upon my feet
Each leaf's motion reflects one bid
In neutral shades when moon withdraws--
That all around, on pine and lake,
My flame of hope enkindles breath
To glint beyond November's chill,
Awaiting a young son's return
From war-torn grounds cold as hoarfrost:
Till leaves form a halo , renewed
Adorning yard its lambent sheen,
Through colored tints which now imbue
A promise blest, of new life's course!
Hope, Old or New Poetry Contest
For Carolyn Devonshire 1/07/2019
~ New Entry
Father Time is to love
As a breeze is to fire
It enkindles the great
Extinguishes the small
Swirls ashes into smoke
Drifting up like prayers
From some abandoned souls
Wounded by an arrow
Misfired from Cupid's bow
Smoke stings everyone's eyes
And tears become rainbows
Doomed to fade out of sight
Until we understand
That when it comes to love
We all get blown away . . . .
Oh, Winter Solstice, when you first appear,
the days are short upon our hemisphere.
But as the Yule log burning through each night
enkindles warmth and makes our season bright,
the days will lengthen yet another year!
The ancients celebrated, some for fear
their God of Sun would fail to reappear.
But then was born a “Son” who brought NEW light!
Oh, Winter Solstice.
And rare is one who, when his time grows near,
(though winds may blow and weather be severe),
refuses to take part in each delight,
the fanfare and the feasts when we unite
with loved ones. . . sing rejoicing, spread good cheer!
Oh, Winter Solstice.
For Deb Guzzi's Contest: Winter Holy Days
(Celtic/Winter Soltice)