Written: June 18, 2025, for contest Sponsored by: Constance La France
Quote: "The lamps are different, but the Light is the same." By Rumi
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The shame I bear yearns to be set free,
Fantasies conceal what people must foresee.
A whirlwind of visualization—eerie, untamed,
Imagination dares where rules are disclaimed.
How I savor the reverie of zeal embrace,
A peculiar whimsy in a captivating place.
And I must admit, my mayhem is deep,
I roamed in a dream no one could leap.
I discuss virtue when the timing is right,
Hallucination sprouts in the depths of night.
Love and exhaustion long for glitter untamed,
I crave the superb, so easily maimed.
I remain anonymous to forestall disgrace,
My dignity is protected by historical lace.
But truths linger, and mine stands confined,
Ambition reveals the power of my mind.
Hearing apologies is beyond my reach,
Inwardly sustained as emotions beseech.
Each buried object holds a mystery tale,
A single sail has recognized its scale.
In 1773 the sun never set
on the British Empire so goes the story
now the 'Teatime Islands'
crumbs of Great Britain’s former glory
but as the moon rose over the White Cliffs of Dover
standing guard at the Gateway to England
ramparts the enemy to forestall
if the ravens left the Tower of London
the kingdom itself then would fall
and Britain would rule Gibraltar
one of the Pillars of Hercules
so long as macaques inhabit the Rock
another of man's legendary absurdities
but should those Barbary apes depart
the British too will soon follow
and the Overseas Territory come apart
yet to save the primate population
Winston Churhill did insist
in the early days of World War II
reinforcing British rule would persist
to ensure the troop replenishment
he issued a directive September 1944
for five such females brought from Morocco
to maintain the number at twenty-four
and so it seems my friend in the end
the continuance of this green and pleasant land
is in the balance and totally dependent on keeping
a certain breed of bird and Old World monkey on hand
Did you know that even eagles age?
I sadly put my story on this page.
Once young, I soared, regal and proud,
between lofty mountaintop and cloud.
Then, I felt the wind beneath my wings,
appendages, now old and shaky things.
Confidence replaced by quiet despair,
I realize, below me, only air.
Goodbye my dear, if I could but forestall
when my wings fail, and from the sky I fall.
From where so a fault comes to call,
There from hint comes how to forestall:
Boils and blisters that burn,
Back by hot foments turn,
From ailment does its cure unroll.
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Translation |11.01.2025|
Poet’s note: Sanskrit has thousands of verses of wisdom called Subhashhitam. The wisdom of this verse tells us that remedy arises from the melody. The transliteration of the Sanskrit verse follows:
Yatah eva agatah doshah
tatah eva nivartate |
Agni dagdhasya visphota
shantih syat agnina dhruvam ||
#4
Intimacy, the flame of Fall, claim of season’s hue.
Slumber of pup, forestall of Winter’s lumber and stress.
Raising pumpkins, blazing romantic lakeside debut.
A cozy chair. A lantern there. Guitar in wait.
An all-star refresh, as lover’s mesh in Autumn’s bless.
Scenic spot, hot drink to share, cold air to stimulate.
An ample wood pile to keep friendship burning bright, while
the shadows leap with leaf, the wind blows. With success,
a closeness stirs blanket. Soulmate sings, brings her a smile.
Far off, it has begun to walk the planet,
first it must be buried in a nearby field,
while flights of dreams migrate
from unrealistic expectations.
Meanwhile,
worms' imperceptivity reshape reality.
Fresh perceptions
bloom like cherry trees in Death Valley
neglected vineyards are resuscitated
one vine at a time.
Tomorrow will show up darkly,
it may forestall or bolster,
we may only know for sure
when the roof of the sky is raised,
even so, night still roams somewhere
weeding out exhausted stems of light.
It is just diurnal time
dipping in and out of our eyes,
it’s only the ever displaced and ever prodigal
exchanging old and new testaments of hope
upon a circular racetrack,
one not at all of our making.
On dreary morns when rain is nigh
I'm weary of the misty sky
when Autumn's season comes to call
and russet leaves begin to fall.
To Summer I whisper, "Goodbye."
The lilacs petals wilt and die.
Blustery winds cause me to sigh.
Can't cajole them to stop or stall
on dreary morns.
No slumber when things are awry.
Maybe an etching I should try.
Strumming my guitar won't forestall
time that now has come to a crawl.
Foul weather I can't mollify
on dreary morns.
Recycling ourselves endlessly, we are the givers of life for all.
A misconception is that we bear the shape of a tear.
In fact we are flat although from the side, we appear
Nearly round, as from the sky we fall.
Dropping gently as showers when we are small,
Reveling in pelting the earth when we are large, we can be something to fear.
On land we can cause floods. Driven by wailing wind, we are a squall.
Petrichor, our scent so fresh, we hope that you at least recall
Subsequent to our appearance, which no one can forestall!
"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth
find reserves of strength that will endure
as long as life lasts.” Rachel Carson
Some thoughts of Earth as just routine, exist;
for it's the only way we know to live.
The Sun comes up each day to coexist
with Earth that's tethered by its rule to give.
The air we breathe- like magic fills our need
for balanced oxygen our lungs require.
The gifts from land and sea are here to feed;
fulfill the hunger of innate desire.
Besides sustaining us, our Earth provides
grand scenery that takes our breath away.
Real land and seascapes offer stunning slides
of artistry- alive in full display.
And, with all this, the gift to procreate;
the flowers, trees- Earth's species, one and all.
A miracle for sure, that steers the fate
to multiply- extinction to forestall.
Earth seasons come and go without a flaw
providing shifts for rebirth after death;
all living things will die by nature's law-
to sleep in Winter- rise with Springtime breath.
Must contemplate this beauty of our Earth
that grants the strength to recognize its worth.
You see all those flowers in the garden,
You like the rose more than the violets,
Sunflower seems to catch your eyes,
Marigolds never were your types,
Plucking up all those flowers you go home
and put them in the flowerpot,
You just don't want them to grow,
When those beautiful flowers turn dull and pale,
You threw them out of your house,
Flowers aren't meant to be yours,
They might seem beautiful and delicate,
But they have gone through wars,
The wind come blowing but they have stood tall,
Every night they cry themselves to forestall,
In morning they make your day bright,
Don't you dare to compare one with other,
Cause all of them are so precious and pretty,
They fill earth with elegance and sophistication,
You can't judge the beauty of black lilies with the pov of buttercups,
Love all of them, respect them,
Flowers are creations of the one above all.
The Water
The water need not be so deep,
to forestall evil from its keep.
A wall that can be clean and clear,
preventing evil coming near.
By
Josehf Lloyd Murchison
Choose wisely your what guards your heart; for we are products of our environment.
Written: October 21, 2023, For Miranda Hawley Contest
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We must mightily mold matches in this life.
Actions must be taken to forestall strife.
We stop at every junction to demarcate.
What we decide will determine our fate.
Our upbringing has a significant impact on us.
Those who belong to us shape our solid fuss.
Be wary of who you let into your inner circle.
Because their vitality could be a hurdle.
You should stay away from the negative.
Things that are poisonous and deceptive
Smacking serves the strength to spread.
And impel your emotions to grow in dread.
Avoid those who induce stress at a distance.
Who twists a grin into a gesture of riddance?
Wrap yourself in a quilt of affection and rely
And witness your spirit soar across the sky.
I believe in Jesus
I believe in Buddha
I believe in Mohammed
—divinity shared
I believe in grace
I believe in epiphany
I believe in tomorrow
—the promise it bears
I believe in man’s ability
to rise above his nature
religion the jailer
—whose lies forestall
I believe that enlightenment
requires a commitment
to become the living embodiment
—of that One who calls
(The 1st Book Of Prayers: November, 2016)
My Lord,
Let Your divine rain of love,
Upon the flames of hate fall
To extinguish thus the blaze
So we succeed, evil to forestall!
© Demetrios Trifiatis
21 March 2023
Never lose that luminous light
Especially when the veil of night befalls
Always continue the good fight
Even when dreams seemingly forestall
Keep a moving and a shaking
Stand down to rest but only for a moment
Elude all imposters who are out a faking
While staying the course on the road of atonement
Never placate that natural burning fire within
Keep fanning the flames with faith, hard work, and self-esteem
Because there are more than enough people outside who do not want you to win
So get aligned with the Most High and protect your dreams
Never stop believing...
Just keep dreaming
Never stop learning...
Keep those dendrites churning
Never stop trying...
Even while crying
And please, please
Never stop going...
Just keep growing
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