(Latin for 'Michael Made Me')
There lies a town in northern Spain
(thank God it's little-known!)
where every chapel, church and fane
is hewn from honey stone.
Nice chunky arches, columns too,
with barley-sugar twist:
and gargoyles, griffins, gremlins who
quite cordially coexist.
To stroll here is to turn, with love,
some bestiary's bold pages,
and marvel at the mindset of
those early Middle Ages.
Capricious carvings crowd one door,
coeval "carls" of Beckett:
and, scratched into one caricature,
Micaelis Me Fecit.
The mason sits in effigy,
a chisel in his hand.
He eyes us quite audaciously:
that look, we understand.
He doesn't care for Time or Fame,
or Wealth, or Noble Birth:
that "Michael Made Me," is his claim:
and Michael knows his worth.
How far from earth are heaven and hell?
And which way do you go to get there, pray tell?
Did God create a GPS for the soul?
Or did he give little devils or angels the role
to escort you to the place where for eternity you'll dwell?
It was so hot, my nose melted off my face.
It was so hot, my blistered feet got fused in place.
It was so hot because of an infernal fire
that God eternally stoked to fulfill his desire
to flash fry those who'd refused to be in a state of grace.
If not for this fence, there'd be no shade,
and we'd be burning up watching this hellscape parade
of hellhounds and lizards ~
and three-headed wizards ~
and griffins with gross gizzards ~
making the little kiddies afraid.
To live is to forgive,
Asia is larger than a novel by Joseph Kessel.
To the icy ray of moon that crosses the window,
To the bee that stings your honey on the table of abundance,
Forgive the indifference and talent of New York poets,
To live is to forgive,
To his parents who scolded and lied to you often,
To the teacher who strikes his baton on the desk,
To the student who recites his fable without knowing it better,
To live is to forgive Joseph Kessel in the mountains,
To the nervous lions that hunt the elephants of Tanzania,
To capricious girls who take shampoos,
To the girls who want seducing cats and griffins.
To live is to forgive,
To lovers who eat dark chocolate,
To the bulls that haunt the dreams of the Spaniards,
To the prime numbers, this ridicules our cute reason.
The train to nowhere just reached the platform
Further down the tunnel, there is a storm
In a month or few, it will reach its destination
'til then you must seek for salvation
Cause this train is part of mission of destruction
It goes on and on without any commands or instructions
Through the lands of ogres, sirens, griffins and even sphinx and Cerberus
Do not sit if you dream to live
Somewhere down its path
The train will take you for a bloodbath
You might think this is a lie
But, if you want to live, then sure do dive
And remember, only the foolish ones shall dare to survive
And finally the journey seems to end
Survivors await their family and friends
But are always met by none
Not the storm or the sun, not even the employees clad in fancy uniforms
Because they were all informed,
The train to nowhere just arrived at the platform
You've heard of silver unicorns,
Of griffins guarding gold
And tales of dragons fanning fire
Are very often told.
But back in medieval times
A fiendish feline reigned,
With mystical supremacy
He feasted unrestrained.
For when with hungriness he roared
A sweet scent filled the air,
Which like a moth unto a flame
Drew prey inside his lair.
12.10.20
Panther (Legendary Creature) Poetry Contest
Sponsor - Julia Ward
Under medieval belief, after feasting, the panther will sleep in a cave for a total of three days. After this period ends, the panther roars, in the process emitting a sweet smelling odor. This odor draws in any creatures who smell it (the dragon being the only creature immune) they are eaten by the panther, and the cycle begins again.
You are beautiful, wonderful, and powerful
Your creator was careful
Let none tell you otherwise
He put into perfect position
All your wonders in good condition
I attest for I took part in your creation
Call me your father
My name is Griffins
My daughter
I write to you.
In the world I stay there are beasts and beauties
Hyenas and vultures
Men and dogs
Some allowed themselves to be dogs
Others lived with dogs
Others lived like dogs
You will see them around
Remain sober and sound
My daughter.
If we never get to see
I hope this will be
And you will read
You will heed
You will record well in deeds
And bless and plant healthy seeds
Pure breed
Protect from weed
Will you my daughter live my expectations?
Will you let the seeds bring forth harvest and celebrations?
I am a griffin
You may touch my happiness
But you will never reach my mind
I see things as they come
Deal with them before they come
And when they come
I take them as they are.
I am a griffin
You may break my heart
But that can never change me
I will reach to make peace
Hope to bring back the loss
Restore the joy and wipe all fear.
I am a griffin
You may stop me
But I will never stop
Reaching for the top
I will always strive to be on top
Never will I allow myself to flop.
A Griffin I am
When you show me your back
I will not hit back
I will let time revenge on my behalf
I will never build on a wrong
But will still remain strong.
Call me Griffins.
loving sister
I write to you as a writer
know you are in school
Because you are still a big fool
Your being wise
wholly lies
On your book
that you should keenly look
open every page sister
read every text sister
Get that wisdom
Embrace that wisdom.
sister write every word
paint every picture
for those words
that picture
pictures your future
so don't sleep
for you might slip.
it is now 7 months
in your form three
I check at my wrist
my watch is ticking
click by click
time is whiled away
sister use every chance
exploit every minute
for you are worth
living this earth.
I have to say
that day
u got the accident
I realized you are a light
to several hearts
embrace that and shine
For you are a true NDHINE
you are the MARVELOUS GRIFFINS
Realize your potential
for you are exponential....
come next year
I want to praise you dear
I want to hear the people calling out
I want to hear the world shout
I want to see your parents Marvel
For they gave birth to Marvelous Marvelous.
May you live long and shine bright like white.
Dreams in bottles
and maps on walls,
fairy tales told
of knights so tall.
Dragons and maidens
battle in flaming towers,
as unicorns jump
over plants and flowers.
Elves and dwarves
dwell in a hole,
a witch who steals
your heart and soul.
Griffins soaring
high on the clouds,
wraths who scream
ever so loud.
Shadows whose form
shifts in the night,
screams that shiver
to bring on fright.
Angels that sing
as pure as the sun,
a ring that possesses
your mind and runs.
Ghouls rip out
your stomach and guts,
evil cars that crawl
over bodies and ruts.
Zombies who want
to feast on your flesh,
wizards with wand
slowing the thresh.
The fantasy world
can be what you will,
your mind is unlimited
if you hold it quite still.
I haven't been well and I wrote this one for a little bit of fun in the down times...thanks for reading as always...Jayne
Go! Go to sleep!” Night said
“Where? Where?” I whispered back
Sleep - Where can this famed land be?
Where one must close their eyes in order to see!
And must I go there at nine o'clock?
How to get there? Will I walk?
Will my friends be there as well?
Or should I bid them all farewell?
And Night was silent for a while
Til she answered with a knowing smile
Sleep is the land where your dreams dwell
More than that I can't foretell.
But perhaps it’s the home of fairies
Perhaps it’s full of tales and stories
Miracles are quite common there
You could meet Hope, or else Despair
And then Night said beware;
Beware the place called Nightmare
The land of banshees, dwarves and dragons
The home of elves, griffins and kraken.
And shuddering I closed my eyes
For there the land of sleep lies
And Night continued its lullaby
Until the sun rose in the sky.
Shall my isolationist advice be taken myself?
I believe so if I leave the girl alone
She will fall for the man I am
The surpassing will of the desire
One of which he lacks compared to I
Is given to her only after my acts
Or shall I say after my axe?
For desire is a forest to be lost in
And the trees are those blocking sight
The griffins call is the only true way
Which is the instinct leading us along!
So I chop the barriers of nature
And raise my weapon high
For my isolationist advice
Shall be taken myself
the syrupy smile of
the chimeras and griffins
remove the flesh from our bones
roam the walls of Notre Dame
well, my mother loved to visit miss Peggy's place
yes, they talk about this and that but
still, Miss Peggy had several
spaded black cats in her place and
mother would ask her three young boys
to come out and visit Miss Peggy's house
unfortunately,
i
was the only one
brave enough to say that i have
a deep fear inside my chest that sing out
then I said, mama
i
am really scared of
those
big black cats are creeping around
in
Miss Peggy's house
the black cats looked like
centurions guards and griffins
standing along the
halls and stairs,
with
their marble red eyes and
white Cheshire smiles and
i
cried when mama
said
boy you come over here
and
give Miss Peggy a nice big juicy kiss and a fat hug
i
finally screamed out loud
and
said
mama
i
am really scared of
those
big black cats in Miss Peggy's house
and
that
Miss Peggy's has a thick black mustache
and
i
did not want to kiss her strange lips
will
i
I was unable to pass through.
Miss Peggy's house anymore
vampire bats
are jumbo jets
flying high
with their six foot
wingspan flapping
through this heart of night
stretching against
the surface of the sky
hiding the face of the sun
yes, pitch black
leather wings
grabbing hold of
space and time
slicing through
the thick of night
slipping pass
the House of Hades
being guarded
by gray ghosts
griffins and gargoyles
but somehow
the Gothic moon
stands her ground nor
does she sleep
a wink tonight
letting go of
fear and fright
protecting the
still of night
knowing that
the vampire bats
possess infrared eyes
to capture their prey
Bright pumpkins flicker in shadows,
evil spirits hide in willows,
wolves renounce warfare,
even cats won't stare
at hungry griffins with large claws.
When the kids see those scary beasts,
they can't help laughing ...one retreats!
" Run, Jane, run!" yells Jared
with spooky hair as Fred...
they both drop their bags full of treats.
The chaos continues through dark streets...
as squirrels feast on unwanted sweets;
Halloween's surprises
simply dramatize...
why should kiddies hide under sheets?
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