*VIDEO of San Francisco by Scott McKenzie, Cheers to Tony Bennett.
City of Hearts and Home by the Bay
Day star's mist yields to its grip of a bridge,
Span steel strands, harp-like, golden tags a smidge,
Light drapes the streetcars, up and down the hills,
Chimes, mass speeches, music, and painted stills,
Juggling pantomimes, street fair atmosphere,
Haight and Ashbury crossing yesteryear,
Fisherman's Wharf nearby Pier 39,
Seafood platters and fine dining with wine,
Downtown Union Square, lunching alfresco,
Market Street, Tiffany's, a Broadway show,
San Franciscans, whenever we're in Rome,
Ideal for some, but we call this home.
2022 December 31
*2nd Place*
Take Me There
~~Margarita Lillico: Judged 2023 January 21
*RZ & HMS.
At once it comes- my bright spontaneous new thought
that sparks my waiting muse to make her think a while;
for her to shape a theme, and patronize my prompt-
bring revelation, tangible to my vague sense.
With uncontrolled fixation, powerful intrigue,
she leads me to that special portal past my mind-
beyond the ordinary logic that dwells there-
to navigate deep wells, so full, inside my heart.
And, as she gathers pure, profound emotions there-
she knits and weaves their will- and my new poem's born.
Sandra M. Haight
~2nd Place~
For The Contest: Eight-Word Challenge 1 - 2020
Sponsored by John Hamilton
Judged: 01/31/2020
Required Words:
spontaneous patronize revelation tangible
fixation intrigue portal navigate
When I proceed to look at life as gloomy, endless strife-
When I lay down my dreams to rest- give up their mighty quest-
When love's warm embers cease to burn- makes heart an icy urn-
When from God's grace I flee! Then life has had enough of me.
Sandra M. Haight
~4th Place~
Contest: When and Then
Sponsor: Jenish Somadas
Judged: 01/23/2020
How powerful the thunderstorm
that rocks the earth and lights the skies;
beyond control, in mystic form,
a battle staged before our eyes.
Sandra M. Haight
~4th Place~
Contest: Arbitrium Divisa 6
Sponsor: Gregory R. Barden
Judged: 01/27/2020
One stanza from my poem,
"The Thunderstorm," posted on February 17, 2018
Link: https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/the_thunderstorm_995194
Last year is now gone, another began-
past memories soon filed away.
Cast now in our minds- the good with the bad;
vast are the reviews we can weigh.
For finding the good- if healthy we were-
or happy for most of the time;
more visits we shared with family, friends-
score those as a plus- year was prime!
Sweat those ups and downs, as yin follows yang-
set firmly with good and/or bad.
Fret those loved ones lost from illness and death-
let happiness in- blur the sad.
Face every new day- fill each as we can;
chase worries- keep fine goals in line.
Place the full ones in with those empty few-
grace blessings that made the year shine.
Sandra M. Haight
~2nd Place~
Contest: Writing Prompt- Let's Write a Lento-
Sponsor: Dear Heart
Judged: 02/05/2020
Rhyme Scheme: abcb, defe, and the first word
of each stanza must rhyme
A brand new decade, now we face!
Year Twenty-Twenty, let's embrace.
Pray our mistakes we can erase
with better dreams to find and chase-
and stronger faith to grant us grace.
Let's relish life- slow down the pace-
our paths of happiness, retrace-
with friends and loved ones, interface
more often now, for just in case-
tomorrow they cannot outpace.
Make Twenty-Twenty a showcase-
a brotherhood with every race-
all hate, with love, try to replace.
This country, honor, not disgrace-
united strong, support our space.
A brand new decade- now in place!
Sandra M. Haight
~1st Place~
Contest: First Time Here - Monorhyme
Sponsor: William Kekaula
Judged: 01/15/2020
When first we met so long ago
who knew our love would stay aglow
through a full sixty-one plus years.
With every smile- and sometimes, tears-
still holding hands as in those days
when youth wrapped us in lovers' rays.
So blessed are we- though weathered now-
to still embrace our wedding vow.
Sandra M. Haight
~1st Place~
Contest: Lay It On Me - 8x8
Sponsor: Charles Messina
Judged: 01/16/2020
My dearest Mom, forty-and-eight years gone,
although to me, it seems like yesterday.
You were too young to leave this earth at dawn
that dark, regretful, cold September day.
I feel your presence more than I can say
because I know your spirit lives in me-
yet miss together times I hoped would be
had not, your death left each of us alone.
Dear mom, please know that not a day does flee
that I don't miss your smile and love I've known.
Sandra M. Haight
~1st Place~
Contest: How Death Has Affected Me
Sponsor: Lu Loo
Judged: 01/11/2020
Led by that light o'er Bethlehem,
his glowing eyes looked up with them.
He walked so far, this shepherd boy-
drawn by a Star that promised joy.
He joined them at the manger there
to see the Babe, beheld so fair.
More followed in a long convoy-
drawn by a Star that promised joy.
The site of Jesus touched his soul.
In Heaven's light, angels extol
this Holy Night- God's gift, enjoy-
drawn by a Star that promised joy.
Christ's birth in Bethlehem that night
gave shepherd boy- new guiding light.
His heart to God he would deploy-
blessed by a Star that promised joy.
Sandra M. Haight
~1st Place~
Contest: In Praise Of God
Sponsor: Kim Rodrigues
Judged: 01/18/2020
My muse deserted me- went far away
and left me sad and feeling quite alone.
Without her, I'm at loss for what to say-
my mind is blank- heart, heavy as a stone.
She filled my wishes for so many years
and never failed to format thoughts to words
by imaging my feelings- smiles or tears-
to steer their pathways like obliging herds.
She's gone- no certain date of her return.
I pack my days with useful things to do;
and though my spirit's low with glum concern,
these other matters need attention too.
Perhaps she's offered me this extra time-
to dwell on life- outside of verse and rhyme.
Sandra M. Haight
After the laughter, comes the pain-
our days are mixed with sun and rain.
Life is a steady weather vane-
forecasting clime we can't ordain.
Its pendulum does swing both ways;
unbalanced is its worth of days.
What brings us happiness, we praise-
but dread the shift to its sad phase.
The high-tide days are filled with glee
as waves wash out the shore debris,
again to turn- and we agree-
we reach low tide- just like the sea.
Our life is but a huge seesaw
some days, we're high, and filled with awe;
yet others make us clench our jaw-
as we crash down when life turns raw.
Laughter's not cherished without pain-
for pain does heighten laughter's gain.
Sandra M. Haight
~3rd Place~
Contest: Strand Special 3
Sponsor: Brian Strand
Judged: 12/16/2019
~2nd Place~
Contest: One In Four
Sponsor: Joseph May
Judged: 08/25/2019
When Spring departs,
new season's richer buds
bloom with complexion
more intense than in
past temperate months.
In this lovely clime,
I lease an hour to walk
in the soothing shade.
And, as I stroll-
like heaven, is the lush,
untrimmed, and verdant
beauty this stage brings.
My gift to grasp
possession of- for soon
this seemed eternal bliss
paints Autumn's gold.
Sandra M. Haight
~3rd Place~
Contest: A Summer's Day Redo
Sponsor: Michelle Faulkner
Required Words:
buds, complexion, temperate, lease, shade
heaven, untrimmed, possession, eternal, gold
LADY SOUPERS LIMERICKS
Jan Allison, Brenda Chiri, Dear Heart, Andrea Dietrich, Lu Loo, Tania Kitchin, Anne-Lise aka Sunshine Smile, SKAT A, Poet Destroyer, Line Gauthier, Kim Rodrigues, Joyce Johnson, Susan Ashley, Caren Krutsinger, Sara Kendrick, Carrie Richards, Rhoda Tripp, Nette Onclaud, Debbie Guzzi, Eileen Manassian, Dane Ann Smith-Johnson, Eve Roper, Sandra Haight, Heidi Sands, Beata Agustin, Anisha Dutta, Linda-Marie Sweetheart, Carolyn Devonshire, Jeanne McGee, Kim Merriman, CayCay Jennings, Darlene De Beaulieu, Connie Marcum Wong, Nicole Brandy, et al
They all are 'Souper' ladies you know
Though some may come and some may go
But on this you can rely
None of them is really shy
They say just what they want you to know
Their poems may be directed to a man
And I along with hundreds are their biggest fan
Some write stuff that's bawdy
But none of them are haughty
Some singles may say catch me if you can
They seldom seem to lose their muse
Write on any topic they choose
They all are so sweet
And you'll never meet
A group good enough to walk in their shoes
Curtis Moorman
8 August 2019
The ocean lives- both fast and slow-
a rolling force that hunts the shore;
it gallops high, then tip-toes low,
forever spreading- seeking more.
The ocean lives- by currents fed,
and moon that rules its shifting tides;
or, by a hurricane is led
to venture far inland, it rides.
The ocean lives- beneath the sun,
as glistened waves weave up and down;
then nightly moonbeams dance and stun
like jewels on a flowing gown.
The ocean lives- a thoroughfare
that brings us to another land
for pleasure or supplies somewhere,
by ships that follow its command.
The ocean lives- another world,
some depths of which are still unknown;
and species yet to be unfurled-
for all of life- a cornerstone.
Sandra M. Haight
~2nd Place~
Contest: Devotion To Ocean
Sponsor: Chantelle Anne Cooke
Judged: 08/15/2019
/em>
Simple bugs that can fly through the air
Like a bee, ladybug- they don't scare.
Multi-legs frighten me
From all spiders, I flee
Centipedes make me jump on a chair!
Many legs that can race cross the floor
Bring a fear that I cannot ignore.
When they fast run away
This sure ruins my day-
They can hide to alarm me once more!
Sandra M. Haight
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