Handrail Poems | Examples

Turbulence

A wild night tucked-up
riding a storm in my bed.

Late digested cheese and crackers
are crumbs in my head
that now tumble like rocks
in a landslide.

Spumy sprays of dawn
crash upon my toss and turn,
pillows billowing on the floor
a poignant jetsam
stark signs of turbulent times.

The dog needs to go out
to do his thing.
Standing at the decking
swaying wearily I sense a roaring,
a sea-sickness
rolling over bare cold toes.
And me only 400 miles from the sea!

I need a handrail for my mind
or a strong cup of tea -
maybe some dry crackers.

My Curse

Beads of sweat roll down my back,
Feeling sick I nearly yack.
Body quivers, hands now shake
Tremors of my bodily earthquake.

Heard my name; I've been called
Stairs handrail I tightly hold.
I tap on the door to my right
Nerves prepares me for quick flight.

'It' stood head to toe in protective wear
An alien! I thought with irrational fear
Another voice says "please take a seat"
Two same aliens of meet and greet.

I go and sit in a reclining chair
Laid flat back; looking up I stare.
A long, sharp needle swiftly appears
The injection begins, I'm close to tears.

They're ready to proceed on my tooth
Rigor mortis sets me aloof.
Drilling starts, I fear the worse
Teeth and dentists are my curse.

14.06.22

All the More Poignant

a baseball hides in shadows on the landing
  glove and bat nowhere to be seen
a football perches oddly on the top step
  helmet and shoes sprawled across the handrail

cries of 'nice cut,' 'home run' and 'tough out'
  have yielded to 'hit 'em harder' and 'touchdown!'
soon to migrate indoors to hockey arenas
  basketball courts, though the passion's the same...

long-ago recollections of hotly contested games
  fade inevitably within musty corridors of time
and the stiffening of sinews in the legs and back
  which render all the more poignant such nostalgia attacks...

Forever

I am empty of tears
nor will welcome again
my wounded wonderings each night
up the staircase to my despair
drunk on the elixir of my pain
love ended
and we will go with it
when I stare down the curved handrail
of timeless eternity
naked, alone...covered in blood
by my hand's work
blood dripping
from the blade of insanity
plunged into your frozen heart
where you'll sleep...forever
as I 
throw my worn-out body
down the stairs of death
into endless black
freed from the painful emptiness
you claimed each night
when I climbed the staircase
like a slave
to the tortured duty of worthless love
filled with hate-filled disgust
that has taken...both our lives


10/12/19 contest Nude, descending a staircase

A List of How I Feel Kahlo Inside

There are at least two Fridas
I think one might be me
We both almost died
Broken similarly

 Her spine
collarbone
ribs
pelvis
and a dislocated shoulder
eleven fractures in her right leg
her right foot crushed and dislocated
abdomen and uterus 
by an iron handrail impaled

 My spine
collarbone
ribs
pelvis
and a dislocated shoulder
my left femur in ten pieces
my left ankle crushed
my foot    saved by steel toe boots
and my abdomen saved
by my saddle        flattened






7/26/2019

Writing Challenge 3, July 2019 - List - Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Dear Heart

A Family That Gained Peace

Long time ago; in an African land
In a house whose walls with fine flannelette sheets
Whose roof was well made
A house whose floor was well tiled
Lived a family that known no peace 

A family that uttered disgusting terms
That could be described by all bad and negative oeuvre
Members so hostile and selfish to each other
Same people very harmless and poltroon
It was a family that known no peace 

And now the villagers so tired of it
Many fasted and prayed for it;maybe it was a spiritual issue
Elders gave them infallible advice and cautions
And a glimmer of hope was seen
And that was a family that known no peace

Rate of libido decreased among the sons
Hearts now decorated with pompom
And their old behaviours were becoming a stale
So wise as they were; one word was enough for them
And that was a family gaining peace

Change was becoming a manner; the East met West
As they now hugged each other with love
Holding each other's hands like a handrail
I stood at a distance watching them break their smiles into tears
It was a family that gained peace

Never Again

The staircase to a bedroom of lies
creaks,    with worn out balusters
from the palms of lovers
that shook the handrail as they climbed...trapped
with a honey smile  beneath eyes of desire
offered to quench their thirst
for companionship
paid for by illusions proffered
as more than a splash of paint...used
to cover rust, exposed
from the dusty bones of dying love
that fed on poison crumbs
left to kill any memory,   of each changing face
that gave comfort and refuge
to an endless cycle of drudgery
when each time,  you whisper in my ear
I promise,    never again

11/11/17

Chasing the Seas

Why I agreed, I’m not really sure
Others had pressed me, gave me a brochure
Ready or not, I’m off to Jamaica
Look Mon, have fun, it’s a piece of cake-a
Don’t worry, be happy is their favorite song
Chasing the seas, I went right along
Rounding the corner of upper deck B
Using the handrail to steady the sea
I finally settled into my sea legs
Sipping on cocktails, now my stomach begs
Especially for olives and caviar eggs


10/10/17

Climbing the Stairway

Climbing the Stairway I miss my youth
each step a struggle with arthritic pain
As I grasp the handrail to steady myself
I remember that boy who out ran the wind
the young man who dance away the nights
The man who would walk ten miles
to see his heart's desire
More stubborn then the pain
I win the battle up
accepting my life
One step closer heavenwards

Thy Sorry State May Soon Be Descried

A Parody of Sir Philip Sidney's Sonnet 31 from Astrophel and Stella


With wobbly steps, O Youth, thou climb'st the stairs!
How clumsily and with how red a face!
What! Dost thou trip and fall about the place
and pray thy folks sleep soundly, unawares?

Perhaps thy little brother who now sees
thee fall can be persuaded not to race
and broadcast to the house thy plunge from grace.
Thou could'st bribe him with money and say "PLEASE!"

Whil'st thou cling to the handrail, bleary-eyed,
now in thy shameful state, O Youth, pray tell
are friends thou partied with, like thee, unwell— 
in fear, lest their condition be descried?

Those youth who guzzle beer in lieu of milk
will bring ignominy on all their ilk.


May 9, 2015

Junkyard Romance

the end is not so close
but I'm still drowning
in all ponds of Mars
guilty and filthy
and walk down the alley 
of sombre solstice
swearing at walls
after the heist gone wrong

now the everlasting 
ambulance siren
echoes through 
the tumbledown lands
through sullen skies
through every selfish mind

dancing at the balcony
without a handrail
is better than the eternal
junkyard romance
but time travel dreams
keep me awake
and asleep at the same time

drill time! pill time! 
crucify your social image
even earthquake is more fun
talk to yourself
break window panes
but never buy a mirror
rather take it from the junkyard
and engrave your name on it
'cause someone has to
notice or break it

Juliet Speaks

Again , she pines on barren stars
and clasps the handrail of despair,
maiden of night, gazing afar
Juliet speaks to feeble air .

Oh, hours trickle on beats quite piled,
that mock a future then decide
unmoved, her pulse begins to roam
of fevered thoughts on walls, alone.

With ebon clouds that float midway
she ponders, restless as a breeze,
compelled to seek this dream-like play
that waits for lovers' melodies.

Yet  tresses blow without relief,
for love denied like winter thief
as silence drapes the skyline’s veil
on empty porch howling farewell.



Contest: Destiny or Choices
For Nayda Ivette Negron
Resubmitted  4/19/2016

Hunted-- For Crown of Sonnets

We still face the test of absolute truth
As creatures of the wild roam on a vast field
The sun burning through their earthy pursuit
Within this mind, a darkened haze concealed.

I watch their shadows, deepening a leer
My fingers grip waiting for the  light of dawn
While mossy scent pervades on woods’ frontier,
Restraining a planned scheme as moon grows long.

Daylight wakes and I seek the open trail
Across the range, a moose nibbles on weeds
It’s curve -like silhouette fine like handrail
Now, desire for prey claims a game sullied.

Then noises ring, and noises ring again
Deafening the echo of silent  glen.


............................
Seven Stones in the Crown & other Gems 
Sponsor: Debbie Guzzi
by nette onclaud

Like a Slinky

I walk to the edge of the platform
Looking far
Down the descending steps
Knowing the bottom is somewhere out there
And without thinking too much
Move outward

My black right shoe 
Goes forward and down
Followed by the right cuff 
Of my black twill tweed trousers
Leading the rest of me
Like a slinky

My right hand 
Grasps the right handrail
For some sense of stability
And control
If only to slow down my descent
To the bottom

Astronomer

Stone steps
To the top of the tower -
At least a hundred -
In a spiral staircase;
Regularly spaced,
Worn by many feet
And time,
Yet as strong as the day 
They were quarried
Out of local granite.
Taking the polished brass
Handrail, I started to climb;
Eventually, 
Stopping midway
To catch my breath,
And massage my aching calves.
Reaching the telescope at last, I
Smiled and gazed up at the starry sky.

Jack Horne for Linda-Marie’s contest

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