I walk up to the mirror, to see myself cry;
There’s plenty of reasons, so don’t ask why.
I can’t even choose which one it really is
I just look at my face, with running tears!!
His lantern shining on a summer's day,
To pierce the darkness of the human soul,
His pace deliberate, seeking on his way,
To find a man of only virtue full.
An idle quest, a philosophic stunt?
For surely roses cannot bloom in caves;
That man of virtue would the Furies hunt,
An angel cannot swim a sea of knaves.
But let us cast that light in different light,
Not if a man can be what cannot be,
But if one holds a candle in the night,
And choose a raft to be on moody sea?
For full perfection shall not grace this Earth,
But in the little things, lies life its worth.
Somehow, she appears from nowhere
to dominate the darkest sky,
her glow, suspended in the air,
will mystically bring on a sigh.
Her magnetic vibes are wondrous:
the shifting of each ocean's tide,
and also, somehow moving us-
she steers how minds and feelings ride.
Manipulator is our Moon.
Our months, divided each by stage,
are how her phases stay in tune
to regulate how hearts will gauge.
Full moon and love are tied as one-
Romance and moonlight, hand in hand
maneuver closeness that is spun
as Cupid seals what she has planned.
A force of nature, to be sure!
For ages, she's been on a throne
with mystic strength that does allure-
to mysteries still unbeknown.
"The moon is an honest Manipulator,"
last night you showed off with your total eclipse.
Your enormous bright light did,
"Tie me to your Tongue."
"I learned how to live unkissed,
until" last night.
Now "I filled the night's chalice with knots of desire,"
needing to wait for the next full moon.
"If time turns, will scars stain the sky?"
Will I live to see you next month in all your glory?
Oh look at the dark clouds for,
"It's raining roses and love riots."
Tonight was very special,
I am so glad I could join the full moon for our visit.
always abatable from
anyplace but tuscaloosa
cockamamy downstream bunny
descriptive complain brewing
mistaking birthright crisis
meaningfully turmoil tryst
unvalued unpasteurized ureteritis
stewing vaticinate dejection
deflective firm folklore
through gynecologist communications
episodic honeydew gnaw
a crisply blunted
cheeseboard doorstopper looping
merry as can
be for evermore
(Weekly Magnetic Poetry Challenge • August 17–23, 2026)
The ladder leans
against the apple tree
with a kind of trust~
wood resting on wood,
both patient.
I climb a few rungs
and see the world
from a slightly higher honesty.
Planting a seed
Blooming courage indeed
Looking up to the sky
Not considering, time to die
Knowing heavens are there
Protection from the crows who scare
Reading books filled with studies
Asking, how much money?
Trusting powers that be
Truth will see
Sun shining bright
An illuminating sight
When break time arrives
Reason to sigh
Showing a path
Towards the bath
Sweat well spent
Cultivating investment
Heat saying goodbye
Autumn leaves fly
Seasoned to perfection
Ready for collection
Harvest pay received
Graciously, I believe
Joyful thanks
Leaving the bank
No longer fearful and blue
Cash in hand is cool
Barreling pork
Work
Done
Time for fun
Spending
Since holiday season is pending
Intimidation threats are gone
Since courageous honesty is the new dawn
The last honest mirror hangs upon the wall, Untroubled by the stories people tell; It answers only what it sees of all.
The kings arrive in robes magnificent and tall, The mirror knows them by the things they sell; The last honest mirror hangs upon the wall.
The merchants boast, the prophets loudly call, The mirror hears the hidden funeral bell; It answers only what it sees of all.
The crowds applaud each polished rise and fall, The headlines weave their bright and fragile spell; The last honest mirror hangs upon the wall.
The glass grows old, yet still refuses thrall, No algorithm bends it to compel; It answers only what it sees of all.
And when our monuments at last grow small, When truth survives the empires built to quell, The last honest mirror hangs upon the wall, It answers only what it sees of all.
Mama, I’ve finally met an honest man
He says he’s full of faults
He admits no way he can
NOT keep his lusting eyes off my body, and
figures I can’t possibly be interested in him…
And mama, he works two jobs while
taking care of his invalid parents
when they sleep, he runs errands
O, mama, I’ve fallen in love so madly
I want to give myself to him so badly
Don’t be fooled, dear. You’re just glad he
kind of reminds you of your last daddy
who, you may remember
~ they hauled away in a paddy*
______________________
*as in 'paddy-wagon'
I was 468 miles away,
thinkin’, “Baby, would ya catch me on the next one?”
The hairs on her arm would stick up
and she’d think to herself:
Ain’t no way he’s still thinkin’ ’bout me.
Well, listen, honey,
I know I’m a ramblin’, self-centered little prick,
but I gotta be honest—
I shoulda been the one to marry you.
Weeks pass and I forget
the smell of you,
the texture of your lips
and what they did to my soul…
but that’s not what I’m tryin’ to say.
My fiancée is in the other room,
likely entertainin’ a funner guy
who’d offer the moon.
I kill a pint of whiskey,
pass out,
and here I am, dreamin’ of you.
Morning comes, my head throbs,
but my heart hurts worse.
468 miles away,
yet moments ago we danced on the floor.
I kiss my ole lady, one eye open,
guardin’ my throat.
The light peck she gives lets me know
I’m not guilty
for clingin’ to hope—
the hope of seein’ you again,
down on the bathroom floor,
wishin’ you’d come around
just a lil bit more
One barista cracks daily jokes.
What did one bean say to another?
Come on be brew-tally honest.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
Polishing the truth to enhance the facts
Telling people what they want to hear
However you want to gloss it over
Lying to others is lying to yourself
Big lies little lies are the same
People just stop believing you
You ultimately lose their trust
And turn into a persona non grata
Respect is something you earn
You have to have if for yourself
Before others can respect you
Be truthful honest and real.
Be the best person you can be.
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
Under the guise of transparency...
Fibs and outright lies are tossed around.
Can't we just get real?
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
15.
Honest Lie
Lady someone asked young beautiful man
Grace supposition as elegant swan
Paired male eyes upon her up to down
Wears he anonymous smile nor frown
“Fairy dear!” cries mouth's obvious honest lie.
-01/05/2007
(Dumarao)
*Topsy-Turvy Limerick Ironic
An honest life.
One that does heed
What's but felt of you, and strong
For this whip's need:
Up-rousing motivation's.
True vocation's.
Honourably lived
What's proper to!
Midst it, stands up to the herd
Goaded askew.
As one, barked at and corralled.
Inner man quelled.
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