Impuissance Poems | Examples


List of Member Poems

Premium Member War on Laughter

After 9/11, there was the "War on Terror",
a conflict with a lot of trial and (mostly) error,
and few of us asked during all that commotion
"How can you declare war on an emotion?"

Well, now in America, there is a "War on Laughter".
The POTUS - "His MAGA-sty" - is going after
any and all of those pundit folks
who like to make him the butt of jokes.
(And, sadly for him, he can't call it a hoax
as he sits in his tacky Oval Office and mopes.)  

Dozy Don, with the cheesy orange hair,
thinks he has beaten Stephen Colbert
and will try again to get Kimmel banned
but "Against the assault on laughter, nothing can stand." *

He can try to cancel all the critics he wants
in a pathetic display of impuissance,
but his prospects will be nothing but grim
because we will always keep laughing at him.     

(* A quote from America's greatest humorist, Mark Twain.)

Premium Member Bold Black

Black Dahlia, lily, rose, cosmos, tulip, pansy,
Attract more than multi-colored flower-fancy...

Black - an amalgamation of colors many,
Has lots of rainbows hidden, within its belly!

Symbol of strength, wealth, elegance, intelligence;
Death, decay, and unknown too is black resilience!

Color Black can courageously stand up and say:
I help you, colors, to stand out and stably stay!

Blackness covered all before God's new creations,
Death and devil too are black-power foundations.

Humans need not cling to fairness or goldenness,
God has dwelling also in good-willed dark boldness.

Orange, yellow, green - cannot indigo avoid,
If Rainbow drops any, won't God's designs go void?

Applauding all colors is a human response,
Avoiding any, simply, is impuissance!



26 August 2021
The Color Black Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Chantelle Anne Cooke

Rubies

I spent my day shopping for rubies
   a flawless, untarnished gem
that would remind me of you, truly
   a recovered memory for now from then.

Your ring sits lonely in the old music box
   I see it there when I play your favorite tune
and the thought of you is kept safe under locks 
   holding the magical reflective melody of Claire de Lune.

New rubies, brilliant stones, glowing, uncut ready to buy
   translucent reds, hypnotic mesmerizing translucence
a vibrant indescribable beauty too often makes me cry
   in your smile reminiscent ruby red, calls me to impuissance.

I spent my day shopping for rubies
  alas, the ancient memories can no longer permit
the capture of the gem and all its beauties
  cannot erase the emptiness each one transmits.





First Line Prompt
Julia Ward's contest
7/11/20


Premium Member The Streaker

Cletus O'Toole was a whiz 'mongst streakers

   And the darling of 'exposure'-seekers

      He was a down-right nuisance

         But due to cops' impuissance*

            He raced 'round town in just socks and sneakers

*Inability to act

Toska

I'm missing someone
Few days back, I found
I'm in need of something
My heart condemned to agro
A feeling of distinct dissatisfaction
Like a nail hammered in place
A bottomless void lay pitted 
And was rendered vulnerable
Even now as I reminisce
I perceive a hint of that deep-set twinge
In my chest, I'm hardly at rest
You can hardly compare the snail's symptoms
Of loneliness and impuissance to that of the snake's
                                                               -Toska

Allergic Interaction

Over long winter hours
Feeling angst about the enduring absence of a pleasant stasis,

The ninja like treachery of nature, camouflaged in the subtly sweet aroma of hyacinth and spring dew, sneaks past the awaiting anticipation of discomfort.

How long has it been since Nature’s sweet halter was again shown,
Torturing lost companions with its overbearing presence?

The relinquished thoughts and plans replaced.  Uncomfertability, tension, and a sense of impuissance take hold of all decisions and actions.

A pill for such things causes more than dry mouth and hot flashes. The treatment has been known as the cause in many a heart’s aches and sudden collapses.

Pharmacopeia fails to vitiate the limerance of one’s soul for the unattainable warmth of spring’s wrath.
Once again, winter is preferred over possible allergic reactions.


Labyrinthine Simplicities

Don’t misconceive my mercy for weakness
Exponent to impuissance that bestows
Ascertain verity of Uniqueness
Appreciate my pose of apropos

Strength my forte led by capriciousness
I once shattered and left to be consumed
Thy inner voice pierces my graciousness
Amidst the flightiness presence presumed 

I am semblance of authenticity
Your erroneous conclusions expressed
Trapped in mirrors of your duplicity
It is not I who is too dispossessed 

My force is life, full of joys and treasures
Multiplied faithfully, basked in pleasures

Impuissance of Heart

Daylight began as any other
With the blankets over his head and smothered 
With effort and struggle 
He began his day 
With the usual juggles 
As he mirrored himself 
To shave and groom 
Trying so hard to remove the gloom 
That presides over his head 
So permanent and dread 
The thoughts he thinks  
There are piles of wood 
Outside by the old sink 
That waits
To be cut 
He would if he could get out of this rut 
He feels dejected 
And beaten down 
Still wishing on a prayer 
If it would come around 
But what this man doesn’t 
Understand 
God’s given him will 
Now he needs a 
Plan

Overanalyzation

The apparition of nigh time falls 
upon my king size bed
as I lay alone

The mendacious shadows ramify my walls
and the creepy boogey man
and bed bugs crawl

A plethora of anger, loneliness
and pity glower in my eyes
I stare back
Impuissance cries
Bereft of pride
My emotions and I decry

Faces of lavidity
have a soiree with in me
A party of self-pity
Thoughts of being free
exacerbates my negativity

Lying in a fetal position
overanalyzing myself causes a crazy transition
Feeling as hopeless as a baby
reminiscing too much on my problems-maybe

Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.

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