In settings where bold forests host pumpkins,
A crimson heart and amber warmth arise,
Like Valentine Pumpkins showing olden
Glow of peaceful orbs flaming in night skies.
Valentine Pumpkins are gifts from spirits,
Reflecting Peace on their smiley faces,
Releasing new heights, no thunderous hits,
Their soothing colors emit three graces.
Red, not wrath: autumn leaves and sweet roses;
Orange, not angry, but in Harvest rites.
Each flame burns where a calm spirit dozes.
Whispered truth rises, henceforth, in these lights.
Valentine Pumpkins prevail because love
Meets the Harvest Magic of Stars above!
carefree as a meadow's dream ~
AP: 1st place 2025
This contest style’s description is one I’ve never heard
I’m unfamiliar with that particular word
An internet search comes up empty
However, others seem to have poems aplenty
My eyes are getting blurry a total collapse seems imminent
Quickly penning an entry appears to be the only way out of my predicament
My freshly emerged imposter’s syndrome is now on full display
As I throw words together to prayerfully send a piece on its way
Whoops, I don’t believe the lines above were exact rhymes
I wonder if I will get disqualified this time
I see it is quintessential to utilize the word “quintessential”
Unfortunately, that stretches me to also use a word like “nonextensile”
Argh! I just realized I’m not counting my meter
I promise I’m not purposefully being a cheater
Oh well, competitions are all in good fun,
even if they drive you a bit crazy
You just have to be creative, put in the work,
and not . . . something, something lazy
I do not know if this is odd
but for me, most times
I do not feel the need
to write a poem that rhymes
I generally find
you see
that when that writing bug has bit
rhyming is not my go to proclivity
‘cos when I do
have something to say
rhyming very often
just gets in the way.
so I’ll leave you with
this little thought
if my poem doesn’t rhyme
does that mean it’s all for nought.
You’d think when you die
the line ends
that you can’t see no more
hear
feel
let alone walk;
you’d think death would be quite sure of itself
wouldn’t you?
Ripe tomatoes in the supermarket
The red tip of my own nose.
Their lime green imagination
Marauded by Edgar Allen Poe.
Her silver dollar face raises hellfire
Says the stringy girl who believes in ghosts.
Goodnight to the lucky cat
Who kisses my cheek with his prose.
Her calico hat sticks to dewy grass
While the hooves of the lumpy deer carcass doze.
The weight of dreams lifted off my shoulders
By the kiss of conciousness on my nose.
scintillating wings
spinning fairies sparkle green
sets my heart laughing
The giraffe
Haughty and fond of herbivorous feasts,
Tends to look down on his wee fellow beasts.
The elephant
Thin outer ears are gargantuan-sized,
Tickling the ivories isn't advised.
The pelican
Genus of water-bird with a long beak,
And in his throat there is food for a week.
The crocodile
Don't you be fooled by his sad, tearful eyes
He's out to get you - it's just a disguise.
The zebra
Sports a moheccan style tuft on his head
And he wears stripey pyjamas to bed.
The panda
Never one fazed by what's wrong or what's right,
Tends to see everything in black and white.
The kangaroo
He lives 'down under'- Australia's pride
With little Joey who's there for the ride.
The zoo
All of these creatures hang out at the zoo
Feeding time heralds a hullabaloo!
04/11/18
If I were a dragon, burning old bridges
with the fire that I breathe,
I would perform tricks, from way up high,
and eternally seethe,
lend a daring claw for those in need.
If I were a dragon, I wouldn't cause mayhem
upon the people.
Although I'm sure I'd be tempted for those
sovereigns high on their steeple,
not the matador, but the bull.
If I were a dragon, beautiful
and so meticulously preen,
the world would give me the dunce cap,
every crawling thing would be so mean,
provoking me to intervene.
If I were a dragon, burning old bridges
with the fire that I breathe,
I'd hide my great bulk in the darkest cave,
my claws would be always sheathed,
and forevermore I would grieve.
For the Mythological Animals Contest.
lighthearted
rain
what
pitter-patters
in
your
heart
and
let
the
lighthearted rain
splash
upon
those
cloudy dreams
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