a lone plane zooms past
picking up or dropping off
concerning me not
After sun there is rain
then her and her brandy on
a gloomy balcony—
moon sharp like a forced smile
Dark skin folds under
a dark, windy night, in
chocolatey air—with a note of
chemical cherry, candied like her lips
imprinted in the snifter’s memory
It doesn’t keep track
of the route of sun, only
the dusty cabinet and her
trembling finger around its neck
Breathing seems unnecessary, at least
when glass no longer tastes like rejection
numb lips no longer taste tears
SLEEPING WITH THE FAN ON
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Texas, where summers are more than hot,
Sleeping with a fan turned on is a must-have spot.
With a whirl and a breeze,
It brings sweet, cool ease,
While we snooze in a sweat-soaked, warm cot!
We sleep while it spins with a roar,
As sweat drips and puddles the floor.
With a chuckle, we say,
"Goodnight, heat of the day!
Tomorrow, we'll battle once more!"
So if you should visit the Lone Star State,
Know the heat is an oppressive weight
Just find a big fan,
Join the cool Texan clan,
And together we’ll laugh at our fate!
NIGHTTIME IN TEXAS, THE LONE STAR STATE
crimson skies ablaze
cactus shadows stretch and yawn
'Lone Star' says ‘goodnight’
the peasants shed their tears alone,
while the kings and queens
sit upon their judging thrones .
come down and take the child by the hand
show him the way.
for time has come where the light
upon his path,
is starting to turn dark.
put away your minds prejudices.
the prejudices that hides behind
the illusions
and the contempt that hides
inside the delusions.
in the core of the hollows heart
is where insecurities,
feast.
sometimes silence cuts deeper
than a stabbing knife.
shooting stinging barbs.
cutting through to
the bone.
a soul destroyed cry
breaks the nights silence.
listen to its laments.
the wounded beast is easy prey
to the contemptuous
who sit on
thrones of high.
these throne occupiers don't awaken to the pain
from their downpouring
rain
^
^ ^
me a lone sailor ^ ^ ^
~~~~~~~~……
sailing amlessly at night €
………\\……\\………\\………
. * . . * . . * . . *. . .
* *. . * . *. . . *. . . .*
watching starry sky . . * . * . . .* . . *
* * . . *. .. * . . .
She blooms alone where silence holds the sky,
A tender grace no daring soul has known.
Her gaze is soft, her head is held so high—
A queen within a quiet world, enthroned.
No boastful light, no cry for passing praise,
She walks beneath the noise, untouched, serene.
Her modest charm outshines the sun’s bold rays,
Yet fear keeps hearts from where her steps have been.
They see her not—the ones who look in fear,
For depth and calm are threats to shallow minds.
Unloved, not for her lack, but crystal-clear
Strength wrapped in grace the insecure won’t find.
She is a bloom the world may not deserve,
Yet still she stands, with silence as her nerve.
when light fractures into noise…
I embrace the outburst
with emptiness chewing up my nerves.
The void softens the impact—
can’t break what never arrived.
Recently,one winter morning,out of the blue,
I heard the caw of a lone crow -
Once found in flocks across our land,
Now vanished many years ago.
Its caw awakened in me the
Memories buried in the wavering wash of time.
The weather those days was fine,
Water in the ponds and rivers was pure.
Rills full of fish would twist and flow
Through the villages.
The cricket’s song at dawn and dusk,
The farmer's call in the early morning,
As he headed towards the paddy field
With a pair of bulls so charming.
His caw recalled the temple bell’s ring
From the palace shrine in early morning,
A sound that once brough heart’s delight.
Oh,the Uthum’s song on a sunny day,
And Tamna’s call at night,
No longer heard,nor seen the fireflies,
Twinkling far and near at night.
Gone are many local varieties of fish,
Plants,and greens once found in abundance
In our land.
Today, that lone caw in the air
Brought back to me the memories rare,
Yet worried for what we have lost,
Ecological balance now the cost.
The caw of the crow,
Once harsh and loud
Filled the skies when they
Gathered in a crowd.
For fifty years
Their voices not heard
Untill one lone caw
Returned out of the blue.
It's sounds once grating,
Now sweet and dear,
A melody of memories
I hold dear.
He flew away cawing
then I pondered,
"Where he lives,
from where he came."
L
On sail
Never
Enters the
Breaker zone
O | \ \
A | \ \
The tranquil sea surface ripples
the boat dances delighted
away from the shore
~ ~~ ~destination far~~~~’’’’~~~~~
~~~’’’~~~~’’’’~~~’’’’~~~~~’’~~’’’~~
~~~~~’’’~~~~’’’’~~~~’’’~~~~’’’’~~~
I know you're out there
we live in worlds that separate us
and times that keep us in the dark
I understand the ways of life
we live our forlorn circumstances
and accept that we're apart
I realize the hopelessness
we live in the fog of days gone by
but still I ache for your embrace
AP: 3rd place 2025
Fear not the countless stars that light the sky,
For many naysayers still will deny.
Find them a place where they must stay away,
The clouds will part, your star will shine today.
Each star, a lone pattern in glow and gleam.
So nothing dims its light or halts its dream.
The clouds hold space to cradle your surprise,
For many reasons, your star has to rise.
Just know your star must shine despite the dark,
A mentor great in knowledge lights a spark,
Ignites a flame no force can quench or tame,
Its glow entrenched beyond all doubt or shame.
Let not the winds of fear obscure your way,
For dawn will break to bring a brighter day.
Hold firm to dreams, let courage be your guide,
With steadfast hope, your light will gleam and glide.
My mind had a door embedded
with gems of emotion !
Through that entrance I greeted you always.
Now all gemstones are fallen off,
leaving shadow of glaze in empty sockets.
You walked away on promise
to be back by 'tomorrow'.
No more to voice my ardent ardour
but to drag dull days on false expectation
of your so called 'tomorrow'.
In the depths of sorrow, could it be love learns no more, for in a reluctant release of a love cast spell, could It be a shadow
dancing upon the weary wind
that slowly dies with the setting sun
A lone candle flicker as one poet writes ....
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