submitted into Brian Strands 1397 Poetry Contest, July 2025
MEMORABLE BALLET
her thoughts pirouette, twirl, and spin,
a choreographed ballet across the blank screen.
her words harmonize and blend
transforming them into beautiful poetry.
her soaring imagination rises and leaps
like a grand jeté, the poem takes flight.
imagery and rhythm create a melodic verse
like well-orchestrated music, her poetry fills the air.
meter is the measure that governs the pace,
as her passion finds her poetic voice.
in a delicate dance of love and creativity
like a pas de deux, the words entwine.
a crescendo of emotions her heart doth express
like a grand finale, the poem reaches its peak.
her soul dances wild and free
like a memorable ballet is her poetry.
Categories:
memorable, 12th grade, poetry,
Form: Free verse
It is a hot day in May, I wish to stay in an inn at bay, And I paid the price to stay , The inn is not in neigh , I pray god to direct the way , But I stand my home by stray.
Categories:
memorable, 1st grade, 2nd grade,
Form: Monorhyme
They were written years ago
Being young than
What it felt like being young
Full is aspirations and being curious
As for the years don’t ask me when?
I was dating full of promise
I was in love
It was love with the affiliated heart, endure and attraction head on
Words wrote out directly the sincere heart
Romantic start
Young you know
Love being ready, set and go
Those letters added up over the years and they are in a stack
It’s amazing I can even keep track
Reading them over and over, and never tire
That love is still in me that won’t expire
The letters were my share with care being like flying doves to always think of
Love me forever
Always memorable and reflecting back for all times.
Categories:
memorable, appreciation, butterfly, care, character,
Form: Rhyme
I feel like I can go now,
I don't know that somehow,
It is just for the show,
The boat starts to row,
I began to go with the flow,
No matter if the tide is low,
It is what I reap and sow.
It is a sense of fashion,
It is still my passion,
There is nothing to mention,
I put on a lotion,
It is not a love potion,
I set myself into motion.
Torned pages turned into a papyrus tree,
Exciting fireworks set into a glee,
The spotlight hit the same place,
To save some private space,
What is it all about just to set me free?
The hind of salt and pepper,
The seasoning is proper,
I know it is a show-stopper,
I don't need a kitchen helper,
To set my meal on the table.
Let it be sunny,
Look, there is the bunny,
A pot of honey,
Pour into the glistening of willing,
I saw myself being silly.
Categories:
memorable, 11th grade, analogy, angel,
Form: Sonnet
Africa, gentle your fiery wild blaze,
Lest heat waves plunder my safari days.
I seek adventure, wild, fun-filled and free,
Not scorching sunbeams that beg to drain me.
The savannah's golden vastness beckons,
Two giraffes emerge, my stares they reckon,
Their eyes bright, like ancient wisdom, meet mine,
My camera begs to flaunt their design.
Their gaze gave a shared fleeting scary bond,
My heart beats fast, with great wonder beyond,
The shutter clicked to a frozen delight,
Memorable moments captured pure bright.
Categories:
memorable, adventure, africa, heart, sun,
Form: Rhyme
Little limbs
Tangled 'twined
Silently sleeping
Tiny toddlers
Comfortably cuddled
Categories:
memorable, children,
Form: Footle
Costuming Halloween
Masque my visage fast!
…So my eyes bulge out, drunken red, and give me
purpled, hairy lips and cheeks to complete
My bloodcurdling look — Yikes!
So scary…Not sweet!
So chilling that Halloween’s
Gross memories of seeing me will not be beat!
Then, when I float from door to door,
Levitating on a smoky breeze,
To greet the folks’ aghast gazes, I’ll growl
with a phantasmal voice to haunting, I’ll declare,
“Boo! Trick or treat!” and
They’ll step back away as if shock could kill, but
Thrilled, gasp, “Hey! Your costume’s a blast!”
Whereupon, I’ll begin my Halloween act
By morosely sharing, “T’is not a costume at all,
But my natural state…’T’is my own gross, gremlin grin;
My own foot-long ears; my own outlandish, fear-frizzed hair,
That altogether has me wailing, especially on
H a l l o w eve n night
“BOO-hoo! Boo! Boo-hoo!”
——————————————————————————————————————————————-
(c) sally young eslinger 10/30/2023
Happy Birthday Jim!
Categories:
memorable, fear, fun, halloween, imagery,
Form: Imagism
My cat, Shameem
Loved to hop
On my lap
Whenever I sat
On my cozy chair
And rocked
I felt her paws
It was kind
Of a mystic feeling
She was very soft
And fluffy
She had sparkling eyes
Her ears
Very sensitive velvet
She used to observe
Everything and purr
When she sighted a bird
She chuckled
Sometimes she played
Hide and seek
She crawled and paused
Then ran swiftly
She adored her milk every day
She was my best friend
When I was a kid
I still remember her
And miss her very much
Categories:
memorable, best friend, cat, inspirational,
Form: Free verse
In the middle of a naked night,
jealous, the moon squirmed watching
our memorable love scenes...
Categories:
memorable, allusion, appreciation, imagery, love,
Form: Light Verse
** A Very Memorable Christmas Present **
Someone made an err::
Boxing Day ‘ere’s
Been the day of — not after.
What started as the greatest
Christmas ever, turned
Us from better to worse
As our tempers grew, altered
After our fingers were slid into
Those gift-wrapped firm gloves of leather,
Punching through the room’s air
At each other
With words roused from harsh to meaner,
‘Till our referee pup barked
To end our Round 1, forcing a turnover
Into creating a round of rich laughter.
Re-freshed, happier, remembering our
Proper manners appropriate to honor
Our Savior’s birthday…We resolved
A return trip to the store to trade
That shared present of boxing gloves for
A healthier, sturdy set of parallel bars.
————————————————————————————————————————
(c) sally young eslinger 12/25/22
Happy Birthday, King Jesus
Categories:
memorable, boxing day , christmas, dog,
Form: Alliteration
those notable occasions
away from home overnight
must be remembered
exceptional times
musical concert with friends
celebrating your freedom
in a strange city alone
your first broadway show
memorable opening
Written December 6, 2022
[adaptation suggested in contest
7-7-5/ 5-7-7/ 7/5/7 syllables]
Categories:
memorable, memory, perspective,
Form: Senryu
Today is a day I shall always remember
That dreadful, awful eleventh of September,
Driving home listening to the newscaster
Wondering what might be the hereafter,
Thinking about the line that was crossed --
Afraid for our country; mourning the lost,
A day in my life like none I could remember
That dreadful, awful eleventh of September.
Then, horror on the sixth day of January
I shall always remember the terrible spree,
The insurrectionist attack on our capitol
Hard to believe something so lunatical
I feared the ship of state was sinking fast
A group of radical traitors were amassed
At the behest of our defeated president
Minions trying to destroy our government.
Written September 11, 2022
Categories:
memorable, america, history, memory, remember,
Form: Couplet
MEMORABLE
Happiest moment blessed me
to hold my daughter in my arms.
Seemed to realise divine charms
sinking in ethereal glee.
Devoted to rear and nurture.
Acted as her mentor, idol
to access success reaching goal.
Me whelmed floating in rapture.
Honouring me on her birthday,
Daughter of my heart just voiced
a sentence and I had rejoiced :
' Mom is light of my life , I say. '
I answered at once, prompt and quick.
'You are my greatest achievement :
My success and accomplishment.
Life long satisfaction to seek.'
Categories:
memorable, appreciation, daughter, mother,
Form: Enclosed Rhyme
Today is a very good day and I had my tea.
I saw a charming bird unknown to me.
The bird gave me pose but I didn’t have my camera with me.
My eye sees its beauty and that’s everything to me.
My eyes capture it so what else could be better than this after taking tea.
Categories:
memorable, bird, day,
Form: Limerick
Iridescent sky descends with an aquamarine lid,
in Himalayan frozen heights azure glaciers feed
a pristine lake encased within a quiet basin,
over its water, stillness wafts in the air thin,
nature painted a divine scene I saw on vacation.
By the lake I stood soaked in joy and exultation,
crystal water offered the calmness I sought,
my body in placid reflection my eyes caught,
on calm water I perceived my essence entity,
feeling content, I found a place of tranquility.
The lake water was so very clear and so virgin,
looking at depth was like plunging deep within,
felt the pangs abated, venting agony from abyss,
serene soul floated in the euphoria of fluid bliss.
That was the vacation when I found a new me,
etched indelibly in memory, till the end I’ll see.
__________________
February 2, 2022
Contest : My Favorite Vacation In Rhyme
Sponsored By : L Miilton Hankins
Categories:
memorable, analogy, memory, nature, peace,
Form: Rhyme
Related Poems