*Image of Tea & More by EverPic.
The Mettle of Mom's Kettle
Dear mother's tea kettle.
She purges impurities daily.
She satisfies it with freshness.
Encounters gained exponentially.
She alights the stagnant to awaken.
Temperate measures brew righteously.
Truly divine profoundness spirits a flavor.
She bears its consequence with confidence.
Gifting patient nothingness anticipated quench.
Honeyed sugary sweetness greets a reigning crown.
A Word of grace courtesies a solemn room full of smiles.
"...it continues..."
2022 December 31
*10th Place*
YOUR CHOICE
~~Brian Strand: Judged 2023 January 11
I'm locked behind the stalwart bars of love,
Like the sinewy, rave and strapping sun,
Hidden behind the shells of outstretched clouds,
Bellowing, in blaring yell to the clouds.
Unlike the sun clamoring for freedom,
Pulling like a surge of torrent, it fought,
Pushing the hung clouds in fright glazed with guts,
As it peep finally, then pitching up.
I'm soothed behind the Corrugate bars:
My freedom from evil outside the bar.
Heartbreaks and denials like callous thugs,
Lifted to pull down emotions with thumb.
I'm glad locked behind the strong bars of love,
Than to be free to be a slave to lust.
19:07:03:22:17
Trump Many Times Mettle
Trump many times may like to mettle,
And then down us he will try to settle,
Him being bleak,
With another leak,
Then changing subject and back pedal.
Jim Horn
M en of fine mettle fight for their FreedoM,
E ngaging with courage enemies wherE
N o one else stands up for confrontatioN.
O pposing those who seek to rule, undO-
F oundations of their land, what they're made oF.
M en of this kind are fearless like a raM,
E ver ready to take arms for defensE.
T hose who sow Terror eventually musT
T ry to evade these men of strength and griT.
L ove for their country moves them and they wilL
E liminate threats of an armed offensE.
Cynthia Buhain-Baello~~~03.07.16
Spindled Mettle
Hour upon hour she sits thoughtfully absorbed
spinning attentively conception’s fibers
while creating new textures within her mind…
As grain, by grain of living sand, erodes the weaves
exposing gently or tearing the woven seams…
following the hourglass count to maturing age
Set aside are the frivolous dolls of youthful cloths
as situations lead to realities bolder textiles…
some strands chosen, others forced upon life’s spindle
Her mettle*, though moved by spindled occurrences,
is worn quietly with the era of wisdoms’ mantle
as intertwined events live within her fabric structure
Written by: Debra Squyres 2/19/13
For: “Objectify Me”
*mettle: spirited determination, mental and emotional character unique to an individual person
How I wish I had your courage
And could face life with unyielding faith
And the strength of your undying heart.
"Trial" is the testament of all you have known
Tried to overcome their doubt
Tried to give more when you'd given all
Tried to be what they thought you couldn't
Tried and became your very finest.
Metal and stone cannot match
Your tried and true mettle
Or indomitable spirit
Or my admiration
Of you.
I wonder, do daises tell?
Among us, who hasn't tried
More than once petals to expel?
Watch whispers of white-hearted hope
From within this circled chain;
Petaled path on which we grope.
Numbers hold this uncertain
Mystery until they're plucked
One by one. Life is taken
From each one because of lore,
To assuage the human heart.
They die to make your love soar!