Nettling Poems | Examples


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I wear a ring of wedding
a tiny thing, a golden circle
that glows on my finger with 
the sparkle of God’s gilded sun

let such beauty itself proclaim 
to the wandering eyes of man
that I have no use of nettling admirers

that I live under wedded sovereignty
and tame their interest and superior want

but in somber secret
let apologies be made
for I fly under false colors
I have taken no vows

the thing is a lie, a cheat, 
a passport to peace
that I wear like a shield
against some fair suiter’s caprice
.
.
A song for this:
When will we be married by The Waterboys
Wedding Bell Blues by Laura Nyro

The Crooning Dove

Effigy formed of inert dust, 
Inhaled the divine pulse, vile vine  
Infused with worth and dignity. 
I'm not! I'm not! Fallen from grace; 
I frown at my rueful bungle.

Sad to strut, my honor swishes 
Shame; dark crusted conscience 
Hangs on me; keeps paling my worth
Till I yell at Christ's open arms  
For return of the gone glory, 
So dear, the present, a shadow.

Years in the fire, self-refining,
Yielded scum, dross, a dull shine. 
If I should have another chance, 
Revert to the noble state I'd lost, 
My heart could be tanned rainbow.

A dove cranes on a perch, offset 
Against the blue, croons in the wind, 
Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? 
Yet I battle with baneful pride,   
Scorn the grace, the courting nocturne.
No end to my nice now, I wow.
Quite unequalled, I'll ever be. 

The bell tolls for others, each time  
Softer; the whir of a whirling world.  
The sun keeps her scoot; stars, their stroll.
Summer smiles; winter whines, sulks.
Time etches against my proud form. 

The bell! Sounds like tolling closer—
Jangling, ruffling... nettling.
Yet my pride... my pride sticks, 
Lances the chance to begin again.
	

© 2015 Celestine S. Ikwuamaesi

Premium Member Like a Vulture

Like a vulture eating an animal before completely dead
Is the person who picks a person's emotions, psychic til bled
A person filled with inner rage that comes out as passive/agrresive
Corrosion from the inside eating through to surface__ like a crab
Slowly eating its noonday meal
Tormented inwardly tormentor of those close and personal
A harassor of those helpless, sensitive, powerless, dependent
This vulture like person grows fat at other's expense 
Using their nettling ways
The vulture goads__teases__just like a cat who plays with its prey
Their vexation is internal they have to have control
They cannot just let life flow
Control gone they become irritable, peevish, queralous, waspish don't come near
For you could be next in line so you better stand in fear


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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