Looking out
he took that step
intrepid
and risked it all
Faith to act
as his belay
one last piton
in the wall
Descent set free
in motion
a true heart
to guide him down
For love of life
and moments gone
belief once lost
—refound
(The New Room: December, 2023)
Categories:
piton, faith,
Form: Rhyme
Streetwalking should be a solitary affair.
Night slips through unseen cracks,
bends the scant light
into dark-eyed windows.
A gangster is in my head,
a punk, scaling my smooth skull
seeking out weak spots,
those eggshell parts
where just a light knock
will shatter years
of confidential confidences.
I'm hatless, I should have a hat.
The sky drips like a leaky faucet.
Got to shove my head inside a collar,
reach inside a thin coat,
pull out a neatly packaged,
plastic poncho
recently bought from a Dollar Store.
Time to confront
an unsolvable situation.
Time to listen keenly
for the sound of a tiny piton
tap-tap, tapping.
Categories:
piton, poetry,
Form: Free verse
A man rightly called an Oxymoron
Now is angry, now sad, now happy on
The same thing – he takes piton
To handle us – later I knew tampon.
Anurag is my principal, a true merman
Treats all equally – good or bad of John.
Tried to understand when called upon.
Talking to him is like dealing with silicon.
Full of respect and encouragement shown
For anybody if needed; angry on python
Trying hit him at back. Never confused on
Any topic, asks if not notified – an Amazon
Of Maths flows from him – my Hero, my trigon.
Categories:
piton, teacher,
Form: Monorhyme
he used his piton and his wedge
seated them with the thump of his sledge
then he stood at the crest
of her milky white breasts
looking down from atop the cleave-edge
John G. Lawless
2/27/2015
Categories:
piton, humor,
Form: Limerick
Chance Meeting
Chance meeting, an accident of risk
not taken, safety’s softened thud.
Smiling from her perch on high
on wingless chick in roiling mud,
swung gracefully in pirouette
and on a nearby branch alit.
Offering in dove-like peace
the promise of what she might teach
to one who would but hold her hand
as failure’s mud turned into sand.
Chance meeting on a rocky slope
accidental risk - or hope.
Piton strength and belay line
conspiring with fate’s design.
8/4/2014
For – Shadow Hamilton
Three Themes Poetry Contest
Chance Meeting.
Categories:
piton, romance,
Form: Sonnet