GAZING OUT*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gaze out.
Skyscrapers rise,
Silhouettes in the night.
Stars whisper secrets above.
City dreams twinkle and sigh,
Reflections of hopes in glass.
I ponder the lives within,
Each light a story.
Unfolding.
Gaze out.
*Note: This poem was written for and published at Haiku Shack/Creative Ramblings Weekly Prompt contest, 8/3/2025
Feeling corny
By the sea
Stretched out baby
Please look at me
I got on my shades
Do you think I’m hot
This yellow tan baby
It ain’t store bought
Rub in that butter
Slather me up
If you rub deeply
I’m bound to pop
Sun kissed towels
Baby you and me
Both feeling corny
down by the sea.
Mystic Rose’s Choose one image poetry prompt contest.
Image number one.
Next to a tree where four lines could be
Canines haven’t even thought of three
You think they'll form two
That they'd never do
‘One and dumb’ ~ the only line we'll see
~ Entry for 'Picture Prompt Photo Contest ~
Sponsor: Margarita Lillico
May 03, 2024
relaxed in the sunshine
of a quiet afternoon
her mind
drifted away
into the pleasant dreamscape
of her imagination
the book lying open in her lap
forgotten
Painting prompt contest
Image number 1
Sponsor Lisa YY
Drenched to the skin,
Propelled by the urge
Of eager anticipation
He rushes to greet her
Undeterred by freezing rain
And slashing, bitter wind…
Same day
Same train station platform
Same urgent desire
He refuses to accept
Her untimely demise.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
40 words maximum ~ Picture A
Short Verse Picture Prompt Contest
Sponsored by Lisa YY
Placed 1st
© 25th July, 2022
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Stow away the congeries of aches
overtly attenuating the life-force
Joints grinding bones as growing muscles waked
Oft, stomping like an apoplectic horse...
Under strained newness, a glum disposition
reeked nervousness, clamping a chest distraught
No diversity, glared their position
Such eyes that stabbed, could snap a breath taut...
Of schooling, what silent complacency!
Jailers with fingertip-busting dusters
or canes that cracked and smacked decency
Umber-burned bruises on smartened clusters...
Raking nails scratch to assuage a mind
New migraines need compulsory unwinds…
(4/23/21 For 'Aches Prompt' contest hosted by Constance La France)
AT AFTERNOON COLLABORATION
Sun was almost down.
Kids playing in grassy field.
Youngsters hand in hand.
Boy whispered, shy girl to blush.
reticently muttered.
Twilight displayed hues.
Boy uttered three syllables.
Eyes of girl glowed bright.
A toy-gun stuttered close by.
Sparrows fluttered wings in fright.
10/06/20
'Max 14 Lines Inspired -Prompt' Contest by Line Gauthier
Blest to be ministered to by God, I’ve uttered:
“Thank You, Lord; make my life around You be centered
Though trial-blistered and faith in You had faltered
I still heard You cheering me; such indeed mattered.”
Grace-watered with Christ’s wondrous kindness encountered
I whispered sincere prayer of trust, hope-glittered
Confessing timid heart, fear-fettered; guilt-pestered…
As my spirit He revives; from doubts, undeterred.
Praise-filled, my worshipful soul He cleansed has mustered:
“Yours am I, dear Saviour Who can’t be flattered
Since You know me so well; fixed my life, then cluttered…
Your love freed me; now like a dove, I’m joy*-fluttered.”
*Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
October 5, 2020
3rd place, "MAX 14 lines POEM-inspired prompt" Contest
Sponsored by Line Gauthier; judged on 10/12/2020.
He sat beside her in the park bench,
On a beautiful balmy morning,
Breezy and pleasant after a drizzle;
Birds came out of their temporary shelters,
And chirped and chattered and whistled.
A pair of butterflies in a tree nearby,
Fluttered their pink and purple wings in joy,
And danced around each other: a moment
So perfect, he assumed, to propose to her!
She sat gazing at the distant gulmohar,
He took her hand mustering courage
To face her bold and beautiful face;
Then he muttered, stuttered, and finally uttered:
"Will you be with me forever?!"
09-29-2020
'MAX 14 lines Poem-Inspired Prompt' Contest
by Line Gauthier
Second Place
Fluttered by the golden butterfly, do her wings have glitter and dye. She uttered as she flew away, see you another day. Heard on his breath uttered fluttered dove, whispered timid stuttered muttered love. Butterflies and doves flying by, high up in the blue sky.
Date Written: 9/16/2020
Honorable Mention MAX 14 lines POEM-inspired prompt Contest
Judged:10/12/2020 Sponsored by: Line Gauthier
In dim lit room in front of hazy mirror,
The wise woman sat facing her own image,
Incense smoke curled slow around sandalwood wall,
It was night of winter when deep frost stood guard,
glittering eyes as she sees in crystal ball,
And in a voice like from the depth of a well,
She predicts my future of marriage and love,
“I see a princess no doubt at gilded door”,
“Ah! someone like me a reader of the stars,
Can clearly foresee the woman of your dreams,
She will enter your life like bloom of roses,
when the big black wolf howls to the next full moon!”
Poem inspired prompt contest
max 12 lines
Sponsor Line Gauthier
Written 31/08/2020
He was searching for the author of 'A Reader of the Stars,'
the woman he still loved, who'd published her memoirs.
She wrote of wishing she could see inside a crystal ball,
to find the man she loved, who was handsome and tall.
He said to himself, "She's the woman of your dreams,"
and hated losing her when love fell apart at the seams.
Now, he'd ask her, "Will you allow me to enter your life?
Please say 'yes' and I vow to cherish you as my wife."
He would treat her as a treasure; a princess, no doubt.
With words of love for her, from the rooftops he'd shout,
"Darling, could you ever love again, someone just like me?"
On bended knee, he'd offer a diamond ring with his plea.
August 26, 2020
Max 12 lines-poem-inspired prompt contest
Sponsor: Line Gauthier
A journey with a celestial spell
Which takes him to the clouds
A one of a kind carousel
Which will leave him wowed
He holds on tight as he takes the ride
On an adventure far away
And his horse will simply glide
Where he will meet bird at play
The carousel will return to Earth
As the journey comes to an end
But he did get his money's worth
And found some feathered friends
4-1-2020
Carousel Picture Prompt Contest
Sponsor: Eve Roper
“The park’s the bestest place I know.
I hope you’ll take me there today.”
Four-year-old Bud would get his way.
His Papa also likes to go
to watch the lively children play.
Bud rushed right to the carousel
and claimed “the horsey I like best.
He’s magic. He’s not like the rest!”
His Papa recollects quite well
his own fun fancies lived with zest.
Bud’s magic horsey comes alive,
not at the park; but many nights,
he takes him on fantastic flights.
Though Magic leaves when dawn arrives,
the daytime holds its own delights.
rhyme scheme: a b b a b c d d c d e f f e f
March 29, 2020, entered in Eve Roper's Picture Prompt Contest placed 3rd
December 3, 2021
entered in the "Z" Contest New or Old--Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Constance LaFrance
Oh, young lad stolas steed climbs up to heaven, please;
Look down, toward ground hang onto your steed;
Heaven bound horse ridden carousel rides free;
3/16/20
For Carousel picture prompt contest
Sponsored by: Eve Roper
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