whirl …
where waters mingle -
the inky black that pulls down
swallows … enfolds …
the ballet breaks -
sun’s golden coins a-dancing,
birthing pixies to the brine
to draw the gaze with dazzled magic …
the glassy smooth that
dopplegangs a billowy azure and a
quivery, star-daubed vault …
the ruffled swells -
turning masts to pendulum poets,
ticking time as the hulls roll …
and rock … and roll …
and the foaming rage -
surf that breaks reefs to ruin
and howls at Calypso,
the salty sirens screaming at
her for just a taste of
jagged justice …
the seas roar and ebb and
sunder suns to ache
the rills run to the low to find them
and feed the confluences
water weaves and wells and works to
be the All of life -
the precious matter, miraculous
the shaper and sater and savior of
everything that actuates
yet …
the oceans, and washes, wild
and weeping heavens
in all their splendor and abundance
can not hope to accommodate
the love, sorrow, spirit, or
significance
of one single, solitary
child’s …
tear.
Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden, July 27, 2024
Categories:
quivery, analogy, children,
Form: Free verse
I was floating on water deep under the sea
Cold sun rays shone down I felt hot and quivery
A mermaid walked by with different sized legs
The battered dressed cod showed off his new kegs.
A bald octopus so furry, you could not see its eyes
The catfish all gathered and barked in surprise
The crabs running frantic sat perfectly still
Whales groaning their songs, laughed it was brill.
I started to feel well so went to the doctor
His name Davy Jones at top down at the locker
He told me I was dead; I felt so alive
We danced in the moonlight that morning at five.
Written 10th September 2021
For The Nonsense Rhyme Poetry Contest
Sponsored By Charles Messini
Categories:
quivery, nonsense, sea,
Form: Rhyme
I watched in the dark shadows, hidden by the brick wall.
The cat was magical, he leaned back but did not fall.
He was getting instructions from a spaceship so high.
I heard him arguing a bit, but then he added with a sigh
I will do as you say, but you have to give me power.
It was a mystical thing to say, at this witching hour.
Three a.m. and why was I awake anyway so early today?
I wanted to leave, but curiosity would not take me away.
The cat nodded and turned, staring into the bushes hard.
I was shocked to death, feeling quivery as yesterday’s lard.
His eyes narrowed and he stared right at my eyes.
I held a hand over my mouth, scared with enormous surprise.
He was a powerful cat from outer space you see.
And I did not want this magical tom coming after me.
Luckily, the smell of tuna down the street got his attention.
Allowing me to sneak away, with no real contention.
Categories:
quivery, 1st grade, 2nd grade,
Form: Rhyme
Perfect Playmate
puny pink primrose
pursuing phantom pleasure
pecking playful puff
Quitter
queasy queen questions
quirky quail's quivery quacks -
quill quietly quit
Ride
rain rake rattling raft
river roared ravenously -
rider relished ride
First Place in STRAND COMPLETELY NEW (10) any theme any form Poetry Contest sponsored by Brain Strand
Categories:
quivery, rain, river, word play,
Form: Alliteration
Colored pink,
She waits,
Shivery, blithely,
Aesthetically,
You could say—
Low fidelity.
Colored pink,
The milk
She drinks
Misses and falls
Everywhere.
Beautiful, a
Mountaintop
Piercing the
Sky. Even the
Angels are
Transfixed.
Colored pink,
She tries the
New thing while
Rain races the
Sunset futilely,
Sadly, lovingly.
The rain is
Called Juliet.
Colored pink,
She has lace
That she traces,
She misses the
Call of wine,
The hammock
Of druggy sleep,
Eros.
Colored pink,
Kill her softly,
Then kill her
Roughly, remorselessly,
Color her blue,
Then see it pinker,
Pinker. Squeeze
And show her
It’s real.
Colored pink,
Cigarette
Smoke is
Something you
Learn to like.
Just like being
Pink, you learn
To like it. And
Screaming is
Second nature.
Colored pink,
She speaks
Breathily after
A mint. When
She stretches,
The oceans
Turn flat and
All the sounds
Dissipate.
Colored pink,
She waits,
Quivery, haphazardly,
Dangerously,
You could say—
Amorously.
She feels it,
It’s deadly, she
Needs it, it’s
Her blood.
Categories:
quivery, art, beauty, emotions, girl,
Form: Free verse
'Twas a mystifying shiver,
made her insides quivery liquid
a flight of fancy such as none other,
they were like two ships passing
midst a steamy night's rendezvous,
whenever the poetry of a drab life
appears to be stagnant & oppressive,
she reminisces an endearing epoch
whence earth vehemently shook &
in the way he made every last nuance
of devoured flesh fiercely tremble to
the core of her reawakened existence
Categories:
quivery, desire, emotions, longing, lust,
Form: Free verse
A new friend of mine by the name of James Bagwell
Introduced me to a fellow by the name of Studley Hungwell
His perverted history
Makes me quivery and jittery
If I met up with either, some naughty stories I could tell
Categories:
quivery, sensual, silly,
Form: Limerick
MY GOOFY SIDE
I'm just a little bit loofy
Just a tad goofy
I do many things
That will take you for a ride
But don't hide
Your about to see my true side
I talk to me
I walk with me
I say high and hello
Then my stomach is quivery like jello
I talk to people
I know how to bounce
I do what I need to
I don't give an ounce
I live a goofy life
I just love it so
I am real life like
I'm feeling like plado
Normally, I would write more normal
What's normal if you have to be so formal
Gotta be strict and serious all the time
I almost feel like being perfect is a crime
I have to be friendly with everybody
I'd rather do that if I was making money!
Everybody has a goofy side
What I just said is no lie
So your things and who cares
It doesn't matter what other's think
Heck, I joke around saying “I need a shrink”
I really don't, not that I know
It just shows that I keep on the low
People know me and I know them
I show my goofy side now and again
Up and down, bouncing around
I guess I am the number one clown
Categories:
quivery, funny, humorous,
Form: ABC
Hard, sanded, broken wood
always seated
never stood
no need for assembly
no need for thought
Just wandering eyes and pausing sighs
The ones that are use for endearment or quivery
or possibly maybe for sucking in madness
Madness which is the movement and noise
hustling partners
pointless muscle
aging parents
misguided kids
single lovers
loveless marriage
olden friends
all in different skits
Everyone's walking, some which are talking
I hear as whispers
Displaying a plot less theater to my eyes
Tuning in and tuning out the dialog to make it my interest
"She didn't turn it in, he never told her...
there going to build another office house maybe...
one day I hope you would love me as you did in...
Texas was amazing I hope we go again but I hope we never see...
those damn tourist never tip."
Amusement in every corner
some are dusty others sharp
some if you turn to it, you'll see a spark
Sitting here on my occupied companion
the cushion molding as I sip
No realizations could hit me
No fathoms of disbelief
No grand plans are put out
just me with my green tea in a table for one
being observant, is rather fun.
Categories:
quivery, life, people, placeshope, me,
Form: Free verse
As I was disinterring the silent hideaways
I could find many quivery runaways
Wreathed on worm.
Unaware of me they were
Behind the carved marble
They were wriggling in mass.
Then when I watched them all excreting
It never scared me as they were breeding
But, it just scared me when I saw
They were dribbling in halo
The leprous feeling came over
It just drilled me so sober
Some of them wizened
Some of them drenched
That’s the reason they are blessed.
Categories:
quivery, death, loss, sad, me,
Form: Free verse
Hiberty jiberty liberty lox.
Quivery livery shivery shin.
Naughty Pandora opened the box
And couldn't get all of the troubles back in.
Oh, briars of evil and nettles of sin.
Gaggles of sorrow, and worries in flocks.
Quivery livery shivery shin,
Hiberty jiberty liberty lox.
Categories:
quivery, allegory, imagination, life, on
Form: I do not know?