At The Dawn of My Time
The Light shone so brightly it blinded my sight
But with its warmth and promise of opportunity
I reveled in the notion of optimism and its delight
He lurked behind my back
Staying out of my site, I hardly knew He was there
Silently watching, waiting, looking over my shoulder
But in my youth, I barely had a care
At the Meridiem of My Time
I thrived, as I was powerful and strong
My senses keen, my focus unwavering
I felt invincible and could do no wrong
I barely gave Him a thought
I became curious once, but He could not be found
Then I caught a glimpse of Him … under my feet
Triumphant, I was sure a new King had been crowned
But now, in the Twilight of My Time
I struggle to make sense of it all
What once seemed to be victory
I now see was the pride before the fall
And now He looms in front of me
Every moment His presence is known
And as those who have gone before me
I know I must face Him alone
As He outstretches His arms
And the last flicker of light is done
His darkness consumes me
And, forever, we are One
I thought at your fiftieth we would make up,
I saved every drop to buy you a new Ford.
Your Royce is still sweet, but it needs a backup—
Not a Lincoln, a Mustang I could afford.
But you threw the keys back at me in fury,
You let your friends mock me with horrid laughter.
On our disputes, you turned them to our jury—
They reveled, munching on our private matter.
You called me names you'd never used before them,
You left me unanchored in a wave of shame—
An abyss where you left my pleasance's scum,
Then heaped on me a full load of scorn and blame.
Is dating a prettier lady a sin?
Drown me in more shame—it quenches not the flame.
The more you dump me in your emotive bin,
The more she lifts me back into her love-frame.
-
Contest: Pick-A-Title, Vol 52
Contest Judged: June 14th, 2025 4:11:00 PM
Sponsor: Edward Ibeh
Placement: Third
“Maybe love doesn't come from the heart. Maybe it's a psychic jolt that wakes you when you touch them, leaving you breathless.” Christy Johnson
Butterfly kisses and his breath upon my cheek.
Racing heart of mine. I could not resist as he
Enticed me with his gaze. Words he had no need to speak.
Anticipation peaked when that angel boy kissed me,
Thrilling me like I had not been thrilled before.
Heaven-sent was he, for he melted my heart.
Lavished with affection, I reveled in his ardor.
Enchantment it seemed he practiced as high art.
Such a surprise it was that he had come my way.
So sweetly did he steal my breath away.
How time has flown since then. I think of how
Elation once whalloped me with a romantic WOW.
Love comes and goes. I’ll never know
Even now what happened to the young man who
Fed my soul with sunshine’s happy glow.
That all remains a bliss I cannot live anew.
Magical is breathlessness. Sadly, that feeling
Ends eventually, but how I long again to be reeling!
All this summer day, my love and I
have reveled in our beach’s sweet view.
We’ve watched sea gulls soaring in the sky
and we’ve splashed inside the sea so blue.
We’ve jumped some waves and strolled in the sand,
It feels so warm underneath our feet
as we walk holding each other’s hand.
I turn to you and meet your eyes so sweet.
You kiss me now, and my breath you steal.
I do not think I could love you more.
We look far out. Oh, what joy I feel.
"A crimson sky breaks the distant shore."
You can't deny me we were a true love story
Accepted your prize as reveled in your glory
Because I can feel you, and you can feel me
You can deny me, but you will never be free
You can leave me, and go find another lover
But inside you will still love me like no other
Making love to them like making love to me
You can deny me, but you will never be free
Scorn me in hatred; but I could not care less
Embedded into my heart, you were the best
Hurt on my feelings, no one can hurt like me
You can deny me, but you will never be free
Sorry, but I never asked for you to burn me
Now, what should have been, can never be
But I will still haunt you no matter your plea
You can deny me, but you will never be free
You’re the last in the list of the lost and withdrawn
Once you reveled with friends, now you’re drinking alone
Still you can think and dance, you can feel, sleep and pray
And whatever you do, it’s the same beaten way
You’ve been everywhere round, you spoke out every word
They did talk about you when you couldn’t have heard
You knew that they laugh, and you laughed in return
Till you have to find out that you’re left on your own
Now you’re light years away in the land of the damned
There’s no Aldebaran wine bar you could attend
You’ve no time for regrets though, you know it makes sense
To live for today despite countless expense.
Once a fox was lost in the field;
No shelter, friends, nor food to yield!
His fending hope has lastly keened,
But stood once more when prey he gleaned...
There he melded with flocks of sheep,
Dealing and coping with their keep;
Hardly bids to maintain his guise,
Yet still a fox behind those eyes!
He has sampled reed grass, at least,
Though fox despised such meager feast;
Athirst he was for blood and flesh—
The fox's hunt proved fruitless, fresh.
Then he crept at night, so sullen,
Watched his cozy troupe, heart swollen;
With eyes so wild, his mask now falls,
And all his care breaks castle walls!
He tried to curb his morbid crave,
But nature's call he could not stave;
And within a breath, off he gave—
A savage slaughter none could save!
His lethal claws that pierced through flesh,
His irksome fangs of crimson mesh;
The fox that once ate grassy fare,
Now dwells in dreams of dark nightmare!
The fox reveled, now bloody fed;
All took place as his hunt had led.
The fox is glad, the sheep lie dead—
Away he prowls, new prey ahead...
she felt her body go limp
her head was down
her hair flowing toward ground zero
but did she wake up?
no. this was not what the gruemeister had in mind
and he was in charge of her
for it was Halloween night
the eve of the Day of the Dead
he was here to enter her dreams
manipulate her feelings
terrorize her in the ways of the old ones
ancient being, dark with rage, was the gruemeister
he reveled in knowing she would feel terror
when he decided to waken her to her predicament
nightmares would follow her for many months
maybe years, and this delighted his evil heart
he heard a baby cry which angered him greatly
if she woke up now, he could no longer anticipate her horror
he went to the crib to shush the baby
Sheila was careful about choosing lunch for his pet. It had to be colorful
and lively. He liked chasing them around his cage a few laps and feeling their
fear, before he gulped them down in one giant gulp. She looked over the mice.
One of them was particularly pretty, a caramel color. She chose him.
she fed jake live mice
he reveled in chasing them
fear surrounded cage
It was in my younger years
That you took away my heart
Just looking for a conquest
You tore it all part
You. put yourself so far above me
No mercy to be found
Playing as the victim
Finding joy in putting me down
You reveled in the glory
Tried to make me feel the shame
Playing oh so righteous
While using me to blame
The innocence that you portrayed
The lies, the undertone
Well baby take a look at me now
I’m standing on my own
I’ll never hold ill feelings
But my bridges will be burned
Chalking up the time I’ve wasted
To experience and lessons learned
You’re the one who started the fire
Searching for a moment of fame
Now you’ve become the lost one
And I’ve become the flame.
While you set out alone
Keep your eyes on that blue sky
My wings have been released
And now I’m going to fly
There will come a time when you look back
And contemplate the cost
Just know that my star will be shining
Because you’re the one who lost.
I will dance and I will sing
I’ll mount that horse and ride
I can walk through the fires of hell
Without you by my side.
It was October, the leaves fell,
I reveled in my youth.
But what happened in sixty-two
took the fun and
innocence out of autumn;
There were missiles in Cuba.
Missiles,with more on the way.
Warnings were given,
demands and threats made.
At thirteen I learned
the meaning of a naval blockade.
Grown-ups spoke in hushed tones
over hastily brewed coffee,
eyes and ears glued
to the television for the latest news.
We went to bed and slept uneasily,
not knowing what kind of world
we would wake up to,
if we woke up at all.
Two giants, swords drawn,
faced each other
in a battle of wills.
The great bear blinked
and we stepped back
from the abyss
that nearly swallowed
an anxious world.
It was October, the leaves fell,
somehow I felt much older.
Reveled in love lyric
Rosy pink heart pulsates
Resonates tune of life
Revolves around beauty
Resplendent pattern beats
Rides cadenced waves of joy
Rolls on dancing soul sea
A gem I taught in his school
And under him grabbed the rule:
An Igbo man from Okpo,
Whose enemies she shot “Kpoo!”
With him you don’t around fool:
He’d begin to lose his cool.
Staff learnt to submit their notes,
Even if one had twelve coats
But with same staff reveled
And with that up things leveled…
No intimidating him -
His wine glass fills to the brim;
To me a Second Father
That should’ve been First rather…
When Okpo had wars Radar
But would not burst foe’s bladder;
For himself raised sweet children,
Who avoided hot Cauldron:
A hero engineer son,
Who goes out to meet the Sun
And a lawyer daughter
One might rate Cleanest Water…
Just recently lost his wife;
Death has walked in with its knife!
But he’s the unstoppable
Forever capable!
Removed from people, cities and towns were we.
Enchanted by our quaint cottage, we enjoyed the scent of pine trees.
Mountains rose to our north; how fresh was the breeze.
Over to our east were white sand and a clean sparkling sea.
To be so far away from life as usual was rare and freeing.
Embracing peace and solitude, we reveled simply in being!
April 4, 2023
For Writing Challenge - 'R' Words Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Constance La France
Toddlers played with the birthday balloons
Elders smiled at their generations
Parents of parents of parents reveled
In this celebration of family.
The gifts sat at the tables
Re-telling old tales
Re-kindling laughter’s lilt
The cake was chocolate
John G. Lawless
©3/16/2023
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