the poet’s heart full of fire
and a clock that won’t slow down
a newfound passion
born out of grief
let’s make poetry magic together
beginner’s learning curve
patience is a virtue
pandora’s box wide open
spilling out like alphabet soup
rhyming couplets etheree haiku
limerick sonnet and prose
the list seems never ending
but what a privilege
to read
to feel
to get lost
in a poet’s poem
created by the best
and to share that gift
only a poet’s pen can create
a masterpiece
a short comical
nonsensical verse
rhyming couplets
of unequal length
a notable person
in view
A bio
on which to chew
in an absurd light
perhaps
with a tortuous bite
March is a soft conversation
as I look out the window.
March is the front lawn
after shaking off remnants of snow.
March is a sunny day
and in the next a touch of rain.
March is a branch swaying in the wind
as it waits for the first bud.
March is a kite on a string
as it learns to dance.
March is a moment of stillness
and in the next a gust of wind.
March is the embrace of two lovers
when every day is new.
March is the moment of silence they share
and anticipation of more.
There’s a Monster Watching TV With Me!
by Lanier Thomas
I know there is a monster watching over my shoulder.
I wouldn’t think that if I were only a bit older.
I feel it whenever I watch cartoons on my TV.
I think it enjoys each and every one as much as me.
I’ve never seen the monster, at least I do not think so.
When I do look I see my old black striped tabby cat, though.
As I get older I won’t have this weird situation.
Mom tells me I will outgrow my wild imagination.
Smoke on the water, in the sun
Time for journey is time for fun
From depth of plains to mountains high
Singing songs that will never die
From heights of north to the center
My feet sweep deep like a painter
Painting through pathways to my fate
Even when I woke up too late
The ways ahead can be so dark
And there's a dark cloud on my spark
I just walk with my faith ahead
And halo of hope on my head
Smoke on the water, flame on ice
There's sizzle on my cold dice
For, life is not about your fall
It's how you came back and stood tall
Rhyming couplets
8 syllables per line
Glenn Hughes Poetry Contest
4th place
Hell
Where will you go when you die?
To hell I hope I have no doubt.
The girls down there they do put out.
The boys can party all night long.
Drinking beer and pulling their shlong.
The demons there are quite contrite.
They swing their whips all through the night.
And when I want to have a gas.
I’ll kick the devil in the ass.
By
Josehf Lloyd Murchison
wave me a light in midst of gloom,
boundless your mercy, give me room,
candle I light for you with hope,
oh! please my Lord, throw us a rope!
world is torn asunder by hate,
evil rides the stallion called fate,
devil is master, none can cope,
oh, please my lord, throw us a rope!
innocents die ere they can smile,
their mother’s besides in a pile,
those who survive, there is no scope,
oh, please my lord, throw us a rope!
you created us in few days,
can resolve this in quicker ways,
show us light, in darkness we grope,
oh, please my lord, throw us a rope!
Premier contest winner 7
Written 26/10/2023
8 syllables each line
with rhyming couplets with the last line repeated.
Regina Macintosh sponsored
October’s story contest
this October is not celebration for many
I will sing to you in Russian
Recite to you in Greek
Converse in any language
That you deign to speak
I will follow you through Hades
Protect you from its fire
Look at you adoringly
Object of my desire
I will save your seat
While you enjoy the dance’
Protect you with my shield
Defend you with my lance
I will walk on hot coals
If it brings you delight
Wrap you in my cloak
To warm you in the night
Willingly and freely
I pledge to do all this
For the merest brush
Of your lips in a kiss
I will conquer mountains
Eschewing any fame
Each and every act dedicated
To the glory of your name
So come and sit beside me
Let me feast my eyes
Entrance you with my wit
Seduce you with my sighs
All this I do for the great joy
And the precious right
To escort your person safely
To your home tonight
I think in rhyming couplets
As I anticipate
The gentle goodnight kiss
As I leave you at your gate
And hope, like me,
You yearn
And dream
Of my swift return
A terribly tired, trashed-out old truck,
lacking in luster, down on its luck,
longingly looked at a lithe little Lexus
there at the bar, fresh in from Texas.
Depressed, dejected, and driven to drink,
wipers not working, and too beat to blink,
he summoned his strength and shot her a smile;
seems ’twas the first she’d seen in a while.
Given a green light, he got it in gear,
kicked doubt to the curb and patted her rear.
Flush-faced, he flipped in reverse in a flash;
those were no lady parts under her dash.
————-
Alphacouplets - rhyming couplets where the first line ends in a noun and has 3 or more alliterations using the same letter prior.
List form also in rhyming couplets:
Love is patience one has with a difficult child.
Love is a man supporting his wife in her trials.
Love is a wife who remains “for better or worse.”
Love’s not just doling dollars out from your purse.
Love is giving aid and time for someone that’s in need.
Love is not words alone; it’s doing a good deed.
Love is a hug for someone crabby or sad.
Love is holding your tongue when someone treats you bad.
Love is not for just your own sister and brother.
Love is for all. God says, “Love one another.”
Love is showing kindness everywhere you can.
Love is forgiveness – even of a really bad man!
Love is not easy when others do you wrong.
Love is showing compassion all day long.
Love is not saying, “I’d do it if I could.”
Love is in saying, “I’ll do it, and I’ll do it good.”
Love is not just for the one whom you adore.
Love is for everyone and so much more.
Love is what would change wrong things to right.
Love is what would change our darkness into light.
August 21, 2022 for the Meaning of Love Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Anoucheka Gangabissoon
God’s wrath is poured out on ungodly men,
His truth is suppressed by their actions therein.
He makes himself known, He’s clearly perceived.
His strength and His nature, eyes plainly receive.
We understand fully that praise is expected;
But aimed at the creature, complete misdirected.
We raise up our own gods, glorious, grand,
From things we’ve created with our own hands.
Thus, God turns us over to our own lusts,
“Go seek your perversions, give chase if you must!”
But seek though you may, I will not be found.
Empty despair instead, constant confound.
And knowing what we know, making it worse,
that doing such things justifies our death curse,
we not only commit these evil things too,
but give our approval to those likewise do.
----------
Same content as Without Excuse but with rhyming couplets
Lovely as a Lovely Dream
A poem lovely as a dream
Harvest of day's memory stream.
Sometimes flying on wings of grace
Remembering a loved one’s face
Idea’s vision born at night
As untold plans, unveiled, take flight
Unspoken places of the heart
Reveal their hopes for love’s new start
Unwritten songs, unspoken rhymes
Find their voices as inspired chimes
Healing, peaceful, these newborn dreams
Reveries with possible teems.
3-1-22
Contest: A Poem Lovely as a…..
Sponsor: Margarita Lillico
Six, rhyming couplets of eight syllables per line
The little sails like paper boats do watch
the rocket skies of brazen hue drink scotch.
The whir of helicopter days surround
those tower twins, so strong, with lively sound.
They take for granted torch that won’t go out
but they forget to look inside and doubt.
Those happy times before the sky turned ash
were filled with shooting stars and mermaid splash.
The window stars, not one by one, but all,
do crash in September, its darkest fall.
Remember well, those freedom hues of past,
the clouds of jellyfish, we had a blast.
5/20/2021
Rhyming Couplets
Janice Canerdy
*Fireworks resemble jellyfish with tentacles
We'll stay with wondrous dreams a kiss unfolds.
Welcome the world all of love's heart beholds.
We'll love until death's night falls on our hearts.
Only then will we know love's cold ramparts.
We'll wrap arms tight in a tender warm dance.
Enjoy the candle's flames burning romance.
Allow wounds to vanish beyond this realm.
Find peace in love's power to overwhelm.
Know serenity when hands clasp so firm.
Be unafraid on paths of no return.
Seek out compromise in life's dimmest light.
Love without fear in doing what is right.
Share secrets told and whispered to each ear.
A promise from love to capture each tear.
5/14/21
contest Rhyming Couplets
sponsor Janice Canerdy
The Greatest Show on Earth - Two
Mr. Pik lived alone, across our street
All the kids knew him, dressed up so neat;
Mr. Pik loved the circus – every kind -
Each year, in our mailbox, tickets, we’d find;
Finally the night came and none too soon
Excitement growing by light of the moon
Girls dressed in dresses – shoes – patent leather
Boys in bow ties – no matter the weather.
Families scrunched in old station wagons
Sounding just like an asthmatic dragon;
First came the clowns with red funny noses
Squirting the crowd – water from fake, roses;
Next, the acrobats riding sleek horses,
Purples plumes on their heads – never off course;
Walkers on tightropes leaving us breathless –
Covered our eyes, watching never the less;
Finally the last act – our hearts would seize -
Daring young man on the flying trapeze;
A rollicking, boisterous evening of mirth
Mr. Pik’s gift – the greatest show on earth.
5-10-21
Contest: Rhyming Couplets
Sponsor: Janice Canerdy
Every year our neighbor, Mr. Pik – a widower – would treat the neighborhood to a night at the circus.
Sub Categories
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.