Let our clear eyes gaze
at the rising moon on the
shores of the Sahara, let
the evening stars shine,
holding the skies in their
cosmic magnet, let the
tides cease their aggression
within the ocean, like the
brutish pain we feel as
we welcome and embrace
the oases of our longing
faiths, our kisses
flirting on the shores
of the ocean’s lips,
resolute in our struggle.
We are sandwiched between
the blades and mortars of
these plains, bludgeoned on
the banks and rivers of
these burning forests,
our peace stolen by
hate, so we spend
these silver years in
agony, asking the same
questions our ancestors
asked: shall our hopes be
burnished and taken away on
the lost bays of these curving
currents determined to throw
us into the pits of the boiling
gutters, or shall our longing
faiths, like stones, outlast
the flames of the forest fires?
I lose you every day
I wake up hoping the bad dream is over but
my fingers only burn from grasping the air around me
This house sits empty
Sometimes if I look hard enough I think I still see your footprints and I'll follow until the trail disappears
We've run out of floor to pace
My world has become so still
Pleading with shadows
To please let just one be you
I spend my time cursing time for moving
And not doing it fast enough
I'm to far away regardless and I've never liked being in the middle sandwiched between something that resembles living and nothing at all
My fingers burn from grasping the air around me
One day could you please be there
Warring kiddies hiss like snakes and stick out forked tongues;
They disagree on who started the fight first; both y e l l i n g..."Liar!"
Parents fish for the truth, sandwiched between the crosstalk.
High on remote cliffs,
wildflowers huddle
between
wind scalped boulders,
heads kept down,
their roots weaved
into crevices
where a little soil has been
won from rain wash
and wear. They grow
surrounded by a constant
howl, just above
the clawing fingers
and thrown up fury
of waves.
Deep
in their creviced home,
they snatch only
a brief, upward glimpse
of a passing sun,
life confined more
to a damp sliver of shade
sandwiched between stone.
No broad vistas
but a claustrophobic crush,
a cramped space
from where they gasp
for freedom.
For centuries
they have lived like this.
Generations have come
and gone, the living
nourished by the flesh
of the dead.
Countless human wars
have been fought, lost
and won. Year after year
they bloom, yearning
to be noticed, fed
on the merest ration
of light shed
by a merciless sun.
Thank you, they cry,
Thank you.
A dark angel writes in the air,
“There will be no tomorrow for you.”
Then puffs of shiny cloud ebb,
Ebony night surrounds me.
I tremble in fear.
I hover between now and never,
as if I'm traversing a rough river
on one bank: life, on the other: death.
I feel an ebbing of nothingness,
like gulping down bad breath,
or gasping in asphyxia,
between a being and non-being,
sandwiched between heaven and hell.
Which way must I go?
Lord make the right choice for me,
for I tremble in fear.
How oft had I been told,
hell is an illusion, don't believe!
Now it seems like reality and I fear.
I see my past, its rights and wrongs,
a sort of blind imbalance,
not a hair is lost.
Where is the illusion now?
Or worse is it delusion and regret,
that I could have achieved much more?
Thus I tremble in fear.
Spirals of fog surround me,
whirls of fatal mists envelop me,
a long dark tunnel with a faint light ahead.
But what lies at the end?
An ephemeral awakening or an eternal damnation?
What weapons are left for such a fight?
I can only give my soul up and pray:
O Lord, I trust in Thee.
I fear no more.
oh, the days! the days I wish I could get back;
sandwiched between my book of fond memories.
no days like the halcyon days of summer...
one blink and they're gone.
if only I could go far back in time to
the happy tranquility i used to know;
outdoors with my Dad as he fed the pigeons...
how I miss those times!
days are colder; I miss the warmth of the sun.
swallows have disappeared like days of my youth.
i long to see them fly in the sky again...
come back, dear summer.
Thrills at being sandwiched between heat and water.
Has a common name, but 'Storm' would have fitted.
Looks forward to massive heat waves and high tides.
If it was the crest of an ocean tide, then it would be
time to pray for one who has no concept of fear.
Travels the coastal shores looking forward to
surfing the highest waves. Moreover, he is very
particular about his teeth and only brushes with Crest
toothpaste. He also is an excellent swimmer and will risk
it all by diving from the crest of cliffs that most divers
would shun. Indeed, Dave is a daredevil of the highest kind.
Two holidays extraordinary
bookend a day - simple, ordinary
How is that unfortunate day viewed
sandwiched between the other two
Well, strange as it may seem
and believe me, this is no dream
That simple day, upon further reflection
has the advantage of science-based refraction
Picture each holiday as a separate painting
each one glorious, majestic, self-sustaining
Then give a two-sided mirror to our 'Day Ordinaire'
Voila! ~ Now, which of the three days is 'Extraordinaire'
S hare God’s blessings and show love everyday
P retty smiles around without flowers are just ok
R ender loving services and always be nice
E nthusiastically give without expecting a prize.
A lways show positive outlook
D rive someone’s gut when one’s broke
I ncrease one’s energy with uplifting and inspiring words
N urture each other with patience and kindness that
G enerate understanding and unity in this world.
H ave faith in oneself, others and above all to God
A gift to everyone is a life to enjoy, not to be sad
P roduce happiness accepting everyone and their weaknesses
P eacemakers-- we must, to be blessed in God’s fullness.
I n spreading happiness, it always starts from our family
N eighbors after relatives, then friends- a heavenly joy will be!
E mpathy and sympathy for all especially the poor and the needy
S elfless act of kind-caring sandwiched well with generosity
S preading happiness while witnessing the gospel is the mighty key.
It happens over there,
a suburb, a state or half a world
or more away from where I live
in a quiet street with roses and hedges
hanging over front fences
with newly planted trees spaced
along a footpath the council truck
waters once a week.
For anything to get past
and make it to here must be filtered,
sanitised and packed in biodegradable
pouches and come with conditions
clearly stated in print bold enough
to see at arms length and most
important of all, have an off switch
that can be activated by an app
on a phone or a remote control.
What's more, it must be kept short
not taking too much time for it to clash
with commitments I previously made
over a coffee at the gym or make
me feel bad by its content or tax
my nerves by taking me to a place
which I have no desire to go.
So, I would be pleased if you kept it
over there, housed within the confines
of a television screen and sandwiched
between ads and promos for the latest
"Reality" show. And to keep
my conscience pristine, provide
an address I can send
a small donation to on my credit card
with a receipt so I can claim
the expense on my next
income tax return. Thank you.
He's sandwiched between two women
aggressively pursuing him.
He's done more than enough to prove
to both they should have nothing
to do with him, yet they keep coming back
to him, but it is his problem or the women's?
Bite-Size Poem No.20 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Line Gauthier
Date written: 09/07/2021
cucumber says: cool
peacock showcases hot shot
life is in between
31 August 2021
Sandwiched between noisy neighbours
We hear them putting their labours
In screaming matches
Boisterous snatches
Seems like they're fighting with sabers
I wish we had placed soundproof glass
So that no sound, no noise can pass
All would be quiet
Unlike the riot
Our neighbours create and trespass
03.20.2021
8.8.5.5.8 syllables
St. Lawrence river in the spring
when a lake makes the ocean its' dream
shallow ice and sand bend the wind
the twigs begin to twitch and spin
sandwiched like a water gin
buds burn through the fragile skin
never is there amendment
sloughed grained signals silently sent
as vast white feathers float to shore.
Milk drip slid pooled lake lick languish
Cirus segments slice sour anguish
Berries bowl buried, sandwiched
Split banana smiles skinless raw
Pokes ice topped mountains tongues adore
Indulged inhibition, law
Melt pulp passionfruit volcano
Delish disallows you say no
Seed sea syrup sweet halo
Sundae dips silky mango dice
Cubes correspond smooth cream entice
Twang of mandarin comes twice
15th January 2021
Written for Rob Levassuer's Contest
Seasonal Attention To Detail
Syllables 8 - 8 - 7
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