Clear water serenely waves
towards the shore
In your hands you hold a book
filled with Mystical secrets
and as the sun goes down,
you read on
as the sky quietly turns
from pink to crimson
over the calming blue sea...
Rushing waterfalls
gush forth
from a tall silent mountain
an outpour of water,
right into the open mouth of the sea.
You sit on the sand,
lifting your hands
to heaven,
folded in a Padmasana position
wisdom arrives
at your heart's door...
Categories:
serenely, appreciation, mental health,
Form: Free verse
I climb high up the tortuous path
Of a ragged hillock and
In pensive solitude I look around
Upon the universe that surround me.
There from on high
I spy so many mysterious wonders
That God endowed this worthy earth,
And blessed all His creations
With wealth, momentous and great.
The waning sun creeps down over the horizon
To gain its well-earned rest.
A reddish dusk tinges the hilltops
As swallows glide serenely below the ridge
In search of a homely sanctuary
To dream the dark night away.
The multicoloured flowers in the valley
That swing in nightly breezes,
And feed the insects bright;
The trees that grow so mighty
Whilst bushes provide haven to so many
Graceful creatures of the wild.
The glorious stars that light the dark
The dazzling sun that ripens crops,
The lakes and seas that ripple
And reflect the mountains high:
Is it not easy to understand
How blessed we all are?
Yet do we ever stop
To thank our dear Lord
And ponder on these gracious gifts?
Categories:
serenely, creation,
Form: Free verse
Jubilant soul hopes above firmament
vibrant faith soars midst trials
radiant heart reverberates
melody of hymns, serenely triumphant
to silence chaotic angst
while exalting God Who makes life wondrous
as love-conquered human nature
fulfills functional share that leaves
impactful difference...
yon grave.
Categories:
serenely, blessing, christian, faith, god,
Form: Dramatic Verse
The sunshine band, ember sunset.
Stunning swans' graceful elegance
Serenely swim, one can't forget.
The sunshine band
Overlay peace yet endlessness
Cast, swayed in the balmy breeze, yet
It displayed depth and eloquence;
The sunshine band
Loyalty to each other let
These white feathered benevolence
Dip their heads together, heart set.
The sunshine band
Image 1
Categories:
serenely, bird, dance, nature,
Form: Roundel
Upon green hills where gentle breezes play,
A village wakes to greet the golden light.
No city horns disturb the break of day,
Just birds that sing and skies serenely bright.
The air is crisp, each breath a gift so pure,
With streams that babble secrets as they run.
Life moves in rhythms peaceful and demure,
Unhurried hours beneath the warming sun.
Fields stretch in green, and laughter fills the air,
Neighbors share stories by the fireside’s glow.
No restless race, no burdens hard to bear,
Just simple joys that only dreamers know.
Far, far away from crowds that rush and strive,
Here, hearts find peace and truly learn to thrive.
© 2025 Pastor Emmanuel Serto
Categories:
serenely, june, nature,
Form: Sonnet
Calmness bids me as grief strives to cease
Enabling sincere thanksgiving-prevalence
Midst gloom, hiding serenely still while
Exemplifying grace under pressure... yet
Tears cannot anymore control their fall
Exposing prayer of my heart for closure
Recognizing heaven's victory over death* since
Yon the grave is eternal bliss with the Source of life.
*1 Corinthians 15:55-57 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
May 29, 2025
3rd place, "Cemetery" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Constance La France; judged on 6/2/2025
Categories:
serenely, appreciation, blessing, death, faith,
Form: Acrostic
It was only a sprig
of red berries poking through
a mantle of snow.
But something in their quiet defiance—
so small, so sure, so bold—
stopped me in rushing mid-stride,
as if beauty had broken
some sealed place inside me,
and light, unbidden,
had found a way in.
The world went quiet around me
except for the whispered ticking
of snow melting on my coat.
The berries didn’t beckon—
they simply serenely endured,
like a secret held in plain sight.
I didn’t kneel, but my heart did
and time loosened for a moment.
The air was full of watching.
Even the light seemed to listen.
My class had already started
and the prof raised his eyebrows at me,
so I told him about the berries—
he shot me a skeptical look,
but that didn’t matter a bit.
Some moments don’t explain themselves,
they speak in silence anyway.
I sat in the back smiling,
still picturing the berries
long after the lecture began.
Categories:
serenely, beauty, color, nature, snow,
Form: Free verse
My magical Chinese garden
was small:
tiny willows
pagodas
and mulberry trees
emerging serenely
from the mist
pastelwise
like Shangri-La over and over
on the far side of
an equally diminutive stream
under a parchment sky.
Slipping unnoticed over the footbridge
at the top of the stairs
I’d wait alone under the willow
overhanging the bank
ribbonfluttering silvergreen in the breeze
where their wintry silences couldn’t reach me,
hoping that maybe
I’d meet another child
like me
escaping into the garden
through the wallpaper in her house
but we moved away
unexpectedly
before that happened.
Categories:
serenely, childhood, imagination, loneliness,
Form: Free verse
Bubbling with triumphant mirth
then weeping midst frustration…
heart strives to strike a balance
between composure and chaos…
projecting strength under grace while
anchored by prayer not to fall…
staying poised in the crucible of stress
yet serenely hiding hopelessness mask…
vibrant soul today faces tomorrow's mysteries
expectant of miracles yon realities...
that’s the mother in me who champions
life-building commitment with: “So help me, LORD.*”
*Psalm 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
May 14, 2025
Honorable Mention, "YOUR CHOICE g" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 5/15/2025
Categories:
serenely, appreciation, blessing, christian, endurance,
Form: Free verse
Indeed blest to do well with zest
Nourished beyond existence-best
Delighting in pursuing sublime quest
Endeavoring for joyous victorious crest
Exercising faith, vanquishing doubt’s pest
Dear heart of mine dwells serenely in God’s nest.
Blooming despite barrenness’ test
Lovely while looking graciously dressed
Exuberant every day, gratitude is expressed
Sharing gifts of mercy and peace toward the rest
Triumphant* life keeps on reaching-out, indeed blest.
*2Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
April 15, 2025
3rd place, "Write Eleven Beautiful Lines" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Constance La France; judged on 4/16/2025
Categories:
serenely, appreciation, blessing, christian, faith,
Form: Acrostic
The egg said to the bacon
“What is wrong with you?”
“You arrive with such a fuss and a splatter”
“All the eggs are wondering just what could be the matter?”
The Bacon replied with a sigh
“What is wrong with you?
“You lie there, serenely, with no fuss nor hint of a splatter”
“All the bacon is confused about why nothing matters.”
The egg supplied this retort
“I don’t see the problem.”
“Why can’t we just lie here with grace?”
“And accept the inevitability that we all must face”
The bacon responded, quite annoyed
“Right there. That’s the problem.”
“Why would you accept your demise with grace?”
“And miss an opportunity staring you right in the face”
The egg, getting hot with wonderment, stated
“I’m still not convinced”.
“I fail to see the point of the fuss and the splatter.”
“None of this can save me. None of it matters.”
” The bacon, heating up with resolution, countered
“Mr. Egg, be convinced!”
“There is a warning attached to the fuss and the splatter.
“If it saves one strip of bacon, then it matters”
Categories:
serenely, allegory, character, conflict, courage,
Form: Rhyme
An extraordinary love, visit and stay,
Butterflies in my stomach, it’s such a good day.
Roses bloom as if they will never fade,
Like a precious diamond, so rare and serenely made.
Made for you, my heart will never stray.
Fade the doubt, let insecurities decay.
Day by day, I’ll carry you in my heart,
Stay forever, through all the love and hurt.
My one great love, more wonderful than I knew.
Categories:
serenely, love,
Form: Rhyme
Love is
so much stronger
than hate…
Hate aborts
all that is
good…
Love is
a pregnancy
that always gives
birth:-
Hate pontificates
that which
is called fear
but strengthening
love silences
weakening fear…
In the healing
atmosphere
of life
hate evaporates
but love
absorbs
healing sunshine
and serenely flows
with her frothing waves
splashing upon
the shores of life…
The moonlight
of love
will always
drown
the darkness
of hate
for where love
abides
hate can never
be:-
Categories:
serenely, allegory,
Form: Free verse
snow…
…falling…
…gently…
…silently…
…serenely…
…onto…
…a…
…white…
glistening.*.*.*.* canvas
(.*.*.*.* .*.*.*.* .*.*.*.* .*.*.*.* .*.*.*.* .*.*.*.* .*.*.*.* .*.*.*.*)
Categories:
serenely, snow, winter,
Form: Concrete
As I meander 'neath bougainvillea's resplendent flare,
A lachrymose tear descends, delicate and rare.
It glides o'er my visage, where memories dwell -
Nostalgia pirouettes in an ephemeral spell.
A fragile form, each breath a whispered plea,
Cracked like ice beneath a trembling sea,
Whiffs of solace levitating from amma's lap,
A delicate darling, like a rose dew on morning's nap.
Once a diva, enshrined in radiant effulgence,
Now scattered like meteorite dust, yet still rich in resonance.
From molasses, I emerge, each step a soft reclamation,
As blossoms unfurl, heralding my quiet resurrection.
Lessons linger in memory’s endless mosaic.
Seasons sail serenely, steadfast and stoic.
Worth blooms not in victories alone -
Be the heartbeat that heals when twilight’s grown.
Categories:
serenely, nostalgia,
Form: Rhyme
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