we climbed a barbed wire farm fence
falling into brambles that scratched us up
suddenly we were in a meadow
with tiny wild strawberries, daisies, violets, iris and queen anne’s lace
we’ll take it, we told the realtor
a Shangri-la which we still love
in snail-pace schizoid Land of the Dying
they sometimes bake schnapps biscuits
then throw them to black cat eyeing
angels appear asking “what about fiscus ?”
they reply “we care not, passings near
roof leaks, grass not so glitter green
new shoots will bloom, Shangri-La we hear!”
“all acts account to day of goodbyes, clean
fix broken loo and cement those cracks
fill empty birdbath, then plant carnations
give your dues, do not frack
we account credit and debit, our obligations.”
dying embrace living Earth to very end
dimensions shake when you do not mend
______—_____—_____________________——
Fa, la, la,
the politicians stump.
Blah, blah, blah,
It's Donald Trump.
Oh La la, we've hit a bump.
Shangri-La or Mein Kampf?
A SHANGRI-LA IN HELL.
I feel at peace with the roll at hand.
At a place of bliss, whenever I take a puff.
My mum call it beast.
My wife call it monster.
My sweet cigar.
At a tender age, lured by a friend.
A little puff good for you, he persuaded.
Another puff friend, he coaxed.
I was manipulated to it.
My sweet cigar.
A packet and a lighter, my best friends.
Accompanying me to every corner.
The paraphernalia that has taught me generosity.
I can't stand a friend suffering.
My sweet cigar.
My kids at home,can go without milk.
Their tea sugarless.
As I spare a coin for my comforter.
A sweet burden in me.
The bondage I brought myself into.
My sweet cigar.
My sweet wife keeps complaining.
I have promised to abstain.
To do away with smoking.
Times without number I have promised
But it's clear that I can't do without.
My sweet cigar.
?@Kipngeno Robin.
Tha Formidable Cheru.
#themonk
A prairie garden delight in the center of town.
Cone flowers, daisies and daffodils appear as if renegade.
There is no mulch, large curly grasses, dandelions, clover.
My children recognize this as a magical Shangri-La
They are reverent and excited with her tiny touches.
A silver frog stands holding two hot pink geraniums
A path of round colored blue rocks lead to a fairy garden
Where they find faeries of all kinds and sizes, each with a house
A teapot house, a coffee cup house, a mushroom house.
Queen Anne’s lace livens up this gorgeous miniscule village
Why don’t we have a place like this? One of my children asks.
I am as mystified about this as they are.
Maybe it is time we did.
In delightful repose, with my tired head
comfortably at rest upon your lap.
Your fingers softly brushing my brow and cheek;
your smiling face, with all the love in it,
beaming down like bright afternoon sunshine
to further illuminate mine; my slice of Shangri-La!
Submitted for...
Surprise Me Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Line Gauthier
Date written: 05/16/2021
I need my space
some time alone
A tranquil place
to call my own
Escaping chaos all around
For me no peace can ne’er be found
A mythical Isle ~ Atlantis
~ is luring me beneath the sea
~ my Shangri La where soulmates are
~ Utopia ~ she beckons me
Submerged in waters of azure blue
Encompassed by my love for you
I feel your presence
it won’t be long
I search for you
all tensions gone
I float into oblivion
drifting
wafting
gliding through
mesmeric sounds
I’m close to you
Our spiritual home ~ is meant to be
~~~~~~ the Isle of Atlantis beneath the Sea ~~~~~~
Written 3rd October 2020
Contest COMPLETELY YOUR CHOICE 21
Sponsor Brian Strand
FIRST PLACE
I wish you luck, the builder said. We poured all the extra concrete on that hill.
I found this a challenge worth undertaking. That hill is gorgeous now.
I have chopped out the concrete with an axe and put in good soil.
I have planted a variety of bushes including a knock out rose bush and a snowball bush.
The roses, daffodils, tulips, marigold and lavender are spectacular.
So many places in my yard I have nurtured flowers and bushes.
Lilacs prance merrily around my house, their fragrance uplifting me always.
Rose of Sharons in deep pinks and purples next to my tulip tree, smile daily.
Sis said I could not grow Crepe Myrtles in Kansas, and yet I have six of them.
They are thriving in their pretty colors, giving hummingbirds sweet nectar
My yard with her fairy gardens, and beautiful statues is beautiful and calm.
My oak trees hold bird feeders for cardinals, wrens, robins and blue jay
Squirrels flash up and down the trees, tossing their fluffy tails my way
Fireflies, monarchs, grasshoppers, and moths flit and flirt in the grasses.
Bunnies are hopping amid my dandelions, eating my sweet clover.
My place is Shangri-La, I cannot imagine living anywhere else.
I wish my love a peaceful Shangri-La
Where I can save her best from daily cares.
A warm place where winter never dares
And my heart smiles to serve as in a spa.
Alas, we live in an imperfect world.
We long for somewhere free from strife and pain--
Some Shangri-La or Eden whence, like Cain
When driven forth in anger, we were hurled.
And now our search is endless for some land,
Some perfect place where problems never loom
(Prosperity and bliss from womb to tomb)--
To leave this world from which perfection’s banned,
And seek Utopia (which means No Place):
Some land of joy, untouched by sorrow’s stain,
Recapturing our innocence… In vain,
For Eden hasn’t left the slightest trace.
Perhaps at last we’ll come to comprehend:
No matter where we seek it, near or far,
Right here on Earth or on the furthest star,
Our search for Shangri-La will never end.
October 2, 2019
Title #4: "A Search for Shangri-La"
Enclosed Rhyme Contest
Edward Ibeh, Sponsor
Uninspired, 'tis a search for Shangri-La,
It's much ado, I mean, don't you think so,
All of this bruhaha, just fools would go,
To this La La Land, --no 'tis other La.
Well, if fools have time for frivolous things,
Let it be theirs, not ours, a game of chance,
--It does seem charming, a touch of romance,
Oh no, a fool's errand, what of your bling's.
--What say you, we both got money, let's go,
'Tis a slide of the hands, all done with mirrors,
Pulled out of the hat, it's flawed with errors,
Yet, you are my friend, answer, that you know.
Let us hire some guide, and one from those schools,
--From the universities, a teacher,
I believe they are called professor, --err,
--Now history, and dishwashing, two fools.
2019 September 22
howmanysyllables
16 lines x 10 syllables = a perfect 160 syllables
We need to find Shangri-la, my heart said.
Great idea! Soul replied with a blast.
We'll relive lifetimes we've had in the past!
We have to find it before we are dead.
Arranged for my dog and my cat to be fed.
Packed a small bag. Gave my husband a kiss.
You'll be okay, he replied. Snake gave me a hiss.
Friends were askance. Are you right in the head?
From nation to hamlet my searching self flew.
Greeted in Mexico, Africa and Chad.
Some beautiful places, none of them bad.
All of a sudden my heart and I knew.
My joyful, happy, excited soul then
Found it not in Amsterdam or Dover
Yet the search for Shangri-la was now over.
Knowing I shall never search for her again
I raced back to my gorgeous country side.
To feed my own husband and my happy pets.
It was an easy decision, to jump on those jets.
My home is the best! I ran quickly inside.
I yelled, Shangri-la was here all the time
My husband rolled his hazel all-knowing eyes
I am not kidding! This is the prize!
He handed me a pie, my favorite key lime.
Written: 9-15-2019
Contest: Pick a Title Volume 9- Enclosed Rhyme Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Edward Ibeh
There could be a place, lost over the horizon.
There could be a place, way out there in space.
Some call it Shangri-La, I’ll just call it heaven.
There could be a place.
No Hints, no trails, not even a trace.
No lines, no signs, or magical scrolls to lead the way
If there was a place, it’s one we could all embrace.
It’s secrets must be hidden, well done.
No telling what pleasure out there awaits.
Never to be found, not by no one.
There could be a place.
The Search For Shangri-La
By Desi E. Sherman
09/13/2019
My Shangri-La . . . seeking,
through the corridors of my mind;
lost- I meander like a seeker blind,
opening doors loudly creaking.
An imaginary place of sweet divine bliss,
idyllic utopia, and nirvana remote;
where tranquil water lilies float,
I want a Shangri-La abyss.
But, I have gone astray,
finding myself climbing up stairs;
while a worldly vision of me just stares,
oh Lord, help me find my way.
Then, I open a hidden wooden obscure door,
to a beautiful green haven hide away;
a place where there is never decay,
no pain- no sorrow to endure.
_________________________
September 12, 2019
Poetry/Enclosed Rhyme/A Search For Shangri-La
Copyright Protected, ID-19-1180-489-02
All Rights Reserved. Written under Pseudonym.
Written for the contest, Pick a Title, Vol. 9, Enclosed Rhyme
sponsor, Edward Ibeh, Theme chosen - A Search For Shangri-La
Fourth Place
Atop highest cliffs there stands a monastery
Surely nirvana's nucleus of timelessness
Determined come what may in spite of breathlessness
I'll touch its celestial gardens of harmony
Craving kind Himalayan hospitality
My soul in uphill climb pursues euphoria
Seeking mystical mythical utopia
Mountains sing the praises of immortality
AP: 3rd place 2021, Honorable Mention 2021
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