Short Cough Up Poems

I tried to revive myself one morning,
to sober up the soul that was drowning in the chest,
to cough up the ashes of burnt desire,
to light a new one,
and so on again,
every time 
this soul woven from ashes,
burns....

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My left brain and my right brain are never in sync 
I can cough up the best words but they will be misspelled
Or I can toss out perfect words
But they have no flavor, no emotion, no zest.
Poets can do no more than the muse allows
My muse is ready to show off
Dare I hold her back?...

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The feeling,
an ache in the heart,
in the soul.
Drowning in front of everyone,
they can see you. 
You try to speak but only cough,
cough up the tears that fall into your mouth. 
You scream for help, 
but your screams fall to deaf ears. 
Help me!
HELP ME!
PLEASE! 
Please.
I beg of you........
I need help.........

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I think I may cough up a lung.
I ache from head to toe.
I’m blazing hot, then freezing cold.
Eyes smart and nostrils flow.

A microscopic virus birthed
this beast that’s claimed my week,
demanded that I stay in bed,
and made my outlook bleak.


Date: July 9, 2019

Contest: The Miniverse Poetry Contest    Placed 4th of 10

Sponsor: Nina Parmenter...

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4 sullen swords 
4 truncated tombs
4 comatose clocks
4 querulous quatrains

We of the Absurd
We of the Timed Out
We of the Checked Out
We of the Hanged

our candle-like Keywords
wax and wane UPRIGHT
cough up the REVERSED card
confined in blunted light

enter the Knight of Keyboards
spiritless warrior
brandishing weeping sword
time for The Rest
...

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Breathe in a dust
Cough up a lung 
Atmospheric poison
Futuristic prison
Can't you see the destruction 
Of the offspring of evolution

They see beauty trough filters 
Hear nature trough earplugs
Smell pines in candles 
And don't touch! Oh so dangerous...

They walk trough life, 
Like they travel the world 
Experiencing the superficiality of existence
Thoughtlessly missing out on the essence....

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I used to like the Wordle bot,
But Times subscriber I am not.
They stuck the bot behind a wall;
I hit max reads, and that is all.

Suppose that is the way of things:
Start out for free, see who it brings.
Then once they’ve got you hooked,
Cough up the dough, or else you’re cooked.

I liked the bot but cannot say
That it’s a cause for me to pay.
If I’d a bird, I might engage
To line the little birdie’s cage....

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sick,,infected,,sore,,
cough up hate..
as they call you whore
you know your fate
ache with rage.
cry tears of pain.
trapped in a cage
it hurts your brain..
feel the guilt.
hear the breaking
see what you've built
your heart is aching
taste violence
in you're heart
smell silence
this is just the start.
walk down misery
run away from it all
they let you be
they let you fall
Your done now.
Its finally away.
so take a bow.
have a lovely day...

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Regret pools at my feet as I cough up black, gooey resignation...
Gravity in league with darkness pulls me ever-closer to my glorious end.
The hateful clock sneers at me as it distracts me once again from my righteous indignation...
And I once again put pen to paper; writing the insignificant little story of my life...
As I breathe in the thick summer air, night falls like a swift blanket, smothering the hateful day's light like a smoldering candle.
And I shall begin again......

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Something really grossed me out
While walking down the street;
A stranger cleared his throat and spat,
Just inches from my feet.

I think it is illegal
To just cough up phlegm and spit.
In society, it’s something
We should really not permit.

There once were signs in subway cars
Announcing prohibitions:
Loud radios and spitting
Both had fines for inhibitions.

Some people, though, do what they want
No matter who’s around.
I guess I should be grateful
That that spit stayed on the ground....

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