Short Hackles Poems

hackles rising fast
who is at the door today
Did he beat her once...

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sun brings out the bones
         barbecue briquettes ignite

            dark dog hackles broil...

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woof! woof!
hackles and heckles
a cock on a roof
diverted disaster
the naysayers’ proof


***...

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Noshing time 
for but a moment muzzled 
to bring vaccinations 
up to date

Far from a ceasefire 
this is but a pause 
without relief
for the pending prey
it is palpable 

The paws that pace
the hackles that raise 
the eyes that are laser fixed
that a purpose bred 
purpose trained
war dog
lays in wait
...

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Hoarder holds her hostage, heaps heavy history hysterics.
Her husband, horrific. Harried hugs humiliate. Hops, hits
hags — harmed honeymoon. Hiss harkened hellbound Harris.
Hysterical Helena hinted hate, harbinger hackles heightened, hot.
How? Hagfish homicide? Herbs? Homer helps Helena hack! 

12/18/2020
Alliteration Contest
Sponsor: Eve Roper...

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At the moor's edge
where the cliff-drop gnaws the wind
and a jutting ledge raises it hackles,
fingers scrabble, skinned toes curl
within stiff-jawed boots.

Turn an ankle here,
and you may fall
unleashed
to die somewhere
out of sight.

Do not enter your mind here
in that place
where a whipped dog cowers.

Cling,
rope yourself to the sky -
Growl.
...

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The human form so slightly alters
And tells a tale of times gone by
Even when the voices decry
Our spirit never falters.

Spinning with each turn of the globe
Dancing forms are changed
Some may say we become deranged
As our skin begins to disrobe.

Feral creatures control the floor
Our hackles raised as we dance
Giving ourselves to our trance
Two legs shift to four....

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Sienna...

Sounded like silk
looked like silk
it felt like silk 
rolling over her tongue
over her skin
every hair on her neck standing on end
Hackles   rippling 
    hers and his
as he turned his steely blue head towards her

Eye to eye with something   so wild
she felt her soul 
    succumb

Light headed
she sighed
    nay swooned

scratching Kestrel off her list




4.7.2020...

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Head buried beneath the wind,
hung, grasping an overhang,
hug the thin bones of wiry tussocks.

At the moor's edge
where the cliff-drop, gnaws at the sky,
a jutting ledge raises it hackles,
fingers scrabble, skinned toes curl
within creaking jawed boots

Turn an ankle here,
and you may fall
unleashed
to die somewhere.

Cling!

Laugh at yourself.

Do not enter your mind,
where your whipped dog cowers.


...

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Her name was Magic, Maggie for short
She loved being outside, and to cavort,
Black as coal from the local coal mine
She raised her hackles along her spine,
At night she made a soft meowing sound
Glad we rescued Maggie from the pound,
When winter came, she lived inside
We were all bereft when Maggie died.

FIRST PLACE WINNER
written March 25, 2022
"Black Cat" Poetry Contest
sponsored by Robert James Liguori...

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He rides on the back of the wind,
Wild and free to roam 
The wilderness is his playground,
His own choosing, the game is his.

With agility and poise he is cunning,
His savage beauty bears him grace.
Wizened eyes hold his mystery,
Mesmerising to the point of seduction.

As the shadows beckon, his hackles rise,
A warrior, he is sight and sound.
His cry forlorn across the night,
As hypnotised by the moon he calls.


©.L.Kelly...

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Could it your fancy tickle:
The fluid you need does trickle;
Legs once free like vehicles
On Stopped Feet of Manacles?

Won’t it up get one’s hackles
That one often tasks tackles
Others’ Wrists not in shackles
For what one down to buckles?

You others tag ‘The Fickle’
Fit only for the sickle;
Expo sure to ridicule:
Lots of  in Article
That you know “Just Bicycle”
Swearing on “No Icicle!”

Honestly, I won’t like it,
Though shan’t jump into a pit!...

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It is quiet now   
the sun moves up the ridge   
honey crisp scent of freedom   
hovers, engulfing all the air   
  
pangs of pleasure peal   
primrose bows her head   
yellow paints the morning   
the fields are all aglow 
  
dew dresses up the hackles 
glisten comes to call 
enlighten paints the picture 
leaves begin to fall 
  
recall enters to the garden 
tiny footfalls traced in awe 
nothing goes unnoticed 
gaze, then gather in it all...

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Lips toothy smiles never desert:
For one's main course pays plus dissert 
A granted walk by a bush stopped,
A political subject dropped!
Eyes searching for yours, finding them
Eyes proclaiming you a rare gem...
Soon, breathing down a not-warmed neck;
A time,if you're wise,him check.
Ladies should go beyond 'Recoil'
Their hackles rise,their blood boil
"Heh guy!I see that you're trying:
My eyes have yet to start lying!"
The war is against reduction
From submission to seduction....

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