Short Scalds Poems

Your malignant image scalds my eyes like some strung out squatter in the high rise.  

July 10, 2016
*For Silent ones one liner contest...

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Sizzling Summer

summer sun sizzles
sans sunshade shelter
sunburn scalds
she sprints scorched sand to shore
swizzles in soothing sea

Sandra M. Haight

~3rd Place~
Contest: Short Forms For Summer Part 3
Sponsor: Andrea Dietrich
Modern Tanka
Judged: 05/27/2016
...

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Poison running through my veins
Eating me alive
It burns
Scalds my insides
I hate this burn
I slowly die inside
Can’t you see my pain?
Don’t you see my tears
Silently I scream 
Beg for help
Why don’t you see
How does no one know
I’m still alive
But slowly I slip
Entering another world
Filled with silent blackness...

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Father: Every Morning of His Life


The cup he took his tea from
all those years was Army surplus,
made of tin. It whirred

to the spoon he wound in it
15 times per lump of sugar.
We who slept in rooms just off

the kitchen rose like ghosts
to the winding of that spoon.
In my house, now, mornings

Sue’s the first downstairs. She 
scalds the leaves and wonders:
Will the winding ever end? 


Donal Mahoney...

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You plead my cause
Know that I'm not worthy
Note that I am filthy
And yet you came along
You came a long and you wash me
You know tat I was guilty
and yet as my lawyer
you plead my cause
I was lost in the wilderness
You plead my cause
I was blinded you took those scalds off mine eyes
now I see your wonderous light
I am so excited you plead my cause

8/3/22
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr 2022©...

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This journey we all make
Through this winding path
Scorched by the sun's anger.
It scalds our bare feet
Already torn by thorns.
The rains make it slippery,
We fall and bruise our knees.
Like wool drifting in the wind,
We are tossed about
Until we reach the great sea
Where the dying flames of our torch
Are finally extinguished.
While the lonely buds
Manured by our eternal silence
Become the memorials
Of this solemn journey....

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Applauded performers in dayspun course 
               Embezzled by orbit, to variance succumb
               After venom scalds sun adoring audience
               Moon's butter churns mother cow rotund 


               Accusations pacified behind eclipses 
               Rays of interrogation with dusk relent
               Voyaging moon melts in mineral elixir 
               Ocean encumbered by dawn's lament




29th May 2020...

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Contest: Pieces


All in Pieces

I turn the cold, sparkling, silver knobs
and the raging hot water splatters up the porcelain.
Milky bubbles effervesce the scent of lavender,
and I plunge into the baptism of fire.
The water scalds and blisters my skin.
Let it burn.
Let it hurt.
Let me feel my flesh ripple and peel to the surface.
Poached parchment—
memories to be shed.
Blood streams from my wounded skin.
Your acidic stain is replaced with 
raw, fragrant flesh....

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I
order
some coffee –
Americano –
wait with anticipation.
Superheated steam scalds the essence from the beans,
then rising from the cup, that rich fresh-brewed aroma.

I
savour
the vapours –
pure Arabica -
then notice in the saucer
something which I did not order : a biscuit,
yes, cellophane-wrapped an unsolicited biscuit,
the ubiquitous and unsolicited caramelised biscuit !

I
wonder
what’s it worth,
my unsolicited biscuit ?
I’ll send it back and get a refund !...

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Close your eyes,
Plug your ears,
Hold your breath.
Imagine falling in love with someone.
Imagine a love so alive it burns your lips and scalds your tongue. 
Imagine them gone.

Close your eyes,
Plug your ears,
Hold your breath.
Imagine you're a guest in your own mind.
Imagine walking to the darkest corner.
Imagine sliding your back aginst your fears and letting doubt wet your face.

Close your eyes,
Plug your ears,
Hold your breath.

What color do you see?...

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