Written by: Vaquero Waddie
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Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
when you're chomping at the bit
the Withers of a horse is used
to measure height
Straight from the horse's mouth
believe what he say's
don't fail to wear your Halter
in your certain disipline
find yourself a true lover
one you call your freind
Backing the wrong horse
will have ya'll airing out ya'll's lungs
I could have told you she didn't
want all that kissy stuff
tire of you before
it was over
cause she plumb had enough
a great relationship
has it all
walk trot and cantar
slow when you need it slow
fast when it needs ah-cantar
you'll know when it's right
a smooth steady pace
I reckon all things like this
it the same all over the place
I need to slow down
enjoy coffees' aroma
reflecting on life
Speeding through highway
My eyes caught the traffic sign~
'Slow down, there's work in progress'
With a sudden brake,
a screeching sound, tiers stilled.
Moved slow with extreme caution.
Chaos of gridlock
demands thorough forbearance
not a chance except slow down
Life is kinetic
hasty not to resolve things
let regrets not pull us down
Place: 3 rd
Life morphs speed to skill,
chasing illusive mirage
toward amorphous landmarks.
World won’t grind to halt
if clocks lose their frantic ticks.
Don’t rush to reach last milepost.
Written: May 27, 2026, for a contest sponsored by Nette Onclaud
1st place contest winner
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Red lights speak faintly—
steel rivers halt their rushing;
patience signposts the pavement
Signs hum: slow down now
wheels heed the wisdom of wind—
life breathes in the gentler lanes.
1st place winner
Slow down and remain
eight years old and all squirmy
footie pajamas and dolls
glitter on tables
tea parties and teddy bears
and you weren't always busy.
Happenstance meeting -
eyes and lips ignite a race
down romance's one-way street.
Feeling powerless -
is there a detour ahead?
A weak voice entreats, "Slow down".
I fast-slammed the brakes!
The car in front slowed down too-
just before the road had curved.
Standing there ahead,
an old man had signaled stop!
Mama and five ducklings pass.
Speaking of Sedoka
Nette Onclaud
05-24-2026
Highway signs blur past
I rush toward far exits
missing the view beside me
I lift up my gaze
drive slow, let the world unfold
enjoying the journey, now.
Stop to smell the roses
we'll make the most of each day
~ there's splendour where we walk
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
-Slow down-
Even the sounds of
rushing red waters
pulsing...
drown out the beats
that blare in my head
- Slow Down -
My thoughts spin like a carousel of fervent beats,
while I watch the harbors of still waters,
a gentle surrender to time, drift away.
Every stride toward solace
meets the rush of a furious current
that demands to be heard.
BREATHE
They say.
But they don't offer oxygen.
What I breathe is not oxygen.
Its substance holds the burdens
of a thousand silver hearts,
multiplied by the mixture of red and blue,
each breath breathes a hue of purple horrors
that hold the millions of salted waters
dammed at the gates within the corners of my eyes -
flooded waters locked up behind walls armored with diamond rings-
where the clamor of the inner gale shouts louder than the silence,
and spring sings a name I cannot remember.
- SLOW DOWN -
One more time it calls.
One more time.
I reach for a pause in the relentless tide,
where hope hopes to reside
and symphonies play melodies
where tired souls dare to stay.
Maybe mine would dare
if it'd slow down.
You stop, you slow down
You see, you listen
You are awake
You are alert
You are mindful, creative
When SILENCE enfolds
You become Whole
Silence becomes you
And you the Voice
Slow down.
Catch your breath.
Going too fast.
To where? You don’t know!
But you’ve got to get there. Can’t be slow.
Can’t be late.
Hurry. Hurry. You have to do something.
Don’t know what.
But you want what you want – NOW.
It’s all about you. Be aware. Be wise.
Slow down.
You’re missing the best while striving for the unknown.
The night is not my own
Reality is not here, it's not there. Is it real?
The wind sounds like waves
Is it some distant waves crossing on the shore
Or is it just the trees whisper ways back and forth?
Slow down mind
Slow down mind
Slow down mind
Piercing thoughts, race like the horse with no end in sight
Do it again or do they end?
That is the question I would love to know
Darkness seeks revenge follows, but still sleeps
Slow down mind
Slow down mind
Slow down mind
Can you tell what is real?
Have you put that notion there?
What is black and what is white? It is neither.
Colors only shadow and make believe that everything is fun
Slow down mind
Slow down mind
Slow down our mind
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