I’m as vibrant as the core of the chromosphere
Sometimes I’m radiant like golden sunflowers
I can be pale as primrose or as bold saffron spice
But to name my different hues may take me hours!
I can glow as brightly as the morning sun
And can outshine many a gal or fellow
I’ll staunchly stand up for what I believe
I’m not cowardly – I sure ain’t yellow!
Written: January 21, 2025, for contest Sponsored by: Brian Strand
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We waltz on the edge of a wildfire
where fiery flames and ashen relics,
yield to the rolling tide.
devotion serves as earth's eternal echo,
our roots reach staunchly,
the past, our thick, tattered tapestry.
Yet, in the furnace of blazing flames.
our spirits strengthened,
akin to sculpting shiny steel
the air fluffy words, a vow
of balmy breezes blissful brush,
so gentle.
untamed waves with whimsical,
whirling heart.
Our love emerges unshackled,
uncelebrated, yet won't wane.
Whispering of the magic of its waters,
Our love is akin to a melody,
flowing quietly but eternally.
Restless is Portugal
There is mayhem in Paradise
the citizens of Lisbon are tired of the bother
and street fighting, where knives are used by
migrants
Gang fights, robbery, and shop theft is a daily
Matter, the police work double shifts
Most of the incomers are from Pakistan and
Bangladesh, where Portugal once had a colony
The democratic socialists ask for calm
It was under their rules letting in people who
Have no work, congregate in the streets
harassing passers-by
A problem caused when a country takes in
too many migrants that can’t be absorbed
into the population
it is not helpful when migrants
Are Islam followers demanding the right
to practice their Islamic faith
Portugal is a staunchly catholic country
her people are angry at migrants and politicians
Alike, those who sleep need to wake up before
It is too late to find a peaceful solution
The Jews in Lisbon marched also intimating
the knew a thing or two two
wishing the demonstrators peace and prosperity
Having journeyed through North, South, East, and West,
Witnessed the spirit of young souls at their best,
A psyche befreed from detest,
Unmatched souls amidst the rest.
Their zeal be fierce and pugnacious,
They support and uplift, becoming audacious,
In times of turbulent,they unite, gracious
To create a world where hope has firm ground.
We truly seek, without a doubt,
The untamed spirit of the young, devout,
Their free soul, chasing away any shroud,
For a brighter future, they staunchly vow.
Finding the existence of something which never existed,
Heart went on and on despite the mind staunchly resisted,
'Kind-heartedness' was the one considered to be vulnerable,
'Presence of mind' became the one to be contrarily susceptible!
Tiger lily does yoga into the wind
Driving Daffodil crazy
He has loved her for days now
She bends and flecks,
Her petals twinkle like leaves
She has no idea what she is doing to his libido
Daffodil stands as staunchly as possible
Trying to get her to notice
To no avail
calm she looks
i know better
her blue eyes bore a hole through the humans
she has been mistreated by many
she stands staunchly rigid
unyielding
hating them in more than a few ways
her wrath is felt by the empaths
who run out of the room screaming
Built by the tired hands
Many from far off lands
Taken away from farm and spouse
Yet they built the sacred House
A house leased for 4-year terms
Unique privilege to be confirmed
To an American deemed fit
Compassionate, patriot and have wit
Tradition is the code here
Simple decent and austere
Wisdom learnt from many battles
And a constitution sound and moral
Enshrined we were born free
It was the heartbeat of democracy
There were periods of stress
Staunchly addressed by the noblesse
Fiercely defended by the have-nots
I implore everyone to see the plots
In a national cemetery
And behold what it means to be free
funny how heavy a sadness weighs
and angry rage which surely stays
pyre fierce fire an unfair blaze
attempting to burn me in its haze
hotly blinding your tearful gaze
this solemn haunting eulogy plays
deep in your heart staunchly stays
echoing empty in the soul it plays
circles lonely at my feet and bays
it shadows darker more dreary days
corrodes the mind in so many ways
rots the soul until my hope decays
you terribly trap me within a maze
a simple stroke of pen makes right
forever casts cruel hatreds might
so into depths from which it came
then only dreams and smiles remain
(click on the pic to purchase my book of poetry!)
Though torrents
of blinding snow
fall furious
though storms
spit lightning
cracks limbs
shreds my cloaks
diminishes me
reckon this
I endure
I fight
I prevail
My stoic
resolve undaunted
stars
those intemperate
fools
twinkle and die
the sun and moon
adulterers in
their affections.
My roots run deep
staunchly permanent
inside Mother Earth
I am steadfast
my presence
constant
immutable.
Ever to weather
Father Time’s
irrevocable
irremovable
perpetual
march
I remain
I persevere
I abide.
You placed yourself in harm’s way.
I hated that you would join the fray.
Now you bravely faced and fought
the devil I had stupidly bought.
It was unwise, absurd from the start,
Foolish and silly to be in my heart.
You said, “No. Let’s not do this.”
I said, “Yes.” and gave you a kiss.
You staunchly stood in front of the crowd
Leaving me behind, frightened and cowed.
The melee began and I was gobstruck.
How could I have bought such bad luck?
You moved with dexterity but in the end
You were injured but thankfully, left to mend.
A black and blue eye and raging road rash,
I regretted my call to be bold and brash.
I realized how immature I had been.
I should have listened to you my friend.
You took the beating rather than flee.
Courageously defended my right to be me.
Stop present time now!
Let us go no further.
Let's enjoy the now, somehow.
Muses and we, sisters and brothers.
Batten down the hatches on reality.
Only stars dance, we staunchly state.
Reality has no maternity,
We slammed it dead at the front gate.
Of only insignificance, can we pen?
Strange murmurings of only moons
and stars.
Reality to die slowly in a dark house
of busy pens?
Of that, dare not your soul ever move
nor start.
This world of writing, utterly unreal.
Where imagery is some despotic
king?P
And long words you must look up
to somehow beauty reveal?
To then bow low and kiss a poet's
ring?
September 13, 2020
8:30 pm PST
Less or more?
Perpetual dilemma in life
Lofty rationale
Usual, pithy choices
In the end.
My justification
Of my actions, the best
Others laughed at
As lesser mortals
Children of a lesser god.
My high moral ground
Though staunchly held
Is Inequitable, weak
Shallow, Hollow,
Often Leaves me unhappy.
The lesser God children
Work hard, honestly
Humbly, and fearlessly
Having greater faith
Ready to face any ground reality.
16.4.2020
Have a magic all of their own.
Like rainbow bubbles from your
quill will be shown.
Your loving heart waltzes freely
all over the paper.
They are warm and velvety, not
brutal like a cement scraper.
Remember this, when you read
someone else' s poetry.
Do they come from a space of love,
or literary arrogant-cy?
Do they support other poets, or
get their jollies in putting another
down?
If so, why are you reading remarks
from nebulous poet clowns.
"By their works, you shall know
them"...ah, so very true.
To humiliate other poets is an act
I staunchly, eschew!
January 21, 2020
6am PST
There was a steadfast vampire, who never chose his fate.
And when encouraged by his peers to kill, as was his trait,
He shook his head, and staunchly said, “A life, I will not take.”
“For yours, you will,” they laughed, so shrill.
So sure that he would fail.
But on the night he starved and died, their will to his, did pail.
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