Pushing the envelope outside the box
if only here to accentuate
the many ways in which
emu may emulate
by delivering nutrients' benefits
and what's more
help repair with anti-aging hydrate
yet won't clog your pores
they herd the birds in a mob
not a troublesome job or task
with ladle fire pit pot and hob
'How is it collected?' I hear you ask
as allegedly good for the skin
anti-inflammatory emu oil
is scooped off the bubbling surface
when they're brought to the boil
Circles spread on the surface
And disappear in the pool
And do it so lightly - it must
Be starting to sprinkle.
Where are the grayish clouds
I should see in the reflection?
Where are the tapping sounds
And the shift in the wind?
No - my eyes are dripping tears
I didn't see coming.
Catch them - merciful waters -
And put them away from me.
Minke whales, surface and dive
massive baleen lined mouths filter out food
our boat keeps its distance
when no one’s watching, i am.
i watch myself
take that extra bite
regret that dessert
body check every mirror
but from the outside
no one sees me
they don’t know me
only i know me
myself
the imperfect image people see so perfectly on the outside
Friend,
Silence listens,—every thought we think,
each new feeling which soundless trickles by,
the twinge of untold pain, the snuck-in sigh,
are registered within the margin’s ink
Friend,
Silence listens (better than your shrink),—
in worries sunken deep below the “I”,
the subterranean soul, the scrying spy,
dutifully encodes each missing link.—
Observe the many mangled manners your mood
wrings its revenge out from your wet-cloth mind.—
To wrest the terror from your burning breast,
it twists your vision—perception, once skewed
unkowingly invites the shades inclined
to test your tensed chest’s breath of stressed rest.
Everyone is seeking
a peace they want to know.
Looking for that happiness
but not knowing where to go.
There's a million things that promise
lasting joy, or so they say.
But every single thing
brings more struggle in its way.
Some look for peace in circumstance,
some look for it in health.
Some claim that joy is all just chance,
some look for it in wealth.
But soon they're disappointed
as the joy they seek slips by.
The peace they thought they had
starts to crumble up and die!
But just beneath the surface
lies the jewel of our soul.
That glorious lake of peace
that has always been our goal!
But we must reverse our actions,
we must withdraw our thoughts.
We must enter into stillness
where our soul is finally caught!
When we calm the restless mind
and still the restless breath;
we enter that sacred grotto
that takes us beyond death!
It's in this sacred place
that no worries can reside,
no hurt, no pain, no struggle,
only happiness inside!
This wondrous heaven is within us,
behind our ego and our pride.
It lies just beneath the surface
if you'll only look inside!
Look again, my dear
things are not as they appear
while words deceive
they slither and they weave
your eyes can also lie
lead you astray with just a sigh
Look deep beyond the surface, dear
and trust not everything you hear
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Wave a magic wand and poof!
Try to put the genie back in the bottle
Oops, too late…now everyone’s laughing
More like heads shaking in disbelief
Wear the rough edges of your plan down
With the file still buried in that 34-ingredient cake
A humorous situation, no, a real mess
At the crossroads…freedom & whim
You tore apart the construct limb from limb
Disaster cleanup desperately needed
If we manage to Lego-build back to glory
Too serious of a spoof though
Walking around aloof
Eyes closed on the cloud of a sucker’s wish
Riddled with inaction
No cloud but a chasm below
Anti self-interest fools none the wiser
Stars reflecting upon the clearest surface of water.
I think that is how the Mayans taught each astrologer.
Guess that's how everyone in the empire was: looking up, out there.
Each critique, a dart that sharply lands,
Piercing through the depths, unveiling the strands.
Presentation skills rightly come to play,
Dissecting flaws without dismay.
Gentle whispers soothe the gloom,
Like honey poured in the labyrinth's bloom.
Empower the frail, an onus to shoulder,
Utilize the might in ways one can only ponder.
There’s life here still
somewhere below the surface.
I dip under lily pads,
delve hands into reeds.
Down in the sludge, shimmering sunlight
illuminates what once thought lost.
pour enough shoe polish into a river ~ stepping stones may appear
optical illusions yes ~ scratch at the surface find man’s true veneer
By
David Kavanagh
The title said it all…
Thank you very much
Left an unanswered call
All alone and such…
I’m reaching to the top so tall
I loved you to the cold-hearted touch
Catch me I make an abashing freefall
I discarded you…you deserted me too and left me a torn-apart heart with a crutch
Danger zone,
Alone,
Descending beneath the surface,
barely
Below you and I
Before I make a go
The title says it all
The title nailed it to the cross of my forgiven sins in appall
I still will stand tall
Through it all…all…
Get back on the ball…
The title…says it all…(laughs maniatically and frantically falls on my face, laughing harder than ever)…whatever, I’m seeing all ablur
I burned your placemat.
A sunny yellow flower.
I used it at my desk.
It was ANOTHER thing I had ruined.
You emphasized ANOTHER.
Another thing I can't do right.
Another thing I took.
Another mistake.
It left a mark on my pristine, white desk.
A caramel brown.
I tried to get it out,
But it stained the table.
My scars are all too close to the ones on the table.
Both marked by their mistakes,
Both marked by other's mistakes.
Bruises that won't fade.
Scars that won’t heal.
Paint over the desk.
Sew the placemat.
Let’s do some surface-level cleaning.
when we saw each cleat
with slick surface they would meet
by no one were beat
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