She's strutting down the neon streets,
With a smile that the world can't beat.
Glitter rains from every note,
Catching fire in her velvet coat.
Crowds roar wild, the beat won't slow,
She's the spark that sets the show.
Dizzy lights and hearts that sway,
In her name, the night's in play.
Gold confetti, fame untamed,
A legacy with joy proclaimed.
Her tunes, they crash, a tidal wave,
On the stage, she's bold, she's brave.
In chaotic bliss, she spins so free,
A dance with fate, her jubilee.
From country twang to pop-star's crown,
Swift's the queen, and never down.
Categories:
swifts, 12th grade,
Form: Rhyme
A chirp-chirp-chirping I find delightful
Echoing through my open hearth,
Chimney swifts have returned to nest
In the open flue, their usual berth.
Warmth from the pilot light drifts aloft
Keeping the nestlings nice and warm,
Nurturing parents flying back and forth
Capturing insects from spring’s swarm.
Feeding their voraciously hungry young
Who soon will fly skyward and take flight,
Then I hear no more chirp-chirp-chirping
As they soar through the square of light.
written April 10, 2022
submitted to Brian Strand's Premier Contest
Categories:
swifts, bird, nature, sound,
Form: Quatrain
December is approaching with gelid gusts,
soon the candid snow will spread its white blanket
and dominate the lifeless and desolate land;
nevertheless, those pallid swifts with wide wings
search for warmer places livelier and more pleasant.
Gianni and Lucy follow their flight and look sad,
no birds flying around while they build with fast hands
a fat snowman with a tomato nose and cherry eyes;
it's not what they had in mind, or saw in Winterland!
" We need a wool cap to cover his head and he'll stay warm,
if ravens come by, they'll eat the cherry and tomato and deform
his face not hearing his sobs and his tears turning to ice;
what an unhappy snowman Jerry would be without eyes and nose...
oh, if only glue could hold them in place, we would get some!"
And through the entire afternoon, they watched their snowman
ready to send away any intruders with a huge rolling pin.
Those pallid swifts with wide wings have left the hushful Whitestone*,
and proud of their work, the creators of the chubby snowman
smile and clap their hands when more snow comes down;
their dream is realized, mom rewards them with an ice cream cone!
* Whitestone, Queens, NY
Categories:
swifts, bird, children, creation, december,
Form: Rhyme
Watch them on this Summer’s night –
They hunt and sleep upon the wing,
Scything through the fading light
With high-pitched screams – they never sing.
High in the humid air they sail
Like scimitars, their swept-back wings
A sooty brown with short forked tail;
They prey on flies and other things.
A Spitfire squadron’s deadly flight,
Now swooping low across the lane,
Airborne spiders now in sight –
Attack ! Climb high and swoop again.
These summer visitors will fly home soon
To Africa, before the next new moon.
Categories:
swifts, bird, summer,
Form: Sonnet
BE TOLD
***********
azure blue sky, sun shines free,
swallows dip and glide, agree.
swifts on their way, what for them?
fickle weather a problem!
nature must regain control.
climate change blows hot and cold!
wear warm clothes if on a stroll.
natures still fickle, be told!
Eight Lines Poetry Contest sponsored by Joseph May
05/26/18
Categories:
swifts, nature, summer, sunshine,
Form: Rhyme
The sky `s their scene
Banquet theirs in blue
Swerving arcs of black serene,
Black shrapnel of an angel`s song.
A dance of life itself
Relentless unremitting
Screaming songs of joy.
All creatures great and small.
Small nothings lshowing us the awe.
Categories:
swifts, bird, nature,
Form: Free verse
Four Swifts
Live up to their name
As they dart and sail
On the late summer breeze
There's a delight
In knowing I'm the only one
Who watches them
Up here, on my balcony
Here they come again
My binoculars cannot catch them
They are better enjoyed
In full panoramic view
Categories:
swifts, nature
Form: Free verse
Buoys bounce up and down,
crashing waves make a sound
Seagulls fly away from here,
with your spirit staying near
Unmarked islands hold our secrets,
unknown memories lay beneath us
Tan marks and forgotten thoughts,
wanting to leave - I think not
Running streams and worn leaves,
pair less shoes near empty booze
Each one takes a slot,
making my breath simply stop
In pause, wanting to press rewind,
For now the sunset guides my mindless mind
Categories:
swifts, places,
Form: I do not know?