Rust: Oxidation in Action!
~ Tamp down the excitement
Beneath a callused skin of light
the hunched and mustered
clap a prayer between a leaking sight.
It is the earth that mourns itself,
whether baldly thrown or loamy laid
the silent soil repaints its sullied shrouds
far beyond any atoning sorrow,
or cooling heart.
It is none but a laboring pity
to lay down the past
as deep as a weeping sky allows
or raise a hand only to tamp down
a new-turned mound.
Restless are the skewing worms
ever churning a blood-born mud,
eyeless they cover the once begotten,
cloak a hard pressed present and loss.
as the missing
deafly retreat beyond our ken.
Hear now the trilling birds,
how they far-fling their buoyant hymns,
see how they hop between their own bones.
Ah, to reminisce,
to peer through rose colored glasses
smooth the edges of
pointed encounters
tamp down the burning
embers of memory
smoldering in silent seclusion.
To change the tone
texture and import
of echoed retorts
polish the participation trophy
sitting alone on the shelf
knowing that time
does not heal
nor dreams dissipate
those moments
and yet….yes yet…
I question the roots
of such reminiscences
anecdotal recollections
based on the youthful folly
of ineptitudes inexperience.
For the older I get
the better I was.
John G. Lawless
3/18/2021
The day of courage has come, I'll tamp down our rage,
Take studies in strides as I re-new Truth's defense,
Steady the chapters, the verses of pen and page,
Embrace the tabled periods, make joyful sense.
No more brutal beast betrothed to my own bloodlust,
I have learned from feminine lessons, strategies,
Risen above corrosion, shaken off the rust.
I will combine our Gyres, my hard and her soft "G"'s.
No longer afraid of weakness, crying my tears,
What do you think, friends? "Are you having a laugh?"
No! I'll kindle intelligence, dam silly fears,
It's not just some split decision, no, not by half.
My former glory was spent on the outrageous,
Now's the day to be certain, to be courageous.
Flight songs have forsaken the lark,
where flood and fire forage the dark.
From coast to coast our prayer on wings.
O Lord have mercy the choir sings.
Firefighters on lawn, brave and tired.
Nurses pull long duty, admired.
Neighborhood ash forever stings.
O Lord have mercy the choir sings.
Gift the Golden West deft snowflakes.
Tamp down the spires of flaming snakes.
Extinguish breath the dragon brings.
O Lord have mercy the choir sings.
11/15/2018
THE FIRE INSIDE
I have to tamp down
the fire inside
for not all are stoked
with flaming eyes
my cheeriness
might be their demise
the fire inside
explosive it drives
the quiet insane
so i try extra hard
to contain myself
the gypsy dance
leaps and thrives
with clanging bells
a crimson skirt
circumnavigating
the darkest night
the fire it burns
in rhythmic bursts
crackling in time
to poetic verse
sunshine yellow
and orange tongue
the reflection of
happiness
11/10/2017
The Fire Inside Contest
1st Place
Each year when the summer is nigh
I drag out my planters and buy
Some flowers to plant
But somehow I can't
Make them grow, though I really do try.
I gently tamp down all the soil.
With watering, I am quite loyal.
While others' plants thrive
Mine are barely alive;
All my efforts Ma Nature does foil.
Still, just planted they look pretty good.
If they lasted, the way that they should,
I'd be shocked as they come
'Cause my never-green thumb
Would have done what I'd hoped that it would.
Today's closing hangs lower than it did yesterday,
trying to mess with tomorrow's dreams.
Sitting here, dressed in a wry smile, my heart
whispers to a sky, tie-dyed with the jewel
of Navaho stone and the salmon pinks
of Tsimshian legend.
I feed myself with steam from Irish tea,
invoking the memory of my first Lakota sweat lodge,
and take comfort tracking what's left of tonight in Indian time;
tomorrow will have to wait 'til I get there.
This now is meant for savoring the scent,
sounds, and sights of Mother Earth
as she gets ready to tamp down the fire
of a troubled day, leaving my peace
under the watchful eyes of a Harvest Moon.
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.