Night was falling and she waited but the phone stayed silent.
Life was out there for the taking but she refused to move on.
What was the use? Her mind was made up, she would wait.
She would keep waiting till there be no waiting left to do.
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
Night sky falls upon us.
Peace there for the taking.
I thank my lucky stars.
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
In this dirty old city that never sleeps at all
West End walking looking 'round for thrills
West End talking meeting all the girls
lights come up as the sun sinks under
East End spending money comes and goes
East End bending breaking all the rules
bright lights blaze on the avenues
dark alley doings going on too
back streets side streets circus or square
striptease sordid Soho sleaze
trains in the underground resound in the air
don't get me wrong like the river life rolls on
opportunities are there ~ there for the taking
never mind another grey rainy day
possibilities are there ~ there for the making
you can't win unless you make your play
London town never lets me down
SEA OF ROSES
It was a sad affair and heartbreaking
Two girls murdered, whilst at school
Yet of course, no knives was the rule
Young lives were there for the taking
The area’s now a carpet of red flowers
One child named Rose, now resonant
The other was Poppy, equally poignant
As each tiny lit candle would last hours
The local florists had to restock roses
And red poppies were another request
Taken by hand, then also laid to rest
As eventually every door finally closes
National media came and filed the story
The ‘sea of roses’ shown on all the news
The local press did photos and interviews
Sadness and anger was almost obligatory
Roses for love, Poppies for remembrance
Those red petals almost paved the street
That imagery was both bitter and sweet
There for weeks at the school’s entrance
Don't know what this guy would do
Without you peeps to brighten my day
You're worth more than all the gold in the world
Just to hear what you all have to say
The difference between a happy and sad day
Between sunshine and cloudy skies
With each of the loving words you send me
You turn my lows into highs
Happiness is free, it's there for the taking
Reach out and grasp the brass ring
Though some days we lose sight of this fact
And we lose our desire to sing
It doesn't take special talent or knowhow
We all have the ability to laugh
But sometimes though, life has a nasty habit
Sending negatives right off the graph
So when this happens, grab hold of the ring
Hang on for dear life, I implore
Till whatever's causing you grief and despair
Disappears and your faith is restored
I am filled up with words
By Michelle Morris
15/06/2020
I am filled up with words;
They are everywhere inside.
They are there in the shadows;
In the darkness I can't hide.
They are there in the longing,
Of being unfree and unspoken;
They are there for the taking,
If someone was willing to
Hear pieces broken.
I am filled up with words;
Words from which I am so tired;
Trying to find the light,
Wherever it is decided.
They are always there,
Waiting for me...
No matter how many I use,
They're still waiting to
Hear me speak my truth;
The right words in time
Lost to youth...
The only words that matter;
Words waiting to be free;
To set my soul aflutter,
And return peace and joy to me.
© Michelle Morris, 2020
Torrential rain poured on that Jurassic day
The seas swallowed lands or just washed them away
Dinosaurs fled from the rivers that topped
And everything steamed once the downpour had stopped
Volcanos were belching black smoke from their vents
A soot laden sky topped an atmosphere dense
On high, lava flowed like the mountains were bleeding
Below them, no sign of the waters receding
Oil, coal and gas were still young in the making
Nobody knew it was there for the taking
And so to the high ground those giants were swarming
But few carried signs saying, “Stop global warming!”
I'm miles from where I was, lost at times in wanderlust
As time moves on, it carries me past no memories unjust
A beautiful disaster moving at the speed of life
Sharing a consistent companionship with strife
A sign of life underneath the emptying hollow alive in me
Good intentions are there for the taking solid in who I be
I clearly see in a different light, no denying I live in optimistic environments
My ashes will fade away like all in time, my connections lived all eternal moments
Don't know what this guy would do
Without you peeps to brighten my day
It's worth more than all the gold in the world
Just to hear what you all have to say
The difference between a happy and sad day
Between sunshine and cloudy skies
With each of the loving words you send me
You turn my lows into highs
Happiness is free, it's there for the taking
Reach out and grasp the brass ring
Though some days we lose sight of this fact
And we lose our desire to sing
It doesn't take special talent or knowhow
We all have the ability to laugh
But sometimes though, life has a nasty habit
Sending negatives right off the graph
So when this happens, grab hold of the ring
Hang on for dear life, I implore
Till whatever's causing you grief and despair
Disappears and your faith is restored
it is another day and I’m in it
seizing it or not is a choice
when emotions battle with reason
and the heart mingles with my mind
trespasses on the dark soul of ambivalence
motivated by apathy and restlessness
as I pull more weeds in my virtual garden
a couple of bees skirt around
the lemon-tree
suck what is on offer
and spread the good news
that life is what you make of it
my glance falls upon a single rose
lush red thorny
of impassable beauty
which reminds me
that nature has its way
of sustaining itself
and healing sorrow thoughts
as the petals unfold
their unique message
I take in the scent
and know that the aroma
is there for the taking
free at source and given
with unconditional love
Taiwan makes Xi's eyes really slant
Jinping rants how freedom just can't
Rule over this place
That belongs to his race
So he'll grab it as part of a land grant
If we are loved
Nothing else really matters
We go to bed to dream
We wake with a smile
We greet the sunshine with a great big “hello!”
Our steps are lighter
Our worries are small and insignificant
The news of the day is less important
Allowing us to cope
To see all the good things life has to offer
It is so easy to fall into the trap of doom and gloom
The six o'clock news is just a collection
Of one tragedy after another
One suicide bombing after another
Certainly difficult to stay positive
A positive attitude is what makes the difference
Allowing us to cope
Allowing us to see the beautiful treasures
Life has to offer
It is there for the taking
No need for status or wealth
Just an ability to care, to feel, to love
Our fellow inhabitants
Of this jewel we call Mother Earth
Walking on holy ground,
all the while spinning round.
The sun chases the night,
till it runs out of sight.
The world begins waking,
it's there for the taking.
Yet the pattern it seems,
is our unfulfilled dreams.
An empty bottle tossed,
a love found that was lost.
Then comes the final scene,
a dream within a dream!
date: 2/13/22
contest: Strand 1073
sponsor: Brian Strand
Open and free was Gizelle’s heart.
There for the taking, the smacking, the shaking, the breaking.
She was an innocent, believing in happily ever after love.
She fell in love with the devilishly handsome Charlie.
Charlie had crushed, stomped and stamped many hearts.
People’s warnings fell on Gizelle’s closed ears.
Quickly pinged off, landing in mud puddles and ant hills.
Charlie the handsome would never hurt her.
He was solicitous, attentive, mannerly, respectful, loving.
Gizelle began reading brides magazines.
She chose her dress, her colors, and her father.
Over her stepfather, who had raised her since she was three.
Gizelle was ready for the next step.
Gizelle and her prince slept together to seal the deal.
She had never been so incredibly loved before; she was amazed.
This was a fairy tale she had never dared dream of.
When she was dumped two days later, she was horrified.
She would never fully trust anyone again.
She now understood why her father hated her mother.
Sittin’ here just getting’ high-
Sharing stories between us guys
Am I dreaming sweetly or in a nightmare?
Does it matter?
Do I care?
I don’t need redemption or anything else-
I just want to learn to love myself!
Escaping reality & conquering fears
have dulled some neuroses over the years
so much to give...so much to feel
No more eluding, I’m choosing to heal!
Come take a trip with me to a place we’ve never been
where we’ll create a world of holiness mixed with sin
Love and Hate, Peace and War – they all will be a part-
No exclusions or divisions is how it all will start
We’ll be crazily informed with our freedoms all intact
The government can kiss my ass-
There’ll be nothing that we lack!
It’s there for the taking so don’t be confused-
Join me on my journey, to hell with being abused!
____________________________________________
I don’t need redemption or anything else-
I just want to learn to love myself!
so much to give...so much to feel
No more eluding, I’m choosing to heal!
Kim Hilliker, 9/18/21
Sub Categories
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.