Topside Poems | Examples

Ubiquitous Mallards

Bottoms up
in the brook a-babbling
topside down
ducks a-dabbling
wings in webbed feet
a-scrabbling
omnivorously grazing
on the dunk
beneath the water
for insects sunk
yet in the U.S.A.
above below but not abaft
they rank 7th most-hazardous bird
to commercial and military aircraft
and as a high-flyer at least one duck
was struck and it's hard to beat
at a cruising altitude
of 21,000 feet

Topside

Enchantment under your see, it keeps me coming back, carousel love.

There Is a Tree of Copper Leaves

there is a tree of copper leaves
presentation most fervent in Winter season
after all of crepe and oak are bare
my eyes turn bronze
this tree turns me on
i can’t look away

when pines are flaked with snow
or rendered seussical,
having a topside arch &
their downy needles decorated
my eye hues green with white
and the whimsy I feel
in my scarf and wind
a perpetual tease

the flicker of lights from house to house
the darkness loses its sight
the ho ho ho & merry flight
jingle bells down to my toes

i like fall
but i fall for winter
season of the sweater
& wool of wisdom

we follow the lamb
the shepherd leads

through blinding snow
teaching us which way to go

12/5/2022

Mother's Cradle

In the Med aboard the Byrd,
Captain spoke and gave the word.

Rough course ahead, but still on track.
If not on duty, then hit your rack.

For Rob and I, we had to know.
So, topside bound to see the show.

Ship was pitching left and right.
Walking bulkheads with all our might.

Reached the fantail, but not alone.
Several Squids were standing prone.

With arms akimbo, we latched on.
With watered walls, the sun was gone.

Then up those walls to Neptune's peak,
To witness the chaos we did seek.

Shining sunburst on rolling seas,
With crashing waves and salty breeze.

Right back down to where we started.
Loved the rush the seas imparted.

Port to starboard, we felt the pause.
Ballast held to level the cause.

But when it froze for way too long,
Gut met throat to stifle song.

We broke from chain, one by one.
Back to bunks, like all had done.

Hours later, with humbled pride,
Will always reflect on natures ride.

Farm Kids Love Farm Life

Farm kids wake up before the roosters
We do our chores twice a day in the dark
Once in the morning, and once in the evening
It is our responsibility; we are not reminded.
We want to do the right thing.

Farm animals know when to expect their feed.
Loud chickens are the first ones out of the hen house
Clucking and strutting; pecking and prancing
The rooster goes topside and begins to crow
We enjoy the dance of the barnyard animals.

Farm life is rapidly disappearing.
So many industrial farms have taken over.
Breeding hogs and cows without 4-H kids
Farm kids have moved to town now
Where are there no fishing holes, barns or tractors.
We have not forgotten.  We shall never forget

The great life we had on a farm.
Once upon a time….

Sailor Meets the Siren

He fell off topside and floated in the ocean for a while.
He traveled downstream hanging onto a whale with a smile.
Ending up in a river with some beautiful inlets and a song.
The lure of a melodic siren showed him nature was not wrong.

She had a lilt that lifted him out of his doldrums that day.
Her music caused him to think of gorgeous beaches far away.
He was intrigued and entranced, and mesmerized by her.
He would have stayed with her forever, and been happy pure.

But alas, she was not real, a kind of mirage, a spirit sprite.
He held on to her with a sweet cuddle that felt incredibly right.
In the morning she was gone, and he was back on deck on his ship.
The only proof he had of his adventure was a mermaid tattoo on his hip.

She the Ship

She, the ship sets sail across the sea.
Topside the moon peeks through ports sides,
Mice scurry across the floor lay below thrice.
Soft wind blows the sail aloft,
Nearby island views a joyful cry.

Wrong or right a strong wind I long,
Stone away my dreams unknown.
Alone I lie open to the sea twice eyes shown,
Blind to the ruby sky my mind finds
Topside on the deck refined at eventide.


7/3/2020


Strand Completely New ( 5 ) Any Theme Any Form Poetry Contest 
Sponsored by: Brian Strand

Christmas Poem

The tree branch crossing needles.
Bushy with white rays.
Perched, an angel topside.
Glowing to the gaze.

Ornaments of glass.
Pressed transparent shapes.
Strings that dangle, spin.
Memories in napes.

Skirt below the tree.
Draped and lapped and snug.
Packages on top.
Hovering the rug.

Light bulbs glowing bright.
Bulbs of shiny glass.
Currents flowing faster.
Still to eyes that pass.

Frosted stalky tree.
Towering it tapers.
Rows of magic branches.
Visions turn to vapors.

Runaway Wagon

Writing is like a runaway wagon...
I start with a destination in mind,
suddenly, thoughts topside take charge.
As my piece is posted, I withdraw the reins.
What I wrote is misinterpreted at will
by a reader who takes off on his own.
And the upshot is: mission blitzed -
my little-read wagon is side-swiped. 

written: April 10, 2019

In the Mizzenmast

From topside in the mizzenmast I can see 
the speck of light, candlestick Pigeon Point 
lighthouse on the California coast. 
It’s three degrees off our starboard bow where
treacherous waters break hard against rocky cliffs.
Many mates have been lost on those rocks before
the light was lit.Sea surge gives no quarter to 
helpless seamen, fog makes it hard to see clearly, 
a bad danger. 
Wind is picking up, maybe that will help clear 
the coast. High above, stars shine brightly over 
the guardian’s watching flame. 
I gave shout down to the deck, report of my sighting.
A distant voice comes back up. “Where away?”
“Three points off the Starboard bow showing dim.”
“Make fast your eyes, don’t lose sight!”
“ Aye Sir, don’t lose sight.” 
First Mate Nielson, with bullhorn was giving the order, 
and his orders were not to be taken lightly. I gave 
my eyes back to the sea and light.

Free Verse Style Only Poetry Contest
Sponsor is Emilie Pinet
1-19-19

Performance of the Seas

remember the coating of brutish brandy
you slugged back without a whisper
the whites of your eyes like glaciers
and i smiled and let the warmness
sit on my tongue then slowly roll
down my beating throat, with
a rush of laughter and you so red

remember how she belted out
her performance, joining hands
with the dessert of joyful voices
the ship became her opera house
she presented her gift to us
as her husband horrified
by lack of payment to his pocket

remember, dear, the rocking
as we’re swept by the dashing cold
topside, my swimwear wrap whipping
barely kept by my grip. my hands
busy but my insides joyous
as we capture every morsel bit
on high seas adventure

later your lips, heartily pressed
in my memory book, freely
sliding over mine as if you’ve
never worked a day in your life

9/4/2018

A Sailor

When you're topside in the gallants
and you're lookin' up at waves,
the wind's ascreemin' madness
intent on many graves.
The mate has said: "Lay aloft!",
and Third was on his way,
you scrambled up the shrouds windward
and laid to right away.
Now it's one hand for yourself
an' one hand for the ship,
oft hangin' on by eyelash
to last this windswept trip.
We be iron men from Denmark
an' seamen everyone.
We bring this ship to Scotia,
no loss for anyone.
Now it's one hand for yourself
an' one hand for the ship,
oft hangin' on by eyelash
to last this windswept trip.

Skuttlebutt

Rumors onboard ship
a ghost roaming the flight deck
and an owl topside

Christmas Poem

The tree branch crossing needles.
Bushy with white rays.
Perched, an angel topside.
Glowing to the gaze.

Ornaments of glass.
Pressed transparent shapes.
Strings that dangle, spin.
Memories in napes.

Skirt below the tree.
Draped and lapped and snug.
Packages on top.
Hovering the rug.

Light bulbs glowing bright.
Bulbs of shiny glass.
Currents flowing faster.
Still to eyes that pass.

Frosted stalky tree.
Towering it tapers.
Rows of magic branches.
Visions turn to vapors.

Her Virginal Lie

The first snowfall has arrived, carpeting natures grounds
Her pure virgin lay blows me away in total abound

The winters colours now hidden, no more ashen dulls and greys
For a marvel appears before me, I'm smiling on a winters day

Skeletal trees show promise, shadowed by topside white
In turn it allows the nighttime to show an element of bright

Rooftops now show like tiles amidst a background of black
Streetlights sharpen it's glow, for it's white shall never lack

I awaken the following morning to find her virginal lie now scathed
Footsteps of natures creatures criss-crossing their mental pave

Having witnessed the first snows of winter, shows another seasons here
Her tomorrows I look so forward to, to me she so endears




*~* For the "First Snowfall" contest *~*

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