Puppet, dolly,toy
Stringed and tied marionette
I’m not part of this
Turn the pages of time.
Youth discarded like the old abandoned toy.
Regrets a dime a dozen.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 3rd place 2026
A tip
A top
A spinning
tiny
top.
Pink and black.
Go round and round.
Don’t stop.
we were bombarded for half an hour.
pepsi, popcorn and upcoming movies blowhard
gaudy and ostentatious and galling
my son asks, 'when is it going to start?'
jet-lagged to infinity
i was woken up by an onscreen scream
or it might have been the last trumpet
after the movie i go to the bank and the
clerk doesn't know what i'm talking about
high time hoodang and deposited cash
on the radio that morning the new prime minister
is applauded and cheered into number 10
he wants to shake hands with everybody in the country
there are no birds in our garden
spry cat plays with toy
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
Concealing a dagger's not legit
even if not intending to use it
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
the long-lost plush toy with ill intent
somehow had been shoved into the attic’s vent
his face was scarred, his teeth were creepy
I could not relax that night, though I was sleepy
I kept thinking he was going to get an axe
then sneak upstairs and kill me and Max
Max is my cousin who has no sixth sense at all
He slept soundly, while I listened for sounds in the hall
Word of the Year 2026 Poetry Contest
Sotto Poet
ICE Agents,
poised as Trump's puppets,
take the stage,
like mad dogs,
marking their territory
without lawful cause.
Isn't it weird?
Everyone has their own web of lies
or a web of ties
knitted so tight
You can't help choking
and swayed as people want you to move
Until you want to yell that you are not a toy
instead of the strings break,
soaked by the sealt in your keening
-Manu
a blue ballon! A magnificent day all right.
Where is Tigger? Pooh dances with delight.
loving life, as he watches the sight.
what better toy could there be, so bright?
he watches it float out to sea, fluffy and light
More Than Just a Toy
Once upon a time, in days gone by,
There lived a small child, beneath a sapphire sky.
His tiny hand clasped tight a furry friend,
Not just a toy, but a bond without end.
Little Timmy found in Teddy Bear's embrace,
A sanctuary safe, a comforting space.
Through tear-stained cheeks and frightened nights,
Teddy was his guiding light.
They adventured far, the two best pals,
Scaling mountains high, answering calls.
Though no words passed between them, none were needed,
An unspoken connection, forever wedded.
In Teddy's button eyes, Timmy saw reflected,
His own hopes, fears, and dreams directed.
Long before he learned to spell F-R-I-E-N-D,
Timmy had a constant companion, a true friend.
To her mother’s spanks,
let her cry on your tender shoulder,
oh, my toy Teddy.
Through all her sleepless nights,
lull her to deep sleep;
by her side remain steady.
When the weather burns hot,
soak her sweat away.
When cold wind whispers,
let your warmth be ever ready.
Though you are a toy,
be more than that to her.
If you had a tummy,
let her feed you, as if you live.
Though she dislikes your silver shade,
in the darkest nights,
let your brightness calm her fears.
Throughout her childhood,
even for a breath—never leave.
Remain her best friend;
though wordless, speak to her heart,
for only in your comfort she believes.
Such were the tender words of my aunt’s sermon
to my beautiful Eliza,
for she fulfilled each promise
made to Aunty Jane,
showering me with nothing but relief.
Joana, here I hand over to you Eliza,
from your grand aunt to you, my niece.
As she guided my childhood,
let her guide yours too.
Keep her clean, take good care of her.
As I hand her over to you,
one day hand her to your niece too—
a bond of comfort
that will outlive just us two.
A baby acquires natural habit
to take a soft toy in bed while to sleep
accepting that as the most favourite .
Child develops an attachment, truly deep.
I can't recollect a special toy
owned by me : Nobody cared to tell,
but my daughter and granddaughter enjoyed
same practice: I'm telling ih detail.
My daughter was fond of a woolen doll
who secured permanent place beside her
in the bed as if her child after all.
When pressed button, doll to address' Mom , Dear !'
Doll could close eyes in lying position,
sleeping with my daughter till reaching Ten.
Twelve year old Granddaughter holds obsession
for a monkey-toy which till entertains.
She named it Gloria: On Face Time meet
She holds Gloria in her arms always
Addressing ‘Good Morning’ , both I’m to greet.
She starts talking kissing Gloria, each day.
Entry for the MORE THAN A SOFT TOY Contest
More Than A Soft Toy
More than a toy--
This poly-cotton blend,
A plushy bear,
My bestest friend.
His name? Chuckles Beary--
And boy can he rock!
Kept his guitar
In an old woolen sock.
When I was down,
All alone with the blues,
He’d “Roll over Beethoven
and tell Tchaikovsky the news.”
Chuckles played his guitar
“just like ringing a bell.”
His hugs and music
Made everything well.
Even today, grown up
And turning gray,
I can still hear Chuckles
Tune up and say:
“Let me hear that rock and roll music,
any old way you choose it.
Got a backbeat--
you can’t lose it.”
And I’m young again
With Chuckles Beary,
When Rock and Roll was young
And the world a lot less scary
“Go, Johnny, go! Go!”
“Go, Johnny, go! Go!”
“Go, Johnny, go! Go!”
Miss you C.B.
More than a soft toy,
she kept these Puffies
for years; she kept
them free and safe.
I left, right..left..right,
out of her everyday -
her sis marched right
out of her life, but
her Puffies so proud
on a shelf; its shelf life,
who knows, but they’ve spent
nearly half a century with her.
Wallace Berry Cream Puffs
stayed in the palm
of her sister’s hand,
never looking forward
or back, never going far.
This soft toy enjoyed
the chatter, laughter, love
of her new owner.
Reminders of a faraway home,
a forever after,
the sweet kiss of a 5 year old.
She held her Puffies tight; tighter
the memories of so long ago.
It all matters - not the toy,
yes the toy, yes the girl.
The small basset hounds,
coffee brown floppy ears,
cream bodies (like wool),
and ample pink snouts.
The sailor in me knew
these two would
be well-cared for. This child
held her responsibility
in high-regard.
There’d be other collectibles,
but sis never neglects
the treasures of the past.
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.