They laid their gold
on a tray the color of midnight,
fingers ringed in stones
that caught the candlelight like captive suns.
Outside,
a boy with a patched sleeve
watched frost stitch lace
across the bakery window.
His breath bloomed and vanished,
a ghost repeating itself.
The men inside
spoke of progress —
steel rivers,
glass towers that drink the clouds,
oceans combed for oil.
A gull’s cry cut through the smoke.
It smelled of salt,
of a shore too far to see,
where waves still bow
to no one.
And somewhere between the clink of coins
and the rattle of the boy’s thin cough,
the truth waited —
patient as winter,
sharp as the wind
slipping under the door.
Categories:
tray, grave,
Form: Free verse
Detectives found everything shipshape and in its place
Except an ice cube tray full of water sitting on old lace
This housewife was neat, she would have never left it out
We arrested the culprit, none of us had a doubt.
I’m innocent the salesman yelled at us police.
But she would have put it in the freezer, Miss Charice.
Jury easily convicted him for her murder yesterday.
If she was alive when he left, that tray would have been put away.
Categories:
tray, murder,
Form: Rhyme
I give you a heart on a tray
Still beating, I serve you, you are in my restaurant
I am the waiter, you ordered a special menu. A heart
Enjoy, this is a suffering heart. Salt? Black pepper?
If you want I slice to you my heart. Do you need it?
Do you want the steak of my heart? Why not? Enjoy!
Oh, Emma, I will bring you a dry red wine, love it
Red meat and red dry wine are the perfect choices.
Enjoy my blood, oh my honey, lovely secret love!
Just remember me
Loved you
Vilmos
Visit
The cemetery
Categories:
tray, fate, life, love,
Form: Free verse
Find out where your reasons lay
For every preferred delay
And keep in mind that men pay
For the legs they dragged all day
To “Be fast!” “Out of my way!”
Smokers stuck to their ash tray
While loved ones like donkeys bray.
As we delay lots at bay,
Precious time we boldly slay,
Little answer when we pray,
Wasted April leaves for May
And later Month May goes gray!
Yet, delay anger that grows,
Rabid rage that in vein flows;
Do men delay time for flights?
No, they don’t: they could for fights!
Categories:
tray, character,
Form: Rhyme
Lunch on my shiny red tray,
Simply is, the luscious part of my day.
Swiss steak, simply made to perfection.
Mixed colorful veggies, is my culinary selection.
The scent of a warm, wheat roll wafts up my nose.
I have the sense, that after lunch, I will with comfort, dose.
Steaming French coffee and a fresh baked chocolate cookie!
A quiet nap after that for this poetess rookie.
1/11/2021
1pm PST
Categories:
tray, food, imagery,
Form: Couplet
the dog's bark was a ferocious sound
the man stood motionless ..should he run or wait
imagining the jaws that would seal his fate
the window half open was a chance to escape
stood motionless….. his brain went into overdrive
resisting the urge to run…. to survive
under his arm was his calling card
a box of milk tray for the lady,… they say
sent with a kiss, as he goes on his way
the lady sleeps on, oblivious to the scene just played
wondering, who was the secret santa this time
as she munched, each layer, tasting more sublime
contest: as easy as abb
sponsor: nina parmente
penned 30 december 2018
Categories:
tray, chocolate,
Form: Rhyme
It’s another sordid workplace affair
Organized by the dashing and flamboyant Pierre
There should be a warning to beware
Bad week to start any diet – o what despair
Millions of calories everywhere
On one side a mountain of chocolate éclair
On the other a huge tray of Camembert
It was hard enough to squeeze my derriere
Half-way out of this big cozy armchair
Till I managed to park myself elsewhere
Next to the cheese tray I do declare
There’s more than enough to share
I volunteered to sample so let them stare
Trying to look casually debonair
As my butt widens with each bite I’m aware
No one ever said life is fair
AP: Honorable Mention 2020, Honorable Mention 2021
Submitted on November 19, 2018 for contest WRITE A POEM ABOUT CHEESE sponsored by BARRY STEBBINGS - RANKED 8TH
Categories:
tray, celebration, chocolate, food, vanity,
Form: Monorhyme
Incubator, man placed in inferno
Atomic bomb blew
now man in ashes
Vaporized eyes now need glasses
A flash of light, too!
A breach of molecule
Remains placed in a ash tray?
1/31/18
by James Edward Lee Sr.
Categories:
tray, anxiety, change, conflict, confusion,
Form: Light Verse
Deep in the ocean
Two buds bloom in joyous dark
And then it is light
The sky in the boat
Rides the sail and moonlit wind
Become shining stars
From the mystic bridge
In awe and love we look at
Both the oranges
It is poetry
World poetry day today
Words from your joy tray
____________________________________
21 March 2017
Categories:
tray, dark, light, poetry,
Form: Haiku
Food on a tray
isn't for a stray.
Volodymyr Knyr
2017
Categories:
tray, animal, dog, drink, food,
Form: Couplet
With nervousness sewing up
I set to sew my lap tray ,
And voila ! It's done .
-Ism
Categories:
tray, beautiful, beauty,
Form: Haiku
Trilling Tray (Limerick)
Parrots have men in the palm of their hands
Through the pirated palimpsest that is from man's land
There is no point getting into panic about the tall story
Touch me if it is a wild and wacky story
But if it is worthwhile to the core, (then) hold my hands.
Categories:
tray, freedom, growing up, history,
Form: Limerick
My veggie tray's selection was unique.
'Twas still offered to a jittery sheikh
Who hopped from foot to foot,
Ignoring the ginger root,
Took an onion, saying, "Gotta take a leek!"
He ran off to the loo speedily.
Later on, he returned back to me.
Assessed my tray and proceeded
To eat a pod that was seeded.
I asked him, "Tell me sir, how was your pea?"
We laughed, and guffawed, and made a fuss
At the playful double entendre between us.
He said with a wink,
"I'd hate to think
What you'd say if I had the asparagus!"
Categories:
tray, food, funny
Form: Limerick
i'm driving and the air feels like a
space vacuum
the oncoming trees are copper
and the speedometer has lost its pointer
the specimen jar in the drink tray
has reached newfound heights
how can i run with such fa(s)t legs?
how do i scurry about this rock
with the intentions
of a madman ...
yet, somehow during this hoover ride
i wished for a camera
so that i may take the best angle of my life
and show it to the world
Categories:
tray, adventure
Form: Free verse
A day is coming and passes away.
Memories are adding in a Life tray.
Few good or wrong and bad occasions,
Cycling in a cycle but all in seasons.
Fate is treating in a same defeating,
Unfortunate person is always waiting.
Working hard but admitting a mistake,
Wasting his time and fishing on a Lake.
One day will come I’ll be a fortunate,
I will tease my mate to reach at late.
Money will play a game to roll overcome,
When she‘ll love me I‘ll open a bear drum.
We’ll dance together to sing a song,
A day‘ll come brighter after a dark long.
Money has a life but life is nothing,
Opportunity is risk, achieving something.
Categories:
tray, caregiving, education, faith, friendship,
Form: Name
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