The gentle cool raindrops
Bestowing the vibe of a caressing mother’s hand
The plump and shiny raindrops
Shimmering like pearls embraced the neck of the angelic lady
The drops falling on the roof
Hold the purity of tears that well out from a love’s eyes
When it downpours,
Resonates garrulous and reminds loquacious people
Dangling raindrops at the tips of blades
Have the richness of the prettiest millennium star diamonds
The drops that fall on the empty vessels
Echoes like spinning marbles that dropped from a child’s hand.
The adhesive rain drops on the window glass
Symbolise one’s deep attachment with bosom friend
When they roll on the lotus leaf
Show how the pure hearts never get affected by sin
When they go deep into a pup’s fur coat
It’s fun! The pretty pup makes tremors to dry up its body
The dried and cracked earth gets chilled
And the dews of elixir sprinkle love and joy everywhere.
Place : 2nd
Oh she of many lovely looks and names
reflects the golden glories of the day.
Her mythic face points to the western way
an intrepid mascot for freedom's winds
this flying lady lives well out in front.
Seeing her heading across these vast skies,
a vision of an ecstasy divine,
adornment to the delight of deities.
Oh she, the figurehead who we admire
a shining seer seeing journeys ahead
keeping all of us far from fear and dread.
She who holds my love wears a bonnet badge
on the bowsprit of my heart while we
float haplessly away in fantasy.
Free Verse Sonnet 14 Lines 98 Words 12/7/22
This is a colored pencil portrait of my wife Jean
as a young woman ( artwork by G. Gaul).
It tells of how she navigates life and her influence
on me. The ornament on her sun hat represents
hood ornaments on automobiles and figureheads
on vessel bowsprits used as symbolic help to see
the way clearly.
I look upon your remarkable frame
and marvel that you started out
of no acclaim,
a tiny clump of cells en route
to where you are, ignited by life’s flame.
In truth, a mystery to contemplate
how all the parts get sorted out,
without a doubt,
the most amazing aspect of this little game.
For surely God must find delight
in works performed well out of sight
of eye of mortal man,
dividing sinew, marrow, bone
in full accordance with the plan,
the outcome known to Him and Him alone.
And who am I, a fault to find,
or declare right
the formulations of this great and wondrous mind?
No, I will fall upon my knees and praise
your gentle shepherd, baby goat,
for He who plays
at such a game is not remote,
but has drawn near and given us a name
by which to call upon,
for ever on,
creator of us two, alike but not the same.
Already there it is nearly gone,
no magic, no music flat waves.
I am, because of you and trusted how we, two lovers met.
And other people,
lost along the beaconed way and we cannot see to use it.
You were the miracle all saw, because I am simple, of me.
It was found as well out in the wind,
and I found it out in the sea - come to me,
it is splendid, it is not, as for me.
Tidal pools, see ours the fish swim in circles,
as they wait to get out.
Great is the ceremony, look to the coastal side,
wherein I was brought up.
But however the pool it looks,
in the dark by the moon, it was safe.
Safe from the storm,
life was for me, you looking out from the sea.
Then if it is bitterer than the sea for want of peace,
after love you are the price that I paid.
Not feeling well out of vertigo’s affliction, I requested our special son to pray for me: “Please ask God to heal my headache.” After gesturing with his branded “praying hands” amidst unintelligible supplication, he affectionately hugged me, then gently kissed my forehead. Confidently, in sign language, he thanked the Lord, then clapped with earnest glee … affirming that I would be alright. Grateful to the Saviour, my heart leaped with bliss for this child in our orphanage, who at 9 months old was declared “to progress toward retrogression” due to infantile spasm epilepsy, global developmental delay, and cerebral palsy. Now, he is 12 years old and triumphing with milestones along unconditional love, while constantly being prayed for and lavished with kisses whenever he is sick.
faith* in the Lord shown
mimicked by child with delight~~~
beatitudes at work
*Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
November 29, 2021
2nd place, "Haibun- With A Message" Contest
Sponsored by Charles Messina; judged on 12/17/2021.
Time of change, years ago
Since then life's bittersweet
Cold seeped into my life force
This engendered great remorse.
History coloured many days
Odd wondrous moments enjoyed
Benjamin Disraeli kissed my hand
His charm I managed to withstand.
Was presented at Russian court
Dressed in white my favour's sort
More than a few felt tempted to bite
Kept my fangs well out of sight.
My likeness painted by Vermeer
Gossamer veil so very sheer
Such dedication to his art
Sadness felt when we did part.
Bonaparte, Corsican upstart
Eventually exiled to Elba
Dined on him, his blood so thin
Clear to me he would not win.
Music was constant delight
Dinner with Mozart, one dark night
He was oblivious to fond farewell
Decided to look up Raphael
Life of change, one wish denied
Should love to turn back time
Not possible - it's torture for me
So many people would disagree.
12th November 2012
Updated 21st January 2014
Resurrected 26/07/2021
Title change from Nomad to Vampire
Time does indeed really fly. It seems only yesterday I had fun with this write.
When the little kid cups her tiny hands to catch the drops,
The water gets the shape of JOY.
When it flows at the green fields over the verges with a surge ,
It gets the shape of WONDER.
When there are roaring thunders and hanging black clouds,
It gets the shape of FEAR.
When the river moves with twists and turns with a maiden’s beauty,
It gets the shape of LOVE.
When the blazing sun makes the ponds and pools get shallow,
It gets the shape of SADNESS.
When the forests are embellished with serene brooks and ponds,
It gets the shape of PEACE.
When the villages and towns are flooded and the life is disturbed,
It gets the shape of ANGER.
When a long drought disappears making the farmers happy,
It gets the shape of COURAGE.
When bitter insults and humiliations causing tears well out,
It gets the shape of DISGUST.
When the relentless waves trying to overtake the sands on the coast,
It gets the shape of INFINITY.
When it can be perceived in many forms and emotions,
I call it an incarnation of GOD.
The Shape of Water Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: craig cornish
Date: 25-06-2021
There was I in my early twenties
sitting bored on a Sunday afternoon
mu mum suggested, get a hobby
but being a loner was well out of tune
My mind was blank till mum said
learn guitar, my son, well maybe
so I bought an acoustic guitar
then got lessons to learn my key
As I started learning some real tunes
it seemed I should've begun while a teen
but some progress I was actually making
after a year thought what might have been
So gave it up, wonder why?
probably not dedicated far enough
but now really appreciate class
guitarists playing real splendid stuff
My experiences make one appreciate
the skilful play of these in master class
like Bream, Williams, Romero and the like
inspiration they do bring, pray not to pass
(I recall here my early 20s and making effort to learn guitar which was not to be but learn to appreciate those who could especially in the classical field.)
'Twas the night before Christmas,
And the sand was fair blowin'.
So old Santa set 'er down
To see where he was goin'.
I saw him in my headlights -
A forlorn lookin' old cuss.
His sleigh runners were buried,
And the reindeer in a fuss.
I said, "Howdy", scratched my head.
He said "This must be Texas -
I recognize this damn sand,
And it always perplexes."
I said,"I can pull you out,
Or we can go have a beer".
He said,"Well, out is better.
I have to think of the deer."
I pulled him out, waved "so long".
Went on my way not thinkin' -
Never told about Saint Nick,
Folks knew that I'd been drinkin'.
But ev'ry year 'neath my tree
I find a six pack or so,
Wrapped in ribbon with this note -
"Thank you, my friend, for the tow!"
12-2-19
Contest: The Night Before 2
Sponsor: Joseph May
O snail thou art a thief!
Why dost thou devour
My daisies by night,
Then by day,
Curl-up in thy house,
And sleep,
Well out of sight.
If you look for me
If you seek for me
Your eyes in mine
And the sun glows eloquently outside
If you falter a little
If your gaze fades a bit
And your desire gets unleashed,
Well out of control
If you fear rejection
You can be assured, reassured
When the sun shines and feelings chime
When the world seems distant and unearthly
You can still be solemn,calm
And try,try to delve deep.
More deep into your soul
If you still find me, static and sure
If you still feel me,raw and real
If you still dare to proceed
Dare to lose your ordered peace
And your well-tutored resilience
Then come to me complete, whole
Colorless and facade-less, pure!
What a beautiful day it was, with the waves crashing on the beach
The sunshine creating quite a buzz as for the next wave I now reach
Riding it right up to the shore, but not quite to where I was before
For I had drifted a little bit more the ocean temptress being my lure
So as I swam back out I had to turn to see how much I had drifted
For in my mind I had doubt just as if my confidence had been sifted
But there each time I turned were those flags to the left and the right
Stay in the middle I had learned so lifeguards can keep you in sight
And I needed to continually check, for you can drift so quick and fast
For if I just said who gives a heck, well out there I just would not last
That's what the Lord pointed out to me that no one is turning around
That many are adrift out at sea, many of whom may never be found
Turn around and look for Jesus' Face in Him you will never drift away
Our Salvation just one act of His Grace, but a million more each day
So just turn around and take a look at where you have now landed
All the devil stole being a crook, but the Lord, He won't leave you stranded
While checking out a supposedly haunted house
I made my way down into a crypt-like cellar.
All I could hear was the scurrying of a mouse,
but it felt spooky, as though the shadows had eyes.
And I wasn't so sure my being here was wise,
this decrepit old house might still have a dweller.
All the other kids warned me to stay far away,
vehemently swearing screams were heard late at night.
I thought I'd be safe in the middle of the day,
but I can sense an evil presence lurking here.
And my pounding heart's pumping fast, fueled by fear
as I run and don't stop till it's well out of sight.
(Rhyme)
3/30/2018
What a beautiful day it was, with the waves crashing on the beach
The sunshine creating quite a buzz as for the next wave I now reach
Riding it right up to the shore, but not quite to where I was before
For I had drifted a little bit more the ocean temptress being my lure
So as I swam back out I had to turn to see how much I had drifted
For in my mind I had doubt just as if my confidence had been sifted
But there each time I turned were those flag to the left and the right
Stay in the middle I had learned so lifeguards can keep you in sight
And I needed to continually check, for you can drift so quick and fast
For if I just said who gives a heck, well out there I just would not last
That's what the Lord pointed out to me that no one is turning around
That many are adrift out at sea, many of whom may never be found
Turn around and look for Jesus' Face in Him you will never drift away
Our Salvation just one act of His Grace, but a million more each day
So just turn around and take a look at where you have now landed
All the devil stole being a crook, but the Lord, He won't leave you stranded
The bridge is covered, has no light
all who pass over are shaded
eclipsed by day, in dead of night
unseemly notice evaded
by keeping all's well, out of sight.
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