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Best Poems Written by Serge Tolmachev

Below are the all-time best Serge Tolmachev poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

Details | Serge Tolmachev Poem

Exploring Panic

If troubles were akin to veils,
which on their own do not one blind,
when multiplied can quickly smother,
overwhelming smothered mind.

But tearing off these piling veils,
is not piled order in reverse.
Instead chaotic - scramble, tangle!
Multiply their tangled curse.

Then sight and breath and sound collide,
while screaming darkness suffocates.
Distorting light and air - perception!
Baffling perceived escapes.

A muffled groan, a desperate cry,
or catatonic muteness follow.
Desperate to gain control,
still uncontrolled I wallow.

And only when the quiet comes,
when heartbeats soften in their stride;
can disentangling veils be loosened:
Senses lost, revivified.

If troubles were akin to veils,
then one grand gesture could unbind.
But some veils are of fragile weaving,
leaving woven wisps behind.

So when again the veils start piling -
panic follows troubles' creep...
And all those bits of veils remaining,
add their remnants to the heap.

New veils then blanket older threads,
thus enhancing the advance,
of hopeless swaddled suffocation -
panic's suffocating trance.

So if my gaze is affixed blankly,
and my ears covered with hands...
Veils may enshroud my existence,
veils and existential strands.

Details | Serge Tolmachev Poem

Biography of Marina - a birthday poem for my mum


Marina, Motherina, Baba, Mum!
Reflect upon what your life has become:
Born in Harbin to refugee Russians,
Tossed out by Mao, with mild repercussions.

Aussie girl, country girl, raised by grandmas,
And grandpa and parents (both pains in her arse).
Small school, to high school with penguin-ed nuns,
Bespeckled and bikeless - childhood is done!

Went off to college at Melbourne Uni,
Made friends, stole a goat and earned a degree.
Entered the workforce for airliner doomed,
Later a teaching position assumed.

Married a beardy fresh in from Hungry
(also a Russian circuitously)...
Moved to the suburbs - East of the border,
Had a few children (not in that order).

Two in-laws out back, who helped with offspring,
Replaced by her mum, who started writing.
Son and two daughters, she raised to adult,
Some better than others - not all her fault.

Each offspring took flight, with their other half.
All but the youngest, who forged her own path.
Some grandkids were born, they grew up a bit,
Throw in some church stuff and that's about it.

Details | Serge Tolmachev Poem

Christmas Card To My Boss


We write to you, your elfin crew,
To wish you joy and cheer!
For Christmas is upon us now -
The climax of our year.

We've toiled together - unified,
In our allotted crews.
And now we're stuck in training,
With barely time to schmooze.

The toys are wrapped, the sleigh is packed,
And Rudolph's fidgety.
Soon you will be making rounds,
As is the policy.

But though this yule is almost nigh,
Our merry Christmas vibe,
Is tempered by the memory,
Of those whom we survive.

Let's not forget the bristling sprite,
From northern twinkle-land.
Who's wisdom and composure,
Helped our vision to expand.

And over waves, across the sea,
The imp with shiny pate.
A knowledge store of rare repute,
And empathy, innate.

We can't forget the trollish clown,
Our western-most remote.
Who's antics in the darkest hours,
Kept our hearts afloat,

The reindeer trainers will be missed!
So poised and capable...
Were they in their instructions -
Irreplaceable!

So Santa, sir, we write to you,
That you may not forget.
The legacy of our brother elves,
And the hole which they have left.

Please strive to know our jobs' detail,
With depth and clarity.
And leave us not unbalanced,
Chasing prosperity.

Enjoy your well deserved respite,
As you rest and sip your brew,
We wish you Merry Christmas,
Your wearied elfin crew.

Details | Serge Tolmachev Poem

Unheard

It's often felt, but never meant,
my misinterpreted intent.
When men of straw force me to follow,
them, from truth, down rabbit hollow.

Details | Serge Tolmachev Poem

Happy Birthday, Sister Mine

Everything your heart desires,
All that for you life requires,
Can be boiled down to one thing,
That in this gift resides.

Want you not the treasured things,
That others crave - like diamond rings,
And cars and riches and the rest,
But in this gift abides....

A luscious hoard of dazzling hue;
Blinding, lavish and for you...
The symbol of your deepest thirst,
Which this gift satisfies.

No more will your heart palpitate,
Nor will you capitulate;
To trivialities of life,
That this gift overrides.

So go forth quenched and full to brim,
No longer are you the victim.
Of unrequited longing for,
That which this gift provides.

In this your palindromic year,
Despite how rancid you appear.
With finger raised and scowl affront.
We gift this gift besides.

Details | Serge Tolmachev Poem

Oh Meaty Peaks! a Pindaric Ode

Oh Meaty Peaks!
Oh meaty peaks adorn-ed on her lips,
Why do you cheeky mountains there exist?
You spoil the smooth mottled flip-flops,
Of canines' drooping moistened chops...
Oh spikes of flesh, you've piqued my interest!

Details | Serge Tolmachev Poem

The Eddie Poem - To My Nephew, Eddie

Eddie McGuire made us all groan,
Eddie the eighth (VIII) abdicated the throne.
Eddie "The Eagle" flew through the sky,
Eddie Van Halen made his guitar cry.
Eddies Murphy and Izzard made us all laugh,
Eddie "The Beast" tore a phone book in half.
Eddie "The Head" was a head banger,
Eddie Sheeran has a head like a ranga!
Eddie Mabo toiled for land rights,
Eddie Alvarez got into fights.
So Eddie be proud of your name evermore,
As it's shared with the greats who are mentioned afore.
But be your own Eddie and tread your own path.
Stay humble, grow wise and keep making us laugh!

Details | Serge Tolmachev Poem

Birthday poem for my niece

As you settle into year 15,
 reflect upon what came before.
The 14 years of being you,
allll creatures/people you adore.

There have of course been troubled times -
Life does not spare the least of us.
But these misfortunes must not blind,
The chance to grow a little more.

Your willful beauty, strength of poise,
undoubted talent, all employs ...
To make you who the world does see.
Now we; we see much more - for sure!

A gentle empathetic heart,
The understated counterpart,
Of outward guise. We love this part!
And wish you joy, with all candour.

Happy Birthday beautiful girl!

Details | Serge Tolmachev Poem

Leura Log Cabin

[Part 1 - Day 1]
Oh what my wearying world has wrought...
Mind and soul and body aged - broken before my time.
How many burdens can I carry? Crosses can I bear?

The decade passed drew like a rasp, as slivers of my outer skin dissolved.
Those strands and pieces can't protect me now...
From family: progeny, severing spouse;
Autism, ADHD - exposed now for all to see.

I am not the shell of who I was - I have lost my shell!
How do I look? Do I like what I see?
Can I recognise the core of me?

At 45 I still survive and see the world through similar eyes, though not the same.
My naive, cock sure, dashing traits are gone.
But those are not the ones I miss.

Can I retrieve with this reprieve a semblance of my former self,
Capacity to match compassion?
Energy for empathy?

I sit in Leura Log Cabin, before a hearth, upon a couch,
And write my first free verse and worry,
Will this respite be enough?



[Part 2 - Day 2]
12 hrs in bed,
coffee, fire, eggs and bread...
A tingle of hope;
slight drop in anxiety. Desire to mope?
Rejoin society?
Too soon to say,
but for now I know, that Leura has calmed me,
part of the way!



[Part 3 - Day 4]
Tomorrow I leave, but it is not relief I feel.
Laura has indeed relieved some misery,
But relief to leave?
No way! I want to stay!!!
Perhaps you've guessed, I was a mess,
So thank you Leura, for my rest.

Details | Serge Tolmachev Poem

Together's Lonely Struggle

Concealed from us the reason of,
My daemons and their mien. Because...
In all this time we never knew,
How deeply I have suffered too.