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Robert Sidwell Poem
If I was your smartphone
You would talk to me for hours
If I was your smartphone
You would hold me and make sure I was safe
If I was your smartphone
You would keep me close and check on me often
If I was your smartphone
You would trust me and ask me for help
If I was your smartphone
You would rely on and be grateful for me
If I was your smartphone
You would be excited when I sought your attention
If I was your smartphone
You would make sure my battery was charged
If I was your smartphone
You would play games with me and think I was fun
If I was your smartphone
You would whisper into my ear and share your secrets
If I was your smartphone
Imagine all the wonderful times we would share
If only
I was your smartphone
Copyright © Robert Sidwell | Year Posted 2024
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Robert Sidwell Poem
This contest style’s description is one I’ve never heard
I’m unfamiliar with that particular word
An internet search comes up empty
However, others seem to have poems aplenty
My eyes are getting blurry a total collapse seems imminent
Quickly penning an entry appears to be the only way out of my predicament
My freshly emerged imposter’s syndrome is now on full display
As I throw words together to prayerfully send a piece on its way
Whoops, I don’t believe the lines above were exact rhymes
I wonder if I will get disqualified this time
I see it is quintessential to utilize the word “quintessential”
Unfortunately, that stretches me to also use a word like “nonextensile”
Argh! I just realized I’m not counting my meter
I promise I’m not purposefully being a cheater
Oh well, competitions are all in good fun,
even if they drive you a bit crazy
You just have to be creative, put in the work,
and not . . . something, something lazy
Copyright © Robert Sidwell | Year Posted 2024
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Robert Sidwell Poem
Let’s hang upon a star
my friend
And travel upon roads
that have no end
For today I peered upon your face
and reclaimed forgotten dreams
Then whitewashed memories
of earthly chaotic scenes
Copyright © Robert Sidwell | Year Posted 2024
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Robert Sidwell Poem
The arctic poppy
stretched into existence
rooted on a rock
surrounded by ice
it unfurled
its lemon cream petals
in an open embrace
with the sun
the small meek flower
filled with warmth
and smiled
A scorpionfly
buzzed by
and declared,
“How tedious it must be
to spend one’s day
staring at a ball of light.
Instead
tantalize your eyes
with the earthly
fun, glory, and excitement
around you!
Animals
intertwine their limbs and horns,
rivers
frolic and dance, and
mountains
lengthen
to show off
their fine
dress
layered with a
multitude of
colors and textures.”
But, the quiet flower
gazed only at the sun.
A wolf spider
dropped by
and persuaded,
“Poor child,
snow completely
surrounds you.
Ice even grows
from your stem and hairs.
It’s okay
to surrender
for a moment.
Droop your head
curl in your petals
and rest your eyes.
But, the yellow bloom
only turned more golden
as it kept its eyes steady
upon the fiery globe above
A grey wolf
its eyes always darting
padded quietly up to our hero
and whispered,
“This is a dangerous land
and you are much too sweet.
Of course,
you’re safe from me.
However,
there’s a reindeer nearby
and I am afraid
to it
you are prey.
Quick!
Duck!
Hide!
Be safe!
But, the poppy resolutely
stood more erect
while its sight
never wavered
from the great light in the sky
A grizzly bear
although seemingly in a hurry
looked down down down
upon the humble poppy
and growled,
“Don’t you know
that winter is coming?
There’s far too much
to be done
for one to take time
to stare at the sun!
Be intelligent
and focus
only
on the tasks
of the world.
Heed my word
or perish
little one.”
But, the arctic poppy
chose
to keep its sights
on celestial heights
And the seasons changed
And the snow piled high
And the faithful flower was buried
And the seasons changed
And the snow melted
And the devoted flower returned
For you see
this plant
had learned from
centuries old memories
of One
who perfectly
kept His sight
upon The Light
was buried
and rose again
Copyright © Robert Sidwell | Year Posted 2024
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Robert Sidwell Poem
Up and down, up and down, up and down
I don’t know if I have any more energy for
Up and down
If the line would flatten
I could finally rest
A masked woman wearing scrubs
Fights my inclination for slumber
But, sleep equals peace
My lungs and head droop
Alarms blare
I hear mumbled words
Something about rousing my oxygen levels
I breathe the shape of a box
A trick learned from a Seal
It works as prescribed
Briefly
But, also adds weights to my eyes
The black beckons
More voices
Persuading
For a return to deep inhalations
Inspiration illuminates and
Instead
I sing
Laughter and confusion
They believe they are witnessing another
Drug induced performance
However,
I
Am
Lucid
They don’t understand
I’ve dwelt in darkness
Many times before
I’ve tried to disappear
Into its obscurity but,
For reasons yet revealed
Someone
Keeps shining a spotlight
On me
On everybody
So, I croon
Only a few notes initially
My oxygen spikes
Astonishment
Giggling turns into song requests
A Frank Sinatra classic was my first
Fully awake
Stability
With challenges
Ups and downs, ups and downs, ups and downs
I’m so tired
Nevertheless,
I’m on stage
The spotlight shines and
The traditional theatrical battle cry insists
The show must go on
Copyright © Robert Sidwell | Year Posted 2024
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Robert Sidwell Poem
Not an amusement park in sight
So, we headed to the mountains
No bumper cars, roller coasters,
Spinning cups, or dancing fountains
We diligently searched
For something to stimulate our hype
At last we spotted a
Near perpendicular metal irrigation pipe
Without a pod, a seat, or even some grease
The tube had way too much drag
A quick search of our backpacks
Revealed an empty beef jerky bag
I volunteered to go first and
Attempt our unusual ride
The others cheered and stepped back
To get a better look at our very long slide
I scrambled on the drain, carefully sat down …
And shot off like a bullet
It hurt so bad when I landed
For a year, I could barely even sit on a toilet
Copyright © Robert Sidwell | Year Posted 2024
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Robert Sidwell Poem
Near a distant sun
Under an uncontaminated crystalline sky
Exists a world without me
Where the viridescent grass ages unchallenged
Wears wizened beards
And bows only to the wind
Where the waters crash when you thirst to surf
Smooths when you desire to paddle
And ripples towards shore when you’re heading home
Where zebras change their stripes daily
From neon green to psychedelic purple
Or any color in between
Where the “H” on a building simply symbolizes “Help”
And is a communal gathering place
Where anyone can ask and receive assistance with anything
Where government is synonymous with communication
Leadership is synonymous with service
And opponent is synonymous with respect
But, this distant inhabitation,
Magnificent as it may be
Lacks Caleb, Adam, and Kelsi
Two sons and a daughter that have shone so bright
That they must have burned themselves into my pupils
Since they are always in my sight
So, I turn from this distant scene
A dream without an imperfect me
Because,
A world full of wonders
Will always fall short of wonderful
Without the likes of Caleb, Adam, and Kelsi
Copyright © Robert Sidwell | Year Posted 2024
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Robert Sidwell Poem
There’s a constant hammering
Alongside my bedroom window
Repercussions of a corrupt gutter
The maddening drain
Obstinately and persistently has refused
All rehabilitation efforts
There are no
drip drip drips
Only
Pound Pound Pounds
As water clashes with wood and metal
The clangor must be amplified
By a loudspeaker
To make such minute water drops
Sound like a crazed gongsman
Locked in a metallic chamber with a battle mace
With no distinct pattern
The piercing pattering
Thwack Thwack Thwacks
Proclaiming,
“You will find no peace here!”
And yet
Its constant monotone irritation
Somehow
Lulls me to sleep
Copyright © Robert Sidwell | Year Posted 2024
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Robert Sidwell Poem
ice on my window
falling snow, falling eyelids
freezing makes me warm
Copyright © Robert Sidwell | Year Posted 2024
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Robert Sidwell Poem
Great tiny apple
Consequence of branches untrimmed
Will anyone bother to learn
That you are
Defiantly delicious?
Copyright © Robert Sidwell | Year Posted 2024
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