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Best Poems Written by Fred Mcilmoyle

Below are the all-time best Fred Mcilmoyle poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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Details | Fred Mcilmoyle Poem

Graveyard of Dreams

Drudge-soaked dawn sneers 
                      Down on grimy streets.
                      Smoke stacks belch out gloom
                      On scuffed, reluctant feet.
                      Brick-built boxes – Crammed rows
                      Of uniformity
                      Each day discharge
                      Their cargo of humanity.

                      Dreams – sucked dry !
                      Shrivelled blooms in barren air	
                      Poverty rules here
                      Chastising all who dare
                      To stretch for the sun 
                      Or clutch a rung on the ladder
                      Back to sanity

                      Yet still we strive
                      To keep hope’s spark alive 
                      To see our dreams
                      Reborn in children’s eyes – 
                      That human theme, 
                      Transcending trivial vanity.
                      Its loss undoubtedly
                      The ultimate profanity !

Copyright © Fred Mcilmoyle | Year Posted 2012



Details | Fred Mcilmoyle Poem

The Bagladys Shadow

Two brown carrier bags  - that`s all she had !	
                    One bore the remnants of yesterday`s dreams,			
	            The other a store of today`s necessities.  	
	            I thought it sad, and watched awhile.	
                    She turned and caught my eye.	
                    Trapped ! I tried to smile - to comprehend	
                    What tortuous path had led her here ?	
                    Where were those who should be near 	
                    To ease her anguished years ?	
                    She shuffled towards me,
                    Tattered trainers, bandage bound,	
                    Grasped my hand in both of hers.	
                    Instinctively I stiffened, 
                    Then unwound and listened, 
                    Captured by her words:       	
                    “Don`t grieve for what you think you see,	
                    This is just a shadow of the girl I used to be.	
                    Look into my eyes and see reflected there	
                    A past that dulls the pain through days of care".

Copyright © Fred Mcilmoyle | Year Posted 2011

Details | Fred Mcilmoyle Poem

Communion

Snow flake wisps in random flurries
				Waft through he moon’s eternal flow.
				Lengthened shadowy figures linger,
				Hot breath stilled in the streetlamp's glow,
				Embracing there in the street below.

				The winters moon, caught slyly peeping
				Coyly draws her sheltering screen of
				Flimsy gossamer clouds around her,
				Shielding sad eyes from this worldly scene.

				Shimmering crystal crackling sidewalks
				Mirror the sea of twinkling stars
				As stumbling, mumbling long-time losers
				Forced from their haunts in local bars
				Seek kindred souls for the lonely hours

                       	 	Cherished images return to greet me
				Faces etched in seamless time
				There through the snowflakes resurrected
				From hallowed chambers in my mind,
				Those whose lives once fused with mine

Copyright © Fred Mcilmoyle | Year Posted 2011

Details | Fred Mcilmoyle Poem

No Rhyme Next Time

So - you’ve written a poem you say, after reading mine,
	  	    Not so easy - is it?
	 	    - oh! You’ve written yours in rhyme.
	  	    Um! that forms considered just a bit old fashioned now
	  	    Ah!- you’ve let your feelings enter in - oh no! - 
	  	    let me show you how.
	  	    You choose an obscure, abstract theme,
	  	    one few out there will understand:
	  	    say the philosophy of Kant 
	 	    or a few lines from the Koran.
	  	    Never set a rhythmic flow,
	  	    make sure the words collide.
	  	    Avoid the telling metaphor 
	  	    or anything personified, 
	 	    That’s much much too clear - they might understand.
	 	    You have to be original you know, 
	  	    more intellectual and abstruse
	  	    Toss in a foreign phrases or two
	  	    that usually cooks their goose. 
	  	    Try to split the meter up 
	 	    - alter the length of lines
	  	    shape your poem like a pyramid, 
	  	    or some other symbolic sign.  
	  	    Never tell them what it means! 
	 	    There’s sure to be a Judas goat 
	 	    who wants to appear intelligent   
	 	    Remember the Emperor’s invisible coat!

Copyright © Fred Mcilmoyle | Year Posted 2011


Book: Shattered Sighs