Home » Poems » Best » Paul Allen » Best Paul Allen Poems

Best Poems Written by Paul Allen

Below are the all-time best Paul Allen poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

Details | Paul Allen Poem

Shadows and Light

I'd rather be the moonlight and stare at the sea all day, 
then come morning, by the sunlight, like a shadow be chased away.

I would rather be the sunlight and dance all day on the sea,
then come morning, by the dawn's light, as a shadow be made to flee.

Than to break a vow I make to you, my love - to spurn uncertainty. 
As everything in life is transient, dear, there is no permanency.

And someday, love, I know we'll well see, that this is all too true,
the old fades to the shapeless past, as will my love for you.

Details | Paul Allen Poem

The Emerald Sea and the Old Oak Tree

Three years ago in Éire was the last time I was free,
I used to own a boat there, and roam an Emerald sea,
by the herald of a sunset that made all the shadows flee,
shadows older than the sunset, as old as the black oak tree;
"it's not until the body dies, the soul is bid go free",
the shadows cast by lonliness seemed to whisper, quietly,
the theft of time is sought there, a consensual burglary,
and the moonlight on the darkling water, glistened solemnly,
as the waves lapped round my ankles on the shore of the emerald sea;

Now nothing in this shallow world means anything to me,
Back again on dry land now, bound by lock and key,
left rotting in this dungeon - lost - as though by royal decree,
into those gleaming waters cast, were both the lock and key,
- the shadows cast by lonliness rise up and swallow me -
the theft of time is fought for here, a cruel irony,
where time takes forever and forever, or so it seems to me,
deep hidden in the forest of the past, for at least an eternity,
bound in idleness and darkness - even as the old oak tree.

Details | Paul Allen Poem

Lament of the Old Man

No sooner was the old man dead
did the crows gather round his bed,
and no sooner had he shut his eyes
did those vultures revel his demise;

As soon as all the birds were fed,
the candles out, the taste of dread
was spread on wings across the skies
as his soul flew and my soul sighed.

Details | Paul Allen Poem

Vow of Silence

Vow of Silence;

Well the dawn draws nigh
in the pale blue sky
and the birds outside in song;
as I close my eyes
and droop my head
and wonder what went wrong;

till the sun sits high
in some grey-white sky
outside kids laugh and play;
but I don't get far
before she returns
and I wonder what to say;

but the silence lingers
till the day-light dwindles
and the dusk stalks gently on;
now the streets are quiet 
and she was right,
right, right all along;

But it's night time now
and I kept my vow
and the birds have quit their song;
and I wonder, I wonder
if before I die,
if I'll ever sing along.

Details | Paul Allen Poem

Thorns of a Rose

Lost in thought and bound to hate
she who stole my heart and mind,
'cause I go mad when it gets late 
and leave reality behind;
from then on up until this date, 
I came back only to find -
the world which I did not create, 
the world I tried to leave behind -
was that which I did really hate, 
not her who stole my heart and mind...

Details | Paul Allen Poem

The Nightingale

By the twilight of the uncaring moon, the
Nightingale warbles a haunting tune,
as I stare blankly at the merciless moon
hoping to death that it's grip takes me soon.
And as all that I wrought lies in ungodly ruin,
the Nightingale warbles a tune.

Details | Paul Allen Poem

The Old Man's Counsel

Down the road I was a-walkin', and
to myself I was a-talkin', when
suddenly came there comes a-stalkin', a
mysterious little man;

His wrinkled face, his ragged cloak,
his crooked back and oak cane spoke
of the travails of time which choke
the sinew of the soul;

'I was like you once, young lad, Oh
dreams and hopes and plans I had, that
drifted off like smoke and clad, now
am I in despair';

'For I like you am but a man
but flesh are we, we're no more than
the grains of sand and dust that span
the earths four corners over';

'But unlike me you still believe, that
one day you might reach - achieve
those goals, those dreams - and yet naieve
are all your fantasies';

'Though I be old and you be young, and
I am spent - my soul once sung, the
same song yours sings now - yet flung
away is all that mist';

Spellbound I stood pondering, the
the old man's counsel wondering
if indeed I ought be fearing, aught
that the old fool uttered.