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Best Poems Written by Dennis Spilchuk

Below are the all-time best Dennis Spilchuk poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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Monet's Impression, Sunrise

First impressions leave memories
That can linger for a very long time;
And give a sense of peace and understanding,
That rewards the solitude of the mind
With satisfaction, in contemplative reflection.
This may be deceiving and can mislead one to believe
That which is right may, in fact, be wrong.
Graciously’ accept the artist’s shared perception
That there is no ambiguity; only a warning
Of the impending storm threatening prevalent reasoning.

The ascending sun, with its reflection on the water,
Highlight a sense of direction as the rowers’ row,
Across the harbor at the break of morn.
Past cranes and derricks and ships at anchor;
Beneath a smoke blurred fiery sky, accented
By pastel shades of blue, to create the sombre mood
Which expresses Monet’s ‘Impression, Sunrise’ painting.
And shares with the onlookers his representation
Of nature; from an Impressionist’s point of view
In the Industrial Age, heralding in the revolution.

That begs the question, “Where are they going?
And why blood orange?” (Oh, but I’ve seen that colour before.)
Day-to-day inquiries asked of one another and strangers.
Monet incorporates an art-form using oils on canvas,
Forcing the audience to observe with curiosity
Thus, presenting a sliver of time of life’s tranquility at sea.
This provocation of thought chinks the consciousness
Of seasoned connoisseurs who see change as frightening,
And challenges their manipulation of artistic output;
(To act like mechanical agents thwarting creativity).
“Will they reach their destination? Will it be as they hoped for?”
Hurry! Though calm; the waters will soon froth in labour.
***

Note:
Ekphrastic poem of Claude Monet’s 1872 painting “Impression, Sunrise” (Impression, Soleil Levant).

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A Study In Love

A Study In Love

Her expressions were delicious, her aroma intoxicating,
Her presence was lovely and her conversation intriguing.
I was at a loss for words as we engaged in study, together,
The arts, which separate human beings from the animals,
But it didn’t feel like working to me; it felt flirtatious.
And when the spark from her eye leaped into my heart,
I was emboldened to ask her, shyly,
“Do you believe in love at first sight?”
And without hesitation, she answered, “Of course!”
(As she gently placed her hand on mine; the touch, soft and warm.)
Naturally, I was taken aback by her quick response
And gazed into her face, contemplating whether to kiss her or not.
The moment seemed real, the timing perfect, and she was willing,
But the fool in me, out of desperation, looked for an excuse,
Afraid to show my innermost feelings due to my upbringing,
      Pulled away, pretending to resume our interaction in education.
      But my mind blossomed in that encounter!

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Lili Marlene

In times of war, love can subdue cynical adversaries
(Men separated from their vocation, now filled with hatred)
And quell the beast inside their misdirected hearts,
And free their consciences, to allow sorrows’ comfort.

A noisy silence pervades the barracks’ atmosphere,
Where soldiers stir, stuffing duffel bags and miscellaneous,
While others reminisce, writing letters; maybe their last.
And await further orders for Western and Eastern Fronts, or Africa.

From Belgrade, a woman’s voice over the airwaves is transmitted,
Allowing a moment of silence and reflection for those listening
Alone; spiritually uplifted in memories of better times,
Who seek a reason to justify this madness of sacrifice.

“My Dearest Marlene,” the pen begins when all hell breaks out.
By bomb flashes bright bloody hands write, then the pen stops;
“Until we meet again underneath the corner light,
Like we used to do, my Lili Marlene.”
***

Note:
'Lili Marlene' is a German love poem set to music by Norbert Schultze (1911-2002) in 1938 based on the poem 'The Song of a Young Soldier On Watch. written by Hans Leip (1893-1963) in 1915 during World War I. The song was first recorded by Lala Andersen (1905-1972) in 1939 under the title 'The Girl Under the Lamps”' which became popular during World War II (1939-1945) among the Axis and Allied troops. The song was first broadcasted by the German Radio Belgrade station throughout Europe and North Africa, following the Nazi occupation of Belgrade in 1941.
Marlene Dietrich (1901–1992) was the daughter of a Prussian officer. She refused to work in Nazi Germany, and was branded a traitor by Nazi supporters when she became an American citizen in 1937. She made over 500 performances entertaining Allied troops from 1943 to 1946. Marlene Dietrich recorded the song in 1944 under the Decca Records (US) and Brunswick Records (UK), which was later released in 1945.

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The Beheading of John the Baptist

The Beheading of John the Baptist

Inside a dungeon, a man is shackled;
Where instruments are employed to inflict
Pain on him while being interrogated;
To confess to crimes, he did not commit.
Above, a damsel dances for Herod,
A gift of pleasure set by her mother.
In a stupor, he rewards Salome
With John the Baptist’s head on a charger.
Herodias’s revenge from a tyrant’s boast
Of lust for a child lives in infamy;
As John’s disciples mourn his headless corpse.
The living will demand answers from Christ.
And forgiveness for their faults without works,
And want acceptance into paradise.
                            ***

References:
Matthew 14:1-12
Mark 6:14-29
Luke 9:7-9

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Dragonfly Afloat On the Lake

Dragonfly Afloat On The Lake

A dragonfly afloat on the lake
Flaps its wings to keep from drowning.
With its life in the balance, it senses hope,
And boards the paddle I nudge into place.
Slowly, I draw the oar out of the water;
And watch the dragonfly bask in the sun.

Now recuperated with dried wings,
The insect alights on the boat’s gunnel.
I contemplate the situation seeking a higher meaning
Wondering if it understands fate or destiny
And canoe towards the shore for its safety.
Or is it just an instinctive reaction?
That brought us together in this crisis
As it flies away, leaving me with a memory.

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The Little White Church

The Little White Church

The little white church, engulfed by the immensity
Of Douglas fir, Hemlock, and Western Red Cedar
On Nootka Island in Nootka Sound,
Confirms the remoteness of the Yuquot Village:
On the west coast of Vancouver Island.

The green of the trees in towering heights,
Glorifies the whitewashed wood of the chapel.
Surrounding the path leading to the entrance,
Broad foliage lean pointing the direction:
Akin to a Westminster Abbey in the rainforest.

The windowless facade structure faces the ocean,
As a defence against the wind’s many directional forces;
With crosses in the yard protected by a picket fence,
That bears testimony of Christ’s presence,
To the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations.

Above the door to the house of God,
The steeple rises with a cross on top,
And a bell tolls to call the ‘people of the deer,’
Of ‘Friendly Cove’ to gather and worship
In Jesus Christ’s name, Lord and Saviour.
                          ***

Note:
Ekphrastic poem of Emily Carr’s painting “Native Church” (1929).

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The Crossroads of Life

The Crossroads of Life!

The crossroads of life—fate!
And there you wait.
For the sign that presents forth
The goals—that will guide your destiny.
The phrase is synonymous with challenge,
Bold adventure and decision-making
In achieving greatness,
Or to be the best that you are?
And yet, you hesitate.
What will people think?
How will you get ahead?
This response, you believe 
To be both rational and precise
Is cowardly.
When opportunity knocks, you procrastinate!
This action deprives your soul of fuel:
By exaggerating fear with excuses,
Thereby avoiding the truth of consequences.
Case law has established precedents.
The name will stand
In the books unembellished, based on facts
Of articulate arguments waged in the courtroom
In the presence of peers!

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Not Forgotten

Not Forgotten

Psalm 137:5  If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
                   let my right hand forget its skill!
Psalm 137:6  Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,
                   if I do not remember you,
                   if I do not set Jerusalem
                   above my highest joy! (ESV)	

On May 14, 1948,
The United Nations
Approved the proclamation
Declaring,
The “Independent State of Israel.”

Seventy years later
On Monday, May 14, 2018,
Jerusalem is recognized
As the capital of Israel
With the establishment
Of the American Embassy
In the City of David:
By Donald J. Trump, the 45th President
Of the most powerful country
In the world:
The United States of America.

“O Jerusalem, we did not forget you.”

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Untrampled Sand

Untrampled Sand

Idyllic shorelines tucked away,
Are island protected in a tropical bay;
Below pastel skies polished by clouds,
Reveal a Shangri-La bathed in gold.

Untrampled sands, white and tanned,
Are cooled by waves and wind fanned.
Where exotic vegetation creeps unmolested,
Claiming squatter rights of fertile deposits.

Mollusk seashells litter the beach,
Within the cove’s curvature outreach.
Where hermit crabs upgrade shells,
And birds sing throughout the hills.

Un paraíso tropical de mi corazón.
En sueños con la mujer que amo.
Gracias por la memoria
Ese viento llena mi lienzo.
Mientras navego por los océanos.

A tropical paradise of my heart,
In dreams with the woman I love.
I thank you for the memory
That wind fills my canvas
As I sail the oceans.

Details | Dennis Spilchuk Poem

Robin Redbreast

Robin Redbreast

Spring is here, and the robins appear
With morning and evening song in the air.

A robin redbreast perched in a tree
Sings a song for his lady bird to be,
Undeterred, as he awaits her answer,
Crescendoing to drown out the others.
His heart afire, his senses alert
He preens his feathers between the chirps,
And breathes deep as his chest puffs out
Then, music vocals produced by the syrinx
Flow out from his bill, calling to his sweetheart
In refrains to arouse her curiosity.

And if successful, she’ll fly in his direction
To check out his worthiness and description.