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2011 Poetry Form Challenge#21 SestinaThe Sestina is made up of seven stanzas. The first six stanzas have six lines each ending word falling in a precise mathematical progression, the seventh stanza has only three lines which are a mathematical reflection of the first stanza. This gives a total of (39 lines). The first stanza is the defining stanza, and the six words that are used to end each line A.B.C.D.E.F. are the defining words. They are repeated in each of the following five stanzas of the poem in a strict pattern laid out thus:
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Sestina Replies
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Maryse AchongThe Sestina – a challenge to behold Am I am to the task, I have my doubts But I’ve nothing to lose so bring it on I wait to see how this one will unfold I’m sure you’ll hear my groaning and my shouts The end will tell if I’ve lost or I’ve won. And if by pure luck this battle is won I’ll stick it on my door there to behold, And pat myself and utter gleeful shouts To brush away any lingering doubts Because I saw a miracle unfold The night I took this immense challenge on. I looked at the rules and I pondered on The instructions... this war had to be won I watched each single line slowly unfold The emerging write something to behold But still I was assailed by my own doubts And in my mind I heard frustrated shouts. Despite my internal head pounding shouts I was more resolute to carry on I could not allow my well founded doubts To determine whether I lost or won. By now I was quite a sight to behold Too scared to even watch this thing unfold. But do or die in time it would unfold No matter now my pleadings or my shouts Like magic I saw each stanza unfold I felt a sense of elation come on Could it be I had actually won... I still was beset those niggling doubts. I had to rid myself of any doubts I read each verse saw a poem unfold “Yippie!” I cried, “I do believe I’ve won!” I’m sure my next door neighbours heard my shouts. I swear I saw an outdoor light go on The Sestina is something to behold. I stood in awe my own doubts to behold I watched each one unfold, a switch turned on, ‘Til battle won I heard those gleeful shouts. ----- Sestina Trini (Dialect) A Sestina in dialect, yuh mad No doubt de result going to be bad Joke is joke, buh dis is goin too far Dis is enough for meh to fine a bar. Ah goin to name it Sestina Trini An it go sen dem purists ‘bazodee’. Ah only hope Ah doh get ‘bazodee’ An end up ‘tootoolbay’, stark ravin mad, All because Ah writin like ah Trini Because den dat would really be too bad, Is not as if Ah tryin to de raise de bar Ah hope Ah eh takin dis ting too far. Ah know dis ting goin to be a far Cry from de ideal, Ah done ‘bazodee’ Ay cyah talk to nobody an Ah bar All meh calls, people go say I gorn mad, An if dey rile meh Ah go get on bad, All dis to try to make someting Trini. This comin from the heart of a Trini Ah feelin tired buh ah come too far An if Ah leave it now Ah go feel bad An Ah no longer feelin ‘bazodee’ Ah know people go tink dis is a mad- Cap idea, but den writin knows no bar. Ah know dat Ah eh go let nuttin bar Meh from tryin dis Sestina Trini Is awright if dey want to call me mad An say dat dis poem is way too far Out, dat it have dem feelin ‘bazodee’ If dah’s de case it go make meh feel bad. Ah still hopin it wudden be so bad An dat nobody eh go want to bar Meh from writin because dey ‘bazodee’, Or because dey eh like how dis Trini Who comin from an islan dat so far Away making dem serious poets mad. Cud be dat Ah mad, or meh poem bad Didn raise de bar, didn go too far, Pray none ‘bazodee’ tanks to dis Trini. Notes: Bazodee -confused back to list |
Gloria CarpenterOne on each side, those prominent pillars Stood, hats protecting undergrowth from sky, Like sentinels, intent on who returns. We entered through the gateway, you with me, In single file. I walked close behind you In step with you, as if we stepped as one. Sun-splashed floor, a changing quivering one, Light flickering through red-leafed pillars, As filtered rays now played, caressing you. Screened sunlight streamed from the autumn sky. New growth would spring, just as with you, with me. We planted seeds and knew of their returns. With silence shared, serenity returns, Nature’s stillness and radiance as one, Touching your smile as you turned to face me. Ahead a widening path, the pillars Fell back revealing an uncluttered sky. My footsteps covered spaces that were you. We hurried closer to green tarns, and you Ran as a river runs til it returns, Happy to be free. Overhead the sky Was filled with startled wings as one by one They disappeared, finding refuge in pillars. We were not alone; stealthy eyes watched me. You felt it too, and showed the signs to me. We moved away and I held hands with you. British soldiers with red hats, tiny pillars ~ The revolutionary war returns. Sentries on stones, closely packed as one. Brilliance in this place below the sky. The ground rose and climbed closer to the sky, Ascending the mount surely, you beside me, Not the first, nor would it be the last one, Anticipating once again with you. The climax reached, wonderment returns Atop the world - we are the pillars. We are one reaching the sky. Two pillars ... you with me. I hold you, as always love returns. ----- The Singing Tree How delicate a spring, as greens unfold, aflutter in sweet breezes freshness brings. An invitation plays on prelude strings, responding tenderly to notes of love, in gentle strokes, as branches reach above and intertwine with flecks of feathered gold. Aurora spreads her glow of rayon gold as day awakens, stretching to unfold her drapes of misty veils below. Above a trilling melody in greeting brings an answer, calling to a budding love, through tinkling dewcup bells on crystal strings. As summer resonates on lively strings a vibrant spray of colour fired by gold resounds as rhapsodies encounter love, in swooping dips and dives, as swirls unfold, infusing soaring spirits fragrance brings in wafts of sultry intervals above. And when such searing heat is felt above an intermezzo plays on cello strings ~ a love duet on wings as music brings a softening, like liquefying gold, while liberated hearts release, unfold and settle in the nestledown of love. Those trees still green, intensified by love have blossomed from a radiance above, an intimate display as dreams unfold, revealing heart-shaped pendants hung on strings. As copper turns to bronze with burnished gold, a change in tempo ...now the music brings Autumnal notes in flight as passion brings a harvesting of consummated love, fulfilling every thought with bursts of gold ~ in song, in dance, alive on wings above. A chorusing, a symphony for strings as seasons turn once more, as moons unfold... Such music brings fruition to unfold a serenade of love, on air of strings ~ in praise to sun of gold, our light above. back to list |
Divena CollinsWhen Autumn leaves hath blown asunder She spread a golden carpet on earths floor How beautiful this display of autumns charm So splendid is the shade of dappled hues That only an artists brush dares to capture From a pallate of gold with browns and red. How beautiful he shades his sunsets red Of clouds that disappear and cast asunder Intent on natures seasonal view to capture Of magic vibrant shades upon earths floor How gracious is his flair for autumns hues Which adds a final stroke to natures charm. Within his flair he creates a world to charm An autumn display of vibrant shades of red How carefully his choices of perfect hues When all else in his thoughts cast asunder Stood firm on fallen leaves upon earths floor For what he percieves his mind shall capture `Fore shades of autumn fades from capture Vibrant colours begin to lose their charm With a hard frosted crust on earths floor No longer shall the fallen leaves remain red Bare of boughs that cast their fruits asunder Skeleton leaves then lost their vibrant hues Gone is the seasonal beauty of Autumns hues That once inspired the glory of art to capture Come winter scene with Autumn cast asunder Adding another dimension to natures charm Snow clad boughs with winter berries of red Upon winters seasons frosted woodland floor How pretty the scene of this woodland floor That throws vibrant glows upon shaded hues Contrasting the colourful berries of red What a picture for the artiste to capture Seasonal grace each with their own charm Shall not be misused nor be cast asunder Floors of loam shall we ne-er cast asunder Hues and shades of beauty adds to charm Red the berries such treasures to capture.  ----- Dancing On Air If I could just dance once with my love Just to feel his arms holding me close To dance unto music playing our song Floating in a trance within perfect time Sensing a thrill of nearness together I would feel like I was dancing on air. Within the melody of an orchestra`s air The sound of strings were perfect for love To treasure sweet moments together For only in dance shall lovers be close Within a different world some other time Oblivious to all but refrains of our song. I shall not forget the power of song Locked in memories an unforgetable air Rhythmic emotions remain forever in time How could we ever forget this true love Not even when music had come to a close Those moments we had danced together. In wishes and dreams we remain together Love for each other preserved in a song Within a dance we shall remain ever close To hear soft music that plays the same air How could we forget those refrains of love When the orchestra played forever in time. When lovers dreamed of only their time Of perfect harmonious rhythm together It was then it was meant to be love With music and words of our sweet song Drifting towards us through the air It was then we felt especially close. When that dance had come to a close They played our song one more time Many times felt we were dancing on air As long as we remained close together To dance again to our favourite song And nurture feelings we knew as love. Closer we are with deepness of love Time never wasted playing our song Dancing on air as we tango together.  ----- Dark Waltz Deep within the blackness of this night Shadows of spirits waltz in dark harmony Like they in times before when lovers Had entered their spirits unto darkness To return from the mysteries of the void Unto mystic passions of the purest fantasy. How stardust glowed upon this fantasy Prisms of contrast on a blackened night Spineless fish of the sea become void No longer exist within an oceans harmony Tho` a furnace in the sea bed of darkness Brought desires smouldering from lovers. Spirits surround the visions of lovers That see only within dreams of fantasy But dreams pass on unto the darkness Towards blindness of a darkened night Searching for passion, love, and harmony These spirits can never be broken or void. How could this love between them be void When this love they feel can only be lovers And together they both feel loves harmony To reach for love within dreams and fantasy Sensative touches that soothe thro`the night Dreams come true enlighten their darkness. Spiritual love shall quench the darkness Taking the place of days that were void All that has happened thro`out the night Shall only enhance the dreams of lovers Towards a love defined of their fantasy That both shall share in this harmony. Within spirits their shall ever be harmony That leads them thro` light out of darkness A love that is reached with truth and fantasy Let not a man contest it as nul and void For a spiritual love shall always be lovers They prove it as thus thro`out the dark night. Lovers that find such pleasures of fantasy Darkness that lingers thro`out the long night Fantasies shall never be classed nul and void.  ----- Eternal Flame Is it not they, who hath loved thro`the ages That hath returned to cherish once more The passion of love within their past lives That doth shineth still within their eyes How canst this passion wither and die When their spirits remain forever alive. True love art timeless and much alive That hath survived long thro`the ages A love that doth linger shall ne-er die Timeless love shalt bloom forever more As silently spoken within loving eyes Like it hath done before in eternal lives . Many times hath they parted sweet lives But love hath remaineth so much alive And still the love shone within those eyes As it hath done before thro`out the ages For love like this canst ever want more Forever their passions shalt never die When two hearts fadeth wither and die It shalt ne-er become endeth of lives Spirits shall arise again forever more Then strengthen`d love remains alive As it did before thro`timeless ages For love ne-er fades within their eyes Eternal hues of love shine in their eyes This love that lovers never fear to die For their spirits shall rise thro`the ages Never to part within their endless lives And love shall remain very much alive Deeper within sharing each other more. Doubts of love shant hinder any more As love remains true within their eyes What they say within is very much alive That tell no signs that this love shalt die Sharing many times before in past lives A love that they had through the ages . Forever more love returns thro`the ages Within eyes a divinity of love forever lives To be so alive, love shalt surely never die.  ----- Fantasy Storm Thunderous clouds gathered o`er the skies Hot and restlessly the humidity of a storm That changes this daytime unto the night. Within electric charges of voltages high Of flashing blades of swords that strike As torrential rain bursts open dark clouds. Such is the passion of thunderous clouds That tease so menacingly thro` the skies Enticing this night of temperatures high Wild with emotions of an electric storm That renders thy helpless unto the night Daring the sword of the storm to strike. A dark temptation of a lightening strike That lingers within a veil of dark clouds Daring temptation thro`out the long night Heavens shall open beneath the skies Helplessy trapped in the eye of a storm Inducing temperatures from low to high. Humid the night with temperatures high Vibrateing earth when thunderbolts strike The powers of nature bring forth a storm That saddled together within the clouds Relates to a passion so high in the skies Appearing emotional thro` out the night . Go softly my love unto this violent night Dreams of contentment are flying high Serenity shalt now be calm in the skies No more shall the thunder storm strike Cool breezes that float from the clouds Extinguished the violent thunder storm. The air that is clearer soon after a storm Hath paved the way for love this night Lovers spirits shall but float upon clouds Taming violent storms that remains high So rare in a lifetime that lightning strikes Once upon a thunder storm within the skies. When storms are brewing within the skies It is rare flashes of lightening strikes For loves spirit remains high upon clouds.  ----- Gunpowder, Treason and Plot Queen Elizabeth 1st of England died in 1603 She who persecuted catholics under her reign Her successor James 1st was to be the same So much that a group of catholics had plotted To overthrow the King from his rightful throne They could never agree to a protestant rule. Conspiring against James to change his rule To carry it out when Elizabeth died in 1603 It was time for King James to be overthrown They formed a group of protestants to reign Long had they planned how they had plotted The man who would do it was one of the same. Guy Fawks known by name had felt the same It was he and conspirers that was soon to rule To blow up parliament was what they had plotted Never to look back upon that fateful day in 1603 But he had foiled his plan, may long the king reign It was his Guy Fawkes plans that were overthrown. Thirty six barrel of gunpowder never to be blown Authorities discovered treason and felt the same A plot that never materialised was saved by rain Unlucky for Guy Fawkes who tried to bend the rule Death his penalty for treason from the year 1603 A finality of life for he who schemed and plotted. November 5th celebrates with fireworks plotted No tears for Guy Fawks who threatened the throne His ghosts haunts the bonfires he meant for 1603 Each year in England November the 5th`s the same For kids to remember you must play it by the rule Do not light your fireworks within a shower of rain. Guy had stood on the scaffold in the pouring rain Knowing that his death was not what was plotted But maybe folk will learn their is a golden rule Never under estimate a monarch upon his throne They have principles like you and me the same Oh If only they would change a little since 1603. Twould be hard for him to change now from 1603 There is never a monarch would give up his throne His rules and regulations would not be the same.  ----- Mustang Come nigh thy mighty mustang of the wild That lead thy herd unto green pastures Hold strong thy stance of valliant breed Such beauty for one borne to be free Run proud as thy frolic against the winds And let no man ever breaketh thy spirit. For thou have the gift of a natural spirit That has rights to live carefee and wild To trace the breath of invigorating winds Over the hills and fesh green pastures This was thy birth right borne to be free No finer country for his mares to breed. Instincts followed to extend his breed To possess this freedom within spirit No finer herd shall roam wild and free Than colts that were bred in the wild Upon a land of the greenest pastures That leans across whispering winds. Spirits shall awaken within these winds That rests within the souls of the breed They shakily walk upon green pastures Possessing freedom amidst their spirit Already they dance the steps of the wild Steps that render them wild and free. For nature intended they should be free Free as the breath within the strong winds For they were nurtured and born to be wild From a herd that by far is the finest breed For speed strength and freedom of spirit That had ever been reared on pastures. Gone are the fields of green pastures Homes are now built on land of the free Where is the kindness of human spirit Far off with breath of the wildest winds Gone to rest with the souls of the breed Why now must man break their spirits wild. They that once fed in those pastures wild The finest of breed that were then so free Where lies the breath of the human spirit.  ----- Progress Mountain "Oh traveller man what tales doth thy tell Of far off mountains bearing scented musk Native humans that dwell in straw huts Adorning feathers from head to foot Yet you say that they cannot take flight What strange creatures they must be". "Why does their children so silently be Have they no laughter or stories to tell Can they not see the birds take flight Nor smell the scent of morning musk Or hear the pebbles beneath the foot Why must they remain silent in huts." Dark and dampness within these huts It is how they have suffered to be Social standards remained at the foot But they never stood a chance to tell How they would love the scent of musk And the strength of wings to take flight. They had learned that feathers meant flight Not a thing they had gained in their huts If they only knew how to grow that musk Then their greatest breakthro` would be Maybe soon for them only time shall tell When they rise in their stance from the foot Feathers they shall have from head to foot Only now they shall learn to take flight To fly high in the sky with their tale to tell Far away from the straw in their native huts Happy with laughter and carefree shall be Looking down on their saplings borne of musk . A traveller remembered the scent of musk And natives with feathers from head to foot The tales he had told proved true now to be For progress gave them the means to flight A far cry from the past in their old straw huts They called it progression only time will tell. The scent of musk sparked this tale to tell With natives feathers from head to foot The progress of flight was so meant to be.  ----- Romans Return To walk down paths where ancient man hath trod, And to visualize what they must have looked like Could they be ancient warriors from Roman times That drove their chariots through cobbled roads Gladiators or slaves who march to their death That battled in conquest to survive or perish. Where then lie the bones of those who perish Beneath those paths where once they had trod? They were gladiators once then spirits in death What would their livelihood now of been like To arise to walk again upon our modern roads Dressed as they were then upon Roman times. They would make the news in the evening times Gladiators they read were never meant to perish Romans of the past had once cobbled our roads Where many a previous generation had trod If it was left to us what would they be like Their more useful alive than they were in death . Central heating was never invented within death Thanks to the ingenuity of the past Roman times They knew what their people would really like To be remembered forever and never to perish For they were the ones that very likely had trod First upon their own invented cobbled roads. To this day there are remains of cobbled roads Since then many Romans suffered within death But in arising once more, again they have trod Just like they had again within previous times It was not for them forever to die and to perish It is how they all were, and again what they like. But folk back then had never imagined the like Strolling and courting upon hard cobbled roads! Small wonder in days when roads never perish For spirits never walk within a wakened death Which is why they remain there all of the time For very likely they shall never again be trod. If folk imagine those roads shall not be trod Cobbled roads shall remain there all the time Spirits cannot perish from a wakened death.  ----- Scribed Upon Stone Ancient tales in a tome of fragile pages Of ancient history from a bygone age Many tales of lore within thy chapters Long gone legends scribed upon stone Ancient Greeks,Romans and Egyptians Scribed upon stone, may one day be free. History through the ages shall be free Within worn leaves of ancient pages Reveals a curse within tombs of Egyptians Shall not be disturbed from a bygone age As is predicted upon the scripture of stone From ancient prophets within the chapters . Much more are scribed within the chapters Vikings, from across the ocean shall be free They foresaw Odin on a sacred rune stone As winds from the north opened the pages Of long ship invaders from a bygone age They were cursed then like the Egyptians . Roman warriors much like the Egyptians Never forgotten amidst ancient chapters Gladiators returned from a by gone age Slaves in the lions pit fighting to be free Many warriors had been writ off these pages Scripts of their history now scribed on stone. Such was the honour then carved on stone For Romans .Vikings, Greeks, and Egyptians They shall not be forgot within ancient pages Proudly stored there amidst these chapters Once slaves within wars shall again be free From the trials of battle within a bygone age History never forgotten though fades with age Yet forever reminded by the carvings on stone Those who had fought many times to be free The Romans, Vikings Greeks and Egyptians Shall all be remembered in a tome of chapters There within the midst of old fragile pages This was the age, that was scribed within pages Once scribed on stone within a tome of chapters They who fought then their birth right now free.  ----- Upon Hallows Eve This darkened night is now upon us Beware now of the halloween curse For the deviled demons are angry And Dracula`s sharpened his bite Evil spirits are dressed in disguise As frankinstien awakens this eve . Beware of evil spells on hallows eve That witches shall weave upon us Phantoms of horror haunt in disguise And devils shall cast a wicked curse Mad rabid wolves shall painfully bite Provoked they will surely get angry. Black the night blows wild and angry In a fearful lure they call hallows eve Cold is the wind that the fingers bite With the spirits of ghosts are upon us Arisen from the tomb of an evil curse Shrouded in a cloud of mists disguise . Wherever you are go in disguise Whatever you meet may get angry Try to avoid those that shall curse Upon grave hauntings of hallows eve For they wish grief plagued upon us And conjure mad wolves that bite. If you should suffer a mad wolfs bite You`d better walk home in disguise For an evil curse could be upon us If they bite you when they are angry Upon this fated night of hallows eve It is you that may spread the curse. Not a soul will survive this evil curse That they get from a mad wolfs bite The curse upon them on hallows eve A sign of the cross is their disguise If demons and phantoms get angry All sorts of perils shant harm us. The curse shall be upon them not us No mad wolf bites unless he is angry Do not fear hallows evils in disguise.  back to list |
Jem FarmerThe year closes upon Samhain As summer days come to an end, The harvest field gathered in While mystery dances in the flame, A bard and lute pick a tune To tell the old stories once again. The Celtic folk have gathered again Upon the eve of Samhain They hear the old soulful tune That says the hunter’s game must end Amid the glowing Pagan Flame As winter nights close in. Deep memories, long held in Revealed to the heart again, In the dancing light of the flame, The old souls called at Samhain And like a dream that has no end They dance once more to a midnight tune. The heart that hearkens to the tune And lets the spirit enter in Shall know the circle of life shall never end And all shall surely live again As the Lady calls upon Samhain For hers is the Pagan flame. So cast an eye upon the burning flame And listen to the mystery in its tune For destiny reveals upon Samhain If the seeing eye should look deeper in Beyond the embers and again To where the distant stars end. And yet the night must surely end As dawn quells the dying flame Old souls depart to call again When the bards play the ancient tune As the harvest is gathered in So Pagans dance on the night of Samhain. On this night of Samhain, hearken to the Celtic tune And dare the heart to look in, toward the burning flame As the old souls call again so the year shall end. ----- Lunar Love Texte: Art thou pale for weariness Of climbing Heaven, and gazing on the earth, Wandering companionless Among the stars that have a different birth,-- And ever changing, like a joyless eye That finds no object worth its constancy? PB Shelley Glosa: When I gaze upon thy silver beauty, My heart rejoices in thy love, Ever changing, always the same - Lady moon, I see your smile caress the Earth with hope Among the stars and all that is divine In thy hands lies the future. In your radiance I seek the future, As in the crystals I look for beauty, While asking questions of the divine Embraced by thy unending love, My destiny is blessed with hope And again, I gaze upon the moon. My Lady, revealed within the moon, Through times past, now and the future, In our darkness thou brings’t hope As winter’s nights are fuelled in beauty The coldest days, touched by love And awareness of all that is divine. Thy lunar light that sings of divine, And lifts the pagan eyes to the moon, So all may know of thy love That guides the way to the future Through the snows of winter to pastel beauty And a spring reborn in hope. In the darkness thou art the hope, The wonder of the great divine, All things glowing in thy beauty, Silver-kissed by the moon, A pathway to the future Now revealed in thy love. Oh lunar Lady grant us thy love, And fill our hearts with hope, The strength to build the future In respect to all that is divine Once more I gaze upon the moon And see that love is thy beauty. To rejoice in thy beauty and wonders of divine, As beneath the moon, in silver light there shines hope, And knowledge that the future is mantled in thy love. ----- A Touch of Healing Breath Looking down into the abyss, The end of time, the final breath, Too easy to just let go, To fall into the wonder of nothing, Too hard to let thoughts die, Going nowhere but looking down. Old-fashioned dreams spiral down, Into the pools of an empty abyss, Remnants of lust, longing to die, Replaced by frustrated gasps of breath, Awakening to emptiness – nothing, And nowhere to go. The urge to fade and go, Before the heart lies battered down, By the relentless sense of nothing, That ceaseless abyss, Left behind on dying breath, To wait for the day to die. Bended knees begging to die, While pondering when to go, And damned to draw another breath, While life is churned upside down, In the twisting of a sensual abyss, Longing to feel – nothing. Yet in the midst of all this nothing, The heart will never choose to die, For destiny is unknown abyss, A path of life that one must go, The weary feet will trip down, To moments of joy that heal each painful breath. The gentle touch of healing breath, Reassurance found in nothing, When all the world has cast it down, There is nothing but do or die, There is but one way to go, A step away from that abyss. This life, an unknown abyss before the time to die, Not knowing which way to go and often finding nothing, Bids the heart to lie silently down and take a healing breath. back to list |
Kevin McKinney"Hey! Can I ask something of you God?" "What is it you want this time, Satan?" "I need to know if I can buy some extra time." "Buy... what would you use for money?" "Hey, it's not my fault my wages are death!" "Well I didn't write that; that one goes to the poets." "How did you know I was pissed off at poets?" "Think about it idiot, you're talking to God!" "Oh... right, well I have some coin other than death." "I know; other people's coin! Look here Satan, As a poet once said, the root of all evil is money." "That's why I'm pissed; they disrespect me all the time!" "What makes you think you should get more time So you can waste it tormenting poor poets?" "Well they're always cracking wise about my money! Besides, you should have it figured out God; Poets make it too hard for me to do my job as Satan! I need better bargaining chips than pain and death." "So, you've noticed people aren't as scared of death As they used to be, once upon a time." "Hey, I'm your better half remember? As Satan, I'm almost as sharp as you; according to those poets, You and I are two sides of one coin so, as God, You could sell me some time regardless of the money." "Yes, we're polar opposites, but I have no interest in money; And it wasn't me who started the bad press about death! The poets got one wrong and put it in the mouth of God. But they have more than made up for it over time; No one paints more silver linings than poets! One day they'll put a smiley face on you, Satan!" "Heaven forbid! They imagine a world without Satan?" "Some do, and they're some of the best for my money. So chill out; that's an expression I got from the poets!" "It's not fair! They've taken the sting out of death!" "They've also priced you right out of the market for time!" "Listen Satan, I'm only a God; You keep your money. Truth is, no one controls time! Just lay off my poets... I love 'em to death!" ----- Varietal Whine Nothing ever changes here in heaven Mulled the assistant to the guardian. Not that it was hard work being an acolyte, Though he had yet to learn to play the harp; Everything's spelled out in the new manual, Right down to the granting of wishes. That must be it! It must be the wishes; Either that or the food they serve in heaven; He'd have to consult that manual, Discreetly, of course, lest the guardian Detect any angst or ask about the harp Lessons she'd arranged for her acolyte. It just would not do for an acolyte To be concerned with fulfilling wishes While being carefree about playing the harp! The food was just awfully bland in heaven, And he'd been wondering if the guardian Knew of any recipes in the new manual. There'd been only one in the old manual; Ambrosia! And as long as he'd been her acolyte He'd never even seen the guardian Eat! So, he'd start by asking about wishes. There was plenty of good will in heaven, But if only an appetite were as common as a harp! He tried to imagine dinner music on the harp, But he couldn't stop thinking of the manual. As luck would have it, things are slow in heaven; It isn't all that hard for an acolyte To look busy while imagining wishes Right under the nose of a guardian! He resolved to approach the guardian With a deal; he'd finally learn to play the harp! That was his offer; he would work for his wishes. If she would let him check the new manual For recipes, he would remain her faithful acolyte, And his harp would ring throughout heaven! "Of course," said the guardian, "This is heaven," "Put away your harp for now you silly acolyte!" "Guardians must grant sincere wishes; says so in the new manual!" back to list |
Peggy NelsonToday is another day To accept life as it creates Musing ups and downs Will the day bring light, Will the day be the best? It’s up to you completely. It’s up to you completely Today is another day Will the day be the best To accept life as it creates? Will the day bring light Musing ups and downs? Musing ups and downs It’s up to you completely Will the day bring light? Today is another day To accept life as it creates Will the day be the best? Will the day be the best Musing ups and downs? To accept life as it creates It’s up to you completely Today is another day Will the day bring light? Will the day bring light, Will the day be the best? Today is another day Musing ups and downs It’s up to you completely To accept life as it creates To accept life as it creates Will the day bring light It’s up to you completely Will the day be the best, Musing ups and downs? Today is another day To accept life as it creates, today is another day Will the day bring light musing ups and downs? It’s up to you completely, will the day be the best? back to list |
Ryter RoethicleSee the morning entering the room Forcing aside the heavy hotel curtains Sword slices of light cutting their way Like heavenly Jedi laser swords Carving away the future’s darkness At last revealing the possible present. This morning has become my present And fate has selected this very room. Something has also removed darkness Converting heavy to scanty curtains Whilst dulling the brightest laser swords Not needed any longer to light the way. However, this morning there is a way, I hear the morning now I am certain. I do not need the Jedi and their swords Today I have many windowed rooms And bird sounds pass through the curtains Assuring me about the darkness. Their sounds even penetrate the darkness Carrying their calls from quite a way That and the light through the curtains Finally bring me back to the present, And once more I wake in a hotel room Denying my dreams and Jedi swords. Long ago my dreams were of Jedi swords They’re now far removed from darkness. As is my serviced apartment bedroom Outsiders in the park show me their way So very far removed from my present, With no need to hide behind my curtains. The tweets and screeches penetrate curtains Defying the validity of any Jedi sword Brutally bringing in their present. Contemptuously casting away darkness Crying out that this was the only way To find happiness within this room. Pulling back the curtains light fills the room Denying swords carrying it’s own way Fighting past darkness into the present.  ----- Kabir Thoughts What is sadness? What is happiness? Are not they reflections of each other? Is it not a soul burdened with over ripe fruit? The fruit is there but has not been plucked Eventually it will fall and the cycle renewed. And once again the fruit will grow and wait. Does sadness come sudden or do we wait And do we also have to wait for happiness With dawn is not our previous mood renewed Or are we able to pick up some other One of our choice, one we have plucked From a mental garden that is rich with fruit. Is summer and light the creator of fruit Must there be seasons in between to wait And must we wait again until it’s plucked Is this why your life has so little happiness, Has all your fruit been picked by another, Must you wait again until it is renewed? With the dawn everything is renewed Your mental garden should grow fresh fruit You are the one who picks one or the other It is your morning mind you need not wait It’s your choice always, darkness or happiness You grow to be what you have plucked. Again you’re rewarded what you’ve plucked, Once again your love and joy is renewed. With your lover you’ve found happiness And together you taste the sweetest fruit. The future is yours there’s no need to wait Your rewards in life become each other. This is how life will be together with each other You’ll savour fruits that together you’ve plucked Never again together will you have to wait As each night your eternal promises are renewed And your rewards are the finest tasting fruit And an eternity together sharing happiness. There are other ways that you may find happiness But once it has been plucked it’s the fruit of all fruit And you need not wait to find its all been renewed.  ----- Moonlight Thoughts Darkness is not for lovers, nor should it be What is a flickering candle but a little moon And a blazing fire a symbol of the sun. Who has not made love by candles light Or in love lain side by side by the fire And swore their love by flickering flame. The moon has created hope with the flame For it is only a reflection of what love can be. But lovers lie beneath her and light their fire Making plans and dreaming under that moon I say there is no love without the moons light. As there’s no hope or dreams without the sun. In the morning our dreams end seeing the sun. But they are not destroyed in the suns flame Nor are they hidden by his powerful light. Instead they are where we want them to be Waiting for us to sleep again under the moon And once again they are lit by her fire. There is a coolness created by her fire Which is the opposite of that of the sun. Thus love can only be created by the moon And its lantern can only be lit by her flame Without her blessing love cannot be It cannot be conceived under the suns light. Each night they meet and love under her light Touching is the kindling, loving creates the fire Til the end of time and past it will always be. In the morning they will speak of love to the sun. And he will smile and for a while share his flame That night they’ll touch and love under the moon Just as forever the symbol of love shall be the moon Lovers will forever plight their troth under her light The love that it creates will be an unequalled flame Stronger now than the most powerful lunar fire And more powerful by far than the sun. The heat therein will be what lovers want it to be. Lovers love by the moon, that’s the way it will always be They live in days light, and merely tolerate the sun, When the sun’s doused his flame, lovers light their fire.  ----- Rules of Life Listen to me, do not hold onto happiness Embrace it, but when it is time, let it go. Sadness will cleanse your soul and prepare you; Then when it is time bid it farewell also. Hide not in the shadows revelling in the pain, Greet your other self and smile once again. You will find changes as you begin again And you’ll realise you’ve found happiness But really I wonder what had caused the pain? In time you’ll realise it’s you not letting go The opposite can happen this way also, Where you’ll find misery haunting you. This time however un-happiness follows you You brood and sulk and feel misery again And pass this feeling on and on also Doing what you can to avoid happiness, Then one miserable day you feel it all go Suddenly feeling absent of miseries pain. You question what has caused your pain Then suddenly realise it was probably you And how it eased when you finally let go. Realising how easy it could happen again Deciding your future be based on happiness Whilst unknown would be uncertain also. Do not hide but let sleep be your friend also Yet do not blame waking eyes on your pain You are learning sources of your happiness Your greatest friend is what’s inside you No doubt you’ll feel sadness and misery again But now your learning how to let go. Now you relax and feel everything let go In doing so learn about inner peace also You will never ever feel that bad again And know how to combat that inner pain Knowing you are in full control of you Means you have the secret of happiness. No matter where you go you’ll have happiness And inner peace also will be forever with you. Misery will never rule again and bring you pain.  ----- Sestina for All Hallows The Moon is full, now hear them cry, Beware the beasts beware their bite. Now hear the ghosts, their moaning sigh, As hellish creatures fill up the night. Soft padding sounds are coming nigh, There is every reason for your fright. The Werewolf will give the bravest, fright. Even the most evil beastie fears his cry. They dread each time the full moon is nigh Fearing even the slightest bite, For he is the Evil Ones creature of the night, And as the moon wanes all can breathe a sigh. Dracula has made beautiful ladies sigh, With passionate love replacing fright. But it’s only on a full mooned night, That you will hear the damnedsels cry, Lustfully pleading for another bite, Or wishing that he were nigh. Its when all hallows is drawing nigh, That witches and warlocks give a sigh. They know how to avoid Dracul’s bite, And the werewolf never gives them fright. Instead in drunken debauch they will cry As they drink and revel through the night But the human must take care this night, For when are seen revellers drawing nigh, Be wary when they give out their cry. Don’t with relief give a pleasured sigh, Instead believe it is a time for fright, And best beware the shape shifters bite. Too late now as you feel the bite, Evil forms will take o’er the night. Your muscles tensing out of fright, Eternal damnation draws you nigh. You were warned, you gave a sigh, Soon it will be your turn to cry. They’ve had a bite, and giving out a cry Vanish into the night and all can sigh No need for fright as the sun is nigh.  ----- She comes deliciously after wine She comes deliciously after wine, See her peace, see her serenity. Lying in the afterglow of love And with the beauty of that glow I watch, see her sleep, content Knowing that evermore she is mine. How dare I say she is mine? I know she is tastier than any wine And in that I am well content To help create her serenity And see her in the afterglow That has been created by our love. How do I know she is my love? So many ways tell me she is mine, See her eyes and see them glow, That look is headier than any wine. See her smile, see her serenity. Her touch tells me she is content. And knowing that she is content, Only makes for my stronger love. I will help maintain her serenity, Forever more I'll make her mine. She will come deliciously after wine And I will bathe in her afterglow. A life of creating this glow A life of making her content She came deliciously after wine. With the gift of making love And sharing her life with mine Gave me a lifetime of serenity. Her look shows me her serenity Radiance greater than the suns glow She looks and says she is mine. She smiles and says she is content To share an eternity of love As I take another sip of wine. I drink my wine in the afterglow Her serenity, peace and content Half of the love we share is mine.  ----- Unearthly Feelings Love is the giving of one to another It’s the union of two finding freedom in one It’s the freedom that a bird feels in flight Hear its call and feel its spirit rising Selfless when it is with its mate The two in total harmony and thought. When two lovers meet there’s no thought There is no ken that they’ll become one Rarely realising they’ve met their mate Only the souls recognise one another Little feelings of their spirits rising It would be rare to feel hearts take flight. But like the birds, love discovers flight It becomes an experience beyond thought When suddenly they found emotions rising Linking their spiritual self’s to one another And now appreciate what it is to be ‘one’ Waking up each morning with their mate. Hearts are alive now with their soul-mate As each night hand in hand they take flight In soul formation, they fly together as one Separate identities, they share one thought. Fate has ordained they meet one another After that find their spiritual feelings rising. Like birds they fly, their feelings rising Then that feeling of soaring with your mate Suddenly realising they love one another. Together forever there is this soul flight Joined by the simple power of thought But it is that power that makes them one. Many lives now have you shared as one Each life together, the number’s rising. Sometimes you meet without a thought It seems normal that you are with your mate. Yet some other times there is no flight It seems this life, you are with another. What is this one, are we one or another? Are spirits rising, and lifting off in flight? Have you thought I might be your mate?  ----- Winter Love Winters black cloak now covers the land, Spreading her fingers and freezing life. Nature's colours are hidden from minds, Withdrawn, sleeping from winters strife. All around is bleak, leafless and bare, And their love is sheltered, safe from harm. Outside winter rages with hail-stones harm, Inside soft candle-light and a log fires land. Soft conversations laying emotions bare, Music's soft, sensuous rhythms fill with life. Each tightly holding, kissing, far from strife, Being close together, even touching minds. But love is more than two sharing minds, And in that sharing there can be no harm. Nor can love intentionally cause strife, Instead warmth will cover all their land, And those lovers will choose to share life, Laying aside themselves, leaving ego's bare. It is only when we can lay ourselves bare, And truly join spirits as well as minds, That two lovers can begin to share a life. In this way they will come to no harm, And enter into an eternal promised land, That will contain freedom from strife. What is love if there is no strife, And must we be completely bare? Is there such a place as Never-Land, And must we share all of our minds? Will secret opinions really cause harm, And completely wreck our eternal life? Such questions are the meaning of life, For where there is love there is also strife. We do wrong at times protecting from harm, And sometimes hidden is better than bare. Men and women have far different minds, All the better for two share their land. There is no life, there is no land, Where there is not strife, or different minds True love offers harm, when emotions are bare.  ----- Xavier Beach I saw the sea today and watched her awhile Thinking remorseless perhaps, but constant ever. In the morning I saw the Sun emerge from the sea Half a lifetime later it was consumed by the waves And my world went cooler and then darker Then I saw a new world begin, a far different world. In reality it is the opposite of the days world And I stayed in that world for quite awhile. Watching in awe as that world grew darker Then I saw the thinnest sliver of light ever A brand new moon was lighting up the waves And once again I could see the sea. Now I saw her in a different light, a different sea! Using that different light she’d changed the world, And in that morning light, had seen gentle waves Much gentler waves that had stayed awhile Gentle waves, and had never been violent, ever. Never protesting as the night grew darker. And then suddenly it was no longer darker The moon had risen and had lit up the sea Now was seen the best picture scenes ever And that picture was within this world. Thus it stayed on Earth, with us awhile Whilst we watched and enjoyed the waves. Tonight as I watched and saw gentler waves I heard a sound as the night grew darker I stopped and listened for quite awhile It was the gentlest sound of the sea As wave after wave kissed the sandy world The most peaceful of sounds ever. I would love to live in that light forever. And hear the relaxing sound of those waves It would become a far more peaceful world Seeing the stars switch on as it grew darker Lighting up white crested waves of the sea Anyone would relax and stay for awhile It’s the best scene ever, just relax, stay awhile Listen to the waves, enjoy the peaceful sea Share it with the world as it gets darker.  ----- Zus Spak Ama...(Thus Speaks Love) Sadness filters through me Sitting listening and I feel Somehow you are where I should be Again I am not there with you Yet everything about is real Tell me please, what are we to do? I already know what I’d like to do And that’s hear you say you love me How I wish that dream was real You already know the way I feel You already know that I love you And wish that it will always be. Together that’s how we should be Sharing everything that we do I realise that I am part of you And am happy you feel part of me It’s all about how you feel And knowing that our love is real Tell me again that it is real Reassure me that it can be Remembering all the eternities we feel It is so easy for me to do. If it is so for me Is it the same for you? It does not seem like an eternity with you But I know the time we spent was real. I knew then about your feelings for me And knew that we would always be. I want to know that you also do Please darling tell me how you feel Is it so much to ask about how you feel The most important person to me is you. It’s important to me that you do Please, please tell me your love is real Without your love I cannot be Please, please tell me. Tell me how you feel about me My life revolves around you, how can that be What need I do? Is this all real?  back to list |
Kevin & RyterNo more is it the time of magic, its now of men Merlin and all his kin have left the stage and sleep Slumbering in their caves awaiting until when Once more they must emerge from sleep so deep And once again in battle we will see the way How the mighty kings must field and fight the fey Yet even Merlin might not believe the fey Irrationality displayed of modern men; So cold and calculating in our way He'd trade this new reality for sleep. But human personality runs deep With vestigial extensions to days when Life was only a small matter of when The axe would fall. And so it paid for fey Prestidigitation to run as deep, With artificial order over men; The way a serpent lulls a bird to sleep, And pauses only briefly on its way. But magic was always the hidden way. And so often takes place, when Heroes and warriors need to sleep, So made judgements against the fey, Saying that it was not the way of men, Acting from fears that were buried deep. We know that nothing is buried so deep That logic will not find some way To bring the balance back so that men Can meet on equal footing when Muscle and mind will be equal with fey And at night heroes may find restful sleep. Yet now the edge of night does threaten sleep With razor thin incisions scarring deep And severing that balance 'tween the fey Wonder workers and those of logic's way. Lest it be restored, time may soon come when Neither magic, nor logic can save men. Arise then, from sleep and awaken all men To dreams so deep they continue yet when What once was fey, again may light the way. back to list |
Newell Elsworth UsherWhat a beautiful day it is today as the sun starts to rise over my trees. Birds are singing sweetly looking for worms. A rabbit hops quickly across my lawn over pretty flowers looking for food a squirrel digs shallow; buries a nut. And another squirrel picks up a nut as all nature thrives, smiles, alive today hurrying, scurrying looking for food on the ground, in the air growing on trees and little birds are looking in my lawn looking for grass seed and fresh morning worms. As yesterday's rain brought up some new worms I see one crawl over the squirrel's nut there by the fence post aligning my lawn. Beautiful music is playing today as the wind blows the leaves softly through trees. all nature dances to the gait of food Ev'rything feeds and is another's food as the owls eat rabbits; birds eat the worms all watched by the many eyes of the trees. A little squirrel eats a tiny nut and ev'rything is beautiful today as dawn has passed and sun is on my lawn. And as I walk around to view my lawn I remember that I too must have food and so I pick some apples for today a looking for small holes of little worms as I will make desert with a small nut from honey and some apples from my trees. And as I sing along amidst my trees I see a little fawn upon my lawn watching two squirrels fight for a big nut as he is also searching for some food as little birds now see the little worms and all of nature dines again, today Today is wonderful across my lawn. Trees surround and animals find much food worms eating fruit and looking for a nut, back to list |
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