2023 Poem-A-Week Challenge (Poems Only Thread)

[goddessofglee]

#13/52

Will you tie up with me,
In this poetic world we'll see,
Untold tales and songs unsung,
Together, let's create a melody young.
Let's put pen to paper and create art,
A masterpiece that's close to the heart,
With every word, a new story we'll weave,
Together, let's write something to believe.

 

[Rockymtnman]

The tree creaking
from the wind
outside my window
has on odd
almost, satisfying rhythm
as if speaking in the
tongues of aspen
whispering secrets
that I can’t decipher

 

[OtherMan]

Control’s as sick, pretensive of
the oppression of desire,
repression of extensive love
that’ll toll the heart in mire.

But… accepting chanced rejection…
reflects power in release…
and respects a free perfection
of a man at resting peace.

4/4/23

#20

 

[Wonderer67]

Yellow, Pink, Then Green

Early April is the time
For yellow popcorn to start forming
And then erupting
On the forsythia
First just the slightest yellow,
Then full-on yellow mini-explosions

The daffodils came too
Sprouting, all too early
Lied to by the February sun
Only to be singed by the cold in March
But coming into their own
Come April
Baring their yellow trumpets at the sun
Allowing sluggish bees inside

Overnight
Cherry trees turned a dull gray/pink
Only to burst
Into full pink, coating the tree limbs
Giving the bees
A buzz

Magnolia trying to unwind
And stretch it’s arms
After a winter nap
Only to get browned by the cold
Seems to happen every year
But not this year
Explosions of pink and purple
Abound

Tulip leaves sprouting
Green, wavy broad,
Getting ready for their blossom

Hosta poking up, looking for sun

I drove off the mountain yesterday afternoon
Surprised to see so many
More trees
Stretching their
Neon green fingers

And now, I sit here watching
Taking it in
Smiling at the miracle
Of life
And April

15/52

 

[OtherMan]

What words can press a woman’s shape?
Her lines with lips descend
to lifted chin along the nape
of neck and collar’s bend

to round the drape, between the blades
thrown back kissed down as seeks
a concave trace that then cascades
to taut and taunting cheeks.

Arcing up, nipping ribs, o’er swell
of breast and lipping nips
to lapping abs to loining well
to nibbles on the hips.

Then mouth is drawn to curving thighs
to ‘tween at heaving gate
that sweetly parts unnerving sighs
from you… my woman… mate.

4/7/23

#21

 

[Ambient4190]

I

travelling the interstate
awoke from reverie
a dirt road spied
old wood fence ran along
beckoned by and by


road became narrow lanes
mill houses in a row
doors propped open
to entreat a breeze
to achieve relief searing heat


fried catfish fried frog legs
sign said
recognition from sometime flashed
lonnie gripped the steering wheel
even tho' we wasn't goin' fast


rollin' into town
stop sign and a bar
lonnie pulled me in for a drink
only two other customers
sittin' in the dark

 

[Mrtenant]

Holy Saturday

I have nothing to say
On a day like today
When the church bell rings
And a healthy choir sings

Well fed at the masses
And Sunday school classes
Feeding them lines of hope
From the mouth of the Pope

Perhaps one day I'll understand
Why this must be so grand
While I feed the poor and hungry
In the richest land in the country

People say what a great thing I do
And I ask them, well, what about you?
Whistling while they walk away
"Good luck to you, sorry can't stay"

I don't want to think about it
Better to do just the one little bit
A kind word of encouragement,
Food from my table, my time spent


Week14, poem 1, total 19

 

[29wordsforsnow]

Have you seen the ole gal in her worn-out shoes
alone in the darker alleys of Islington and who's
wearing her thoughts and coat in different blues

carrying on along turns and twists to clamly mark
her place for those she'll face and sit, sing or bark
on gravel, twigs and benches in the predawn dark

some come to remember, and some more to forget
in this park the once, now gone stranger they met,
an alien again born by the first slap in a couple's flat

wrinkled hearts in many ways missing their loves
not only on Mondays, but just any day, the doves
pick the penny crumbs drizzling from her gloves

like the leaves of fading gold her memories twirl
around let-me-take-you-by-the-hand and a girl
somewhere here they found her iconic brown curl

another sip from her handbag until the shrunken
hours she flies above the whirling dark, and then
she's back in the streets of London.

 

[goddessofglee]

#14/52

I once had a song,
It's melody,
like a distant gong,
Lyrics that were unclear,
Hymns that plunged
the heart into fear.
But then I decided to take the lead,
Put together,
the song I always need,
Verse by verse,
the story was told,
Now the song is but complete,
here again to behold!

well, am I complete?
I asked back to myself,
the reflection it peeped
back to me asleep!
ooh, I'm so alone,
I long to see
flash on my phone

 

[Ashesh9]

I missed a week
Am visiting my daughter
In Sydney: she's a Finance geek
Did the Darling Harbor aquarium round
Wetted my feet in a Creek
I apologize to all poets here
Feeling humble and meek...

 

[Ashesh9]

Did some wine tasting
Today at Hunter's Valley:
Red and sparkling White
Alongwith Cheddar cheese Gully!
The restauranter was a Maestro
With anecdotes did he sully
Forth on our tables he laid out fare
With smiling countenance and jokes made jolly!!!

 

[Mrtenant]

Huckleberry Sorbet

"Huckleberry sorbet" is what she said to me
I came calling on her that Spring holiday
Over there underneath the Douglas Fir tree
Gleaming smile, this is what she had to say

"Huckleberry sorbet, this is what I made
Come dance today and share some with me!"
Her hair blowing wild in that fir tree's shade
We danced and sang and ate some with tea

Huckleberry sorbet, ice cold Spring time fun
On that picnic table that had seen our love
Spoon some to her under the high noon sun
She spooned some for me at the fir tree cove

Huckleberry sorbet, out there by Salish Sea
With my lover whose spirit flames my heart
Baby come dance and sing about it with me
Make some, come find me we'll share a quart

Huckleberry Sorbet with you baby is all I need
Bring me back home, hold you in my arms
Laughing, dancing, singing, hearts are freed
Love light in your eyes and passionate charms

Week15, poem 1, total 20

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

Week 14 Poem 24

The Years

When we were young
he’d write sweet, surreptitious
notes, They were the way
we’d flirt back then.
The back of his neck
would tell me nothing of
how he felt about my eager
replies, apart from the occasional
flush as his blush spread.

Separated by university,
we’d write long and
pornographic letters,
his would be my
arousal for lonely nights.
I missed him so.

When time, and purse, allowed
we’d find exotic places
to spend a week of sex.
Playing out all those
steamy letters under palms,
on black or pearly beaches.
Showering together, finding that
intrusive sand was so intense.

Now we are older, sex is more
sedate, none the less exciting or
satisfying. We’re eager givers
and takers both, but he is an
expert giver.

 

[Tzara]

Sadness

When Sasha says
she wants me to tie her hands
behind her back,

I am uncomfortable.
But I still do it,
because I want to satisfy her.

But then she asks
that I call her names—
"bitch" or "whore"

or, worse, "cunt."
And the words emerge
from my mouth like soap bubbles

I want to puncture
before they sail too far.
Yet they help make her come,

and help me too, though
I never feel good
about it, other than release.

Week 15: Poem 1: Total 25

 

[Rockymtnman]

ode to Easters past

Ovals of various hues
hidden amongst
the objects of my home
the seekers, shrieking in delight
at their latest find
giggles, candy and fake green grass
spread throughout my home
cheeks, flush with too much sugar
hide behind big toothy grins
the Easter bunny has delivered again

 

[OtherMan]

With each fracture of affection
the mirror lies within,
distorting the reflection
that’s never whole again.

The sharing shards are jagged pieced
but never can define -
instead they shine kaleidic beast
where once the face was mine.

4/12/23

#22

 

[Angeline]

Three Modern Tankas

1. Spring

Lilac flowers drift
fragrant in a gentle breeze.
Rejoice in this day.
Sun-kissed skin bared to your warm
hands. Scatter petals on me.

***
2. Hidden Cove

Beach of shell and stone
Sea roses, gray weathered dock
Empty lobster traps
Sailboats rock and sigh their song
Soft splashes, gulls dip and soar

***
3. Private Ocean

Swimming together
locked in our carnal rapture,
essences mingle.
We strain and murmur then shout.
We're sleek joyous animals.


Week 15, Poems 3, Total 20

 

[Wonderer67]

A Walking Contradiction

There’s much joy in this heart
And much sorrow as well
And hatred
And love

There is much pride in this heart
And much disappointment
And anger
And love

I am present
Focused as fuck
I am distant and disengaged
Sometimes I am RIGHT FUCKING HERE
And sometimes I’m in a rut; despondent
Sometimes I am hyper focused
And sometimes, lost in my thoughts

I am capable
I’m fucking incompetent
I’m smart and insightful
I am stupid as fuck

I am a patriot
Proud American
I am a socialist
I’m also an anarchist

I’m in love with the world
I’m in hate with the world
I am straight
I am gay
I am neither and both

I’m loving and gentle
I am rough
I am hostile
I laugh
I cry at dumb movies

I am warm and funny and fun
Sincere and attentive
I am shy and distant

I love people
And hate them too

I can fix anything
I fuck up everything

I am squared away
I am a fuck up
My shit is wired tight
I’m falling apart again

I forgive
I am a vindictive bastard

I am good to myself
I despise myself
I want to live out loud
I want to walk into the woods and die
I want to be a young child
I want to be an old man

I am here, right now
I am nowhere
I do not know where I’ve been
I do not know where I’m going
I have my past tattooed on my arms
I have my future tattooed in my brain

I am simple
I am complex
Do not try to pin me down

16/52

 

[Ambient4190]

II

half lemonade half tea
will do just fine
tacked on wall
old historic home tour
boasts of ghosts

wood floors creak snap
squirrels rats in walls scratch
plaster bleeds
bats high ceilings fly
unmentionables in attic crawl spaces die

not to be left out
when train large truck
travels by
windows rattle shake
broken glass in corners wind snakes

ghost is time and ruin
all languishes
deteriorates
pause in hallway for a minute
rest eyes and spirit

 

[Rockymtnman]

As I walk by the mirror

a guy with salt and pepper hair
stares back at me
so I look
i really look this time
nose no longer straight
( thanks rugby!)
and a few wrinkles
but I like what I see
so I wink at the guy in the mirror
and move about my day
secure in the knowledge
I still love me, some me.

 

[Rockymtnman]

bury me under a million stars
where the winds whip the snow from the plains
and the Rockies rise up to meet a sea blue sky

bury me where the pines reach for the clouds
where the sweet grass covers the earth
and rivers rumble through deep cut valleys

bury me where spring rains wake the wildflowers
where the wild things are still wild
and even the earth smells sweet somehow

bury me there, forever

 

[OtherMan]

Resentment comes a poison
ingested sip by sip -
unspoken expectations
lain poised upon the lip

for granted sacrifices
taken meant to fill -
consent as bleeding toxic…
my poverty of will.

I plead the quiet kills you -
ungrateful… needing more,
but mute I graceful take it
‘til death, apart and poor.

4/15/23

#23

 

[29wordsforsnow]

just awake but still
looking for dreams
or other delights

as a simple touch
spreads the heat
from bottom to top

some few minutes
till boiling wetness
acquires my taste

put on my lips
it's way too hot
so I gently stir

where the daily fire
ignites the skyline
of your dulcet body

taking sips from
the sight of this
is my cup of tea

 

[Ashesh9]

Mushy mushroom:
Va Va Vroom
Bed or living room
Flying witch on a broom!!!!

 

[Piscator]

Black Cherry are isolationists
rough shingled black bark
contrasts against white birch
grove yet on one spot on my
walk there are six or more
strung out on the left
hand side if you look
while walking
westward.