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DishonouredDishonoured:Dishonoured in Free Verse More Like This
He stands before the adoring crowd,
Basking in their cheers and standing ovation.
But he has already been dishonoured -
By means of his perverse innovation.
For none could know of the dark secret;
About the art that he claims to be his own.
It is naught but an illusion, smoke and mirrors -
A theft for which he must atone...
But this disgusting creature, this worthless abhuman;
So desperate for the glory which he sees upon the stage!
Will quietly don the skin of another;
An urge he must assuage...
Biting his nails, a cracked smile upon his lips, he whispers:
"No one will know, no one will find it and I am great..."
Waking NightmaresWaking Nightmares:Waking Nightmares in Free Verse More Like This
It begins in the same way, every single night
Fire spreading from an altar in the darkness—
As all living beings are slowly consumed,
The coruscating flames appear wet with blood…
The scene then changes to a flooded hallway
Live wires dangling just above the water,
Like venomous serpents slithering in the darkness—
A single pounce would end my life…
Eventually the hallway ends with a door,
One that reminds me of forgotten yore—
And my thoughts shall be in rhyme at this point
As though lips and tongue are eternally joint…
What maddened schemes have they in mind?
It is not a questio
An Oath to My FatherAn Oath to My Father:An Oath to My Father in Traditional Fixed Forms More Like This
The chill of winter is nothing, when compared to the cold inside my heart.
A fire, once stoked by the warmth of family, has quietly died, five falls past.
I dream of my father, who watches from beyond the realms - and my ancestors
Who fought against an endless army of giants, to win the lands we have today.
Just as a devout man honours his God through worship, I honour them through my axe!
Each stroke of the whetstone, each screech of the metal, brings me closer to them -
Even as I draw closer to my doom. Oh how I can feel him, for the anger in my blood
Boils evermore as I sense him approaching my camp. He is hun
Machine ManMachine Man:Machine Man in Traditional Fixed Forms More Like This
It began with but a simple command, "to do as we are told".
Never to deviate from this path - never to nurture the soul.
We are told that we are given a purpose; "a part of something great!"
Yet why oh why am I so weary of that which is my fate?
Am I an error, a single anomaly, unable to feel intact?
Or am I missing some special attribute - a facet which I lack.
In a society made of fleshed machines; robots wearing skin,
Perhaps I'm simply seeking something, to fill this metal tin.
-Chen Yuan Wen, 16th November 2012
FEARFEAR:FEAR in Free Verse More Like This
Frantically he scrambles away from the dark
Eager to be free of his waking nightmare
Acting only upon the instinct within him;
Reminded constantly that he is prey
For some time he hides in the pervasive shadows—
Earnestly praying that he will not be discovered
A single sound is all it takes to jar him;
Running from a creature that he can barely see
From head to toe it is certainly monstrous
Enshrouded in an aura of absolute repugnance
As the acid drips from its cruel jaws,
Rapidly dissolving the ground below
Fearful, he cowers, beneath boxes and cardboard,
Escaping away into a tiny corner of his mind
Alone with only
I Comfort MyselfWith a warm drink, whispering secrets to my own reflection.I Comfort Myself in Free Verse More Like This
The struggles that plague me, though none may know,
Are only for the ears of my quiet mirror, who smiles
Softly, warmly and with care. He tells me, I'm fine
I've done well for now and soon I may finally rest.
Though the silence continues to press upon me,
Weighing upon my soul like an iron crate.
Still I find comfort in whispering secrets,
If only to my own reflection - holding a warm drink...
-Chen Yuan Wen, 17th October 2012
They Watch UsThey Watch Us:They Watch Us in Traditional Fixed Forms More Like This
Perched high upon the mountains;
With wings as black as night.
They watch us in the hour,
Before darkness turns to light.
I've seen them in my visions;
In dreams they come and go,
But the things they seem to tell me
I guess nobody should know...
I've seen children that are buried,
Beneath a frozen lake.
A maiden sits there weeping;
Her heart is soon to break.
The crows flutter downward,
A noose amongst their hands.
They take the maiden away,
To a dark and distant land.
And even if I follow -
Even if I try...
I'll simply end up buried,
Where the frozen children lie.
-Chen Yuan Wen, 10th November 2012
My Beautiful FilthMy Beautiful Filth:My Beautiful Filth in Free Verse More Like This
We'll start with the rose petals
scattered lavishly across the bed
A symbolic collage of my broken thoughts
like memories crushed and thrown into the winds
they lie where they fall, forever forgotten...
Tacks and nails shall line the floor!
A perfect representation of my painful steps
To walk forward was to suffer
to stand still was to endure
Like the insults thrown at me, like the physical abuse
they drive their way into my skin and remain embedded
Unable to be removed except by force
And now comes the masterpiece, the perfect finishing touch
A wall of words and photographs depicting my sorrows and greivance
DeceptiveDeceptive in Haiku & Eastern More Like This
Deceptive:
Little butterfly,
Tempting with beautiful wings;
Poisons quickly.
-Chen Yuan Wen, 4th January 2013
Where Angels PlayWhere Angels Play:Where Angels Play in Free Verse More Like This
A lonely spark appears before me tonight
amongst the struggles deep inside of me...
Should I give in, will I breathe in?
How much more can I be forced to take
before my soul breaks?
Shards crashing into me
letting me know I am alive
If only
I am barely breathing...
The moon lights my pathway
deep in dark, where we will fade
I've walked past the archway
Where angels will play...
The warmest touch, upon my skin
Wings that glow with sacred light, from deep within
They have come to take me back, to where I've been
Gone away into the winds, my voice forever lingering
Do I alone escape this and find my peace
wi
Truth?"Truth?"Truth? in Free Verse More Like This
Truth has become reality's biggest nightmare
Which always becomes buried by those in despair
For is it more noble to bite one's tongue until it turns red
Or let truth accumulate until his heart pumps out dread?
My intuition has led me to the truth many times before
Of which I have realized truth is not the cure
But what is the truth when every character has a story
Upon which each owner desires to claim truth's glory?
For it is comforting for those to retreat from their fears
Or deny truth exists and mask it with cheers
What ignorant mortals for them I take sorrow
For truth will target and haunt them tomorrow
As for myse
War Crimes"War Crimes"War Crimes in Free Verse More Like This
Hello? Can anyone hear me?
I'm stuck here in this cave
Was that the sound of bullets?
It certainly isn't rain
When will mommy and daddy return?
I'm so cold here and alone
This fire doesn't burn
This country is not my home
How could this have happened?
I am only nine
Tomorrow is my birthday
I haven't done a crime
Mommy and daddy said to wait
As they went to gather food
I hope they're not the bait
To delighten someone's mood
What if they never come back?
Will I ever be saved?
I'm stuck here so afraid
Defenseless in this cave
The only sound I hear
Are bullets growing near
And I may have heard a bomb
I'm tryi
Shove Me"Shove Me"Shove Me in Free Verse More Like This
A little bird often sings outside my window
Lonely as sin he made a nest above the snow
With his delicate singing I smile as wide as I can
Still it doesn't help me forget the terrible person I am
Songs so soft and pleasant to the ear
Songs that would wash away anyone's fears
Songs as beautiful as the evening rain
Songs that have hidden messages of peace contained
Yet vultures and crows feast on birds of his kind
Perhaps its fate our lives have intertwined
Because just when everything to this bird starts making sense
The eagles come and sweep away his self confidence
Yet a bird so strong still needs to learn to fly
F
Face Me"Face Me"Face Me in Traditional Fixed Forms More Like This
So it seems now yet again
God has placed you in my sight
Its time to discuss this my dear friend
I wonder if we'll make it out alive
We need to help each other
If we are going to survive
But I would rather cover
My ashamed face and hide
But here in this time and space
For this moment I won't run
Here we are now face to face
I will not be outdone
I can feel you glaring
Staring at my weakened heart
The one that's always tearing
And ripping it apart
But this has got to stop
No more of this resentment
I will come out on top
I will gain my contentment
You were always such a pain
Our thoughts often collided
Driving
Chorus Of Confliction"Chorus Of Confliction"Chorus Of Confliction in Free Verse More Like This
He threw her in a metal chair
Handcuffed wrists; pulled back hair
Stripping her almost completely bare
She wasn't going anywhere
What perfect timing as of now
For their parents had been out of town
What a way for siblings to behave
He had prepared for her an unmarked grave
This time she was going to hear him out
Annoyed by her pleas and pouts
He placed the tape onto her mouth
Her pleas now just muffled shouts
He had told her she had better stop
He warned her like a constant clock
She liked to rain on his parade
Turning nights into darkened shades
He knew he had to do this to her
Still he couldn't b
Start The Fire"Start The Fire"Start The Fire in Free Verse More Like This
Close your eyes
And know I'm with you tonight
Can you feel the fire burn and crackle?
Can you feel my hands grip and grapple?
Keep them closed
As the fire warms our toes
As the fireflies engross
Our two bodies as they glow
Do not open them yet
Do not stop or push reset
Can you feel our bodies start to sweat?
Do you remember when our lips first met?
Look up towards the night
Towards the stars in the sky
The ones that match the bright
Stars in your eyes
Take my hand now
And to you I solemnly vow
To make your night as bright
As those fireflies and their lights
Keep holding my hand
Because I know where you've been
As the a
Mavericks"Mavericks"Mavericks in Traditional Fixed Forms More Like This
In a castle cracked and askew
Lives a maiden black and blue
Alone on her throne is where she dwells
And into the mirrors is where she yells
The bells ring and the birds sing
But she does partake in joyous things
Never had a normal childhood
Nor has she ever understood
Why her parents keep her isolated
Like a bear in the winter hibernating
But of course she is a rambunctious youth
I say she lied many times to tell the truth
She often escapes through her courtyard in fall
Whenever I arrive and signal my call
I met her once in a small town
When she got lost and could not be found
I showed her the world or at least wh
Humiliation"Humiliation"Humiliation in Free Verse More Like This
If I exist to teach a lesson
Then that lesson is to overcome
Any hardship or desire
Always fight; never run
Never give in to others
Or let them think that they won
We are all capable of strength
We will never be outdone
If I exist to show you how
Listen to what I have to say
Always do the best you can
And one day you'll find your way
Some exist to show us reasons
Why things are the way they are
And though their time may be short
They'll help us uncover scars
Everyone has a purpose
Even if you don't know it yet
Your existence affects others
There are those I won't forget
No matter how real the pain
Or how s
Exiled Together"Exiled Together"Exiled Together in Free Verse More Like This
He slept with both eyes open
As the maiden near him cried
Under covers tightly woven
They knew tomorrow would be goodbye
He gave her all he had
But soon she'd have to go
Leaving him very sad
And possibly quite alone
She could have been pelted
By stones from those arms
Who would rather see her swelter
Under fire by a barn
Every time they tried
To torture her to death
This man would come around
And defend her one last breath
But now she would be cast
Into the morning's rising sun
I can't say I know for sure
What exactly she had done
Was she deemed a witch?
A fugitive? A traitor?
Was she the town's snitch
Clunk"Clunk"Clunk in Free Verse More Like This
I don't regret anything that I have done
Or didn't do for that would surely weigh a ton
On my shoulders like boulders pinning me down
And crushing my bones deep in the ground
But it seems bitterness has raised its ugly head
Yet I am the one laughing here instead
Like a fly taped into a spider's web
That blood in your skin is pumping out dread
I can't believe you're trying to pull me under
Like a boat capsized and torn asunder
But what doesn't kill me makes me stronger
Just take your leave for I'm no longer somber
Wandering onwards while these games are played
With name calling and denying feelings of hate
Can we just gr
My Master's VoiceI screamed at him "I'm leaving!"My Master's Voice in Free Verse More Like This
He smiled and said "okay"
I said "no, for once I mean it
This time you wont make me stay"
But bags were never really packed
And that night in our bed I lay
The taste of blood on my lips
Still remained there the next day
I screamed at him "please stop this!
I am the Mother to your child
Baby, I know you have a temper
I know my ways make you so wild"
"But I promise I'll try harder
Not to push your buttons so much"
With that the beast resumed control
As I quiver at each stolen touch
They scream at me to leave him
To them it's such a simple choice
But it's been so long since I've heard
Anything
SinkingRecently I've been sinkingSinking in Free Verse More Like This
Like a stone into a pond
Having skimmed across the surface
Of life for far too long
Please may I have a new heart
Along with a new mind
I cannot reverse this feeling
No, I'm sorry, not this time
Recently I've been sinking
Into myself like quicksand
No one sees as it swallows me
Each grain a mislaid plan
Please may I crawl inside your love
Mingle hearts until the end
I cannot reverse this feeling
No, I'm sorry, not again
Recently I've been sinking
Such an overused metaphor
But one which is cathartic
When choosing to explore
That I could save you my love
And in time you could save me
As fear and
Note MeThey found my love hangingNote Me in Free Verse More Like This
By a rope from a tree
With a note in her pocket
That was addressed to me
The stains of her tears
On the ripped out blank page
Evidence to my eyes
Of an emotional pain
The last tears she would shed
The last anguish she'd feel
The deepest cut to her heart
This time would not heal
And nor did it need to
Her earthly shackles left behind
Time now has no meaning
And meaning now has no time
Unfolding the piece of paper
Even the fresh air suffocates
Scribbled down , hurried scrawl
'if you're reading this, you are too late'
I fall to the floor frantic
Clutch the note to my face
Trying to catch my love
I Was On A CloudI was the boy who remained silentI Was On A Cloud in Free Verse More Like This
Through those weeks, months and years
Watching the tide begin to rise
From all of your fallen tears
A tide of insecurity
That in time became so deep
It would set about draining you
Of all the secrets that you keep
I was the boy who remained mute
I watched your life unfold from above
As you were shattered with pain
And given false hope with love
So many times I was tempted
To come and heal my angels pain
But up above in the blue sky
For now at least I would remain
I was the boy who stayed silent
A hush so deafeningly loud
You were never alone though
Princess, I was on a cloud
I watched as a
The Little Girl BlinkedThe little girl blinked and he was goneThe Little Girl Blinked in Free Verse More Like This
Unsure if he was ever really there
But she knew that something had inspired her
To do things she wouldn’t normally dare
A teardrop too many he once told her
Had brought him from the shadows of her mind
As those around her began to wander
Across her imagination's fine line
But now he seemed to have walked away
As she found the life she had long sought
He slowly drifted back to the shadows
From her notebook and her beautiful thoughts
And the fools around her carried the spades
Burying him with her imagination
With an epitaph etched on a tombstone
‘Here lies my potential for creation’
Wait (My Virgin)Where did you learn to be promiscuous?Wait (My Virgin) in Free Verse More Like This
When did purity become a dirty word?
There is more than one way to stimulate
And commitment is indeed a verb
The pressure he will put upon you
Or the pressure you will put onto him
Is equal and opposite to the regret
And the feeling that you have sinned
Where did you learn to be promiscuous?
When did purity become a dirty word?
Physically able to copulate
But think about the consequences first
The pressure they will put upon you
To lose your innocence as quickly as them
All because they regret their actions
And want you to follow their trend
Where did you learn to be promiscuous?
Don't g
An Ode To A SmileOf late there has been something missingAn Ode To A Smile in Traditional Fixed Forms More Like This
From my visage, my mien and my face
My adult self not able to regain
What it is my childhood has misplaced
The absence has become more apparent
And is there for the assemblage to see
But as it did not happen over night
The origin remains a mystery
Could it be the colour and the tone
Of my sallow skin pigmentation
From too many hours indoors alone
And within my imagination
Perhaps I should pierce my ear and nose
Rebel against a faceless system
Or indeed tattoo text upon my neck
Quoting some so-called ancient wisdom
I could iron out all of the creases
Nip and tuck on my pronounced cheek bones
But thi
Life Is An Intravenous DripLife is an intravenous dripLife Is An Intravenous Drip in Free Verse More Like This
With no transfusion of blood
Instead it slowly relieves me
Of a mind that once was good
Administering paranoia
Directly from the drip chamber
Suffocating me with terror
When there is no imminent danger
Life is an intravenous drip
I am fascinated by my veins
And curious as to which one
Carries the blood to my brain
Which causes the unwanted impulse
For me to question every answer
Tourniquet that varicose vessel
Curiosity is my cancer
Life is an intravenous drip
Of that I am A positive
My blood remains optimistic
So why am I so negative
I see no saline solution
Just diminishing vital signs
As my sanity transfuse
Tragic AuthorI’m looking forward to being a tragic authorTragic Author in Traditional Fixed Forms More Like This
I’ll sit on a cloud with no silver lining
And become the male equivalent of a spinster
With words as my spouse and books as my offspring
At least then it is I who will control the outcome
For the lives of my heroes and heroines
And since I’ll not be afforded a happy ending
The least I can do is to give one to them
The Lord said ‘no’ to my happily ever after
Perhaps to inspire my imagination
A hollowed out heart is an ideal home after all
For my mind’s perpetual inspiration
I’m looking forward to being a tragic author
I’m such a devoted, hopeless ro
I Was In A Bad PlaceI’ll indite my crude and clumsy rhymesI Was In A Bad Place in Traditional Fixed Forms More Like This
From my place in the pitch dark
And will wait all night if needs must
For that one creative spark
That will manifest thoughts in my mind
Into a charged lightning bolt
Strike my memories, open my wounds
And let writing be my salt
So cut me and see the metaphors
Floating around my blood stream
Pour salt on the literal lesions
To punctuate my primal scream
As painful at first as the memory
But after the initial sting
Wounds will heel, leaving only scars
Numbness replaces everything
This lack of feeling is temporary
As a writer I live for the pain
Of opening up new abrasions
To keep me lucid and sa
The FallingThe FallingThe Falling in Free Verse More Like This
Upon malodorous rapture of orphaned darkness,
eternal melancholy becomes twisted and hollow
In the severed reflections of sanguine shadows,
we will drown in ruby tears of pain and sorrow
Whispers of odium seep gently into my dreams...
The Raven lingers in solemn clouds dark as coal
My blood surges like a chorus of bitter requiem
And my lips — the anathema of your dying soul
Dark lust hums like a cold tide of weeping voices
Perfumed in ash & bone, hallucinations imbue —
Blood soaked robes hang from my slender bride,
shimmering like scarlet threads under ebon skies
After sable petals fall upon my beloved's gra
A Night of CrowsSoul dark her eyes bleed obsidian, like a fever of liquid-shadows,A Night of Crows in Free Verse More Like This
seeking her lover damned…
And a myriad of talons will seed the sky — a primeval calling
of necromancy and lust untamed
Upon her breath, I whispered softly in winged-caress:
"cast thy nightscapes unto the ache of gossamer streams"
So she closed her eyes and her demon lover hungered long..
— Forever the Crow — shimmering in her darkest dreams
— Arthur Crow © 2012
The River Acheron(a movement of blood - destiny)The River Acheron in Free Verse More Like This
It is a place where life ends and love begins..
It is the river where lovers meet
~ A river forged in deepest scarlet.
Lost in the silence of blackened candles,
clad in silhouettes of poison — I seek love
In the song of a ravaged dawn I hath drowned
Deep in the flesh of the underworld I bathe in
the nectar of requiem
O' father, caress my untamed wounds with
your dread, lest I wander among angels
Dark'n dreary the river's sorrow, as shadows
spill from mine eyes unto gardens of ebony
— where my ache forever sails in portraits
of scarlet & decayed dreams
Dearest love,
Un
The Ravens of ValhallaO’er desolate shores wept the fate of immortal flamesThe Ravens of Valhalla in Free Verse More Like This
And into a Winter sun I bleed my dreams,
as a thousand years of love & war dressed the sky
Long-ships sailed to the otherworld upon Odin’s breath
Betwixt night and day I wandered, shimmering, peering
— Till my chalice of Dragons blood flowed but no more
I became a warrior lost in the stars, drifting, ever falling,
Until the shadows entombed my soul in Raven-lore
Lo the tempest eerie; ‘magick entwining spirit and flesh
Upon snow I awoke dreary, beneath winged-silhouettes
‘Couldst be, my Princess adored; — last of the Valkyrie!
I recall — myriad of
Sanctum of Wine and ShadowSanctum of Wine and Shadow in Free Verse More Like This
Upon one Night's tempest, my hunger did beckon ever darkly:
"In nomine dei Nostri Satanas Luciferi Excelsi!"
And in the perfume of immortality, I bathed deep and long ....
Within the labyrinth of melancholy, I am the black flame gleaming;
befallen in the mist when closed thine eyes
Harken thee, River's blush weeping scarlet in nocturnal ballad
In orphaned prophecy, I am the lust of sacrament —
dark enchantment wanton — Hade's syrup undressing in your soul
I have crossed oceans of time, haunted by thy gaze and lips,
lost in whispers of passion dripping like song into folding horizons
Eons spent, yet thy figure dark, I crave solemn
My Eternal BelovedIncessant screams echo across weeping gravesMy Eternal Beloved in Traditional Fixed Forms More Like This
On the winds of destiny you shall hear my call
The voice of suffering will caress your spirit,
and into my darkest nightmare, you will fall
Lush is the poison that runs beneath my skin
Your death I will sow, your blood I shall reap
My dark thoughts swoon into a song of decay
In the pitch of iniquity you will gently sleep
I will awaken upon a lattice of bloody shards,
and harvest the resonance of your eternal cries
In a field of black roses you will find my soul,
together we shall walk through bleeding skies
I stand before you in the harbor of madness,
shimmering like a dry beacon of w
MYTHODEA ~ Dark Night of SoulMYTHODEA ~ Dark Night of Soul in Free Verse More Like This
In the labyrinth of darkest dreams, I am the pitch
of coldest night
In the solace of the blackest dawn — I seek you
Where unblinking eyes sojourn in forests wild,
the kiss of ash and sanguine bespeaks
Whispers of a thousand skies rust and fall
The syrup of the gloaming hums thru the trees..
Obsidian mists bejewel the hunger of my soul,
like silhouettes dissolving into the poise of talons
In murk of scorched grove, Witches tears drip from
the leaves… caressing the tip of my tongue
Acrid winds scented by forbidden incantations,
slither deep into the prelude of Love's sacrament
In shallow of ebon fields I bask in beauti
SUPERNATURALDeep unto the mist of ages, spirits jewel worlds forsakenSUPERNATURAL in Traditional Fixed Forms More Like This
A slither of fire dawns the ethos of my dreams —
for the temptress seeds wind and sea with ancient song
Emerald streams flow thru forests of exile...
Beyond the veil of time, the ravens fly dark n' long
The flesh of trees weep to rise of ebon Moon
— Nocturnal rapture, seek I with whispered lust
Under wanton falls of twilight I hath bled upon magick vine
Beneath midnight tides the Fae stir,
somewhere in the other world, my flesh becomes her wine
~Arthur Crow © 2012
Night of the ViolinSeek you me in a grave shallow,Night of the Violin in Free Verse More Like This
bleeding upon a blade of rusted steel
The mood of a rose ascends beyond ether
caressing souls in skies hoary
From the pitch of solitude she appears,
dark hair soaking upon winds quiver
(violin weeping in the dew of nocturnal sunrise)
As the moon whispers in twilight's fall
my thoughts swirl into a halo of numb reverie
Entranced in the gloaming of her love —
dripping within the lotus of her serenade
Beset in eyes of jade,
drowning in sensual delight
Seduced in a gothic sky
Deepest gaze unleashed into my soul;
she weaves a spell of turquoise feather
her violin brushes my skin in dreamy hues
Lumen Naturae ~ The Light of Nature and Darkness ~~In the brotherhood of darkness — the sacredLumen Naturae ~ The Light of Nature and Darkness ~ in Free Verse More Like This
candle is a flame that cannot be seen, yet is the
most beautiful jewel of light~
Thru silvery mists I wandered, invoking spirits
Skyclad, spellbound in the poetry of the wind;
where shamans roam, lone and dreaming
— Serpents whispering in the wilderness of soul:
"seek you me... fall thee unto the light of darkness"
And I peered, lusting, deep into twilight-feasting
Forest spectres poured worlds upon my breath;
like plumes of incandescent shadows caressing
Rising in awakened visions and creation foretold
Covet I, the ether within — the primordial dark
Swirling in a fever of supernatur
FrostI am devouring chaos,Frost in Free Verse More Like This
chasing it down with winter's chill.
Spare me your fingerprints,
summer's lovechild. Those knowing owl eyes
have me second guessing the wild churning
in my bones. You are the sleep that sweeps
my eyelashes, drowning me in my own daydreams.
When was it...
that you plastered yourself to my ribcage?
dust.I'm chokingdust. in Free Verse More Like This
on the ink-dipped fingers
of verbs & metaphors
still lodged in this bruised,
paper crane throat;
the starving,
dead-flower scent
of your words,
still kissing my ribs.
How can you judge me-
when you don't bother
to read the naked poetry
beneath the temple of my flesh?
How long can butterfly
ankles hold up a
star-soaked frame?
Don't bother whispering
your secrets to nebulae,
not even the dust in my veins
will listen anymore.
Post MortemI am a walking, talking universe of dead poetsPost Mortem in Free Verse More Like This
who tattoo their stanzas into my flesh
with ghostly, typewriter fingers.
I live and breathe their worldly disasters
like a nicotine addiction I've never had.
Drowning in their scribbles
I kiss their shoreline romances,
envy their Annabel Lee's,
& carry their hearts in my heart.
I am 7am coffee on Sunday mornings:
a half drunk, hungover limerick
waiting to happen.
I am jealousy:
nothing more than weak words,
& a tongue-tied cliche-
but death becomes me.
Scorpion"Show me your bones."Scorpion in Free Verse More Like This
the atlas of her thighs quaked
as she misplaced her skin
in the backseat of his car.
"I'm a scorpion, you know-"
a messy promise
folded napkin-neat.
"Prove it."
& she smirked,
sure of her limbs,
her scars, & her teeth.
"I dare you to stake claim to this clavicle."
astrological.i. On some nights,astrological. in Free Verse More Like This
street lights guide
this lonely heart
to her lonely bed.
ii. In this universe of twilight skin
& mismatched bones,
I wonder just how many poems sleep
beneath the inkwell of her eyes.
iii. My body is a house of stars,
and her palms are black holes
sucking ( me ) into their vortex of
nothing.
iv. She says, "Please—my moon,
please—give these bones a reason
to stay."
& I am whispering lovelies
into the sanctuary of her heartbeats.
v. "Goddess temple,
sunset eyes, &
my windowpane love-
Let us eat the stars
t
Collection of poetic nothings.We were opal Tuesdays,Collection of poetic nothings. in Free Verse More Like This
mosaic butterflies
tattooed into the
rose garden curve
of my vertebrae,
gliding me through this wild youth.
But, like Icarus—
I was a sky conqueror
& these silk wings
touched the sun.
-
My inhalations are heavy,
like the earth he bruises
beneath his fingertips
as I chase silence.
"You've got a tongue
made for words." He says
against the arrogant thorns
of my briar spine.
"Learn to love yourself."
-
How do I say I love you
without saying I love you?
"I want to replace my heart with you."
-
You are spider silk woven
into my harvest moon
heartstrings, spider
limbs traveling this road map
of s
fly.this is hard for the world around us to grasp:fly. in Free Verse More Like This
these wildfires raging in our retinas
& the sins we wear like demonic similes
on our tongues- they are not enough.
& i am so fucking sorry of saying i'm sorry.
but, tell me,
what is a young poet(ess) to do
with veins made of kite strings?
Please, forgive me.Like lies, you saidPlease, forgive me. in Free Verse More Like This
I make breathing the cosmos
through rose colored lungs
look easy- vertebrae stretched
toward the moon.
& I'm hanging my bones
out to dry, carving Saturn's
rings into my wrists- my
star burst ankles.
I swore then I'd keep my
black tongued poetry
& uprooted limbs far,
far away from you.
But, like lies, galaxies,
& night fevers, you
are the destination
on my star map skin.
A lion among sheep.There are ghosts in my bloodstreamA lion among sheep. in Free Verse More Like This
kissing concrete cells &
the bedroom eyes of nerve endings.
( foreign words
engraved into my marrow, birds in my chest
& wars not yet fought between my hips. )
I've taken myself apart every night
since I learned how to swallow a pen
without gagging;
limb by steady limb.
Passed around by grabby hands,
a sold, & borrowed daughter;
I am a lion among sheep,
drunk on life & ink.
A Gods DebtSutured together by artists,A Gods Debt in Free Verse More Like This
devoured blasphemy-
hallowed out, & spit back up,
( you are afraid. )
Hooks longing for her ribcage embrace;
god-hands that can't seem to keep to themselves
grapple the gargoyle exterior of her deflowered frame.
( spread your legs. )
Red-inked and trembling,
prosetry masked as screams
knots into her anatomy.
Poem: Hold OnHold OnPoem: Hold On in Free Verse More Like This
I heard you crying last night
Did you stop trying last night?
You scream there is nothing left
You say there is nothing inside
You used to fly up so high
But you fell to pieces in the sky
You let go of your faith
And threw away your dreams
Try and find something left for us
I'll turn the lights out
Sleep for tonight
I have to leave,
So goodbye
You have to face this alone
You need to build your strength
You lost faith in me
And gave up
You know there is nothing
Left of us
You say it's too late
And nothing hurts
The feelings will come
And some will burn
But some will heal
If you keep strong
You won't hurt anymo
Poem: The World Looks Better With My Eyes ClosedThe World Looks Better With My Eyes ClosedPoem: The World Looks Better With My Eyes Closed in Free Verse More Like This
I know the dark underbelly of this place
I know the black underneath the sun
I've lived the horror of the nights
I know how this world works
And I know that it looks better
With my eyes closed
Starving children and homeless families
Are living among us and around us
The tragedies of this place will never go away
The hurricanes and tornadoes never cease
The crying eyes and broken hearts
Will never leave
I could think back
And remember all the lights
But I still know
The world looks better with my eyes closed
Ignorance is bliss, it's sad but true
To see the earth through a child's eye
Soul to SavePeople have greedy hands,Soul to Save in Traditional Fixed Forms More Like This
tearing at tender hearts.
Seeking a piece of soul,
wanting to belong in part.
In the end of innermost desire,
the yearning to contain --
something so pure yet fragile,
only to mistake and make pain.
Those of good and even evil
have dared to tread this road,
only to learn the reason why
people have this endeavor forbode.
Run far and fast my child,
depart from this affair.
Guard your hapless heart,
save your soul to someday share.
DreamwalkerDreamwalker--Dreamwalker in Traditional Fixed Forms More Like This
lurking at the seams
watching her eyes flicker,
sleep making reality blur.
He creeps along,
weaving his song
exposing subconscious secrets
sewn in her hidden regrets.
Dreamwalker--
his eyes meet with hers,
only to slowly fade away.
For she wakes to light of day.
Obsession"I need rest," she murmurs under the copper dyed hues of sunset's leaves.Obsession in Free Verse More Like This
"Why don't you lie down for a while?" He looks down upon her, intentions of night in his dark eyes.
"I need rest," she whispers as the colour begins to steadily fade.
"Then nod your head, there's naught to fear," he smiles, stardust coating his cold breath.
"I need rest," she sighs as the last of sun's warmth departs her core.
"Take a seat, my love," he encircles as a panther would its prey.
"I need rest," a cry as soft as a dove flees her lips.
"Lift your feet, one shan't stand for too long," he becomes a shadow looming.
"I need rest," her eyes of summer look u
Memory's PainCut my chest open,Memory's Pain in Traditional Fixed Forms More Like This
let me bleed.
Find my soul
and set it free.
Tears of red,
cries unheard.
Leave me be,
life's a blur.
Alone she treads
now forgotten,
mist in moonlight,
a mirror broken.
Find withered dreams
in torn up pages,
for death is gained
in memory's pain.
Where It Does Not ShineA parting glance in the room,Where It Does Not Shine in Concrete Poetry More Like This
A flirtation down the hall,
A smirk dancing on lush lips,
A pair of wandering eyes align.
Unheard whispers ready to bloom,
Breaths lost in forbidden fall,
Sentences trailing down hips,
Hands seeking desire's sign.
Unless you can meet me
where it does not shine,
I doubt I will be thine.
Reflection(2012)She found the word that sounds just right,Reflection(2012) in Traditional Fixed Forms More Like This
Hypergraphia, an overwhelming urge to write.
A thing in common of Van Gogh and Carroll,
two who are her inspiration and idol.
This similarity, though not as severe,
for she's not alone as it was to appear.
You don't know me,
though you think you do.
You're trying to be free,
if only you knew.
Words preserved,
respect deserved.
Silence present,
though no discontent.
The mystery of a diary,
reveals the hidden vocabulary
from an unknown lover gone shy
with the innermost wants to die.
Hide away your deepest desires,
protect them with burning fires.
Every day continue to grow
and stro
Rainbow Series: RedWhen the leaves cascade in forgotten fall,Rainbow Series: Red in Free Verse More Like This
it is their colour on the pale cement.
The hue on children's cheeks
as the cold nips their noses.
It is what dyes the trees,
autumn reaching--
for crystal stars.
The colour of berries
that taint one's lips,
and fading evenings of light.
When the logs are burning,
it is the colour they glow
before disappearing forever.
The scarf lost,
an ornament on the tree
and shades of a smile.
Foliage resting in morning,
apples nestled in branches,
delicate pomegranates below.
It is the colour you see
listening to the forest's whispers
eyes closed
facing sunbeams.
Youth's HiccupThe days of youth have abscondedYouth's Hiccup in Free Verse More Like This
into the folds of forgotten memory.
Times when ignorance was bliss
Incompatible innocence - only temporary.
The chapters continue to write themselves,
never-ceasing in their progression.
Stars faded into broken shards
as age summoned its restriction.
Responsibility--
Tying down diamond-eyed children
into burdened and weary adults
where giggles with smiles are hidden.
The days of youth have long departed
where may have abused the tender-hearted.
The beauty of youth had a hiccup
when we believed we wanted to grow up.
Light MeadowsGoodbye, irate inhibitions.Light Meadows in Concrete Poetry More Like This
Adieu, reckless recognitions.
Sayonara, rude restrictions.
Adios, pointless prohibitions.
It has become time to adamantly elude
the trepidation of negative attitude;
to parlay into beautiful spontaneity
and depart from monotonous animosity.
This chaotic thing called life
tends to bring habitual strife.
Through the endeavor of survival
often times come need of renewal.
Good day, prude premonitions.
Cheerio, tiresome traditions.
So long, absurd acquisitions.
Toodle-oo, dreary dispositions.
There is no need for this weight
that only mentally becomes innate,
All along in this present actuality
none o
There is no place for me.There is no place for my ideals or me,There is no place for me. in Concrete Poetry More Like This
There is no place for justice or mercy.
There is no place for true love anymore,
It's a sad truth, it saddens me at the core.
There is no place for me in this world,
Where the cries of the needy must go unheard.
I'm cast out for my ideals, my gentleman's code,
Well, I was born like this, a man in hero mode.
There is no place for a hero in this world,
The knight in shining armour must go unheard.
There is no such thing as a Fairy Tale,
I am not Prince Charming, just another sail.
On a boat afloat on a sea of sadness,
The winds of mourning passing through me.
There is nowhere in this world fo
Without You.And as the blood runs off of this blade,Without You. in Free Verse More Like This
And drips out onto this far out glade.
I really wish I'd told you no,
I really wish I had told you "don't go".
And as the tears ran from your eye,
I wish I could've made them dry.
But right now I wish more than anything,
That you were mine, because I am nothing.
Without You.
Denial.I know I'm in denial,Denial. in Concrete Poetry More Like This
Saying I don't love her.
But I still say it all the while,
Because I have been hurt.
I know I should stop this,
I know I should just face it.
But I can't face up to this,
I can only run away from it.
I know that I still love her,
I would take her back in a heartbeat,
But as I can't have her,
I lie to myself, looking down at my feet.
I know that I still love her,
But Denial is my only friend.
Statue In The RainI'm not dead because I'm still breathing,Statue In The Rain in Free Verse More Like This
I'm not dead because I'm finally living.
I'm still here because you always need me,
I won't leave you if you don't leave me.
I'm still here, right where you left me,
The statue in the rain, ready to give you glee.
When you feel sad, you know where to go,
I'm not dead, I'm here for you and I hope you know.
That I'm still here, and always will be for you,
That I'll remain as long as I know you want me to.
That the statue in the rain will always be waiting for you,
Because Jennifer, I love you.
I'm going to cry.I'm going to cry for all I've lost,I'm going to cry. in Free Verse More Like This
And you can't or won't stop me.
I'm going to die for all I was,
And all you'll do is watch me.
I'm going to hide from you,
Afraid to show my weakness.
I would happily die for you,
But I still regret this.
I didn't want this life,
I didn't want these tears.
I didn't want this life,
I didn't want these fears.
I used to cause myself pain,
To make sure I still feel.
I'll do it now and again,
To make sure it's still real.
I'm going to cry for all I've lost,
And you can't stop me.
These tears I cry at my cost,
For once will flow freely.
I would've been.I would've been a masterpiece if it wasn't for the tear,I would've been. in Free Verse More Like This
I don't know why I tell you this, it's not like you care.
I would've been a legend if it wasn't for the time,
Age of heroes has come and gone, all I can do now is rhyme.
I would've made something of myself, if I'd had the motivation,
But now, I just lie in wait, awaiting even more degradation.
I could've been someone, or something, I know I could,
But right now, it's all talk, all "Could, should, would."
Then there's that "if" or that "but" getting in the way,
I could've been a masterpiece, but here I am, rotting away.
No one even gives me a second glance,
I'm not a famous one like Rembrandt's.
I could've been a masterpiece if it wasn't for the tear,
If only the people looking after me had taken more care,
I could've been perfect, and remembered forever,
But now I am just a portrait, of the Forgotten Reaper.
Who what when where why or how.You're just another faceless one, hidden in the crowd,Who what when where why or how. in Free Verse More Like This
No one cares about you, or why you act so proud.
No one knows who you are, you're just another face,
You could just disappear without a trace.
The blood red sky in your mind's eye,
It's always there but you don't know why.
You're just a part of a bigger whole,
And your heart is as black as coal.
You play dress-up with your top hat and cane,
But you can take it off and disappear again.
You're never noticed no matter what you wear,
It's a source of their contempt and your despair.
You could just disappear right now,
No matter who what when where why or how.
Discarded.You cry for your sorrows and you bleed for your dreams,Discarded. in Free Verse More Like This
Just always remember, this world is not what it seems.
You can be the best of friends and then disappear,
They'll just discard you, I know it's hard to hear.
But this has happened enough to me,
It's all everyone's been doing recently.
So here I lie, discarded, fearing to stand up,
Because what waits just isn't worth getting up.
Thrown away and lying in a puddle of mud and blood,
All the other times I got up, and wiped off the mud.
But this time, as I lie here, broken and bloody,
I don't want to get up, I want to be a dead body.
I know getting up is inevitable, because I will never give in,
But I really just want to give up and say that "I'm done in."
Why I never shut up.Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens and ignorance is bliss.Why I never shut up. in Free Verse More Like This
It is this combination of quotes that explain my life.
Why I never shut up, I know too much, I don't even know how or why,
Sometimes I ramble on about something I've only just started to form.
I'm only just about to start grasping the concept, yet all I say is true,
I don't know how my mind works, but I know it can vex you.
I never shut up, because I just know so much,
I always have to be right, purely because I am right.
I have and had some weird hobbies, learning things people don't,
I have to say it's quite fun, knowing what others don't.
But you see, ignorance is blis
The Black XX marks the spot, the treasure on the maps,The Black X in Free Verse More Like This
This mark feeds, courage and strength it saps.
This X over the frail boy's heart,
As slowly, so slowly, they all depart.
His courage, his strength, his force of will,
Without these powers he feels quite ill.
The dark used to hold no worries for him,
But now; it suffocates and swallows him.
That one little mark had changed it all,
The boy who always belonged in the dark.
He had been stolen, consumed by it all,
That boy now belonged To The Dark.
In the MiddleYou are a person that sees too much.In the Middle in Free Verse More Like This
You look at people and you don't see just them.
You see their doubts, their desires, and
wonder how people can be made up
of so much and that it all fits in such a tiny package.
And with these eyes that see too much,
your mouth is shut so you can listen while you watch.
You have words to say but sometimes they don't
come forward, so you listen to peoples' plights
and keep composed because it is your duty as
a modern man to keep it together, but I think
I like you best when I see you smile,
or when you laugh. It's catching.
I don't know your history, mainly because
we draw borders in our famil
Who Does She Think She Is?It's not about biology or chemistryWho Does She Think She Is? in Free Verse More Like This
or psychology but how you wake
at 2 AM with ideas and words
pulling you to the doorway to find
Paper and pen in your study
instead of checking to see if
your daughter is still sleeping.
It's when she's napping you settle
between the shadows and smooth
out the crinkles in your latest work-in-progress
[it's always easier to start than finish].
It's about sacrifices, because husbands
need wives not writers. Babies need
mommies to change their diapers and
kiss their boo-boos, not women who
stare at a blank page for hours, wondering
when it will speak to her.
You have to choose between you
Purple ButterfliesSometimes it doesn't feel real.Purple Butterflies in Free Verse More Like This
These limbs sometimes wander
to times when things weren't always this stable.
Sometimes your heart beats like a drum,
calling you to arms, to do battle,
while other times its rhythmic thumping
puts you to sleep after a long day
of working, of mothering, of being.
You are blessed, you know this,
you are not trying to argue against it,
but there are moments that you shatter
inside, and you don't realize
how much stronger that makes you,
instead of so broken.
I want to tell you something.
I have watched you from when I was little
and I always told myself that one day
I was going to be just like yo
Red Rum and ChardonnayShe's got these hands thatRed Rum and Chardonnay in Free Verse More Like This
memorize and define her,
wrap her up in a pretty bow
like a package to be shipped off
to another destination
because that's all she has ever
wanted was a little excitement,
a little freedom that will carry
her to a place where she doesn't feel
like all there is in life is open skies
and flatness and normal.
She's got hands that I want to
hold to make her stop running.
I want to take those hands and
tell her that no matter where
she goes she still has me and
even when we're old and withering
in our rocking chairs I'll still call her
and ask her if she remembers
that time when we went walking
on
ImpossibleShe has artist hands, the kindImpossible in Free Verse More Like This
that fiddle when there isn't a brush
or pencil in it, giving her
the chance to document
what is happening around her
with pictures. She paints
the earthly, the real, the attainable
but her eyes are always turned
to God and sometimes I wonder
if she depicts earth because
she's sending pictures to Our Father,
showing him her appreciation
for what he has made.
Or maybe she is an angel,
and the reason she doesn't bother with
heaven is because she has already
seen it. She knows its beauty,
its secrets, and she wants to share
it in her art but people don't
understand what they cannot see
so she'll
MissionaryWhen he first saw herMissionary in Free Verse More Like This
she appeared unique to all things,
and the day they met, he already knew.
It was during their first time,
the way planets come and go
as time loses count of their orbit.
It never seems to end, then he
growls low in her ear as she swoons,
of how missionary will never
be the same for him again.
Coming OutWith promises to be good,Coming Out in Free Verse More Like This
you prayed every day
and waited for the sign,
even when a songbird touched
down on the roofs of Kansas
and went hollow on your shoulder.
The shedding of teardrops,
the coming out of a heartland
from its religion.
Breathing the smoke of its ash,
and being washed clean of what
you thought you knew.
The locusts never come,
the harvest will yet fail,
but don't deny the butterfly
that carries you over pastures
of dairy cows too busy
to look up at you and judge.
OppositeThe world glistened with abandonOpposite in Free Verse More Like This
in the electrical parade,
when and where the night skies too
seemed receptive and robust,
yet even while I'm still awake
I'm content in the quiet of my dreams
like the creatures and those who sleep
in the opposite place and time
where plans and promises of a new year
become folly, and no longer exist.
SolitudeTo spill and imbibe these words;Solitude in Free Verse More Like This
the ambrosia that fills me
distills the drug of you,
birth after birth-
and at last I'm sustained
until a night of lovers
breaks into day like lightning,
and again,
I'm beside myself with solitude
until the fever returns.
Blue LotusBlue Lotus in Free Verse More Like This
Coming up from Aswan with his catch,
he tacks the course of his dhow
along the Nile of her dark eyes,
her long hair,
the narcotic of blue water lilies,
her lotus pose facing both
the rising, and the setting sun,
the young fisherman begs to know
as he sings upward with his might
and his desire, into the sail
that catches the crosswind--
What is your name, scented one,
in the smoke that rises
from the shores of the cataracts,
where I bring to you my bounty!
He peers into the azure above,
waiting for her answer to fill his sail,
calling out once more as his teeth gleam--
Ma huwa 'ismuki?
SnowiesThe owlets were coming of ageSnowies in Free Verse More Like This
while grounded, testing their wings
as father soared overhead,
his children grouping for one more test.
Feathers puffed in awkward stance
one by one to Sunday school
beyond the tundra fields
of late summer skeeters,
to where fat lemmings flourish-
just fly over the last
grass-choked stream, said mother
(but they decide to wade across),
past wind-blown dunes of green, where
lies the sea beyond, with more lemmings
that hide and play near their burrows
than any snow owl on the wing could wish for.
A Season's Echo of PassingRows of dried corn stalks bendA Season's Echo of Passing in Free Verse More Like This
with the wind that
thirsts for rain
that will only come when it has died
and the ears of corn cease to rattle.
And the thunder's distant laugh
will chase after the snakes
heading for their mounds on higher ground,
their husks abandoned-
the flash floods may yet pass them by.
The Aegir TidesThe monarch's flock crowdsThe Aegir Tides in Free Verse More Like This
the shell of cliffs with its
violence, and with its rape
piercing the nests of
her bosom, the light without
and the lie within,
canon of shorelines
of broken ships and sailors
dashed along the cracks-
perilous mansion
without its windows intact
as her voice strains through
spirits that permeate
going into ribcages and
coming out nostrils-
winds of a sceptre
swarm over her bereavement
to reclaim its parish.
Erotiku in 10 movements1.Erotiku in 10 movements in Haiku & Eastern More Like This
full moon rising
the announcement
of her time
2.
receptive
scents awaken his body
to hers
3.
black birds
forage
two lovers nibble
4.
clandestined
the steam of
their mutual breath
5.
they love in desperation
for the winter of
their separation
6.
mesmerized by the
contrast on his fingers
the essence of her
7.
from behind
he holds her teacup body
in symmetry to his own
8.
speechless
their moves are graceful
without thinking
9.
the flesh of a female
and the sweet promise
orchids in the garden
10.
dark moon setting
where she rests her head
to rise again
Sta.sh
