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Best Poems Written by P.S. Awtry

Below are the all-time best P.S. Awtry poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

Details | P.S. Awtry Poem

Listen For the Drum


listen to the drum,

talking to the dance

listen to the elders, 

whispering their chants

listen to the hooves, pounding on the plain

listen to the birds, prophesying rain

listen to the moon, time to plant the grain

listen to the tales, told around the fire

listen to the breeze, and the clouds conspire

listen for the buffalo, warn of dreadful days

listen, The Great Spirit speaks in many ways

listen for the eagle, 

calling from the sky

listen 

for the drum,

hear 

a mournful sigh

Details | P.S. Awtry Poem

The Poem Garden


I have a little garden
growing on a page.
No mint, I beg your pardon.
I hope that there is sage.

It’s ideas I plant there
to see what they will do.
Each day I check to see where
some precious seedlings grew.

I feed and water them 
until they’re fully grown,
but sometimes on a whim
they’ve caught a breeze and flown.

Poems are what I’m sowing
and though I’ve reached full age,
I think it’s me that’s growing
as I garden on the page.


10.22.2018

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I Sure Miss the Old Hymns


I sure miss the old hymns of ages past.
With tattered edges their message still lasts.
Those five stanza’d jewels I know by heart--
“The Sweet By and By” and “How Great Thou Art!”
And “Count Your Blessings,” I love that one, too.
And “This World’s Not My Home, I’m Just Passing Through.”
But when I’ve done wrong and need to get right,
There’s “Just As I Am” and “Why Not Tonight.”
I swear I can hear my folks who have gone,
on “Vict’ry in Jesus,” they sing along.
Someday all the saints will stand and join in
As Heaven’s choir sings those songs once again.

Those old, yellowed pages worn soft by tears—
Oh how I miss the songs of yesteryear.

August 22, 2022

Details | P.S. Awtry Poem

Can We Be Strangers

the holes in the walls are all patched
and the plaster is dry
the broken glass is swept away
or turned to sand

I only want that when I see you,
you not quickly turn away…

to be forgiven--not to start over,
we know how that ends
not to be friends, we’ve tried that, too--

but, that you include my wretched
name in your whispered prayers for 
all humanity...

I hoped maybe we'd be
strangers and just
...smile


January 15, 2019
Free Verse Old or New Poetry Contest
Joseph May, Sponsor

Details | P.S. Awtry Poem

Purple Makes Me Cry


Long ago, purple was only for the rich.
No one else could wear it, not a purple stitch.
It was just for kings and rulers of the world.
They had all the gold, the rubies, and the pearls.

But all around this gorgeous globe, purple could be found.
On flowers, clouds, and insects--why, purple does abound!
It seems to me a gift from someone way up high, 
Saying we're ALL special. ~ That's why purple makes me cry.





January 19, 2019
Purple Premier Poetry Contest
Kevin Shaw, sponsor
2nd Place

Details | P.S. Awtry Poem

By Then We'll Be Dead

Whispers and intrigue 
and things that shan’t be said,
not uttered or stuttered--
minds shuttered instead.

You cannot, you shall not,
believe your own eyes.
You must put your trust in 
our false facts and lies.

Sit down, and be quiet! 
You don’t need to think!
Ignore feigned enemies, 
when you catch them wink.

You must believe 
what we say is true,
because we’re much smarter--
we’re thinking for you!

We’re right, and we know it. 
There’s no doubt about it!
You can tell that we’re right 
‘cause we’re loud when we shout it.

Ignore all the things 
that come to light later.
If you should mention those,
well--you’re just a hater.

This is the story. 
Now march to our drum.
All those who don’t,
are worthless and dumb!

           * * *

One day some scholar 
will take a fresh look
and write a best seller, 
an award-winning book.

She’ll reveal the whole truth,
opposite all that we’ve read.
But don’t wait to read it,
‘cause by then we’ll be dead!

______________________
January 6, 2022
King Size Bull Crap Contest
Charlie Messina, sponsor

Details | P.S. Awtry Poem

Fall Tiptoed In


Fall Tiptoed In 

Softly, last night it tiptoed in--
that wisp of crispness in the air!
I grab a quilt made way back when
and watch the sunrise from my chair.

The cinnamon breeze monarchs ride—
softly, last night it tiptoed in
and brought me thoughts of days gone by,
of marshmallows and campfire friends.

Can it be, summer’s at an end,
and fall has quietly begun?
Softly, last night it tiptoed in,
to avoid notice of the sun.

Just yesterday the summer heat 
made me wistful for fall, and then,
while I’m in bed and fast asleep,
softly, last night it tiptoed in!

8/26/2022
Hint of Autumn
Regina McIntosh, sponsor

Details | P.S. Awtry Poem

Summer, Stay

An end-of-August day, the air is crisp--
the only hint that fall is on its way.
And we’ve gone to the park to share this bliss,
for school will soon cut short his time for play.

The wide, paved paths meander round a pond,
'neath walnut-laden trees, and over creeks.
Bike freed from training wheels takes him beyond
my grasp, and off he rides with ruddy cheeks.

But soon he takes a spill and grabs his knee.
His little chin aquiver but no tears.
A kiss and Batman band-aid remedy.
“All better?”  He nods bravely, quelling fears.

He scrambles to his bike and rides away.
I wish that time could slow and summer, stay.


5/1/2019

May 1, 2019
Specificity in Poetry
Sheri Fresonke Harper, Sponsor
~3rd Place

POTD 5/3/2019

Favorite Poem from May 2019
Julia Ward, Sponsor
~2nd Place

Details | P.S. Awtry Poem

Three Wishes


If I had three wishes and knew that they’d come true.
I’d go back in time.  There are things that I’d redo.
I wouldn’t do them differently and change my today.
I would do them over again, in the very same way.

To hear my mother laughing, see my dad’s twinkling eyes,
hold my now-grown children when they were infant-size,
kiss my handsome groom again on our wedding day,
or sit in our old sandbox and with my siblings play.

If I had three wishes, I’d travel through the past
to do again my favorite things to make the memories last.
Thank you for the wishes! That’s what I would do.
But I only need the one. You can keep the other two.


Date:  October 24, 2018
Three Wishes Premier Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Kevin Shaw
~2nd place


520 Standard Contest, any form
Sponsor: Brian Strand
a 1st place

Details | P.S. Awtry Poem

A Muse Abused



I'll just step
very softly,
tip toe,
on this blank page.
My inner critic?
fast asleep!
Perhaps
I'll tap dance,
lightly,
while he snores.
For freedom
has a jazz band beat
...soon twirling dizzily...
Shhh!
The prison guard stirs.

9/27/2019

Yalto Poems Only Contest
Emile Pinet, Sponsor