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This Week's Featured Poems

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My Worst Critic

Alas, you do not know me at all. You think you do, and shame on you for it. We've been by this time and again, you and I. Will you ever cease?

Of all those who run me down.. You, oh it is you who have done it best. My hope you know.. And I know you know, is that you'll see you for you.

You've partaken my hospitality, the bread of my table you supped and were it not for such civilities I'd have shed you years ago.

You who have slept below my roof, shared my homes warmth, enjoyed the pleasure of my time. You of all who repay kindness with harsh criticism.

You interject when friends compliment me, you discredit all their words. And as a thief, you would rob me of simple joys and dignity.

You patronize me and whisper seeds of discord within my thoughts. You've been lurking all the while, in my discomfort you take pride.

I'm done with you, You have nothing left I wish to hear. In fact, I'm quite done talking back at you.... within this bathroom mirror.

Copyright © Jesse Zerlaut | Year Posted 2017

Their Last Goodbye

As they said their last goodbye he asked,
"Was it when we stopped being lovers that made our marriage end?"
"No." she said smiling tenderly. 
"!t was when we stopped being friends."

Copyright © Jim Yerman | Year Posted 2018

Happiness Is A Distant Beach

I have a secret happy place that's deep inside my head,
It's where I like to visit every night when I'm in bed.
I travel there by boat, the sail flaps gently on the mast,
The ocean shines a million shades of blue, the sky is vast.
My happy place appears on the horizon far away.
I land my boat upon the beach, the palm trees sigh and sway.
The sand between my naked toes is talcum powder soft,
And seabirds greet me, singing loud while soaring up aloft.
I watch the ocean push its white-tipped waves toward the shore,
And listen as each wave collides with beach then is no more.
I'm quite alone on this small isle, nobody else around,
No Friday footprints in the sand to spoil what I have found.
My island paradise soothes each and every body ache,
And sweeps away the pain and angst the daytime strove to make
So I drift away, serene and calm, my body free of stress,
And off to sleep I travel filled with joy and happiness.

Copyright © John Wilmore | Year Posted 2024



Have You Ever

Have you ever had no food to eat .
Have you ever had nothing to put on your feet

Have you ever had clothes that were torn 
Have you ever had no way to keep you warm
 
Have you ever begged for salvation to come 
Have you ever cried out for your mum

Would you ever admit that this is true. 
Would I ever yes I DO....

Copyright © Paul White | Year Posted 2023

The Parts We Play

I like to think as Shakespeare did,
"that all the world's a stage".
And through our life, we play many parts,
when one ends, we just turn the page.

Some parts we choose ourselves.
The others, we are given, 
by one who knows our fate,
but keeps the ending hidden.

Maybe things are all laid out,
about the parts we are to play.
And the scripts have all been written,
each specific for the role cast today.

There are no dress rehearsals,
No cue cards to read.
You only get one performance,
and that is the role that you play the lead.

Copyright © Sandra L. Weiss | Year Posted 2018

Flying High

Flying high

I am not sure about the theme
but this is one I know.
So, I shall write about a dream
I had not long ago,
my pen will let it flow.

It happened when I was asleep
I grew some wings one night.
When flapped them with a great big sweep
soon found I was in flight,
with vision sharp my sight.

And without fear I soared so high
my confidence just grew.
Went up and down around the sky
around, around I flew,
so dazzled by the view.

Took off and flew around the world
all countries went with ease.
Went up and down, I whirled and swirled
o’re mountains and the seas,
wings fanned by gentle breeze.

However soon my wings grew weak
and I woke up in bed.
My dream was like a lightning streak
gone in a flash instead,
t’was all just in my head.


Contest Quintain (English) Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Emile Pinet

Copyright © Christine Watts | Year Posted 2022

A Zone of Confidence

the question is a basic question
the question is a basic zone
the question is a basic confidence
basic,basic itself with a zone
basic,basic itself with a question
basic,basic itself with confidence
basic is basic’s confidence

basic is the maturity of a confidence
maturity is maturity’s confidence
confidence is maturity’s confidence
a question lies the maturity
a question is a question of maturity
the question lies the maturity off its question
off the question is off the maturity

off the answer is off the question
off the answer is off the basic
off the question lies the answer
off the question lies the basic
off the question lies the maturity
off the question lies the confidence
off the question lies the zone of confidence

Copyright © Lucifer Very Very Very 1st | Year Posted 2018

The Only Thing That Looks Good in Black and White

Nothing is simple,
but we carve it clean—
label it, box it,
turn a question into a rule,
a rule into a law,
a law into a weapon,
and call the wreckage order.

We crave control,
but sharpen our knives in chaos.
We demand honesty,
but crucify the truth.
We worship free thought,
but silence it before it speaks.

We want change,
but only if it looks
like what we already know.

A zebra is the only thing
that looks good in black and white.
Everything else—
everything real—
drowns in the blur between.

We say we hate the system,
but gut each other
before we ever fight it.
We demand peace,
but kneel to the loudest fist.
We claim we want the truth,
but only if it sings us to sleep.

The universe isn’t laughing.
It’s watching the clock.
Time is running out.

Copyright © Aarron Tuckett | Year Posted 2025

Dusty Love

Dusty, neé Hermione’s girl,
Is proving to be an equine pearl.
Rescued, adopted and chosen by Kym,
Peaceful-life living is not just a whim.
Beaten, starved by her former owner,
She flourishes under the love Kym’s shown her.
Dusty gets spooked when humans come close,
She turns, slinks away and looks morose.
Trust – a factor that’s hard to regain,
Chunks of her broken spirit remain.
Dusty’s thoughts are kept tucked inside,
Does she dream of a playful romp and a ride?
Or is it the past terrors of hurt and abuse,
That linger to cause her to be a recluse?
She regally stands on a knoll in the field,
Sun-dappled chestnut hide revealed.
Flaxen mane crowns this queenly steed,
In tribute to her Haflinger breed.
Kym hopes Dusty’s faith in people restores,
... If not in this world, then in heaven’s outdoors.

Copyright © Cindy Thompson | Year Posted 2021

Dinner

Breathing in the decay 
I paused with trepidation 
As a chill crept upon me tonight

Odourous and thick
A suffocating feel of nothingness 
devoid of light

The claws they were jagged 
and bitingly cold 
As they circled around my neck

The slow caress
 as he lifted me high 
to look... to see... to...

I am not sure...
I was left dangling in pause 
as he took stock of me; up and down. 

He lowered my body 
to the base of a tree 
Gone when he swirled around. 

The gravel did groan
And fly out of place 
as the grass bent in the wind

But gone he was, 
clawed stench to beyond
A world, a realm, an abyss.

My neck was inflamed 
Choking me again 
as I sat unable to move.

And through the shadows 
a terror did 'rang'
eyes glued to focus through.

Mist, it had settled, 
opaque undefined.. 
swirling became obtuse

And then jagged lines 
crossed though the pale 
to exact the flesh it should

Warmth aflow, 
in my neck it did stow,
the claws from the start of the tale 

Return with might 
to hide the sight 
of the monster on the trail. 

The smooth caress 
as he lifted me high 
and drank from the bones in my neck

I watched from the sidelines
a shimmering mist 
as my life was reduced to this.

Copyright © Lifes' Tapestry | Year Posted 2018

Socks

Brick, Brack, brock!
     I wish I had a sock.
     Not just one or three,
            Thanks!
     That's just not for me.
     I want to have two.
     Two socks in my drawer.
     Not in the floor,
     Or in the dryer.
     Not in folding,
     Or out for hire.
     Two socks that fit my feet,
     I would prefer the same color, just to be neat.
     Although I have known socks,
     I'm sure you can find one pair,
     Out of forty-two.
     The last excuses that I heard were,
     "the washer died them a wicked shade of pink".
            That stinks!
     Or the one you would call,
     "the day the dryer went on the blink",
     Ate all my socks,
     Except a stripe, polka-dot, and pink!
     I don't ask for much for my poor feet,
     Just two socks.
     Just to be neat.

Copyright © Kim Stone | Year Posted 2022

Woodland Walk

Debris underfoot Pathway winds through bluebell wood Dappled sun lights way. Fiddleheads unfurl Moss grows green, trees stand tall Stately Queen Anne's Lace. Seasonal rotation Timeless moments to enjoy Celebrate nature.

Copyright © Delice Arleen Skelly | Year Posted 2015

Epitaph of a Run-Away Bride

Here lies a woman of hedonist fame,
her Je ne sais quoi had no restrain.
Any man who proposed
found her not so disposed
and never could find her again!









*

Copyright © Thvia Shetley | Year Posted 2010

Someone Is Ringing

I awoke to the sound of a telephone ringing
                                   I reached for the phone, 
                               but it was nowhere near me.  
                                  I will call you back later,
                                   I heard myself saying, 
                               then a soft voice whispered, 
                                   "I heard you praying"

                                   I ran for the telephone, 
                                       but I was too late,
                                so I checked my missed calls,
                                     and saw Jesus name.
                          
                            I immediately pressed voice mail
                                    I needed to hear more.  
                               "My child I heard you praying
                                    for all the world sores"
                       
                          Please pray again, my father is not in
                                 he is preparing for the end 
                                      of all worldly sins"

                             I pressed redial, my mind a blank
                                      What if he answers???
                                       What would I say???
                                    
                          " Father forgive me, for I have sinned
                                I ask no mercy for I am of man"
                                   I felt a hand upon my head
                                      a soft voice whispered
                                         " I know my child"
                                      and the line went dead.
                                            Moments later, 
                                       I arose from my bed!!

Copyright © Yolanda Scott | Year Posted 2015

Simpler Wedding

Two friends that life separated for a Time Who's reunitation can only be described as Sublime On this day we are all fortunate to share in their bliss From when they both say I do to their first married kiss I was there at the start when their second chance begins I am blessed in this life to call you both friends May this day be the beginning of a forest planted with two seeds May your love help them grow and meet all of your needs May the sun shine down onto them helping them grow May their branches intertwine like the love you both know May the shade from them protect you both on this earth May all who look apon them see what love is worth For what could be Simpler for J.R. and Megan Then to share in the Joy where their forever began

Copyright © Anonomus Scorpio | Year Posted 2022

Don't Judge Me

Don’t judge me because I am not like you
We are all human, but different too
We have our experiences and ways we cope
To survive life’s curves and slippery slope
Sometimes, we try our best and still fall
Other times, it is easy to stand tall
Some days feel heavy, others feel light
Some we feel rested or lose sleep at night
There is joy to be felt and there is pain
All part of life, just as weather brings the rain
Some things are easy or hard to get through
But, don’t judge me because I am not like you

Heidi Sands

3/9/18

Copyright © Heidi Sands | Year Posted 2018

Enchanted Forest

Enchanted forest
                                 Trees stand tall, leaves of color
                                       Creatures camouflage

                                     By eve roper   11/9/2014

Copyright © Eve Roper | Year Posted 2014

The Color Red

quiet silence
the continuation
of smothered thoughts

gaging howling winds
beyond an understanding
spoken in braille 

ignoring order
colors forming to the right
Dorian Gray

a corrupted mind
kills with passionate pleasure
what virtue remains

quiet silence
the continuation
death resides below

await the reaper
dark—black chilling specter
ghoul in residence

awake—blood freezes
nightmares for the young and old
dawn draws the bright sun

tomorrow we will
paint another painting
less the color red

Copyright © Estanislao Rodriguez-Cuevas | Year Posted 2018



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