Truth trips the tongue mid-stage
the mask cracks in the glare,
applause feeds on the lie
failure wears a spotlight.
youth fades with truth
truth holds the proof
smooth words uncouth
truth hides the proof
uncouth truth
craving to be seen
yet stray retort shatters me —
my glass mask splinters
every piece tilts my face back
at angles I can't endure
one word in print scalds
smoke sears my lingering thoughts
blinding tomorrow —
fragility weeps like wax
from a candle I keep lit
still, I sift slivers
threading them in songs and verse
knowing they might cut
to make strangers laugh or cry
it's worth each crimson spot
You applause the actor
Her harmonious tone
Her play of words
Her triumphs heard
But do you love the stage after the song
The leftover footprints from where it sang along
Atoning for every step that was missed
Retrieving the dust from her accomplishments
The dust from the skill she used to win
The dirt from the shoes that store talent within
She takes a bow and stifles her breath
For love won’t come if she shows weakness next
But no one applauds the stage after the show
For being there, for laying low
For setting a platform all but their own
The cleaners perceive them as one last chore
The light flicks off, and what is love?
The stage hadn’t known, from being alone
And it will never know, until the lights flick on
And the cleaner applauds it for all it has done
Hold the applause, I’m not dead yet
she said, in deafening soft voice
you wish to sing, to dance, rejoice;
give me another cigarette.
Hold the Applause – Pick a Title Vol. 52, 6-8-25, Sponsor Edward Ibeh
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hold the Applause
Hold the applause
As the last note holds it’s breath
Before the keynote
Exhales
Before the melody
Takes a solitary journey
Into a taciturn hush.
Nascent
Waits
Like an incognito coda,
A second ending,
Rejecting the downbeat of resolution.
A breathless
Motif
Expands
Into the glorious,
Unfolding
Into fresh synonyms,
Anointed arias,
Unfolding like auroras
In stanzas
Pregnant with commas.
creative thoughts we seem to think
vibrations borrowed from vast space
our muse that appears in a blink
what else is it but gift of grace
hold the applause, we’re not the cause
our consciousness is full of flaws
all eyes on us when we walk in
everything seems to go our way
we don’t need to work hard to win
the sun shines on us every day
hold the applause, we’re not the cause
know ego grips us in its claws
possessions which to us our dear
our social standing, wealth and fame
trophies won praised by the crowd’s cheer
reflect which force steadied our aim
hold the applause, we’re not the cause
put such thoughts of grandeur on pause
As a young child of five,
I found myself in dance school.
It was a fun place to make new friends,
as we learned about dancing.
After a year of training,
we were ready for our big dance recital.
The exciting night finally came,
we were dressed in hot pink outfits.
Now it was our turn with music playing,
we marched out onto the huge stage.
Bright lights were on us,
as well as every eyeball from the many seats.
The lead girl froze in place like a statue,
so please "Hold The Applause."
I stepped in front of her,
and kept on dancing.
The other girls followed me,
as we danced across the huge stage.
We finished our dance recital,
now we will take your applause.
Final Applause
Velvet drapery in the dusk back-ground
A turntable goes around in sound
Baffled from the scenery
On stage imaginary
A final applause
Voices echo
The crowd lowered in the shadows
Blue lights array smoke
A late night show
The dark curtains open
Music in the back-ground travel
Across the floor
Dancing sway amused
Put on a play
Live performance shadowy
A pleasant evening
A poem live compelling
The final applause
Standing ovation
A play greatly appreciated
applause from heaven
celebrating victory
christian gets baptized
The world’s applause
After climbing the highest peak,
The world’s applause;
It is victory’s cause, because
The eagle knows of which I speak,
Love grants an alluvial creek;
The world’s applause
I’m happy inside with applause
Merrily close to menopause
Even if I get warm like sun
I’m so happy thinking soon it’ll be done
No more killer cranberry cramps
No more pressing pads like stamps
No more birth control pills
No more nausea and feeling ill
So excited about the freeing of mind
From worry of planting babies times
That’s all over after menopause completes
Like a four leaf clover I am happy it’s nearing
then might we be One
who's husbandry you
have made me
night you excit me in
silence
that your voice shall sing our
love in song
than that we shall be
flowered, kissed, and satisfied
Than might we be as one
that you have madest me wait
simmered my passions
might you handle me
handled me into your purpose
that you may never need to
lie to evade me
Might we be as one
in truest lovers Honesty
as lovers
united together
in a quirkes of belonging
Then with one
another might
we love
never to speak of
us apart
might we love
might we love
might we forever be in love
This site is da bomb my haven so to speak
It's where I go to mellow out
Away from the ugly news of the day
That we constantly hear about
Without this site my life would be boring
I'd walk around mumbling away
Oblivious to the big old world passing by
Whatta great way to start the day
So many great people call P-Soup their home
Scattered throughout this big planet
Personalities as varied as the fish in the ocean
So many they run the damn gamut
From witty, to clever intellectual or romantic
We all call it home sweet home
A retreat a getaway from all of life's hassles
A place to let our true hearts roam
So let's hear some of that thunderous applause
Because here's the inside scoop
All of us would probably fade into oblivion
Instead we're just happy as poop
Desire for applause
soon becomes the cause
of needless bondage,
affirms this adage.
Poets forge from fire,
with the void conspire,
to emote a rhythm,
of words in a prism.
Ego does upstage,
seeking centre-stage,
making a circus
of poem's purpose.
Let the music play
by night and by day,
for we have let go,
seeking no echo.
31-August-2022
Once the curtain is down
All lights then turn to dim
Music slowly trails off
As the self bows back in
Moments of reflection
Memory becomes faint
When the thrill has left you
And you wipe off the paint
You think of what it was
That you have then just done
Knowing all it has meant
Amazed if you had fun
You aren't even quite sure
If you'll keep going on
In search of more footlights
To brighten your soul song
81 Words Rhyme 4/20/22
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