Author: poetryfest

Submit your Poetry to the Festival. Three Options: 1) To post. 2) To have performed by an actor 3) To be made into a film.

Read Poem: The last words I ever spoke to my father, by Ross Vassilev

for Rossen V. Vassilev, Ph.D. 1952-2020

Tatko, are you hungry?

Are you thirsty?

Is the room too hot?

Is the room too cold?

Is there anything I can get you?

Do you remember all our walks in the park?

Which park was your favorite?

Do you remember all those summer days

we spent at the beach

listening to the waves

and looking at pretty girls?

Do you remember this photo of you and me

and Baba Snezha?

Do you remember the beach at Burgas?

Remember how we used to cook dinner every night

and then watched movies together?

Remember how we always forgot the bread till

it got all moldy?

Is there anything I can do for you now?

Are you hungry or thirsty?

Was I … a good son?

Did you really tell the nurse

that you’re seeing angels?

What do you keep pointing to in the corner?

Tatko, do you really see angels?

Read Poem: Old Flames and Fireflies, by RH Helm

The embers of an old flame
Sparkle like a firefly
The fire long since gone
Random coals still clinging to life
Not yet consumed by time
Keepsakes of days
Never to be recaptured
Shared only in secret thought
Now complete strangers
With only memories in common
Memories released like fireflies
From an old mason jar
They slowly disappear into the dark night
With an occasional flicker
Less consistent
Growing dimmer
But refusing to die

RH Helm
Written 9/28/19

Read Poem: What is life?, by Vrinda Nair

poetryfest's avatarPOETRY FESTIVAL. Submit to site for FREE. Submit for actor performance. Submit poem to be made into film.

An illusion
or an introspection of our deeds
We are puppets in someone’s hands
Starting with aught and
ending with griefs
Restless souls, brooding over past
Lost in the mayhem of snippets of life
To be believed in nurturing
but become wayfarers of thoughts
Crossing many paths, handed aid to several
That was the mission
but juncture fiddled in like an alibi
Approaching the end-
What do we do?
Nowise…!

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Read Poem: What is life?, by Vrinda Nair

An illusion
or an introspection of our deeds
We are puppets in someone’s hands
Starting with aught and
ending with griefs
Restless souls, brooding over past
Lost in the mayhem of snippets of life
To be believed in nurturing
but become wayfarers of thoughts
Crossing many paths, handed aid to several
That was the mission
but juncture fiddled in like an alibi
Approaching the end-
What do we do?
Nowise…!

Interview with Poet Kirsten Warner (GRITTY, DANGEROUS DOLL) — Matthew Toffolo’s Summary

1) What is the theme of your poem? The theme of this poem is how to turn disappointment into something useful for myself, how to transform that deadly blow into art. 2) What motivated you to write this poem? I was not long-listed for the New Zealand book awards which I expected, although I later […]

via Interview with Poet Kirsten Warner (GRITTY, DANGEROUS DOLL) — Matthew Toffolo’s Summary

Interview with Poet Paul O’Donnell (PASSING) — Matthew Toffolo’s Summary

Matthew Toffolo: What is the theme of your poem? Paul O’Donnell: Despair, frustration, poor decisions and their consequences, hope 2) What motivated you to write this poem? All my poetry is prompted by what I feel or see. It’s my way of thinking about social change and doing something about it with the power of […]

via Interview with Poet Paul O’Donnell (PASSING) — Matthew Toffolo’s Summary

Interview with Poet James Morgan-Jones (Demoiselle) — Matthew Toffolo’s Summary

Matthew Toffolo: What is the theme of your poem? James Morgan-Jones: The beauty of the natural world, of difference and of the individual. 2) What motivated you to write this poem? A visitation by the demoiselle as I sat in the garden on a beautiful spring day. 3) How long have you been writing poetry? […]

via Interview with Poet James Morgan-Jones (Demoiselle) — Matthew Toffolo’s Summary

Interview with Poet Janelle Barker (9/11 ATTACKS) — Matthew Toffolo’s Summary

1) What is the theme of your poem? the theme of my poem is finding your strength to stay strong 2) What motivated you to write this poem? this event changed the world and affected all of us deep into our heart, whether we were there or not. 3) How long have you been writing […]

via Interview with Poet Janelle Barker (9/11 ATTACKS) — Matthew Toffolo’s Summary

Interview with Poet Franco D’Alessandro (LEOPARD CLUB LOVE) — Matthew Toffolo’s Summary

1) What is the theme of your poem? That transformative power of -what the Greeks called- Storge/Philia love, especially when found in an unlikely place and between unlikely people. 2) What motivated you to write this poem? My relationship with a student who has become a son to me. A rather tricky thing as I […]

via Interview with Poet Franco D’Alessandro (LEOPARD CLUB LOVE) — Matthew Toffolo’s Summary

Read Poem: FOREST COMPOSURE, by Marck Riggins

Wing’s bright song staid forest realm
Shrill, dripped notes from soft breeze staff
Commandeered ear’s thirsting helm
Had raised my sight to branches, aft

Sweet ribbon air, thus quivered joy
To penetrate ‘ere sonnance ran
Imbibed each drop creature employed
Where sun’s shy rays dared not fan

My eyes run by beauty’s reason
For reverie, embrace this wild
Among mute trees placid season
I stand alone, an entranced child

Through glades, new dressed in morning’s sash
Invades his song to heart defiled
No more to burn the rebel ash
Such uncaged heart bowed to his, mild