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.

Paralysis, A Mara Prose Poem

Genre: Life, Rhyme

—-

 
The ‘shoulds’ paralyze me
They lead to the what ifs, the maybes and the could haves
My target is never stagnant and does not allow me to move
I am unhinged and hindered

My doubts subdue me
My failures asphyxiate me
My gains seem miniscule

My mind prepares a catechism
It just can’t let me rest
What’s right? What’s wrong?
What’s my truth? Am I really strong?

My curiosity sacrifices me to injunction
I trial. I tribulate.
I wonder. I investigate.

What I desire is not always mastered
What I master is not always consummated
So I freeze and second guess

The shoulds paralyze me
I am a hostage to its psychological strangulation
I must bargain for my release
I have to be aware of my capabilities
I must believe in all that is me
Even if that means leaving life more of a mystery

The shoulds are a guide, a formula that doesn’t always add up
Convention can equate to confinement
Rejection can equate to judgment
But the world is not our jury
Yet, the shoulds still paralyze me

~ Mara Prose
 

 

 

    * * * * *

Deadline: FREE POETRY Festival – Get your poem made into a MOVIE and seen by 1000s. Three options to submit:
http://www.wildsound.ca/poetrycontest.html

Watch Poetry performance readings:

Watch Poetry made into Movies:

CONNEMARA, Poetry by Christine Emmert

Genre: Nature, Society

—-

Caught in tangles
the comb pulls
cloud-locks
smooth off heads of mountains.

Lake below
finds sympathy
as swans fret its surface.

There are snowflakes
dancing above us
like shiny stars
where we kiss
on the borderline
of commitment and liberty.

Magic has no long term spell.
We are dared and delighted
as tresses of clouds loosen
streaming free
from the grasp
of Winter’s hand.
 

 

 

    * * * * *

Deadline: FREE POETRY Festival – Get your poem made into a MOVIE and seen by 1000s. Three options to submit:
http://www.wildsound.ca/poetrycontest.html

Watch Poetry performance readings:

Watch Poetry made into Movies:

What If?, Poetry by Cindi Walton

Genre: Rhyme, Family Fantasy

—–

 What if for a moment in time
I could go back to childhood where everything rhymed
Where silly cats sat on a broom
and mysteries surrounded King Tut and his tomb
Where magical fairies were real as could be
seen through the eyes of anyone three
Where the greatest delight on a warm summer’s day
was cherry Kool-aid and the cold sprinkler’s spray
Where trees were castles that one must defend
with knee scabs and bruises for mother to tend
Clouds became monkeys and stars with the moon
were watched eating ice cream dripping from spoons
Where bedtime hugs made everyone safe
and kisses on cheeks, sunburned and chafed
Where rules were in place to keep order and peace
served up with French fries dripping in grease
Boundaries for safety, yet freedom to roam
all in the backyard of that place I called home
Thank God for the memories that live in my mind
that take me back to a moment in time
(Cindi Walton 2017)

 

    * * * * *

Deadline: FREE POETRY Festival – Get your poem made into a MOVIE and seen by 1000s. Three options to submit:
http://www.wildsound.ca/poetrycontest.html

Watch Poetry performance readings:

Watch Poetry made into Movies:

Lost, Poetry by Grim Angel

 Genre: Pain, Hurt
—–

Bloodied and blistered are my feet walking a path of
stone, glass, and hot coals.
Wondering when a straight and narrow path turned
worst for the trek towards my goals.

Twists and turns lead to a forever path
of confusion, sorrow, and pain.
Lost. I’m no longer confident in
the things I want to gain.

Always was one good with directions
and was certain of her way.
Till the wrong turn at a fork in the road
led me astray.

Obstacles were always easy to overcome,
except this one. I’m lost.
Now I have no confidence in defeating
any impediment I cross.

Gazes towards the sky hoping He
would answer my cry for help.
In the end there is no answer.
I’ll have to find a way myself.

Demons of self-ridicule, doubt, and hate
ride my back.
On this journey to finding the right path,
I’m always under attack.

Still beaten and bloodied
I move forward to an unforeseen goal.
Hoping that these hardships and
demons aren’t consuming my soul.
 

 

 

    * * * * *

Deadline: FREE POETRY Festival – Get your poem made into a MOVIE and seen by 1000s. Three options to submit:
http://www.wildsound.ca/poetrycontest.html

Watch Poetry performance readings:

Watch Poetry made into Movies:

Heartbreak, Poetry by Shalana Pace

GENRE- Hurt
—-

My heart aches for you, it cries for you.
For all that is no longer safe for you.
Love the skin you’re in
So they say
But not too much or you’ll have to pay
With your life that is
You see
You are so powerful, so strong, so influential
But they won’t stop to see your potential
Instead they claim to fear you
Black MAN, woMAN, we will never forget you Sandra Bland
My heart aches for you, for all that is no longer safe for you
Turn your music down
When they come around
Jordan Davis we will never forget, OH and what about selling cigarettes, remember that’s a threat
My heart aches for you, for all that is no longer safe for you
Gone too soon and we are left with what could be,
If only you hadn’t worn that hoodie
Stand still, don’t shoot, hands in the air son
Self defense! oh wait that was a toy gun
License and registration please,
You can now lose your life selling CDs
My heart aches for you, it cries for you, for being black is no longer safe to do!

 

    * * * * *

Deadline: FREE POETRY Festival – Get your poem made into a MOVIE and seen by 1000s. Three options to submit:
http://www.wildsound.ca/poetrycontest.html

Watch Poetry performance readings:

Watch Poetry made into Movies:

She cries alone, Poetry by Odonko-ba

 Genre: Rhyme, Relationship

—-

Drenched in tears
of her own shame
but not of her making

He ascended from shadows
and shadowed her
shattering her dreams
as easily
as did her hymen

She became his fixation
a nightmare lived daily
where time
nor the hour
matters anymore

This monster that looks as human as we
invisible
to the eyes
of humanity

The unthinkable atrocities he commits
upon innocent flesh
he posses

Shackled and caged like a dog

She cries alone

A burden
no child should have to bear

She thinks of her mother and
father
of her brother
and sister
and yes
of her dog
Sam

If only she could warn them of
the monster
that lives next door

The monster
that comes to borrow sugar
or sip coffee
with mum on the porch

At times
drinking a few beers
with dad after work
boasting of games played
on the sports network

All the while stealing glances
at us children

She cries alone

Who would believe her
this man
a pillar of the community
always
a helping hand

Can’t you see he’s a sham
a monster
a pedophile
a child rapist

Ask him
as to my whereabouts
see if he answers you
with a straight face

The rattling of the cage
alerts her to his presence

He comes yet again

She cries
screams and
pleads for him to leave her alone

But this only seems to give him pleasure
mocking her
he mounts her quickly
his screams and cries
of perversion
the only sound left
heard in the room

A single solitary tear
falls from her eye

Please God just let me die
she begs
her lament falling
upon deaf ears

Maybe
it is God
who is dead or
maybe
God has no ears to hear

The monster has left the room
but his stench lingers
pervasively
like the smell of death

Is it possible
to smell ones own death
she muses

For surely
she dies a little
each day

The death of
abandonment
the death of
loneliness
the death of
regret
the death of her
soul

If only
she was strong enough
to fight back

She would scratch out his eyes and
rip out his tongue
that filthy slimy thing
she would feed
to Sam
he would eat anything

The thought
giving her slight amusement

The rattling of the cage
startles her

He’s back yet again

She begins to cry…

 

 

 

    * * * * *

Deadline: FREE POETRY Festival – Get your poem made into a MOVIE and seen by 1000s. Three options to submit:
http://www.wildsound.ca/poetrycontest.html

Watch Poetry performance readings:

Watch Poetry made into Movies:

2016 Poetry Finalists

Watch the Poetry Readings from the 2016 poetry contest. These are the finalists. One of these poems will now be made into a movie: 

IT WAS A PLACE IN NEED OF WARMTH – Poetry Reading by Gloria D. Gonsalves

The Songs You Left – Poetry Reading by Lois Terrans Bradbury

nobody crazy ’bout an angry white man – Poetry Reading by Juley Harvey

 

A trace of dreams – Poetry Reading by Dora Marii

A Shadow – Poetry Reading by Christopher Burn

 2016! – Poetry Reading by Kevin Short

2016: A year of heartaches and surprise – Poetry Reading by Ruth Andrews Garnes


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IT WAS A PLACE IN NEED OF WARMTH – Poetry Reading by Gloria D. Gonsalves

Poetry performed by Val Cole

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

The poem has three themes: reflection, regret and hope.

What motivated you to write this poem?

I was reflecting about last year’s global events, where I as a writer could contribute with a written word on acceptance and nurturing of human diversity.

How long have you been writing poetry?

I have been writing over ten years. It has been a journey and still is of continuous learning through participation in events and contests, studying available materials and reading others’ works. The latter took sometimes as I didn’t wish to be influenced in my writing style. In time, I realised that I can be authentic while reading and listening to other poets.

If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

It would be Beatrix Potter, for her knowledge in mycology. I would involve her as an illustrator too. We would chat about the sequel of my picture book ‘Lamellia: The Kingdom of Mushrooms’. The story is about high advanced mushroom society, who found a human baby alone in the forest. Their king decides to adopt it and orders Lamellians to use their abilities to care for it.

What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

I have submitted my works before. What I said then and remain so is, I like the idea of using different media channels to portray my work, especially because I don’t enjoy making public appearances. So your platform is perfect for me to co-share the skill of writing and performing with someone else.

Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

I have published books on fantasy/adventure/educational tales with moral lessons. In the published portfolio is also a novella and anthology of thoughts. For anyone interested to
know more, I am giving free books to visitors on my website.

What is your passion in life?

Writing is and concurrently a tremendous courage. The courage to – expose thoughts in public, accept rejection, accept criticism, make mistakes, resolve own problems, find own style and keep writing. As long as it is a passion and I place no limits to my imagination or not allow rules to distract me, I will never run out of a desire to write.

The Songs You Left – Poetry Reading by Lois Terrans Bradbury

Poetry performed by Val Cole

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

Grief and loss of losing someone you love and finding a way to keep going.

What motivated you to write this poem?

Watching a musician performing knowing the recent loss in their life.

How long have you been writing poetry?

Since my teenage years.When I got more marks for one page poems than a two page compositions in English class.

If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

My Grandfather.

What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

Watching and hearing someone else’s interpretation of the words written on the page and bringing it to life.

Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

Yes. Short stories, plays, scripts, novels, songs. A writer writes. I write.

What is your passion in life?

Being the best friend I know how, helping others overcome and achieve.

nobody crazy ’bout an angry white man – Poetry Reading by Juley Harvey

Poetry performed by Val Cole

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

The state of America

What motivated you to write this poem?

The state of America

How long have you been writing poetry?

Since high school

If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

The Dalai Lama

What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

Seemed like a good idea at the time

Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

Short stories, creative nonfiction, novel, prize-winning poet and former journalist

What is your passion in life?

Pretty much given up on people; to bring as much beauty, laughter, and light into the world as i can!