Category: 2020 Poetry

Read Poem: I am a messed up weather, by Mawinei Ayue

I am a messed up weather
I am the cloud that cries when I cannot carry the gain
I am the wind that makes storm turns into hurricanes
I am the water that swims in the ocean while it rains

I am a messed up weather
I am the sun that you do not miss on summer
I am the volcano that you do not want to see erupted
I am the flake that you do not want to fall derailed

I am a messed up weather
I am the sky that screams your name but you are so out of reach
I am the star that has loved you since the beginning of everything
I am the universe that is held by your eyes but you cannot see

I am a messed up weather
And I am the memory that you do not remember

Read Poem: now even now, by Robin Ouzman Hislop

it’s like a ghost town now
& O the distant hills

are a more ghostly blue
than before

now even a few stray locals
come & go stranger even now
than they were before &

O the dear police cars patrol
with speakers are more ghostly too

& through my bedroom window
the gable ended stone house wall
grows evermore iconic faces

than before even now
as daily the days flock by
more than before now even now

strange fruit in the wet market
a vampire kiss
human blood human meat

but save the economy not the ecology
surveillance surveillance surveillance

monitor our sick brains
& bury the remains in silicon valley
until hyssops burst through

the green embedded
fissures of our padded cells
& the pavements crack beneath

save the insects death to pesticide
save the world with clay balls
like caryatides we bear alms to our own epitaphs

the hours of the street endure their empathy
with landscapes ordered from the abettoir
cockroach traffic cockroach computers

user friendly amplify & invade degrade
habitats “exotic wildlife threatens humans”
population growth summons armament

Read Poem: Won’t Make Peace, by Samantha Merz

The magnitude of Mars is inconceivable
There are a couple of things I forgot to say
Should I give up eating peanuts and honey for my blood type?
Oh, I could probably save a screenshot on my phone
Not a chapter hallmark blonde
Her hand rested on his thigh
You went out with a poser
Not into your scene
No more work at night
New reward
Green jade jar in the ground
Bound to blue

Read Poem: TAKE ME BACK TO WHEN, by Syed Mashiat Hussain

Take me back to when,
I was a baby sliding down the stairs on my ass and it left bruises,
I was a little boy finding toys in the backseat every time I took cruises,
I was a competitive little shit that laughed every time the other team loses,
I was the first in line and got whatever dad picks and chooses.

My mother use to hold me close and make me laugh with just a touch on my neck,
My sister and I use to fight to watch Hannah Montana but everyone else preferred Shrek.
My brother always got hit on the face with the ball and I laughed till I pissed my pants,
My childish mind use to feel like the giant in jack and the beanstalk because I use to play with ants.

There was no worry in my head and I could draw across the walls and then sit in the naughty chair,
There was no weight on my shoulders and I could do as I please without the slightest bit of care,
There was ice cream vans in every corner and you wouldn’t miss a day without getting a cone,
There was nursery rhymes like humpty dumpty and nick knack paddy whack give your dog a bone.

I was a kid trying to be Spiderman by climbing every building, every wall, every tree,
I was a kid trying to be friends with every frog bin, every ladybird, every bee,
I was a weird kid trying to lick the ink of every colour, every type, every pen,
I was a tree in the school play bringing laughter to every teacher, every parent, every friend,
I was a child wishing to grow up so I could tell that child to,

Take me to back then

Read Poem: MERAKI, by Dina Jael

The fixation of my hands
is upon the soil beneath me.
It calls me to nuture it,
thus I immerse in its moist nature.
Even the worms collaborate
in this messy downward journey,
softly lingering through my fingers.
Dirt and chaos everywhere,
as I penetrate the chosen spot.
The mycelium awaiting patiently
the arrival of the unaffected seed.
“Spread the news to the Mother Trees!” -they say
“this naive carapace has now entered deep.”
I comfort it with a blanket of mud,
hoping it feels tight and snug.
I carry myself away from the little one,
trusting the light will dry up its tears.
The days pass,
and soon a crackling sound
awakes my eyes.
Is it already time?
I rush to the garden,
encounter nothing but a sad sob.
What is it you need my tiny little dot?
“I need you to hold me, I’m breaking apart”.
A motherly sigh poures down from the clouds,
sparkling drops gently entering the ground.
As a melody of love lifts from a song,
a spirit of warmth prevails the dawn.
The short lived pain has gone astray,
the darkest night fleeted away.
The sun rises and sets.
Rooted secrets are blooming out the edge.
Stretching arms begin to unfold;
sprouting joy; neverending growth.
I stare at such greatness,
as the whistling wind
carries out loving scents of graces.

meraki poem - dina jael

Read Poem: THE POETRY OF YOU & ME, by April May Read

Mirror mirror on the wall,

show yourself before I fall.
Show ME all that keeps ME flawed.
Show ME all that keeps ME awed.
Show ME the ugly I still hold,
so I can thaw this heart so cold.

Please show ME now so I can grow,
or end it all and let ME go.

YOU and only YOU
have the vast power to show ME.
YOU and only YOU
because YOU were hand-carved for ME.

Your start was my start.
Your eyes are my eyes.
Your heart is my heart.
Your lies are my lies.
Your truth is my truth,
so tell ME this truthful,
how can we live a life
that is more fruitful?

In YOU I see ME,
all the ME
that can be,
the ME
that shies love,
the ME
that serves fear,
the ME
that loves love,
the ME
that’s so dear,
the ME
that pains YOU,
the ME
that loves YOU,
the ME

that knows there’s no one else here but YOU.
The ME
that wants to know someone else, not YOU!
And the ME
that’s awake and grateful for YOU.

You see, it always feels as though
YOU know
the truth that lies
within my muddled soul,
and maybe YOU do,
I’m staring at YOU,
this is your soul too
we’re just split in two.

So, can YOU see through my clean and pristine
prim and proper sometimes prudish esteem?
Can YOU see the mess of wires that are tangled
within
and still look ME in the eyes and recite that I can
win?

We live a whole new story
with new faces, new glories
new sweet smiles, new tears
new obstacles and fears.
YOU don’t remember ME,
I don’t remember YOU,
still, there’s a knowing.

Mirror, what are we to do?

Who do YOU want to be?
What do YOU want to see?

YOU are like my life projector,
projecting every little thing I do.
Some nights are hard to watch,
so I close my eyes
for those shameful slides
where I belittle YOU.
If I can only unplug YOU
for a bit and turn you off,
but what good will that do ME
like a luring flame to a moth.

Some days I lack courage
to look YOU in the eyes.
I fear you’ll see the tracks
left behind by my cries.
I gaze away
and maybe say
a joke or two
and YOU do too
to lighten up this mood of true
instead of seeking what to do.
YOU were sculpted by the best,
a masterpiece in every way,
yet I nitpick and I test
pushing YOU
further and away.

I take advantage of no limits,
but I fear I’ve pushed too far.
I fear that my desertion this time
might justly leave a scar.
I fear that one day I’ll come knocking
and YOU won’t open up,
and can I blame YOU,
with all that has runneth over your cup?

I remember that morning
when I looked at YOU and laughed.
I chuckled at all your dreams,
reminded YOU of the math.
Keep adding to yourself,
while I subtract away
that oughta divide us
and lead us both to stray.
Round 2-
We’re in the ring now
the classic story of the fight.
The fierce battle of the wicked wrong
and cheering for the right.
I keep on punching right
when I know deep down it’s wrong,
but fear and doubts at my corner
praising ME with song.

When YOU fall I fall.
YOU tend to shatter, I quickly break.
I turn to other mirrors,
but their reflections seem fake.

Even my pride had to admit
they’re not as honest as YOU.
They don’t show ME all that I need to fix
and show ME what’s true.
I run,
while YOU chase
and now I know why.
Now I know why
you’d look at ME and sigh,
for kind, clever Clarity
has finally come to ME,
she flew into my dreams last night
and surrounded us with her light.
She showed ME all that we could be,
and all the things I could not see,
like how YOU are my destiny,
and because of YOU,
I am ME.

So, I’m sorry for ignoring YOU.
I’m sorry for neglecting YOU.
I’m sorry for not seeing YOU,
and all that YOU are here to do.

I’m sorry for not being there
when YOU were lost and needed care.
I’m sorry for always thinking in MEs.
I promise to use US now, and some WEs.

Mirror, it’s all because of YOU
that I now know what LOVE can do.
It took ME long enough, didn’t it,
but not for YOU, YOU always knew!

I’m excited to do life again.
I turn to YOU and see a friend.
I now see the beauty YOU withhold.
I now see that in YOU I am gold.

Mirror, it all makes sense to ME now.
Suddenly I remember YOU… WOW!
Come, take my hand and let’s vow
to do what we’re to do NOW!

No more attempts to throw the scripts away
and ending this relation.
No more doubting why YOU are here
and entertaining my frustration.
I’ve got a hold of my quill again
that almost flew away
and I’m writing US the perfect plot twist
that’ll stay I pray.

Mirror, Life says it’s divine time,
so grab your wings while I grab mine,
cause NOW, I dare to look YOU in the eyes.
Yup, let ME tell YOU all the reasons why
YOU and I were meant to fly high
and leave our marks all through the sky!

Let’s show this world what we’re about!
Let’s show this world how to kill doubt
with an atomic bomb of LOVE
and some help from the stars above!

So, when I rise YOU rise
and we MUST always do!
And I’ll always wonderDo you see ME in YOU?
Are my thoughts your thoughts?
My fears your fears?
Some nights I now wonder,
are your tears my tears?
If they are, I’ll catch them
faster than before,
every fearful teardrop
that should ever pour!

For TRUTH I’ll do better,
because now I know,
so bring it on, weather!
We’ll build castles of snow!
We won’t drown like before.
We’ll take turns on that door,
and hold each other up
until we’ve reached the shore!

I’ll continue to take notes
and learn the lessons YOU teach ME.
So thank YOU, sweet Mirror
for showing ME all there is to ME.
Thank YOU for your patience
and for never giving up on ME
and thank YOU
for the unconditional
LOVE
YOU always have for ME.

I hope that with ME,
you’ll always be honest
and I with YOU
until our last day,
I PROMISE…

Read Poem: Lady Leanne and the Highwayman, by Jilly Henderson-Long

a fanciful story in rhyme

Tha Lady Leanne heard a rumour
“There’s a highwayman out on the loose!”
She knew that if ever they caught him,
he surely would be for the noose.
He was certainly some kind of mystery,
for never a word did he speak,
he merely appeared before travellers,
pistols raised to make them feel weak.
He dressed all in black was the story,
from his head right down to his toes,
except for the pure white bandanna,
pulled up to cover his nose.
They called him the Ghost Shadow Rider,
all anyone saw was his eyes,
and he soon became some sort of hero,
for he always surrendered his prize.
He’d steal all the gold and the jewelery
and carry it off into town,
where he’d give it all out to the poor folk,
still without making a sound.
Then he would vanish for days
but as soon as the rich thought it clear,
once again he’d appear on the highway,
and into their hearts would strike fear.
His horse would rear up in a whinny,
one pistol-shot into the air,
the gentlemen squirmed, the ladies would swoon
the moment they saw he was there.
He’d thrust a bag in through the window,
put the pistol against someone’s chest,
then wait until they had filled it,
before gallopping off to the west.
The Lady Leanne in her manor,
by her father forbidden was she,
to venture out in the dark evenings,
the Ghost Shadow Rider to see.
But one night during the summer,
she crept out and she mounted her horse.
Deep in the woods, she changed clothing.
She was the Ghost Shadow, of course.

(c) JillyHenderson-Long 2020

Read Poem: Silently Screaming, by Naa Lamiorkor Boye

You hurt me, you break me then you leave me.
You claim that you love me and yet you refuse to let me see.
You hold me back from who I can be.
You never let me go or set me free.
Captive.

You bound me and cage me and lock me away.
Nothing I cry can keep you at bay.
You always need to shout instead of say.
But I love you anyway.
Hurt.

You hit me and hurt me and say you are sorry.
You say it is a problem and I shouldn’t worry.
But then an argument turns into something gory.
Will you ever end this horrible story?
Broken.

Now I am broken and do not say a thing.
I flinch and shudder at the slightest ding.
I barely open my mouth to even sing.
I feel like a bird with a broken wing.
Useless.

Are you happy now?
Are you satisfied that when I see you I nearly bow?
Are you done with saying that I look like a cow?
Because I changed everything of mine yet you don’t even say wow.
Silent.

Here I am, no speaking, no crying, no singing.
Yet in my mind, I am silently screaming.
So keep these words and start minding.
For one of these days you may look for me and never start

Read Poem: Quarantine, by TAK Erzinger

Hills
heave euphoric
bruised in crocuses

Overwrought
heaven ruptures
in rain

Spring appears
sheathed
in uncertainty

Sweating
out the cold
fevered by wind

Next to me
your mouth open
a hive

Sweet
humming in
familiar warmth

Exhaling
relief and comfort
a ritual aubade.

Read Poem: I HAD YOU BUT…, by Gladys Muturi

Growing inside me for nine months had me at pause
But now I realize why
Why now? I’ve come so far
’til I have taken a halt
I had you but now I’m sad
I can’t stop crying now
I overfeed myself to get the milk you deserve
My breasts swell in pain
Heavy like a pound ton weighing down on me
You’re not a mistake
You’re the best mistake
I wish I should’ve known better
No, it’s not your fault, It’s mine
Daddy’s not here, I’m here
You had me at hello around the clock
24/7, every week, morning, noon and night
Exhausted, no plans for me just you
I love you, but I’m powerless
My energy is drowned out
like a candle blown from the wind
I’m crying now
Yet you comfort me
I look up
I thank God I had you
I had you and I want to say “I love you”