Read Poem: The Lectern’s Rise: Life Goes Ahead 2, by Lawrence Mathebula

They frown a lot and say, you don’t
belong
But days with them my God here still prolongs;
Each beat the swift pulse in it, fire flies
‘Gainst throngs that wind louder that,
I should die
One happyless, unfortunate human
being
Passed by the best a daily hour fleeting.

Look at myself; his shadow by him is
nigh,
I walk, it’s seen, in heaven above the
skies,
My choiristers known that I’m inspiring
kings.
Pace forth a stallion stride for the living
Need days the next, and thee, should
carry on
Leaving behind, all a heap of years gone
To sleep while here, days unto them I
step
Close to begin; and ending my last lap.

Read Poem: Exile, by Sujoy Bhattacharya

Post modernism was polishing posterior part of civilization .
A raven raised its bruised beak to battle with
the ugly bestiality .
A bovine call disturbed the desolate
domain- traverse tranquility.
I was standing on the bank of Yamuna
full to the brim –
as consummate as a pregnant woman
at an advanced stage .
My magenta look craned up to salute
dark clouds pouring down torrentially
melting meticulously .
The fugitive sun took prolonged shelter
behind the murky clouds .
Bacteria and virus were rejoicing with jubilant
exuberance infesting on human bodies .
My moist feet were eager to soak warmth
from the core of the earth !
Feline fidelity frowned at the frozen fossil
of moral inertia .
The ether wave echoed a shrill cry floating
around the globe .
Granules of gorgeous glitters made a
garland to pay last homage to the corpse
of human civilization.
I descried a floral chariot descending from
the void to abduct me to an alien planet
for researching human psychology .

Read Poem: No Matter Papa Repents…, by Matthew Scott Harris

Every blasted acrimonious misdeed
aye indelibly perpetrated
affecting ye and the Punim for life
hounds me doggone soul night and day
venomous wrath torments, strangles, racks…
every bone in mine entire body

suicidal ideations haunt every
waking and sleeping hour,
perhaps previous attempts to communicate,
(albeit poetically – for no rhyme nor reason)
fell short, asper yours truly
to claim accountability, culpability, responsibility…

unwittingly subjecting thee, a prized progeny
with legacy, where
diabolical, emotional, psychological… trauma
compromised your care free growing up years
namely while residing at 1148 Greentree Lane
exacerbated by mine self absorption

countless hours misspent
whiling away precious time
mesmerized more so
with computer technology,
versus prioritizing fleeting moments
with “mother” and/or offspring

yes..he now pays heavy price
pursuing amorous liaisons
gallivanting, flirting, emailing…
impacting (obliviousness
pitifully lame retort unacceptable)
feigning much ado about nothing

snappishly barking anger
such vitriol (mine)
sabotaged once in
lifetime golden opportunity
to foster, kindle pinterest
with spouse and daughters

subsequently deepening rift
rivalling Mariana Trench
love’s labour’s lost forever
frittering away compounded
half heartedly seeking employment

even though – NO LIE
inexplicable debilitating anxiety
buzzfeeding panic attacks
plaguing my psyche
since…birth, incapacitating
maximizing potential abilities

playing havoc pledging troth
with counterpart exhibiting
mental health challenges
unfairly begetting deux darling lasses
thee bearing brunt of pennilessness,
at aforementioned residence

unlivable, horribly untidy,
toxic with mold, cluttered…
such offal sight, sounds of screaming,
(when Shana nonverbal), stench…
now suffer (PLEASE BELIEVE)

suicidal ideation plagues my conscience
pointed objects quite inviting
remembrance of things past,
a worse fate than death!
PLEASE FORGIVE DADA…?

Read Poem: GUILTY, by T. Jarmon Hildreth

I don’t have to say your name
or hide beneath hyperbole and metaphor
or change the details to protect our guilt

neither one of us are innocent
we both created a storm
that left behind enough pain to last lifetimes
I dare not pretend this is in honor of
the beauty we were in the beginning

no
this is an ode to a tragedy that will always be
the you and me that we became

Read Poem: never-ending sun, by Kristen Corbisiero

Run away with me,

To a place where the things we worry about don’t matter,

Where the sun melts into the sky,

And the birds sing so beautifully we forget the sun never sets.

Stay here with me in the paradise of our own making,

Dancing and play in the sunflower field,

And we can laugh without worrying about the wrinkles around our eyes,

Blinded by the magnificent blooms.

The sun never sets,

So we never have to worry about the night and her stars,

Or wonder if the moon misses the sky,

Wonder is the stars truly do light up the sky,

Where are you stars…

Did the moon take you…?

She can’t. The sun never sets,

Eclipses anything, everything else,

Here we are, trapped in the paradises of a never-ending sun,

Dancing and spinning and laughing until we cry,

Never noticing the stars were hidden behind our eyes this whole time.

Read Poem: Tall Spurs and Placid Lake, by Joydeep Nath

Genre: Dark

her own secret haven
a black hole of tall spurs and a placid lake
a trail there she only knew
her own mad-house
she came to cry at
muffled and stifled
her silent streams of tears
trickled night after night
the lake owed itself to her eyes

what pain filled her
and what loss marred her
they all wondered
the tall spurs and the placid lake

a night to celebrate at the black hole
the desolate queen has appeared hooded in white
the full moon shines to show her
a trail she only knew so well
they all watch enraptured
tall spurs and the placid lake

she has come to end her sorrows
and to bury the black hole
once and for all
the lake that owes itself to her
braces to welcome her
inch by every inch of her white shroud
as she wades into her own tears
what shall remain is her puffed up hood
a bloated reflection of the full moon

the black hole slowly closed on itself
as their lady whispered her untold secrets to them
the tall spurs and the placid lake

Read Poem: TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY, by Chidi Nwosu

tomorrow is another day.
your bird flew away,
let it be.

there’s no hunter who
never missed;
and no farmer who never lost.
it is the way of the world.

the redness in your eyes,
is enough to roast yams.
and it came from the furnace
of your burning soul.
let it fly.

i’ve seen radiators overheat.
your red eyes is a red alert.
pressure mounts on your soul;
and an engine is about to crack.
let it fly.

Chidi Nwosu

Inspirational,Motivational

Read Poem: Her Confession!, by Thomas Jones

Yes I’m angry but do you even care

Time and time the pain I didnt want to bare

All I was searching was a smile

But instead I found this list that lasted a mile

Name after name instance after instance

I know why you started to provide that distance

Fuck me right or that’s how it seemed

Not even on my worst day could this be something I dreamed

Guessing this is what I deserved right

Dealing with this nonsense our future not looking so bright

Gathering space in the internal realm of my mind

Being nonchalant to the disrespect completely blind

Tried giving my all but then again how could I

Staring into your hard blank wishing this debate would just go by

Wanna know a kicker to all of this

There was one waiting on the downfall ready to supply bliss

Different day new song a whole new beat

The new, ready to go to battle never accepting defeat

Sadly i wasn’t looking recruit another

My savior was your love but you didn’t care to cover

Call it bullshit but you still must admit that truth

Guarantee they promise to keep the issues under our roof

Too many times I heard those stinging NOs

Meanwhile it was an cop out so you could be on the go

Well baby here’s your walking papers you are FREE

With all the emotions and logics I tried sift through I apologize for not being the wife you felt I needed to be

Read Poem: The Haven, by Lawrence Mathebula

In a safe place,
Where I want to be
Living my happy days
Surrounded by family;

A multitude of hands,
Oh the daily
Hours until the end
Passes and tomorrow early,

When it begins again.

She only needs a Man.
Is she a woman enough
Grown up;will never turn,
When I need her nigh to love

Unto my crying soul?
Children, in that too
Them counted oh a whole
Lot of us, even you.

In a safe place
Accepted;undenied
Her love’s struck pulse solace,
Me ‘gainst the storm and tide,

When it begins again.

I only need a woman,
A lovely careful mother
Behind created plans.
I’ll follow it as a father

Tolerating, getting older.