The Flood
It started with droplets on hot concrete
Pooling in the cracks between my feet.
Drop for drop a puddle grew;
Reflecting only you.
I wanted to drown there,
Ringing for air.
On a sinking ship made from love letters
But the rain is the only thing that matters
The puddle became a pond
Which I couldn't see beyond.
I was but a tadpole
Swimming through your soul.
Rain drops on the surface writing poetry
But you were all I could see.
Just when I thought it was all I could take
The rain raged on and the pond became a lake.
I was a steamboat of desire
The Captain ready to retire
Sinking into your embrace
Setting to harbor in this place.
And the rain raged on and fell like thunder
And I was a ship going under.
The lake broke the shores becoming a sea
Still the expanse can't contain me.
In The Dark
Does a candle stand a chance
Here where the shadows dance;
When the stars are swallowed in darkness
In the grasp of the gaping abyss?
Can a whisper be heard
Here where a screamed word
Is carried to a void of endless silence
In a world of dismal existence?
Is there anything but misery
Here where everything dwells in agony;
When everything leads to pain?
Can one remain sane?
From South-Western, Michigan, Jerry Langdon lives in Germany since the early 90's. He is an artist and poet. His works bathe in a darker side of emotion and fantasy. He has released five books of poetry titled "Temperate Darkness and Behind the Twilight Veil", “Death and Other Cold Things” “Rollercoaster Heart” and “Frosted Dreams.” Jerry is also the editor and publisher of the literary magazine Raven Cage Zine which features poetry and prose. His poetic inspirations are derived from poets such as Edgar Allen Poe, Robert Frost and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. As well as from various rock bands. His apparently twisted mind, twists and intertwines fantasy with reality.
You Are Nobody
#####
Now you are nobody
No one
The name is also past
The world has given permission
You have no right
You are now a corpse.
Now you are nobody
You are nobody's father
You are nobody's child
You are nobody's husband
You are nobody's brother
No one is yours
You are dead now.
Now you are nobody
Dr. or doctor
Rich or poor
Employed or unemployed
Friend or foe
You are now an emotionless corpse.
Now you are nobody
You are not yours
A few pieces of new clothes,
A little perfume to make the air heavy,
The scent of sandalwood,
Both the eyes will have the same color
Your travel companion
Now you are nobody
Everyone is busy seeing you off
Soap foam
Plum leaf hot water
The special Palki
Green bamboo planks
waiting for you.
The call to prayer was given to your ears at the time of birth
Today is his last prayer
Many will come in groups
Two handfuls of earth to hide you
Everyone will go back, everyone
Today you are nobody's business
Now you are nobody.
What you thought was yours for so long Today are others
The ones you thought were yours for so long Today they are not yours
You have nothing
Without deed.
Time will mock pride's vanity.
Hazel Haiku
Me? Adopt from a
shelter? Never. Then I saw
Hazel. Fell in love.
Frances, the bloodhound,
drags her owner on walks. Yikes!
Love my Chihuahua.
Cute dog toys two for
five dollars at Petco. I
lose my mind. Buy ten.
Hazel eats too fast.
A silverware tray is her
new food bowl. It works.
Puppuccino time!
I spoil her. I know. But she
deserves it. She does.
Laura Stamps is a poet and novelist and the author of over 60 books. Most recently: THE GOOD DOG (Prolific Pulse Press, 2023), ADDICTED TO DOG MAGAZINES (Impspired, 2023), and MY FRIEND TELLS ME SHE WANTS A DOG (Kittyfeather Press, 2023). She is the recipient of a Pulitzer Prize nomination and seven Pushcart Prize nominations.
Today the post- woman brought me the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Dam- aged in transit, so I’m having it repainted. A really dark blue, & then I’ll paste some stars on it. * Today the post- woman brought me three of the four humors. “Sorry about the missing one,” she said, phlegmatically.
Today the post- woman brought me a book en- titled What is Peripheral Vision? I didn’t see her come into view. * Today the post- woman brought me the catalogue raisonné of a Flemish Master who doesn’t yet exist. I’ve conceptualized his creations with the names that are listed in the catalog. I’m still working on his creation, am using that fictional detective from Los Angeles as his working name.
Today the post- woman brought me a lifesize full- color effigy of Donald Trump. I put it in the back- yard to keep the fruit bats at bay. My plan backfired. So much orange that the fruit bats— dare I say it?— went bananas & have started arriving in ever- increasing numbers.
WAVES OF WORDS
Our emotions go so beautifully hand in hand
I am the calm in your heart, like the silent lake
You are the waves of words that bring out the excitement
and every emotion in me.. And you, like a brook that turns
into a river; creating a strong current inside of me and
causing the beauty from within me to spill out for you
I am the reflection of you like a mirror to your soul
And when I look in your eyes I see me looking back
You walked lightly into the beautiful garden of my life
It was so subtle that I didn't realize that you entered
my deepest dreams.. into the soul of my subconscious
So when I fall asleep, you wait there patiently for me;
Sitting on the shore of my dreams..
causing waves of words that stir the very core of my being.. .❤
**************
Jordan
My Treasure, My Jewel, With eyes bluer than a tropical pool.
Her heart as big as the sky..
She only knows love which she learned from the One above
and hate has no room in her life.
Her beauty is like no other which she inherited from my daughter; her mother,
and her kindness shines clearly from her smile.
She has crossed borders to other lands, stood side by side helping foreign hands,
and all when she was only a young girl.
She now is grown with a life of her own and no prouder could I be of my Pearl.
With a servant's heart and a teacher's smarts, and no fear of what lies ahead.... that's my girl. ❤
**************************
THROUGH ROSY DREAMS
I lay among the blooms in a lush green glen waiting for you
under a blanket of starlight and a smiling moon
The diamond buds bloom beneath the sheer blossoms
As a golden bird sings to you the sweetest song of love
Floating on a silver cloud above me, I call to you
and you swoop down to great me in this sky of blue
You take me where only hope remains and the petals
of the beautiful bloom of the lotus never closes
Life on earth holds little magic for you and I
as the separation of our two hearts continues
to seek only disillusionment through rosy dreams.
*****
Bio:
Kristy Ann Raines is an American poet and author born in Oakland California, In the United States of America.
She is an accomplished international poet and writer. Kristy has five books which will soon be published.
One anthology with a prominent poet from India, Dr. Prasana Kumar Dalai called, “I Cross my Heart from East to West.”
She has also written two fantasy books entitled, “Rings, Things and Butterfly Wings” and “Princess and The Lion”, a collection of poems in English,” which she intends to use for a book written together with another very prominent poet in Saudi Arabia, which all proceeds will go to charity for children, and a book of poems, stories and thoughts on her life called, "Her Very Anomalous Life". Kristy has received many literary awards for her unique style of writing. She also enjoys her work as an Activist and Humanitarian, for the Rohingya People in the refugee camps of Cox's Bazar, whom she has come to love, and also tries to raise money for an orphanage in India.
