March 2024 Poetry Contest - $500 Cash Prize

Can I really love anything?
My home, my life, the fantasy?
What trouble will it bring,
If I can't love anything?

Without her beside me now
Without him there next to her
What good am I to anyone?
Everything is just a blur

Won't change my name again
To them I will be true
My brother's sons I share it with
Won't share my name with you

Can I really love anything?
Or anyone now they are gone?
The answer now is no
So just go on now. Move along.

But somehow I love the flowers
Only blooms and leaves are lost
I know they simply slumber
They’ll return after the frost

I love the birds that do not stay
Will await their long return
They'd return now if they knew
The depth of my concern

Can I really love anything?
Does my heart have any room?
Waiting for the birds' return
Waiting for the flowers' bloom

As my hardened heart grows softer
As I inch my way into
A meaning in my life
The birds and flowers and you

I'll try to love the best I can
Though it's hard to see it it through
Can I really love anything?
Because of them, because I should, because I do

In the night they come and go
Making fun of all I know
Twisting time and thoughts and matter
And tell me I'm the Maddest Hatter

Scared of clowns and dark and light
Suppressing panicked fight or flight
Painted faces on the wall
And I don't feel myself at all

Dripping smiles cold and fake
Scarlet teardrops in their wake
You're alone-will always be
No one comes, you stay with me

Day can't save you from the night
We can chase away the light
We can always corner you
And we'll retell the tales you knew

In the night we watch you sleep
Watch you writhe in painful peace
We call ourselves insanity
And don't care for reality

Now don't cry
There's nothing wrong
You're pathetic -
Sing your song

Monsters come and monsters go
Dread the world you've come to know
Dream or real, we'll never show
Try and force your pulse to slow

Sweetie you can't make them stay
Cause your poison finds a way
Infecting everyone you love -
"Poison" fits you like a glove

And now we go to catch our flight
But we'll see you tomorrow night
Pack the faces and the limbs
That were singing hellish hymns

We've become quite fond of you
And we hope you'll miss us too
Panic, anger, fear, and numb
Call us and we'll always come

Get some sleep, it's morning now
I can't sleep; I don't know how
I know you think I'm crazy right?
No, I'm just fearful of the night.

Let me go, release me like a flying kite.
Let me go, let me fade, like day turns to night.
Watch me sink, like the deep orange setting sun.
For 'twas a sunset of dreams I once provided for everyone.

Let me go, the person I used to be,
For I'm no longer her; I've changed to a new me,
Someone who is forgetful and confused with time and place.
Soon I will not recognize you, may not even know your face.

Let me go, remember the good times we used to share.
Just hold my hand and show me that you care.
As we venture onwards, my love to you I send.
Our love will keep us going, as I near the final bend.

Winter oh winter, how long will you stay?
Winter good old winter will you ever go away?
I liked you in the beginning and in the middle you were fine!
But, can someone pass me some crackers to go with my whine?
You just keep on hanging on and you are super cold and wet.
We have nothing in common, let's pretend we never met!

Winter, oh winter have you ever met spring?
Did you know that pastel colors were even a thing?
You're like an old boyfriend who doesn't want to have fun.
Didn't I tell you a long time ago how we are just done?

Spring happy spring you are a fresh breath of air.
Winter won't leave us so we must have an affair!
Pretend you can't see all the fresh fallen snow.
Or maybe you can warm the air and away it will go!

I love you spring I can finally wear shorts
Your temperature is perfect according to the weather report.
Not too cold and not too hot is how you usually flow.
You are like the perfect boyfriend who makes me glow.

Oh no spring watch out Summer is on its way!
Summer comes in hot and will make you go astray.
Summer is not perfect, summer burns me all the time.
Spring ole spring you will always be mine!

We got rid of summer, but did I ever mention fall?
Oops my mistake Spring you are such a doll.
I know fall seems scary as things start to die.
And the ghosts and goblins in the wind you hear cry.

If winter could talk this is what it would say,
I am sorry my welcome I did overstay!
But, don't remember the bad, just remember the fun!
Don't you remember when we met on your favorite ski run?
The times you made snowballs and hit people in the face
Or the times you hopped on a sled and said come on let's race!

Remember I have the most important job of them all.
I have to make sure the mountains have enough snow fall!
You must have enough water all year round.
So let's not cuss in the spring when there is snow on the ground!
No I am not perfect and sometimes I mess up.
But remember I try hard to always catch up!

Spring says sorry I am not perfect I really hate to say.
But I am not as harsh as winter and you like me that way.
I just have a couple of faults that I hate to even mention.
But, remember the year you had to do flood prevention?
Yup, me and winter we kind of got into a fight.
I poured rain on its snow until it melted just right.

Summer piped up and said sorry I am so scorching hot,
Sorry when I burn you, was sunscreen just an afterthought?
You knew you needed protection, what can I say?
Maybe next time you should think before we play!
Are you always miserable, is anything just right?
Seems like you have a beef with all seasons and you just want to fight!

Fall murmured oh yes summer is so right on!
Sorry I come in and cause such a fright and you want me gone.
When a storm rolls in, don't sit and complain.
Step outside and learn to dance in the rain!
You must appreciate the good that each season provides
And feel lucky you live in a place where four seasons reside!

Grandad, grandad! Come and see! 
My little Rosie says to me
I've made a den where I can hide
And keep my dollies safe inside

And I must down my tools and go
To see the things she wants to show
The spider's web, bejewelled with dew 
The dancing damsel's azure blue

Her careless laugh of joy unbound 
There's not in heaven a sweeter sound
Her tiny fingers grasp my hand     
And lead me to her fairy land

Those solemn eyes in beauty lashed 
Look straight at me quite unabashed
And bid me join in baby's feast   
Or chase some tiny, luckless beast!

And down the path with teddy bear   
Sat quietly on your little chair
Private conversations hold   
With little lady, sad and cold

I know that I will not forget 
They'll stay with me forever, yet
Will you, my darling child, recall   
These golden days when you were small?

A tsunami of fire
A wall with no gate
Prayers unanswered
Utterly ignored
And I grieve

I hear me cry for my son
My mourning so complete as to block the rays of the sun,
and the beams of the moon.
And I grieve.

The dirt from which you sprang,
The poison in which you were raised,
The utter joy you gifted me

My heart still pumps, but my life blood spills.
Fall from grace
And I grieve

Bodies contaminated, tainted by his sin,
Trapped in cycles, impossible to win.
Forced into silence, bearing heavy weight,
Burdened by shame, consumed by hate.

His secrets, like poison, pollute the mind,
A toxic legacy, leaving souls confined.
A heavy burden, a relentless toll,
Dragging us down, consuming our soul.

Indecent secrets, festering despair,
A forced silence drowning in air.
His selfish poison seeps deep within,
Engulfing darkness, suffocating skin.

His secrets fester, gnaw at the core,
Consuming spirits, leaving them sore.
Forever imprisoned by his deceit,
A constant shadow, a bitter defeat.

In these days of chaos and doubt,
Don't listen to the loudest shout.
Listen to the whisper within.

Don't buy the lie they tout.
Don't listen to them shout.
Listen to the whisper within.

Reject the agenda.
Swim against the stream.
Stand on your own.
Don't listen to them shout.
Listen to the whisper within.

So the emperor 'has new clothes' -
But you can see his naked skin?
Don't listen to them shout.
Listen to the whisper within.

Better to stand alone than sell your soul.
Stand firm.
Don't listen to them shout.
Listen to the whisper within.