FOP #1

5.7 Special Occasion

There's a candle lit
in your honor
and you're not here
to make the wish.
There should be
twenty candles
but what's the point
in remembering your age
when you can't celebrate
here with us.

5.8
Wild Card

There's a thistle in
her mouth, she's sucking sweetly
waiting for bitter.

6.1 Senses
I long to dunk my toes
into your drunkenness,
where I can feel your breath
lingering, and I can know
that it means something.
There are moments
where the distance between us
feels almost too comfortable,
not that you'd notice.

6.2 Funny

I tripped, I trapt, I liffed, I laffed
and realized
I couldn't spell a word
I decided to try
spackling my eye
and realized you were a turd.

6.3 Formed Poetry

The sun sets on the
top of the ocean, and I
suck my breath in awe.

6.4 Country/State/Town

My heart is nestled
in the back roads of Oregon,
filled with fir trees and country roots.
You'll find solace in the sunset,
and a breath of fresh air
when the first rain
hits the pavement.
God creates a beautiful image,
and this place is His masterpiece.

6.5 30-36 Syllables

Photographs capture
beautiful moments, but in the rare
time it holds a tear,
The emotion steals my breath,
as I begin to weep with the subject.

6.6 Religion

God, my God
please do not
leave me be.

I'm praising you
silently, publicly, feverishly
in this storm.

Come, hold my heart
in your hands,
and rescue me.

6.7 Christmas

The bow in her hair
matches the one
on the tree,
and she decides
to flee, run from the snow
and laughter,
away from the heartache
of what used to be.

Presents mean nothing
without his presence,
and she can't believe
another year
has gone by.

6.8 Wildcard

Poetry flies off fingertips
occasionally dripping
eloquent lines,
trying so hard to
relay the emotions
you hold inside.

7.1 Senses

Tick, tock.
I hear it crash
loudly in my temples
and feel myself
throw up on the sidewalk.
It wasn't meant to be this way.
There's no oxygen, I cannot breathe.
My ribs are covered with
shrink wrap, but my swollen heart
is about to explode
out of my chest.
Can it be over, yet?

7.2 Funny

I'm not a funny woman
and I steal stupid jokes
of thunderpants and sticky sticks
that make no sense at all. One day
I'll find my funny bone
lodged in my brain somewhere;
that's where it must belong?

7.3 Formed Poem

Waterfalls tumble
rushing water into pools
natures wet fortress.

7.4 Country/State/Town

A life has been changed suddenly
never expecting, although believing
that it could happen,
I fell in love with a country,
guard down, my heart was softened
under God; He smoothed my edges
as though His hands were sandpaper.

7.5 30-36 Syllables

I lifted my heart
from pomegranate seeds
and anchors,
making the mistake
and forgetting the one
who drew along my ribcage.

7.6 Religion

There are wars
in the name of you, God,
but don't they know
the enemy is at hand?
You do not call
bombs to land
on believer's hearts.
You usher in peace,
and take care of justice
on Your own.
May we learn from this
to seek Your blessings.

7.7 Special Occasion

My tiny hands
will soon envelope yours
and I can't wait
to feel the rush of love
only an aunt can feel.
Please hurry, cupcake,
as we are impatiently
awaiting your arrival
into this world.

7.8 Wildcard (Senryu)

Where have all my club
mates gone? They're all in hiding
from poetic games.

8.1 Senses

In the kitchen,
my nostrils are swarmed
with goulash and dumplings,
the pitter patter of sizzling
and the cursing from grease stains.
Your arms are covered
up to your elbow with flour
and spices, and I can't wait
to taste the flavors.

8.2 Funny

There once was a man named Joe
who decided he needed to blow
his nose, you pervert, don't you know
kids on this website, they do go!

8.3 Formed Poem

Dandelion fields
cover all the green pastures:
flowery landscape.

8.4 country/state/town

Food stalls align the street, the smell
wafting around old ladies collecting tin cans
from abandoned seats. Coca cola, fanta, other brands
almost in hiding, like lovers in a shady alley, always in pairs.

The smell is rare here, around Kuala Lumpur,
a concoction of dirty sewer water and re-used oil,
hardly hygienic ... but oh so nostalgic.

In the restaurants, you will always find geckos
sticking to the ceiling, as if threatening to skydive
into your noodle soup. But this is home,

the pineapple-like palmtrees and calloused hands,
this is what it feels like to invest your sweat
into a broken place that remains majestic
with all its roaches filling up the cracked pavements.

8.5 30-36 syllables

Clothes from overseas
sneak into your suitcase,
pile up in your spare room -

closet's too small.

One month later, those clothes
are sent overseas, lacking your touch.

8.6 Religion

Demented men as
Evil controls minds that
Murder innocent children
Only for their cause
Nobody should die
Save for these savages

8.7 special occasion

On a Valentine's day,
people curl up like stray dogs
into their blankets, dreaming
of chocolate fountains.

Why drown the sweetness of strawberries
with the bitterness of chocolate, though?

8.8 Wild card

With my poker face
no hint of shame
winning a game
losing cash a disgrace

My hand is mild
victory now bleak
but to help this streak
a hidden card is wild.

(sorry couldn't resist)

9.1 sense organ

Nose to nose - a puppy's saliva
stuck to your upper lip, and you can't help
but smile, as if it were a threatment to rid yourself
of the pseudo-moustache you've always hated.

There's light in you, despite the dark brown
of your eyes, or the scar on your chin
from falling on the pavement when chased
by a dog, at the age of 8, when I lost my spark.

9.2 Funny

Plip plop
my ploop plopped
plopping along the pluppin'
water. Frit frat, jungle cat
plippin' along the plep.

9.3 formed poem - pleiades

lovelorn

Like a pregnant apple,
losing faith of falling
lovely, punctured by worms.
Leeching all your juices,
loneliness hollows out,
lest the breeze places you
like a treasure in hands.

9.4 country/town/state

Great Yarmouth this town
that I can call my home
in the brochures it is pleasant
painted with tint of pride

but the truth is this towns a hole
that supports scumbags
the chavs and the dossers
that drive us all insane.

maybe that hole
should swallow the lot of them
then great Yarmouth could then be
a green and pleasant town.

9.5 30-36 syllables

Orange juice is guided
alongside your elbow,
into your sketchbook.

Pastel heart bleeds a sunset,
remindful of the boy
who pulled your piggytail.

9.6 religion

One book
written long ago
edited beyond originality
whispering half truths
to humanity
making sheep from men

to believe is to entrap yourself
in a time warp
where stoning is acceptable
during a half time interval

to speak out is punishable
by death via torture
sanctioned by your lord

but there is a flip side
which is why confusion reigns

some people need hope
dare to dream of an afterlife
that only a god can bring.

9.7 special occasion

Pandan leaves are wrapped
around pink and green dishes,
aligning like turtles along the candles.

The drums and hums emerge
infinitely, a permant chaperone
into your new home.

9.8 wild card

Smoking clouds judgement
abates anger
mellows mood
destroys dental
lines lungs
causes cancer
habitual
stinking
dragging
life ending
fun.

10.1 sense organ

I hear the melody of my phone
from underneath my pillow,
like it's some magic reminder
that I'll dream about the train station again
where you'll arrive, broad-shouldered
and packed with experience,
but still blushing like a silly boy.

We will have lunch together,
coffee steam and tea's dampness
roaming around our tongues,
and far too much chocolate.

But when I wake up, I hear
the afterecho of the train
entering my window,
leaving the door.

I am reminded that reality
is only tea without sugar,
bread without butter,
both of us being students
without stations to look forward to.

10.2 Funny

Lickadicksaywhat
Is what he said to me
in such a mumbled tone
that I had to strain to hear

Lickadicksaywhat
he repeated with a smirk
holding back a laugh
ready to explode

Lickadicksaywhat
he finally had me
my puzzlement won

what?

I asked.

10.3 formed Haiku/acrostic

Reared in bloody fields
Encourages a new hope
Delightful poppy

10.4 Country/town/state

Tea drinkers that detest a queue
yet too polite to cause a fuss
depicted as bowler hat wearing
reserved bores
Us Englanders should do so much more.
To show the world we can have fun
to laugh and dance with the best of them.
But truth be known we will never exaggerate
as good as the Americans
with their overflowing plates.

10.5 30-36 syllables

Darkness pokes out my eyeballs
as daylight deserts me again
thinking clearly was something
that moved out when the mist settled.

10.6 Religion

Bile on paper
Idiotic lies
Bribing men
Losing believers
Eroding humanity