FOP #2

1.4 First time

The first time I touched you,
your skin smelt of tea lights
and raisins

so I turned your bones like
they were combinations
to locks.

1.5 Wildcard

You are

a halogen lamp, goosebumps and
rosary. Your vertebrae are a
writer's sanctuary, poached like
ivory and inscribed with
prayer.

1.6 Form - Haiku

Converse covered in
dew, wind slaps at my lips, smells
like eucalyptus.

1.7 Clothing

The silk scarf was a pallet of brown and gold,
Shades of yellow and amber fused together so that
It seemed to sparkle in the sun. It perfectly
Complimented your bronzed skin and you wore it
So that the tassles shimmered in your elegant wake.

1.8 Love

I wish you were here, I need you now,
I have to see you, somewhere, somehow,
Because I know that when you're gone
My heart is a chorus of broken song,
And if by chance, you reappear,
I'll treasure the moment, forever, dear.

2.1 Include a type of transport(car, train, etc) and mention the weather.

I spent the summer in a train-hopping,
hostel-occupying daze: buildings and cities blended
into one: Berlin, Budapest, Vienna - and soon my
backpack was heavier on my back, the dictionaries
were spine-bent from use. I was sunburnt and cold and
if I had to go back again, in time
or in place I would in
a heartbeat.

2.2 3 verses

Must have 3 verses (at least 3 lines each)
Once I saw a rat
That was chased by a cat
As on my chair I sat.

Then along came a man
Who's name I think was Dan,
And he carried a frying pan.

Once my thoughts were simple
As the stanzas of a child, as if cvc words
Held the key to happiness.

2.3 Must mention royalty in some way (crown, heir, king, prince etc)

If I had known you were heir to your mothers
Waistline instead of bank-balance I would have found a way
to excuse myself from our wedding.

2.4 First Time

In the shower I used to sing to
Johnny Cash's version of
'The First Time Ever I saw your Face,' as if
for motivation that today would be the
day you would stumble heart-first
into my life. It happened
as differently as a surprise.

2.5 Wild Card

The crooning soundtrack of a second-rate
Rom-com could be heard, faintly, eminating
The next-door's television. The couple
In the apartment block opposite were arguing
Like in a silent film. On the street below an old man
Stooped to scoop up the poop his terrier
Just pooped. I soaked up the heartbeat
Of the city and tried to record it
With my stetescope pen.

2.6 Formed Poem

Haiku's compliment
The brevity of time in
Forming a formed poem.

2.7 Clothing

The washing machine runs
On electricity and the occasional
Snack of loose socks that disappear
Into its hidden depths.

2.8 Love

I heard a love song that made me think
Of the time when we waltzed under
The parasol, to the music of Catalyuna
On a clear September night. Pasta sauce
Stained your lower lip and after I kissed you,
Mine.

3.1 Transport

The U-boat dipped under the water
like a metallic crocodile, eyeing
it's prey, silouetted on the horizon line
of a perfectly windless dawn.
It stealthed closer under the surface,
guided by the beep beep of soliton
green radar. Orders were passed,
buttons pressed and torpedos like
underwater darts found their targets.

3.2 3 verses

The record player spun
to Buddy Holly in the corner,
the curtains drawn.

The porcelin vase was fresh
with a dozen red roses
beside a slightly ajar door.

The floor space was occupied
by four feet, close together
waltzing on the soft pine floor.

3.3 Royalty

You would not know that once
he sat on a golden Parisian throne.
His wife was dishevelled, almost like a
woman of the streets who had fallen
on tough times. The crowd didn't bow
at their feet anymore and their royal blood
was the same shade of red as all the others
who became acquainted with the guillotine.

3.4 First time

My first kiss, in the schoolyard
behind the bike shed was shaky
and toothy and as smooth as sandpaper.
Short and wet, it was much shorter
than the 13 year wait
that preceded it.

3.5 Wild Card

Once
a wave
built in the
Pacific Ocean
and traveled like
it was in a rush to a
party. It arrived with a
Bang, whoosh, accompanied
by a fanfare of screams,
guard of honour of
fishing boats and
scrap-wood all
lost at sea,
Gone.

3.6 Formed

Musical kisses
float across the golden bay
finding loving homes.

3.7 Clothing

I never thought the main consideration
I would hold when buying a hat was
its ability to cover the baby-bald
symptom of my cancerous timeline.

3.8 Love

It amazed me how you held my hand
in the way that showed how
publicly you wore your heart on
my sleeve.

4.1 Transport

The side-to-side, Atlantic cold
experience that was fishing on
Denton's boat in October, for cod
and bass was memorable for
the great catch I reeled in
called sea-sickness.

4.2 Three verses

Whiskers, paws
button noses
and sharp little jaws,

White-tip tail,
twitching ears
and receeding claws,

Yellow eyes,
black-spotted lips,
but where on a cat
are the hips?

4.3

If I were king for a day,
I'd do losts of things.
I'd get butlers to draw up a list
and try on all the crowns and bling.

I'd sit on my throne,
I'd stride my palace halls,
and to my annoying subjects
turn a deaf ear on their calls.

4.4

The first time I sat down to
write a poem for this competition
I considered the metaphors,
double-checked meanings and
articulated myself as if I wanted
to say something necessary. Now
I've learned that my words are
all gone and all that's left is robotic
fingers spewing out prompt-inspired
pieces of anti-poetry.

4.5 Wild Card

I hope that when my days are up,
I can look back truthfully and say,
'I've done it all, I've had my fun,
Its time to call it a day.'

4.6 Formed

For heaven;s sake, write
Or at least try to scribble
Rondeaus, Sonnets,
Monodies or such,
Every time though I tell myself
'Do Haikus, Senryus, they are easier, much!'

4.7 Clothing

The singed hole in the arm of my
navy-blue jacket reminds me not
to bring mass to an abrupt, pyroclastic halt
by reaching over a row of candles and
warming myself up.

4.8 Love

You thought love was dinner in the hot
new restaurant on Valentines day, throwing parties
for a birthday, putting in requests
for Stevie Wonder on the local radio.
You never understood how I would trade
it all for a kiss that nobody had
to see.

5.1 transport + weather

At central station, pigeons peck
at the heels of tourists, whilst street musicians
drown out the sound of the click-clacking rush
to catch the next train home - everyone
seems to go home - men in suits, women
in flowery skirts, and even the heartbroken girl
with the sleeve of her shirt having suffered
as emergency-tissue. Everyone seems to go
home, except the man with the accordion
sitting in the rain, playing a happy tune.

5.2 3 x 3

At least I didn't slip
with my uncomfortable boots,
safely catching my skirt

from wavering like a flag,
as if announcing camerashots
to boys passing by on scooters.

Oh, how hard it is to be
a woman, such 21st centruy fortune
to be allowed to wear pants.

5..3 royalty

And we'll never have chihuahua's
on a leash, prancing beside our Gucci,
never be pop princesses no matter
the amount of bathroom-concerts,
or the days we spent drunk, hanging
over boys like wet towels,
ending up like dirty laundry.

Perhaps we are ordinary - eating
potato chips as we laugh at chickflicks,
but I'd do anything to be cliche
in a movie-like moment with him.

5.4 first time

The first time I ate durian,
it felt like eating butter-bonbons,
as its fillings squished through
the gaps of my teeth - unleashing
the baby inside of me to just puke
and whine, and have no one scold me
for being impolite.

5.5 wild card

I'm not too wild about wearing high-waisted
shorts, and leaning over the counter - but here I am.
Touch me up with sunglasses and I'll give you
a hipster, semi-philosophical look in the far distance,

except, the distance means no beautiful horizon here,
but the wretched dentist across the street.

So much for dreaming.

5.6 formed

Hurray! Look who's back?
It's the Senryu, with all
its silly squalor.

5.7 clothing

There were times where I'd sit in front of my closet,
its doors open for only a few hundred seconds,
like the minimized gate of some ancient ruins.

The simile is fair enough. Underneath
the treasure heap of sucks and underwear,
are belts that fit my upperleg now.

5.8 love

When I walk beside the waters
I find myself staring at my worn-out sneakers
and I see couples' arms locked to one another
from the corner of my eye, legs dangling
in the summer breeze; in the corner of the alley
a stray dog licks the hand of a stranger;
in the corner of my lips, a lollipop
to hide my upside-down grin.

All the while, I missed the chance
of seeing you walk right behind me, curious.
All the while, I missed the chance
to sit with you at the bench near the water,
nip at your lip in a corner, or
sharing a grin upon placing your hand
at the hem of my shirt.

6.1 transport + weather

It's been six months since driving legally
and still I turn a 90 degrees at 50 km/h,
and sometimes forget to look in the mirror
for any cars that might steal my place
- MY TERRITORY - on the highway
when I'm too busy eyeing the boy
in the back, wondering if he'd
take off his shirt on this sunny day,
or how much weight he could carry
with those arms, or if his hair
is always that fluffy, or
... oh wait,

watch the road
watch the road
watch the road

... or if his lips taste like
raisins and chocolate
and bliss and ...

6.2 3 x 3

The cold of my feet jabs
at the pillow I threw aside
while tossing and turning.

I see Incubi nipping
at my toes, greasy claws
reaching for skin.

It seems like the dreamcatcher
sways happily in the midnight breeze,
enjoying its holiday.

6.3 royalty

"Why, good evening, sir,
you must be prince charming."

I said in a slick voice.

Thinking about ways to scissor
his hair, a more medieval look.
How blue would fit the depth
of his eyes more, and how
donning gold would hurt my eyes
more than my heart, even with
cups of harmless poison
to stablize the thought
of the last one who wore blue
and wore his hair with a crown
and wore his mantle into death.