no matter that me entries will yield little no pay
i offer a small sample of my literary efforts to date
forsooth whence there might arise that day
renown may find me swamped with financially successful fate.
matthew harris
A Bend In The River
The serpentine and ageless liquid
predating antediluvian flood whence zarathustra spoke
commanding phoenix like mercurial possessed snake
eternally swallowed
since the beginning of time
one unquenchable thirst to gorge and slake
slurping up an icy cold mountainous pebbly shake
yet fresh as an irish spring
using thy tongue o gaelic spake
then tumbling down into the cavernous abyss
subsequently carving
a deep criss cross patchwork
across the rock hard rugged topography
like the handiwork of some invincible force
commandeering a humungous rake
affixing legendary signature
quasi-indelible grooves
only for the near indomitable
chiseled masterpiece
to be erased, twisted then wrenched
by that natural landscape altering phenomena
identified as an earth quake
creating a fresh tabula rasa to begin anew
inviting waters from on high to carve
from the ebbing and flowing millennial currents
which eventually find a more direct course
beginning as trickling creek
swells from winter rains
and thence in summer while the sun doth bake
when flora blooms and fauna prance
the firmament then abandons
bent elbow oxbow lake
as a former bend in the river.
2. bartender - oh bartender!
mine eyes espy the glory of the ending of another day work
with no clue what role my efforts play in within the large scheme
and (psst) just between you and me...that new supervisor a real jerk
assigning my exemplary skills and talents what appears as a losing team!
no way out of this death sentence nefarious trap
except to drown displeasure downing booze or even house brand beer
which drunken state the only way to prevent axons and synapses to snap
and quickly cause tenuous grasp on sanity to become rent asunder and tear!
now, not a moment to delay
for this conga line employer manned gravy train
departs the tracks seven minutes to five – hip hooray
whereby i can anesthetize this sorely overtaxed brain!
these remaining 420 seconds tick by like the pace of a snail
to this myopic eyes the clock seems to reverse itself in time
this must be some cruel cheap trick holding hostage this randy male
whose manly fuels excitement meeting babes reason i be like busta rhyme!
hop on the bandwagon the aim
to get out from this cramped cubicle and make a made dash
for fermented elixir cherished like some infatuation with a female flame
which magic to forget cares of an uncertain world wrought immediate in a flash!
now the cogs, gears and wheels that turn, whir and spin
within me mental discerned centrifuge come to a grinding halt
as the modern day whistles blows closing time in that barely audible din
which means the motley crew will be heading to a favorite watering hole for ale or malt!
ah, that cool amber liquid of the gods soothes the palate and the tongue
nothing (nada even bling) compares to dulling the senses under the sun
sipping high proof fermented beverage worth price of a headache to be stung
come the morrow (being closer to week-end) flirt with getting drunk equals fun!
upon drowning sorrows that cascade like some emotional waterfall
inside thine own rocky mountain psychic terrain gets numbed by liquor
until the next morning will find frame of mind obliterated akin to a major squall
finding me embarrassed at previous nights' antics that found me to laugh and snicker!
3. Capitol Hill
house and senate dutifully ply their craft
then end up with the president filibustering their hen pecking bill
submitting unanimous opinion in their legalese drawn up draft
which veto power from the elected chief of the white house doth send a chill
that sometimes warms his cockles vis a vis by a bit of turn the other cheek graft
which comes as little or no surprise to those in the shadow of the hill
whence upon trying to assert their rights seemed scored and laughed
especially when taking a tumble like nursery rhyme characters jack and jill
feel the sharp dejection analogous to receiving the so called shaft
which demonstrative obliviousness to needs and wants prompts the urge to kill
experiencing that sinking feeling like being submerged in a rickety raft
from feeling caught up in the maws of some human like puppy mill
if history serves me correctly, the blame taken out by assassinating mckinley and taft
whereby those who grovel along the boulevard of broken dreams with nil
nowadays sense of security breached by financially levees springing leaks that waft
thru the continental air inspiring this ditty from a figurative quill!
4. Barack Obama
this epistle per mine choice of heir apparent presidential throne
composed from one liberal minded non-conformist rolling stone
prompted awareness that one voice can affect which contestant will win
and occupy the white house after the votes get tallied from political spin
aware thy missive from an anonymous fellow and a self anointed scribe
will be carefully screened no matter opinion already cast with nada bribe
personal opinion of this sole american male of two score and nine years
that barack obama possesses that je ne sais quois diplomatic state craft
despite disparaging broadside starring paris hilton plus britney spears
the land of lincoln candidate exemplifies (to myself) a charismatic charm
in tandem with a relaxed persona and gait akin per a commoner on a farm
that nonchalant easy going affinity speaks nonverbal volumes to this chap
cringes when espying or hearing from opposing challenger whose lips flap
meaning john mccain whose hidden motives and agenda include his trap
to plant seeds of doubt per un-decided electorate causing lead to get a zap
unknown how trials and tribulations rival democratic senator from Illinois
will weather local nor global challenges and said solution he might employ
i opt for said captain to steer ship of state and exclaim to drop anchor ahoy
if via cosmic divine intercession the galloping newcomer in this horse race
ushering biracial as nominal winner televisions would show a beaming face
the political ramifications analogous to betting square outcome on this ace
i gently beg, decry, fulminate counter attack advertisements fast and quick
against those subliminal sly messages that at first blush appear airily slick
and please reach deep in that magic bag resorting to retaliatory artful trick
lest burning from the madding crowd extinguished like jack’s candle wick!
5. CRYSTALLINE SERENADE
Profuse precipitation populated Philadelphia
meteorological heft wrought pinkish glow
plentiful polygons pin wheeled and pirouetted
landscape imprinted pure as driven snow
diminution of visual acuity
accrued from two plus four birthdays
still marvel at freeze-dried raindrops
reaction toward crystalline phenomena continues to grow
kaleidoscope of multitudinous hydrospheric blitz krieg terrestrial show
metaphor wrapped in supreme whiteness
from singular semi-liquid entities high to low
Mother nature imbues testament for rapt observer
teaches to offer rare self for world to know
as individual corporeal of flesh and blood
we forget special identity among human row
subtle riddle well hidden in molecule
two hydrogen atoms against one oxygen in tow
offer quiet sermon to cherish beliefs and personal paradigms vis a vis status quo.
The various and sundry trials and tribulations that buffet my psyche interpreted and processed in the form of poetry and prose. Perhaps on account of many years self-absorbed between pages of well-written book, I tend to express feelings, ideas, thoughts, et cetera in a rather atypical and innovative manner. Literary contests offer me a creative opportunity to communicate this love of English language and hopefully (someday-most likely posthumously) receive even a little bit of recognition.
