lyric

March 1st, 2010 by panagiotis

evening
the pohutukawa
grows into the
sky the cool
sea-lighted wind
a graft
of stars.

a verandah
the inset dark
on the walls
like a cloud’s
thunder-blade facade
lock you against
the silence.
streetlamps
corrode the iron
sleep stain the
curtains in
rusts of dream.

water scribbled
along scarves
of sandstone.
the streets break
toward the harbour.
low-tide map
of the dawn

june 86
lawrence street
for Kerry & Angelina

Copyright (c) 2009 by Peter Le Baige

how mild this fall is

March 1st, 2010 by janoskar

How mild the fall is?

I followed a track between tall, pale green cactuses, in this harsh landscape
where even the smallest plant has thorns, where bark and leaves, of even
regular trees, like carob and olive, are tough and will not softens to human
touch. Yet this is a landscape that once was tilled and now abandoned, does
this landscape’s common soul feels rancorous of being left to fend for itself?
I found a ruin. More than a ruin, a pile of stones only its outline told me that
once this had been a home where children had been born, lived and died
for generations, till someone said: enough! And left for pastures green, (most
likely USA or Canada,) poverty is only romantic in movies. Half of November
gone, I’m walking about in shirt sleeves the ground is rock hard and dusty,
the local paper tells us that 14 years ago the weather was mild too till January,
then it snowed and it was cold till May. Feel I’m being watched in the bushes
I see a boar watching me it is a wily old boar it sees I carry no gun, yet keeps
its distance; and high above me circles eagles; the landscape is teaming with
rabbits which used to be food for the people, who lived in the ruin (when
they could snare one) now business men, who have paid for a license to kill,
come here to unwind. To kill seems to satisfy a base desire in mankind; yet, it
is better a rabbit is scarified, then to see a dead Afghan child with eyes that
reflect the grey mountains, poppy fields and the blue unfeeling sky.

Deception

March 1st, 2010 by Anau Mesui

Clothed in smiles
Lingering warm touches
Flattering words
Laughter after lunches.
A thick, blinding curtain
fogging vital truths.
walking she’s uncertain,
her heart’s turned aloof.
Deceit sneers at her
Weaving layers of lies
She replies yes sir,
as her spirit torn cries.
Destruction chains her neck
pulling her away
leaving the mark of death
a stench of ashtray.
Helpless to whom she serves
she no longer sees the way
stamped with his ownership
the sun has removed its ray.

The Truth

March 1st, 2010 by April

You are not the ones for love to know,
You are not the ones for life to please,
All you hunt is dirty euro dough,
It’s, in fact, a terrible disease.

Your infected ego is inflated,
It will burst and poison all your veins.
Even when the beast is saturated,
It is still your helplessness that reigns.

Every step you take will be declared
As the most expected epic fall.
I’m the only poet who has dared
To announce the truth, to say it all.

Fate And Fortune

February 17th, 2010 by April

This northern city with headlights-eyes
Has buried me in its cold and gloom;
You’ll see this place in a dreadful guise
And once sweet home will seem a tomb
Once you’re aware there’s no way out,
Once dreams of youth say goodbye and grin.
It goes farther and makes me doubt
In all the things I have ever seen.
Its blood has turned into ice and snow -
It’s endless winter in every heart.
The winds of grief never cease to blow,
The art of grief is the greatest art.

And once in this cradle of dirt and despair
A wandering stranger demanded my mind.
He asked me about this damned northern air
I’d better not breathe – I would leave it behind.
He said: “I’m in love with this misery, miss.
Destruction is right what we need to create.
True art is in grief, I’ve been dreaming of this.
My yesterday’s fortune’s tomorrow’s fate.
I know all secrets my destiny knows,
So this boring dwelling won’t be a surprise”.
I thought: “He’s my twin, and it clearly shows”.
That evening he opened my widely shut eyes.

A perfect stranger has built a wall
To be a shield from this gloom and lies,
From endless rains of this city’s gall
That falls on me from the shattered skies.
The wave of feelings can warm the days
Of dull existence in Bitterland
And melt the ice in this rotten place,
In every heart that it’s due to mend.
This northern city with headlights-eyes
Has turned us down in its nasty voice
And… brought together. We’ve paid the price
Of fate to fortune. We’ve made the choice.

Over the Surface

December 9th, 2009 by Nicholas Alexander

The creature shakes festering water
all over the art house

Carved equine harmony ruins
now
fit for the knackers yard

Skin too smooth
no flex or muscle movement

The jewels were all gone
its eyes removed

Cool handed double breasted veneer
raking coals over breaking ice

Hate

December 9th, 2009 by April

I’m fully devoured by hate,
My mind has been brought to stagnation,
It’s my unconceivable fate
To get slightly less estimation
Than sluts in a changeable guise
Or fools wasting time on careers.
Well, who is the one to despise:
A poet or one of those peers?
They fear the joys of today,
They fear the freedom addiction,
And I have no words left to say
When called a damn tough contradiction.

Freaky Meat

December 9th, 2009 by Editor

Freaky Meat

thursday 10th december 2009
whammy bar

love is a story

December 8th, 2009 by oscar

Love is a Story

It seems incredible now but once I was in love,
inflamed blood rushed thru my veins threatened
to drown my heart in sweet delusions, but we
both agreed, at the time, that never in the history
of man had anyone loved as us.

Summer nights are not for sleeping tired I was
when October came with cold, sober precipitation
and a north westerly that reduced the rapid river
of ardour to a mere trickle of lust and my words of
love rang hammy and theatrical.

Tears, a tub full I’m quite certain had I had sense
to bath in them I would have been assured eternal
youth. I kicked myself, fled. A fine November dawn
I saw Recife; fell in love again, but this time, alas,
with an irony damaged heart.

AucklandPoetry publishes NZ po…

December 8th, 2009 by Editor

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summer in Lisbon

December 8th, 2009 by janoskar

Summer in Lisbon

In the gentle Lisboetic night the old Heavenly Basilica
shimmered above ground, a white mirage of satin.
Across the road, in the garden of a thousand stars,
park benches, under ancient trees, smoked cigarettes
that glowed as fireflies when lovers embraced.
Sweet scented murmur kissed the moon.

the quickening

December 8th, 2009 by janoskar

The Quickening

Upstairs, the tide slapping sound of laughter and music
became a din, small cubicles, pink light and creaking bedsprings
and it reeked of beer belching men and perfumed women.
Angry gull like shrieks from cubicle five a customer had fallen
asleep occupying much needed space. Two bouncers came and
carried the sleeping one down to his friends in the bar.
Lost and silent after bought love they drank more, the music grew
lauder as did laughter; their eyes betrayed them though, quiet
longing in a pool of stillness, their romantic male illusion had not
yet hardened behind a shield of cynicism.

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