Poem HONK HONK HONK… horn blaringeye – rollsI, out of bedpoetry, off tonguechanging of the guard clocks fell into formationseasonal salute6am says good morning into inkback so soon?an alarm never wakes one up on timeonly prematurely. © Darius the Mate 05-04-2022 Written for the dVerse Quadrille.
Tag Archives: dVerse
Class dismissed
Poem This table, that cradles young dreamsbears heavily my stone filled headdrifting“WAKE UP!” – sir’s white bristled top liparches in feline alertness eyes stabthose blue daggers, old coffee breathI wise crack, stirring up the pot and, waitthe class erupts, chortling wildlyI feel naive validationonce prized“pass forward your papers, to me”my naked page floats timidly throughContinue reading “Class dismissed”
Door to door
Poem The door that shutframed your silhouettecut from fruitsnaked as the bowl once pickedjuicy as the lipsonce lickedthe finger tipsthat stripped, emotionswrote you a love letterwore the paper cutthe paper promises that shut the door. © Darius the Mate 23-03-2022 Written for dVerse’s Quadrille.
Upyr
Poem Putin the clown, juggling fireup on hind legs for the liarthe circus bear is dirtied brownfolk tales tell of eastern vampireblue and yellow tears falling downjuggling fire, Putin the clownI stand with you, Ukraine in need I stand with Russians taking heed those standing up for their world view arrested in protest, they pleadfreedomContinue reading “Upyr”
Tatar for now
Poem “Fish and visitors stink after three days.” Benjamin Franklin Poor Richard’s Almanack Mother-in-law was salting the haddock micro-managed – I chopped pickles for tartarendless tideof criticisms wafting up my nosedangled on the end of the line thinkingjust, assaultthis fishpush it in the oven and shut the door. DONE. © Darius the Mate 23-02-2022 WrittenContinue reading “Tatar for now”
Shadows swallow the earth from space
Poem – a shadowy Shakespearean sonnet Spacefarers spinning – dark, endless space fall no harness fixed to harness what we knowgrace falls on candles, windless and gracefulglowing pumpkins, Jack-o’-lanterns in-glowpostage to send rockets in this post-agecounted on stars, whilst earths wealth miscountedsage advice; to mistrust the circus sagemounted on motive, where heads are mountedfortunes beContinue reading “Shadows swallow the earth from space”
Bedroom poetry
Poem Words purged, exorcised from the lexiconeyes roll back, face and form of a demon little deaths in the wing span of a swanthe dribbling mess of erupted semen the page is sticky, hot and satisfied collaboration of primal forces peeling away from the orgasmic ridepoetry set free, as wild horses. © Darius the MateContinue reading “Bedroom poetry”
The scraps
Poem The waiter gestured to their tablethey sat facing one another squarely adversarialnibbling conversation before their starters arrived it pounded thinly on the veil peripherals darkunique features blurred their colours smudged through an opaque screen- as grease on paper -which separated them. © Darius the Mate 08-02-2022 Written for dVerse’s Quadrille; a poem in 44Continue reading “The scraps”
Clear as mud
Poem Forgive me if I’m wrong, my dearbut, mud is clear mirrors will shineand, smell like pine with a clear mind, cleansed in the wild free as a childwith muddy kneesamong tall treesyou can’t tell me earth is dirty she won’t hurt metwee buttercupbut, hold me up. © Darius the Mate 27-01-2022 Written for dVerse.
… in the red dress
An erotic romance poem 😘 Shiver down spine Sharp pain in sidecellmate demanding to dine- nowhere to hide – licking stubbled lips wearing a red dress blocking the doorwith a wiggling of hipsfingers go for the liverred heartshaped splatteron the floorby the shiv-er. © Darius the Mate 25-01-2022 Written for dVerse: Quadrille – a poemContinue reading “… in the red dress”
Rogets (insert [ghost] [spectre] [phantom] [wraith])
Poem Rogets ghost is restless in death collecting that, expelled with words- what’s leftmeaninghoarding breathlining up glass jars labelled so, not mistakenfloating through ethercoming together when shakentabled for the forever generationwith thanksdear fellowan apparition in ghoulish off-yellowstaring downthe great lexicographerthus styled face blackened with inkfrom word smithing long ago compiled into the first Thesaurus redContinue reading “Rogets (insert [ghost] [spectre] [phantom] [wraith])”
Mud dee mop
A nonsense-narrative poem (makes sense to me *wink*) Fo love o’ dee pub, slipping ta dee pubmake mine frothy, make eet bubowt dee castle, down dee brickseager clicks, clacks, clacks, n’ clicksKicks dee doors in, n’ av’ it up ya twisted tops, lickin’ dee liquor Fo love o’ dee pub, slumping ta dee pubswing deeContinue reading “Mud dee mop”
Verdant
A quadrille poem Hitherto,Erato blew kisses and, I wrotebody guided on impulse.Pursuing Thalia ones lost in the woods – there lies the trouble seeking the muse in natureleaves one open to garden variety inspiration.A seasonal harvestthe fruit enduresin the morning frost. © Darius the Mate 10-01-2022 Written for dVerse. Wordplay Pathway https://nicecissist.blog
The troubadour
A Rimas Dissolutas poem The English call it a ‘French Exit’,to leave a party without a goodbye,and surrender out the door,in lieu of trading novel pleasantry,as socially conservative mercantile,prudent in saving seconds, let’s Frexit,no need for pomp, it’s not Versailles,though, I admire your buildings, Monsieur,for their historic architectural integrity,you may consider me a Francophile,you’re stillContinue reading “The troubadour”
Homage to the muse
A rhymed Kwansaba poem A present wrapped tight with family tieschilled brandy butter on warmed mince piesnowhere else I would rather be maced stuffing from my Granny’s own recipeher voice in the steam rising skywardliving on in spirit and by wordfor all, a full belly and heart. © Darius the Mate 17-12-2021 Written for dVerse.Continue reading “Homage to the muse”
Pantomime season
A Quadrille poem Painted facespantomime posterclowns on the TVbread in the toasterthe country is burning“They’re behind you!”scream the proles Omicron ducking behind confusing rolesno. 10 party preppingtinsel hand-chuffsfor lawbreakers cheese and winefor lawmakersfool me once … © Darius the Mate 14-12-2021 Written for dVerse. Wordplay Pathway https://nicecissist.blog
Chapters too, fragment in time
A poem of parts I. II. Light, warmth, sound, darkness, cold, shape. Finger tips searching. Finding. Impenetrable shrouded shield, protecting, as muslin sentinel. Fours on the carpet. Food on the table. Food on face. Food for thought, everywhere.Hope, promise … … expectation … III. … hands up, who knows? Gold stars. Pink cheeks. Red knees.Continue reading “Chapters too, fragment in time”
Drink up
A quadrille poem Only words;tea stained crowncoronated beneath the coiled mist brown as Thames water – worn on the teeth sugarlesspurely sweet talktrading in counterfeit riches- white lies and empty promises holding out his heart to keepas jarred moonlight- gone in the morning. © Darius the Mate Doubling up: written for Shay’s Word Garden, andContinue reading “Drink up”
Samurai in heels
A Wayra poem The slice of lemonsharpened the tip of Fridaygossip sloshed and fizzed amongst – katana lips cut deep – left red on the rim of the glass. © Darius the Mate Written for dVerse. The Wayra, popular in Peru and Bolivia, is a short unrhymed poem of 5 lines, in a syllabic structure;Continue reading “Samurai in heels”
Back to basics
A poem The door slammed shut behind herfrom an eager thrustperched upon the throneshe braced ready to let it have itlike the noble savage she isher nose upturned, pointing easttoward the squatting pans can’t fight progress she thoughtfeeling a smug airblow past her haemorrhoids I wonder if it’s all it’s cracked up to bethis civilisedContinue reading “Back to basics”
Sparkling, still?
A poem Thirsty, he took up his best crystal glassware from the cupboard ready for a mouthfulto quench the drought valuablededicatedly displayed elegantly shaped and perfectly formed delicateornately arrayed and decoratively adorned opening the fridgehe grasped a readily availablebottle of something fizzyglowing from withinon the backlit rowshe lit a skinny cigarettebeneath his eyesand hung onContinue reading “Sparkling, still?”
Day 13
A poem Day 13, since you moved back inand we agreed we’d give itus“one last shot” working from homeI’m sat in this swivel chair twitching like a downed deerperhaps it would better to put the last shot in my temple you’re across from melaptop set on your kneesheadsets drowning out the silence between usyour motherContinue reading “Day 13”
Vans gotta do
A quadrille poem Life goes off trackveering, careeningsent round the bendlosing its meaning outta shapea beaten up bangerwatching boots gather dust on the hanger Remember;when you’re feeling bluethere’s always somewhere new …a vans gotta dowhat a vans gotta do. © Darius the Mate Written for dVerse. What is life without community? I would love toContinue reading “Vans gotta do”
The heavy spoon
A Quadrille poem Her spoon fell with a clang bowl rocked in positionchewing the cudchurning suspicionwas she a mad cow? as he did persistflaying his throat wrenching her wristthe frigid soup a stone in her bellythe familiar tasteCream of Machiavelli. © Darius the Mate Written for dVerse Poets Pub. What is life without community? I wouldContinue reading “The heavy spoon”
The Dentists Chair
An oral poem We cut our teeth on each other’s lipsyour love grippedand rotted awayas tooth decayin the corner of my mouthreclining back in the dentists chairhere, in this placeI’m acutely aware of the colour of my ceiling the buzzing of the toolsdrilling deep into the depths of my being the dentist, all seeing I,Continue reading “The Dentists Chair”
Pathways
A Quadrille Poem It’s standard practiceto treat disordered emotional states by severing connections;I, the emotional statedrifting through this continuum snatching evanescent fragmentstime lobotomising that which meant so muchtribal connections;surviving memories gatheredtogetherfor warmthlineal pathwaysscattered- fireflies of the hippocampus. © Darius the Mate A poem in 44 words, written for dVerse. What is life without community? I wouldContinue reading “Pathways”
Eleusinian Mysteries
A poem Since, long beforeAlexanders horsesquenched their thirst at the banks of the IndusWe, devotees of Olympuspraised youthe Corn-Mother- spurn the heathen Before even,Pericles had the Parthenon’sfirst stones laid at Athens grand Acropolislest it befit a necropolis I must thank you Demeterfor this grain, and breadwhich with fervour fedall who gathers here, at Eleusinionby yourContinue reading “Eleusinian Mysteries”
Hex
A monotetra poem Kisses that fall as summer rain,hot, heavy, sudden, lips; arcane,and just like that, downpours wane,to seep and drain, to seep and drain,The soil watered with your grace,darting buds bend toward your face,blooming into all open space,to rush and race, to rush and race,Tendrils slither around each night,in times of shadow, crows theContinue reading “Hex”
Gingerbread
A poem, searching for my muse Resting softly on my sideon the sideof my non-bruised ribsI ponder where is my muse?the irony is not lost on mesearching the atmosphere at my fingertips the taste of the roomon my tonguethe smell of summerfrom the gardena forever gardenblossomed that circles the circumference of my imagination unendingthe ironyContinue reading “Gingerbread”
In the beat, the beat
A chant poem Pulsing, the beat, pressing, confessing, to my eardrums, it’s darkest desires, drumming out the serotonin, honing my senses, defences dropping, beat dropping, Those memories, seventeen, eighteen, mean nothing, without my memory, alive in me, these memories, living, I remember the days, those were the days, the days I can barely remember, TheContinue reading “In the beat, the beat”
Titanomachy
An Earth poem for our modern times, inspired by Greek Mythology We the Titans reign,In Gaia’s Garden,Blood of Earthen vein,Through our bodies, flow,Mother, sowed our seeds,Fathered by the Sky,Uranus breeds,Greed in privilege,Fertile soil womb,Who bore and birthed,Held and weaned till bloom,Nurtures our nature,Mother, who gave life, Must bear the burden,Forever the strife,Of her kin atContinue reading “Titanomachy”
Jukebox
A quadrille poem Thinking thoughtlessly,ideas,often forgotten,if not jotted – Slotted,as gold coins,Let bygones be bygones,But,bygone minds,live on,in written word,Sung,and heard,from the jukebox,of ink and paper,Exhumed,when consumed, Risen,From the soil,voices,Oil,the cogs. Written for dVerse Poets Pub. © Darius the Mate What is life without community? I would love to connect with other nicecissists out there. Reach out, let me knowContinue reading “Jukebox”
Data
Trimeric poem In the dome, thoughts constellate in spaces dark and void of air,Neurons lighting up, as pixels in an infinite code,Programming which downloads a language unknown, and prone to glitches,An arcade of concepts consternate in phrases which won’t translate,Neurons lighting up, as pixels in an infinite code,8bit figments, which fragment and implode into blackContinue reading “Data”
Minimal Effort, Minimal Results
Poem to minimalist photography Another shoddy report card,Dragging heavily in his top pocket,His shoes were shinier,Than his future,His excuses were brittle,Muddled alone in the browning leaves,With barely a hint of verdant,They had expired,Mother was going to flip out,Verbal acrobatics across the kitchen,No rolling out of this one,His knees knocked,One foot in front of the next,SheenContinue reading “Minimal Effort, Minimal Results”
Above and Below
Quadrille poem Small hours,Lipgloss smudged,She staggered on pointsOnlookers judged -But, couldn’t be her,For a day,Or, even see her,In any other way,Broken tongue,Eyeliner smeared,Cleopatraesque,The corners teared,Desperate silence,Cries without sound,Below the watery oculus- She drowned. © Darius the Mate Written for dVerse. What is life without community? I would love to connect with other nicecissists out there. Reach out, let meContinue reading “Above and Below”
Beast of Burden
A poem with Symploce, using Anaphora and Epiphora Beast of burden, am I, who carries this imp on my chest, purring, like an acid trip gone wrong, in sobriety, shivers of anxiety, sending vibrations through my being, I feel your breath, as a hum, in my body, an itch, as fleas, to beggars, corrupting, withContinue reading “Beast of Burden”
When Life Gives You Lemons
A poem in couplets They say; when life gives you lemons, make lemonade,I like their optimism; let’s put that in retrograde! When life gives you vanilla, add lemons,When everything is beige, go bronze! Get some sun, top up your vitamin D,Or, a squeeze of lemon, for your vitamin C! When you’re feeling flat, and notContinue reading “When Life Gives You Lemons”
Opulent Ornamentals & Ponderous Peculiarities
A Quadrille Poem Lent, swaying, pitched on his chair, twirling stache, the devils red hair, Purveying contents, edge of his rocker; curio cabinet/luridness locker, – Prismatic jarred oddities, of wonder and fright, fingers of sunbeam, lambent light, Refractions, grotesque and exquisite – patiently planning, his heads own exhibit. Poem by © Darius the Mate WrittenContinue reading “Opulent Ornamentals & Ponderous Peculiarities”
False Prophet
A poem in free verse Overloaded with the vision, I spill parables, seen through the incision, of the all seeing eye, They dribble the chin, dragged up on the sins, they douse, Through the orifices, Of my inner self, On revelations, I gift their wealth, in my wisdom, Spewed at length, words falling, from stylisingContinue reading “False Prophet”
The Lion Queen
A poem She is my Lion Queen,Rolling beneath white linen, As sun rises over the scene,“Everything the light touches is our kingdom”,Bodies dressed in gold,As eyes patter out curled lashes,Diaphragms breathe bold,My mane nuzzles in her neck,I am her Lion King,Protecting the pride,But, she – she is my everything,Deep inside – she is the roarContinue reading “The Lion Queen”
Waltz of the Ages
A Waltz poem All for a piece of land,A city old as script,There was blood in the sand, Long before prophets gripped,Canaanites built the bones,Laid stones that formed great walls,Ancient foes cast no stones,In heat of West Bank brawls,Where rockets dance at night,Fear twinkles behind eyes,Right to left, left to right,Both claim principle ties,Twelve TribesContinue reading “Waltz of the Ages”
Ode to Owen
An Ode to Wilfred Owen in the style of ‘Dulce et decorum est’ Knives carve off limbs, flesh torn, dangling, serrated,As skin mangled from claws on Christmas Turkey,In war cries, angry men’s lives are narrated,The line between liberation and invasion is ever murky,Boys with blood sullied hands grip hair on severed heads,Those that could haveContinue reading “Ode to Owen”
Open Wound
Quadrille poem Past to the flames,Burn away,on the pyre,Intensifies in fire,Dancing behind eyes,Embers crack and fall,Turn to ash,Cauterise open wounds,Seal the tomb,Leave no name,There’s no blame,Just seared flesh,Wound with bandages, Of dreams and promise. Written for dVerses Quadrille Monday (its long been Tuesday here in Tasmania); create a poem in 44 words. Today we’re celebratingContinue reading “Open Wound”
Blue Planet
A poem in 15 couplets Violent storms savaged the vessel,In unyielding torrents, wrestle,My makeshift raft bobs on the swell,Bound for the inky depths of hell,Ship plunged down to the oceans deep,Hopes adrift, what fingers can’t keep,Indian Ocean, heavy hue,Swallowed up the souls of my crew,Woe! Beneath, water beats, fins peek,Despair lapping, over rolls, bleak,Wet cloth,Continue reading “Blue Planet”
The Hangman and the Heart
Flash Fiction I jostled for a pocket of airspace to observe – pried between shoulders of my ignoble peers, on tips of toes, peaking past plebeians. On tongues, the congested cobble stones roared with a frenzy at the culmination of the longest trial in the Shires history. The gallows stood stoically, silent, raised above theContinue reading “The Hangman and the Heart”
Reality Hits
Palinode to “Dreaming High” Prelude: Dreaming HighMum, said I, can I fly, with the birds in the sky?Yes, you can, before sleep, flap your thoughts, take a leap…Dreamt of wings, woke in bed, feathers dense, guilt in lead.Mum, said I, when birds die, do they fall from the sky? Palinode: Reality HitsMum, said I, asContinue reading “Reality Hits”
Sung from the page
Legs crossed in a figure 4, American style, to assert my dominance unconsciously – unnecessarily. Short clatter of glass and porcelain on the wooden table – a coffee – “Thank you” – dimples cove in cheeks – sugary smile returned. A library with a cafe… a winning combination. Balancing leg slides down over the topContinue reading “Sung from the page”
Harvest Season
A dry, savoury Southern Hemisphere sun, places an empyrean hand on my exposed cheek, almost hot to the point of discomfort, focused on one side, but with demure kisses of crisp autumnal wind tendering dotingly, it’s pleasantly tranquil – today promises to be clement and peaceable. Touches and kisses – A welcomed simplicity,Harvesting breaths, deep.Continue reading “Harvest Season”
Dreaming High
Mum, said I, can I fly, with the birds in the sky?Yes, you can, before sleep, flap your thoughts, take a leap…Dreamt of wings, woke in bed, feathers dense, guilt in lead.Mum, said I, when birds die, do they fall from the sky? This is my flutter at the prompt by dVerse. This poem usesContinue reading “Dreaming High”
Today, I bothered
Bright page under-lights,Skin beneath my face,I space, thinking of the chase,To snare the catch, Rifled shot, ringing in my brain,Beastly words gushing from the vein,Beating through fingertips,Bleed spoils of my bother,Spurting black, eyes wide, I hover. I’ll admit, I’m a pretty one dimensional poet. I love rhymes and I don’t really deviate. I would likeContinue reading “Today, I bothered”
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