OPEN MIC ENCORE - Part I
May, 2002
 
Friday
Britney Joanou
 
I found out on Friday
My heart was shot
I didn't make it
I wasn't good enough.
Everyone put me down
like a dog being put to sleep.
Friday was the day I cried and weeped.
Everyday I think, can Monday never come?
When I have to face everyone.
I found out on Friday I did not,
no I did not make the next year Cheer Squad.

~!~

I got drunk in St. Louis

My stark insanity worn like a Monday man’s tie
I saw my pale bones in the broken cracks of sidewalks time
I yelled for you Ginsburg        
But you did not come to your super market in America
Walt Whitman was in the produce section
And Ferlinghetti might have been in dairy
Ginsburg, Ginsburg I was drunk for you
I was drunk for you in St. Louis
Ginsburg, Ginsburg
Why didn’t you come with Neal Cassidy?
That quill on my abdomen was your beacon
You did not heed, you did not heed
I declared my love for you in the sounds of nothing, the light of nothing, in everything’s nothing
Ginsburg I did not bleed for you, I mutilated
But you were with some boy in Tangiers while basking in the rays of a sunflower
Kuerac couldn’t make it for me
He was on the road again lost in Denver looking for wild eyes and his friend Sal
You did not here my screaming whisper of triumph
The lost daughter of the beat
I found my talent again
At 1:35 am Tuesday
Under turquoise and pink gilded skies
I found the words that rang since my conception in a dark dank cup
While waiting to go home
I am a poet again
Ginsburg Ginsburg
I yelled for you
But you never came to your supermarket in America
Whitman was in produce
And Ferlinghetti might have been in dairy

Tina Hoffman

~!~

MAY THE IMAGE FOREVER HAUNT YOU
dianne sweetser

You saw me once
you saw me twice
you walked away once
you walked away twice
 
Your footsteps were heard once
then no more as
your footsteps were heard
walking out the door
 
You held me once
and then with no thought
you loosened your grasp
and let me go without a tear
 
And still
I think of you now and again
but the thoughts are soon forgotten
with memories of how
 
You saw me once
you saw me twice
you walked away once
you walked away twice
 
Dedicated to my mother I will never come to know

~!~

Recognize
Gabrielle McDaniel

 Recognize all those people in your life who have made a difference.
Who raised you, bathed you, took care of you when you were sick?
 Who loved you, hugged you, was always by your side?
 Just take a little moment out of your busy life, to thank them.
 Remember they've always been there

~!~

ONE AUTUMN DAY
                      by Emily Rose

I walked along the forest during one autumn day,
The trees were bare and the air was cold beneath a sky so gray.
I watched the gold and scarlet leaves dance along the wind;
So graceful, twirling around, as if they were at play.
The ground beneath the path I walked was frozen very hard,
It led me to a tall big tree, standing there on guard.
Its branches spread like tentacles, brittle and so dark.
I stared at patterns swirl around, quite interesting was its bark.
I continued my walk through and through till I came upon a pond,
Its beauty touched my very soul and at once my heart grew fond.
I longed to linger yet- alas! My beautiful journey was about to end,
for the bright golden sun was setting, just around the bend.
So off I went back down the lane that carried me away,
And as I left that wonderland I bowed my head to pray.
I prayed to God to thank him for the miracle he'd done,
For a little bit of heaven on earth is a perfect gift for one.

~!~

In The Winter
Matt Purland

I love her in the winter when the shops are laden
With special packages for Christmas tables
I love her in the evening when the dying embers
Light the corner of the room where my heart was mended
 
I love her in the morning when the post is brought
That summons me away to a far off calling
I love her in the spring when my tears have welled
And I struggle to remember what we did for love.

~!~

Procrastination
by jennifer miller

 Like a puzzle you put aside,
To finish some rainy day
The closet you’ll clean,
At a later date
I'm feeling this is wrong.
Why do we always wait?

Everything in you,
Will do all these things...
...Someday
I can’t relate to later days.
Today is all we have,
Or all we will ever have,
At this very moment.
 

~!~

*Alone*
Jessica Fry

Alone in this world
fighting off the pain
Not knowing why; or
even what's to gain
Scared of the future
regrets of the past
Running forever
but not very fast
Wanting a way out
yet finding none
Lying in wait
for all to be done
Alone in this world
with nowhere to turn
Still to keep going
till there's nothing to learn.

~!~

Listen to my actions
artistic depravent
guidelines fading slowly
less expensive to prevent
hollow sounds protruding
pierced eardrums somewhat bent
pillows bled through dreamscapes
purpose dismissed, not sent
thinking one four times three
bakers dozen represent
trap door stage abuse
stuck with rubber cement
ceiling holes beam sunlight
new hope for blessed event
dreams keep men from perishing
at least that I think he meant.

Andrew

~!~

DIFFICULT DECISIONS
           Jerry Babbage
 
Caught between two worlds
               Which one do I choose?
two deities might be a better description
               Who do I serve?
both gave birth to me
               When was I first conceived?
both have been a mother and father to me
               How can this be so?
I can't make both happy
               Who is more important?
I feel obligated to both
               Why do I feel this way?
Caught between two loves
               How do I decide which to
                        truly love when
                        I love both? 

~!~

I think I’ll take a walk in the cold
My mind troubles me
I’m sick of this all, its getting old
I long for that which will set me free.
I think I’ll take a walk in the rain
Its been a bad day
I can barely control my pain
Maybe I should learn to pray
I think I’ll take a walk in the night
I don’t like this
The path I’ve taken doesn’t seem right
And I thought I couldn’t miss
I think I’ll take a walk with you
I don’t have anything figured out yet
No million dollar home
No flashy clothes
But this much you can bet
My life of walking alone is through
-Kevin Moriarty

~!~

FLOWER
Linda Dominique Grosvenor

Innocently I dangle in the breeze
that pulls back my petals
and exposes my nectar.
The sun confirms that
this is my season as the heat ripens me
and the skies quench my thirst.
I pose discretely
wanting to be admired
never plucked or uprooted.
You pass my way
filling your nostrils on
the sweetness of my being,
landing in my space
tempting me with the buzzing
of your wings --
and the melody of your song,
promising not to alter my essence,
vowing to never sting me.

~!~
PAIN
Written by Ebony b*k*a Ms. Boo Boo

 

The causes of pain and the wonderful night.
Why so undecided to the decisions that may cause trouble.
Tears of joy but they always seem to change.
Bored to the days instead it never pays.
Death and evil is what surround my well-being.
Not enough love and not enough life can make up for my pain and strife.
Wondering how to experience life without the pain and suffering.
My own identity questioned and I sometimes wonder who I am.
Crazy and devious but there is no clue, stabilizing myself to succeed through the day but all I can do is pray.
~!~
 

Maybe In a While
Lindsay L


Now don't take it too hard my friend
But I've been down this road again and
again, but this time I've had enough.
I will admit I've done some wrong
But this time I'm going to be strong
At first, you reached out with a hand
I felt so safe don't you understand.
Then you would make me cry and I felt like
I wanted to die.
The closeness that I offered belongs
to mighty few.
To many wounds upon my heart
So now I walk away
But for right now my wall stays high:
I hope you understand
But maybe in a while, time will mellow me
and you offer a hand.
I will let you back in to be my friend.

~!~

Exuberant Force
Michelle Dawkins

 

Sometimes i ascend slowly--like the tide creeping onto the shore in the early morning hours until suddenly there i am--full with the feeling of bliss, feeling like i am standing on the edge of a cliff--breathless, excited, frightened of the beauty i see and feel.  Others, i am floating along through the water and suddenly--Full Force--i can't breathe, think of anything except the extremity of the situation.  i am falling over the cliff, yet i am rising higher and higher as i fall.  the feeling is so intense it is almost unbearable. how did i get here? where am i? --Breathe-Breathe-- i can't go any further or i fear i will lose myself...it is so wonderful, yet so frightening, this feeling of absolute joy.  something alluded to when one mentions paradise or heaven...this is the energy i feel.
 

~!~

My Grandpa fought in World War II and so has yours too he was brave and not afraid he fought for our country so we could have all this that we have today and still the red white and blue stands, stands for our country which we are united still today.

Kevin Baskis

~!~

Battle Scars
Beverly A.Timmerman 8/98

Scarred from battles in my life
lost in pain and fear
always pushing you away
yearning for you near

I struggle each and everyday
to keep you by my side
war wounds deep not healing
causing me to hide

How long will I keep putting off
the things that need to be
the things that need to be worked out
so the you I see is me?

~!~

Family Portrait/Picture Perfect 
Karen

 
Frozen in Time
A memory that never fades
Fake smiles to hide the pain
A Family Portrait
Picture Perfect
Some would say
But if you look through my eyes
It wouldn't be the same
 
Father
There's something you should know
No money, fake smile or hug
Could ever heal my soul
To me it's all a big show
Mom
A faded picture in a frame
Shows others we cared
But do they know my pain?
Do they know I cry at night?
Do they know my constant fight for sanity?
 
As I pour my heart on paper
I picture a family portrait
As tears filled my eyes
My heart slowly dies
I remember better times
As our family portrait comes to mind.
~!~
Time
Jaimie
Smiling times, crying times, laughing times
Life is like a roller coaster
But not only from emotions
>From the experiences that present themselves
Good times, bad times, sad times
All of these memories will live inside forever
And when added together the answer is clear
The product is life, and living

~!~

over my shoulder
a still bird
sings
 
michael rehling

~!~

Distant Lands
Alia El

In absolute wordlessness and blindness I contemplated.
Should I attempt to invade his earth?
Similarities are killing me softly...right down to the date of our birth.
I silently whispered to his spirit being...come to me,
His flesh wasn't aware that his mind would soon be with me.
I feel the necessity to be an element of his terrestrial sphere,
Shades of gray, visions of darkness and rejection I fear,
I felt an intimate chill journey down my spine (OH GOD) his spirit was near.
I conversed with him telepathically, although he didn't say much,
But I knew he was feeling me with out the slightest touch.
He made it apparent that he respects the love that I have for him and that it's not a lie.
But he doesn't quite understand it, so he asked me why?
I responded with an utterance that touched his soul,
Never question LOVE, "IT IS WHAT IT IS," my spirit craves for it like a thief in a temple who desires gold.
At this very moment, I'm scanning his mind; he's thinking; she's rash, she's irregular, she's outrageous, she's insightful, she's conscious, she's an investment, and she's wise,
He's thinking damn; I LOVE HER TOO! I'm not all surprised.
Last night, I took him to territories that he never knew existed.
Last night I took him to Distant Lands, a place that he'll often want to visit.

~!~

ILL TIDINGS
Andres M. Confesor Jr.
 
Time withers hope
As it does a hapless sprout
Without a glimpse of warm sunshine
Or a soft nudge of gentle rain
 
Time takes life
As it does a desperate robin
Now a cold carcass beneath the baleful cries
Of its famished young
 
Time imprisons love
As it does a staggering soldier
Once mighty and brave
Her fair face he shall never again see
As light shall touch his lost sight

~!~

Harsh Reality
Dave Simpson

 
Cries of pain coming form within
Pleas of help silenced from the tears
A regular life invaded by deadly fears
All the pain hidden inside
All the fears outright and plain
Feeling as your a stain
Everything seems wrong
Nothing can go right
It seems no one understands or cares
As you look down the stairs
You decide to fall
As your life flashes before your eyes
You decide not to fall
But you're already falling
Every stair you hit you hear a sickening crack
Bones breaking, skin tearing
As you lay lifeless on the floor
Depression quickly overcomes you
Wishing it didn't happen
Wanting to go back in time
Live all over again
Looking at the ceiling
Staring into space
Wanting to get up and walk around
Wanting to be back to normal
Day fades to night as finally someone comes home
Finally the pain goes away
But only little by little
Trying with all your might to stay alive
Trying to keep to your heart beating
The light fades as your eye sight leaves you
You go deaf and a loud ringing fills your ears
Everything going black, breathes getting shorter
Life leaving your body
Losing all feeling
Losing your sense of awareness
Life is going away
Everything starts to come back at an incredible pace
You wake up sweating profusely
As you look around and at yourself
You realize it was only a dream
Walking out of the room, everything is quiet and calm
Looking down the stairs
You fall to your knees
Seeing your dead, lifeless body at the bottom

~!~

                 JESUS SAVES
                      MICHAEL LOREN DONALDSON

MY SOUL THE SWORD
GOD PLACED IN THIS SHEATH
MY FEET STUCK IN A GRAVE
JESUS SAVES
U.S. BOLOGNA EATERS
PROCESSED PROJECTS
PROCESSED CHEMICALS
THE DROOL BESIDE THE SPOON
CAREFULLY LIFTING OUR HEADS
NOT TO SLIP NOT TO SPILL
MY DREAMS IN A BAG
GOD PLACED IN FRONT OF ME
JESUS SAVES                                                             THE LAST HIT FOR YOU

 

~!~

MY LIFE
AMANDA FRANKFORD

MY MOTHER AND I
DON'T GET ALONG
BUT THOUGH I TRY
I STILL BELIEVE I DON'T BELONG
 
SHE SAYS IT'S BECAUSE IM CRAZY
BUT THAT'S NOT HOW I SEE ME
I GUESS EVERYTHING IS JUST TOO HAZY
FOR HER TO REALIZE WHAT I NEED
 
ALL I NEED IS ACCEPTANCE
FROM BOTH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
I AM SO OVERWHELMED
WITH ALL THE DRUGS AND TRENDS
 
I FEEL LIKE A STEP-CHILD
IN MY OWN HOUSE
BUT ALL I CAN DO IS SMILE
AND CRAWL UP LIKE A MOUSE
 
MY LIFE IS A DISASTER
I DON'T EVEN KNOW MY FATHER
IM TRYING TO MASTER
HOW TO BE A GOOD DAUGHTER
 
I TRY TO HIDE MYSELF
BEHIND A MASK OF HAPPINESS AND LAUGHTER
BUT ALL I KNOW IS
THERE WILL BE A DAY TO BE RECOGNIZED
 
I GO TO SCHOOL TO RELIEVE MY STRESS
THAT IS SO HIGH AT HOME
BUT JUST GUESS
I HAVE ONLY TWO MORE YEARS TO GO
 
THEN ILL BE FREE
FREE FROM MY WORRIES, FEARS, AND
MOST OF ALL
THE FEAR OF BEING ME
 
THE OVERWEIGHT, LOUD, SOCIAL BUG, GIRL
THAT GUYS ONLY WANT TO BE FRIENDS WITH.
 ~!~
 
THE FIGHT
Assana Kirby
 
He shouts, she screams
Their mouths contort in wide open anger
 
The little boy sits there
Huddled, un-noticed
 
He scolds her,' Stupid ,useless bitch!'
She shrieks back,' Cruel heartless bum!', weeping.
 
The words swirl around him like a river
Drowning him
Each word washes a part of him away
Pounds him like a waterfall
 
He can take it no more
He shouts.'SHUT UP!'
 
Silence, absolute stillness
Unbearable, suffocating void.
 
Hands reach out
And he is bundled of to bed
With hugs, kisses, soothing words.
 
Then out they go
To continue their fight behind closed doors.

~!~

A MILLION PIECES
By Torrie Cain

I lay on my stomach with my head in my hands.
The background fills with the tune of my favorite band.
Thoughts of you loop arond in my head;
Like a broken record, your voice plays back again and again,
Being filled with only sorrow and pain.
I take one step into the dark and
Touch your hand to find you all alone again.
You still haven't seen the sun,
But in your life, there is none.
You look ahead at life in doubt.
I grab on in a death-grip embrace, to get you out.
I will hold on forever,
So I can show you something better.
You are such a delicate one.
I can't deny you; I must be strong.
I'll do whatever it takes
To stop all the bleeding that makes
Your world so red.
I could break into a million pieces.
You mean everything to me.
I will be the one to die just to hear you breathe.
You mean everything to me.

~!~

PEASANT LESSON
By Vershima Orvell - Dio

I strolled six miles
This dewish morning
To see a prosperous peasant
And get lessoned from him
The tricks of existence
Unambitious he is,
Yet self sufficient

For about his hut
Were two pepper bushes and cocoyams
I saw some small shells
Which had provided meat
And there must be more
Around the banana forest.
There were some great goats
That shall live eternally.

The car or bus are nothing to him
To him, television is a novel concept
And what seemed a telephone
Was the crafty net work of the genius; spider
The radio was a box that provides asylum
For some lazy, lousy brats
The newspaper, a good material to toilet with.

Soon shall I revert to such life
Of cave dwelling
Like my peasant friend

~!~

OUTSIDE OF EDEN
Debra Almeida
In shame I stood there
Pleading to deaf ears
I now knew sorrow
And endless tomorrows
 
Behind me, wilderness
Cold and forbidding
Shivering with fright
At the coming night
 
No where to lay blame
Except at our own feet
It’s so hard to bear
We walk in despair
 
She weeps, and clings
Too tired, too hungry
From his wrath we have fled
No place to lay our heads
 
Forgive us, our children
For our inane arrogance
For we were not unaware
When we took the snake’s dare

~!~

I sit in one spot staring straight ahead. For a moment it seems as if I'm dead.  Am I a shadow unseen among the dark.  Watching all these people playing in the park.  No one seems to see me though I sit right here.  Not a person looks my way Could that be out of fear.  I'll admit I look a fright, I'm quite gentle towards all.  But they can't see that in me because they don't know me at all.  No one takes notice of me, they just go about their day.  My presence must not bother them, as they continue to play.  I believe someone over there just shot me a glance. He looked away just as quick and disappeared behind some plants.  He's the only one today who has acknowledged I exist.  But maybe he didn't see me through this thin grey morning mist.
                        

Brandon Gunn

~!~

ACROSTIC POEM
IN THE RAIN AGAIN
suzanna harati

 

I'm in the rain again
Not sane again
 
The water trickles down my cheek
Help me from this leek
Elsewhere it does not rain
 
Rough on me, it stays the same
And still i sit and wonder why
I'm never ever ever dry
Now under this cloud i sit and stare
 
At the dripping of water that falls on my hair
Get me out of this cloud
At which i shout out loud
I want to be saved from my gray troubles
Not in the rain where there is always puddles

~!~

TEARING MY SELF APART
Marvin Perez 
 
i look into my hands,
how dare i am,
hating my self like if there was no tomorrow.
stare into space,
wish i was there,
tearing my self apart,
make people stare.
i slice my skin and make it bleed,
fresh wounds is what i need.
i stare at god which he laughs at me,
and all of the angels says fuck you to me.
i sit alone in the dark,
with a hard bed like a rock,
tearing my self apart,
does anybody care?
and im the one that would be dared.
now i see the gun,
knowing that im done.

~!~

The border line
between dark
and white,
between the rational,
and the irrational
becomes thin
when sound becomes silence
and movement turns
a reverberating stasis,
as though you look
into the impenetrable
wilderness of
the vacant hours.
And you were glued
to a single object
that threatens to morph
into an iridescent
correlative.

Rao KR

~!~

Lost
Jillian Munos

The mind is dangerous
Shadowed in the light of the eyes
Looking but yet seeing nothing
The normal life is now unfamiliar
The spoken words are unknown to me
When will I be found?
The light fights
Shimmers coming through the darkness
Yet I still find nothing
Wondering my heart goes
Beating like the rabbit runs
Still searching. . .
But still here
In the Darkness
Without light
Forever Lost. . . 

~!~

Foetus Bucket
Daniel Gilbert

An impressive and corrupt doctor
Leads her into the cell
She hastily removes her clothes
She is bare, perfection.
With the speed of a seasoned professional,
The doctor performs his task.
The killing of what is yet to be,
A mere ghost of a human chance.
And what becomes of the non-child,
A premature mass grave
It joins the rest in their timeless orgy
And festers in a grey bucket
Soon to be removed as biological waste,
A waste of the human kind.

~!~

HORRORS
David Cannons

I hide in the dark,
waiting to see,
the horrors that happen before me,
i've seen it all,
from death to rape,
please make it stop for heavens sake,
the crime,
the killing,
all the hate,
make it stop,
get away,
the scream,
the sights,
just go away,
I hide in the dark,
waiting to see,
the horror to go away from me.

~!~

Circles
Jay Morgan

Circles, loops, and driving
Repeat again over
Once more, twice more, forever
On and on, over and over
Forever
Circles
A tangent off the ordinary
a path not beaten
Exodus' of sorts
Breaking the cycle of repedity
A cycle of; forever
Drive to the end of it
Forever running; to the end
In the end
To stop
Smell the breeze
The salt in the air
Oceans of thoughts
Mimicing the circles

~!~

MY TWIN
Carole Ritchie

My sister is the twin of me
Our souls connect and we are free
To tell our thoughts, our hopes, and dreams
Held in our hearts, and yet it seems
There's more than that, which binds our souls
For we have played so many roles
Throughout our lives, it seems to me
We share one heart, one mind but see
Something, sometime in different light
But always a feeling that feels so right
For my dear sister, is the twin of me
Whatever may happen, that's the way it will be
Until the Lord takes one of us
She's my heart, my soul, I will forever trust
Her with my life, as long as I live
She is my twin, that God did give

~!~

The Daffodil
Hazel Garvey

They stand so tall,
just to be kicked down by the idiot child running over the hill.
They are a strange not quite yellow colour, not white, and never described as orange.
I wish I was a Daffodil.
My main purpose to survive the Gremlin child.
I could do it.
I would do it.
I can save my species, and one day,
I WILL!

~!~

My Mind
By G.T. Burnett

My chaotic silence, burns unborn dreams,
darkness whispers silently.
Words without meaning wonder aimlessly.
Sinking desires lost in unthinkable surroundings,
flames of despair rage deep within, consuming
any glimmer of hope, thought to be there.
The flames burn hot as my dreams turn for not,
I'm hopelessly lost in this world, called my mind.

~!~

DAVID
Tari Quentaro

Lady Fortune grins her silver smile
As six thousand four hundred seventy-two
Roman slaves are crucified by the side
Of the road
But still
A Spartacan doom is read in the cards
The downtrodden, the enslaved freemen
Shout with those in bondage
Discontent and pain
Screamed from the cat-eyed gladiator
As agony rips through his mind
The full of rebellion
As bits and pieces of gore
Speed down the straight-edged roads
Caught up in a river of blood

~!~

Stepping-stones
Lynn Blizzard

To be born
Cry before you can talk
Crawl before you walk
Learn to sit before you can stand
Walk first then you run
Young and carefree
No need to worry or fret
Only making a childish bet
A little older but still unwise
Amazed and full of surprise
Thinking it is all sorted out
Wondering what it ‘s really about
Mature as can be
It is still a big mystery
Worries come like never before
Lessons to learn
Goals to be
Money to earn
The story I learned
Life’s stepping-stones have to be earned.
 

~!~

PROGRESS
Dara McGee

This was the place where the freaks met
with their faded denim and tie-dyed shirts
long hair shining
or not--
 
"Hey man, far out..."
"Hey man, you holding?"
"Groovy..."
"I think we can change the world."
"Man, just dig on those clouds for awhile...."
"Yeah, we can change the world...."
"Keep on truckin, man..."
"We want the world and we want it (when?) NOW!!!!
"Gonna end the war..."
"Gonna change the world!"
 
Now it's a Walmart

~!~

SAM'S FIRST TANKA
(heatherleigh)

Two playground swings sway
from a gust of God's breath, child-
less. I thought our ghosts
would play together nice, but
your ghosts try to beat me up.

~!~

                         The Resurrection
                         copyright 2001 T.E.Burke

                   In a woodland pond heralding
                   the first day of Spring,
                   ecstatic to be resurrected
                   from their icy tomb,
                   with utter abandon
                   a cacophony of frogs
                   "make a joyful noise
                   unto the Lord!"

 

~!~

King Cowboy is a young fellow, only 17.   His bright eyes filled with love, even while he grazes.  His dark red hair, freshly groomed, shines as bright, as a moon lit field.  Every morning comes he patiently waits, for me bring him his grain and hay and of course a special treat.
 
He sees me in the afternoon, expecting a grooming.  I pile up the grooming tools, and talk to him as I brush.  His mane and tail so beautiful, that's why I fell in love with him.  I tease him about his beauty, as he nudges me softly.
 
His ride is so smooth, his canter fast as breeze. His ears go back towards me, waiting for words to please.  My horse is my friend, my companion, one who will never tell my secrets, I'm so glad I have him, my special gentleman.
 
When riding with others, I can see King Cowboy's disappointment, as he only  wants, just him and I to share the ride together. He must be in the lead, to show off his rider, because he is proud to have me as his partner.
 
Today he leaves me, so sad, but it's true.  He threw me off  to protect me, as he falls to his death.  I rub his poor face, as he takes his last breaths. Tears fall as he looks at me while I hold his heavy head.   My heart is so broken, my friend is now gone.
 
I walk to the paddock, remembering his eyes, full of life.  He is waiting to greet me an of course for his treat.  All I have left is an empty space, a bag full of apple treats, and his brushes and combs. 
 
To my sweet King Cowboy this is for you, you will always be remembered in my broken heart of mine. You were truly a gentle horse, and my very special friend.
 
Dena Hunt - May 8, 2002

~!~

THE BROKEN HORSE

G.E. Graven

I arrived quite promptly at the market square
hoping a buyer of my horse would be there
I required the pounds for a debt I'd pay
On a drunken wager lost yesterday

Since I hadn't the coinage to make the debt good
I had three horses and one of them could
The oldest was frail and sickly indeed
and this one I'd barter to cover the deed

"Damn this mare," I mused to myself
“I had two others in much greater health"
and this one I marched to the market square
a crooked old horse and a broken down mare

I grinned at the fancy of the next to own her,
Indeed he would curse me, that dejected owner
But of concern to me was a debt to be paid
regardless of trade or deceit that I played

It soon became solid as the day wore on
I would have no purchaser for which to pawn
this decrepit old mare I began to detest
and I lowered her price to a second-best

The market square secured its shops
as dark clouds clustered over naked tree tops
and the sun sunk low in the village West
along with the outlay to an any-best

The beast was not fancied, and this seemed certain
The village fled home, from the stormy curtain
that swelled to black in the Eastern sky
and men scurried by as loud as I'd cry

A gale wind coughed and I fell chilled to the bone
the eve had fallen and I surrendered home
The distance was great so I left the square
with arrears unsettled on a crooked mare

The air was ice and inkwell black
I made haste homeward, I headed back
to the simple cottage on the seashore's shelf
lived in by none but my ripe-aged self

I charged on thunder while galloping East
through a wooded trail of many o' beast
yet the clouds cracked open and wept their souls
as I dashed up the way of mud-filled holes

With reins in hand and hooves at trail
I galloped away on a mount so frail
that she cracked as a twig and fell to the ground
I drew my colt and she neighed no sound

As I scurried on foot through the sleeting air
I heard the wind whisper a whimper where
the pitch of night stood -- front, back and side
the whimper of mourn when the living has died

A cold like steel had ripped me apart
considering the dead I rushed without heart
I raced the beast at continual strain
blind to the animal's compiling pain

My pace had quickened at this culpable thought
and through the sea of sleet I fought
my way to safety;  to my shelter on the shore
where the unrested being will concern me no more

But the horror had established its truth at once
when I heard a neigh from the broken horse
that I erased with my colt -- a shot to the head
and checked it for life; I'm sure she was dead

Yet now I gathered the following steps
of the once-dead beast and then perhaps
the dragging sound of a twisted hoof
as it scrapped the rocks in horrid proof
that the horse's immortal was haunting its master --
the soul that slew her was the whole she was after

"Away, you pest," I snapped at the wind
but it squalled all the greater and stinging again,
pulling and tugging at my buttoned coat seam
whilst infecting my ears with a yowling scream

For many o' mile I charged through the rain
to flee this beast of wandering pain
Its horrible hoof lay scratching the stones
and flushing a madness through my very bones

Finally I broke through the fields of my home
and fixed my sight on its comforting stone.
I broke with a passion whilst gasping for air
since I knew at the cottage, my saneness was there

Upon reaching the door, I spun wide around
to see only sleet and a fallow ground
I found no hoofed-demon as I imagined last
I bent over heaving, as convulsions passed

I studied the earth at a branch I could feel
lodged in the rear of my split boot heel
that mimicked the sound of a dragging hoof
my fear was madness as there lay the proof

I mused at the fancy of my spurious fright,
of fleeing from ghosts in the midst of night
I unbolted the door and my cheeks flushed red
as, there stared the mare with a gap in her head.

~!~

Because of You
David Brown

It's because of you, mother dear
Because of you my skin's so fair
Because of you my eyes are blue
Because of you and father too
Because of you I learned to walk
Because of you I learned to talk
Because of you I live today
Because of you I found my way
Because of you my heart does sing
Because of you I love the Spring
Because of you and God above
Because of you I know true love
Because I love you, and because you cared
Because of you my mother my dear

~!~

A Promise
Jesy Tan 
 
                  People live, People die...
                  some do lies, some likes pies...
                  if you cry, please don't die...
                  for i'll be there, and that's no lie.

~!~

FIRE AND ICE (A PRYAER OF PAIN AND HOPE)
BY, WES RABBITT

MY PAIN I FEEL IS VERY REAL, ITS A PAIN THAT CAN BE SEEN,BUT ITS A PAIN THAT ONLY I CAN FEEL, ITS NOT FROM BEING INJURED,BUT YET IT COMES FROM BEING HURT, THE TEARS LOOK THE SAME BUT THERE NOT.
THIS IS A PAIN LIKE I HAVE NEVER FELT,ITS A COLD HOLLOW EMPTY,FEELING,BUT YET IT BURNS.THIS PAIN COMES FROM A HORRIBLE PLACE,ITS WHERE LOVE AND HATRED COLLIDE.IT COMES FROM THE LOSS OF LOVE AND THE REMOVAL OF MY SOUL.IT COMES FROM HAVING MY LIFE AND DREAMS RIPPED APART. THE REALITY OF NOT HAVING SOMEONE TO LOVE,AND NOT TO BE LOVED,IS A HARSH REALITY,THERE ARE NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE IT.MY HOUSE IS QUIET,SILENT AND EMPTY,NO ONE IS THERE,ITS JUST A HOUSE NOT A HOME.I WALK AROUND IN A DAZE,CONFUSED,LOOKING FOR ANSWERS,ALL I SEEM TO FIND IS MORE QUESTIONS.NO MATTER WHAT I DO IT ALWAYS COMES BACK,THIS IS A PAIN YOU CANT MAKE GO AWAY.I WANT TO LOVE SOMEONE MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD,AND I WANT TO BE LOVED,BUT NOW IM AFRAID.THE LOVE I CRAVE MIGHT LEAD TO PAIN,WHAT IF I HURT HER? WILL SHE FORGIVE ME? WILL SHE BETRAY ME?  I CRAVE THE TOUCH OF A HAND,A HUG,A KISS,OR JUST A THANK YOU,SINCERITY,OR A SIMPLE SMILE,I CRAVE THE SCENT OF A WOMAN.ITS SO HARD TO LAUGH WHEN ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS CRY, TO COVER MY PAIN,SO PEOPLE AROUND ME WONT KNOW.EVERYDAY THE SUN COMES UP,THINGS SEEM TO BE THE SAME,NOW THE SUN GOES DOWN,STILL A BROKEN HEART.I TALK TO MY FRIENDS,ABOUT THERE PAIN,ITS STRAINGE,EVERYBODY FEELS IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.THIS PAIN IS NOT A FAIR PAIN,ITS LIKE A DISEASE, IT HAS NO CONSCIOUS,IT PICKS IT VICTOMS AT RANDOM.THE WORLD USED TO BE A BIG PLACE,LIFE WAS BRIGHT,NOW A SMALL WORLD,DARK AND ALONE,LIKE RUNNING IN A TUNNEL.WHEN FIRE AND ICE COME TOGATHER,ITS THE WORST PAIN IN THE WORLD. I PRAY IT DOESENT SPRED.I PRAY EVERYDAY FOR AND ANGEL,A BEAUTIFUL ANGEL. MY HEART IS CALLING,THERE IS NO ANSWER.LORD PLEASE SEND ME AN ANGEL. AMEN.

~!~

I ASK GOD
TRACIE FUTCH 

                IS THIS THE KIND OF LIFE, YOU WANT ME TO LIVE?
                ARE HEARTACHES AND PAIN, ALL YOU HAVE TO GIVE?
                AND WHY ARE MY MOUNTAINS, SO HARD TO CLIMB?
                WILL I EVER GET, THE COMFORT I FIND?
                BECAUSE IT SEEMS I ONLY, TAKE IN PAIN
                AND THERE IS NO ROOM LEFT, FOR STRENGTH TO GAIN
                AND WHY DO OTHERS, GO OFF AND SUCCEED
                AND I'M LEFT STRUGGLING, AND IN NEED?
                FOR ALL THE GOOD THINGS, SEEMS TO PASS ME BY
                AND I NEVER GET A GOOD DEAL, NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY
                GOD THEN ANSWERS TO ME, " I HAVE A PURPOSE FOR YOU
                FOR THERE IS VICTORY, ONCE YOU'VE GONE THROUGH"!

On to OPEN MIC ENCORE Part II

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