OPEN MIC 

Imagine that you are sitting at a table in a coffeehouse in the big city. You had come to hear the featured poet read the latest poems and they were good! so right-on and inspiring. The latte cup is empty and the bagel is only crumbs. The announcer with the dumb jokes has just said the mic is now open for poems from the audience. And there you are, weaving between chairs to the front of the room with a paper crackling in your hand. There you are reading your poem and all those people are listening to you. Only later, with the applause still ringing in your ears, when your heart stops pounding even louder can you read over the rest of the poems of the evening, here on your computer. Enjoy!

There is more at OPEN MIC ENCORE.

Updated January 30, 2002

January 5, 2002
-lii
*written for my friend who committed suicide*

Though he smiles the whole day through,

Within him are tears & feelings sad and blue.

He tries to hide it with that face,

But deep within he hates this place.

He often thinks life's a bitch,

And he also thinks of ways to ditch.

Then, when he said what was on his mind,

His friends gave their help so true & so kind.

Not to offend them or to be rude,

He smiles & claims he's in a good mood.

But still deep within that hate grows stronger,

And he feels he cant stay in this world any longer.

So he goes to his room and closes the door,

And he asks what the hell he lives for.

With an unanswered question he falls asleep,

With the secret he swears to keep.

He wakes up the next morning disappointed in life

And wishes he had the courage to use that knife.

He puts on that fake smile & walks out of his room,

Mad for missing his appointment with doom.

But the day went on like it always does,

And he sat in class waiting for the bell to buzz.

As soon as it did he rushed to his bed,

Where he sat against the wall wishing to be dead.

His eyes welled up, his tears uncondoned,

As he sat in his room so cold & alone.

He searches for a reason to continue his life,

But he cant think of one so he grabs that knife.

He writes a little poem explaining why this is done,

About his unanswered questions and all his fake fun.

He brings out all the anger and hurt that's inside,

And then in a swipe he lets the knife slide.

He sat in the corner, letting his blood drip,

And thought of how many hearts his death would rip.

So as I sit here just before it all ends,

I wanted to say, sorry to my family and friends.

The Camera Pans
Dahn Shaulis

The camera pans onto the damaged street

to women holding onto photos

of their heroes,

and the women weep out loud:

Though they do not look like us, we think,

as we see them cry;

we see the faithful women, who just hope to see

remains of their families, buried in the dust

and rubble

But we do not hear them whisper

Though they do whisper "so it must be,"

and they name their future children

after fallen heroes buried in the dust

Yes, it is the will of God, they think

And "by God's will so it must be."

And so, it will always be.

Rip out your tooth,

There's wisdom in you,

Then wipe the blood from your hands.

Tie up your shoe,

make your way home,

And hope will bring you back.

You know these feelings that you have,

Won't go away,

So don't close your eyes to them.

And although all the hurt,

Never leave's you alone,

You'll start to make it new.

  XANDERWANNABE

it can take the coldest winds sometimes

through sleepy golds &reds of wine

to realize octobers always kill julys.

then winter's whipping wraps of white

softly kisses us goodnight,

and tucks us in, snug and trim,

till summer glows its warming light.

we're now just older children, dear,

that fear our bedtime's drawing near.

   michael ierace    

BUDDHA  IS  LAUGHING...   

      k.e. thampi

   

 You  praise my strength,

 my fun for the war,...

 the huge wound in  
my head yet to heal....

 

 You praise my strength

 my son is my power

 his muscle on his arm

 burning for war

  We crushed smiling Buddha

  with version of one eye,

  utterly without scent..

 the eye simply for mind,

 

You raped my faith

and forced for purdha..

you raped my sister,

for the sake of your faith

you made this land

and famine was the end,

any more than gray old horse

we meet in the holy place.

thanks to Okuizumi

DL Bachelor

 

the event

in my memory

is a landscape

what is beyond

the edge of the map

Working in the Real
Dino Bryant  

For heaven's sake!

I am ever so burdened...

with a sharp distaste.

A husky shove from the real world.

Though I toil ever so strongly...

the buzzing won't stop.

 

I wonder...
Megan

 

I turn my head to look back and cannot believe what I see.

I see a girl coming in to her own. I watch the girl. I see her confidence and beauty. I notice her intelligence and love ...

I continue to watch her.

I see hate. I see shadowy figures, faded by her light. I know the shadows loate her. I hear their taunts - I realize the shadows' insecurity. I wonder why the girl can't see ...

I continue to watch her.

I see anger. I see it hidden in plastic smiles and fake laughs. But I see the rage in her eyes. I wonder why the girl pretends ...

I continue to watch her.

I see pain. I see her sit alone in a pool of her own tears. I feel my heart ache with her sadness and I feel her mind race with wicked thoughts. I see her make a terrible mistake. I feel her heart pound and break with overwhelming emotion. I wonder why the girl goes on ...

I look away. I cannot watch anymore.

I wonder how I ever made it though.

Weary Soul
Sargent 12/2001

Sleep gentle sleep weary soul

Seek pleasure only in dreams

Where you are queen of all you know

Life is as rosy as it seems

Breathe deep exhausted breath

In the realm of hearts softly touched

How long to avoid the shadow of death

True love is craved so much

Cry loud somber tears

Eyes that pierce the veil of souls

Love lost to gaining fears

Was it ever true who knows

Pound beating heart in ancient chest

Seek life's sweetest dream

Racing time with little rest

Rage with sorrow's passion redeemed

Sleep gentle sleep weary soul

Search for peace in that mystical place

With golden wings fly towards home

A wellspring of charity without disgrace

 

"Washed Out Cows"
anita nahal arya 

Emotions, feelings of love

Are washed out and wrung dry

No one to soothe the creases

No sure fingertips

To straighten ruffled hair

No soft lips to wipe the tears away.

People come like cows

One after the other

Have their fill and walk away

Carrying the fat of innocence

In their rotund, burping, shameless bellies.

~*~

americancuckoo            (936)
ticlune haargroves

there is a coldness...

near the souls of men who steal

love from children lost

who have fled from far...houses

which never were phoned as home

where a-bu-sive-ness

reflected lives through turmoil

and joy dis-appeared

on long trains of guilt unknown

brought about by fear and dread

of someone's something

hidden to sight in nightsflight

as dreams went awry...

where nightmares be-came a norm

and after school was deathspool

yes...there is numbness

near the souls of men who stole

love from children lost

~*~

THREADS OF LIFE

Tragedy of a new face, isolation the just cause

To much time wasting, the collaboration of pure thought

Waiting, for sure my mind is lost

Waiting to be released at all cost

Torn from a sliver pulled from my head

The beginning of life held by a thread

Never dropping a tear, never making a mend

Only catching what is true and dropping all that is not

I am in this web called life 

The Darkness in me.

David Hunter, Mo.

The darkness that surrounds me,

Is not that of night.

For the darkness that surrounds me,

Cannot be cured by light.

It lives in my mind,

It encompasses my soul.

It is guiding my life,

It has taken control.

I yearn to escape

This darkness in me.

I have searched many paths,

I have attempted to flee.

But at each turn I take,

Every time I turn 'round,

The darkness inside me

Can always be found.

~*~

NAIVE KNAVE
Shivver Rose

 

my only magnetism

is that of vinegar

that traps confused flies

yes, i am dark

but you held a flashlight to my face

and i was revealed as

just a girl

shielding my eyes, blinking in the glow . . .

my only magnetism

is that of jewels from the sea

yes, i'm shiny fuchsia and tangerine

but then you wiped me dry

and i was revealed as

just a stone

masquerading beauty

with the help of deceptive foam

After nine long months of waiting

Exactly a year ago, today

You came into my life

And you took my breath away.

Six pounds, fourteen ounces

Twenty-one inches long

Born right at noon, on the nose

Healthy, alert and strong.

The most beautiful perfect little boy

I've ever had the chance to meet

Big blue eyes and lots of dark hair

With little hands and little feet.

I was so overwhelmed with emotion

That you were really mine to keep

To care for, love, spoil and comfort

And hold in my heart, so deep.

You are my first, you are my son

An enormous part of my life you'll stay

Nothing in the world can change the fact

I'll love you forever and a day.

Kelly Hughes

I met somebody new today,

Although I have known them all my life.

We have spent many, many good times,

Spent many more in strife.

And although our lives were ever linked,

I never knew him.

 

I met somebody new today,

A stranger in my own home.

Someone so well hidden before,

Now exposed and alone.

And I was helpless,

Because I didn’t know him

I met somebody new today,

Which only goes to show

That silver linings do exist, I think,

Although he won’t agree right now.

And that beneath the rubble of tragedy

That single rose can grow

  Naomi Rawstrone

Tell him
namitta

 

Tell him that the sun rises in his eyes

And he is special between all guys.

Tell him that his charm took my heart

That he is really very smart.

He has taught me how wonderful life can be

He used to say that he loves me.

If i was the flower, he was the sun

Without his light i couldn't have fun

Or maybe i am gonna die

Really i don't know why.

Is it because he was the first love

I behave as i was his little dove?

Oh really that's a lot

A lot of endurance i have got.

~*~

 

~*~

Like A Drug
Marcus Harvey

 

You said that I was like a drug

So how do I compare to those other ones?

I'm not weed to smoke

Nor heroin or crack to snort or inject

But to experience ecstasy you will have to digest my words

When you spot me you become curious

You think about giving me just one lil try

When your with me I can ease all of your pains

Unlike those other drugs I won't bring you more

Once you have tried me you will do anything to have me again

You might become dependent but is that a bad thing?

And once your hooked its gonna be hard to kick your habit

But just like I'm not like all those other drugs

You aren't like all those other fiends

Even though your tempted you still say no

I don't wanna get everyone hooked, I only wanna get you hooked

I'm beginning to think that getting you is a hallucination of my own

So I myself am hooked on a drug: LOVE

 

Till My Next Fix
Maria Cepeda

Shaking, chills, tremors, the withdrawal

first there's happiness and bliss till I stumble and fall

floating, happiness, euphoria till i crash

unbearable depression my skin itchin like a rash

waiting for the next fix to be happy once more

forgetting everything around me except what i'm yearning for

fending for the drug that is my obsession

waiting for the day to stop my depression

Running beneath a station unrest

I will not falter

Seeking a day of refuge

A soul will embrace

And there will be silence

Between eyes of dynamics

Pretending to be untrue

Staying to be happy

Perhaps I will caught ignorance

While walking in the midst of solemnity

Silver views of a given instinct

Together in solo

Leaves will float over my sight

And scent will connect the puzzles

When indifference stroked sanity

Push insists to stand alone very strong

Unraveling the thoughts

Of a hidden satisfaction

Nobody knows a lone winner

Nobody knows a lone smile

   Kinchan Cepillo

 
    ~*~

~*~

A love unclaimed
Lisa adams

Why do you make me think you love me true?

When hurting me is all you ever do

You give me your love and then you take it away

You leave me in the darkness without a single ray

Of sunshine to chase the shadows away

And yet I still wait

Wondering what will be my fate

In the end will I get your love?

Or will I always be left alone like a stray turtledove?

I watch the others around me

They all have someone except for me

I’m the one left alone

Who has nobody else to call my own

I hope one day you will change that and I won’t be forced to suffer any more

Because I’ll have you to hold for ever more

And yet still I wonder and still I wait

Praying that you lie in my fate

I hope you really mean your love this time around

Because I’m done with just hanging about

You even mean your love this time or i'm out

I’m done playing this game you even love me or you don’t

There isn’t much more to say

And nothing you could do would chase my fears away

If you love me so true

Like you claim you do

Claim me now while time will still allow

Because there’s only so long I’ll be around

I love you more than words can say

And my love will always hold in my heart to stay

But I can’t wait any longer for a love that might never come to be

Hopefully the next person won’t be this cruel to me

For now I lie here in wonder and wait

Praying that you lie in my fate

 

A greater love

Somewhere there’s a greater love

a love sent from above

the perfect match

the other half

of your soul

the only one

who can make you whole

Maybe you won’t find him

in this life

maybe he’s waiting for you in the next one

but when you  find him

you will know

just one look

is all it takes

the minute your eyes meet

it’s love

so grand

and sweet

and when he kisses you

you feel it in your feet

and when he touches you

shivers race up and down your spine

being in his arms is so divine

being with him

just feels right

you feel like you

were born

just to love him

and he was born

just to love you

the feeling is comfortable

yet it feels so new

he’s the one

who can make you happy

because now you’re feeling blue

don’t give up

sweet princess

your prince is out there

and he’s looking for you

just as you are looking for him too

when you least expect it

he’ll be there

at your door

and the two of you

will be together

for ever more

Somewhere there’s a greater love

just waiting for you

he’s the rainbow after  the storm

the one who will pull you through

and no other love

will ever do

 

Imagination

By Matthew Timmons 1/06/02

A thought takes flight amongst the stars.

Reaching beyond infinite boundaries of comprehension.

Profoundly expanding intellectual stimulation through the wonderment of lifeless beauty.

Touching the minds of others who achieve integrity through inspiration.

Crescent Fare
GeremieLoup

Smoldering ash

Of summer fires

Temptation calls

Rue of desires

Sweltering pigeons

Barter the cans

Pockets measured

By the foul stands

Streetcar hums

Pacing fast

Passion feels

Azaleas passed

Lee stands guard

Beckoning tall

Circle the figure

To no last calls

Regret tomorrow

Relish a past

No denying

The undaunted masque

Trying

 Margo J Reid

My best isn't enough, time is running out.

I'm climbing up the rock, the days flows into weeks;

weeks into months and months into years.

One dream after the other is dripping away.

My brain is getting slower and slower.

My spirit is also weak, getting weaker and weaker everyday.

Stop the crying

Why keep on trying?

I see nothing working.

I just end up hurting.

Another broken heart, soften spirit and not even a joy left in me.

I wish there was a way, I can end my LIFE.

I wish there was an easy way out.

Heroes

by James Papastamos

The skies are yellow, in shades of gray

 to fill our lives and mark each day

The pride each man shall come to bare

 its fires burn bright yet have no care

The death of a hero, an icon for all

 let's share the glory and take its fall

They touch our soul, embittered with age

 and let each God now turn its page

An icon for all to cherish and love

 the eyes of fate and heavens above

Their faces of hunger shall take its form

 we've only to live and weather the storm

But in the end, its victory be ours...

Physics and the Human Condition
  Ryan Allen 

A year in a life is a molecule

Of a drop in a bucket

Scooped from the Ocean of Eternity

Forever hoping to change the Sea

But alas, it's little ol' me.

Ancient future past…1
b.bob.b

 

Somewhere in the ancient, future, past, present

Will archeologists and historians study and write about our so-called culture?

Will they be disturbed by the way we treated each other and nature?

Will they come to the conclusion that we were not civilized

And neither were our ancestors?

Will they harbor great sadness for the way we treated our mother

And curse the souls of the humans who raped her?

Will they compare us to ancient Rome and Egypt

And discuss how our Monday night gladiators,

Powerful legal drugs, wars and the rumors of wars

Were used to distract the masses from the faces of the

Corporations who were screwing them?

Will they discuss how slaves, I mean the working poor,

Were used to build great pyramid shaped casinos,

To preoccupy the weak in spirit and steal their souls?

Will they figure out why we turned some of our

Brothers and sisters into stars, idols and gods

And let them get away with murder?

I do not no!

But I hope someone will be around to tell the tale

Because we have the power to accidentally wipe out the entire planet,

And no one seems to mind.

That is if nature does not get us first!

Tears
jaya agrawal

 

…And all those tears she took in her hand

And let them flow in a stream onto the bank

Her pain though got lessened;

But her heart too became blank.

She could think no more neither feel

All her fears were lost,

With a sudden pause,

That stood in her life’s reel.

Back from the bank on her way,

She met two girls

Walking hand in hand.

They saw each other and smiled at her.

She smiled at them and saw up in the sky.

It grew darker and darker; only she could foresee

Two more hearts at nature’s mercy.

Tears were all that she could perceive.

So came the rain, Nature’s way of hiding its folly

There were now no tears, only tiny streams

They flowed in and around the eyes

Made a rivulet that could tear a heart fully.

Power Struggle
Danielle Dean Walsh

Tired and impossible my thoughts seem to me,

Like prickly nuts off some unknown tree,

Like thundering rainclouds persisting to pound,

Through my head like a blender around and around,

Like my heart is a split through a forests red earth,

Through my chest a giant crack like in bituman turf,

And if it wasn't so bad, if it wasn't so rattling,

Here I sit in a crowd full of clanking and tattling,

For the power of my head, yes, the power of my brain,

Is as full as this room and more than three times insane,

So I sit and I hurt, but I'll heal again,

But I ache for a plan that'll silence the rain,

So that my thoughts will soon disappear like the mist,

And the thumping will gradually ceace to exist.

Weighted
Janelle K. Law

~*~

 

Wonderway      
By Seph        

Part critic

Part wonder

His nature lay crawling

>rom withunder,

Part hero

Part  a liar

His vision flying

Higher and higher,

Go              girl

Running over tundra

Cold beats his heart

Cold beats his heart

Now from withunder,

Withunder

Hit at hard angles

Dead in the night.

it's not hard to put the words down,

only writing is too slow...

it's not hard to pick the words out,

only the paper seems so infinite...

and my pen's ink is drying up,

what if i never reach the point?

you might never find out,

the reason i wrote this...

i might never get the time,

to complete these patterns...

because my lines have no end,

only three dots...

    era. 

Well, the church is nearly filled by now

and the bride-to-be is in waiting-

The bells will all be ringing soon

on this day of celebration.

Still, I may as well be a thousand miles if I'm two feet to the door-

for my head is spinning, my hands are sweating and I'm passed out on the floor.

I know I want to say "I do" but my tongue wont let it out-

I'm trying to convince myself but I'm filled with all this doubt.

Will I always be true to her? Will I ever regret this day?

Is she the one for me, for life? God help me as I pray.

Now I'm off to the alter, on with my life-

Made the commitment, and soon will come the rice.

Well, the church is all but empty now.

I'm sitting in a pew-

Thinking of the words she said, "I just can't say I do."

Guess she knew me well, more then I did myself,

My tears are scattered as I laugh-

I'm driving off now with my children

and the memory of my belated better half.

Harry 

Perfection?
Paul David Low Alexander

Perfect is, as perfect was, as perfect shall always be,

Midst the dreams, or painted scenes, of an artist great indeed.

Perfect is, as perfect was, and still remains for me,

Obscurity steadfastly grasped in the hands of antiquity.

Perfect is, as perfect was, as perfect should have been,

Qualified with caveat, contents sold as seen.

Perfect is, as perfect was, as perfect is now at least

Long before, on foreign shore and forever out of reach.

Perfect is, as perfect was, alas, destined to be

No more than merest poem by someone as 'perfect' as me.

FORSAKE ME NOT MY LOVE
Troy Edison Tiu Yaw  

Forsake me not my love or I'll lose my sanity

For you are like ten thousand lights that give me hope

You are one in a million in this world I live in

I beg God that my words you'll believe.

No woman in my life is as precious as you

For you adorn my life with your beautiful face and body

You are my Honey whom I cherish the most in this lifetime

Leave me and I would weep 'til I die!....

 

The Color of Love
  Rheanne Devenutto

Color... eyelids dripping... with roses...

beautiful red... unassuming... always moving...

in slow motion... we're rocking... beat so slowly,no...

just softly... blows the breeze... all around... feel the sound...

in my hair... flows like wild... honey's smooth... oozing down...

through my pores... music sings... all the trees...

sway the dancers... with the moon... light above us...

stars shine bright ... in your eyes... fire... flies...

dance and spark... in the night... life is grand...

in the sand... I will lie... here forever... never better...

me with you... you with me... we will be... 

Love is...
Fay Yandell

Love is strong, Stronger than life

Love is emotion, more emotional than death

Love is trust, not quick, not selfish

Love is a feeling that will never end.

It takes time to love the strongest of love

It takes time to trust in a relationship of lust.

Love is feeling

Love is worldwide

Love is the strongest feeling inside.

 

This Heart Of Mine
^Xena

This heart of mine

Beats only for you

This heart of mine

Holds a love so true

This heart of mine

Is for you to take

This heart of mine

Only you can break

This heart of mine

Needs to be yours

This heart of mine

See how it soars

This heart of mine

Is connected so strong

This heart of mine

Can't be wrong

This heart of mine

So filled with love

This heart of mine

Is a part of     YOURS!!

"Carpathia" 
Garry Somers

Forever slicing through colder water to

race the beat of my as yet faithful heart.

(slowing like a reptile's - how can I love you?)

It has been this dangerous from the start.

Love should never have to navigate

icebergs, the unbalanced pitches and yaws

of foulest weather, or the hidden fate

when fog creeps quietly studded with claws.

Should you finally arrive, late, more than

half of me will be dead, survivors stored

where you cannot get to them, nor can

I ever find the strength to come aboard.

You could do the favor and turn around

that someone else finds me before I drown.

What You Call Beauty
Ana Cristina Guirola

You are always saying that I am beautiful,

That may or not be true,

But I want to tell you why,

Why I am beautiful,

And why I am not.

Sometimes I am beautiful

Because you are with me,

In other words

You are the one

That complete what I am.

What I am inside

And what I am from the outside.

My eyes may be pretty,

But that is because I am looking at you.

My skin may be soft,

But that is because I am touching your skin,

I may be strong,

But that is because I am surrounded by your strength.

So you see,

I may be beautiful

But that of what you call beauty,

Is not within me when you’re not around.

You are the one

That holds the beauty in your hand

But not only in your hand it stands.

It is all in you.

You are the one that complete me.

You complete my heart,

You complete my soul,

Only you can complete what I am

With the beauty you have inside.

 

  Real Lust
  Kendra Novakowski

You don't know how hurt you've made me feel,

All you've said, I believed to be real.

You'd say "I love you" many times,

It was all to cover up your lies.

You seemed so nice, I never saw,

What about you was so wrong.

Then after your secret question was asked,

You turned to me and I politely passed.

It was then I finally figured out,

What your love was all about.

It wasn't true, nor was it real,

It changed the way you made me feel.

Now by then, I'd realized,

You only see me through those eyes.

It wasn't love, was only lust.

I gave my all, my heart and trust.

I don't know who you think you are,

even if it's from afar,

You've still used words of love,

To cover up your lies and lust.

~*~
 

Reflections
  Claire Williams  

 School days are such happy ones,

 You often hear it said,

 I have great reflections, inside my little head.

 Happy one's and sad one's will always stay with me,

 Since the day I started Monkton C of E.

 Learning plays and doing sport,

 I reflect upon them all,

 But the best one for me was being

 Prefect of the hall.

 I reflect upon the teachers,

 I don't know where to start,

 For they have left a memory,

 Deep within my heart.

 I reflect upon the friends I've made,

 Since I started here,

 But now the time has come,

 And I must leave this year,

 So I say with deep regret, and wipe away a tear,

 How I wish that I could stay,

 Just another year.

 ~*~

I'M A LATE-BLOOMER
Troy Edison Tiu Yaw

I'm a late-bloomer

And that alone makes me sad

I'm sharing you this

Hoping that you could comfort me and make me glad

Nothing's easy when you're way behind

From people your age who're more mature than you in their hearts and minds

People who know things better than you

When you're supposed to be walking with them in the same pace and learn the new

Late-bloomer...

When would I learn?

What should I do with the respect and money I've earned?