A poem’s life

But seriously a poem has a life
like a man through his span
there's a start, some verse, then an end.

But it is born from a seed, not an egg
and a sperm, watch it squirm
from its start, it breaks its casing.

Interlacing words that arise like vines
sometimes quick into sticks
sometimes stones when the poet's mad.

And then an innocent child might play
like it knows where it goes,
instead it becomes an adult.

That is when it tries to find its meaning
which may hide, closed inside,
or is displayed proudly each line.

Then later in its life, when it gets old
it may tire, no more fire
in its belly, but not its soul.

At the end, it's more than ready to go
it lays down on some noun,
a last word that leaves it in peace.

**From a completed poetry challenge in 2012. The topic is...

© 2012 Mach B

The Price Of Peace

Will you see the same thing I do
when the angels dance themselves free?
Gone are the chains that hold them when
we agree not to disagree.

And what would the poets write if
we decide to think one the same
and you all agree with my view,
no matter whose view we might blame?

You will see the same thing I do
when the demons escape to hell,
fleeing the glaring peace on earth
like some thieves from an alarm bell.

We'll sing a song in harmony
but the chords will sound very wrong
because we're singing monotone
after all we sing the same song.

You will sing the same note I do
and we'll live in a blissful peace
with no need for different humans,
trapped in sameness, without release.

So next time that you might argue
do so with your biggest smile
while peace on earth is a great cause,
conflict's what makes living worthwhile.

**From a completed poetry challenge in 2012. The topic is Rorschach tests.
© 2012 Mach B

Dark Magenta

The world stops like a film frame
when I look in your dark magenta eyes
in the sky at night, all its purple
stolen from the stars by seagulls
who make the wind do their bidding
I look deep into your eyes so dark
where colours dance on flames of light
in the sky at night where stolen purple
rises from the sea to fill the gaps
between the clouds that could be used
as jewels by native Americans
before they knew they were indigenous
when they  loved the land that
rises from the sea to mountains made
of snow white snow or are they clouds
before they're tooled by trickster seagulls
who bid the wind to take them up
to summits unreachable as naked men
then again, in your dark magenta eyes
anything is possible.

**From a completed poetry challenge in 2012. The topic is colours.

© 2012 Mach B

Seven wise sages

Seven wise sages uncover the truth
in a crypt only seven could find
One of the sages ran off with some proof
that exploded in his face, now he's blind.

Six wise sages split up all the facts
in what was supposedly even shares
One of the sages was given the axe
when another sage split his hairs. 

Five wise sages have carried their find
to their homes on each corner of the globe
One of those sages began to unwind
and was relieved of his frontal lobe.

Four wise sages try to find their nook
as their veracity they debate
One of those sages writes a tell-all book
And quite promptly that sage becomes late.

Three wise sages feel fear for their lives
when they finally do all of the math
One of those sages he plays with some knives
and he cuts himself bad in the bath.

Two wise sages know that one wants it all
and decide they should fight to the death
One of those sages, he hires Darth Maul
to use the dark side on the sage left.

One wise sage he buries the truth
after a death that nature assigned
among his bones therein lies the proof
in a crypt only seven could find.

**From a completed poetry challenge in 2012. The topic is the number seven.

© 2012 Mach B

Worry/Calm

Crinkles on my forehead
waves on a sea of skin
signs of tubulence
below the surface

An electrical storm
measured by neuroreceptors
gates to each possibility
open and flooding

Churn from beneath
as bubbly acid attempts
to forcefully escape from
its organic prison

And the eye stares
blindly calm, ignorant
of the clouded wall it's about
to slam into.

**From a completed poetry challenge in 2012. The topic is an emotion and it's opposite.

© 2012 Mach B

e

We congregate in cubicles
pray to our electronic gods
who bring us satisfaction
in the form of apps and blogs

We fight from little boxes
that are joined by wireless
but who will be the victor
and who does Diablo bless

Our dreams are our screensavers
glassless 3D in our slumbers
we wake-up to Facebook friends
there's safety in our numbers

We once took a walk in the woods
hand-in-hand down a dirt path
colored leaves fell from a tree
while we talked and while we laughed

I uploaded the video to You Tube
it got 50 views.

**From a completed poetry challenge in 2012. The topic is author’s pick.

© 2012 Mach B

period

period

and the new sentence begins
to ramble on and then off we
go to find the meaning of a
world I knew when I was told
to watch the signs I wasn't
older than a child under
covers huddled in the night
afraid of the light, the flame,
the candle burning for the dead
instead I searched for that
reason, another lonely person
who you are on a good day I
say is who they aren't on
bad days when they rant and
shout out an exclamation

point

**From a completed poetry challenge in 2012. The topic is academic words.

© 2012 Mach B

Obtuse

When a butterfly smokes helium
and a memory watches TV,
I lie facedown in a pool of syrup
and Obtuse, he says hi to me.

He says it silently, however
Then rain arises from fiery hell
where choirs of angels sing of their release
and Obtuse, he wishes me well

It's dark, dank and dire where he comes from
and the nights they treat you mean
He thought that he could help when I called him
instead Obtuse, he flees the scene.

Though he imparts me with his motive
I'm not sure that I understand
but somehow I'll always remember
that Obtuse, he is close at hand.

**From a completed poetry challenge in 2012. The topic is trending words.

© 2012 Mach B

(sung to the tune of “Somebody That I Used to Know”)

This Is How We Do It When I Get You Alone
Like a Virgin You Just Keep Me Hangin' On
Baby Try a Little Tenderness
What a Girl Wants Rolling in the Deep
Don't Cry for Me, Argentina, You Get What You Give

Papa, Can You Hear Me Over at the Frankenstein Place
Singin' in the Rain, Without You, Stayin' Alive
She's Not There, Dancing with Myself
It's Not Right but It's Okay, Jolene
Because You Loved Me I Just Can't Stop Loving You

Don't Stop Believin', Express Yourself
I've Gotta Be Me For He's a Jolly Good Fellow
Lucky I Just Want to Hold Your Hand
What I Did for Love, The Only Exception
Paradise by the Dashboard Light
Rumour Has It I'll Remember Someone Like You
We Got the Beat Sing, Sing, Sing
The Glee cast covers songs that I used to know.

The Glee cast covers songs that I used to know.
The Glee cast covers songs that I used to know.

**From a completed poetry challenge in 2012. The topic is trending words.

++Not my best but it was a particularly difficult task for one day.

© 2012 Mach B

Volcano

Hard emotions
subjected to your stresses
fracture and then melt.

The magma of my mind
churns under pressure
searching for that weak spot.

When my mouth opens
it spews, pyroclastic --
scalding hot words.

But don't worry,
they'll cool to igneous rocks
before they hit you.

**From a completed poetry challenge in 2012. The topic is trending words.

© 2012 Mach B

(sung to the tune of the chorus of 'When you wish upon a star'.)

Do you wish upon a star?
Then like that cricket sang, you are.
I bet you wished for a sports car,
forget world peace.

Do you wish cracking a bone?
There's no app for your smart phone.
You can't do it on your own
you need some friends.

Do you wish using a cake?
Once a birthday wish you make.
If by chance it's a mistake
there's still next year.

Do you wish into a well?
Don't you wish that you could tell?
If you wish then sit a spell
but please bring change.

**From an interrupted poetry challenge in 2011. The topic is wishes.

© 2011 Mach B

Presentiment

I run away
when it does seek me out
the mere sound of its voice
I go astray
at the nags of self-doubt
there's never any choice
there's just this wall
that's far too high to climb
which I could never scale
ever, at all
even with all of time
I'd still find I would fail
that's why I run
and that's why I tremble
it's the reason I stress
but once begun
it's painful to dispel
impossible unless
I run away

**From an interrupted poetry challenge in 2011. The topic is fear.

© 2011 Mach B

Subtext

I pretend I'm making sense
to see if you are listening

You pretend to recognize
the nonsense I am saying

And though we're both pretending
underneath our ruse we see

our words can convey nothing
and yet do so meaningfully

**From an interrupted poetry challenge in 2011. The topic is understanding.

© 2011 Mach B

Day 10 – Money

Unfortunately we had to stop here because another event was happening on the site.  There’s a Day 11 poem but I can’t show it yet because it will be used for the other event.  This may continue after the other event is over….may…

Here’s the Day 10 poem:

The pauper doesn't know it
but he wants it anyway
The rich man wants to horde it
and he does so every day

The banker he banks on it
and he makes it as he does
The thief will take all of it
with no worries whose it was

The spirit turns its nose up
at your golden offerings
The body hungers for it
and for everything it brings

The money's all around you
but whatever the amount
once you are dead and buried
you can't transfer your account

© 2009 Mach B

Day 8 – Fast and Slow

There was a man
who both was there
and was not there
not anywhere
both fast and slow
was how he'd go
and maybe he
did disagree
don't you agree
he shouldn't be
while nothing
is necessity
for everything
is just one thing
in myriad
when you are sad
so low, half-assed  
you couldn't care
but please beware
of any dog
that might meow
could be a cow
but in disguise
you may just spy
it in his eye
and not believe
it anyway
cause every day
is being seized
by someone else
who truly sees
the truth behind
our noble lies
but how time flies
when everything
begins ending.   

© 2009 Mach B

Day 7 - Ghosts

Ok. I had a really long involved day today and couldn't write a serious sort of poem. I got a laugh out of this one but it is probably a bit politically incorrect - so I'll apologise in advance if I'm offending anyone and will post it anyway.

The Casper Rap

Casper say boo
but you did know
he was friendly,
but had three bad bros
they treated him nasty
he was their bitch
his good friend Wende
she was a witch.

he say boo.
Casper
he say Boo.
Casper.

He liked to hang
In a haunted house
he scared some people
even scared a mouse
He wasn’t no gansta
He wanted a friend
And like most white boys
He had a happy end.

He say boo
Casper
C’mon say boo
Casper

© 2009 Mach B

Day 6 – Self-deceit

Defects lie, all of iced fleets
to select Ed if the edicts flee,
those feces tiled in sliced feet,
disorganized from self-deceit.

© 2009 Mach B

Day 5 - Memories

She takes it from the closet with
The secrecy of thieves
And looks both ways for privacy
Before she even leaves.

Clutched very closely to her chest
She holds her treasure thus
And makes her way o’er to her bed
Without much noise or fuss.

Once on her bed she shows her prize
An ornate wooden box
But what’s inside her pirate’s chest?
She opens up the locks.

She lifts the lid and looks within
Her face lights up with joy
She sticks her hand into the stash
And pulls out a small toy.

It’s a little plastic compass
That she turns from side to side
And smiles at the tiny needle
Which no longer will guide.

Now it’s on the bed beside her
As all good things must pass
For a ring made of faux silver
Its gemstone made of glass.

On her finger how it glistens
She shows it to the air
Now she’s acting very girly
She tousles up her hair.

Then it catches her attention
The last item in her store
Her jaw drops down and opens
She’d forgotten there was more.

Her hand trembles as she grabs it
And pulls it from its place
An old edge-torn faded photo
Of a familiar face

She traces all of the contours
Her tiny finger shaking
As her teary eyes gaze fondly
Her tiny heart is breaking

She opens up her mouth to speak
But nothing does come out
A silent “Daddy” on her lips
Before they start to pout.

And then a knock is at her door
It causes her to start
She gathers up her secret stash
And hides it, she is smart.

Her mother enters, prim and prop
And tells her to come down
Her step-father has been waiting
To take them into town

A big smile for her mother
And then a nod, polite
Then she leans back a bit further
to keep the box out of sight

Her mother smiles in return
Then spins and leaves the room
And the little girl slumps sadly
Her face awash with gloom.

She hides the box back in its spot
And shuts the closet door
But not without that one last look
To remember him once more.

© 2009 Mach B

Day 4 – Is it love or is it lust?

THE SMALL FURRY ANIMAL SONG

I reach out for the chips
And your hand touches mine
At first I pull back from
that invisible line.

I look past your elbow
Your chest, neck and your chin
Past your pouting full lips
That turn up in a grin

Then into your green eyes
But, ah, at such a cost
My brain, it just freezes
And I feel a bit lost

Like a small furry animal
Caught in the headlights
Of your eyes
So bright.

Are you staying forever or
Will you just leave me
As roadside
Debris?

How can I love you
we haven’t said a word?
But, oh, it’s you I want
I know that sounds absurd.

And how I am feeling
I couldn’t possibly care
If it’s only one night
Or every day each year

If only I could speak
I’d tell you this right now
Though all I would say is
Meow Meow Meow

Like a small furry animal
Caught in the headlights
Of your eyes
So bright.

Are you staying forever or
Will you just leave me
As roadside
Debris?

It’s then that I can feel
A twitch upon on my lips
My eyes are moving too
My hand stirs round the chips!

I pull it out and then
give you a shy smile.
That’s when you turn away
laughing all the while.

And now I’m feeling like
I just might have to cry.
Your tracks along my back
Not even a good-bye

To the small furry animal
Caught in the headlights
Of your eyes
So bright.

Who you haven’t noticed and
Then you just left me
As roadside
Debris.

© 2009 Mach B

Day 3 – There’s always someone cooler…

Anticipation increased, I
do shiver while I wait, in lie,
at the merest thought that someone…
No way that I will be undone
while there remains a chance to try.

I’m sure by now you’re asking why
I care about this other guy
Does it matter who will have won?
Anticipation increased.

Temperature decreased and I
do shiver while I wait and sigh.
Why do this if it isn’t fun?
How I long for a ray of sun,
but coolest will I be or die.
Anticipation increased.

© 2009 Mach B