A Showcase For P H Poets: D E C E M B E R 2015: Section ' B '...[11th Monthly Showcase Of Poems; See December's Section ‘ A' For Shorter Poems And For Details On The Showcase Poem by Bri Edwards

In this SECTION 'B 'of November 2015 showcase, the poems will be (generally) of the following length: MORE THAN 12 LINES AND LESS THAN 51 LINES. Each poet may have one poem in this section; second poems (OR late 1st poems) of similar length shall be in SECTION 'C'. Shorter poems may be found in Section A, while LONGER ones may be found in Section D, which should be open soon. [Nov.26th]

==============================================================
THE POETS:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SIXTEEN: ? ?



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

FIFTEEN: MARIE SHINE (Ireland; Female; 65)

Christmas Star.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

FOURTEEN: MELVINA GERMAIN (Canada; Female; 70)

Cocoo & Okra

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

THIRTEEN: AHKTAR JAWAD (Pakistan; Male; 70)

A Claddagh Ring

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

TWELVE: CHARLES DARNELL (United States; Male; 65)

The Magi

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

ELEVEN: KIM BARNEY (United States; Male; 100) [100? ? ! ]

The Greatest Christmas Gift

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

TEN: EUGENE LEVICH (United States; Male; 78)

Catskill Winter,2015

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

NINE: PAMELA SINICROPE (United States; Female; 45)

Somnolescence

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

EIGHT: SAVITA TYAGI (United States; Female; 67)

Ice Storm

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SEVEN: JAK BLACK (United Kingdom; Male; 41)

Global Giants

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SIX: JOHN WESTLAKE (United Kingdom; Male; 31)

063. My Mind Is Like A Jigsaw

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

FIVE: CLARENCE PRINCE (Canada; Male; 75)

Merry Christmas!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

FOUR: DELLA PERRY (United Kingdom; Female; 41)

Moving In To Grans

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

THREE: M. J. LEMON (Canada; -; -)

Transcendent

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

TWO: BRI EDWARDS (United States; Male; 67)

I Met A Worm

－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－

ONE: WES VOGLER (Canada; Male; 85)

That Poemhunter site

－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－

THE POEMS:

－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－

SIXTEEN: ? ?



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

FIFTEEN: by Marie Shine


Christmas Star.

The other stars did laugh and mock
And try his light to dim and block
They whispered low behind his back
Saying 'Normal shape, this star does lack! '
It hurt him so, right to the core
Shyly he hung in the sky heart-sore
On Christmas Eve' an Angel came
With a request to the little star by name
'Oh, beautiful North Star with dazzling light
A Saviour will be born to us this night
Please will you guide those who come to Him
With gifts to present to our newly born King'?
The little star blushed with pride
His brilliant light he could not hide
He answered 'Yes, thy will be done
I will light the way for those who come
and guide them to the manger
Please protect them from all danger! '
The other stars around did flock
And apologise to the little star they used to mock
With love they sent him on his way
To guide the shepherds and wise men to where Jesus lay…

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

FOURTEEN: by Melvina Germain


Cocoo & Okra

Cocoo & Cocoo & Okra

My friend from the West Indies invited me
over for a hot dinner. O I was happy, it's cold
still ya know out here in Calgary, Alberta. We
get more than our share of old time winter.

He sat me down at his fine table with
a printed tablecloth and a wonderful white
lace doily in the center. Fresh fruit and Mango
drink. Now cmon am I special, do ya think.

I knew I was in for a treat but not a treat such
as this. My mouth was watering, I held my
hands in a fist, O I folded my arms, I didn't want
him to see me anxious like this.

He brought me an ole time meal ummmh I
was getting the real deal. Well now, I was
expecting, chicken, rice and black eye peas.
Lord he came back with a whole lot of food
and all for me. No chicken and no black eye
peas. It was cocoo and Okra, if you please.

I know I died and went to Heaven that day.
When I finished packing all that away. Lawd,
he came back again with a tall pitcher of Moby,
ouuu well, I ain had bitters for a very long time.
This man sure knows how to dine. I want to
smack myself silly just to see if I'm really alive.

Lord have mercy, what did I do to deserve all
this. I hope Cedric Lucas keeps me on his list.
I bet after dinner, he's gonna play some
Reggae music or maybe some Blues, perhaps
a little Jazz, then he'll never lose. Well, he fed
my tummy and now my soul...Hmmm Hmmm well
now, I'm thinking, he sure can cook ya know

what I'm sayin... lololol what else.


(April 25/2014)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

THIRTEEN: by Ahktar Jawad


A Claddagh Ring

I don't love a radical mischief,
I love an innocent beautiful thief,
who steals the hearts with rosy smiles,
can turn old ones in naughty juveniles,
one who swims like a pretty mermaid,
lo my bills of love always prepaid,
one who loves not only the humans,
Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Christians,
birds and beasts, animals and insects,
with a lovely virus whole world infects,
is never confined in a single belief,
so much universal is the lovely thief,
a lovely clad soul in the skin's salt,
a poem of love and a work of art,
one who hates, from my side ducked,
anyone who loves is my beloved.
In a Claddagh Ring her heart described,
Love, loyalty, friendship inscribed.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Ahktar's Note: (Claddagh Ring is an Irish ring. DECEMBER Birthstone Silver Claddagh Ring, inscribed with 'Love Loyalty Friendship')

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

TWELVE: by Charles Darnell


The Magi

Ah, my friend!
Come, sit, it has been a long while.
No, no,
It is just me now.
Melchior left us soon after,
Worn out by the journey.
Balthazar, gone just this year.
Yes, we kept in touch,
Who wouldn't?
Yet it has been many years
Since we last heard
Anything about that boy in the barn.
Maybe Herod found him after all
Despite our precautions.
We were so sure.
The star guiding us straight to him,
The assured acceptance of the kingly gifts.

All seemed correct and inevitable.
But we returned with a sense of uncertainty,
Uncomfortable with a shifting of our time.
Does the boy yet live?
He is near a man now if he does.
Maybe a carpenter like his father;
Maybe a fisherman.

Will he be king?
Stranger things happen,
I know,
Though this child troubled me.
I see him still,
Lying in the feed trough.
Surely a king
Would be born in more comfortable surroundings.

They called us wise,
But I cannot see through this,
My conflicted mind asks
'Could we have been wrong?
Were we old fools already? '
I suppose I shall not know.
My time is coming to its end.
I am too old for another journey
And no word, no word.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ELEVEN: by Kim Barney


The Greatest Christmas Gift

The greatest Christmas gift of all
was not myrrh or frankincense or gold,
was not a pine tree standing tall,
was not a cake or beverage cold,
was not money, clothes or furs
to keep somebody warm,
was not a bracelet or a watch
to wear upon your arm,
was not a car, a boat, a plane,
nor book nor magazine,
was not a ticket for the train
to go and see the queen.
The best Christmas gift - - and very FIRST one
was when Heavenly Father gave his Son.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
TEN: by Eugene Levich


Catskill Winter,2015

Blowing snow
And it ain't cocaine
Though it's white
It's three feet deep,
In drifts

Bones ache from head to toe
She says, 'Go slow;
You'll have a heart attack.
Remember your back! '
Three blizzards in two weeks
Snow showers every day
Rake off the roof,
Then shovel
Afraid it will cave in, and
It very well may

The old snow blower this winter,
Has earned its pay

She can't get her car
Out of the
Driveway
Thank the lord for my SUV!
Four-wheel drive
And off-road tires

I remember worse winters
Way back when
But I was forty years younger
Way back then

At least we haven't lost
Electricity
Yet!

Hot soup hits the spot
On a cold winter's night
Hope the deer
Find enough to eat

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bri's note: I think he is warming his heals (and toes) in Florida this winter!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

NINE: by Pamela Sinicrope


Somnolescence


The snow is stale.
It's rippled with impressions from
Playing children,
Wandering animals,
And the crust of melting and refreezing.

The trees are waking up,
Their branches
Reaching out,
Shaking off the dust,
About to bud.

The squirrels
Are darting about
Digging into their stashes
For the final moldy nuts.

The people are checking the weather reports,
Planting seedlings and looking in their yards
For the first bulbs of spring
To show their green.

The rebirth will begin soon.
It's the calm before the storm,
Before the coma lifts,
And the eyes of spring flit open
Onto the world.

When the ripe smell of hibernation
Is replaced with the freshness of green buds, blue flowers, grilled food, and manure.

Until then, the quiet death of winter
Holds us in her thrall
Teasing us with signs of hope
Then covering them up with snow and ice one last time-
A somnolescent state once again.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bri's note: Welcome, first-time contributor. :)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

EIGHT: by Savita Tyagi


Ice Storm

Icy rain comes with a crinkling sound
Like little silver coins falling on grounds
Tree limbs covered with translucent ice
Channels of pure white gleaming calm.

In icy storm proud oak to earth stumbles
Aromatic bushes are much more humble
Intact is the grace of their ice laden veins
Bowing in reverence for mighty Rummager.

In opaque sunlight plump scarlet berries
And metallic ice enhanced the olive curves
Of bended bushes like crimson cheeks and skin
Luminous adorn a maiden's clandestine arc.

Power outage, phone and Internet gone
Forget about connecting to world for fun
Ponder upon slavery of new convenience
And think of sustaining with bare essentials.

But none would remember the deadly storm
In morning light the heart merrily romps
Transient is the wondrous beauty of icicles
Pain and glee of nature such as don't last.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SEVEN: by Jak Black


Global Giants

Global giants gone to war,
Horror tactics, shock and awe!
We count the lives, in thousands lost.
Control oil and gas, at any cost.

The House of Saud, a friend's abode,
Manipulates oil's product code.
Flood the market, oil price drops,
Shareholder profit belly flops.

Lost the pipeline Trans Afghanistan.
To India now, through Pakistan!
'Depose Assad! ' the Brain Trusts shout,
'He won't let us pump Qatar's gas out.'

We must support King Saud's plan
To block Assad's pipeline from Iran.
The Russian Bear stepped in, for he
Needs revenues for his own country.

So we end up in this bloody mess,
More required from far less.
Though predicted decades ago,
World leaders didn't want to know.

Most important thing for them, on earth,
Was accumulating financial worth.
Insulated now in their own heartland,
Our sons will die on desert sand.

Religion never was the cause
To send our sons into death's jaws.
Why do foolish people place their trust
In a sawdust Caesar's power lust?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SIX: by John Westlake


063. My Mind Is Like A Jigsaw

My mind is like a jigsaw
full of many pieces
each one a memory
a different colour
and picture for each

Every day a new piece is added
every morning brings a surprise
unique in its own way
I don't know what will happen
till the day is over

The puzzle is not complete
I still have a long way to go
the empty spaces blank
waiting to be filled

Sometimes I get impatient
as I cannot see the finished picture
but each piece takes time
and I know I have to wait

When I lie dying
I will see the finished puzzle
and know that each piece
was a part of my life

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

FIVE: by Clarence Prince


Merry Christmas!

Christmas is coming with a rush
Little children just won't hush

Crying, sighing and making a fuss
Waiting for gift is on what they focus

Making some parents overly weary
Cash shortages causing them to worry

Children are looking for their present
Sadly for some parents all is not pleasant

Too little time and with too little cash
Life's giving most parents a bash

Hoping Santa is on His way
Time is short He mustn't delay

Kids will be crying if He is late
As upon him they rest their fate

Then for loves sake parents must focus
Upon their children gifts for it's a Child

Who makes Christmas so very famous
He is Christ Jesus our only Saviour

Was sent from heaven to earth
Bringing with Him light and life

Redeeming us is great favour
Let's all sing and be merry

While kids play and be happy
Merry Christmas, every one

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

FOUR: by Della Perry


Moving In To Grans

Myriad of features remain still
Framing memories of lives
Copious traits were altered
Hues were brightened
Contemporary fittings squeezed between antiquities
Mixtures of old and new
Reflecting a new era
With shadows of the past.
Gran would be proud
Her pride and joy; glass fronted cabinet
Stands still
Frozen in time
China cups and saucers
Still reside on the bottom shelf
While on the middle and top
A Tatty Teddy, A Princess Diana plate,
A Thank You Teacher candle and card
And a present from my teenage son
A Penis Banana from Tenerife.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bri's note: I left this poem a comment, along with some interesting information from Google sources. :)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

THREE: by M. J. Lemon


Transcendent

You may have goals
But settle for sleeping
anywhere

You voice ideals
But compromise daily
in public

You crave the best
But insist on and flaunt
conformism

You seek to lead
But fear, shun and despise
all others

You are unique
But appear just the same
everywhere

Now claim the world
It does belong to you
all is right

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

TWO: by Bri Edwards


I Met A Worm … [humor; two sexes; earthworms vs. humans; Medium length]

I met a worm this warm Spring day.
It was rolling on the ground, at play.
I said: 'Hello, young fellow, how are you? ',
to which it said: 'To say 'fellow' ain't quite true.'

[I was a little taken aback;
experience with worms I did lack.]
I said: 'My name is Bri; I live right there.
I meant no harm, saying 'fellow'. I swear.'

'That's ok' said the friendly worm,
as it finished a frolicsome squirm.
'You see, using 'fellow' was only half-wrong.
Now listen. My explanation won't take long.

We, who you creatures choose to call worms,
are made such that you might call us ‘herms';
hermaphrodites, that is. We're BOTH 'fellows' AND 'gals'.
You COULD also say that we're ‘fellows AND females'.

Bri, it's convenient at times, being BOTH ‘he' and ‘she',
‘cause if we want to have sex, no problem! It ALWAYS is free.
And we just wear unisex outfits; so simple, you see?
Plus, the toilet seat's ALWAYS ‘down' …..when 'we' go to pee.'

To that I said: 'God should have made US so!
It would have helped to save us from woe.
NO longer would there be the 'battle of the sexes',
and no longer would we have ‘opposite-sex' 'exes'.'

[But the worm replied, emotionally]:

'Of course some of us ‘Worms' might more enjoy ….
having SEPARATE worm-sexes …..with which to toy.
I'll tell you, Bri, ' the worm said, 'it's assuredly true ….
some of us worms would RATHER be TWO! !
Why, SOME ‘worm halves' fight with their OTHER halves,
and THEN both need bandages …..and soothing salves.'

And Bri said: 'You've mentioned BOTH the Pro and the Con.
I'm glad that this warm Spring day, YOU, …..I came upon.
For humans, to be both sexes might at times be nice ….,
BUT ……, before becoming a ‘herm', I'd BETTER think twice! '

(July 7, 2015//edited Nov.26, 2015)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bri's note: This poem may not be in my poem list on my site yet.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

ONE: by Wes Vogler


That Poemhunter site

I have nothing to do here at all,
Yet I don't have the time for the mall.
That 'Poemhunter' site
Keeps me up through the night,
While fanciful thoughts e'er enthrall.

I think that I have to compose
Ever onwardly, god only knows
Just where I am going,
But thoughts ever-flowing,
Put the GRINDstone right next to my nose.

The limerick's my form of the art
That gives me the chance to impart
The gist of a joke
To ev'ry poor bloke,
Whose sweetie will think he is smart.

I wrote that last line sev'ral times
I tried it with seventeen rhymes
But none seemed to work
Then he turned, with a jerk...... no no.. that's from 'The Night Before Christmas'
Do you hear all those wonderful chimes?

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

Enjoy other poems in Sections A, C, and D this month.

：） bri