The Poetry Pavilion (Sharing Space)

[Prof. Sky Alton]

Lit from within,
Square, jewel-like:
Gold-red pillars
On the dark grass
Inside, they sit,
On thick, rich rugs
They versify
And share their art.

Welcome to the Poetry Pavilion! This is your space to share any poems or lyrics you might have been working on. Sonnets about love, free-form poems about the ups and downs of life or even limericks about Russian history, anything is welcome! (I really did have to write limericks about Russian history once…I don’t advise it). Whether you’ve taken a poetry writing class here on HOL (or elsewhere) or just write it for yourself, we’d love to see some.

Before you get sharing, please remember to keep everything HOL-appropriate and to keep any comments you make about other people’s work constructive and respectful. Everyone should feel comfortable to post here (and besides, you don’t want to end up with an albatross around your neck).

That’s it, get lyricising!

While you’re here, pay a visit to our other sharing spaces, the Story Circle and Fan Fic Fair.

[Viviana Kingston]

So I’m working on this poem based on a folktale (I got inspired by a poetry collection I read recently) and it’s still a work in progress, I’m actually thinking of scrapping the whole thing and just keeping the first lines of the stanzas but I didn’t want to not share what I tried so far. My ending doesn’t keep up with the pace and rhythm, I know, but hey I’m getting there. Kudos to anyone who can guess the folktale correctly.

Sometimes kindness can go a very long way
When you devote yourself to love someone without a price
Doing everything in your power
To make sure they’re alright
And love without boundaries
Bears some fruit
Stereotypes fall away
Some people won’t bite the hand that feeds them even though their nature says they may

Sometimes too much kindness can make you a prey
When you have gifts you want to share with the world
Generosity is a virtue until it’s a vice
Sometimes there’s people out there who think your magic is unlimited
And ask and ask until there’s nothing left
And you give and give until you’re a desert
The oasis was a mirage
your abundance a lie in their eyes
The price of too much kindness is a price no one should pay

[Hiya Debnath]

I would like to share something that I have been writing for sometime now.

It's not complete yet.

"Being a silkworm and cocooning are just essential stages in the life cycle of a butterfly,

Waves in the sea are destructive, but at the same time productive and powerful,

They can both generate electricity and wear rocks over time.

The sting on a honey bee only stops its enemies from stealing the fruits of its hard work,

The night would have been lonely without the Moon,
Bathed though it may be,in nothing but stolen sunlight.

The muddiest waters are habitat to the prettiest lotus,
And so is aptly necessary,every thing that seems to go wrong in life."

[Hiya Debnath]

We are like rivers, the flowing water,

The Deep blue calmness, hiding the worst currents,

With a trickling spirit, A Simple beauty,

From a frozen source to a watery destination, womb to the tomb,

On our way to becoming totally different from what we were born.

Like the river that knows it's destination, but can't see it,

Loyal to it's banks, as fiery as the number of obstacle rocks on its path,

Bloated out at times by the weight of emotional sediment it carries itself,

Polluted by the dirt of negativity it constantly tries to wash away.

People like dams that only stop us to use us, and leave us roaring in rage as we flush out of the dam gates,

Strengthening our waters and make us keep flowing stronger,

Till we find the sea, instead of getting lost and forgotten in the sands of time.

[Dibyarup James Potter]

I started writing this one about a month ago. But I just couldn't find a good completion for it. But now I finally did, and here it is.

THE LOCKET
By Dibyarup James Potter

In the attic's hush, where the shadows creep,
A tarnished locket, from the corner peeps.
Beneath the dust, behind the locks,
A silent whisper, from inside the box.

Cold, rusted metal, etched with carvings of grace,
It holds the memories of the bygone days.
There’s a hinge that creaks, and a clasp that yields,
With a glimpse inside, a story gets revealed.

[Dibyarup James Potter]

This is an old poem that I wrote some time ago. It had more lines, but I was not sure about them, so I removed those lines, and I was left with this. I must say, I really like this version of the poem. It just feels right.

THE LONE FIREFLY
By Dibyarup James Potter

In a world shrouded in darkness,
A lone firefly has dangers to face.
Glowing softly, with its spirit afloat,
Through the darkness, it must go.

Memories of kindred light,
Guide it through the endless night.
In the void, it wants to cry,
Seeking where its kin may lie.

Brave and bright, it journeys on,
Hoping to find its kin long gone.
For even in the darkest sea,
One small light can set hearts free.

[Dibyarup James Potter]

TIME
By Dibyarup James Potter

Time is a river forever flowing,
Moments passing, always going.
It whispers of the days gone by,
It echoes in the twilight of the night sky.

Moments lost and moments gained,
Life’s brief dance, by time constrained.
Ticking clocks and the alarm’s chime,
Mark the endless march of time.

Seasons change, and years fade,
Our memories, the future’s foundations laid.
Yet in its flow, we find our place,
Then we die, with time’s warm embrace.

[Dibyarup James Potter]

ROSES
By Dibyarup James Potter

Roses bloom with a scarlet hue,
Petals soft, with morning dew.
Colours whisper, red and bright,
Stories of love, in the night.

Thorns that guard their tender heart,
Not just beauty, it’s a work of art.
In the garden, the roses are dew-kissed,
They are blushing, in the morning mist.

The fragrance lingers, in the breeze,
Carrying romance through the trees.
It’s a symbol of love, for ages bygone,
In each petal, many memories have shone.

Days pass, and the petals fall,
Yet their memory outlives us all.

[Dibyarup James Potter]

This poem talks about the discrimination against black cats that is still prevalent in many parts of the world, because of superstition and prejudice.

A BLACK CAT WITH EMERALD EYES
By Dibyarup James Potter

In the shadows, a black cat roams,
With emerald eyes, like shiny verdant stones.
Silent steps on stone-filled streets,
A creature hated, by those it meets.

Yet whispers follow wherever it goes,
Prejudice blooms like a withered rose.
Superstitions cling like webs spun tight,
Fearing its being, hating its sight.

For centuries, this stigma's weight,
A burden borne, a cruel fate.
But in those eyes, a spark ignites,
Defiance against unjust slights.

For beauty lies in the depths of its heart,
In the black cat's gaze, love takes part.
Discrimination fades, in a girl’s embrace,
Now the cat has found its place.

[Dibyarup James Potter]

This poem is about a post-apocalyptic world, where the idea of music has been lost. The survivors happen upon a lost auditorium, where they find old musical instruments, which leads them to find some enjoyment amidst the unforgiving state of their lives.

LOST MUSIC
By Dibyarup James Potter

In the wreckage of a world undone,
Where sorrows dance and hope is gone,
A group of souls, with hearts still bold,
Seek the whispers of a tale untold.

Through vast ruins, they search and roam,
They look for echoes, where music has its home.
Amidst the broken and rusted beams,
A hidden chamber, a silent scream.

There lie the forgotten instruments,
A remnant of the musical events.
With trembling hands, they gather 'round,
And their spirits get lifted by the sounds.

From broken strings and tarnished brass,
A sweet melody begins to pass.
In harmony, they find their voice,
A beautiful symphony, a reason to rejoice.

[Dibyarup James Potter]

THE WHISPERS OF WAR
By Dibyarup James Potter

In the quiet of dawn, where fear looms,
War's cruel echo fills all rooms.
A dance of death, a bitter strife,
Where once was peace, now chaos is rife.

Soldiers march with their heavy tread,
Their hearts weighed down, with fear and dread.
Beneath the skies, stained with a scarlet hue,
The toll of battle, mental and physical, is a price they'll rue.

Families are torn, at conflict's hand,
In distant lands, the soldiers make their stand.
Yet in this darkness, a flicker of hope remains,
Love and peace will set them free from their chains.
For in the ashes, new seeds may grow,
A future where peace and love may flow.

[Viviana Kingston]

I had this fun time taking random prompts off the internet and experimenting, so here’s one of the poems I came up with. The prompt is the title of the poem.

Love really never dies

There’s a skeleton in my garden
Where the buds have dried out
And the stalk’s withered
Even though I poured on it most of my time
My lack of a green thumb shines through
There’s a graveyard in my blooming garden
With a plaque dedicated to you
But when winter comes
And my flowers die
Life still flickers in the corner I’ve started to neglect
New sprouts appear
Petals open up
Despite the frost that weighs it down
In your name, it grows
No matter how much I try to pull it out
It fastens to the ground, refusing to leave
I may try to hide it
But love never really dies

[Galena May]

Morning and Night Rituals

Mornings are the best time of day.
Heed what I say.
The morning is a prayer,
That begins with the Sun's ray.
An hour before sunrise,
Is usually the muhurat when,
Anything you surmise,
For you and your brethren,
Can be manifested to become true,
Through what you say and do,
Throughout the day.
Therefore, at this time pray,
And make a promise to the Sun's first ray,
That you will make the most of the beautiful day.

Nights are the best time in the dark.
Bedtime a very good friend.
When all goes quiet and still, except a distant nocturnal dog's bark.
Is when you can summarize how your day went.
It is when you can think about what could have been better.
What should have been dryer and what should have been wetter,
When you can journal what mustn't go wrong tomorrow,
And when in your pillow you can drown your sorrow,
When you can analyze what to avoid and what to embrace,
And then turn off all lights and sounds and dream in solace.

Note: "Muhurat" is a Sanskrit word meaning "time" or "period" which can be auspicious or inauspicious, and usually has religious or ritualistic significance in some cultures or areas.

[Galena May]

An Ideal Birthday Party

On my ideal birthday,
I would wake up a poor princess and retire a rich pauper,
On my ideal birthday,
I would be a graceful son and a masterful daughter.

On my best birthday,
I would sing with larks and bloom with roses.
On my best birthday,
I would dream with the Moon as the sunshine dozes.

On my most fascinating birthday,
I would be a sour lover and a sweet fighter.
On my most fascinating birthday,
I would glow like a doll and dress like a beggar.

On my ideal birthday party,
My day would be perfect and my night better.
On my ideal birthday party,
All unique and different would hold for me a grand come-together.

And all the graces, gifts, and beauties of Mother Nature,
Would top the divine fantasy of real life like a showstopper!

[Galena May]

Do You Like to Bake a Cake?

Is it your brother's birthday?
Or your lover's anniversary?
What brought you to recipe-videos and cookbooks today?
Is it a bake-off or a reunion party?

Never mind, for whatever your unique need,
Baking is more about love than an act or gift.
With some patience, you will have done the deed.
With some practice, your hands will be nimble and your movements swift.

Flour, sugar, salt, butter, oil, baking powder, and (sometimes eggs and milk)
Vegan or egged is your call to make
Some will use melted chocolate, cocoa powder, vanilla essence, flavoring agents, or food coloring pink,
Whatever you do, a cake is a must-know-how-to-bake.

Party- poppers and lovely toppings,
Strawberry icing or buttercream frosting,
Fondant decor or glitter sparkling,
Fruits thrown in or confetti sprinkling.

Everyone has a favorite cake.
And some people have a favorite birthday bake.
With candles and a knife ready to slice
Out portions that look delicious and bite-size precise.

[Galena May]

A Picnic In the Forest

It was a bright Sunday morning,
A picnic we had been long planning.
A party of six were we,
It was a beautiful day, carefree.

The spot had been selected and marked on the map.
The car was out, and loaded with sunscreen, umbrella, and cap.
Someone had also sneaked in a deodorant,
Though for the life of me, I can't remember who was so fragrant.

Six wicker-work picnic baskets (perhaps a few too many)
Loaded with snacks, desserts, easy-to-cook dishes, and sphagetti.
I never leave home without a good book
Some never leave home without a good look.
Some would rather have music on,
Some would rather have the louder ones gone.
Some bring the fun party games,
And all the conversation- starter kits,
Some just join in with everyone,
Wherever their mood fits.

And with this outrageous party of six,
There was no problem we wouldn't fix.
A drive of 100 miles in turns,
A fine journey of two hours.

Mats were laid and the food was on,
Any worse feeling was completely gone.
What happened next isn't for words,
It is for memories, smiles, pictures, and chirps of birds.

[Galena May]

Cord-Cutting Ritual

All the good in the world is meant for you,
And you are divinely protected.
Karma is real, so continue to be good,
You won't have to suffer what the universe has not intended.

Are you feeling drained or impure?
Are you feeling anxious, nervous, or unsure?
Maybe someone pulled on your energy and left you uncleansed.
Maybe someone blowed out your light and left your spirit drained.

Panic not, you are not God forsaken.
Just like the Patronus Charm for Dementors,
The cord-cutting ritual needs to be undertaken,
To rid yourself of spiritual energy parasites and vampires,
Trust and have faith, you will aIso receive divine help from your ancestors.

To start this ritual, you remind yourself who you are.
You ground yourself to your Divine roots, and let your happiness lighten your scar.
You remind yourself that you have a whole divine spirit team at your back.
And those who send you evil eye, will have it returned to themselves, smack.

Meditate and visualize your aura and soul.
Pull out everything that doesn't belong.
Visualize everything that disturbs your vibe.
And the cords to the toxic people that have affected your life for long.
Then, take a pair of scissors,
And snap ferociously at these cords.
Repeat, "I release myself from your influence,
I am not affected by your actions, energies, or your words".
Then, spray yourself with some Florida water,
Or burn some sage,
Hold your crystals to yourself,
And all the negative feelings should go, even your rage.

Imagine that you've released all karmic ties
And toxic cords that don't serve your greatest good,
And consent to accept only the highest and the best frequencies,
Tuning out all that seeks to harm your spiritual livelihood.

It's easy and easily done.
Follow the steps and before long, all that no longer serves you will be gone.
Your spirit team will continue to guide you.
And all negative energies will they shoo.

If there's one thing you takeaway,
Visualize the most toxic cord first,
And cut it first, and getaway,
From the biggest enemy that wishes you the worst.

[Galena May]

Negative Emotions

Emotion, emotions, emotions, they can be red, they can be blue
You can control them, or else they can control you.
They can be positive, they can be negative, or they can be a mix,
They can be joy, sadness, anger, gratitude, pain, pleasure, or an overwhelming mixture of all six.

They can lead you to good actions or bad,
They can influence your day - to- day life.
They in turn are influenced by what happens to you,
So for positive surroundings, should we always strive.

When it's anger that comes up, how do you deal?
Do you take it out or do your lips you seal?
Do you walk away or get productive?
Work it off, or take your time to heal?
Do what you may, but it can backfire,
If it takes control of you,
so what do you do?
Tell me someday, but what I do is plot like a briar,
Then turn my attention to all that I love,
Get creative and feel peaceful like a dove.

When you get hurt or sad , and feel a painful loss,
Do you cover it up like lip-gloss?
Do you strive to forget and never look back?
To feel better, what is your quickest hack?
Tell me someday, but what I do is,
Get creative and feel peaceful like a dove.
I try to tell myself I can get through this,
And turn my attention to all that I love.

When you get worried, and feel anxious
Do you run from even that which is precious?
Do you feel the fear or are you brave?
Do you look back at your victories and bask in the courage that they gave?
Do you plot and strategize, or do you indulge in an escape?
Do you take a break, perhaps appreciate the landscape?
It can feed into a vicious cycle,
And paralyse you if you let it win over you,
so what do you do?
Tell me someday, but what I do is lick some maple,
Let it calm me down and ground myself, feel peaceful like a dove.
Then put my thinking caps and working gloves on,
Then start striving for all that I love.

[Galena May]

The 12 Spokes of the Wheel

The wheel in the sky is more like a band.
When you were born, where did the Sun land?
Do you carry all the characteristics that are fiery,
Are you hot-tempered or weary?
Are you stable like Earth, or fluid like Water?
Are you carefree like Air, or boundless like Fire?

Are you an Aries, an intimidating, charismatic and fiery natural leader?
Are you a Taurus, a hot-headed but passionate lover that never moves on from their feeder?
Are you a Gemini, that is easy to take both ways, but can never make up their mind?
Or are you a Cancer, the emotional but cute, caring sweetheart, whom one would be lucky to find?

Are you a Leo, who like a true rampwalker always steals the show?
Are you a Virgo, who fix things along the way wherever they go?
Are you a Libra, the natural and witty fashionable diplomat born to charm?
Or Are you a Scorpio, with a lot of emotional depth, a true friend understanding and warm?

Are you a Sagittarius, the independent adventurer who goes with the flow?
Are you a Capricorn, who can take what's theirs by being consistent, steady, and sIow?
Are you an Aquarius, with intelligent one-liners and a tendency to push?
Or Are you a Pisces, a softie feeler living in their divine fantasy rose-bush?