Journey Poems
The Golden Journey To Samarkand
by James Elroy Flecker
I
We who with songs beguile your pilgrimage
And swear that Beauty lives though lilies die,
We Poets of the proud old lineage
Who sing to find your hearts, we know not why, -
What shall we tell you? Tales, marvellous tales
Of ships and stars and isles where good men rest,
Where nevermore the rose of sunset pales,
And winds and shadows fall towards the West:
......
Bird
by Pablo Neruda
It was passed from one bird to another,
the whole gift of the day.
The day went from flute to flute,
went dressed in vegetation,
in flights which opened a tunnel
through the wind would pass
to where birds were breaking open
the dense blue air -
and there, night came in.
......
In The Droving Days
by Banjo Paterson
"Only a pound," said the auctioneer,
"Only a pound; and I'm standing here
Selling this animal, gain or loss --
Only a pound for the drover's horse?
One of the sort that was ne'er afraid,
One of the boys of the Old Brigade;
Thoroughly honest and game, I'll swear,
Only a little the worse for wear;
Plenty as bad to be seen in town,
Give me a bid and I'll knock him down;
......
Song
by John Donne
Sweetest love, I do not go,
For weariness of thee,
Nor in hope the world can show
A fitter love for me;
But since that I
Must die at last, 'tis best
To use myself in jest
Thus by feign'd deaths to die.
Yesternight the sun went hence,
......
The Poem Of Antar
by Antarah (Ant Ibn Shaddad
Have the poets left in the garment a place for a patch to be patched by me; and did you know the abode of your beloved after reflection?2
The vestige of the house, which did not speak, confounded thee, until it spoke by means of signs, like one deaf and dumb.
Verily, I kept my she-camel there long grumbling, with a yearning at the blackened stones, keeping and standing firm in their own places.
It is the abode of a friend, languishing in her glance, submissive in the embrace, pleasant of smile.
Oh house of 'Ablah situated at Jiwaa, talk with me about those who resided in you. Good morning to you, O house of 'Ablah, and be safe from ruin.
......
ever onward
by Rikske Kessner
Each tick of the clock
propels me forward
Memories play catch
dappling light from shadows
calling me away again
with every breath, I grasp
gasping at brilliant flashes
......
end’s beginning
by Rikske Kessner
end’s beginning . . . .
. . . . a seed that falls
strikes the ground and ends…
the goodness of its covering
fleshy fruit but an aftertaste…
then germinates and sprouts,
with daily nurturing sunlight
to spawn the next generation
......
It doesn’t take much
by Kaylee Wilson
One sad song
one not even meant to be sad
One bittersweet moment
one not meant to linger
One small fragment of a feeling
one that I meant to let go
I don’t want to keep it
I never looked for it
I never sought it out
......
56. Adversity Anniversaries
by Kea Campbell
Loving had never made me feel so lonely, and living never made me feel so lifeless.
Patience was scarce and I was desperate for rest, and the only peace I found was in romanticizing my death.
Hate was addictive, but only towards myself, because I bought into the beauty standards that society sells.
At 10 I didn't know that it was rape and not love, because I believed what he told me until he hurt me for fun.
12 and I hoped that my heart surgery would fail, because at least it'd get me out of writing fair wells.
14 and I wondered “What if infanticide would have won?” or “What if my parents had never given me up?”
16 and my wrists were an escape from the numb, and the only things I believed in were my sports and bulimia.
18 and my stories grew older and untold, because no one had time to be friends with broken souls.
19 and 1 month and I feel most alive; now I know how to live, and not just survive.
......
55. Why'd You Leave Me Bruv?
by Kea Campbell
Roses are red and violets are blue;
Enjoy this amateurish poem because I low-key like rhyming, so that's what I'm gonna do.
It's only been days and I already feel something missing;
Part of my head and my heart died and the goodbyes made me feel empty.
Sunsets never get old, and good friends are always hard to lose;
I guess the tables have turned, because now I'm the one waiting for you.
It sucks that you're gone and maybe it was past due;
And I know we've been on plenty of adventures, but it's a shame I'm no longer with you.
Now I'm watching every sundown alone;
And I'm no longer able to see the moonlight in your eyes.
......
