Branched Tunnels

More and more I am drawn 

to roads where trees form

a tunnel of branches, the sun

refracted in its light that cannot

fully penetrate that canopy.

And gray, rainy days to drive

these roads looking ahead

and left and right, checking 

the rearview mirrors for 

the unseen revealed suddenly

as my heart whispers to my 

memories, “Come to me.  Come

next to me” the rhythm of the wipers

taking on that ancient rhythm 

of that dance always recognized

once that first step is taken 

and then knowing there’s no 

turning back, no refusal to drive

these roads in the tunnel of trees --

rain falling, the light just right 

to see the unseen, the shadows

that argue their existence.

-Byron Hoot

https://hootnhowlpoetry.com

Dancing Bear

I feel like a bear waking

to no breeze, hearing 

birds, looking to the sky

with sleep-and-dream filled

eyes and the hesitation 

of any movement but that slow,

deliberate bear dance where 

the bear towers over everything 

except its shadow and the pads

of the paws feel that earthen

drumbeat and the heart picks 

up that rhythm that makes me 

grin that dangerous bear grin

as I close my eyes, sway, shuffle,

the smell of wild blackberries

not too far away as the song I 

sing in that low growl 

enters the air like a prayer 

I don’t care that's ever answered. 

-Byron Hoot

hootism: the richness of the mind has a hard time standing in the presence of the imagination divine.

 hootnhowlpoetry.com 

the deathwalk

There was no place to sit.

They were losing time.

The regular fields that they frequent were full.

They were full of little question marks

Dotting everything like the tops of ‘i’s.

It was Nick at Nite at home for them

Like piping hot potatoes waiting.

And she was working piece-meal for a living,

giving in to little diversions.

Young devotchka dynamos.

It was black and twirling and

packed w/ disaster.

A knap-sack full of socks and razors

packed for going camping with.

In despair it is necessary to keep prepared.

To prepare the sheets for sleeping slumber,

to cut the trees for looming lumber.

Web web web web web web web

the motherfucking circle of life.

The hilarious, unyielding tracks of time.

-clw

C. Ward

The Forgiveness

It’s magnanimous to forgive culprits;

Otherwise you will always be suffering,

With gloom on your face largely writ;

And you will be in the depression rings.

Punishment does not correct guilty;

Instead counseling abt virtues of life,

Helps restore their mental state faulty!

It tames demons in minds to end strife.

Jesus ! Asked forgiveness from God!

Even for killers who nailed him to cross;

His wish was graced by Supreme Lord,

Although for humanity it was sad loss.

Jesus ! could forgive sinners so easily;

With a compassionate ,Joyous gleam:

Overcoming decadent rage ,Jealousy;

We must forgive the sinners to redeem.

By ,

Ashok Malli.

From “Soul Stirring Sonnets “

I SIMPLY CANNOT LOSE

I possess determination

Throwing in the towel does not enter the conversation

I have a dream and that dream is to stay well

I'm ready for battle, I'm outside the gates of Hell

I block with my shield, I decide to swing my sword

To choose to give up now is something I cannot afford

I have picked myself up everytime I've hit the floor

I won my life back on the same day i declared war

I cannot be touched, my mind has been unlocked

My illness has been overcome, it's in a state of shock

I simply cannot lose, i either win or learn

The thing that I've discovered about success, it must be earned

Second place is as good as last, it's all about being first

I have a strong will to win combined with an insatiable thirst

I have encountered rock bottom, I have also experienced highs

I will always fight back, no matter how big my opponent is in size

Never give up, carpe diem, I simply will not quit

I believe I have earned the title of being someone who is mentally fit

Adversity is ruthless, it will crush you if you let it

When an opportunity arises you must go out there and get it

I do not see the point of giving up when things get tough

It's crucial you don't throw in the towel, tell yourself you have enough

I don't take things for granted, I appreciate all that is good

Fighting back, thriving and also surviving are a few things that I've understood

-Liam Kennedy

return

I come back--

that's what I do.

I always come back for you

to my detriment

or my merriment

I'm always coming

back to you.

-clw

C. Ward

Bond Denied

Bond Denied.

Woke up early in the morning, said my prayers read some inspiration.

Chakras aligned, spirit high, I just knew good news I’ll be facing.

My hearing was 9:30am, but my tier didn’t pop out until noon.

I called my mom for the results, the bad news hit me like boom.

I’m in so much disbelief, tears rolled down my eyes.

It’s so hard talking to my love ones; I know a man isn’t supposed to cry.

With freedom nowhere in sight, feel like I’m going to die.

I’m trying to pull myself together, I’ll get another try.

At the time I’m reading Malcolm X, he talking about the books he read in prison.

Now I’m trying to read every real history book, but I’m not trying to go to prison.

I was doing great and done so much right, I don’t know how I got here.

This is God’s plan, so I can’t have no fear.

I’m still trying to pull myself together, & reset my mind.

If it wasn’t for my sister, Tee, my mom & my son, I’d been done lost my mind.

I’m working on being the best man I can be, preparing for the next.

I hope I fulfill my destiny, & get The Most High message like a text.

-Grade A Cue

Bleeding From Our Roots

There's a war inside,

We're searching for the truth,

All the sins of the past,

We're bleeding from our roots,

This tree family tree,

Each of we are the leaves,

When we die how we lived,

What will be a reality?

The moral of this story is still impending,

I said the mural tells a story each color is blending,

So here's a portal make it plural,

My views are bending,

And separating my immortal,

My soul has been rending,

This isn't venting implementing,

A type of behavior,

To put it simply magnifying,

Alittle to say tha',

While typing every letter drafted,

To future old haters,

Who knew my roots were underground

YouTuber get labeled,

A sack of Idaho potatoes,

All eyes on this yayo,

Who dope as me?

Kelly Jordan,

Keep spitting your fables,

I flip tables times tables,

Then stack 'em like Legos,

A mako swimming through the water,

I eat when I'm able,

My verses fatal dichotomy,

Minds have been lost as sodomy,

They're bleeding from our roots

How they do,

Or did astrology,

Was written as a curse to dispurse,

Paegan that constantly,

Get burt up by mistake witches why?

Wiki ain't fond of me,

They're on ta' me,

Seen H-DOT talent,

Wordplay skills,

Resent with malice,

Clips of bonzi trees I sieze,

The future shook me,

Where's the leaves?

Dare ta' speak,

My mind so fluent,

Javascript my main influence,

Bleeding From Our Roots,

The truth it's,

Penned,

In hearts my art is too,

Artist drew,

With angles used,

On charter ships,

What knots to use?

Nautical,

Ya'll not as cool,

As Kelly probably logic cool,

Logic cool as artic too,

See latitude and longitude,

Bit mapping,

Marvelous displays,

For modern man,

On mobile tools,

Molecules,

Get micromanaged,

Bleeding From Our Roots though damaged,

Canvas after canvas my creative juices,

Lose its uses,

Who this clueless?

Twisted rubicks cube,

In Cuban smoke conducive,

To let bygones,

Titans,

Clashing for my conscience,

Seems elusive,

Bleeding From Our Roots,

And viewed with,

Golden goggles,

Introduced in-tentional,

Spread tentacles,

Indoctrination,

Breeds confusion,

There's a war inside,

We're searching for the truth,

All the sins of the past,

We're bleeding from our roots,

This tree family tree,

Each of we are the leaves,

When we die how we lived,

What will be a reality?

There's a war inside,

We're searching for the truth,

All the sins of the past,

We're bleeding from our roots,

This tree family tree,

Each of we are the leaves,

When we die how we lived,

What will be a reality?

-Kelly Ephraim Benjamin Jordan

The Warrior

Her eyes shone like gleaming armor;

In which lay dead her brave warrior,

The deafening silence froze everyone;

But she was calm and not undone.

The maids tried to bring her to tears;

But she smiled, applauded ‘n’ cheered;

His defiance,courage, bravery ‘n’ feats;

For he couldn’t face humiliating defeat.

Alas!! tears trickled by her red cheeks;

As it struck her like the silver streak,

That he would not be there anymore;

The pang broke her heart and it tore.

Slowly the flowered cortege weaned;

People from roof-tops ‘n’ walls leaned,

Then she realized ...she wasn’t alone;

For in the people's eyes respect shone.

Bugles were sounded; gunshots fired;

All filed past him in and came upto her,

She was proud to be Warrior's widow;

People praised him in fields; meadows.

By

Ashok Malli.

From “Soul Stirring Sonnets “

ALLOW MY WORDS TO RESONATE

Persistence is key, I know this for a fact

When making a decision, I am always fast when I choose to act

Please let me be your main source of inspiration

When it comes to learning new skills from me, perceive it as education

I always work my hardest, I generate progress each day

No matter how desperate my situation becomes, I tell myself I'll be ok

Each day I try to transform into the best version of myself

This ensures I remain strong when it comes to my mental health

Since recovering from stage three cancer, I have this unique way I choose to see life

I am still here, my mind is so clear, no matter what, I know I'll survive

I possess so much gratitude, each day that passes I decide to reflect

Any negativity that tries to break in, my initial response is to deflect

I've struggled and I've suffered, I've been tortured by depression

It taught me to remain strong under pressure and made an immediate impression

I'm getting closer to my target, I'm striving for perfection

Forward steps are helping to guide me in the right direction

Positivity flows through my body and my mind

I'm on the trail of my illness and I'm not too far behind

I'm positive, I'm dedicated and I'm full of ambition

My main attribute is that I'm a master tactician

When people hear my poetry, I hope they can relate

Allow my words to resonate and aide your mental state

Before I entered my recovery, I was depressed and I was broken

I eventually found my inner strength and a warrior was woken

-Liam Kennedy

We Build Towers

We build towers

out of bits and debris of hopes and dreams

until they surpass us

and collapse beneath our feet.

I said before

that I'm not Rapunzel

but I am Rapunzel.

-clw

C. Ward

Take Me

I woke feeling I was in Van Morrison’s

song, Take Me Back.  I woke from dreams

of Mom doing our laundry with the wife,

Ruth, of our landlord in their basement 

on Mondays and hanging the clothes 

outside with wooden clothespins 

and watching the clothes blow in the wind

drying sometimes fast, sometimes slow.

And everyone was alive, felt, seemed 

real and I knew, then, I was dreaming

wondering what such a dream might

mean and I lingered in bed on the border

of waking and dreaming, torn between

the desire for each.  Dad asking, “A little

more coffee?” and now I am up, making

my coffee wondering where that voice

came from and thinking from the grave

which is six hours from here and how

even the voice of a ghost cannot carry

that far and think I must have slipped 

in time, that no dream can hold such

reality and I look outside to see the clothes

on the clothesline and see nothing.

Sigh, sip my coffee, see the signs that

I have slipped out of that time into 

what now is mine and whisper, “Take

me back.  Take me way back. . .”

-Byron Hoot

hootnhowlpoetry.com