LIKE THE FLOWING RIVER'S POEMS AND SCORES

Lap #4, Round 1 (21 syllables)

The Calling

Howls in the distance;
cries to be heard
dance on the wind;
a calling to me to come home.

Lap #4, Round #2 (Tanka)
----------------------
Cry me a River

Cry me a river;
Next time, I wouldn't care much.
I'm fed up with lies
and those endless hit and runs...
Do I love you? Well, I do!

Lap #4 Round #3

Water
---------

Living without you -
is like living without water.
Parched and dehydrated,
all I need is a few drops.

I had to give you up
because of the impurities.
But how can one survive
without a fundamental element?

I just had to let it all slip away,
like water trickling down a river.

Lap 4 Round 4. Free verse

Go to the mailbox for me
just open it up and look
I don't want to be told bad news
so if it's empty, just put on
a pot of coffee, sit with me,
talk about times before she left,
before he came into our lives
and took our daughter away;
before he stole her heart.

Lap # 4, Round # 5

Include the word "microscope"
--------------
Why didn't you pick up when I
called ? Where are you going ?
Who are you going out with ?
What are you doing now ?

I'm sick of this jealousy, you are
so out of control. I can feel your
steps following me, one more step
and I will end this role.

You call this love? Its simply a
malady with no cure. Since every
move I make has to go under your
microscope.

Lap #4, Round #6
(any theme: five lines)
---------------------------------------
Without You

If you could only know how many nights
I spent hopelessly, waiting for a subtle
autumn breeze to creep through my dead skin,
perchance I could breathe again,
without you by my side.

Lap #4 Round #7

Cats
-----------

Abandoned cats come out at night
wondering why they have been neglected.
They race to find any kind of edible food
but nothing is filling their hunger pangs.
The cats whimper and cry for their old masters,
that's how the cats express their pain.
To humans, we just hear the sound 'meow'

Lap #4, Round 8 (aabab rhyme scheme)

Life for you has been less than kind,
so take a number and get in line.
We've all been hurt; covered with invisible scars,
as hard as we try to leave it all behind,
we've been hurt by the ones we love; left with fractured hearts.

Lap 4 Round 9. PnQ member

I used to write in spontaneity
because the poem requested
to be written, oft insistent
like a child who questions
and won't be put off with
glib answer like "because."

Now I've found others who
capture dimensions in the space
of a quatrain or a haiku;
whose children are well behaved:
pretty similes, toothy smiles
never insistent or crude.

This camaraderie is terrifying
in the comparison of my poems
with theirs, so pristine, smart;
mine dress in jeans and t-shirt
and scuffle in the dirt - dreaming,
but do not make the honor role.

Lap # 4, Round # 10

Alliterative verse
--------------
Misunderstanding my misspelled words
doesn't declare you the direct right
to act aggressively around my area
So think thoroughly before you threaten me

Lap #4, Round #11 (Five lines)
-------------------------------------
Five Things

Five things I adore in this life: passion,
creativity of human minds,
poetry of the soul,
rain falling in July,
and Abby's five lines prompt.

Lap #4, Round 12 (Halloween)

Dressing up in my costume
that my mom hand-sewn for me.
Feeling like a beautiful superstar,
for one night I can live the dream.

It is my favorite time of the year,
to be able to dress up on Halloween.

Lap 4 Round 13 toilet

As I dressed, sneaked occasional glances
at Rosaura standing before her mirror:
nose crinkled, staring closely at imagined flaws;
a woman at her toilet - Artemis in her boudoir.

LAP 5 ROUND 1 (21 syllables)

Magnificent delightful eyes
Continuously offers me
remarkable love

Lap 5, Round 2(tanka)
-------------------
Raindrops of July

Raindrops of July
enchant my poet inside,
a mystic event,
one of God's great miracles;
fall, fall raindrops of July

Lap #5, Round 3 (Water)

Fire-Water [Diamante]

Fire
wild, irate
consuming, entrancing, stimulating
destructive, radiant, bountiful, obscure
nourishing, reflecting, tranquilizing
pure, abundant
Water

Lap #5, Round # 4

Free verse
--------------
Sigh
if I only caught that last
teardrop falling down
your brown eyes, perhaps
you would have stayed,
for one last dance.

Lap # 5 Round 5. Include the word "microscope"

When I was 13 I lied about my age
in order to get a job at the theater;
so proud - seeing all the movies
and getting paid for it later.

My first paycheck I stopped
to buy from a broker with hope
two shares of insurance stock
and blew the rest on a microscope.

The stock increased and once
in hard times I cashed it to pay rent;
that money is gone, but I still have
the microscope kit - my best investment.

Lap #5 Round 6 (any theme)

Free verse
-------------

I'm locked up in this world,
Maybe one day it'll be swirled.
Can't find a way to get out
Although I see a bird wander about
It flies so high,
Up to the sky.
I wish I was a bird,
Then I would be free,
And live an unperfect life as can be.
Without anyone telling me,
Who should I be,
Because I am me.

Lap #5, Round #7 (Cats)
----------------------
Holly Meows!

Meow! prrrrr...
'Holy meow!'- my cat won't shut up.
I swear I need to sleep,
and I'm fed up with its insensible noise.
Perhaps she needs some milk?
Or is it February, and she needs a spoon
to fork her?
Or does she want to cuddle?
Cats can be annoying,
oh my God, it's March already
and my bed is haunted by my cat's newborn kitties!
Holy Meows!

Lap #5 round 8 aabab

Once upon a time I was a little boy
And was playing with small toy
I was glad all were new
And was singing with joy
But those were very few :(

Lap#5 round#9

Shine Like the Sun
Your shimmering sunshine has shone
Like an Aladdin's lamp illuminating
Peaceful paths to poetry
In a serene section of our Solar system

Lap #5 Round 10 Alliterative verse

These silly stories send me
to the stars with simply
no sense of what to say
so shut the screen and scram

Lap #5, Round #11

Five lines
-------------
You have opened the gates
to let out all the misery and pain
that was kept inside within me,
simply by knocking the doors
of my broken, shattered heart.

Lap 5 Round 12. Halloween

I know my costume this Hallow's Eve,
Bright red dress & brunette wig,
off the shoulder blouse, must be black
then pirouette at the door of each
PnQ member late at night.
Many will think it to be a treat,
save those who entered this Samhain
fire she calls contest, but truly torture.

Lap 5 Round 13 (Toilet)

I went to the women's restroom
but saw a man come out and laugh
he smiled, and said "I think you're
in the wrong place sweetie"
Sheepishly, my face turned red
and I went to the other restroom
I entered and saw men urinating
and was even more humiliated.
I left the restroom - and laughed,
that man had went to the women's toilet.

Lap 6 Round 1

21 Syllables

"A Dream"

Running through the meadows
Chasing after you
I'm so in love
But this is just a dream

Lap 6, Round 2 - Tanka

Don't be offended
by the way I talk to you
I never meant to
grow sadness into your life
I just stated a plain truth

Lap6 round 3 water

Heavenly Water

Water risen high
Drawn by the rays of the sun
Returns to our earth
To bless all creatures below
Before rising above again

Lap 6 Round 4 (Free verse)
"should be"

If a guy loves you
you should be his world
treated like a rose,
like a princess
sweet should be his name.

Lap #6, Round #5

Include the word "microscope"
--------------
If I can microscope the sparkle
in their eyes, I would have captured
a picture that is worth a million words.

It is the beauty of that innocent look
that brings the warmth even to the
coldest heart.

Lap 6 Round 6. Wild card (free verse)

See the lambs graze in the fields
scattering when the engineer
pulls the horn, long, mournful
calling out to the highlands - Catherine!

You can admire the fogged moor
sloping up the hills, and almost
think you could see Heathcliff
crying along with the train - Catherine!

Lap #6 Round 7 - Cats

Time was running
I was physically ready
but not emotionally ready.
I looked out the window,
and realized this was it.
I was losing my breath
and needed some fresh air.
I went for a brisk walk,
even though it was cloudy
and close to rain.
But then a black cat crossed
right in front of me.
It was my wedding day
and my doubts were haunting me.

Scoreboard updated.

You have 2 Happy Hours left (apart from the general ones).

Lap #6, Round #8 (aabab scheme)
-------------------------------------------
Abby Can't Wait

I lay with puffy eyes in my underwear
breathing some thick air.
It's 7:00 a.m already,
and for P&Q contest I have to prepare
because work can wait, but not Abby!

Lap #6 round 9 PNQ MEMBER

Gentle, loving caring woman
From many years I am her fan
Makes me away from all my fears
Cheerful voices dance inside my ears

Inspiration ,caring and so real
Brings smiles and sometimes tears
She is expert of her every phrase
Always inspires me to win writing race

Lap#6 Round 10

Divinely Diverse

The random races relay
A myriad of messages
While toiling on a Tower
of Babel , biblically
Divinely diverse .

Lap # 6 Round 11
Five lines

They asked me to write only five lines,
but I have so many endless thoughts
about you, emotions, and craziness.
So I decided not to, for even five
books would be few.

Lap #6 round 12(Halloween)

"On hollows night"

Halloween
and the dead come out to play,
thick fog consumes the night
with the full moon so bright
and werewolfs come out
without a sound,only to kill.
Vampires,in the shadows
waiting for you to be alone
so they can drink your life
and ghosts come to haunt
while zombies awake from their coffins
spiders and bats hang on creepy trees
and witches brew up potions
in a black cauldron,body parts afloat
a black cat their protector
and their spells so pure evil
Blood is split
and this,only this
on halloween night.

Lap #6 round 13 (Toilet)

Here I sit again
This place I call home
No one around to yell
It's just me, the toilet, and my phone

This toilet is an amazing place
I believe everyone should take a turn
It relaxes every muscle
And so many calories you could burn

But the calories are for another day
Right now I am just relaxing on the seat
Staring at the wall in front of me
And listening to my heart beat

So how are you doing today Mr. Toilet
I'm sorry if I was away for too long
I know it has been a few hours
Hey, I will sing you a sweet song

"Oh, Mr. Toilet with a seat so soft
You always take care of my business
And are there when I need you most
A friend indeed, you are the best

The only thing I do not like
Is my legs always become numb
But I will deal with the pain
Because sitting on you is so much fun

Before I leave I want to thank you
For always being there for me
You are the one that has stayed close
And always make me so happy"

Oh, wait something is starting to happen
My stomach is losing control
I am now sweating like crazy
I guess the level will get a pull