FOP #3

12.7 Category : nature

Penguins search for each other
in their permanent winter,
creating a big, black blot
in the South Pole, much prettier
than a sliver of human oil.

12.8 Double Form

seagulls search for bread
on the beach, between your toes,
disturbing romance

you share your sandwich -
liken their discovery
to the day we met

13.1 Must write a poem to yourself, or about yourself.

To myself, I will say,
I've got nothing much to say.

It's been years of detonating,
gathering the shards,
and running away.

How much longer will your feet survive
without bandages? You were too stubborn
to keep your boots, said it was too much fuss
to tie them, and that your skin deserved
to get used to the scratches of pavement.

One day you'll find yourself
with your back against a lamppost,
hoping to be Cinderella once again
just to wear shoes.

13.2 Must mention a member's username

Sometimes I read Colm's marathon-poems
and think he could be a rap genius,
as his rhymes drizzle like liquid chocolate
on vanilla sorbets, topping off the coolness
in his Burgerking-rants and chants about boxers.

Colm, if you're reading this,
I'm not making fun of you, I swear.
In fact, I think I'd love to have
a deep, philosophical conversation with you
about the existence of tomato ketchup.

13.3 War

They quiet the drones with cries,
and muffle mouths by gently putting guns
between our lips, like a funnel,
gently pouring bullets into our throats.

Then they wonder, why the people remain silent.

13.4 Poem must mention money, or a type of sport

Upon running this marathon,
it still astonishes me,
how waterbottles actually
possess rilievo, fitting
into the life-lines of my hand,
and how my hand can still move
after littering poetic nonsense
as if the bottom of my bottle
was punctured by nails.

13.5 Wild card

I flicker through internet-windows,
like a stalker in search for inspiration.

"Poetry" means fragmented sentences
from my diary, and I can't take myself serious anymore.

13.6 must include at least one colour, AND one shape

Here's to another big, curvy
questions mark, sitting between
the tiny dot and the lit-up shift-button
TEMPTING ME TO WRITE LIKE THIS,
but I can't lose composure,
as I stare at my big toe,
how it's whitened from chalk,
how I haven't scrubbed for so long
- or wait, I never did -
and never bothered to play doll
to end up in the closet of a perv.

13.7 nature

Two bunnies lie supine
in the grass, along the highway -

the wind tickles a dandelion
and its sneeze is carried into my car.

13.8 double form - haiku/acrostic

raspberries dangle,
each branch carries a paintbrush -
dripping on the ground

14..1 Must write a poem to yourself, or about yourself.

Just now, I realised,
that leaving my battery to die
and working like a robot
to come back home and spew poems
like a robot, is what makes me happier
than having him tell me
how cute I am.

14.2 username

This is to mera luna,
or the huntress, or whatever name
your pencil listens to now:

stop hiding beneath myths,
stop writing in ruins,
and step into the world.

14.3 war

This August Battle steals poetry
like a black hole - words are thrown
into oblivion, as the threads amass
like corpses underneath the pastels
and The Club still refuses
to waver its white flag.

14.4 money or sport

My wallet bulges
like a kangaroo's purge,
its content about
to hit puberty,
jumping at necklaces
and dresses and other
unnecessary goods,
and I've got no giant tail
to keep up, working
twelve hours a day,
the rest I spend dreaming
about coins raining down on me
when I recite my poetry.

14.5 wild card

It's 0.00 and I'm never quite sure
whether it's considered AM or PM.

Regardless, eyes are about to act
like curtains, rolling over my words.

14.6 colour + shape

I'm sitting here feeling like I'm about to grow
a baboon's butt, red and weird-shaped,
from hiding in bed all day, tapping
on squared letters that are supposed
to make history, but now I'm sure
that I can throw them out, like sleep.

14.7 nature

Nuggets of fireworks
hit the sky - darkness cracks
as if a hand just reached in
to pull out the stars
and jail them in prism,
almost as fearsome
as thunder.

14.8 double tetractys

I
will count
until words
elude fingers,
for Haiku are not right up my alley,
mother nature must surely dislike me
for fidgeting
behind screens,
eluding
her.

15.1 selfie

Despite decent intelligence
And years of experience
Reality sometimes evades me
Reassurance from those close is welcome
Escaping normality a blessing
Now is the time to be strong

15.2 username

Calm under pressure
Off winning a compo
Leads foppers into battle
Might help us across the line

15.3 war

Warmongers waving pencils
sharpened like bullets
money the motive
spent like water
watching children die
to gain a strip of land

15.4 money or sport

Rugby is for real men
smashing and bashing
causing a ruck
mauling opponents
kick starting a battle
where the egg shaped ball
rolls unpredictably.

15.5 wild card

as the contest lingers
I find my fingers
tapping keys
writing anything
that comes to mind
this may not be my best
but as a personal test
I soldier on
regardless

15.6 colour and shape

Notice the u in colour
not discarded from the word
those americans spell
colour, with two dominating circles
like eyes of an owl
staring out of the page
yet they wouldn't spell blue
without the u
go figure

15.7 nature

owls hoot in darkness
rats cowering in rubbish
smell gives them away

15.8 double form

A
small man
wonders why
everything's high
always standing on a chair to reach up
may break a leg or arm if he fell off
landing funny
on the floor
hurting
butt

16.1 selfie

Dear Darren it's late
you will regret
the morning call
of your cat
or your daughters
arguing over nothing
so put away your muse
it is leaving anyway
and hit the pillow
at least for a while

16.2 Username

Cynnie is tired
she is an hour into
the future
compared to me here
after all that writing
I think she deserves
at least a beer

16.3 War

is there a winner in war
ask the mother bury her two sons
raised as footballers
until that time came
when the were old enough
to hold a gun
but not old enough
to give her a grandson

16.4 sport or money

Is darts a sport
throwing small arrows
at a coloured board
drinking plenty of beers
the noisy rabble and the cheers
as the dart hits twenty
celebrations a plenty
should the arrow hit the wire
your score will be dire
watch your toes

16.5 wild card

my son cannot sleep
he panics and he frets
I give him some medicine
Daddy knows best
Too much confusion
for an autistic child
when dreams evade him
at least for a while

16.6 colour and shape

The orange ball
is perfect for snow
the footballers can see it
and feel it on their toes
don't fancy a header
when it is this cold
but worse if it hits you
square on the nose

16.7 nature

We fish to catch a big one
then throw it back in
these fish must be wondering
what is going on
one minute I am feeding
the next I am gasping
the daft human
should leave me alone

16.8 double form

a
formed ode
asked haiku
why are you short
Haikus reply was cutting, powerful
Senryus are just as short yet as strong
odes are smaller
emptier
lazy
wrong

17.1 selfie

So Darren you are still awake
talking to yourself again
don't start any arguments
try and look sane
if you write another round
award yourself with cake.

17.2 username

Oh no narph is on
which means a lot of posting
I better write another round
so Fop continues coasting

17.3 War

This war begins at home
the recruits from abroad
living in our country
bringing down from within
please do not harm my children
they mean the world to me
your war is with each other
leave my family be.

17.4 sport or money

If I had a dime
for every time
I was told to have a shave
I would have many dollars
which wouldn't be much good
to me in the UK

17.5 Wild Card

As I ponder another piece
wondering what to write
I find I am on the third line
this poem is pretty shi@*
but it counts as a wild card
though its pretty poor
finding new poems in my head is hard
I cant write anymore.

17.6 colour and shape

To get a high score in snooker
the rules are fairly slack
pot the red ball first
leave yourself on the black
if you miss the chance
and your positional starts to stink
just do a little dance
and settle for the pink