FOP #3

17.7 nature

A butterfly starts life
quite possible too plain
a glorified maggot
the transformation is insane
once it kicks off the cocoon
it soars in the stars
until the butterfly catcher
sticks it in a jar

17.8 double form

snakes are scary beasts
slithering on their belly
I prefer spiders

spider cast a web
please catch this annoying fly
evades my swatting

18.1 To or about yourself

I didn't realise that each time I
was using I in my poems, I
was talking about somebody else and
I don't know, really, who I
am talking about now.

18.2 Username

When I hear of a Maple Tree, my mind
wanders to a corner of a hand-designed
map, lost somewhere in my childhood
where I scribbled 'Maplewood,' inspired by
the Canadian Flag flying at the Commonwealth
Games on the old TV. It was to be the place
the hero of my book set off on his grand adventure
from. I wasn't to know that he would never show up
to his own party.

18.3 War

No one truly wins
in war,
both sides
lose loved ones,
truly lost souls -
misguided, mistreated
and dismembered.

18.4 Money or Sport

Dirty leaves
falling to the ground,
and I can't help
but feel the crisp air -
smells of pigskin
erupt in my mind,
and I know
pre-season is close -
twelve men fighting
across the scrimmage line,
and I'll scream in favor
of fall and football.

18.5 Wild card

My heart has never
felt such a burst
of love,
from ten tiny
fingers and toes -
shriveled, wrinkled
and nose with
a little pink tip.

18.6 Color and shape

Summer days hold
afternoons lounging
in rippling water,
staring up at the powder
blue sky, focusing on
which shape clouds are forming -
we laugh when we find
a triangular one,
how peculiar.

18.7 Nature

The brown grass
crunches under my feet,
and I pray this scorching
heat will soon go away -
for leaves should soon
flutter to the ground,
creating a bronze carpet.

18.8 Double Form double haiku

Winter far away
yet I'm dreaming of the snow
let's get through fall first.

I shouldn't rush the
seasons any faster than
they already are.

19.1 To/About Yourself

When you read this
five years from now,
I hope you have a child
to hold of your own
[and if not]
I pray that you
will have found the peace
God is trying to give you,
and know that you
are still going to do
incredible things.

19.2 Username

I long to be
known as well
as Melpomene -
for the muses' history
holds on
for centuries.

19.3 War

She turns herself
into her covers
and wishes the blazing sirens
are a part of her
nightmare - she is at war
with her motivation,
and knows she
can't hit snooze
one more time.

19.4 Money or Sport

She's more beautiful
than precious metals -
more valuable than any
gold bar or silver dollar,
and I wouldn't trade her
for the world.

19.5 Wild Card

Overwhelming desire
consumes me,
and I can't help but wonder
when my turn
will ring up next.

There's a stillness
in my heart
and I wonder why
there isn't much
of a struggle tonight.

19.6 Color & Shape

The figure takes
shape in front of me -
darkened silhouette
and I can't help but feel
the squaring of my shoulders
in defense. My brown eyes
focus a bit more,
and I breathe in
a quick, short breath.

19.7 Nature

Water trickles down
from a waterfall
suffering of drought -
we pray for rain
and a gush of
mother nature.

19.8 Double Form (2 Haikus)

tree limbs sway in the
wind, snapping at their home place
falling on the ground -

crack down the middle
shows a softness in the bark
it's old, rotten wood.

20.1 Poem to/about yourself

Know that God's presence
is holding you close,
future self. Know that He
is focused on you -
know that He loves you,
and that His plan is better
than anything you could've
created for yourself. Trust.

20.2 Username

She waltzes across
the ballroom floor,
full of surprises and sass;
the princess that she is
refuses to be boring,
and keeps people
on her toes.

20.3 War

She hurts -
self inflicted wounds
and words she uses
to reminded herself
of the war she creates
deep within.

20.4 Money or sport

I hand the cashier
my dollar bill
and she doesn't know
how to make change -
when did we become
so stupid?

20.5 Wild Card

I long to curl my toes
in the bottom of my bed,
and rest my head on my pillow -
twelve emotional hours
exhausts the body,
mind, and my tear ducts
full of happy tears
are tired.

20.6 1 color 1 shape

She fixates on her brown hair,
and wonders why
her head is full of soft curls -
how straightened looks
even softer, brighter;
she fits like a round peg
in a square hole
and wonders why
she can't conform.

20.7 Nature

Trees whistle
in the wind -
perhaps screaming
from the wild fires,
begging God to save them.

20.8 Double form (2 Senryu)

My eyes are blurry
focusing on computers
makes them quickly cross -

hopefully they aren't
always going to be stuck
in weird positions.

21.1 About/to yourself.

I spent all day
cooing over
ten fingers and toes,
emotional exhaustion
about to take over,
and yet I can't
shut my eyes,
this contest is not over,
and Abby
is on fire.

21.2 Username

I feel the pressure
building,
thanks to
Abracadabra.

21.3 War

My eyes
are burning,
and my head
is at war -
contacts or glasses?

21.4 Money/Sport

I drop my last
fistful of coins
in the man's cup -
dirty and broken
like the rest of us.

21.5 Wildcard

There's an ocean
stirring up trouble
on the west coast,
and no one
can stop her.

21.6 1 color, 1 shape

I am stuck
in this circle
and can't find myself
spinning out of it -
a black vortex,
sucking me in.

21.7 Nature

Coconuts fall
from palm trees
onto the hot sand,
and I find myself
thinking the beach
is a dangerous place.

21.8 Double form

I'm sick of
counting all these syllables
and writing all of this

poetry. It's not
even real poetry now
and we all just suck.

22.1 To/About Yourself

My brown hair
match my brown eyes
and currently-brown (tan?) skin -
making my OCD
very happy.

22.2 Username

Narph has been
keeping her
fingers furiously flowing
with poetry -
she needs
to stop.

22.3 War

Saffie has declared
poetic war,
and FOP has come
to win the day.

22.4 Money or sport

Commercials of trophies
fill my screen,
and I can't care
for soccer.

22.5 Wild Card

Here I am,
nine twelve in the evening
and I've just spent
thirteen hours
in the hospital -
yet here I am.

22.6 1 color/1 shape

I completely missed
the red octagon
at six thirty this morning -
I was in such a hurry
I couldn't stop.