August 2007 IBPC Nominations, September Competition Options

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hello,

I'd like to nominate Mistral's Enchanted Forest for it's gentle style, imagery and rhythms.

~Cleo


Enchanted Forest by Mistral

Mystical trees in silhouette
against a starlit moon;
luminous, the scattered beams -
beguilingly they're strewn.
Casting soft, a speckled glow
on shrubs and gentle stream
where lovers lie, entangled there,
immersed within a dream.

Dappled moonlight's glimmering
reflects in loving eyes,
wispy breeze through lucent trees
bequeaths contented sighs.
Spellbound forest moulding here
this perfect lover’s nest,
where doubts and insecurities
are gently laid to rest.

[AMETHYST]

I would like to nominate The Hoboes Abode for both the visual and lyrical creativity, as well as a skilled pen toward the subject. I felt the use of original images helps to say something that has been said, in a new way... and maintain a pleasing, entertaining poetic tone.

The Hobo Abode by Thoth
Johnnesburg, a city of contrast, where poverty and wealth intermingle. Some things hide right before our eyes!

Creamy
spring blossoms
of the stunted acacias
on the hill, beckon my eager lens,
like bridesmaids gathered for a photo shoot,
all pouting prettily beneath a blue October sky.
In contrast, the smudgy city profile
rumbles expectantly
in the background,
grey, smoky,
decadent,
evil.
Collapsed,
a rusty wire gate,
en-draped in a blue shawl,
of delicate, shimmering morning–glory,
still wet with dew, dancing in the light breeze.
There is no threat, no resistance to bar my passage.
Pressing on up the steep trail, only the numerous black-jacks,
tiny – spiny, daring to set a challenge; nay, an ambush!
Their tiny insidious barbs spearing themselves
angrily into socks and clothes,
biting at exposed flesh,
like army-ants,
inextricable.
Sweaty.
Itchy.
Disturbed,
the pungent scent
of khakie-weed follows
the narrow stony footpath
as it winds, squeezing tight between
boulders up the grade, to the white quartz ridge.
Below the trees I stop to breath, inhale the view below,
a patchwork quilt of red tin roofs, with blazing blue
jacaranda avenues and emerald rolling lawns.
Distant highway softly roars, subdued,
as trucks and cars glint mutely
in the sun. A train slides slow
on gleaming cobweb rails,
and docks within
its diaphanous
shroud.
I turn to greet my cheery acacia maids abloom, but freeze in fright!
Ambiguous behind a kakiebos façade there lurks
an ominous black intrusion in the shadows.
Framed by trampled grass and weeds,
scattered junk, paper artifacts.
Poised upon the rocky slope,
it glares at me -
with guilty
intent.
An abode?
looking closer now,
heart still pounding in alarm,
I see within - There’s no-one home today.
Who builds his house, among the weeds, here on this hostile hill?
Low roofed by black conveyor belt with card-box walls,
a floor of crumpled yellow plastic bags,
plywood plank on stones - a bed,
with egg-box mattress packed.
Laid neatly out upon
a folded blanket;
filthy,
old,
with tarnished silver chain,
a Shining Crucifix!
on bible pillow,
tatty and
worn.
-

Notes: Acacia – Family of thorny trees common in Africa.
khakie-weed / kakiebos - Sp. Tagetes minuta
This very strong and sharp smelling herb is a tall annual with pale yellow flowers,
also know as Muster-John-Henry and stinking Roger.