Week 514 (October 16-31). Poems topic: Broken Lamp.

[M]

You have until October 31 to post a poem, and from November 1-7 we’ll vote for which one we thought was best!

Please post directly into the topic and not a link. Please don’t use a poem previously used in this group. Only one submission per person is allowed.

Your poem can be any length.

This week’s topic is: Broken Lamp.

The rules are pretty loose. You could write a poem about anything that has to do with the subject/photo but it must relate to the topic somehow.

Most of all have fun!

Thank you to Edward for suggesting the topic!

[Brett]

We need more participation!

[Garrison]

AUTHOR: Garrison Kelly
TITLE: He Hates His Penis
GENRE: Traditional Poem
RATING: PG-13 for violence, language, and pedophilia references



He hates his penis and all that it stands for
He hates his tastes, wants to be a sad bore
If anybody knew what kind of shit he liked
He’d be locked in darkness without his rights

A broken lamp, but there’s no genie inside
No way to get rid of the parts he must hide
Take a razor blade and cut his dingus off
And the sack for which he turns and coughs

The thoughts don’t stop, he wants to drop
Before he gets his ass beat by the keystone cops
Throw the TV out of his window pane
Before a Huggies commercial drives him insane

No where to turn to, no one to talk to
Want to stab him to death? He won’t stop you
He never asked for his brain to be fucked up
Nobody would choose it, it’s just tough luck

Where does he go from his lowest point?
Does he just light up yet another joint?
Numbing his pain with drugs and food
He lived another day, stabilized his mood

He’s a monster without the claws and fangs
A warmonger without the guns and tanks
A devil without living in the hells below
That shit’s on earth, in case you didn’t know

[M]

Brett wrote: “We need more participation!”

It does seem like a ghost ship. Maybe the group will attract ghost writers.

[Brett]

A Needy Lamp
By Brett A. Starr on October 19, 2021

He shines not upon
The yank of his chain; this lamp
Needs some love today.

[M]

A Woman in Pearls

The auction house’s jumbled aisles
were narrow, high, and vaguely lit.
A doctor’s cabinet held old vials.
An armoir leaned, its panels split.

In pearls, a woman gazed forlorn
through varnish dim with age and damp,
the scrolled frame chipped, the canvas torn,
and propped beside a broken lamp.

[Brett]

Garrison, my first reading of your poem, I'll have to admit, I was uncomfortable with it. But, I waited a couple days and read it again. It struck me a different way and I couldn't help but think about something Shakespearian that would sum up the beginning. "Penis, or no penis. That is the question." Then, I thought about the rest of it and how the person in the poem is hurting and needing some comfort. Then, I read my poem. I think the person in your poem might find comfort in reading my poem. I think that was ironic. What do you think?

[Brett]

M, you painted another picture with words that skipped all of the time and effort that would be needed when using brushes and canvas. Excellent.

[Garrison]

Brett wrote: "Garrison, my first reading of your poem, I'll have to admit, I was uncomfortable with it. But, I waited a couple days and read it again. It struck me a different way and I couldn't help but think a..."

Brett, I don't blame you for feeling uncomfortable with what I've written. It's not a topic I write about very often, so I always tread carefully with my words. But yes, your haiku would hopefully bring someone like that the comfort they need. I appreciate you taking the time to read my entry this week. I was worried about the reception it would receive, but your response was what needed to be said. Thank you, my friend. Keep writing!

[M]

Thank you, Brett! At times I’d rather be using brushes and canvas and should probably look into that.

[Garrison]

M, your poem has a nice, classic feel to it. I could easily picture this setting you've provided as a backdrop for a ghost story or even a murder mystery. If you wrote a story that took place in this auction house, I'd read the hell out of it. Consider this if you decide to enter the short story contest for this week's prompt. Great job, buddy! :)

[M]

Thank you, Garrison! I’ll write a story about an auction house. That’s just the motivation I needed.

[Garrison]

I'm glad I could inspire you. :)

[M]

I’m about a thousand words into it. It’s semi-autobiographical and very dull. I should finish it by tomorrow afternoon.

[Garrison]

M, you're your own worst critic when you call your writing "very dull". I'm my own worst critic as well. Hang in there, buddy! You've got this! We as a group have got this!