Blasting Caps from the Vault, Part 3

[constantine]

the race must continue at all costs - i share his jubilation, but not his pillbugs. most enjoyable!

[Steve Plonk]

Thanks, Constantine, I tried to make 'Larkspur' out to be a fighter, unlike
"Puff the Magic Dragon"...A self-starter... The speaker of the poem
makes the assumption that the "dragon race" will continue...as hopefully our
species will, too.

[Steve Plonk]

THE PREMIER FLIGHT OF THE COLUMBIA
By Steve Plonk


Written at the sight
Of the first flight of the “Columbia”
When it came back from space--
The hope of it all is that the
Stars again seem closer tonight—
Most tumultuous journey
Of a spacecraft since Apollo-Soyuz, 1975
Or the moon landing in July 1969…
***
Humanity should send praises for G-d’s grace
That a space shuttle can now go from place
To place from space,
Humanity is now even closer to the angels--
Word bubbles burst forth in praise,
Joys abound during this occasion…
***

Science fiction is now reality—
Space stations are now
Within our collective grasp,
As the very ground calls out in Spring welcome…
To the astronauts, which accents
Their space voyage return…
Praise the mentors who conceived of the space shuttle,
Praise those who worked on it,
Praise our world’s brave astronauts,
Finally praise those like Da Vinci
Who first dreamed of the trip…

Written April 4, 1981, Revised Sept. 17, 2012,
Upon the journey home of the ISS astronauts,
& in memory of the “Columbia” disaster
Feb. 1, 2003…

[sweetwater]

is that iambic pentameter ?

[Steve Plonk]

The above poem has syncopated rhythm; however, "Vacation Lake..." & the "Sonnets 1 &2" are iambic pentameter. Thanks for your interest, Sweetwater...

[Steve Plonk]

LOS DEMONIOS VERDES (The Green Demons)
By Steve Plonk

The green demons became sheltered from hellish fire/
Surging down from the tower at Showerhead…
Long tracer fire through trees,
Left many unleavened before the breeze/
Many died, but several approached a lonely angelic traveler,
Who stopped weary on the lower trail, hungry with care,
Who was restless with keeping sheep…
The angelic traveler stood wondering at the fierce Centauri,
Who came his way by dusty dusk…
Afraid, but waiting in anticipation,
Our angelic traveler barked out a tune:
“Fair-mighty Centauri,
Trod not my arse,
Nor gouge my eyes, for
We who are almost human
Fear you who never dies/
Left to my own device
I would become eaten with lice,
On a burrowed furry brow/
I stand here most alone &
Wasted through my ears,
Although I recognize
Your shapes trampling in my path—
Helpless I stand—just like a man!”
The Centauri collectively smiled ,& slowed to a stop, & then wept diamonds,
For they were deserters from their realm…
They all shared food & drink they had with the wandering angel…
For they had met on Purgatory Road…

[Steve Plonk]

Another season has arrived...I petition the internet for readers...

[Steve Plonk]

A POISED QUESTION

By Steve Plonk

Stories of cosmic flowers
Coming alive for dull eyes
Breathe of hallucination—
A poised question
Gathers before time freezes it over—
Better that we realize (goes the answer)
A few manifestations
Than be self-deluded
By holding back our fancy…
Night is a friend to all who dream
Even though ended by the
Crimson courage of the day—
Sometimes there is hope in brute despair
Hope is the beginning of a new tale…
***
Wayward children are we
Shown our great destiny—
Or is destiny just a poised question,
With a lame paradoxical answer?
Gamble on the flipped coin—
Is life more like a gamble,
Than a paved road to certainty?
This question is poised much too often—
Better not to ask it &
React to the flow—
What is now arriving on our thoughts,
Was dreamed before we know,
Like east & west, above & below,
We are caught in between like a feather
Floating down,
Like potential heat in an unstruck match,
Poised for action,
Like an agreeable answer—
Which takes away our breath…

Written Circa 1986, Revised slightly, November 2012.
Also submitted simultaneously to Litkicks.com's "Action Poetry" on Nov. 21, 2021.

[stilltrucking]

Than a paved road to certainty?


enjoyed the poem thank you

[Steve Plonk]

Pleased to have readers who comment. Thanks, Still Trucking...

Comments to this thread of my Poetry are now closed. Please refer to my Column if you'd like to read them further. Thanks.