Welcome!
Thank you one and all for joining us here at the Poetry Corner with Poison and Friends. Since our last gathering, our poets have been hard at work creating such wonderful poetry for everyone. I hope all enjoy the dreamiest of all treasts you're about to be given.
POETRY CHALLENGE
POETRY CHALLENGE
Who loves bedtime stories? I hope you responded with "I do" or "Me". Well this was definitely a challenge no one expected.
Participating poets were challeged to write a bedtime story poem with suspense. What you're about to read will knock your socks off . The poets were also given the opportunity to submit pictures to go along with their poems.
Happy Reading!!!
BEDTIME STORY POEM #1
Illustration #1 created by Jesse Batista
The Chronicle of Paragon by Jesse Batista
Here now comes the chronicle of an armored dragon, fire breathing monster by the name of Paragon. He dwells deep in the ruins, of the city of Argoss. A metropolis once magnificent, now riddled with loss. It was a time of the ancient; of castles, moats and the shire. All destroyed by greed and hate and then by dragons fire. Across bountiful tables, stories of glory were told. Rooms filled to the brim with rubies, silver and gold. The blessed king was to rule, but not with conceit. Rejoice in the envy but, be ever so discreet. Be giving, be kind, be generous, pay mind. Stick with the deal or be destroyed he would find. A victory feast was the theme of the night, party and drink with merriment and delight. A dreadful decision was made in haste and now the city lies in waste. The wizard who bestowed the king such grace was defiled by the same and given chase. As a penniless peasant the wizard was cloaked to see if the king could be easily provoked. A simple request for a gift denied; a gift of food for his soon to be bride. The wizards was scoffed at and called a fool, chased from the lands with words of ridicule. The king, unknowingly, brought his kingdom such plight. Paragon the Dragon would soon take flight.
The wizard now brought to the final decision, he calls upon his beast and there will be no revision. With flick of the wrist and an incantation, Paragon emerges without hesitation. He rears his head and smoke pours from his brim. The sight of what’s to come will be all too grim. The creature roars and swiftly takes to the sky. He screeches a sharp, deafening war cry. With his wings spread, he glides through the darkness of night. He will assuredly reach the kingdom before the first light. As it was said, before dawns approach, paragon arrived, to the limits he encroached. While most of the populace was still in beds dreaming, those who were awake, woke them with their screaming. Paragon makes his first descent, time to show that king exactly what was meant. He draws in a breath and with all his might, he releases a fireball and the courtyard does ignite. The fire spreads wildly, climbing the walls, catching the hay and expanding down the halls. A second assault to the aft towers, a third and a fourth and it continued for hours. Not a soul standing after the unexpected incursion. None accept the king whose empire is scattered, whose life’s in dispersion. He kneels among the hot burning embers, only now the agreement the king remembers.
The city now in rubble and abandoned for years. Rumors of dragons bring apprehensions and fears. There are tales of gold and treasures so splendid, there’s boasts that the dragon should be beheaded. Retake the city and claim what’s theirs! Shout the towns folk with hate and without any cares. Send a mighty warrior to do the deed, but, they think only of themselves and are driven by greed. A warrior does appear from the angry hoard, baring a shield and a gladius sword. He accepts the challenge and takes to the trek with thoughts of victory and a golden paycheck. To the city the warrior does arrive, to the dilapidated castle is where he must strive. Buried beneath the rubble is Paragon’s lair, The treasure awaits him somewhere in there. Scaling the rocks and crossing the moat. The air grows thick and coarse in his throat. As he continues his journey, it gets black as coal, he finds an opening and climbs in the hole. He surfaces to a cavernous den, the rocks move under him time and again. A system put intentionally in place for the wizard knew this day he would eventually face. The warrior stumbles and noisily falls, it echos in the silence and Pargaon it calls. Awaken from slumber Paragon looks his way, the warrior draws his sword looking to slay. The warrior swipes and lunges and slashes, Paragon hurls fire that burns everything to ashes. While battle ensues, it’s obvious that the warrior was bound to lose. The warrior fled with life intact, his shield melted and his spirit cracked. The wizard shook his head and knew from the start, the way to beat Paragon is not to outsmart. Be generous of giving and compassionate of heart.
Illustration #2 created by Jesse Batista
BEDTIME STORY POEM #2
GOODNIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT
by Lozt Poet
As the sun sets in the western sky,
the time draws near to say good-bye.
The time is coming for you to dream,
And remember that in those visions things aren’t often as they seem.
At first you will hear a lullaby,
Followed by a visit from all your friends who live nearby.
You’ll see Freddy the wonder-fish,
He’ll make you laugh as he skips from his bowl to a dish.
Then there comes Max the mixed-up dog,
He’s always acting silly and will jump like a frog.
The third in line is Tom the cat,
Each time he shows up it’s with a different hat.
And last but in no way least,
Is your best friend in the world, the one you call Beast.
They will all show up and whisk you away,
Take you to dreamland where all night you will laugh and play.
Be warned though if you pass up the chance to have some fun,
All the goodness and light will be undone.
You’ll be plunged into a dark and desolate place,
One filled with monsters and demons will give chase.
They can see and smell your fear,
Then track you down as they whoop and cheer.
You’ll begin to run and try to escape throughout the night,
Believe me when I say it won’t be an easy fight.
There is no place that you can hide,
Those monsters and demons will be nipping t your heel with every stride.
Just when you think it is safe to stop and get some rest,
An eerie feeling will come over you and your heart will pound loudly in your chest.
Your feet will move as fast as they can,
But you will still feel the cold grab of their hand.
They will pull and pull and drag you back,
You will star sliding towards the beasts dressed in black.
The last thing you will see as chills run across your body are blood-shot eyes,
Then drenched in a cold sweat you quickly rise.
Looking around you realize it was just a dream as you sit in your bed,
The monsters weren’t there, it was all in your head.
So, with a smile you lay back down and say goodbye and sleep tight at half past ten,
Unaware that the monsters are anxious and eager for you to visit again.
BEDTIME STORY POEM #3
Heart & Soul, Wild & Bold by Dara Gossamer Wings
There once was a boy everyone knew
Through the woods and o’er the brambles he ran askew
His parents desperately attempted to rein him in
Without a single stroke of luck, for he ran like the wind
The stories they told trying to frighten him so
He’d stop running amuck into to the forest you know
They explained that upon reaching a certain age to enter the forest so dark
He would one unfortunate day realize a life so stark
On the day of turning without a thought for the danger that loomed
Joyfully… off to the dark forest he zoomed
He never believed the stories he was told
For his heart was wild and his soul was bold
Though every word spoken was filled with truth, though bitterly wry
His parents that day most chagrined, woefully they did cry
For in the dark came the beasts of the omnipotent night
They’d been watching, waiting, longing for the foolish boy knowing his future plight
The stories given were indeed of the most horrific sort
Those of demons, devils and witches always seeking to cohort
The things they did to this boy were deranged and full of an unthinkable pain
The worst part was, they didn’t kill him…no, they left him mad, completely insane
Casting him from the forest back to the world
Leaving him filled with their seeds of rage to one day be unfurled
Upon the birth of his children’s children, wrath released from its cage
That’s when the evil dawns its inescapable rage
Whence the elders are too old to change the course of time and events of the new life
That’s when they come to understand the unleashed strife
Forever binding the boy of old to the beasts of which he was told
Knowing not what is afoot until well past the time for change
Leaving him to live in horror of the ones he loves, completely deranged
The moral goes something like this…
They tell you the stories dreadful and bold
That you may take your son’s sons and daughter’s daughters having them to hold
So every night they may lay you in your bed
With no fear, with no dread
Knowing in their heart you’ll know a life of bliss
With each and every goodnight kiss
THE END
BRAVO!!
I don't know about you but I am holding on to my blanket alittle tighter when bedtime comes around. These bedtime story poems were magnificent. Poets you've all out done yourself once again. Such talented people we have here. Thank you for dedication to writing such great poetry and for creating the vibrant illustrations to go with them.
Thank you returning and new friends for joining us today. I really do hope you enjoyed these bedtime story poem because this was just the beginning. There will be 2 more bedtime story poem editions coming your way. Stay tuned!!
If you'd ever like to participate in one of the poetry challenges, please email me, Ivy Valori, at poisonivysnbv@gmail.com. Everyone is welcome and no writing experience is needed. Let's just have some fun.
Please feel free to comment below about this edition of the Poetry Corner. We would like to hear what your thoughts.
See you next time.
