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PFFT
Poetry Fantastic Fanfare Talk
Poetry Fantastic Fanfare Talk
"For those of us who live at the shoreline
standing upon the constant edges of decision" - A Litany for Survival by Audre Lorde
standing upon the constant edges of decision" - A Litany for Survival by Audre Lorde
Welcome to the submission thread of the second PFFT round! This is the place to be to appreciate all of the works submitted and where I will announce when my failing voice will grace the Voice Channels of Iwaku to read them out loud.
PFFT: Poetry Fantastic Talk is an invitation to all members of Iwaku (present and future) to share their love for poetry! Whether they are a veteran who knows all the classics, or a beginning appreciator only dabbling in. PFFT is open for all who wish to challenge themselves and to grow by providing a platform where they can share their appreciation for the art of poetry. Inspired by the old PIPS (Public Iwaku Poetry Spotlight) event PFFT hopes to continue the tradition of writing and discussing original poems written by members and as such inspire each other. PFFT aims to take place twice a year, with each iteration focussing itself surrounding a set theme after which each participant is allowed to unleash their own interpretation and creativity to write a poem.
Note that PFFT will not be a competition. As such there will be no votes or opportunities to review, nor will there be winners for all participants are winners. Participants and members are however encouraged to discuss what they liked about the works of (other) participants, or discuss their own process and understanding of reading or writing poetry, for both are an art by themselves!
PFFT will exist out of two parts. The first part will be the submission period which will run from June 9 until July 16. The second part will be the live-reading in the Discord server of Iwaku, organised sometime mid-July.
The theme of this edition of PFFT was:
"On the edge of decision"**
** N/B: July also happen to be the birthday month of yours truly, bonus points for those who submit something celebatory! Before I release the submissions take your time to vote for an appropriate date for the live readings!
- Monday, July 31, 6pm Berlin time / 11am Chicago time / 10pm Manilla time
- Saturday, August 12, 10pm Berlin time / 2pm Chicago time / 4am Manilla time
- Saturday, August 19, 10pm Berlin time / 2pm Chicago time / 4am Manilla time
And now onto the SUBMISSIONS
Author: @rissa
Permission to read: Yes
Choice made, path walked
Future unfolds bright and fair
Inevitably
Permission to read: Yes
Choice made, path walked
Future unfolds bright and fair
Inevitably
Author: @RiverNotch
Permission to read: Yes
All my life, I have been edging.
Once, I was an edgy boy,
but now, I'm on the very edge
of man and woman, as I was
and still am of both black and white,
both rich and poor. I never lost
and hope to never lose that skill
or, rather, inborn aptitude
to gleefully and recklessly
embody everything.
Permission to read: Yes
All my life, I have been edging.
Once, I was an edgy boy,
but now, I'm on the very edge
of man and woman, as I was
and still am of both black and white,
both rich and poor. I never lost
and hope to never lose that skill
or, rather, inborn aptitude
to gleefully and recklessly
embody everything.
Author: @PavellumPendulum
Permission to read: Yes
i was struck by the idea of becoming me
someone who was tucked away, a long time ago
stripped of her name, her place, her right to be
i am not who they think i am
i am not who they want me to be
i am not who they dream of at night
not feather soft or sugar sweet
they love my english
my mimicry of their voices
my inoffensive submission
my face on their magazines
so different! so palatable! so diverse!
i am their poster child
their model minority
their favoured speaker
but only if the words fit
into an agreeable mouth
one with a name they can respect
i cannot be what they call me
i cannot change who i am
i cannot bend the way my parents did
to those who stand atop the glass ceiling
staring fondly down on us treasured pets
unable to pronounce our names, only breeds
i am struck by the idea of becoming me
so much so that i extend my hands and
shake like a good dog, pearly canines set
i say her name, my name, the one they ripped
from the girl i once was and the woman i am now
and when their smiles fade, mockery on their tongues
i will introduce myself again and become me once more.
Permission to read: Yes
i was struck by the idea of becoming me
someone who was tucked away, a long time ago
stripped of her name, her place, her right to be
i am not who they think i am
i am not who they want me to be
i am not who they dream of at night
not feather soft or sugar sweet
they love my english
my mimicry of their voices
my inoffensive submission
my face on their magazines
so different! so palatable! so diverse!
i am their poster child
their model minority
their favoured speaker
but only if the words fit
into an agreeable mouth
one with a name they can respect
i cannot be what they call me
i cannot change who i am
i cannot bend the way my parents did
to those who stand atop the glass ceiling
staring fondly down on us treasured pets
unable to pronounce our names, only breeds
i am struck by the idea of becoming me
so much so that i extend my hands and
shake like a good dog, pearly canines set
i say her name, my name, the one they ripped
from the girl i once was and the woman i am now
and when their smiles fade, mockery on their tongues
i will introduce myself again and become me once more.
Author: Anonymous submission
Permission to read: Yes
Here you stand at the cusp of jejunity,
Awaiting for the opportunity
To unfurl your wings and soar,
To be the prime of life evermore.
But have you ever considered
On what life may have conspired
For the morrow?
It is never simple.
This is how much I can counsel,
So you can mingle
With blooming souls that gambol
With coarse reality.
Yet do not let the apprehension
Cloud your penchants for hereafter.
Let your being strengthen
And indulge in cultivated laughter.
Go on and twirl.
Give your wisdom a little whirl.
Patter your feet on the waters.
Taste the rain tingling your kissers,
Before your bones give in to decay.
Breathe the blossoms in your paradise.
Make felicity your vice.
Adorn the skies with butterflies.
Nonage never dies.
Young daisy that awaits at the peak,
There are no solutions that seek
The code to mellowness.
But tame your dismay,
There is always a light of day.
Remember your cradle.
Think of your happiness when you are able.
Revel your reveries.
Love your memories.
Thus, right at your homecoming,
Make it alright to accept the overcoming
Of your infancy;
To spring to full bloom and lead.
Permission to read: Yes
Here you stand at the cusp of jejunity,
Awaiting for the opportunity
To unfurl your wings and soar,
To be the prime of life evermore.
But have you ever considered
On what life may have conspired
For the morrow?
It is never simple.
This is how much I can counsel,
So you can mingle
With blooming souls that gambol
With coarse reality.
Yet do not let the apprehension
Cloud your penchants for hereafter.
Let your being strengthen
And indulge in cultivated laughter.
Go on and twirl.
Give your wisdom a little whirl.
Patter your feet on the waters.
Taste the rain tingling your kissers,
Before your bones give in to decay.
Breathe the blossoms in your paradise.
Make felicity your vice.
Adorn the skies with butterflies.
Nonage never dies.
Young daisy that awaits at the peak,
There are no solutions that seek
The code to mellowness.
But tame your dismay,
There is always a light of day.
Remember your cradle.
Think of your happiness when you are able.
Revel your reveries.
Love your memories.
Thus, right at your homecoming,
Make it alright to accept the overcoming
Of your infancy;
To spring to full bloom and lead.
Author: @Fluffy
Permission to read: Yes
This nagging sensation inside,
it says that I have to decide
For if I don't, then maybe I won't
I know that it's not good to hide
all things I feel on the inside
But, it's easier said than done
to simply make a decision
The feeling reminds me of when
I was told that indecision
is still a type of decision
I'm sitting on the borderline,
just wasting so much of my time
watching for some kind of a sign
But, I know the truth about life
Through all our happiness and strife,
our future is shaped by choices
made with our actions and voices
Permission to read: Yes
This nagging sensation inside,
it says that I have to decide
For if I don't, then maybe I won't
I know that it's not good to hide
all things I feel on the inside
But, it's easier said than done
to simply make a decision
The feeling reminds me of when
I was told that indecision
is still a type of decision
I'm sitting on the borderline,
just wasting so much of my time
watching for some kind of a sign
But, I know the truth about life
Through all our happiness and strife,
our future is shaped by choices
made with our actions and voices
Author: @Ness
Permission to read: Yes
I scream into the void as you leave
There nothing I can do but plead
Your mind's made and your heart is set
But still I need to beg.
Don't go
What's broken cannot be fix
There's just too many nicks
I can see through the holes
Can't console
What used to be, can no longer exist
Don't resist
My mind is made and my heart is set
Please, don't beg
I must go
Permission to read: Yes
I scream into the void as you leave
There nothing I can do but plead
Your mind's made and your heart is set
But still I need to beg.
Don't go
What's broken cannot be fix
There's just too many nicks
I can see through the holes
Can't console
What used to be, can no longer exist
Don't resist
My mind is made and my heart is set
Please, don't beg
I must go
Author: @Ness
Permission to read: Yes
I thought I made up my mind
But that's a lie
I'm still here?
Isn't that queer?
Zero to twenty five
I'm still alive!
When will I die?
I can't decide
I might as well try
To live Instead of die
I can't decide
I'm at the edge
I dread the end
I don't want to die
When I'm still alive!
Permission to read: Yes
I thought I made up my mind
But that's a lie
I'm still here?
Isn't that queer?
Zero to twenty five
I'm still alive!
When will I die?
I can't decide
I might as well try
To live Instead of die
I can't decide
I'm at the edge
I dread the end
I don't want to die
When I'm still alive!
Author: @OKSaiph
Permission to read: Yes
Altered bones in run-down homes
Where have you wandered to?
The stars on your ceiling won't shine for me.
I'll inhale, repeat
Until my lungs start to bleed.
Can you take this rot I'm coughing up?
Or is that just another part of me?
The room is spinning
And I can't see.
Where do I go now?
Tether me down and cast me out.
Will accepting your forgiveness free me
Or condemn me to this role you've assigned me?
Permission to read: Yes
Altered bones in run-down homes
Where have you wandered to?
The stars on your ceiling won't shine for me.
I'll inhale, repeat
Until my lungs start to bleed.
Can you take this rot I'm coughing up?
Or is that just another part of me?
The room is spinning
And I can't see.
Where do I go now?
Tether me down and cast me out.
Will accepting your forgiveness free me
Or condemn me to this role you've assigned me?
Author: Anonymous submission
Permission to read: Yes
It was not supposed to be like this
He was just having fun, just taking a piss.
Dread clutched his heart like a vice
This never happened. Not once... not twice.
He should have been prepared
Shouldn't be like this, should have cared.
Right now, 'What if's do not matter
Right now, it's all about saving her.
He watched his precious' life dwindle
Red! He saw red! He's losing her little by little.
"No, not now. Please! Please, be awake.
Do not do this to me, for God's sake!"
A loud bang. It started. This was not fair.
Anger took him then, giving her a glare
He looked out, turned to her, then back.
What should he do? His brain was racked.
Another bang. Blue and red flashing.
He stayed inside, still glaring
Should he save her? Or go out and watch the night sky?
Enjoy it without his precious? Without his phone? Well, it is the Fourth of July.
Permission to read: Yes
It was not supposed to be like this
He was just having fun, just taking a piss.
Dread clutched his heart like a vice
This never happened. Not once... not twice.
He should have been prepared
Shouldn't be like this, should have cared.
Right now, 'What if's do not matter
Right now, it's all about saving her.
He watched his precious' life dwindle
Red! He saw red! He's losing her little by little.
"No, not now. Please! Please, be awake.
Do not do this to me, for God's sake!"
A loud bang. It started. This was not fair.
Anger took him then, giving her a glare
He looked out, turned to her, then back.
What should he do? His brain was racked.
Another bang. Blue and red flashing.
He stayed inside, still glaring
Should he save her? Or go out and watch the night sky?
Enjoy it without his precious? Without his phone? Well, it is the Fourth of July.
Author: @/Kuno
Permission to read: IF THERE WAS ONE TO READ
Permission to read: IF THERE WAS ONE TO READ
