Original and Revised Poems

Original Triolet-

Everyone is watching.

You have to be the best

You have spent your life dreaming of this, wanting to do something.

Everyone is watching.

Your future is watching from the sidelines.

You have trained for this moment harder than the rest.

Everyone is watching.

You have to be the best.

Triolet- The Game of Life

Eyes stare with anticipation and peer into your soul,

Failure is ready to call you home.

You have dedicated your life to dreaming of this moment

Eyes stare with anticipation and peer into your soul,

Your future is watching from the sidelines.

You have been bred for this stage,

Eyes stare with anticipation and peer into your soul,

Failure is ready to call you home.

Original Pantoum-

The thunder claps,

the lightning zaps.

The winds howl,

The sky churns with a never ending growl.

The lightning zaps,

the seawall begins to collapse.

The sky churns with a never ending growl,

people hide inside like fowl.

The seawall begins to collapse,

branches snap and roofing flaps.

People hide inside like fowl,

the wolves prowl.

Branches snap and roofing flaps,

the sounds against the windows become more than taps.

The wolves prowl,

Children are alert as owls

Roofs collapse, the damage is washed away and all that is left are scraps,

the thunder claps.

No one ever thought things could go afoul

the sky churns with a never ending growl.

New Pantoum- Storm of Revenge

The thunder claps,

The lightning cracks the sky.

The winds howl,

The sky churns with a never ending growl.

The lightning cracks the sky

The seawall begins to collapse.

The sky churns with a never ending growl,

They cower, unsuspecting of their troubles to come

The seawall begins to collapse,

Branches snap and roofing flaps

They cower, unsuspecting of their troubles to come,

Oblivious to what they did.

Branches snap and roofing flaps,

The sounds against the windows become more than taps.

Oblivious to what they did,

With my next strike, they will be left with nothing.

They learned their lesson,

The thunder claps.

A force of nature can never be tormented without a price,

The sky churns with a never ending growl.

Original Tanka-

The darkness descends,

A new day gone forever,

Never to be seen,

Through the night, all is quiet,

Only stirred by the sunlight.

New Tanka- The Passing of a Day

The darkness descends,

A new day lost forever,

Never to be seen,

Through the night, all is renewed,

The world revived by sunlight.

Multiple Tones: Disgusted and Awestruck

Tone: disgusted

The dirty, grimy, litter filled streets are what makes up a city. The thousands of people bumping into each other on the crowded sidewalks, which are dirtied with the crushed dreams of the people who sleep there at night. As I pass the alleys I see a man with ripped clothing begging a wall for forgiveness. The frigid winds blow the poisoned air which was infected by the nearby factories that have no regard for our planet. As I walk out from under the shadow of the large and overpowering skyscraper, I enter grey gloom of the house districts. Houses that are all crowded together, with no privacy. I cannot fathom living a life where I look out my bedroom window and all I see is brick. The city, where you can buy a disgusting hot dog, heroin, and get cancer from the toxic air all in one square mile.

Tone: Awestruck, grateful

The hustling, bustling, never-ending streets are what make up a city. The thousands of people all together, enjoying each other’s company walking carelessly along the streets, which are worn with the success of the people who walked them before. As I pass the alleys I see a man with ripped clothing receiving help from a selfless volunteer. The refreshing winds blow the air that both the poor and the wealthy require to live. As I walk out from under the merciful shadow of the large and beautiful skyscraper, I enter the friendly community of the house districts. Houses that are all crowded together, with only room for neighborly love. I cannot fathom living a life where I look out my bedroom window and all I see is nothing. The city, where you can buy a delicious, had cooked hot dog, a designer handbag, and experience the kindness of the human race all in one square mile.