Poetry and Creative Writing for All

The Top 5 Poems of the Month

August 2004

Our winning poet for August is Christina Earl.
Read Christina's biography and more of her poems

Forgotten Memories

the light has given way to darkness,
the tortured souls have no place to sleep,
brutality has taken over,
and violence is on the streets.

load our weapons and prepare for war,
go out to save our country,
but end up losing much more.

we can't compromise,
we can't forgive.

the smiles are followed by hatred,
and the selflessness followed by greed,
now we never look to give,
but always to receive.

everybody wants the power,
everyone wants to shine.

but can't help but wonder what it would be like if.....
we could go back to remembering the names of every hero,
go back to giving a helping hand,
go back to sharing our futures,
countries hand in hand.

go back to a world of discovery,
and go back to a world of peace,
go back to a world of conscience,
and give support when a road is too steep.

if we could go back to a world of forgiveness,
go back to a world without pain,
go back to a world that's forgotten memories,
and maybe we could find happiness again.

Christina Earl

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Here are the other four poems chosen by our imprint editors as winning poems for August. All other poems submitted for the Top 5 Poems of the Month for August are being considered for various anthologies.

Best Night’s Sleep...

That was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in ages,
Thank heavens for the comforts of home.
Friendliest faces in familiar places,
And sweetest dreams with happy themes,
Chase-away fears and wipe-away tears
That were shed in that hospital bed.

That was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in ages,
Thank goodness for the pleasures of home.
A hot cup of tea, Grandkids smiling at me,
And sun-filled days with healing rays,
Melt-away hurt and soothe-away pains
That were felt in that hospital bed.

That was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in ages,
Thank heavens for the haven of home.
A dignified bath, then a ciggie, a laugh,
And fresh-laundered sheets, slippers on feet.
Ease-away cares and calm-away dread
That was borne in that hospital bed.

That was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in ages,
Thank goodness for the delights of home.
The garden in bloom, my own pretty room,
And family around, such treasures abound,
Love-away aches and hug-away sighs
That were sighed in that hospital bed.

Gabrielle Gascoigne

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Father's View...

to you a baby boy is born,
a little cry, a little yawn,
someone to love forever more,
a love to pierce your inner core,
to be a part of a life so new,
to watch him grow, like I did you,
from those early sleepless nights,
to a line of nappies, brilliant white,
now you all grown up, with your baby son,
he'll bring you such a lot of fun,
make the most of when he's young,
those days soon pass my little one,
and remember whatever he says ,or do,
you'll still love him, LIKE I DO YOU.

Glyn Norton

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Nature's Savage Woodcutter

Hundreds of trees,
Hundreds of healthy trees
all lying flat on the rain sodden ground,
felled by natures savage woodcutter
who tears through the country
in a rage of wind so intense
it uproots trees
leaving them helplessly lying
on the ground,
their roots still clinging onto
the rich brown earth,
a last futile attempt to cling
to life.
And when I came back years
later they are still there,
young saplings growing up around
their rotting corpses.

Billie Verge

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Faith

The darkness seemed to stretch away
I felt that I should cope
A higher power could push me on
I prayed, I urged, I hoped

A circumstance had left me there
A feeling bought me there
That moments thought could use an hour
So sad, I didn't care

I saw your light a mile away
Your flame it flickered high
One glance adrift would put you out
Were I to lapse you'd die

And so I clung onto your joy
You led from that place
Now here I stand a better man
I felt the touch of faith

Michael Turner

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To submit a poem to the online competition email
inbox@forwardpress.co.uk
Please include Top 5 Poems in the subject line of your email.