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The Top 5 Poems of
the Month
July
2005
Our winning poet for July is Shirley
McIntyre.
Read Shirley's biography and more of her poems 
The Barbecue
We’re gathered in the garden
ensconced in anoraks
Imbibing ice cold beer and wine and barbecued hot snacks
We’re chewing half-cooked burgers as we jostle for some heat
The smoke makes our eyes water as we stamp frost-bitten feet
Next door have got their washing out, it’s drying to perfection
Oh oh there’ll soon be trouble now the wind has changed direction
A sudden gust, charcoaled black smoke envelopes pristine washing
But we are all oblivious; we’re far too busy noshing
Then suddenly it starts to rain, there’s really no more sun
Brollies come out and hoods go up, it’s all part of the fun
The sausages now soggy, as well as being burnt
They’re pink inside but taste OK so surely they can’t hurt.
I gratefully get home and run a bath to ward off flu
Hot water bottle in my bed, oh oh I need the loo
And that is how the night is spent; I knew I’d dropped a clanger
I should have been less greedy and ignored that half-cooked banger.
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Here
are the other four poems chosen by
our imprint editors as winning poems
for July. All other poems submitted
for the Top 5 Poems of the Month for
July are being considered for
various anthologies.
Sweet Contradiction
Afraid to live, afraid to sleep
in my dreams the angels weep
the people scream without a word
mouths that move but are no heard
eyes that flicker in the flame
mirrored reflections show the same
love that's lost but never found
endless noise without a sound
tears that understand the truth
limitless age, infinite youth
energy that boils beneath the skin
weariness eating from deep within
pain and pleasure joined as one
ability to change what has been done
stars within a day lit sky
brought to life yet sent to die
birds that fly, yet swim like fish
my greatest fear, my utmost wish
see the dark within the light
see the angels weep tonight.
Katy Gray
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My First...
Growing into a human form,
Awaiting my first breath of air.
I have my first heart beat,
I have fingers and toes.
Who is to say I can't feel anything,
No pain, no emotions?
Who say's I can't have my own thoughts?
Looking forward to a life of my own.
Meeting parents,
Maybe brothers and sisters.
Making friends by myself.
But they gave me life
and are about to take it away.
I have no choice!
My first feeling of pain,
My first strong emotion.
The choice of life or death,
Is not for me to make.
I love everything about life,
But it's all about to end.
My heart beats no more.
My mind thinks no more.
I took my first steps,
Through deaths open door.
Gael
Ross
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A Thousand Times
A distant chant
From the past is echoed
Resounding deep with in the soul
Visions of running free blaze through the mind’s eye
Producing a trances like state
They draw you into long ago
The feel of your hair streaming back behind you
And the sound of the wind rushing pasted your ears
The feel of the soft grass upon your feet
And the joy of running back through the years.
As you run the chant grows louder
Until it starts to drown out the wind
And your feet move no longer
As you stand looking in
Upon a past which dose belong to you
Even though it isn’t yours
Your spirit has lived a thousand times before you
And shall live a thousand times more.
Andrew Carter
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Look
Away Now it Doesn't Concern You
Leave those be who cannot see
They won't know you stared
Just look away that's okay
Only you'll know you don't care
Cross the street from those asleep
On mattresses of card
Make out you don't see them
It can't be all that hard
As old folk suffer ridicule and jokes
From youngsters in the street
Get as far away as you can
So you don't feel the heat
Turn away from those that die
From hunger and famine
Cos after all its not your fault
You just stand and grin
Much better to be a forgetter
Who doesn't care at all
Than to a person better
Who tries to think of all
Only the weak turn the other cheek
And politely look away
After all it's just so cruel
What goes on day by day
If those indoors who you call yours
Were hurt or sick as such
Would you just ignore them as well?
I doubt that very much!
Kevin
Raymond
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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.
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