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First-Ever vox Poetry Contest 1st Runner-up: Timeless Night


01.06.11 Posted in Contest 1, words to linger on by

Thank you to our guest judges Lisa Marie Basile (Caper Journal), Bryan Borland (Assaracus), Jessie Carty (Referential Magazine), and Brad Nelson (Eclectic Flash) for their tireless work in reading and ranking the 116 entries in the contest. They are the best and you should check out their publications! Much appreciation and admiration to all the writers who entered and congratulations to the winners who faced fierce competition.

First-Ever vox poetica Poetry Contest! Words to Linger on 1st Runner-up:
Timeless Night

By Laurie Michelle Summer

Let’s turn the hourglass on its side tonight

and lay on the carpet,

one on each side.


Our hands and eyes braided above time’s hairless head,

our ankles crossed beneath its hobbled feet.

Playing at parenthood, cocooning the tired tot between us in the bower.


Salty sand trapped in a transparent neck

thinner than the wrist that carries blood, to and fro,

an arid sea unable to escape into either past or prophecy.


Its customary habit, a militant march across rows of perfect calendar squares,

conquering its own increments of days, weeks, years

temporarily interrupted.


How does Time feel about this surprising intermission of its infinite-act play?

Is he the permanent prima donna, resentful when our typical homage to him,

of wristwatches and sundials, calendars and cuckoos

is wholeheartedly forsaken?

Or is it a relief? Does this give Time time–

–to take a shower, catch up on the crossword, call a friend?


My fingers sink into your yellow curls.

Waves ripple along my fingertips.

I am absorbed by liquid gold tenderness


carried along by the night’s currents

that will become my future

and my memory


but in this unmeasured moment

we call it love.


This poem lazes along with no concern for time, its voice aligned perfectly with its theme.

Laurie Michelle Summer has contributed poetry to the vox poetica prompts page and anthologies; her poem At Forty-One will appear at the today’s words page in February.



5 Responses to “First-Ever vox Poetry Contest 1st Runner-up: Timeless Night”

  1. Sarah says:

    Wow! There are some beautiful, surprising images here and I love the ending.

  2. Laurie Summer says:

    Thank you so much, Sarah. I’m glad you liked it.

  3. bobbie troy says:

    Lovely piece.

  4. Lynda says:

    Just beautiful Laurie. You brought me into your precious loving moment. Thank you.

  5. Lynda says:

    Just beautiful Laurie. You brought me into your precious loving moment. Thank you.

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