Sharing below 2 versions of the same poem, first one by me, followed by the polished version by Judyanne who within minutes converted it into a sonnet.

A Shepherd's Surmise - [Raj]

Down the slopes of a grassy terrain
steeped in sunshine after the rain
herding his cattle with his bruised hook
shepherding them along a babbling brook

the winter had made way to a promising spring
his cows had mated, awaiting new offspring
heading home he thought of his tiny tots
feeding on milk after a longish drought

All these years have flown by
and what do you know
most have passed me by
hoping by now
I must have passed by

intermingled in the starry sky
how can one now that distance fly?
to catch a simple passerby
time does also fly

so am I now here
merged in twilight
as dawn breaks
for folks like you
again
my form has lead me down
the stormy drain
lapsed in the folds of time

as time ultimately all does maim
and I can’t say a name
which hasn't passed

'she has beautiful, bright blue eyes, and long, golden, thick locks of hair
who is she now? who is that girl, hovering up in the air?'
my eyes trace frail, bony digits, that point to the ceiling’s corner
walls, shadows, a cobweb or two, I see no-one, I say to her

Too many bad decisions
Makes life a cold place to live
People don't take excuses
When you should know better

Losing your job
Living in shelters
Calling home for a few bucks
To keep moving ain't bad

Just hope you would
Respond to the consequences
Of your actions while
it's still a good thought In your head

And we won't be back
At square one with you
Every time the sunrise and set
In the midst of a stormy night

sitting in the passenger seat of a pickup truck
singing…
more like screeching
the lyrics to an overplayed
meaningless
shallow
pop song
barely knows the words
but its fun anyway
being obnoxious
with unbrushed hair
full of static from the silk of a winter coat
and a velvet hat
feeling a bit guilty for eating one too many chocolates
and pizza for breakfast
even so comes the voice from the driver seat...
wow...
you’re beautiful.

these dreams weeded beetles

and the ice record cicadas

spun rapunzel's straw gold

in a circus of mice and raspberry tart

found by the fuzz at a carnival robbery.

you've wedded a paper heart in the passing

hands of my life's gas bubble. I trace

your gumption on beaded granulates,

rock salt hindu dots, DNA on sugar cubed

rorschach points, dawn anodynes of polka

and red bingo markers on the trick mirrors

my life has arranged. a trinity knot will wind

The most delightful words
ever heard
ere take of
the wages start.

But this time there will be an exception,
a young King is being brought.

Tutankhamen
The Egyptian 18 year old King
laying in a solid golden coffin,
three thousand years since.
He is still embalmed!

They don’t want to his silent soul alarm
they will get him in
through the rear emergency door,
ere they finally fly off.

no lips can utter
no words by sound
convey beauty
when it exists unbound
on this planet
nor no other
not even a kiss
can impart enough
to a beauty such as this
when you're in love

Steven Zoric

as time so slyly creeps and fumbles past
the empty chair, now you're no longer here
I fear I might forget your face’s cast
without a token icon of you near

forget those eyes of grey reflecting love
the auburn locks that sparkled in the sun
the irrepressible blithe spirit of
a gift of joyous wonderment and fun

but then I close my eyes and you are there
as large as life, a portrait in my mind
and something deep inside becomes aware
I understand, I'd see if stricken blind