must a man lose everything
to divine those truths inside -
must he bare his marrow else
deny what flesh should hide -
and will he open up his veins
thus through his blood, abide:
there is a thrumming stronger
than what beats in his breast?
must a kingdom wage a war
to stand and prove its might -
pave its streets in solid gold
and show its doctrine’s right -
oh must it build its parapets
in stone, to grandest heights
to know without one question
there’s a paradise that waits?
must a god be sacrosanct
through all that he applies
faultless in his form or law
while innocence thus cries
must he let his redress act
midst truth as passion dies
or is that err of humankind
how love so finds its breath?
for love is yet the only force
that triumphs over …
death.
Copyright © 2025 Gregory Richard Barden
( photographic art created copyright-free by the poet with GALA AI software )
Climbing the highest mountain,
sailing through cyclonic seas,
battling the demons and dragons.
My spirit is begging to be free.
I spent half my life flaying at windmills,
later in the valley of despair,
I gave up many times with death in mind,
but I knew you were waiting somewhere.
Love led me to a verdant forest.
The light shimmered on a jeweled path.
Taking my hand and with bated breath,
I saw you and my sorrows passed.
Waiting for me with arms open wide,
with the light of love in your eyes.
Thawing my heart and my empty soul,
healing my wounds with your sighs.
I have waited a thousand years, it seems,
through a lifetime of sadness and pain.
I could hear your call, and I followed through.
My life has not been in vain.
Love has many shades --
the methods we color our
feelings. Often giving them
faces and names. Times, the
mornings, afternoons and
evenings -- Which are more
the Passionate? Only Love
can decide.
Once there is no romance
No passion,
No impulse,
It will be no spark in a poem;
Once there is no true understanding
No wisdom,
No reason,
It will be no content in a poem;
Even if a poem has all them
If no one reads it,
It will fade
And die
Ah my friends please lend an ear,
I have a secret I must share.
When the sun goes down at night
and the moon is in full sight,
I dim the lights, turn off the phone,
slip into bed, but not alone.
For when I crawl between the sheets
it is with Byron, Shelley, and Keats.
Shelley makes me a wanton soul,
ever playing the lover's role.
When I'm wrapped in Byron's prose
the fervor penned curls my toes.
I'm up 'til the stars are at sleep.
Keats words of beauty make me weep.
I have this need I can't deny
that makes me keep a poet nigh.
When I close the book at last
there are no shadows to be cast.
For I have wiled away the hours
enthralled with the poet's powers.
The soul is his home,
detachment an intruder.
He is like a street dog
who sees rainbows.
A slate reflects life;
emotion exposed by a pen.
Pain and beauty cut deep.
No bandage can heal;
only words can complete.
Today I had to question myself,
Why it is im still in love with you.
You have made it quite clear,
You and I are over and through.
Holding on the way i am hurts me,
And you act as if you don't care.
I look at you withe tears in my eyes,
You look at me with an empty stare.
Does it even matter to you at all?
That i will forever be holding on.
Or that the love we once held
And our life we shared are gone.
You say you will never come home
And I need to grow used to being alone.
Understand each day since you left
This sadness inside me has grown.
Please do this one favor that I ask,
While you're living life remember me.
And be assured I'm still right here
Loving you as i promised I'd be.
.
at hern
prescription
hern ingest
nibble
raven
gulp
i think'd i
said thuh mouth's
full
will it up
grill it up
fill it up to brimming
swill to still those silly cells
drowned in what they’re swimming
press ‘em up
mess ‘em up
dress ‘em up with practice
a hoarder in its order
and thorned as any cactus
mock it up
talk it up
chalk it up to neurons
firing with mis-wiring
the receptors that they were on
hike 'em up
strike 'em up
spike 'em up your coursings
joy's in that sweet poison
tho it's life that you're divorcing
burn it up
churn it up
turn it up to 'leven
bursting drums, but first it comes
and lies to you like heaven
smoke 'em up
toke 'em up
choke 'em up a-breathing
red, the mud, as thin as blood
to leave your angels seething
tighten up
whiten up
lighten up and torch it
melt the moon into the spoon
and soon you'll swoon to scorch it
wind it down
bind it down
grind it down to fill you
you won't miss
amidst your bliss
the sweetest kiss ... to kill you …
her sweetest kiss ... will kill.
Copyright © 2023 Gregory Richard Barden
( photographic art created copyright-free by the poet with GALA AI software )
I …
don’t look
for myself within
your eyes,
I look for
the reflection of
your grace
in …
mine.
Copyright © 2024 Gregory Richard Barden
( self-portrait photographic art taken and filtered by yours truly at Prisma / Lightroom )
"murder me"
she whispered ...
(lips pressed to my nape, nipping skin)
for her betrayal of husband and
family meant as much ..,
we both knew the sacrifices,
and we accepted the cost that instant,
then, and for the scandalous time to come …
she was lost in me - straddling, pressing
and I, lost in her
so rooted that I was becoming her in flesh …
in all senses …
nothing mattered anymore but
passion and its pyre
burning all in its torrid wake -
all that had mattered ...
'til then …
it was a horrid thing for her to say -
to place in such dire phrasing
yet it was ALL that I wanted -
all that I needed and cared to hear …
"murder me"
she whispered again, pressing down ...
"for I am nothing now ...
but yours."
Copyright © 2019 Gregory Richard Barden
( photographic art created copyright-free by the poet with GALA AI software )
When I look back,
I see loneliness and an unfeeling heart.
Then I fell in love,
that's when my life truly starts.
I didn't think it was possible
to love someone so much
that you would almost die
just to feel her touch.
I can't imagine what would happen
or how I would survive
if you took your love away;
I could not keep my heart alive.
I can't explain the happiness
or joy that I have found
now that you've come into my life,
my world is safe and sound.
I wish I could give back to you
all that you've given me,
but the only thing I have to give
is to my heart...the key.
When our lips meld in passions kiss,
we gather highs from nirvana's bliss.
A perfume bottle I'll never forget
Stays in my heart, where its forever etched
It was my eldest sister's first romance
That Christmas to me was heaven enhanced.
We watched as each present became unwrapped
All us sisters hearts were truly enrapt
Each item had a heavenly perfume
The fragrance simply made our young hearts boom.
I found it the best thing I'd ever seen
Lovely as an enchanting movie scene
First thing I bought with my first pay packet
Beauteous perfume, just had to have it.
Our mom let us spend our first wage, so sweet
After that we had to pay for our keep
I'll never forget that scent, didn't cost much
Was start of a love with a magic touch.
I thought to measure love...
Then thought, what heart
puts a limit on the heart?
Does a mother tell a child
not after breakfast
only till noon
after tucking, on you own?
darling I love you
after sex, no hugging
I thought to measure love
then thought
Love, need never to be thought
Love, need not ever be sought
Just Love....
Specific Types of Passion Poems
Definition | What is Passion in Poetry?
Poems Related to Passion
lust, temper, sentiment, rage, zeal, joy, resentment, warmth, excitement, dedication, intensity, fury, devotion, fervor, ardor, anger, feeling, spirit, affection, eagerness, distress, rapture, ecstasy, transport, wrath