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Best Poems Written by Richard Pickett

Below are the all-time best Richard Pickett poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

Details | Richard Pickett Poem

Iowas Child

Gone are the fields of winter white
soon to be replaced by hues of greens and yellows,
in the interim, fields of barren brown and dirty gold
turned, to breathe warm air from departed winter chill

Plumes of black and gray from mans machine
kneading the back of Mother Earths desire,
before impregnating her with the many seeds 
that will produce offspring to quench mans many needs

oh, how lonesome she looks, so alone
holding yet to some remnants of children past,
left only to cradle her dead, left by man
yearning to suckle new life, as only a Mother can

Above, from the heavens, Father prepares
to germinate those so many seeds,
with life sustaining necessities only he is allowed
sunlight and life giving rain, loosened from the clouds

within days Mother is impregnated
she can feel the multitudes of organic life,
moving within her womb, yearning,growing, needing
the escape, to be warmed and nourished by the Sun

Minutes turn to hours, hours to days
suddenly weeks pass,and yet another life,
giving rain, descends from guilded clouds
arms and fingers, of her children, open, sustained

nearing the end of a warm and wonderful summer
it is time for Fathers other children,
to reap what he has sewn
time for Mother Earth to let her children go

My, how they have grown, tall,lush and full
of the fruit they were meant to bear,
to provide nourishment for the masses of seeds
grown to maturity, in need from the father

Again, the gray black plumes of mans machine
come to life, they move through her fields,
her children, like a predator among prey
until, she is left again, with remnants of children past

Soon she will be blanketed again in winter white
gone will be the warm breath of life,
her children taken from her, she is again barren
only to be betrothed to a promise of new life.


I wrote this on a day trip to Illinois from Iowa across wide open farm land.

                      God Bless....Taz

Details | Richard Pickett Poem

A Christmas Conversation

Daddy, were you alive when Jesus was born?

No honey, he was born a long time ago, over 2000 years ago.

Where was he born Daddy?

In Bethlehem, a small town in the desert in a manger,

Whats a manger Daddy?

It's a place where they kept animals to feed them.

You see when Jesus was born the Inn was full, so 
they had to get Mary to a warm place to give birth to Jesus.
that was the only place they could go.

Daddy who is Jesus' Daddy?

God is his Father honey?

But who is Joseph?

The Chosen Father, who God chose to raise him, Mary's Husband

I don't understand Daddy!

God wanted a son, he could not have a son without Mary and Joseph's
help. God asked them both if they would help him, without even thinking
they said yes. God gave to them a great gift, God gave them Jesus.

At that moment God gave us all a great gift, He gave us the Son of Man.

The Son of Man Daddy?

Yes honey, you see God is not Man, not one you can touch, Jesus
was, he healed people who were sick, He showed people how to love God 
and how God loves them. There is one more important thing
I want to tell you honey.

What's that Daddy? Jesus did a coupla more things I think are 
important, there are many of course but two I like.

Go on Daddy!

Jesus taught us how to love without conditions, like the way I love you 
and you love me and your Mom and Brother. But how to love everybody
like that.  The most important thing is, is that he died because we humans
broke God's laws, which means we sinned. He died so God would
forgive us.


Wow Jesus really did love us didn't he Daddy...?

Yes he did baby, and the really good thing is he still does and always will.

Come on it's time for bed!

Not until I say my prayers Daddy!

How bout we Pray together tonight?

I'd like that Daddy!

So would I baby, so would I .

Jump up on my back and I'll give you piggy back ride!

I love you Daddy!

I love you too baby, I love you too.........





My Christmas wish is you all have Conversations like this with your 
kids. Trust me they bring tears of joy!

May God Bless you all this Christmas Season as he has Blessed me.

    From Mary, Josh, Shay and myself  MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR


                             With Love.....Taz

Details | Richard Pickett Poem

The Wreath, a Soldier Chronicle Pt. 1

A fine mist, hovers close to the ground,
But it cannot be a fog.

It cannot be, it's a hundred and three,
This is desert, not a bog.

Strain as I may, I still cannot see,
The earth, that lies beneath.

Until a man, comes into view,
He gently sets a wreath.

My camera softly clicks, but once,
At the Solemn view,

I caught his eye, he walked my way,
And whispered " who are you"

I said, I'm taking photographs,
To chronicle this fight,

Just then, the mist began to clear,
My eyes beheld the sight,

For what happened here, the night before,
The worst I had ever seen.

I could not bring myself to shoot,
I just could not believe,

The soldier pointed out a patch,
On a dead mans arm,

The Stars and Stripes,smeared with blood,
Protects me from all harms.

I bowed my head, tears filled my eyes,
At the carnage I did see,

These men and women lying here,
Bravely died for me.

As I raised my head, to thank him,
The soldier with the wreath,

He briskly turned, stood up straight,
I could barely breath,

He raised a stiff hand, to his brim,
Slowly let it fall,

Then suddenly he disappeared,
If not there at all.

I walked among the fallen troops,
Looked down, could not believe,

The soldier that lay below me,
Was the one that set the wreath.


  To the Soldiers of Desert Storm

Details | Richard Pickett Poem

To My New Friend Willy Neels

Dedicated to my South African friend Willy Neels
South Africa, not often in the news these days
Apartheid has all but vanished
Far from my home in Central Iowa
South Africa, not often in the news these days
A Country that has grown more diverse
far from my home in Central Iowa
A new friend, whom I shall probably never meet
A Country that has grown more diverse
Apartheid has all but vanished
A new friend, whom I shall probably never meet
Dedicated to my South African friend Willy Neels

Willy, Here is the Pantoum I promised you...My new Friend!

Details | Richard Pickett Poem

A New Year Prayer

The Lord be with you!

Almighty Lord, Fountain of Wisdom, Thank You for the Grace You have given 
Your children this past year. Thank You for all Your children to whom You 
have shown mercy, and brought home to Your loving Kingdom. Thank You for those who's
suffering You have ended, for our Families and Friends, whom You have watched over. I Pray
Dear Lord, that in the New Year that comes, that Your Loving Grace will envelope us in our
hour of need. Allow us the wisdom to give thanks for all that we have, no matter how small
and insignificant it may seem,
and the Love and Grace to give to those who have not. I Pray that You allow
our children see, what we have not, to hear what we have dismissed, to Love those we have
not. Hear our Prayers for Servicemen and women throughout the world,
that You Give them protection from harms way, and that they be kept safe in Your
countenance. Hear our Prayers for those who Govern, that You may grant them
the wisdom to make decisions that are just, that will better Mankind not destroy
it. Almighty and Merciful Father We ask and Pray for the forgiveness of our sins,
and that we be granted the strength and Grace to walk in Your way in this New Year.


    In Prayer we ask this in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ......Amen



   The Lord be with all of you this New Year......+

Details | Richard Pickett Poem

My Dearest Dove

If I could Harken to thee, a sonnet,
of loves most great desires,
the mere utterance, would warm thine ears
as the soft crackles of lusts fires

The ambiance, of shadows dance
across the Scottish tapestry,
Muses, light footed, pirouetting
my symphony, my love for thee

Fairest is thy silken mane
of the finest Irish Auburn,
brilliant as a cool autumn day
as the leaves of the maple turn

The tower bells, they toll for thee
as pale moon, illuminates the night
hark, the far cry, my dearest dove
of the owlet, so yearning flight

The petals of the Royal Rose
silken soft, compared to thy blushing skin,
or the Emerald glow, of thine own eyes
alit, passion, kindled from within

Mine own heart, burns with ever fire
that, which only thee, can conquer,
Conquer thee not, my dearest dove
for our love, forever, must endure

Harken to me my dearest Dove
sweet sonnets, from silken lips,
for I know thou shall be to me
as close as my finger tips.

Details | Richard Pickett Poem

You'Re Easy To Be Proud Of

You have grown to be such a man
yet, I cannot help but see the boy in you
you are my Son, who wears many uniforms
as your father, I cannot help but be Proud,

I see you march in the Orange and Black
your new horn, the one you have polished to a glow
every step you take, Orchestrated to perfection
with every note played, My pride, Crescendo 

Then, you have worked hard, and Matured
a letter arrives, Office of the Governor, the Man himself
an invitation, Ambassadorship, a Musical one
Travel Europe, Summer next, Seven Countries

A Father, busting with pride, Why? I'll tell you!

        Because, " Your Easy to be Proud of"

Yet as proud as I am, there is this other Uniform
the one you wear with Honor, Duty, Love of Country
the one with Medals, Braids and Epaulets 
the one with a special pin, a hometown pin

Five Stars Golden, enveloped by Black and Orange
Tenne' a Chevron, a Chief, a Ring of Life
of the First Argent, A Scroll in Black
an inscription, " Classis Adhaereo Adstringo"

A Motto, In Latin, ascribed by the Navy
for Five hometown boys Lost in War
of how they lived and died " We Stick Together"
Albert,Francis,George,Joseph and Madison Sullivan

In that Uniform, I see the Man, not the boy
I cannot help but be caught, in solemn thought
This Man, with Anapolis in sight and mind
on this, the Eve of the 9/11 tragedy and War

That solemn thought reverts to Sacrifice
the Sullivan's sacrificed,9/11 over 3000 sacrificed
all did so,willingly or not, for Country, for God
I think you have foreseen Your Destiny, Your own

Josh, whatever Uniform you decide to wear,
whatever path, you may choose to walk
I'll always Love you, Be there for and with you
and be So Very Proud of You, Why? Because!

             You're Easy to be Proud of! 


             With all my Love.....Dad

Copyright 2011 Richard Pickett

Details | Richard Pickett Poem

The Nuts Fall Close To the Tree

In the dimmed theater, the stage is set
not for a play though, yet a performance 
one of baton, brass, notes, timpani 
the performance I have waited for has come

As the stage lights grow brighter like sunlight
the theater grows dimmer yet, almost dark
but for the brilliance of the stage lights
then out you come with French Horn in hand

Along with thirty of forty other musicians
you take the stage, you are first chair
therefore you must be at your best tonight
and I know that you will be, you've practiced

The Conductor arrives on stage and announces
Welcome to the Black Hawk County Honor Band
I am sure you will be pleased with our selections
The Conductor takes the podium, opens his arms

With baton in hand he signals instruments ready
You raise your horn along with the others
ahhh the sound is fervent with excitement 
the theater is alive with Parker in G flat

I can pick your horn from all the other instruments
you are playing the best you have ever played
you are caressing your horn like a fine jewel
and it sparkles in the light brilliance unimagined

Like your brother the writer of poetic beauty
you also have talent, musical talent like I
you now can hear a song and play it, by ear
like I you are learning the guitar, teaching yourself

The next song, Bach, such beauty to my ears
you and your fellow musicians have mastered the master
two years you have played, it sounds like many more
I film the whole concert, to preserve the moment

The concert ends with a Beethoven, in B how lovely
again you played masterfully, never missed a note
You even hit high G, and you thought you couldn't 
well done son and it's all on tape, and in my memory

Red faced you leave the atrium, you worked so hard
I hug you and tell you how proud I am of you
all you want is a drink of water, you drank and
the redness is leaving your face, well done I hug you again

I wish your Brother could have been here to see and hear
he would have been proud too, and would have hugged you
You see, talent runs in our family, Me, you and Jared
all have it, So I guess it's in the gene pool, must be for you see

The Nuts fall close to the tree !

Details | Richard Pickett Poem

Loving You

Velvety smooth I caress your face,
Lost is time of this moment and place
your scent, very mellow at first
your love of your man quenches his thirst

hands intermingle for a moment or two
and then exploration, first me and then you
your lips sweet as buttercups, softly on mine
your loving embrace it's feeling divine

Your passion, driven with desire
I can feel your heat like a volcanic fire
My heart pounding nearly out of my chest
the wanting that I feel, your incessant caress 

together we link like a fine golden chain
clasped one together,without any refrain
In that final moment, the heightening peak
so out of breath that neither can speak

suddenly sullen, we collapse with a smile
this love that we share, which none can defile
it's easy for me to love you this way
soul mates that we are and will always stay.


For Mary.....I love you.....

Details | Richard Pickett Poem

A Poet Destroyer

From whence hast thou come?
as to place thy words upon papyrus scroll,
Hast thou heard the ringing of the bell
or hast thou come at the beckoning of thy pen?
From whence hast thy name come?
that it should oppose thy talent.

Thine words are but a story told
of things we can but only imagine.
yet thou make mine imagination peak
as the climax of thy story unfolds
Come hither with thine pen
and lay thine ink upon papyrus scroll

If a Poet Destroyer thou art
Cast thy pen upon papyrus scroll....


This is a Shakespearean Sonnet ...... 


To my old friend A Poet Destroyer ........... Taz

 Rd Pickett 2016