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Best Poems Written by Mac Mcgovern

Below are the all-time best Mac Mcgovern poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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Since First I Saw You

Since first I saw you, it was your eyes,
mesmerizing, your gaze transporting
me to a realm, not of fantasy, real,
where young men go when cupid’s
arrow takes root.

Since first I saw you, it was your lips,
captivating, holding me frozen 
in anticipation of our lips brushing
for the first time.

Since first I saw you, it was your voice,
a crescendo, light, invigorating, 
each word you speak intensifies 
my hearing, enveloping each
note, time ceases as I hang motionless
savoring, memorizing.

Since first I saw you, it was your hair,
long, flowing, gently rising above
your shoulders as a slight breeze
passes through sending waves
of your essence my way. 
The sun magnifying each strand, 
highlighting the minute
variances of invigorating color, 
creating a halo effect, a portrait of
your beauty forever imprinted.

Since first I saw you, It was you,
my love forever more for you,
only you.

Details | Mac Mcgovern Poem

America, Why Did You Stray?

America, why did you stray from the old way.
A constitution put forth, the foundation of our land,
barely recognizable what was originally Jefferson's hand.
Tarnished and smudged by misinterpretation,
overindulgence and greed, to satisfy political,
judicial, and journalistic need.
Once majority rule, now bordering on ridicule,
the law of the land, ever changing, meeting demands,
of whoever takes a stand.

America, why did you stray, parents unable to discipline,
fear children undisciplined now rule, school in chaos,
students unruly, guaranteed to pass, unprepared for their future,
parents unsure, wish for the past, hope the next generation,
won't be like the last.

America, why did you stray, streets used to be a place to play,
neighbors knew one another, socialized every day,
doors left unlocked, nothing to fear, families stayed close,
helped one another, took care of mother.

Now drugs rule the day, hate and crime more common than play,
multiple locks symbolic of today, rarely talk to a stranger,
living in fear; life no longer precious, taken away,
day after day, the bloody count rises, a country in crisis,
victims pay, guilty appeal, courts give them the best deal.
Nobody protests for victims rights, put a murderer to death,
they scream all night.

America, why did you stray, hatred and bigotry alive 
and well today, nationalities split, long for the old way,
when an American, was just an American, now hyphenation,
the accepted way.

America, why did you stray, once an industrial giant
you gave it away, too high a standard for industry to pay,
moved out of country, the new American way, unemployment,
poverty, homelessness rapidly increasing, ruined lives,
while billions are spent on so called allies.

America, why did you stray, what's written today,
barely address the wrongs building every day,
religion is accepted, God is not,
country divided, politically split,
presidential bashing provides journalistic wit,
hatred and bigotry, live for it.

America why did you stray, new chapters every day,
really a damn shame.

Details | Mac Mcgovern Poem

Tropical Bounty

the sun warms gently
mother earth smiles grateful
responds with bounty

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For One Day

If I had only one day left with you,
I would ask that day be in God's own time,
one day, a lifetime, every moment
an expression of love,
every hour a new adventure.

twenty four hours to slowly pass
with you at my side,
a never-ending dream,
always giving thanks,
one day left with you, 

would be eternity.

Details | Mac Mcgovern Poem

The American Flag, It Is You

A symbol of respect, pride, and strength,
not to be ruffled, wadded, or soiled,
to be folded, unfurled, raised for all to see,
as in going into battle resounding victory.

Not to be tattered, torn, or burned in effigy,
rather a symbol of hope to those in bondage,
of hate for those who seek to enslave,
of patriotism to those who guard fiercely,
enshrined with those who died for liberty,
entrusted to each generation to decide its fate,
to be the most loved or most hated,
to be seen in every city, state, and on foreign soil,
wherever seen, America is found.

No other symbol rises above or would be allowed,
representing freedom, recognized the world round,
a powerful adversary to an enemy
a gentle giant to those who are represented.

A symbol of red and white, 
with fifty shining stars on a field of blue,
call it a flag,
in reality it is you.

Details | Mac Mcgovern Poem

Life

From the seed divided,
to exist in a sea,
sustaining,
nurturing, warming,
protecting,
what is delicate life.

Until thrust into the light
screaming in shock,
cold,
unprotected,
forced to inhale first
breath of life,
a new comforting sea,
enveloping,
setting free.

First vision
a beautiful sight,
blurred and unfocused,
stares into the memorized face
of dreams,
as gentle hands 
impress, warm, caress,
soft textured folds.

Tears,
warm the face,
ears, attune
to soothing vibrations,
breathing deep, 
inhaling wonderful fragrances,
familiar,
environment different,
yet the same,
from first division,
imprinted heartbeat,
the bond of life.

Details | Mac Mcgovern Poem

Transparency

Author Note: I wrote this after the Address last night as my take on the transparency of our 
government. 



Where does the white go
when the snow melts?
It becomes transparent,
for all to witness its passage
from one form
to another?

It will never again have substance
or be recognized as what 
was its original state.

Transparency,
doomed to mix with 
unsavory elements,
no longer a brilliant white,
rather, 
becomes covert.

Covered by dirty slush
to be stomped throughout
the halls of government,
to be spread around
under the guise of openness.

Soon,
will become invisible,
no longer a nuisance,
transparent, to forever
be squelched
by power and corruption 
hiding behind closed doors,
where transparency is not allowed,
where truth becomes lies,
where is hidden....
where the white goes 
when the snow melts

Details | Mac Mcgovern Poem

The Old Salt

The Old Salt was a special man who came along in a time
when he was needed most.

A time that is now gone forever.
When men believed and sacrificed, when hero’s walked the earth in mass.

When patriotism was not just a word
but,
by what men lived and judged the worth of each, 
a man who lived a life most of us cannot comprehend. 

An era now gone as this warriors tour of duty ends at this station, 
and begins anew in the heavenly fleet. 

Sail on Sailor into your unaccompanied tour,
we salute you.

What greater honor, that when a man moves forward, 
he leaves behind in each of us the best of what he was. 

A defender, protector, supporter, victor, a warrior, 
the last of the breed from an era when ships were made of wood
and men were made of steel.

The Old Salt has reported for duty that takes him away from us for now. 

Those of us who remain behind,
remember, and will continue to remember, 
because he now resides forever in our hearts.

As I look up at night, I envision The Old Salt,
a beret draped just above the eye, 
as he draws upon his pipe, 
quietly he waits.
The guardian of heaven’s gate.

Details | Mac Mcgovern Poem

The Old Oak Tree

I have a picture of a tree,
its gnarled trunk thick and wide,
support branches reaching a hundred feet high

Once started as a seed,
has grown to become truly mighty,
generations have played under her leaves,
climbing high into her crown,
a dizzying height,
tire tubes and swings,
wore deep grooves into her lower branches,
evidence of childhood attention,
remnants of an old tree house,
still may be seen,
yet, can no longer be reached,
to high the old oak tree

I love Mary encased in a heart 
carved into her bark,
hastily scratched through,
then added Sue, Lucy, and June,
all share the same fate,
carved by a young fellow 
whose name is unknown

When in full regalia a majestic sight,
her leaves rustle softly in the wind,
designed to send gentle breeze,
where lunch is laid,
and children play

For eons she has pleasured many,
harmed none,
adding beauty and grace,
to the old home place

In her time,
she had weathered many a storm,
although, her limbs and leaves did shake,
she stood defiant in their wake,
she stood her ground,
refusing to be brought down

Now I know she was awfully old,
she looked terrifically strong,
as big as she was,
some of her roots, her foundation,
had cracked, been ripped apart,
deep scars that never healed,
ran throughout,
never deeply rooted from the start,
her massive weight,
kept her, from falling apart

Then came along the worst she had ever seen,
throwing at her winds over one thirty,
her powerful branches,
reaching so high,
snap like twigs, are cast aside,
her broad trunk taking full impact,
finally succumbs,
pushed over onto her back,
her foundation ripped from the ground,
stood skeletal, hovering above,
what was once her majestic crown

If you listened closely when she hit the ground,
the moan of hundreds of children
crying out, was her last sound

She lay there for weeks,
until, finally,
cut up, burned, and hauled off,
nothing remained

I have a picture of a tree,
where once stood a mighty oak,  
a miniature shoot now free of the land, 
reaches ever higher

Details | Mac Mcgovern Poem

A Sailor's Prayer

Lord, here my prayer, 
send your angels, 
to guard well, we sailors, 
serving in your fleet, 
protect us from harm or defeat, 
give us guidance and wisdom, 
to pursue diplomacy, instead of war, 
peace, instead of hatred, 
life, over death, 
when I die, permit me appear first, 
at your gate, 
allow the devil, to think, I'm late, 
and, before he realizes his mistake, 
grant me entrance, and assign me to serve, 
life eternal, in your heavenly flee