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Best Poems Written by Barney Taylor

Below are the all-time best Barney Taylor poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

Details | Barney Taylor Poem

The Willow Tree

The Willow Tree
stands by the water,
not the tallest,
never stronger -
Than mighty pines
and oaks that grow
taller and live
longer
Yet flexible her
branches, her
swaying limbs as the
wind blows
-That stormy
destroying wind
which picks up
larger trees and
downward throws-
Is cut into a
thousand pieces by
the whipping
branches and reduced
to a whispered hiss
By the little leaves
resistless motion.
The storm is stilled
by this.

Details | Barney Taylor Poem

You Gave Me No Kiss - Based On Luke 7

Simon:

Who is that woman, what's she doing here?
Before that man kneeling, spreading her hair
Weeping and sobbing, why doesn't he see
What kind of woman she has to be
Oh the disorder, such a commotion
Spoiling our meal with excessive emotion.

Jesus:

Listen to me I've got something to say
How did you treat me when I came today?
No welcome, no washing for my dusty feet
Offensively silent you chose how to greet
Do you see this woman? I don't think you do
A much loving sinner, forgiven, but you -

You gave me no kiss.

Details | Barney Taylor Poem

I'Ve Been There

I've let the side down
Gone against the tide - down
From where I had their trust
To grovelling in the dust
From Alpha to Anathema
From healthy to a carrier
Of disease and I have been
In solitary quarantine.
I've been there.

I've been on the other side
In me the others can't confide
'Cause I'm not Kosha anymore
And I must wait outside the door
Until my penance is complete
And I can stand upon my feet
I have betrayed those that I serve
And I have got what I deserve.
I've been there.

And there I found him
Smeared with other people's sin
And mine - I know he saw, he knew
The pain that I'd been going through
Did what I'd done even evince
From his bruised soul an extra wince?
I'd nailed him up, joined in the kill
But I knew, slowly, dawningly,
He loved me still.

Details | Barney Taylor Poem

It's Better Than Nothing

_Better than
nothing_


 I live somewhere,
it's not home

It's just a place to
be

I suppose I should
be grateful

I'm not on the
streets

It isn't special

But it's better than
nothing.


I go to a place in
the mornings

And eat beans on
toast

Bread from
Sainsbury's

That they couldn't
sell

It's not my choice

But it's better than
nothing.


They give me clothes

I can get a shower

Use the phone, talk
to people

They aren't my
friends

Just other people
who go there

But it's better than
nothing


I'm on Benefits. 
JSA

I've been inside

I won't get a job

But I pretend to
look

So I won't get my
money stopped

The money is a joke

But it's better than
nothing.


I've got a kid,
don't see him

His mum's a bitch

We split up

I've got a new
partner, she's a
pain

I don't love her

But it's better than
nothing.


I drink a bit, but
don't take drugs

I'm not a junkie

I'm better than that

I drink this cider

It's never seen the
inside of an apple

But it's better than
nothing.


I'm not happy

But I like the
footie, I used to
play

But it didn't work
out

I didn't fit in

I only watch it on
T.V. now.

But it's better than
nothing.


Why do I keep going?

Something won't let
me stop

I duck and dive

Watch my back

I wouldn't call it
life

But it's better than
nothing


I'm not special,
no-one cares

My Dad left, my Mum
died

I don't see my
family

They don't like me

I have
acquaintances, not
friends

But it's better than
nothing.

Details | Barney Taylor Poem

Insecure

There seems so little point in killing one
Whose only crime is to heal
But when he calls you a hypocrite - a whitewashed tomb
And deep inside you feel
That wrong or right, his power is more than yours
You've got to serve him or kill him
Choose him or lose him.

Fumbled and mismanaged, no one wants
To actually do the deed
Fob him off on Pilate, or Herod; they try not to get involved
But finally in pressure it's agreed
To give him up, although for what we don't quite know
Quickly bundle him on a cross
And see if he'll die.

That'll stop it all then, the whole thing will go
A nine - days wonder, blow itself out
Dead men tell no tales and do not pose a threat
Or introduce a doubt
In an empty form that one time made you feel secure
Preserve your dignity
Lose your integrity

It didn't stop it all though did it?
The ripples of his life still spread
People still believe and live as if his paradoxes work
And he isn't really dead
And he still stirs up something in this day
Which try as you will
You can't kill.

Details | Barney Taylor Poem

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