Richard Lamoureux | + Follow Poet |
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Be Good

From early on 
I was told
Commanded
To be what I couldn't be
Be good
Be even better than good
Be smart
Smarter than smart
Be careful
I couldn't be nearly careful enough
You wished for me to be extraordinary
Like him
You wanted me to be that other smarter guy
More and more like him
In fact I needed to be more like him than he was
I tried to be that
i thought if that's what you wanted
That must be What I want to be
But where should I start
For I wasn't even sure who I had been
I painted on my "Be Happy" face
Pretended my collection of tears were diamonds
Placed them in my pretending to be normal box
After all I only had time
Time for being all You wanted me to be
I lacked nothing and everything
For I ceased being
Being free
Being real
Being anyone or anything
You taught me how to be empty
To be lonely in a crowded room
To be someone Impossible to know
I wondered why
Why I just couldn't be
Whatever that could possibly have been
I waited and prayed for your departure
Now that you're gone
This can be
Has been
Will be even more
The true beginning of what 
Of what I've been hoping for and couldn't Figure out
I think I really want it to be 
I pray that you in your long gone place
will witness the birth 
of this human BEing
Who knows, if I am lucky, it could "Be Good"
At the very least
Good enough for me!

Copyright © Richard Lamoureux | Year Posted 2015

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Demetrios Trifiatis Date: 8/3/2015 5:50:00 AM To be good is to be as good as our Lord indented us to be my friend, Richard, but who knows the way? A didactic lesson of life with multiple messages excellently expressed. A seven! Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/3/2015 8:09:00 AM Thanks Demetrios, you are correct however it is impossible to be another persons definition of good and in the end when we try it leads to never feeling good enough.

Andrea Dietrich Date: 8/2/2015 4:33:00 PM wow, Richard. did this not make the list? This is superb way to do the theme of be good. I took it the exact opposite way. My mother was so good in what she taught me. Sorry you had to hear the opposite lesson!! Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/3/2015 8:13:00 AM Each of us is taught in different ways and if we are fortunate we are led to the right path. I'm glad your mother was the way she was. My mother is good as well and she made a bad situation with my dad somewhat more tolerable.

Bl Devnath Date: 8/2/2015 2:36:00 PM A nice out look on "be good" saying. you have beautifully expressed at the end to be good to the least extent possible. Always nice to read your poem my lovely friend. 7 sure. Wish you Happy friendship Day. Loved always,bl Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/3/2015 8:16:00 AM I think our goodness becomes apparent through coming to know God. Apart from His grace our true humanity will never reach it's fruition. Thanks for commenting BL.

Harry Horsman Date: 8/2/2015 8:40:00 AM Wow you certainly pack a punch or more here Richard,,,,,interesting poetry, and so much one can get out of what's in there...like this very much Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/2/2015 8:53:00 AM Thanks Harry. I am channeling my teenage self.

Shadow Hamilton Date: 8/1/2015 10:16:00 AM superlative pen Rick hugs 7 Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/2/2015 8:54:00 AM Thanks so much Shadow.

Vera Duggan Date: 7/31/2015 8:20:00 PM Richard that is one brilliant poem, all I can say is be you and only you, God gave you, you and that is how it is, we wouldn't have you any other way, f this didn't win the contest then it should have, well written. Take care.............Vera. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/1/2015 8:16:00 AM I was writing this piece from a much younger perspective. Fortunately I came to know myself many years ago although as I go through changes I come to learn more and more. God is the key to understanding self and removing selfishness.

Poet Tacito Date: 7/31/2015 5:06:00 PM Be you, always. Be unique, just like everybody else. ;-) An excellent life lesson here! Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/1/2015 8:17:00 AM Ain't that the truth!

Constance La France Date: 7/31/2015 4:05:00 PM Richard, deep and emotional, it takes strength to be what you are meant to be and not someone's ideal, wonderful 7 and thanks for visiting my poem, I love to be quiet Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/1/2015 8:18:00 AM Thanks Constance, me too.

Emile Pinet Date: 7/31/2015 10:07:00 AM You have given a piece of yourself and laid it bare for all to see...and I applaud you for your courage and self-confidence. I hope that this is a cleansing of the soul for you and you can like yourself again and learn to love others for there uniqueness and appreciate your own. Emile. #7 Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/1/2015 8:20:00 AM Thanks Emile, that is a lesson learned long ago. I'm pleased you enjoyed this piece.

Casarah Nance Date: 7/30/2015 9:40:00 PM Why didn't you enter this??? c'mon now it so would have been first....Richard...hugss Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/31/2015 1:25:00 AM That's weird, I did enter it Casarah. I am pleased you like it.

Afolabi Muideen Date: 7/30/2015 5:41:00 PM A wonderful write Rich. It so lovely, good luck in the contest.............A.M. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/1/2015 8:23:00 AM Thanks A.M. ;0)

Nette Onclaud Date: 7/30/2015 1:41:00 PM you are your own person, rich.. yes, you are good enough.. such an honest, lovley work,.. huggs Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/30/2015 2:32:00 PM Thanks and a big hug back to you.

Ndaba Sibanda Date: 7/30/2015 12:32:00 PM I think being real is a virtue. A beautiful poem. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/30/2015 2:32:00 PM Thanks Bdaba.

Kp Nunez Date: 7/30/2015 9:01:00 AM Gosh, this made me tear up, Rick! I think most parents exhort their kids to "Be good", It's when kids are relentlessly compared to another one that creates a vacuum in their personality, a cruel thing to do. As Mama Bear said, no matter, you turned out to be a wonderful person, not because of it but because as you have often enough said, you've come to know the Heavenly Father. We too, are made the better for this encounter. hugs! Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/30/2015 9:07:00 AM You are sweet, thanks for such a thoughtful vist.

Mama Bear Date: 7/29/2015 6:48:00 PM No matter what you managed to BE A wonderful person A caring man As great a person as a son can be You most of all have learned to BE Love Mom Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/30/2015 8:10:00 AM You are sweet mom! Love ya.

Tim Smith Date: 7/29/2015 2:07:00 PM Excellent Richard...many try to be what others want them to be... not knowing what they want to be....never truly being happy Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/30/2015 8:12:00 AM I'll choose happy nine out of ten times. Thanks Tim!

Eileen Manassian Date: 7/29/2015 1:43:00 PM :) You have and will always be better than Good to me. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/30/2015 8:13:00 AM Music to my ears dear one.

Jill Spagnola Date: 7/29/2015 12:09:00 PM Finally free to be you Richard:), jill Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/29/2015 12:26:00 PM Thanks Jill

Toquyen Harrell Date: 7/29/2015 11:47:00 AM Just be and see Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/31/2015 9:10:00 AM On my way. Toquyen Harrell Date: 7/29/2015 12:33:00 PM You answered too late lol. I already wrote a poem for you - the before you :) "Just be and see" Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/29/2015 11:54:00 AM Look up Toquyen, my response to your comment is above.