Dead Men Do Tell Tales

Dead Men Do Tell Tales

 I saw, the rot of sad, deep selfish desires,
 burning endlessly in clever fires
 Piles of cash a tall mountain high
 stolen by those that cleverly steal and lie
 six lying days every week , 
 while they race into church pretending 
 to be ever so mild and meek

 The preacher crying all to give so much more
 while he lives in a mansion with a golden door
 drunks living with no other life
 have sacrificed family and wife
 naked women on the the street,
 selling their pride and body like meat
 hustlers getting rich selling poisonous dope
 as they hang themselves with an evil rope

 I looked for solace and found there was none
 just endless cowards crying on the run
 A world teaching wrong is so damn right
 blind monkeys never seeing the light
 dancing in fruitless trees,
 tree-rats eating with relish their rotting cheese

 Looking for Spring to bring life anew
 I too am blind and without a damn clue
 a fool holding onto a false hope
 on a tight leash and even shorter rope

 Where is the miracle we each think can come
 we see it shining there for some
 A treasure glaring in the glimmering Sun
 gifted not stolen by guile and a gun
 So I finally turned to family for relief
 ease my Soul, winter in my long lost belief
 that Life must give us all a saving line
 other than more food when we sit to dine

R.J. Lindley
Nov 9th, 1984
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Promise Avatar
September 24, 2015 at 1:08 AM
A vivid image in a romantic poem. Much enjoyed. Congrats on making POTD!
Promise Avatar
September 24, 2015 at 1:17 AM
Was typing under Alabi's romantic poem for 9/24/15. Krzysztof how now the comment does' match with yesterday's. A sure switch when clicking on submit!
Promise Avatar
September 23, 2015 at 6:55 PM
Powerful truth about today's happenings. Congratulations on making Poem of the Day. Rainbow.
Horn Avatar
September 23, 2015 at 6:40 PM
RJL, I can identify with every aspect of this. Am trying to get a poetry reading started at senior center. Read my Senior Center poems. Jim Horn
Smith Avatar
September 23, 2015 at 3:48 PM
An amazing piece Robert my friend. So powerful. I was hanging on every word. So many truths...Congrats on being featured today.
Anish Avatar
September 23, 2015 at 3:00 PM
I was reminded of how bad people can be during the rabbi's speech today(today is the Jewish Day of Atonement) and your piece reinforced it. Family is important in times of stress as you point out. Congratulations on being POTD! Peace & Blessings Matthew Anish
Bateman Avatar
September 23, 2015 at 12:00 PM
Hello Robert!! Congratulations on POTD!! (I had not read this one before at all.) I'm very pleased to see it has been featured for POTD for sure. What a powerful and compelling message. A 7 + FAV too my friend on this quite superb write!! Cheers and Best to you and your family . . . Gary
La France Avatar
September 23, 2015 at 8:13 AM
Robert, congratulations on having this beautiful pen selected as Poem Of The Day, enjoy the honor ~~
Nance Avatar
September 23, 2015 at 7:55 AM
Robert, it is always nice to read you skilled pen, and it is great to see you featured as the poem of the day. Big Congrats :)
Roper Avatar
September 23, 2015 at 7:40 AM
Robert, congratulations on poem of the day, so much truth in your words. Hugs Eve
Y. Avatar
September 23, 2015 at 7:09 AM
Robert, congratulations are getting the poem of the day it was well deserved:-)Alexis
Andresen Avatar
September 23, 2015 at 6:58 AM
- Robert, a excellent poem (7) - Congratulations on your p.o.t.d. !! - I wish you a great day :) - hugs //Anne-Lise :)
Woods    Avatar
September 23, 2015 at 3:53 AM
WOW, congrats on POTD
Raha Avatar
September 23, 2015 at 1:10 AM
Back to congratulate you on POTD.
Hopper Avatar
September 21, 2015 at 1:28 PM
This is beautiful harsh truth. I try and not believe the church part. People will always sin, even pastors and church goers. We must have a childlike mind to receive God's word and look past what we have learned from the knowledge tree. Even with that debate, excellent poem as always!
Godwin Avatar
September 21, 2015 at 12:38 PM
Excellent, excellent - the theme and the rhyme are both dramatic and moving ... CayCay
Nunez Avatar
September 21, 2015 at 9:34 AM
"Life must give us all a saving line other than more food when we sit to dine." Powerful and deep. Different images of the world around us, so sharp that one can't just brush them aside. I see this will celebrate its anniversary soon. One of your best, my friend. A poem with so much awareness and wisdom. A 7 and fav for me.
Raha Avatar
September 21, 2015 at 9:33 AM
Excellent poem,the rhyme and rhythm is noteworthy,and the meaning is just so grand.Its a sad state of affairs that some men like you live to experience and narrate such a rotten society.I'm putting this poem in my favorites.
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