Earnestly, Ernest

Poet's Notes
(Show)

Become a Premium Member and post notes and photos about your poem like Gregory Richard Barden.


Papa ...

Why build your walls so thick?
          Did you fear the world would tumble in on you -
               Find you as vulnerable and discomposed as the rest of us?
     I think your TRUE battles - your wars - took place within

An Id so ambiguous and at odds with itself
          That you drowned it in substance and sin and mortality
               The edge of a knife too jagged for shrewd application
     Visceral impulse, your fine compass

Those paths and bearings felt the prow of your words
          Perchance the movable feast was NOT Paris
               But rather the light in you - Paris as you lived it, in the rain
     You and she, shining, in tremulous unison

Tapping keys with the lethality of your favorite rifle
          The point of your pen invasive as any needle, poisoned
               Ravaged and gored by the demons of night
     Yet passed untouched by the bulls of Pamplona

Your world was raw on the half-shell
          You, with Tabasco and a paring knife
               Beauty found in muddy fields and mustard gas
     As deep and compelling as a Caribbean sunrise

More taken by the grainy texture of a pear on your palate
          Than by all the gods of humankind
               And THAT, that easy allure -
     That sublime simplicity ...

Is why ... I love you.





Written and submitted on November 24, 2019
For the "Your Favorite Artist" Poetry Contest
Chantelle Anne Cooke, Sponsor.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2019



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 11/27/2019 6:48:00 PM
Congratulations on your win , he sounds like a very interesting person
Login to Reply
Date: 11/27/2019 11:40:00 AM
- ( A strong personality this man :) - Greg, congratulations on your top winning poem ... well deserved :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Login to Reply
Date: 11/27/2019 12:44:00 AM
You bring out the uniqueness of this man as if you had studied his life Greg. This is just superb! Congratulations on your deserving First Placement! xxoo Happy Thanksgiving!
Login to Reply
Date: 11/26/2019 9:45:00 PM
Congrats on your winning poem Greg
Login to Reply
Date: 11/26/2019 9:07:00 PM
Gregory great win congratulations!;)
Login to Reply
Date: 11/25/2019 9:59:00 AM
This is unique, what a portrait you paint.
Login to Reply
Date: 11/25/2019 1:01:00 AM
Love this. A true gem and another extraordinary write from your pen... God bless you dear friend, Love, Gina
Login to Reply
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Hide Ad