Home » Poems » Michelle Faulkner » Give Not Your Heart

Give Not Your Heart

Give not your heart to hasty pleas Resist lips of slick, pretty lies Who weave duplicity and tease Value yourself; you are the prize Who is not won by shallow tries Sugary words are spun of air The blood of effort is more rare Take careful measure of what grows For the soil, thin or rich, will bear Which is the weed, and which, the rose. 5/15/20 For Dear Heart's 'Dizain' contest Shared 1st Place

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John Watt

Date: 11/15/2021 3:15:00 PM

Went back today to revisit this amazing piece of writing... wise, poignant, concise, so perfectly rhymed and comfortable within its form, just brilliant. 'Value yourself; you are the prize'... good words for us poets to remember and live by.

John Hamilton

Date: 5/29/2020 9:48:00 AM

Another stellar write Michelle, a worthy winner indeed!

Constance La France

Date: 5/22/2020 7:34:00 AM

Michelle, beautifully penned and congratulations on your win in my contest _Constance

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 5/22/2020 3:28:00 PM

Thank you for the placement, Constance (I have always liked that name!)

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 5/20/2020 2:51:00 PM

Congratulations on your wonderful win with this brilliant poem Michelle! Blessingsxxoo

Mohan Chutani

Date: 5/20/2020 11:05:00 AM

Michelle, truely separating the grain from the chaff. Congrats. Mohan

Aditi Mishra

Date: 5/19/2020 11:43:00 PM

Blessed emotions expressed through your dizain. Congratulations on your win Michelle :)

John Watt

Date: 5/19/2020 4:40:00 PM

So happy to see this in the #1 spot, Michelle. Congratulations, my friend, and thanks for imparting some good wisdom.

Sam Kauffman

Date: 5/19/2020 1:23:00 PM

This is quite wonderful, Michelle. Every line is rich with poignancy. There is so much depth here - so much to ponder. Weed or rose, what will it be in light of growing self awareness. What is our choice as we take stock of and nurture our gifts and giftedness. Congratulations on your win, my friend.

Judy Ball

Date: 5/19/2020 2:29:00 AM

WoW! Love this. Great advice told with such wisdom. Excellent rhythm and rhyme. This is going in with my faves. Bravo and good luck in the contest. God Bless and stay well, JB

Rhonda Johnson-Saunders

Date: 5/18/2020 8:14:00 PM

Very beautiful and wise...lots of luck in the contest! xx Rhonda

M. L. Kiser

Date: 5/17/2020 1:42:00 PM

That's some good advice, good rhythm and rhyme here.

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 5/18/2020 6:38:00 PM

Thanks, M.L!

Jcb Brul

Date: 5/17/2020 12:11:00 PM

Wow, this is lovely! Best luck for the contest!

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 5/18/2020 6:37:00 PM

Thank you, much appreciated-

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 5/16/2020 5:48:00 PM

Wow Michelle, this is wonderful! A beautiful and clever ending too! Blessings xxoo

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 5/16/2020 8:55:00 PM

I am touched by your flattering comment, thank you, Connie-

John Watt

Date: 5/16/2020 2:43:00 PM

Michelle, this is absolutely a winner in my book and going in my faves to be reread. So on point, not a wasted word, great imagery (love the garden metaphor and "spun of air", "the blood of effort", and of course the crux of the whole matter, "value yourself". EXCELLENT dizain from start to finish ~ John

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 5/16/2020 8:54:00 PM

Thank you, John (this is a lesson I wish I had learned long ago!)

Arturo Michael

Date: 5/16/2020 11:26:00 AM

Nice...Give not your heart in vain...

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 5/16/2020 11:43:00 AM

Many thanks for your kind comment, Arturo-

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 5/16/2020 6:40:00 AM

"Value yourself; you are the prize"- absolutely write!

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 5/16/2020 11:42:00 AM

Write you are, Caren :)

Anil Deo

Date: 5/15/2020 6:49:00 PM

These 10 lines are Ten Commandments toward peace inside & out. Thanks for your heart & mind Michelle, "The blood of effort is more rare" than sugary words (Paz! Vrede, Pace, Shanthi, shalom) Deo

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 5/16/2020 11:41:00 AM

Thank you kindly - shalom and peace -

Jan Allison

Date: 5/15/2020 4:10:00 PM

wise words indeed Michelle, good luck in the contest:-) hugs Jan xx

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 5/15/2020 4:38:00 PM

Thanks so much, Jan!

Jeanne Mcgee

Date: 5/15/2020 1:58:00 PM

I love the wisdom here. Good luck in the contest...a winner!

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 5/15/2020 2:09:00 PM

I appreciate that, thank you, Jeanne-

Gershon Wolf

Date: 5/15/2020 1:35:00 PM

Words of wisdom, my poetic friend! :) gw

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 5/15/2020 2:08:00 PM

Many thanks, my wise teacher:)

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib

Date: 5/15/2020 12:23:00 PM

Oh YES! Give your muse a pat on the back from me for this one. Word perfect. A fave. I expect to see this on the podium ;), My best to you Michelle! xomo

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 5/15/2020 3:12:00 PM

I did, thank you! <3

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 5/15/2020 1:06:00 PM

Thank you, Mo (and hope you had a happy birthday!)