L Milton Hankins | + Follow Poet |
Rondeau Redouble | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

Lift Me Up a Little Higher

Lift me up a little higher so I can see the light
Above the fray of doom and gloom down here,
Desperately I need this boost to ease my plight
I’m afraid I am drowning in this pointless drear.

Sometimes I think Apocalypse is looming near
Positive optimism slowly disappearing from sight
Sometimes I feel eaten alive by an irrational fear
Lift me up a little higher so I can see the light.

Conspiracy theories as black as the darkest night
Designed in the illogical mind to burn and sear
Compel me, make me want to take sudden flight
Above the fray of doom and gloom down here.

I sincerely long for contentment, peace so dear
Or, perhaps, at least a modicum of calm respite
From divisive elements, a social change of gear,
Desperately I need this boost to ease my plight.

‘Tis scarcely my nature to live with foolish fright
Lingering, my foreseeable future at a bronzed bier
Yet, with all the negativity enveloping my might,
I’m afraid I am drowning in this pointless drear.

I diligently seek the way of exuberance and cheer,
To always find ways to focus on the grander right
As long as I have breath, I avoid the noisome jeer
Run to the truth with outstretched arms to fight,
                                     Lift me up a little higher. 

Written May 22, 2022

Copyright © L Milton Hankins | Year Posted 2022

Please Login to post a comment

Charles Reese Date: 6/3/2022 10:23:00 AM You have told a very beautiful story in this poem while adhering to Poetry soup rules. When I wrote mine there was another rule not mentioned here and that was it had to be in iambic tetrameter or pentameter. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/3/2022 11:04:00 AM Charles, I must admit that I don't pay much attention, apart from the basics, to PS rules for poems. I find the rules are different in different places, and I consider the poetry forms to be general guidelines. If I choose to write something differently or modify, it's all right by me. Rules tend to restrict creativity, and I am not a fan of that. I'm going to look up your poem. My advice...write, write, and more write until you are satisfied with what you have produced. If it's fine with you, it's fine!

Bill Baker Date: 5/29/2022 10:33:00 AM I too, have given up T.V. news cast. I'm looking for the good in humanity and ways to unify and grow together. I wasn't getting what I wanted from bias and gore reporting on T.V. Thanks for putting a positive poem in the works for us to read, Milt. Enjoyed it, Bill Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 5/29/2022 11:04:00 AM Thanks to you, Bill. I find that I'm so much happier when I don't watch the evening news!

Caren Krutsinger Date: 5/23/2022 1:19:00 PM This is why I have not watched television news for over forty years "I diligently seek the way of exuberance and cheer, To always find ways to focus on the grander right" Because it is too difficult to stay positive after you have watched it. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 5/23/2022 4:24:00 PM That is certainly true, Caren. I have almost completely given up watching television news. It's a vast wasteland!

Tom Cunningham Date: 5/22/2022 12:29:00 PM We all need that lift the way the world is at the moment, with war and terrorism flashing up on our TV screens. And Putin sabre rattling about his nuclear weapons, surely a coup is imminent, either that or he has a heart attack. Thought provoking verse Milton, well written. Tom Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 5/22/2022 1:09:00 PM Thanks so much, Tom. Yes, we live in troublesome times filled with doom and gloom and, admittedly, much of it is warranted. But, if we let it, it can play havoc with our nerves!

Jenna Logan Date: 5/22/2022 12:01:00 PM You set the bar a lot higher on creating rondeau redoubles, Milt. Great rhyming! Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 5/22/2022 12:21:00 PM Well thanks, Jenna. I just love to write this type of poem. I love word puzzles, as you might know, and I find these exhilarating to compose, along with villanelles and terzanelles. Hope you are having a fabulous Sunday!