Multi-Tasking

Poet's Notes
(Show)

Become a Premium Member and post notes and photos about your poem like Maurice Yvonne.


If you have a chance please visit this link. Seren Roberts did a brilliant job on this collaberation. I am honored to be associated to this write.

http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/within_reason__maurice_yvonne_and_seren_roberts_624966

Wearing wireless headphones as I listen to the news.
I'm outside watching children playing, taking in the views.
There is screaming in my ears two voices disagree.
A little girl serves her playmates imaginary tea.

They're speaking on the pod, unarmed victims shot by police.
Captives tortured in war. I hear our own. I hear their pleas!
There's screaming in my ear a few voices disagree.
Little girls sitting pretend to speak French saying Oui, Oui!

There are typhoons hitting an island, reminds me of a tsunami.
Also officials gathering parts of a plane shot down by an army.
What  happened to the plane that went missing, no one remembers.
Teenagers on the street play basketball great kids, great neighbors.

The president uses his pen, makes some politicians angry.
There is screaming in my ears so many voices disagree.
The girls skip rope, laughter fills the air and singing too.
 Pundits discuss, argue this and that it's what they do.
 Night and day is closer then these scholars and their degrees.
Theres screaming in my ear, voices, everyone disagrees.

The guys still shooting hoops, living the life, always polite.
Protests on the streets, the  police display their might.
Some back peaceful protests others speak accusingly.
There is screaming in my ears, crowds of voices disagree.

I wave goodbye to the boys, we'll talk, I'll see them again soon.
The children want me to skip rope I play along like a buffoon.
They laugh that I can't skip properly. I leave them to their play.
There's screaming in my ear, voices...might as well talk to clay

My sleep will be hard, in the morning the sun will shine, children will wake.
What kind of world will we leave, you smile and laugh but feel like a fake.
Look how well we have done. When did we stop being one, being mild.
What happened to being cohesive? It takes a village to raise a child.
There is too much screaming in my ears, too many voices disagree.
I can only pray, lend my voice to the calm, hope we can all agree.

11~12~2014
Maurice Yvonne
Sponsor: Cyndi MacMillan
Contest Name: I CAN'T BREATHE: A peaceful Protest, An Anthology of Powerful Poems

Copyright © | Year Posted 2014



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: 10/28/2016 9:50:00 PM
I loved this poem, Maurice. The creative interweaving of auditory/visual dichotomy. Simply brilliant and it is framed by a most accurate poem title. Kudos to you. Love and joy to you, my friend. RW
Login to Reply
Date: 4/18/2015 11:30:00 PM
armand, it was so nice that Cyndi did an anthology like this so your poem can be showcased. you did such an incredible job here Congrats to you.
Login to Reply
Date: 4/18/2015 6:33:00 PM
Hello, Maurice, So many do disagree, I love what you share, it was nice seeing Cyndi's "I CAN'T BREATHE, generous list." Hope you enjoyed the showcase of this powerful contest theme, thank you for sharing the message. XOX ~LINDA~
Login to Reply
Date: 4/16/2015 10:00:00 AM
superb Maurice and Seren congrats on win hugs 7
Login to Reply
Date: 12/14/2014 9:33:00 AM
Aw this is powerful and gave me goosebumps..A fAv
Login to Reply
Date: 12/13/2014 7:33:00 AM
WOW!!! Oh man i think this is the best poem I have read in a long time- such depth and meaning. This would be rated higher than a 7 if I had more numbers to choose from, really this has impressed me beyond the smile I give you :) bravo
Login to Reply
Date: 12/12/2014 9:11:00 AM
I came back to read the comments, this piece has evoked an emotional response from your readers. Bravo Maurice!
Login to Reply
Date: 12/12/2014 8:53:00 AM
I visualize the children playing and wonder what we are teaching them. Are we even trying to make the world a better place for the future? So many questions, too few answers, but with our pens, we can observe the world, take account, use our art to make a difference. You have done all of this and more, Maurice! Absolutely incredible and one I am fav'ing to read again and again! Hugs, Rhonda
Login to Reply
Date: 12/12/2014 1:32:00 AM
There are so many problems in the world today, and the only way to fix them is to stop arguing and actually do something about it... Well, we can't fix everything, but we can teach our children for the future... This was an amazing piece of poetry from you, Maurice. Very thought provoking!
Login to Reply
Date: 12/12/2014 12:31:00 AM
Fantastic!
Login to Reply
Date: 12/11/2014 11:33:00 PM
I see that the world is on your mind today! what a clever title for this well crafted write! I really enjoyed the way you repeated at the end of every verse "there is screaming in my ears.." It really emphasizes the problem and in a way, this could have been a villanelle poem. If you had come up with a second alternating line, and the same rhyme scheme all the way through, it would be an excellent villanelle. They are best when describing the "dark side!" I better get off here now. Good night!
Login to Reply
Date: 12/11/2014 11:28:00 PM
yes, I saw the collaboration and I faved it. you guys did a marvelous job!!!!
Login to Reply
Date: 12/11/2014 7:24:00 PM
a day in the life of ......any country any where...this applies....great write Maurice....Seren
Login to Reply
Date: 12/11/2014 3:52:00 PM
It is frightening the world we are leaving for future generations...I have to wonder if our forefathers thought the same...excellent pen Maurice
Login to Reply
Date: 12/11/2014 3:49:00 PM
I agree with John below -- this is very good. I liked the way you pulled in your day -- searching, asking, wondering, hoping, praying . . . yes, this is our life and we need to continue to gather, to encourage, to value individuals, to love our neighbors . . . never stop writing my dear Maurice . . . it does make a difference, you make a difference. Fav,7
Login to Reply
Date: 12/11/2014 3:04:00 PM
In my opinion, Maurice, this is, from what i have read of your pen, your best effort yet. It is a brilliant bit of writing; showing not just the society you yourself live in, but the world in general. An ever accelerating, interactive world almost surreal in a way. A world where a person can experience five lives in as many minutes...frightening!!! P.s just as i continually reshape my poems i do so believe you could keep coming back to this one. A superb piece of poetic clay!!! :) john.
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
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter