Home » Poems » L Milton Hankins » My Better Angels Prevailed

My Better Angels Prevailed

Sad that once I immersed myself in bitter feuds
Add them to early years consumed by madding fears,
Clad in times, as well, by lingering angry interludes 
Had I not spent a profligate youth in pubs with beers.

Lest one think my whole life was lived entirely in vain
Best consider the times when good values prevailed,
Blest by sunshine, better angels conquered the pain
Rest assured, in life, one could say I have not failed. 

FIRST PLACE WINNER
written June 8, 2021
for "Lento - 8 Lines" Poetry Contest
sponsored by Joseph May

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Jan Allison

Date: 7/5/2021 5:35:00 AM

very uplifting ending Milton, many congrats on your win:-) hugs Jan xx

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/5/2021 8:33:00 AM

Thanks so much, Jan. I'm glad you enjoyed my poem.

Subimal Sinha-Roy

Date: 7/4/2021 10:06:00 PM

Hope is an angelic touch. Great write. Congratulations.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/5/2021 8:35:00 AM

Thank you, Subimal, for your thoughtful comment.

Christuraj Alex

Date: 7/4/2021 9:47:00 PM

Beautiful. Congratulations!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/4/2021 10:06:00 PM

Thank you so much, Christuraj.

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 6/11/2021 11:47:00 AM

"Add them to early years consumed by madding fears" This I would like to hear more about.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 6/11/2021 12:00:00 PM

Fiction, Caren, fiction. And...it rhymed. Hey, I'm just being honest. But, if you insist, I'll come up with a bitter feud for you.

Maurice Rigoler

Date: 6/9/2021 2:21:00 AM

With nearly 30 years of writing poems I;ve written only one Lento in all that time! The problem with all structured poetry is that they all take extra time to compose. The one exception for me is the limerick of which I've written a good many. Not sure how to interpret your Lento, friend: Is it personal or just rhetorical? Which ever, I'm happy to read your better angels came to the rescue. Many thanks for reading my poem about the young man in the park. / Maurice

L Milton Hankins
Date: 6/9/2021 8:24:00 AM

Maurice, it was completely rhetorical. The problem with structured poetry, in my way of thinking, is that you have to do so much manipulating that truth (facts) go by the wayside. I also think they stifle creativity, frankly. This was my second one. The first one was "Frets About Pets." Hey, thanks for your thoughtful and insightful comment, Maurice. I always appreciate your reads.