L Milton Hankins Poet Light Verse

Poetry Soup Lists

Joy! Joy! of all the honors I have earned
In a lifetime of trysts, mazes, and twists
None have I so much relished, indeed,
As topping one of Poetry Soup’s lists!

I only wish they would send a certificate
I feel like my soul would be duly kissed,
My head swells with pride, such renown, 
If I wrote music, I’d feel like Franz Lizst!

I know some are eat up with jealousy --
Somewhere down there in the foggy mist,
But there is always room at the top
And someday, surely, you’ll make a list.

I hope you have figured out, by now, I jest.
I would write poetry if I never saw my name
Writing, my tongue firmly planted in cheek,
I would be a fop to write poetry for fame!

written December 23, 2021
[inspired by a recent poem
by a Poetry Soup poet!]

#33 on the Month's Best Poems List
January, 2022

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Caren Krutsinger December 28, 2021 at 4:11 AM As if you could ever STOP writing poetry, Hank. Do not tease us! L Milton Hankins December 28, 2021 at 7:32 AM Oh, this was just some response to a poet here who thinks I simply write poetry to get to the top of the list! Dumb!

Mark Koplin December 24, 2021 at 4:32 PM I think I felt some inspiration by that very same jealous poet. I had to delete it however because it would surely have gotten me banned. Excellent write Milt! Good luck on the contest. L Milton Hankins December 24, 2021 at 6:51 PM Thank you so much, Mark. I hope she reads this. Perhaps she will understand the utter foolishness of jealousy, especially when it is completely unwarranted. She can reach the top of the list very easily, you know. Instead of sitting around feeling sorry for herself, she can encourage other poets. That would be wonderful, and I will gladly relinquish my spot!

Ilene Bauer December 24, 2021 at 1:46 PM Well-said, Milton! Even if your poem is tongue-in-cheek, you do deserve congratulations for being on the list and thanks for being supportive of so many poets… L Milton Hankins December 24, 2021 at 2:17 PM Aw, thanks so much, Ilene. You see, I think that's what Poetry Soup should be all about. We should be encouraging each other more than anything, so those people who are jealous about this or that are really missing the whole point!

Sotto Poet December 24, 2021 at 8:45 AM Milton, you've done an excellent job. " I only wish they would send a certificate. I feel like my soul would be duly kissed," is my favorite sentence since it is so true. There's nothing worse than being lifeless on the inside!" L Milton Hankins December 24, 2021 at 8:58 AM I'd say that is definitely true, Lasaad. I am so thankful that I am alive inside and out! Have a wonderful Christmas, friend.

John Lawless December 24, 2021 at 6:07 AM Milton, I hung so many of my poems on the refrigerator the door squeaked. Haven't been able to pat myself on the back since the shoulder surgery. Never smoked so I couldn't "blow smoke"...A nicely written and quite humorous expose'. L Milton Hankins December 24, 2021 at 8:59 AM Thanks, John. I hope everyone could see that it was "tongue in cheek" and meant to be funny. I hope it was funny, because I don't think being on top of the Community List in any way improves my writing!

Lin Lane December 24, 2021 at 6:04 AM Milt, whatever height you've reached on the ladder of any list has been earned. Pay no heed to the piddling reproach of anyone who suggests you hunger for fame. L Milton Hankins December 24, 2021 at 9:00 AM Oh, I don't, Lin. Really, I don't. I think it just happened naturally because I read so many folks' poems and comment on them. I do work hard to be a supportive member of the community, but, my goodness, there are many others who do the same. I love Poetry Soup!

Jan Allison December 24, 2021 at 5:41 AM I wonder which tribute poem it was that inspired this lol:-) Kudos to you Milton for all the hard work you put into soup, and just ignore the petty jibes that you're busy commenting you dont have tine to eat - perhaps some humble pie should be eaten!:-) hugs Jan xx Jan Allison December 24, 2021 at 11:56 AM About 4 yrs ago I was top community for 9 months - I KNOW how hard it is to keep that up and write and work, so kudos to you and never stop being so supportive to the community:-) hugs jan xx L Milton Hankins December 24, 2021 at 9:03 AM (chuckling) Well, truthfully, she has written any number of poems criticizing those people at the top of the lists. It's pretty funny. I'm thinking she must be eaten up with jealousy, and I can't really understand why. I wasn't in any race to reach the top of any list. I just do what I do because I love Poetry Soup. I sure hope everyone understands this poem was "tongue in cheek," and supposed to be something of a joke!

Jenna Logan December 24, 2021 at 3:01 AM Hark! I will herald the worthiness of your poem, Milt. I knew from the first line that you were not serious in boasting about being on lists. Your humble nature would never allow you to do that or even place “POTD” next to one of yours. Though some release their green-eyed monster, such a beast does not live in you. I must compliment you with a fave. L Milton Hankins December 24, 2021 at 9:06 AM Aw, thanks, Jenna. I'm not a big fan of jealousy at all. I'm also not much on lists, to be quite frank. To be perfectly honest, the only list I'd like to be on consistently would be the 100 Best Poems List. That's a worthy one! Lin Lane December 24, 2021 at 6:07 AM So would I, Jan. People who falsely accuse others of seeking celebrity must find some flaw in their own worth. Jan Allison December 24, 2021 at 5:42 AM would love to see this as potd lol few people are able to poke fun at themselves!:-) hugs Jan xx

Tom Cunningham December 24, 2021 at 12:48 AM When you go to a wedding you don't rush to sit at the top table but if your host invites you to then so be it, it's an honour and a privilege. Merry Christmas Milton and a happy new year. Tom L Milton Hankins December 24, 2021 at 9:07 AM Blessings on you, Tom, for a marvelous Christmas! Thanks so much for all you do to make Poetry Soup a fun place to be!

Victor Buhagiar December 23, 2021 at 11:04 PM We are not inspired like Keats or Shelley, but we must obey the impulse to write. L Milton Hankins December 24, 2021 at 9:08 AM Oh, I don't know about that, Victor. I read some truly inspired writing on this site. I don't want to name names, but we have some folks who are first-class, first-rate poets, and I love reading their work, and I try to remember to tell them they are special.