Gregory Richard Barden | + Follow Poet |
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The Equalizer, Love

The sun will shine brighter tomorrow

          When we learn to transform our sorrow,

                    For the terrors we witness today,

          Hold the keys to build castles from clay ...

Thus, as hard as they are to impart,

          Tragedies plant a seed in our heart,

                    To grow blooms from the horrors of men ...

          And insure they don't happen ... again.




~ 1st Place ~  in the "Poem of Poems" Poetry Contest, Charles Messina, Sponsor. Mandatory starting phrase: "The sun will shine brighter tomorrow when ... ".

Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden | Year Posted 2018

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John Hamilton Date: 7/11/2018 10:23:00 AM Very profound Greg, congrats on another well deserved contest win. The important thing for me today is to apply these words to my heart, personal tragedy has struck again, and I know something good will come from it! Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 7/13/2018 11:04:00 PM Thank you so much, John, I greatly appreciate the kind words, though I'm very sorry for your tragedy. If I can help in any way, please Soup Mail me, (even if just to chat). Blessings, Brother.

Constance La France Date: 7/6/2018 1:51:00 PM Greg, congratulations on your win in Charles's contest with this wonderful poem, so well done ! Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 7/10/2018 9:46:00 PM That's very sweet of you, Constance, I thank you so very kindly! Blessings, friend! :-) <3

Alexis Y. Date: 7/6/2018 9:36:00 AM Hi Greg, I found this write to be so positive. Congratulations on your 1st place win. It was well deserved:-) Alexis Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 7/10/2018 9:45:00 PM Thank you so very much, Alexis, I'm pleased you enjoyed it, my friend! :-) <3

Susan Gentry Date: 7/3/2018 8:03:00 PM Congratulations on your #1 win with this beautiful poem. So glad to see this in first place! :) Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 7/10/2018 9:44:00 PM That's so sweet of you, Susan, and I thank you so very much, my friend! Blessings! :-) <3

Roy Pett Date: 7/3/2018 5:51:00 AM Congratulations on your well deserved win Gregory with your beautifully written poem, a joy to read my friend. :)) Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 7/10/2018 9:44:00 PM That's very kind of you to say, Roy, and I greatly appreciate the wonderful comments! Blessings, my friend! :-)

Charles Messina Date: 7/3/2018 5:14:00 AM Gregory, congratulations on your 1st place win in my first ever contest. So beautifully written and well deserved...Blessings my friend! All the best...Charlie Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 7/10/2018 9:43:00 PM I am honored to be placed so highly, Charles, and humbled to be on a list with such wonderful writers! The fact that it was your first contest just makes it that much more special ... many thanks and blessings to you, my friend! :-)

Constance La France Date: 7/3/2018 5:06:00 AM Greg congratulations on your first place win with this beautifully penned poem, well done Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 7/10/2018 9:41:00 PM That's very kind of you, Constance, thank you so much! :-) <3

Jan Allison Date: 7/3/2018 3:28:00 AM many congrats on your top spot Greg:-) hugs Jan xx Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 7/10/2018 9:41:00 PM Thank you very much, Jan! :-) <3

Anisha Dutta Date: 7/3/2018 1:25:00 AM An excellent errand. Congrats to win top. Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 7/10/2018 9:41:00 PM Thank you very much, Anisha! :-) <3

Tom Cunningham Date: 7/3/2018 1:01:00 AM A well composed verse Gregory, and deserving of a first placed win Tom Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 7/10/2018 9:40:00 PM That's very kind of you, Tom, thank you so much! :-)

Connie Marcum Wong Date: 7/3/2018 12:48:00 AM Gregory, I am so happy to see this wonderful poem at the top of the list! As you know I loved it! Congratulations my friend! : ) Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 7/10/2018 9:39:00 PM That's very sweet oif you to say, Connie, thank you very much! :-) <3

Subimal Sinha-Roy Date: 7/2/2018 11:12:00 PM Congratulations on your great win, as usual, Greg. Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 7/10/2018 9:38:00 PM So kind of you, Subimal, thank you! God bless! :-)

Curtis Moorman Date: 7/2/2018 10:26:00 PM Now that is certainly a 1st place poem, and well deserving. Am I surprised? Of course not! Congratulations, Greg. Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 7/10/2018 9:38:00 PM Oh, that's so very kind of you, Curtis, and I so appreciate it! Blessings, my friend! :-)

Gershon Wolf Date: 7/2/2018 10:06:00 PM Sometimes 'Simplicity' is the bedrock of Beauty, as in the case of this enchanting poem, my friend: 'Terrors...hold the keys to build castles from clay...Tragedies plant a seed in our heart.' These are not law-defying, earth-shattering concepts. No, they are words written from and of the heart---of a remarkable talent, of a poet I respect and admire, one who labors at his craft, honing and honing until the words shine. Kudos to you on a richly-deserved 1st place finish, GRB! ~ gw Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 7/10/2018 9:37:00 PM Your comments leave me speechless, my friend, and you honor me with every word, as I know you wouldn't write them if you didn't feel it. I am so thankful for your kind regard and creative acumen - you are a treasure, my friend! :-)

Mick Talbot Date: 7/2/2018 9:37:00 PM Ever again, a profound write! Congratulations on being the only 1st placed participant Gregory, bravo, Mick Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 7/10/2018 9:36:00 PM That's very kind of you, Mick, and I so appreciate it, friend! :-)

Caren Krutsinger Date: 6/30/2018 8:23:00 AM Gregory, so much good comes from tragedy - more hugging, more friendships, more love. It is a shame, but you have captured the essence of the good that comes out of it. Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 7/2/2018 11:52:00 AM Thank you so very much, Caren ... if we DON'T find a way to find the good in horrible things, then that loss of life and tragedy is for nothing but its own sake. Those lives have to be worth something. Blessings, my friend! <3

Lyric Man Date: 6/29/2018 9:54:00 PM Gregory, this is a beautiful and inspiring piece.. even good can come from tragedy! Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 6/30/2018 6:35:00 AM Amen - every tragedy MUST be turned into a victory, or those lives are lost without purpose - something good must come of it. Blessings and thanks, friend!

Connie Marcum Wong Date: 6/29/2018 10:23:00 AM Your wonderful optimistic philosophy shines brightly in this poem. We need more souls like you Gregory. There is great strength in numbers and when we each come together and do our part the world can change. Love is the answer. : ) Login to Reply Connie Marcum Wong Date: 7/3/2018 12:47:00 AM The man in the mirror...I agree. Thank you Gregory. ; ) Gregory Richard Barden Date: 6/30/2018 6:35:00 AM (2) If we all just took care of that person in the mirror, and filtered all we do and say through love, what a world that would be! Blessings, Dear Friend - and thank you so much! Gregory Richard Barden Date: 6/30/2018 6:32:00 AM Love is indeed the answer, and the strongest weapon we have! Jesus knew this, Muhammed, MLK, Jr, Gandhi, Buddha, etc., ALL knew the power of love was the only answer, yet everyone seems far too attached to their hatred these days, to see anything but red. They quote these great leaders all the time, yet abandon their one true core belief.

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart Date: 6/29/2018 7:08:00 AM Let's hope. <3 Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 6/29/2018 7:39:00 AM I doubt it will ever stop, but we certainly can devote our energies to that end and lessening it. That is all I care about anymore, cutting this cancer hate from humanity - it is my religion, my politic, my social stance - everything. And for me, it starts with that guy in the mirror.