must a man lose everything
to divine those truths inside -
must he bare his marrow else
deny what flesh should hide -
and will he open up his veins
thus through his blood, abide:
there is a thrumming stronger
than what beats in his breast?
must a kingdom wage a war
to stand and prove its might -
pave its streets in solid gold
and show its doctrine’s right -
oh must it build its parapets
in stone, to grandest heights
to know without one question
there’s a paradise that waits?
must a god be sacrosanct
through all that he applies
faultless in his form or law
while innocence thus cries
must he let his redress act
midst truth as passion dies
or is that err of humankind
how love so finds its breath?
for love is yet the only force
that triumphs over …
death.
Copyright © 2025 Gregory Richard Barden
( photographic art created copyright-free by the poet with GALA AI software )
Go-go gadget, withdrawals no more,
a toast to addicts—there’s treasure on the floor.
X marks the spot, scribbled in Crayola,
connect all the dots—ecstasy, the night is over.
From Rock ’em Sock ’em robots to rocks in socks, a show-off,
hungry hungry Zippos, the money swells my lymph nodes, a lovely something sent ghosts—
right outside your windows,
trust no one, innuendo,
the night piggybacks the sickos.
I feel far from home, yet remotely close to sin,
my coffin’s so inviting—volunteer, I jump right in.
Fundamental frequency, but I only hit the high note,
incidental contingencies, lies in every word that she spoke.
Intentional indecency—my clip could use a reload,
a spectacle illegally, items bought without a barcode.
I yearn for entertainment, chose the red pill, hide from agents,
time’s complacent, me and drugs—true love, it’s our engagement.
And if I ever said “drugs make me a better me,”
I’m sorry that I lied—every night,
I cry myself to sleep.
IN AND OF DECEPTIVE RAINFALL
Rain fell down today,
The kids and I stayed inside;
Rainbowing our minds:-
We played, “Two Lies & A Truth”:
No matter how much rain falls,
We live—free, equal—lives:-
Perhaps, I shouldn't have learned to play the sax.
Perhaps, I shouldn't have started that food fight in the cafeteria back in junior high.
Perhaps, I shoulda said yes to Tanya back in 5 th grade.
Perhaps, I should've asked for a raise last year being my 3rd year in the company.
Perhaps, cauliflower would've been a better pick over broccoli tonight.
Perhaps, my kids are better off after the divorce.
Perhaps, this swelling in my right toe will go away on its own.
Perhaps, things aren't so bad after all.
Perhaps, my patience with myself is improving.
Perhaps, temperance is simply not in my nature.
Perhaps, God will forgive me in the end.
Perhaps, there is no God.
Perhaps, our concern should simply be the here and now.
Perhaps, there is not real past or future.
Perhaps, it's all in the journey.
As my old man said: "the journey till the gurney."
Perhaps, my dad never said that.
Perhaps, it's all just for a poem named
"Perhaps..."
May my words cut deeply into thy soul as a sharpened sword
Loosening the impediments of fear and hate causing your discord
May they like the shinning surgical blade make their incisions
Removing all delusion and indecision
Yet, also let them be as precise as a master surgeons work
Clearing even those hidden elements as they lie in lurk
Waiting to surprise and cause great demise
With full effect causing great pain and loud cries
But let my closing bring healing and peace
As the comforting sigh you now release
Let my words, now new seeds be
For you to use eternally
Let them nurture and encourage your life
Helping to endure and overcome strife
Knowing my love will always endure
And always be there for you, for sure
Words may be sharp, but be used to be kind
It’s just a matter of which ones you find
Every word I say traveling to thee
Is meant to bring love and comfort from me
Being a Lonely Asteroid
Billions of years in the universe of time, millions of solar systems
galaxies, living stars, dead stars, speeding starlights of dead worlds
My solitude is this life, scud through in infinity, in the space, a cold life
I am just a pebble, like my brothers in the ocean. This is our life
No one understands us. Suffering my asteroid heart. I can’t land
I can’t find a stable place for my billions of years old life. Oh God!
I can’t find a heart, a lifemate, a love, a woman, I can’t create a family
Because I have to move always. My end is the scud, the speed. Hmm
No stop. Never. Just go, go, go… No time to die. But I need. Long this
Hmm. My nature, my life is my end. If I land, then I will explode
Nothing will remain and stay of my life
Just my invisible grave in the crater
Hmm
This is
The Poor
Asterid
Life
I will continue my life
In the ocean
We are formed in His likeness – three in one,
Body, mind, spirit, we are created anew.
As in our hearts we think, so our course is run -
The soul reflects what inward thoughts pursue.
When Christ we claim, our spirit wakes and sees
Heaven’s truths which once lay dormant and dim.
Belief ignites like fire upon the breeze,
And all things bloom through faith we hold in Him.
He spoke: “All things are possible - believe!”
So, we declare, decree His boundless good.
In trust, the chains of doubt begin to leave,
And miracles arise where once none stood.
With God, the vast impossible shall cease -
In Him, the tide of hope and grace increase.
as life happens we react
then sense consciousness contract
which is good because we learn
to overcome ego’s burn
though life seems like a circus
we are here for a purpose
and when love’s flame is steady
to meet God we are ready
Should I have married Jillian?
Could I have slept with Gemma?
I’ve got about a million
of this kind of dilemma.
They crop up in a thrice, of course,
but hang around for ever
(or do they crop up in a force?
Oh, why can’t I be clever?)
I envy those with certitude,
those free of hesitation.
I ‘d love to be the kind of dude
who knows no trepidation.
If doubts exist and qualms are rife,
you, luckiest of creatures,
have found experience in life
to be the best of teachers.
So, if he says he has no fear,
no ambiguity lingers:
he never tried to snuff – it’s clear –
a candle with his fingers.
They, the flock of cockatoo
Living together, form a society
And crackling all time
Discussing things might
I cognize anything of that
What I do understand for sure
They, the highness, are proud
Of living in the trees, a tribe life
Or flying in the sky, cloud alike
They care me not for sure
Especially as to my thoughts
They,snobby,come to me
Not for what I said
But for whatever they can get
IN WAITING AWARENESS
Things you can’t run from,
Quickly walk away from them,
Before they arrive:-
Thus, is natured awareness:
Ready for what things may come:-
Once there is no romance
No passion,
No impulse,
It will be no spark in a poem;
Once there is no true understanding
No wisdom,
No reason,
It will be no content in a poem;
Even if a poem has all them
If no one reads it,
It will fade
And die
Human life is the most precious gift given to us by the Creator
we are supposed to be higher than the wild beast in the field
today's humans have lost their way and have become lower, than the wild beast in the field
we have forgotten that we are" the children of the most high" Created in love
We are our brothers' keepers, condemn the wrong and extol the right, when we see it in each other
telling the truth helps to keep us on the right path on this life's journey
Woman be safe, and put your health before your need for wealth.
Wealth is good, and money is a need, but health and safety are the first and most important thing you need to live.
Woman please be safe, and use all the care for yourself, love yourself and don’t be in a rush.
Take time in your life, to build your life, making every decision that will help you get to all your goals in life.
No need to rush, or make a hasty choice, love and care are the things you need most in life.
Woman, please stay safe, use your time wisely, don’t let anyone rush you into a choice, stay aware and take care of yourself.
Lifting prayers to God, today and always.
Human life is sublime creation of Him
Every birth has certain intent.
Preaching or praying
Can’t get you the unsurpassed Moksha
Indeed, He never anticipates them
Identify the chore and accomplish it.
Obstacles may hamper your attention
Continue without stopping by woods
Action and result are like water and a lotus leaf
Water can never make a lotus leaf wet
Let not your mind get agitated by the outcome
You carry out actions; He manifests result.
If you rejoinder your conscience,
You can steadfast in front of God.
But God questions only those who evade
What is stupendous? Living after dying.
Specific Types of Life Poems
Read wonderful life poetry on the following sub-topics:
adventure, carpe diem, courage, depression, education, family, funny, future, happy, heartbreak, introspection, journey, love, paradise, rhyme,
and more.
Definition | What is Life in Poetry?
Poems Related to Life
activity, being, breath, dash, energy, enthusiasm, entity, essence, existence, flesh and blood, growth, heart, human being, journey, life span, lifeblood, lifetime, liveliness, living, oomph, soul, sparkle, trials and tribulations, vigor, vitality, way of life, zest, zing,