They say “gentle” before “man”
as if softness must be stapled
to power to make it palatable.
As if the fist, once gloved, is no longer a fist.
They say “strong” before “woman”
as if endurance must be embroidered
onto flesh to make it forgivable.
As if the cleft, once crowned, is no longer a cleft.
Adjectives are corsets-
the ligature of language,
cinching identity until it fits,
the silhouette of acceptability.
A strangulation ritual
masquerading as grammar.
Let the noun speak- naked.
Categories:
acceptability, metaphor,
Form: Free verse
Folks eat and sleep and go to work
unaware that danger lurks
Beyond the border of acceptability
lies self-inflicted tragedy
Categories:
acceptability, dark, sleep, work,
Form: Couplet
Like Rip Van Winkle, she confronted a new world;
Hers was one of commonplace and acceptability,
not exceptional nor eager for excellence.
Remember when bacon packs were a pound,
and diesel was cheaper than gas? 16 ouch packs
are now replaced by 12 ouches with higher prices.
I understand inflation. Have you seen Common Sense lately?
Craftmanship and the Midas Touch are disappearing also. Perhaps you
will find them with a gallant search, but be enduring and patient; for it
could be a rare find. Like many things of quality and pricelessness, The
Midas Touch appears to be quietly exiting the stage. The curtains are closing.
Unfortunately, some things don't get to be made great again. She gave her
best as she sighed by day and wept late at night. She could not compromise
the essence of her soul. She wanted to stay, but could no longer compete.
Often outbid by style and mediocrity, she maintained her integrity.
122622PSCtest, Edward Ibeh.
Contest Name: This or That, Vol 15
Categories:
acceptability, identity, integrity,
Form: Verse
Past, Present and Future
How do we move forward if we’re always looking back?
At what point did acceptability, exist without fact?
How much can we give; how much can we take?
When did we lose our integrity and become so damn fake?
Will mankind rise up, adapt and overcome?
Why have so many lost and so few have won?
Will forgiveness find it’s way into each of our hearts?
Why must we divide and keep tearing apart?
Nobody is perfect, we all make mistakes.
Each of us will fall flat on our cakes.
Live and learn, then get back up.
There’s more in a bottle than just one cup.
Do your part, do something today.
Show some love by going out of your way.
With empathy and kindness, reach out to a stranger.
Maybe your actions, will save someone from danger.
Categories:
acceptability, lost love,
Form: Rhyme
We were still free to dream,
however, a tax on any imaginative writing
that contravened the rules or regulations
for literary acceptability
or worse
were deemed counter-revolutionary.
In Poland, the last of the hold-outs
wrote odes to Chopin
but essentially all was well ordered and
compliant to the powers that be.
Now that Chinese is a compulsory language
for third graders
many have become re-programmers
for the old and recalcitrant,
but like all wrong-headed reactionaries
the old dwindle only to fade away
in disgrace.
All the false history books
have gone out of print.
Now we study the history of
our brave new world. It is
always sunny here in our
equally allotted cubicles.
Any misinformed die-hards
that wander the streets begging
us to return to the old ways
are quickly rounded up
and sent to our happy
and well attended
correction schools.
Chopin has now
been put on a no-fly list, but few
have heard of his dangerous sonata
or think of it at all anyway.
Categories:
acceptability, poetry,
Form: Free verse
Once Sariputra was attending a sort of book event: a dozen of young writers, men and women, met up on Wednesday of every week and read each other texts upon an actual literature. Sitting across a very open, a very red dress which sounded like reading something out of a story in a fantasy world, Sariputra was thinking about the void.
"This kind of openness does not mean emptiness, - he thought, - particularly, if to take into account "the plunging V-neckline and Empire-line midriff inset in satin with pressed pleats that cleverly accentuates a lovely bustline*". The narrative, in an obvious way, buys its acceptability by its substantive emptiness. If here a form is a simply emptiness and an emptiness is a simply form, should it assume that they both could, say, provide assistance on morally sound bestseller technologies where I have left a void, or waste of a dream, or explain why naught is naughty and why a perfect look matches a perfect emptiness".
The next reader was a girl in grey. Alas, her glasses, zits and her baggy turtleneck was eloquent testimony to her talent. Sariputra sighed and started to leave.
* Unknown glossy magazine.
Categories:
acceptability, beauty, humor, literature, writing,
Form: Narrative
My little lamb is no more, have no fear
Having tast’d blood, it no longer suckles
Sharing a bottle of wine here or there
Sometimes, an exchange of fists and knuckles
Acceptability is the watchword
It’s a time of identification
Sharing bonds that exclude strife and discord
To attain wholesome unification
The jugular is slit, blood flows without
Oaths are taken to acquire kinship
A curse is the end result of a flout
A parting bequest from the fellowship
This is a good time for songs and dances
This is the moment to take life’s chances
Categories:
acceptability, adventure,
Form: Sonnet
Two hearts entwine in ecstasy
Fantasy of impossibility,
Where acceptability from parent
Is vague and blank ,
But their love is deep
Full of passion and emotions,
Two teenage hearts fused together ,
Blind to the world,…ready to fly ,
Oblivion of their future..,
Education….
Love lifted up ,others relegated…
What will put asunder ?
Maturity…or religion or class…
It looks like a mirage ,
And on the other side oasis in arid land .
3-28-2017
Categories:
acceptability, emotions, love,
Form: Free verse
acceptability
accepted yes.... by whom?.....
acceptance..... wonder if
all things are on a list
according to what?...I
accept my difference
albeit...can we all
agree.. we're not the same
Penned 9 Aug 2016
Contest: Pleiades - A
syllable count 6.
Categories:
acceptability, i am,
Form: Verse
God took the allure of awesome angels
and the pulchritude of priceless jewels.
God fetched the freshness of fountains;
and the matchless might of mountains.
God caught the coolness of dew at dawn,
and the soothing relief of luxury lawn.
God reaped the rare radiance of a rainbow,
and the sweet voice of a special sparrow.
God reached for the royalty of a loyal queen
and the mystery of things unseen.
God wielded the wisdom of ages past
and the freedom of stormy blast;
God garnished the generous grace of nature
with the patience of eternal adventure.
God sought the sweetness of honey
and the amazing acceptability of money.
God wrapped the riches of mother earth;
with the reality of heaven and earth.
God mixed the mildness of twilight moon
with the warmth of sun at noon.
God picked The purity of winter snow
and the glory of heaven's glow...
God then combined all these features
to make a compassionate creature.
To me she is an alluring and amazing art
but her parent named her Zuliat.
Wishing her a wonderful birthday
Filled with great joy all the way.
(c) Adeleke Adeite 2016
Categories:
acceptability, beauty, creation, friend, happy
Form: Qasida
There is a fifth season as real as rain.
It storms the earth with rash incivility.
What time has held as decent and sane,
Its loud voices now disown acceptability.
Putting hand on heart as the flag passes by
Is damning proof you're behind the times.
And having faith in God is an act to decry.
In fact it counts as the worst of crimes.
Relying on Uncle Sam to do what you could
Is a fashionable practice by millions today.
To do differently it is commonly understood
Reveals you're naïve about a wiser way.
Breaking marriage vows is absent of shame.
Some even celebrate their acted-out lust.
"Just being human—nothing worthy of blame."
Thus, they mock the foundation of marital trust.
Some quickly say it has always been this way.
Honest history suggests they have a point.
But the past can't excuse a fifth season today.
Otherwise our learning curve is out of joint.
Categories:
acceptability, america, corruption, patriotic,
Form: Rhyme
To gain acceptability
You let yourself in on crowd mentality
With all this capacity
And intrinsic ability
You consciously decide the mortality
Of your own capability
You deny individuality
And instead accept multiplicity
All in search of false glory
You toy with your own story
You decide to change God’s transcript
Only to create your own flawed script
Sooner or later we’ll all face death
Pretty soon you’ll take your last breath
At the thought of this truth, many fret
The end of life is set
You’ll eventually join the bus
And believe you me
Its taking you nowhere near Jos
The real question is if you’re ready
To meet with your maker all calm and steady
With your eartlhly deeds worth it
And surely his judgement non-cloudy
Not that your feelings matter much
Only God decides such
I only pray heaven’s gate you touch
And on heaven’s lawn you eventually stand
On a day when many will land
In the scorching heat of hell’s sands
Only to kiss the devil’s hands………..
Categories:
acceptability, death, dedication, faith, religion,
Form: Rhyme
Ugly Girl
How much accrued opinion
Of fashion magazines distinction
Did it take
How many diets
And days of self-conscious
How much make up
Did they use
To paint your warm smile
And your sweet bright eyes
How many narrow teases and sidelong glances
And peer pressure enhancements
To convince you
Ugly girl
How much money did you spend
On the must have pages
On the latest trend
Of their uniformity
Their mask that fits you so neatly
With their plastic acceptability
And how many round pegs
In square holes
To fit you into that dress
Ugly girl
How much more make up will it take
Before you see
You never needed it any way
How much more acceptance and approval
Will it take to convince you
That you are just an ugly girl
How many less kilograms
How many less pounds
How much blemish removal cream
Or centimeters of clean clear skin
To judge you to perfection
Ugly girl
Categories:
acceptability, people, social
Form: Free verse