If I could remember the admonishments
of the gods,
then stalkings
by the fabulous four,
pestilence, drought, flood, and famine,
not to mention the universal decimator war,
would reduce me to a common denominator
childlike in my passions.
Driven into obsessiveness
yet unrepentant
crowded by my wanton behaviors into
unlikely sins incarnate in their own foolishness
I lurk now
held earth bound
by a likely anger from the gods.
Not being a lyrical human
I coarsely beg, borrow, and steal, from others
to create my whole
while digging my own grave
I do not hear the gods.
Categories:
admonishments, addiction, allegory, angst,
Form: Blank verse
Most distinctive
Is the flavor of your spirit
And it's endeavor crossing skies
Virtual horizons blossoming eyes
Flourish surprises I am astonished
Low admonishments of your presence
Evanescence caressing
Engaging endearment
I feel for the beauty of your enchantment
I am in love with your spiritual self
I am engaging in your breath
As I breathe your love in...ahh!
9/27/20
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr © 2020
Categories:
admonishments, analogy, appreciation, beautiful, character,
Form: Free verse
A lifetime seen thru silence at your side,
From tiny lad to manchild in your shade,
One sole intent - to earn a nod of pride,
Tho' I was never worth the effort made.
In years past, I had ears fast to the rail,
My tympans aching for the waking word
That might let love or God above prevail,
But cold admonishments were all I heard.
'Hard work is how a father shows his love',
How many times I'd heard that empty line,
But as you left the earth for heav'n above,
I learned the selfless depth of your design ...
What my self-pitied eyes could never see ...
The mighty bridge that you had built for me.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" Poetry Contest, John Hamilton, Judge & Sponsor.
~ 3rd Place ~ in the "Brian's Choice O, Any Form, Any Theme" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor.
( Syllables = ten per line, counted at HowManySyllables.com )
Categories:
admonishments, appreciation, father, growing up,
Form: Sonnet
rod never employed
children acting like children
softly spoken words
clear, gentle, admonishments
calm, compassionate adults
Categories:
admonishments, childhood, growing up,
Form: Tanka
The warning
The warning will come, it always will
At first it will come gently
A whisper softly like a breeze
It’s kind and it sounds friendly
But sometimes this may be in vain
For the ears choose to ignore
So The Warning silently retreats
And bothers them no more
But still the urgency persist
And The Warning wants no blame
So he then decides to venture out
And again he does the same
This time a tad bit more intense
A pebble he now throws
Which neither ear appreciates
They resent this, and it shows
The Warning wants to fight with them
But that won't do the trick
He knows he has to do what’s right
So he now throws a brick
And though it hits, there is still no change
The ears stay tough and shut
It’s clear that something must be done
But The Warning knows not what
And the ears stay stubborn, full of pride
They will not be advised
Admonishments, those will not do
They refuse to be chastised
So The Warning shrugs, he’s had enough
And he’s off to another call
Only to hear about these two
’They were crushed by high stone wall!’
Wendy Nipas
Categories:
admonishments, sometimes,
Form: Ballad
...to my Mum
She was always in the kitchen,
kneading pastry with good humour,
blending garnishes and gossip
as she plied her magic wand
and it was dinner time.
Struggling with algebra
I'd agonize for hours, 'til frustration
got the best of me, she tucked me into bed.
In the morning she was ready with
a fried egg explanation and a hug.
Music was her gift to me, along with
many others, the sound of her soprano
voice still ringing in the air,
the wrath of God was nothing to
her tantrums at my misbehavior.
Sights and smells come bursting through
as if it were just yesterday,
gentle guidance and strict admonishments,
blending like her recipes
for cakes and moral codes.
Categories:
admonishments, mom,
Form: Verse
How was it that I knew so little?
Your constant admonishments seemed so brittle.
But, as time progressed from day to day
I began to realize, that was just your way.
You taught me things I knew not
and in all the years, it was a lot.
Naivete' was my strong suit,
with a little stupidity thrown in to boot.
We came often at times to loggerheads
You often chimed, "Something above your neck must be dead".
Yet, you helped me to carve out a life for me and mine
and took me to places where you knew I would shine.
You were patient with me in your own way
as I struggled to learn from day to day.
You acted as father, brother, friend and boss,
It was only today, that I learned of my loss.
No longer will I hear your soliloquy,
The depth of your loss, I have yet to see.
For you were my Mentor in times of fun and strife,
I will carry your memory...the rest of my life.
in fond memory of: Dick Clemmensen
written...10/31/15
Categories:
admonishments, bereavement, dedication, eulogy, goodbye,
Form: Rhyme
There I stood.
Despite the education received in the Personal Growth class from my Catholic High School;
Despite the admonishments from my father concerning becoming “whipped”;
Despite the late bloom I would realize when it came to experiences with the opposite sex;
There I stood.
One month removed from my twenty-first birthday;
Six months away from gaining a four-year college degree in three years;
Ten months after having moved in with my first college girlfriend;
There I stood.
After crying when she first told me;
After attending every doctor’s visit with her along the way;
After months of empathy breathing in weekly Lamaze classes;
There I stood.
Having just seen the X-rays of a fetus in the breech position;
Having just called the doctor to announce her water had broke;
Having just gotten lost on the way to the hospital;
There I stood.
In a hospital cap and gown;
In a maternity surgery room;
In a state of unencumbered fear and anticipation;
There I stood.
Ready or not …
There I stood.
.
.
.
And now, thirty-five years later, I still stand here in love with the daughter they gave me to hold back then, when I knew not … where I stood.
Categories:
admonishments, life,
Form: Free verse
Oft’ I look and tempest see
Though tranquil be the turne’d page’
For though there’s shelter in the lea
There’s naught but peril in the rage,
Though not an Asp there be to sight –
Her admonishments Medusa like,
And Man may flee and Man may fight
Yet petrified he be in spite,
But in that ever changing book
That’s not yet wrote its chapters,
There’s joy and magic in her look
And in the hearts she captures,
Thorough tempest and tranquility
A joy of love my daughter be.
Categories:
admonishments, familyjoy, may,
Form: Sonnet