Just one red card
That's all I ask
To give me hope
My luck will change
They've all been black
For so long
The odds have to change
But flip a card
Its still black
The math isn't mathing
It can't be black again
It has to change soon
Surely the next one
Heart or diamond
It makes no difference
But the long odds win again
Another black card
The dealer shrugs
And asks my bet
Am I counting wrong?
Lets try again
This can't keep going
I try again
But again its black
I'm at my wits end
The spades keep digging me deeper
The clubs beat me mercilessly
They can't continue
I look to the dealer
As if to ask what I have to do
But then comes up
Another black card
But now a change
A new dealer steps in
Could this be my chance?
I cautiously place my bet
Make it small
A million times bitten
Twice shy
She turns the card
I hold my breath
It sits there in front of me
Like the sword plucked from the stone
But this made no one king
Instead it made me think
My luck has finally changed
Because clearly this new dealer
Had my Heart all along...
My pen rights my sins
I can admit my faults
Time and time again
Writing finds me when lost
That’s the fun of it
To lose myself in my pages
If dark then find me lit
By the enchanting words and phrases
I’m embarrassed to admit
Often I don’t think at all
Pink pen seems to vomit
And journal catches it raw
You can read my mahogany mind
Running rabid in the nighttime
Perhaps the best time to create
And escape the world and fate
Music is poetry with sound
Universal is it language like love
Turning smiles from frowns
Perhaps creating turquoise trust
So when I’m at a loss
At my wits end as they say
Music or poetry a toss
To come whisk me to safe place
I'm at my wits end
wanting something new and fresh
seeking something right
i have an addiction
i can’t shake
it has me craving
day and night
this obsession
i can’t control
it’s overtaken
my very soul
to no avail
i try to wean
from dawn to midnight
new verses yearn to write
sometimes they’re witty
most times they’re silly
my muse finds it
quite amusing
that I suffer so
from this condition
it’s driving me
around the bend
i’m at my wits’ end
don’t even pretend
to comprehend
AP: Honorable Mention 2026, Honorable Mention 2021
When the sun sets I feel no pain.
When the thunder booms, I am not afraid.
When all around me is chaos and rain,
When all I can feel is anger and shame,
When I’m at my wits end and done with the games,
Despite all the aching, and fear, and the shaking,
I know there’s a soft, warm, radiant light
Courtesy of you, and your love, and your life
And I can then stand straight, smiling and dancing.
It is then I remember that life, with you, is for the taking.
She’s doing my head in; I'm at my wits end
I reckon she’s losing the plot
Her tempers are fierce and her moods have no trend
And I’m struggling to deal with the way that she’s got
She gives me no warning of what is in store
And erupts at the drop of a hat
I’ve stopped trying to find out what is wrong anymore
Why she finds fault in this and in that
My once gentle darling is now snapping and snarling
And all that I do is still wrong
Being caring and loving, reassuring and giving
Brings even more spite from her tongue
This female behaviour that causes such stress
(That in men would be labelled ‘Quite Mad’)
Has no rhyming or reason but when it’s in season
PMT wears us blokes down a tad
Who else would she pick on to let it all out?
When the needle goes into the Red
Well I’ve had enough; I’m not taking her ‘Stuff’!
So I’ve gone ‘til she sorts out her Head.
I Had Nowhere to Go… But God!
Lost and lonely, I was often bewildered.
There were life’s problems I shouldered.
I was empty inside and at my “wits end.”
There was no one around when I needed a friend.
I thought about “ending it all.” I had nowhere to go.
Life was rather unpleasant, boring and DULL!
I was living for each moment and what pleased me.
The people nearby made fun of and teased me.
Then one night, I cried to God in my desperation.
I decided to call out to him and give an invitation!
I give an invitation for him to please help me.
Would he come? No one could tell me!
As I prayed, a gentle peace entered my mind.
I knew this was God and this was my time!
A time to be forgiven of a life “messed up.”
A time for God’s love to completely fill me up!
As I felt his love and hope all around me…
This God I didn’t know, came and found me!
I’m so thankful for him and his loving care.
I don’t know what I’d do if he wasn’t there!
I invite you to accept this God that I received.
Won’t you put your faith in him, and believe?
This wonderful God changed me from within!
He’s me precious Lord, savior and friend!
By Jim Pemberton 01/30/15
Santa, I do confess
I feel a little bit strange
A middle aged man sitting on your knee
Whispering into your ear, my grandest wish
Let us both hope people do not get the wrong idea here
I am at my wits end Dear Santa
All I want for Christmas
Is for her to call me
So that I may here her voice
Like a musical saga
A symphony of Celtic dreams
The honey that flows deep into my heart
The sweetness that grows in my soul
Am I demanding too much?
Of this earthly world
That I, demand heavenly wishes
That I dream in colors unreal
That I cry for things that seem the impossible
The North Pole and all its promise
Dream
Oh but I must dream, dream or die
No more dreams
Is death for sure
Let me not be murdered
By a phone that rings not
ps
Dear Santa
I am disappointed, no poetry memberships, no phone calls in the night from lovers
No mistletoe even in me dreams, Gaelic winds blow cold over me heart
Id ask for a train set, but the way things are going you’d give me a train wreck
Bloody hell on you Santa, you must be busy helping nice people, cheers anyways
I saw a man holding up a sign,
It read, please help me I have'nt got a dime.
I stopped to talk to him as he stood on the street.
he said please help me I have nothing to eat.
My heart felt heavy as I saw him cry,
I had to help him out and not pass him by.
His eyes were sunk in, his skin so pale,
a pathetic image of a body so frail.
His clothes were worn and tattered,
to help this man was all that mattered.
I asked him if he had any family to speak of,
he replied, "no mam" I have knowone left and knowone to love.
Again my heart went out to this man,
when all he needed was a helping hand.
So many people had passed him by,
and I had to ask myself why let him die.
He said please won't you help me I'm at my wits end,
so I told him I'd help him and be his new friend.
He said I'm just a homeless vet another man on the street,
there's more out there like me fellow soilders I meet.
I thanked this man for his bravery so true,
as my admiration for him so fondly grew.
I took him in and gave him a home,
greatful I was for the brave service he'd shone.
When you see me cry don't be afraid
Sometimes dads emotions overflow
I know you wonder what's going on
There are things we don't want you to know
Perhaps we're wrong to insulate you
As parents we try to do what's right
We wish for you only sunny skies
That's why we try to bathe you in light
The fact that you care it warms my heart
I will tell you what you wish to know
Today you've grown up you are a man
That's a process I don't wish to slow
Sometimes life it can throw us a curve
I lost my job a few days ago
So now I wonder what will I do
I am at my wits end I don't know
Please come to me I can use a hug
It will help me to feel it's okay
In the end I put my faith in God
With his help things will turn out okay
For F.J. Thomas's "To Heal a Heart" contest
Oops I went over by four lines so I know
I'll be disqualified. I still wanted you to read
the poem you inspired.
This grown up stuff gets more complex
than the super ego and the id
We never have much time for sex
I don't know how we ever did
Full time schedules
Traffic is always hell
No matter how much we scream and yell
We are running on fumes and the mirror tells
I'm at my wits end,
I live for the weekends
Wake up late, drink some tea
I turn off our phones
I pray no one wakes me
I don't want t.v.
I don't want food to eat.
I just want to sleep
The leaves turn brown and the cold sets in
As darkness falls, my joy grows dim
I'm unsure of the problem and why it arose
Why have you just appeared-suppose only God knows
It was never a problem- and I managed okay
But all of a sudden that changed one day
I rack my brain in hope of a clue
But why when I walk past you, I feel the way I do
I'm embarrassed to say and I'm ashamed to admit
But the option is not there for me to dismiss it
Do I explore, or do I hope and pray it will go away
Do I have the confidence to speak the words I want to say
The confusion I have sends my head spinning round
The echoing voice in my head makes a sound
I'm confused, I'm scared, I'm at my wits end
I so desperately want this situation to end
If I keep hiding will anyone seek me
If I keep running will it set me free
If I keep seeking will I ever find
The life I crave which runs through my mind
When I was young and hearty,
I once sowed a measly seed,
And saw with awe
the paltry seed grow into
a beautiful flowering tree
permeating all around
sweet fragrance
pleasing to the soul.
I likewise sowed
a shiny silver dollar,
And with bated breath
waited to see if it grows
into my dream tree:
A tree with branches of solid silver
and sparkling silver leaves,
It will bear fruits of shiny
gold and silver coins and
make all my dreams
to come true!
With glitters in my eyes,
And overbearing anticipation,
I guarded it day and night,
Nurturing it with my
dreams and aspirations.
But days turned into years
And still I did not see
even a seedling spring forth.
Now old and at my wits' end,
I dug up the coin and held it
in my trembling hand;
"Can I have that, Grandpa?"
The boy asked as he whisked
the coin off my palm.
I stared dumbfounded at him
as he ran to a roadside vendor
and bought an ice cream!
~Abdul Malik
How does someone do that
just pretend to care
mess with someones mind
then just disappear
Just stay away unless
well unless you really care
stop messing with me please
I could never hurt someone
never like that
messing with the mind
that is criminal with intent
don't you feel guilty or
do you feel nothing at all
I am at my wits end
knowhere to turn
not a soul to hold
So just go away
leave me alone
I don't need more confusion
go to hell
find someone else
to make them feel alone
Your a son of a.....
I feel so hurt
And so much like a jerk
For I have lost my dream
Just let it out and scream
What did I do
Can I ask you
Am I to be alone
All I can do is groan
I ask God will it ever be
Does she really want me
Please Lord let her call
For me to be that is all
I am so stuck in a rut
Do I just give up
Can not hold back the tears
The return of all my fears
I hope to see
That she really needs me
I will never know
For she will have to show
Can you give me my best friend
Or have I lost her again
Tell me did I sin
Should I just give in
I am at my wits end
Knowing not where to begin
I sit here and moan
At me just throw the heavy stone
Please, oh please hit the mark
Then I know it will break my heart
I always feel the use
Finally I remember the abuse
My feelings inside
Will never subside
Why not go ahead and fall
With my life just end it all
Does anyone really care
That would be so rare
For all I feel is lost
And in the end that is the cost
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