Water: Water the settling water
there often after rain
it settles here
it stay moistest here
in the vclearing
is there water here
is there water here
we shall excavate to see
there it is water
like we thought
the gallons per minute
ratio is astounding
murky these water due
to it's need of filtering
a plastic culvert with
a goetextile or silt fence
wrap with large hole drilled in
to filter the poluutates and undesirable sediment
oh clear ye the water
a halluelia in victory
clar ye these springs
water water you and me
a submersible pump and airtank system
with bring these waters to us
praise ye
praiuse ye
water;water
praise ye!
We see you clearly.
We know your names.
White hair, clean suits—
but a stained conscience.
You sit high on seats of power
while young girls stand on hunger,
on fear,
on dreams still unnamed.
You call it “help,”
but it is trade in pain.
You call it “love,”
but it is a trap for those with no choice.
Need is not consent.
Silence is not agreement.
A hand that takes from weakness
is not a hand—it is a chain.
You buy forced smiles,
you pay for futures in fragments,
then return home
without ever looking back.
But every tear
becomes testimony.
Every broken dream
becomes an accusation.
One day the voices will rise—
not with money,
but with truth.
And history will call your names
not “great men,”
but abusers.
Flash backs, hitting like a bucket of ice water in a steaming shower.
Never did I think they could come without me losing my breath or letting tears slip.
They hit like a blackout right on a normal day, when you think they finally have gone away it sneaks up on you like you are the prey.
My tears aren’t worth shedding on something from so long ago, but it doesn’t mean it hurts less.
You are more than the flash backs. You’ve pushed through so much hurt in just a few years.
This world can change instantly
In a flash-so quickly
If our attitudes just turn
All around--then we can burn
All the bad things into ashes
This world knows, as it crashes
Into a million broken parts
When there is no love in our hearts
And our vibes are sending out
Lots of hatred that we shout
Loudly all across this land
We need an angels helping hand
To tap us with a touch of heaven
In our souls that are cravin'
A change in our society
I wont believe it--this can't be
How our years ahead are going
Are people really not showing
The care and love that's deep inside
When did we all turn and hide
From the truth we to fix
And the wrong and really quick
Or the future will be bleak
Help find the answers that I seek
An invasion of privacy.
Oh pardon me,
I'm not used to this,
sympathy.
Most a times,
I'm the one to lend a shoulder,
nowadays, I'm filled with such ache,
refusing to call upon empathy,
for I'd rather die deeply, within.
I remember seeking advice,
from those near me,
yet they made matters worse,
not able to bear the curse,
of my shameful choice.
Now I'm left alone,
to piece myself whole,
drowning, praying, pleading,
to erase the sticky feelings.
Hallucinations feel real,
death-like scenarios,
I so wish could disappear.
The past still haunts me,
as I await for colorful days.
My body tosses and turns,
unknown to when I'd move on.
15 November 2022
Pick-A-Title, Vol 33 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Edward Ibeh
When MCO is off
The pedestrian flow
Streaming out of the stations
Maybe
A sign of prosperity
A sign of active politics
I can see the backs
And the silhouettes of the crowd
Moving
No doubt
They are God's creations
But they have different dreams and expectations
But they are within the dirty tricks of politicians
And anything can happen
Now we are facing
A poor economy
A controversial politic
But the flow before my eyes
Goes on and on
And sadness gathered in my heart
Only God can bless you, my friends
Pass It On (No Pass-Backs!)
A friendship’s here for you (that’s free), so pass it on (no pass-backs),
where walls can fall (constricting heart). So pass it on (no pass-backs).
My arms? (The warmth of poetry! So pass it on (no pass-backs),
that would not mock, support your art!) So pass it on (no pass-backs).
Toe my debris that borders soul, so pass it on (no pass-backs),
aspiring beach with sand that greets! So pass it on (no pass-backs).
Tsunamis’ action (distant goal?), so pass it on (no pass-backs),
here filtered! Rhythmic waves are treats! So pass it on (no pass-backs).
Truth’s yoke’s a gentle one at best, so pass it on (no pass-backs),
joy shared (and pain) the least can taste, so pass it on (no pass-backs),
that aids Life’s quest for better rest! So pass it on (no pass-backs).
What rhymes can’t own, more waste! So Pass It On (No Pass-Backs!)
Krakatoa Kritic #007
February 27th of 2022
Poet’s Note:
A child’s attempt to avoid something undesirable turned on its head.
H is hero is soft-spoken
E mbarassingly shy
R eads poetry, that kind of guy
O nly whenever a family member
I s falsely accused of
S omething like telling a lie
M an the barricades and prepare to die
Not for contest
McGirt and I are all-weather friends.
We can finish each other's thoughts.
We like to have sleep overs.
We include others.
We joke a lot.
Friends do that.
I smile.
Friend.
Taking Coleridge at his word,
I hied me to a rural scene
To leave behind the madding herd
For where Titania reigns the queen.
Ah! ‘Tis hard to wax romantic,
Though bees hum and boughs do sway,
To close the mind to all the frantic
Things that jostle us each day.
No more the gentle rustic peasant,
No more the green wood wild and free.
This national park, however pleasant,
Some how’s a substitute to me.
What the elm, the oak, the fir,
O what yon flowery slopes to win,
And all that Nature’s beauties stir
Is marred by that blooming Cola tin.
These eyes absorbing and receptive
Scan the prospect domed with blue,
Yet that unsightly thing rejected
Does little to enhance the view.
Would Wordsworth's cloud lift my powers,
lest these powers should sag.
In lieu of glorious yellow flowers
I spy but a wandering plastic bag.
And though you find your Eldorado
By some far-off golden shore,
Whiles yet you munch your avocado
Above the chartered Jumbos roar.
Back then to the grind of duty,
Congested roads, polluted air.
From such as these fashion beauty.
New Millennial Baudelaire.
This world can change instantly
In a flash-so quickly
If our attitudes just turn
All around--then we can burn
All the bad things into ashes
This world knows, as it crashes
Into a million broken parts
When there is no love in our hearts
And our vibes are sending out
Lots of hatred that we shout
Loudly all across this land
We need an angels helping hand
To tap us with a touch of heaven
In our souls that are cravin'
A change in our society
I wont believe it--this can't be
How our years ahead are going
Are people really not showing
The care and love that's deep inside
When did we all turn and hide
From the truth we to fix
And the wrong and really quick
Or the future will be bleak
Help find the answers that I seek
But I don't want it back because everything I did remind me of us
No takebacks
No takebacks
No takebacks
I rehearse that saying in my head everyday
But most of all Iam learning to walk away from something that was not for me
You ask me one day will I every come back
The answer is YES in my heart
But now is time to face reality
So the answer really NO
I can't deal with more pain
So starting today Iam learning to not takebacks
What we invested are time in
Iam learning to walk away and say goodbye to what we once had
Iam moving on and closing the door to that old chapter in my life
Iam moving on to bigger and better relationship starting to today
Goodbye old love
Hello new love
Title: No Takebacks!
Written by: Shaniki Smith Written On April 8 2017
A nesting is but invaded
All nestlings abandoned
But ‘four’ eggs shelled?
Mother bird is gone
Many a tuft of feathers
Drying in the winds!
Broken twigs have bent
The nest will sit misshapen
Under treed branches above!
Mother overhead flees
Skyward tweeting call-back cries
A hungry snake waits!
i’ve been building a
library in the loft
where backs of the bound
gaze down
upon me
wondering
who will i
pursue
and
fondle through
next
If your turning backs were bricks to this craving soul
And your eyes not meeting my searching little windows
Then this bed is a twin to China’s great wall.
Enveloped with scorching breeze
colossal reaching, unheard touches.
Where have all the blazes gone
In every skin-to-skin
In every passionate skim.
Has the apathetic snow wafted the glares?
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