Best 1999 Poems
It was 1999
Shotgun rider
2000 green mustang
My sis, always beside her
Landed the same job
Only Mexican restaurant in town
Put gas in our car
Kept our wheels going round
All dolled up
Kissed our parents goodnight
Pretend to go to bed
Cruising feeling right
Idiots with wheels
License to drive
Dr. Pepper and cigarettes
Never felt so alive
Introduced to Mary Jane
She was a silly lady
Laying on the hood of our car
Listening to Slim Shady
Hungry for boys
Just a tease
Looking fly in our prime
The birds and the bees
The dawning of 2000
Life as we knew it, about to end
Eyes met at 12:01
We both began to grin
Cheers to a good year
Twice as old as I was then
Thinking of my sis today
Missing my best friend
Categories:
1999, friendship, high school, i
Form:
Free verse
The headline screamed, or so it seemed,
to those who had known her well.
Said: Killer's Confession Solves Case
(from eleven years ago).
The headline shrieked so now at last
we would know all the horror
of how she was strangled
when they were both drunk
and high on something evil
when he stuffed her body in a log.
Today, his conscience broke down.
She was a sweet big-hearted woman
living homeless in an alcoholic fog.
She kept coming around to the rooms of A.A.
and even though for her we would pray,
we worried her days might be few.
Because he finally confessed
manslaughter is the charge he will do.
Twenty years in jail.
Twenty years seems way too few
for the Dixie we once knew.
Categories:
1999, death, dedication
Form:
Narrative
Our dreams begin to open on the ninth floor
of the Marines Memorial Hotel.
Clean tombs equipped with all that is needed
for a weekend to die for.
Guests view what they can see at their level.
Flags wave from rooftops of skyscrapers,
like spring flowers praising the high winds.
Below a jungle of souls
in hypnotic allegiance flow past
concrete fields choked with roads.
Fatigued, dormant dreams weakly climb
praying to continue, to go on,
Hoping to recognize
silence as it sings a sacred invitation
to follow the fire of morning.
In our room we listen to the
television flicker between old graying movies
and a war in Kosovo.
At the window we have the luxury to turn away. . .
and witness the massacre of our afternoon.
Hail stones bullet the sunlight,
day bleeds pools of darkness.
Night falls to the light
Colors resurrected in our hearts
glow triumphant, emblazoned with life.
Who do you tell what your heart sees?
Who would believe the sound of it?
Oh Love, Oh Light--
"Please stay with us,
for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." luke 24:29
Categories:
1999, history, holiday, hope, mystery,
Form:
Free verse
We'll miss you but hope to join you someday in eternity
Passing too soon like uncle Bobby and father John
You stood strong in the face of your family's tragedies
I remember a little soldier saluting our fallen leader so dear
Then our Prince of Camelot inspiring many with hope
Now I'm sharing your family's pain but glad you were here
Stunned by your loss as your bravery helps me cope
When you were just a toddler I myself was just a child
Seeing you play under your daddy's desk bringing innocence to the White
House
Your mother raised you well blessing you with manners so mild
I cried when your father died now comforted you are with him forever and
your spouse
My dad personally knew your dad as President and friend and in this fact I am
proud
This boy of the sixties feels forever tied to your family
You'll always be special to me personally not just another face in the crowd
Look forward to seeing you again someday John Jr. in our Lord's home so
heavenly.
Note: It is the 15th anniversary of my friend John's death in a tragic plane crash, I am missing you so much John - John.
Love, Robert
Copyright 1999 Robert William Gruhn A.R.R.
Categories:
1999, dedication, eulogy, friend, miss
Form:
Dramatic Monologue
DEATH OF KING HUSSEIN February 7, 1999
Uncertain wings, Hawk of the Qureish fly
out of the night to meet the coming day
of certain mourning, he is set to die
as is uncertain peace that was his way.
Amman is crying, streets are washed with tears
of followers and tribesmen of his own
who've prayed for miracles down through the years
but he is all the miracle they've known.
The powder keg is primed, and set to blow
what peace he's made now hostage to the past,
and still the Jordan makes it's dreary flow
through all his world and time that can not last.
divided tribes are joining, aiming for
a swift, decisive act of holy war.
Categories:
1999, historypeace, peace,
Form:
Sonnet
DREAMS OF A KOSOVO GIRL
KOSOVO 1999
Can you tell me where my friends have gone?
I've so many things I have to share
of rock guitar, and building on
a dream that hides away somewhere.
Can you tell me where they took my friends?
I know I heard some shots that day
it is the sound that never ends,
here in my mind, it's there to stay.
Can you tell me what that smoke might be,
over the hill where I used to live?
It looks like hope removed from me
does life not have some more to give?
Can you tell me where my youth has gone?
I would fall in love, if only I could,
but seeing life, as life goes on,
I wonder if I ever should.
Categories:
1999, warme, life, me,
Form:
Lyric
Pray they fear not for the child who still cries
He weeps tears that heal, that run free and drain
And flow from a fountain once full of pain
Cleansing his soul as the salt purifies
Pray they now rest and know he relies
On lessons they taught that will always remain
And see that their labors have not been in vain
Affirmed by new wisdom shown in his eyes
Pray they rejoice that a prodigal son
Who stumbled back home to sister and brother
Keeps one Commandment now humble and glad
Pray this New Year there is surely someone
Who's proud to honor his father and mother
And honored to love his dear mom and dad
*Written at the request of my parents who wanted me to write them a poem for New Years
Categories:
1999, father, love, mother, new
Form:
Sonnet
DEATH OF KING HUSSEIN
February 7, 1999 Amman, Jordan
Uncertain wings, Hawk of the Qureish fly
out of the night to meet the coming day
of certain mourning, he is set to die
as is uncertain peace that was his way.
Amman is crying, streets are washed with tears
of followers and tribesmen of his own
who've prayed for miracles down through the years
but he is all the miracle they've known.
The powder keg is primed, and set to blow
what peace he's made now hostage to the past,
and still the Jordan makes it's dreary flow
through all his world and time that can not last.
divided tribes are joining, aiming for
a swift, decisive act of holy war.
© Ron Wilson aka Vee Bdosa the Doylestown Poet
Categories:
1999, allah, arabic, hope, judgement,
Form:
Sonnet
February 4th, 1999 - two hundred
and fifty two months ago
Shana Aubrey Harris officially completed,
now ranks among status quo
lawfully, legally, legitimately in toto
twenty one orbitz around the sun - whoa!
Chronological benchmark ye did attain
plus major purchase of second automobile
(2002 Subaru Impreza) skill ye did gain
curious if family/friends helped ye maintain
being calm, cool, and collected -
quite a taxing acquisition, one need be sane.
Said significant decision
perhaps makes heart skip a beat,
but analogously, and literally
puts ye in driver seat
tending to maintenance
of vehicle sweet
figurative taste of liberation,
while familiarizing feet
to become acclimated
accelerating at velocity
with precious fleet,
obeying Sir Isaac Newton's
first law of motion.
More important gently
and timely to apply brake
lest police siren wails
finding ye to quake
thus requiring thee
to summon nerves of steel,
cuz friendly police thirst
he/she doth slake
issuing moving violation
scenario haint no nightmare
unless fatal accident occurs,
whereby family and friends attend wake
mourning beloved daughter
forever ruing grievous
loss for Pete's sake.
Even after time tested practice
acquiring consummate skill
experiencing diverse situations
manning steering wheel will
unexpectedly introduce during
different seasons frightful scenarios
analogous to getting
spooked by ghostly chill
ye must Carrie on as
the shining defensive driver
setting sterling pride to self
giving ego uber lyft till
ye get over the hill
much quicker than Jack and Jill.
Categories:
1999, 11th grade, 12th grade,
Form:
Enclosed Rhyme
Back there again in 1999.
Best friends living up the sweet time.
Spray painting our names on the wall.
We were sure we'd never see an end to it all.
Having a good time and nothing else there.
Troubled times and we didn't even care.
Young and restless as we all are.
We grabbed onto life and rode it so far.
All our energy poured out until it spilt.
No one felt anything resembling guilt.
We were young, wild, and free.
Good times ahead, that's all we see.
There our friendship was forever cemented.
Looking back it is ours to be lamented.
One day our bones will be at rest.
I know that I lived my life to the best.
Categories:
1999, nostalgia, life,
Form:
Rhyme
The touches, tears and cries for help, a child living in fear.
Being told never to tell a soul, to ashamed to look in the mirror.
Not being able to trust anyone, because of being betrayed.
Now haunted by what has been done, praying the memories will fade.
Surrounded by many shattered dreams and all hope taken away.
Drowning in fear of being violated again, their eyes plead the words they can not say.
The memories will always stay with a child buried deep into the mind.
A permanent barrier now built within, keeping anything from getting inside.
Categories:
1999, childhood, depression, loss, sad,
Form:
Prose Poetry
"$19.99"
I was surfing when I found this
Forgive me if you’ve seen before
But I have to share this info
I’m pretty sure this one’s a score
This guy was all charming
To those in studio audience
Showing off a product’s best features
Testifying, trying to convince
‘Cause he says, “Another thirty minutes,
Deal is over, oops out of time!”
So right now I’m gonna buy it ‘cause it’s $19.99
I was clicking when he added,
“This is awesome, but wait, there’s more!
Act now, we’ll double offer!
Deals like this aren’t in the stores”
Stuff is all around me
But my shelf is not yet full
Time to instant gratify
“Credit by phone or go online, use PayPal”
‘Cause he said, “Another twenty minutes,
Deal is over, oops out of time!”
So right now I’m gonna buy it ‘cause it’s $19.99
Categories:
1999, allusion, funny,
Form:
Rhyme
I store you inside me
under a blanket of pearls
They lie strung together
as my history unfurls
Each one to unstring
when I need it the most
Your wisdom translucent
your memory my host
You loved me before
I ever knew who I was
My freedom you shepherd
reaching down from above
Though years have grown distant
they forever remind
Of your goodness and blessings
—Oh Catherine of mine
(Villanova Pennsylvania: July, 2018)
Categories:
1999, grandmother,
Form:
Rhyme
I'm living when I can hardly stand the life I've led so far.
When giving is the hand that reaches out to leave the scar.
With none I'm left subjected to an open empty space.
As one I am connected to a mind beyond this place.
Categories:
1999, depression,
Form:
Rhyme
FOXE’S BOOK OF MARTYRS--CHAPTER 1999
Near Denver, Colorado, on another day at school,
And then in walked the gunmen and they took on the rule.
The students ran in panic as shots rang through the throngs,
And then one asked the students, “Who here to Christ belongs?”
A brave girl stood for Jesus and gave her life that day
And showed her faith and courage in an unusual way.
Her friends now see her body, they hang their heads and cry,
And hundreds who survived it all ask the question, “Why?”
This brave and daring martyr walks halls of school no more,
But I’m sure now she is walking on heaven’s golden shore.
I’m sure that when she got there to that bright, pearly gate,
The martyrs of the ages each one for her did wait.
I wonder if old Stephen was there, the first in line
To meet her and applaud her for how her light did shine.
I know not what the scene was, but somehow I just know
She, too, saw Jesus standing and to Him then did go.
We mourn this situation as we’re left here behind,
But one strong, haunting question comes now into my mind:
Would I stand like that girl? Would I, too, join the crowd
That says, “Yes! I know Jesus!” and say it loud and proud?
Would I bravely face that gunman? Would I a martyr be?
I prayed, “God give me courage that I may die for Thee!”
But then I knew the answer from heaven, clear and strong,
So many asking daily, “Who here to Christ belongs?”
And they don’t hold a weapon or threaten me with strife;
They want to see His presence there in my daily life.
They want to see me living for Him, and so I say,
“God, give me just the courage to live for You today!”
Dedicated to the families affected by the Colombine tragedy.
Categories:
1999, school,
Form:
Rhyme