Best Affluence Poems
The dark muddy puddles on road, by rain
can’t bring, I thought, the times bygone again.
My latest home in town’s posh colony
has well buried my past travails and pain.
The days I whined and ran with agony;
the days I starved and craved for small money;
no more exist in memory. I laid
a lid on that dramatic irony.
For great windfall I gained of late, I bade
good bye to mates, for me, who cried and prayed.
Forgot the days I drank rice-soup in grange
with friends and pools in which we splashed and played.
Better were days of need than these deranged,
in binge, in spite of piled fancy mélange.
My food tastes sour; and bitter my Champaign.
I got riches; from me but sleep estranged.
(for Jon Accomando)
mine was the last generation to be spanked. sensuous and real, w/ corporal punishment— at
least you felt something.
sadly, it too has been corrupted.
in the new violence no one raises a hand— eyebrows and whispers, an errant son reclaimed?
“fr yr own good. for your own.”
i am somebody’s son.
no.
i am in the living room, barely. the remote in johnny’s hand, an extension? new american
phallus, contoured to fit your palm.
push the button. change the channel. roll over and fall asleep. it’s all been said, done.
it’s the weight of history that crushes us. maybe a.d.d. will cure us of our inertia. maybe.
maybe is democracy in ashes.
no.
the cat is sleeping, quietly by the fire. i remember envying him once; a quiet life, pins
and needles— i was born for.
the cat is neutered. he spends more time licking himself now, and he’s grown fat.
we’re not so different really.
i am willing the embers from the fire in his direction.
i asked johnny once, “if you could make the world anew, shinny and perfect...”
his face lights up in anticipation. a million abstractions, he’s been waiting all his life.
“what would you keep the same?”
he doesn’t know.
“Television. I would keep Television.”
my face is gently bashed in.
oh, mild america...
one day, when the oil runs out and the apartment buildings reach the sky things will
change, they have to.
where there was silence—whispers. a fast talker now a lisper. whisper down the cities.
shudder down the buildings.
man’s love, man’s work- is made worthless. we’ve been pissing and moaning so long that
it’s coming out screams and yawns.
no.
blessed! we are blessed!
w/ suffering and desire.
w/ big macs and rubbing thighs.
w/ quiet eyes and shaky hands.
w/ heartache and lone.
w/ genitals in my coffee.
w/ 10,000 thoughts in my pockets.
the simulacra of the ‘good life’ is a pacifier. i’ve had enough.
no.
no. no. no. no. no.
in the living room i am empowered. i have willed an ember from the fire onto the cat.
kindly he remains asleep.
i told johnny “the cat is on fire.”
johnny nodded.
the cat continued to burn.
Love has a way to bring new light,
A lavish flair spurs ample play;
Voice moves bold say that syncs with sight,
Indulge fine air with profound sway;
Spice joy's pure mix with sensuous style,
Happy the man who knows sheer fun.
Affluence spreads fix of thoughts worthwhile,
Finesse frames plan with wit and pun;
Feel the pure touch of wonder here,
Live with fond ease that vital space;
Urge charm as such to cluster cheer,
Etch a deep peace in easy trace;
Notice the face of happy moods,
Clever stuff trace with ample food,
Endow kind place such lovely good.
Leon Enriquez
28 April 2018
Canberra, Australia
There is a way
To make time pay
Look deep and see
Just what will be
Joy comes from heart
That blooms and starts
Health holds the key
To mystery
Wealth starts within
Unheard, unseen
If you must ask
Ask for fond tasks
Live fond goodwill
That fills and heals
Affluence is you
Right here on cue
See grand plenty
That funds surely
Seek work that tells
Just how you dwell
Be present now
Here with endow
To feel more rich
Make love your niche
All things of earth
Come from rebirth
Look to sure grace
To greet each face
Discern the truth
Where beauty proofs
All else is fake
That makes and takes
To be set free
Face unknown sea
To be a man
Love all you can
Leon Enriquez
12 January 2015
Singapore
Ah, morning greenery soothes the eyes,
caresses the mind, unburdens the heart!
A month ago, a man of wealth and fame
sat right on this bench and, the papers said,
blasted away his weary, worried brains.
Except for a note about deep boredom
of a fully empty, affluent life,
of his death nothing more today remains.
But now, from atop this same cold, mute bench,
a bouncy girl, barely three, walks and hops
onto the mown grass, looks down and around.
She peers curiously and smiles at an ant
that stumbles along with some hefty load,
cheering it on as it crawls on the ground.
Ah, morning greenery soothes the eyes,
caresses the mind, unburdens the heart!
Serenely blissful while vanquishing apathy
a loving heart, divinely regenerated by faith
keeps abounding* in altruistic opulence
gratefully triumphant in worshiping the Lord.
*Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
July 27, 2020
4th place, "Four Lines" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Constance La France; judged on 7/27/2020.
Hope was Burrow's substance, where he poured his time,
Pedalling steadily.
Intended path made smooth for those in legacy line.
Sliced through wiry roots,
Watchguard Wombat dug safety spaces.
Safety albeit empty,
claw shortening scooping to prop up progeny.
Plodding stoically.
Muffled praise from mollycoddled recipients who forgot
to congratulate wombat.
Chirps trill between ear orifices, a cheerful bell,
twinkling creek,
Thrill of apparently sucidal bird ledge leap,
harks updraught as capacity for flight.
Her name is Rainbow, though only he calls her so.
Optimism is Burrow's skeleton, firm fragile scaffold not broken
Bloodstream good Samaritan convinces him those closest know
that he would give everything
- devoid of return, satisfied in striving.
Fallen from insipid clouds, risen to a wide arc -
Squadron Observation squawk when the sun reemerges.
Related inseparably, sweet candy stripes are strings,
Harnesses of translucent hues.
Rainbow holds a cauldron in her wings
Shivered salute feather plume pom poms, her support
Altitude albeit not born to
Chimes a celebratory chortle, rain's finishing touch
Firey refraction stacks medallions of precious metal.
Magnetism draws, claws refuse to dig, Burrow closes.
Academy of affluent fly close to burn point,
- risk being scorched
Hypnotised by the increments his digits indicate.
Prospective friends and followers fill up his hollow
Lucrative lure curates karma, demanded by lorikeet
Marionettes dance, tuned to bushland command
Pinnochios pulled by Burrow's Rainbow.
DILAPIDATED GLOBE
A weary pneuma bleeds
Tears of the miserable
The poverty-stricken tumbledown
The opulence shows gusto.
At the sight of the indigent
But very penurious in helping...
They live in safety isle
But parade in the dilapidated globe.
Masses weep
Agony of the wretched man
Mercy he pleads
To mother earth and nature.
Under a thatched leaking roof
Muds fall at bewitching hours
Petite ice drops like contingent snow
If wishes were horses...
If the night could give way to day...
Friendly enemies of the night parading
What a tragic horror for the cynical
In a dilapidated globe.
An Ijeoma Ikonne's poem © 2021
Good works’ done through grace-influence
God’s enrichment for soul’s affluence.
*Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
September 1, 2019
Renegade realtor dealt only with sellers sincere
Harried under hammer results which rich revere
Assured Lofty turned over listings like sausages
Heat applied seared buyers, hankering hostages
Canvassing coast, reframed aim purely at the top
Invisible neighbour circular driveways, Dolce Drop
Elm dotted uniform fairyland founded by botanist
Supple carpet resilient reservoir, moist moss on it
Initially entry point sat at a mil, a year later, two
Sales proliferated, profitable Lofty huge revenue
Elated agent, staple baked bread is prone to rise!
Dashing diagonal sold signs proclaim him prized!
Rolls Royce realtor of scorched auctions arriving!
Mainstay, every lavish gathering, client conniving
Head mushroomed, awash in exotic cigar cloud
Homeowner informs of fresh competitor for clout
Choke, champagne sour, audacious Dolce Auctions
For bone fide buyers, property upstart seeps toxins
Outlays myriad of listings, perusing homes pleasure
Customers snub historic prescription high pressure
Left for buttered bread, lofty loaf crumbles, stale
Misaddressed letters droop, month old mouldy mail
Locked recollections, passed in auction residential
Final elusive step strove for indented a firm temple
Funny fail, fall from grace
Claimed victory too soon
First day of June
Seek to know more
As affluence spores
Here at the door
Feel ample core
Watch success shore
When less is more?
Wonder works well
Just where you dwell
To each a prize
Of grand surprise
Look, do you see?
Watch what may be
Count your blessings
Feel soul telling
Each moment thrills
The easy will
Do what you need
Beyond coarse greed
And when you bleed
Watch how pain feeds
The path of wealth
Tells of your health
Truth has a way
To save your day
See that you see
Love that sets free
Purpose finds gain
In passion's pain
Live not in vain
For love speaks plain
Undo the lust
Lest you go bust
Unhinge vain greed
Take what you need
Too soon, too late
Death's at the gate
All earthly things
End with death's sting
Use well your time
To grace fond chimes
Know this my friend:
This life must end
Leon Enriquez
05 June 2017
Singapore
Apt affluence ask
Treat timely task
Wise words work well
Time truly tells
Juicy joy jumps
Set sensuous sums
Charm cheery chase
Feel funny face
Let laughter lift
Glimpse gracious gift
Love lingers long
Set senses strong
Feel funds faith's fun
Poise puzzles pun
Be beyond blame
Note nimble name
Seed sanguine sense
Thrill tasty tense
Affluence arcs art
Hurl healthy heart
Leon Enriquez
02 January2016
Singapore
Travel is to live
What a sign of healthy life
To love is to give.
Relatives hanging out of every orifice, window, ledge, and lawn chair
Hands out, the two starving children beg as people walk by, ignoring them.
In Great-grandma McCormick’s teeny tiny farm house, during family reunion.
No more bowls of rice, no more bread, there is nothing left. Hunger sets.
Laughter wafts from the barn, behind the shed, and especially the kitchen.
Their mother hung on as long as she could, but she died of flu yesterday.
Too many women are in there, some wearing aprons, all of them in the way.
Those who took their mother’s body away left her two small children, knowing.
The men are hiding out in the pasture, barn, beside tractors, sharing stories.
They had their own unfed waifs, they could not worry about these two.
Sixteen kinds of pies and two cakes are trying to find a place on a shelf.
It is expected they will die soon. They probably will be gone by morning.
Beef, pork, chicken and fish that prances in would feed three or four armies.
Two urchins are resilient and refuse to die easily; they are alive the next day.
Mind seeds the flow of profound thought,
Yield to the heart that knows the way.
Intent now shows that hidden lot,
Note the fine art of precious play;
Value starts deep from inner core,
Embrace the feel of actual show;
Sense gifted trip beyond mere stores,
Touch that goodwill that grows and grows.
See health prime poise to forge grand flair,
Hurl happy fare that fashions style;
Opt centred voice to grace calm airs,
Plant and just dare focus worthwhile;
Peace of mind sums a posture still,
Exult and come to live fond feel.
Leon Enriquez
12 February 2016
Singapore