Best Back Out Poems
*Had to bring this one back. Like my Poe poem, this one follows me wherever I go. It is my favorite lyric that I've written thus far. It is loosely based on a real person and deals with the issues of mental illness and homelessness. To bring it up to date, a fresh audio was recorded this evening by none other than Thomas Woodward, who will readily admit that he can't bloody sing, though he takes a stab at it during the last stanza.
Couldn't pay the rent, could you Mary?
Back out on the street, dearest Mary.
Winter's in the air/once a girl with pretty hair,
And the days are shorter now, my sweet Mary.
Where will you go, Mary Rogers?
Parks can be so cold, Mary Rogers.
Out into the night/shadows everywhere a fright,
(Tell me) where will you go, Mary Rogers?
Store clerk turned her head, will you Mary?
Run fast as you can, dearest Mary.
Cops are on the way/daddy's calling you to play,
And the gun you dropped they found, my sweet Mary.
What will you do, Mary Rogers?
Jail can be so cold, Mary Rogers.
Throw away the key/pray to God on bended knee,
(Tell me) what will you do Mary Rogers?
Stranger took you in, did he Mary?
Promised you the moon, dearest Mary.
Black eyes gave away/what an awful price to pay,
And nobody held your hand, my sweet Mary.
When will it end, Mary Rogers?
Men can be so cold, Mary Rogers.
Needles always lie/mommy's back home baking pie,
(Tell me) when will it end, Mary Rogers?
Slept under the bridge, did you Mary?
Zero Fahrenheit, dearest Mary.
Peaceful dreams hold sway/fly across the Milky Way,
No more worries for the pain, my sweet Mary.
When will we learn, Mary Rogers?
People can be cold, Mary Rogers.
Turn our heads away/it may be our child someday,
(Tell me) when will we learn, Mary Rogers?
Time to wake up now, won't you Mary?
Paradise is here, dearest Mary.
Old world passed away/it's a bright and lovely day,
And the sun shines just for you, my sweet Mary.
Categories:
back out, mental illness,
Form:
Lyric
Couldn't pay the rent, could you Mary?
Back out on the street, dearest Mary.
Winter's in the air/once a girl with pretty hair,
And the days are shorter now, my sweet Mary.
Where will you go, Mary Rogers?
Parks can be so cold, Mary Rogers.
Out into the night/shadows everywhere a fright,
(Tell me) where will you go, Mary Rogers?
Store clerk turned her head, will you Mary?
Run fast as you can, dearest Mary.
Cops are on the way/daddy's calling you to play,
And the gun you dropped they found, my sweet Mary.
What will you do, Mary Rogers?
Jail can be so cold, Mary Rogers.
Throw away the key/pray to God on bended knee,
(Tell me) what will you do Mary Rogers?
Stranger took you in, did he Mary?
Promised you the moon, dearest Mary.
Black eyes gave away/what an awful price to pay,
And nobody held your hand, my sweet Mary.
When will it end, Mary Rogers?
Men can be so cold, Mary Rogers.
Needles always lie/mommy's back home baking pie,
(Tell me) when will it end, Mary Rogers?
Slept under the bridge, did you Mary?
Zero Fahrenheit, dearest Mary.
Peaceful dreams hold sway/fly across the Milky Way,
No more worries for the pain, my sweet Mary.
When will we learn, Mary Rogers?
People can be cold, Mary Rogers.
Turn our heads away/it may be our child someday,
(Tell me) when will we learn, Mary Rogers?
Time to wake up now, won't you Mary?
Paradise is here, dearest Mary.
Old world passed away/it's a bright and lovely day,
And the sun shines just for you, my sweet Mary
Categories:
back out, abuse, addiction, hope,
Form:
Lyric
Goodnight my dear boy and what's that you say?
You want me to chase the bad monsters away?
Well, I'll tell you a tale that may just be true
And if it's made up, it is done just for you...
I know you're afraid of the dark and the gloom
When you lie wide awake all alone in your room
'Scardy cats prowl and their tattle-tales pester
Goose bumps may prickle and worry-warts fester
Shadow-ghosts creep up and crawl to your cover
You roll on your side but then you discover
The thump in your pillowcase whispers too loud
So here's what I've done and I know you'll be proud...
I've met with the monster man under your bed
He thinks you will find he is not much to dread
He just needs a friend and to know that you care
So if you reach down he'll shake hands from his lair
I've found where that boogie man hides in the wall
He's cramped and alone and he waits for your call
He believes you're convinced he is ugly and mean
And hold him to blame when you have a bad dream
Your monster man's fierce and has razor-sharp teeth
But he understands things that may stir underneath
Your boogie man knows what you don't want to find
And what's around corners and hidden behind...
They'd like to come out and tell you a story
(Perhaps something scary but nothing too gory)
Sit up and talk with them late into night
Come morning they'll gladly slip back out of sight
But at night they'll grow strong to protect like they should
To face down your fear and show evil what's good
Stand watch while you sleep, they will stay by their mark
If you wake you might catch their eyes glow in the dark...
It's then as you grow you may find you walk bolder
With two fearsome friends striding close by your shoulders
They'll go anyplace as a general rule
(But maybe you'd better not bring them to school)
If witches and dragons can streak through the sky
Then monsters and boogie men surely must fly!
At the edge of your sleep (when you just start to doze)
Whisper the password and wiggle your toes...
And they'll sweep you away to soar like a dove
Over the rooftops to heavens above!
Up into orbit to your own private place
High on a mountaintop floating in space
Sit back and relax with a satisfied grin
Laughing and singing as you watch the earth spin
Hum along while your boogie man growls a brave tune
Count stars while your monster man howls at the moon
Categories:
back out, fantasy, love, son,
Form:
Rhyme
Out where the blooming path comes to an end,
Along with wildflowers and Queen Anne's Lace,
A white sandy beach is waiting in the sunshine,
With a house so inviting at the day's primetime.
Seagulls are swooping and diving so endlessly,
Like the turquoise waves that come crashing in,
Before rushing back out to wild fathomless sea!
At the end of the beginning of gold midmorning,
It is noontime in the silent house of the sun.
Red butterflies are flittering on a soft breeze,
And the bees have begun their quest for honey.
Blooms yellow orange and red sit upon the porch,
As if somehow lit up, by the sun's flaming torch!
Categories:
back out, beach, beautiful, fire, flower,
Form:
Free verse
I love to watch you wind,
as you sway the trees and blow
across the fields in a gentle breeze,
but I wonder where you go.
You disappear sometimes
in a mischievous sort of way
then when I least expect it
you come back out to play.
You sing a tune in Winter
that seems so harsh to some,
but I for one feel lucky
when I hear your music come.
In Spring you gently billow
and bring life back again.
No matter what the season,
I love to hear your wind.
When you come a calling
on a warm day in July
you fill my heart with calmness
with your sweet, sweet lullaby.
Your summer breaths are subtle
with every chord you sound,
and in Autumn you’re pure magic
when leaves start rustling round.
Your icy winds of November
that rouse the calmest sea
bring danger to the sailors,
but never frighten me.
For I crave to hear you murmur
with bravado of your tales
of your journey across the horizon
as November’s fiercest gales.
Oh wind, Oh wind I love thee.
You’re music to my ears,.
and you’ve given me much pleasure
for oh so many years…
Categories:
back out, appreciation, environment, how i
Form:
Personification
Some days the birds come out
They sing there beautiful song
They envelope my senses
I harbor their harmonious tunes
I long to hear them all my days
There are days when the sky is clear
The sky would be a cerulean blue
With white high cotton clouds
I lift my eyes toward the sun
And take in all of its golden rays
My pupils become very small
Just small specks in my eyes
Just then I see the tree-line
A magnificent sight to behold
Each tree within the calm cluster
Is filled with the beginning of life
Just as are some of the unknown flowers
That are alongside of the house
Those flowers that have been struggling
Struggling through these harsh days
The weather has been rough for all nature
The birds, the trees, and the flowers
All have had a hard time adjusting
To the tremendous swings of temperature
Cold to warm, warm to cold
And everything in between
My porch is a calming place
A place where I like to relax
Though today has been raining
Still it’s a calming rain, but very cold
I wish I could hear the birds
And see the clear day
With the sun’s warmth all over me
And I could see nature with its beauty
But now I see another part of nature
In its own beauty, the nurturing rain
Without this nothing would survive
So I still smile on days like this
The peaceful constant rain on the porch
I can only stand staying out so long
Because it’s too cold, it’s freezing out
But I still wanted to feel this part of nature
A real part of life, an influence to one’s soul
It never gets old coming out to my porch
I always bond with all of nature
No matter what that nature is that day
Warm and cloudy, hot and sticky
Cold and frigid, humid, stale, and calm
All of which are important in life
And I like to experience each one of them
Nature has its good days, and its bad
And I like to be in the middle of all of them
Now I will come in and will await
Await the time when I will come back out again
Tonight, tomorrow, or whatever time
I will venture out to my porch
And enjoy my time here, with nature
Russell Sivey
Written per the request by my friend Sara Kendrick
Categories:
back out, life, nature,
Form:
Prose Poetry
Inspired by Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight”
Song for an Angel
So beautiful is my sweet girl
that she can’t even see.
She asks me if she looks okay.
She sure looks good to me!
She thinks her hair is mousy brown.
She wishes that her eyes
were a nicer shade of green
and she – a smaller size.
Chorus:
It’s not about the physical. Even if it was,
she looks phenomenal. She’s my girl because
her love is like no other’s; her grace I can’t resist.
Thank you, God, for showing me that angels do exist.
We go out to a restaurant
and I see men’s heads turn.
She’s the type for whom most guys
who seek a wife would yearn.
How glad I am to have her
right there by my side.
She smiles at me, and I can’t hide
the pride I feel inside.
Chorus:
It’s not about the physical. Even if it was,
she looks phenomenal. She’s my girl because
her love is like no other’s; her grace I can’t resist.
Thank you, God, for showing me that angels do exist.
We get home from our night out
and in her quiet way,
she leaves the room and comes back out
in a negligee.
To sparkling eyes and hair down loose
and loving arms I’m drawn.
I’m gazing at an angel as
I put slow music on.
Bridge:
Playing, I keep playing sweet and soulful music.
Swaying, we are swaying with the lights dimmed low.
Romancing, sweet romancing – always leads to more.
Dancing with my angel – love's made better slow.
Chorus:
It’s not about the physical. Even if it was,
she looks phenomenal. She’s my girl because
her love is like no other’s; her grace I can’t resist.
Thank you, God, for showing me that angels do exist.
May 19, 2023 for Joe Bonamassa And Influencers Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Robert James Liguori
Categories:
back out, love, romantic,
Form:
Lyric
Her eyes
“In her eyes, I saw the light of a thousand futures, in a single glimpse” – Chris Green
Her eyes are the sunrise
that beckons my day
Welcoming butterflies
back out to play
Autumn leaves floating
on breezes divine
Chocolate pie whispers,
the sweetest design
Nightshade ambrosia
in moonbeam delight
Stardust the heavens
have sprinkled tonight
Oceans of wishes,
desire and love
Angelic moments
sent down from above
Her eyes are each evening
the sun has gone down
Mysteries tinted
a soft shade of brown
Midnight seduction
of sensual tone
Three AM kisses
when I am alone
Dark velvet lullabies
softly to stare
Sending me dreams
that my heart longs to share
Beauty a float on
these cold winter skies
That's what I see
when I look in her eyes
I woke up this morning with the quote I started this poem with echoing in my mind. I thought about writing it down, but realized something like that
about something as beautiful as her eyes, I would not forget and I didn’t
Categories:
back out, beauty,
Form:
Rhyme
Weep not for sins that are long past
For they are but a teaching tool
Those moments gone, no more to last
When you were but a silly fool!
With lessons learned, pray you move on
Vow to live well, be happy still…
With shadows of the past now gone
New purpose found, new hope, new will!
Your soul is like a raging ocean
Bringing forth litter, and debris
Crashing waves in constant motion
Wipe clean the sand, back out to sea.
Empty your soul of sins long past
Those moments gone, no more to last!
Categories:
back out, hope, inspiration,
Form:
Sonnet
Fingers tapping....
Upon the windows pane
To a certain rhythm inside
Inside, as the colors and the sights
Out of concious mind
Quickly pass me by
Contemplating deeply, I suppose
Heaven knows....
While out of the corner of my eye
Suddenly, I break this course of thought
As I see her sitting there
A cup of coffee held warmly
Within her soft and lovely hands
Her beautiful smile
As she notices my glance
Upon a train....
Bound for someones somewhere?
And I think unto myself
While staring back out
Quickly across the ambient skies
Unto a world, far beyond this place....
Tapping my fingers gently
As I turn to see her again
Thinking of forever, thoughts
And how, I have never believed
In chance....
Touching the windows frame
Wondering about her life, her story, herself
My eyes, beyond these color marked skies, now
Turning, with a cup of coffee
Still, within her perfect and precious hands
Smiling as I amber
Slowly to where she sits
Tapping her fingers, and tilting her head
"Hello my dear, have not I met you before?"
A gleam of acknowledgment
As she smiles and says, "Yes"
Upon a train....
Going to someones somewhere?
I take a seat, and I boldly take her hand
Knowing, as the conductor calls out
"Tickets please; " as she reaches into her purse
And I, within the pocket of my shirt
As I gaze into her eyes
Deeply, as she gazes into mine
Next stop; tapping upon the table top
To a rhythm, of beautiful thoughts
Eyes turning unto the ambier skies
Her hand, now gently clutching mine
"I have never believed in chance," she said
As I slowly leaned forward
And then, softly kissed her parting lips
"Here we are," she quietly whispered
Into my now, enraptured ears
Upon a train....
Unto someones somewhere?
As the conductor called out, "Welcome"
...................."To"...................
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ "Dreamendon" ~
Categories:
back out, faith, life, love, visionarybeautiful,
Form:
I come to you with humble thanks for all that you’ve delivered,
For Englishmen to walk the planks and for timbers left unshivered.
I thank you for a glassy sea and the steady blowing breeze,
For giving all these things to me without making me say please.
And I thank you for the horizon where sea and sky do meet,
For every new sun that I watch risin’ is a day of fate I’ll cheat.
It is my hope dear loving Lord that I can bring you pleasure,
By throwing someone overboard and stealing all their treasure.
And when I navigate at night you send the northern star,
I feel then that I’m alright and it’s to you that I’ll say ARRR.
There’s a lesson that some people teach about the carrying that you do,
But I knew that the footprints on the beach must have belonged to you.
‘Cause I got a peg and there’s no doubt it would’ve got stuck into the sand.
I couldn’t have pulled myself back out because I got this hook for one hand.
I’d like to see you but by some quirk my good eye got covered by my patch,
I know that I’m just salvage work and it’s you who’ll batten down my hatch.
So Yo Ho Ho and a bottle of rum and raise the Jolly Roger to the sky,
And praise Him from whom blessings come the one who reigns on high.
For I am grateful for the gifts that you have granted me,
A pirate ship that is so swift and the blue green open sea.
Categories:
back out, funny, sea, me, sea,
Form:
Light Verse
What do you know,
About the rule of British?
It is not a rule
For Indian`s to cherish!
It started decades ago,
They began with trade
And then slowly,
They began to invade.
It started at the borders
That were close to the coasts
It was a rule,
About which Britain boasts.
What then became of the Indians
And their peaceful life?
The British turned it ,
Into more of a bitter strife.
The horrors of British rule
Steadily began to bloom.
Across our country far and wide
Began the days of gloom.
The Indians didn`t back out,
They fought for their rights.
Across the country could be seen
The start of horrendous fights.
Battles were in plenty,
Loss of lives were too.
Those who were caught were jailed
It was like a human zoo!
It didn`t stop the Indians
They wanted to be free.
They were a support to the country
Like strong roots to a tree.
Images of the horrors
Were seen at different posts.
What about innocent people?
The images haunted them like ghosts!
Few hundred years of struggle
Had come to an end.
It was decided that the British
Back to England they would send.
The country we live in today
Is thanks to those,
The brave freedom fighters
Who destroyed our woes.
Categories:
back out, appreciation, august,
Form:
Rhyme
goodbye i'd rather die stay away from me from my abandoned arm
it's taken way too long to say so long i finally know this is wrong in my arm you don't belong
you wher my friend for years drying all my tears numbing my fears
this will be harder to turn away but i'm sorry i'm searching for better days
you cannot live here anymore for there is somerthing else i adore
never leaving me wasted on the dirty floors you've done nothing but complicate me
finding the sinner withen mechewing me up spitting me out leaving me exposed and in doubt
i tried to hide you but you were on my sleeves more and more
the days got so hot i just forgot to cover you up
people could tell how much you really loved m,y by the tracks on my arms
they could tell how much you made me feed youby the bruises counting the number of uses
i was driven by your emptiness your nimbness i was raped by your security
now i'm driven by someone elses this is no gamecall it lame you make me ashamed
ashamed to know i trusted you all i wanted to do was die with you
i just want to try a new and see what's it's like sober
we can no longer sleep together no matter the beautiful sunny weather
i am gonna start over and learn how to grow older so goodbye to you please stay away
forgat my name forget your game having something else beside me
for my sobriety will never lie to me never hurt me never desert me
your every promise empty you've taken all my money it's no longer funny saying it's better
than sweet sweet honey
i get so sick after your every prick you're never enough making my life extra hard
only satisfied for a few then back out searching for you only i can let you in
somehow you always seem to win all the dreams i had were taken away
it seems in just a blink of an eye then you find me and i'm all scattered and torn
feeling so good after trudging through the hood i sit with your company and drift off
addicted to the unknown that has always been shown now i'm flushing you out
i'm brushing you off it's my time to shine thanks for the memories i'll bury them with you
don't you get it you're all alone you creep around like a stalker i'm prepared for you
hear my words get go be gone now i'm strong and you're dead wrong
someday i'll shine and sobriety will be mine
Categories:
back out, me, leaving, me,
Form:
Free verse
What a beautiful, romantic day
Most wonderful day of my life
I soak up the sun, every ray
We're going to be husband and wife
The wedding cake's beautiful but where's the knife?
And where's my dad? He should be here
To give me away, oh my, oh dear!
Oh my God! What a Stag Night
I can't quite remember, what did we do?
Why's there a tattoo on my butt on the right?
And why is half my hair blue?
I'm panicking now about what will ensue
When in the shower blue dye starts to disappear
And the girl's name just dissolves from my rear.
I'm loving the stairs on the cake
A three layer
A triple dare
Of a husband number three
My beautiful day, I swirl for the show
Hubby number three won't be free for a while.
Still puzzling, how did I get here?
A triple trouble stands in front of me
The bachelor party a couple of nights ago
I wish I was free again
The knife in the cake crumbles as the sweet cake is savoured.
As the blushing bride I look all around
My brothers and sisters, eyes open wide
They look at the cake and at the groom frown
But they're smacking their lips but not at the bride
The church doors are locked, everyone is inside
When will the service be over, how long will it take?
Before they can get their hands on that cake.
As the blushing groom I nervously look at a sister
The brothers are scowling, her kids just grinning
Don't think you can back out now mister
My fate is sealed, my head is spinning
The priest calls to order, the service beginning
I glance across at the majestic cake
Like Kilimanjaro no knife could it break.
The wedding day rings dancing on the plate
Waiting to be worn on this forever date
The service ends, the wedding bells still ringing
The now wife and husband each having
A million thoughts running
The groom takes a quick glance at his years of single
The bride not holding back on this mingle.
She loving the stairs on the cake
A three layer, a triple dare
Of a husband number three
He is still puzzling, how he got here
The cake demolished to only one crumb
Just like his chances of being free
Categories:
back out, marriage, relationship,
Form:
Prose Poetry
The C.I.A. and K.G.B. with the F.B.I and N.C.A
Could not find what I lost today.
I even tried NASA who were quick to reply,
"We are sorry Sir, but we have searched all through space,
Every Solar system and galaxy but could not find a trace."
"Who said you ever had it?"
"Or that it was ever at your place?"
Well thanks all the same,
Give my regards to all the planets,
Even the ones you haven't made.
While I took a glimpse at sanity,
Before it was misplaced,
It looked very overrated,
Plus there's more than enough in the human race,
Maybe I'll take another look back out in space.
Categories:
back out, space, stars,
Form:
Free verse