Best Bold Poems
Eve, the mother of all mankind,
Adam found his helpmeet in her.
Old Sarah, through faith, was confined.
Rebecca, the first twins’ mother.
Shiphrah and Puah, brave midwives
Saved Hebrew children, fearing God.
Fearless Jochebed hid her child,
Because of her, Moses survives.
Rahab hid spies for she was awed
By the true God, who on her, smiled.
Like Deborah, who could you find?
Her bold judgement caused quite a stir.
Jael, Heber’s wife, was brave of mind,
She killed Sisera on a spur.
Naomi was a good mother
To her daughter-in-law named Ruth.
Ruth left her all to follow God,
Was one of Jesus’ ancestors.
Prayerful Hannah in her youth
Gave child Samuel back to God;
Intelligent Abigail soothed
King David’s wrath, became his wife.
The young maid of Israel smoothed
Naaman’s healing from leprous strife.
Daring Queen Esther without fear,
Saved the Jews from being wiped out.
What can I say of blessed Mary?
She bowed to God’s will with all cheer.
Dorcas, Lydia did not pout,
Active were they in church early.
Women from all walks of life are
Found in the Bible to teach us,
Each, in her own way, is a star,
A vessel for God, a great plus;
Rhoda, Priscilla and others,
All are equally paramount,
Only a few have I mentioned,
Sisters, daughters, wives and mothers,
There are so many, I can’t count,
Let’s learn from them as intentioned.
14th April 2022
(8 syllables per line
Rhyme Scheme: ababcdecde)
{The role played by women in Biblical history is truly great. No wonder Lord Jesus Christ revealed His resurrected self first to them}
For Beata Agustin's "Ode to Women" contest
On full moon night, wild tresses float like flowers
as stars ignite her arms to dance, then to pull
her gypsy robe, arise tambourine hours ;
the wake of feet romancing tunes from sky’s drool.
Bold magic only her distinct kismet whips
Yet she, humbled by thief lover’s captured kiss,
unveils the inner tramp panting without reign.
By dawn, a Jezebel turns into maid chained!
©rispetto using two rhyming quatrains abab ccdd
with 11-syllable lines
.........
For Lisa Cooper’s Gyspy, Tramps and Thieves
14 may 12
Little boy scales the snowbank
in Spider-Man boots
stomping snow,
relentlessly
a focused performance
superboy tantrum, gushing discontent
flattening worlds imagined
crushing lands gripped by villains
His mother, nearby, gleams
like heat under a stove pot
a wary gatekeeper,
extending love unmatched
to watch the giddy rush of boy
to dream a soulful future
to wonder on the needs of self
to view a son's awakening
in the freedom of spaces
Little boy
unfinished work
putting his stamp on joy
as bits of snow fly like a tale unfolding
As a mother watches the elastic bounce of youth,
till the real world runs away with him.
Poem composed: January 23, 2021
Dedicated to Kyle, My Darling Son
Sometimes it’s hard to be me –
so much pain to burn,
so much to daily learn,
so much joy to discern.
Sometimes it’s hard to be me –
It’s impossible to be you -
I offer you my soft side
but cannot take your ride
or be your forever guide.
For me, it’s impossible to be you -
I want to filter the dark
to keep you in the light.
I want to protect you from wrong
by leading you towards the right.
I want to take all your wishes
and make them all come true.
I want to keep the world
from ever hurting you.
but my darling child,
these things I cannot do.
You’re the seed I did plant
to nurture and watch grow,
but you decide the direction
your branches will grow.
If you develop slowly
and timidly face the sky
or if you arch boldly
with a brazen sigh,
either way is yours to try.
YOU ARE going to sigh,
YOU ARE going to cry;
These are gifts to your growth
that even as your Mother,
I can neither defy or deny.
Sometimes it’s hard to be me –
it’s impossible to be you.
My Broken Heart Shall Never Now Last Forever
My broken heart shall never now last forever,
As your true love captured my heart and soul,
And darling our love is my heavenly treasure.
Our life and love are truly a wondrous pleasure,
As our souls form as one by God’s cosmic role.
My broken heart shall never now last forever.
Our true passion is beyond all infinite measure,
As our life and love form a bond that’s so bold,
And darling our love is my heavenly treasure.
Our shared desire is limitless forever and ever,
And our love’s heartfelt emotion is one to extol.
My broken heart shall never now last forever.
Our love and your beauty are my real pleasure,
Their worth exceeds all of Earth’s natural gold,
And darling our love is my heavenly treasure.
We share a life and love by God’s own endeavor,
And in His view as two loving spirits of one soul.
My broken heart shall never now last forever,
And darling our love is my heavenly treasure.
Gary Bateman, Copyright © All Rights Reserved
November 18, 2018 (Villanelle)
Come October, I feel a nip in the air,
frosting my breath like contrails of smoke;
while gilded leaves start tumbling from the trees.
Overhead, a gaggle of honking geese
are fleeing Winter's approach:
joining the songbirds that have migrated south.
The Fall leaves are painted with bold strokes
of yellow, scarlet, fuchsia, gold, and orange:
inked by Jack Frost,
and sprinkled on the ground like confetti.
Amber and vermilion drip from the trees;
pooling into a crunchy sea
of colorful leaves: that the wind weaves,
into shifting swirls of abstract art.
One of Nature's boldest paintings,
Autumn steals one's breath away, instilling awe;
infusing Summer's death with Winter's birth:
a truly magical transformation to behold.
Frivolous, wanton, devil may care.
pompously, bogus, respectable airs.
an arrogant youth, endowed with beauty.
born of leisure, with no sense of duty.
In youth, I walked the world so bold.
never worried a bit, while growing old.
never noticed my life, wasting away.
only living, and loving, just for today.
As the years began fleeting, I was to blind.
to see sand, in the hourglass, trickling time.
with no purpose, no meaning, without any plan.
I was fooling myself, wasn't really a man.
Now that youth has fled, like the changing seasons.
I'm paying the price for a life without reason.
My first attempt at a Sonnet....
the heart of a priestess
the courage of a lioness
she stands in defiance
with every ounce of strength
throws caution to the wind
with her grand dreams and schemes
she lives her life
on her own terms
fearless and audacious
AP: Honorable Mention 2022, Honorable Mention 2022
Spring shifts a bright sky
into streaks of gray,
in it's own unpredictable way.
The daffodils are weakening
storm damaged, they struggle
to blow their leaky yellow trumpets.
Warm days still end with a chill
the dawn remains wet nosed,
but summer is winning
it is edging in
painting the fields
with patchwork colors,
daubing the trees with
shy May blossoms
that offset the ever greening.
An old man in a black overcoat
sweats a little,
his dog racing ahead;
he heads for home
with a rickety swagger,
already painting
bold, eye-catching words
on invisible rainbows.
I cannot help but marvel
At the strength this small boy knows
In the crevices of his safest place
A heavy evil grows
At black when babe doth close his eyes
To what does his grimace pertain?
When other boys drift off to sleep
Does he cry awake in pain?
Dreams call out in sweet and soft
But dark hands tighten their hold
Refreshing reminders on frail dear's arms
And once more; wet tears too bold.
Persuading October from her quiet lair
Shedding the pleasures of life’s fictional realms
Mouthwatering plunder, gathering to share
Swirling through the silence, round oaks, pines and elms
Secrets and shadows reflecting nature’s rush
Flames of ginger, shushing dark who overwhelms
Sweet dreams are splattered with hope by God’s paintbrush
Storm wrecking peace calms souls who reflect this time
Much like a coryphée, plied by a wood thrush
Closing those moments by the sea, maritime
Breathing in crisp air, whispering a prayer
Carrot colored leaves twirl in a soothing rhyme
Reflections so daring arrive on sun’s glare
Lifting the past’s tears with grace beyond compare
I’ve made my choice for my next life
I’m coming back fierce as a drag queen
I’ll be osé and voluptuous
flamboyantly vivacious
in stilettos and seductive gowns
wigs of lush luscious curls
belting out steamy tunes
on stage in cabarets
strutting my stuff
impersonating divas
living life large
as it is meant to be
with a passion that’s ferocious
AP: Honorable Mention 2020
This old poet's words are dying...
Slipping into damp, craggy times.
Still reciting-still reciting in the bend of mind.
Exploding seeds from graying volcanic lungs.
.
Staring down the last of the embers.
No dry kindling left. It's beginning to rain.
Young poet smirking at my dog-eared years.
Yes-I am jealous of youth,
its pliable cotton candy mind.
I've definitely lost the edge
but like to think I've one good punch left
One clever thought
A brilliant line.
Yes, I'm burned out and envious
but my tattoos and battle scars
are still etched in bold font.
By What Power?
Disguised by a limb and hidden in a tree,
with what power had you
to murder Adam and Eve?
You came hither and thither, even spoke with our God above,
but by what power had you
to murder Job who He doth loved?
And you appeared to tempt His son,
and again, by what power had you,
to murder the beloved Christ?
I’ll tell you... you had none.
Oh! You can lie, and deceive,
you can seduce and even maim.
But you have no power
o’er my restrain.
And in my suffering what have you prevailed,
when in his name you curse,
I am then blessed by my Lord Christ’s regale!?
Oh death, where is thy sting,
that you so foolishly taunt,
when in humble and loving servitude I die,
and pour forth Christ’s blessings bring!?
I only live to serve,
thus I serve and will live forevermore.
If Satan you had the power to murder me,
you would have done it already and tempt me no more.
You have no power, because you have nothing in store.
I know Christ waits for me, and I faithfully for him.
My life is preserved to serve,
and already lost to pass through those narrow doors.
Glory be to God... thank you Jesus!
by Martin Braun
Inspired and dedicated to my God, my Lord, my Savior, Jesus Christ.
January 4th, 2923
You open my heart with a knife and left me to bleed all night
The wound is so deep but you left me screaming on the street
Daylight found me on the street side and my heart was alive for a hundred
and ten seconds and I Felt destiny holding my hand
And the minstrel appears out of nowhere and parade through the street
and I could hear their spirit weep.