Best By(A) Poems

"England and America are two countries separated by a common language." 
                                    ...

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I could see the virus approaching so why couldn't he?
But he had to keep investors happy and save the economy
On his watch people in their thousands, died needlessly
The U.K. had a spiralling death rate, a preventable tragedy.

He didn't listen to the top scientists, they have...

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Death be not proud but humble with strife
Old man flicks ashes, has one last choke
‘Tis nothing to fear, just the nature of life
 
Many passed before him, cut off like a knife
They fester in his memory with this his final smoke
Death be not proud but...

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HANGING BY A THREAD - COLLABORATION WITH DARREN WHITE

I felt my life hanging by a thread
The tip of your sword piercing my heart
My mind screamed words my mouth couldn't say 
The unfairness of it plain in the dark night

And through it all the sharpness of...

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I was caught by a train yesterday

I hear people say
this often in exasperation
exaggerated tones
with over-dramatic groans
as if the train somehow
physically captured them
in its large mechanical grasp
diabolically refusing
to let them go

Yesterday
I was caught in a different way
imagination captured, you might say
captivated
charmed
and enchanted
by the passing art display

Something...

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Your large stuffed synthetic sack
and the aching bones and muscles
that strain against the pain
of a planet that you're sure must hate you,
are sure that you hate it too.
Your wheels are just large enough
to allow the suicidal stride
of the dire recycler's chariot
which may really be suicidal...

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Hues I desired, soon abandoned my sky
As flashing thunder ignited fiery clouds
Dissipating orange glow evening sought
Turning wild winds into advancing storm

Having promised you a galaxy of stars
I stepped boldly to go where they are
But there was no moon to guide my path
As I waddled in...

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She hid her talents in the deepest darkest recessed corner
Taking it out never, for fear of being called brilliant.
She did not want to be shunned or ostracized, 
Knowing her people well

Then one day she met a stranger who coaxed her a tiny bit
Encouraged her to...

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clouds caress the sky
with a trail of white feathers...

                grass tickles our toes 



.............................................
7/13/15  For Skat's Contest: "Feathers"...

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Isn’t it ironic?
That the plague called the bubonic
Killed the man but not the rat
And did not even kill the cat
That caught and killed the guilty rat

Isn’t it ironic?
That in this age of the electronic
Ebola is running unabated
It’s deathly thirst left quite unslated
Just like the plague...

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A friend once told me
How he was fascinated by me-
By how I could walk up to absolutely
Anyone and be their best friend,
Switch cultures like t-shirts
Emblazoned with "I heart
Fill-in-the-blank..."
I'm not sure quite how to explain
How once you've observed society 
For long enough you realize
That just about...

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I was touched by a sweet butterfly
As it fluttered around me
Then quietly landed nearby
I could only watch to see
Where it would go next to be
A gentle, perfect creation flew
High and low from flower to tree
A magical flight moved me to be
    ...

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“Close the book, ring the bell, light the candle.”
The witch’s words resounded in my ears.
My problems now were more than I could handle
and so I hoped she’d vanquish all my fears.

She stared at me across the darkened room
and then commanded me that I must stay
until...

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I’m on the verge of losing everything
as lashing tears are thrashing ‘gainst the night
and mournful notes of black rose petals sing 
from wells so deep they’ve never seen the light.

My come to Jesus moment on my knees,
I’m at your mercy in my darkest hour.
In desperation...

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Year after year, young people inspire me.
The freshness of youth brings forth curiosity.
Diversity and personality scream, it seems –
Noisily, boisterously, playfully, hope knocks.
Each child has amazing talents to unlock.
Shy ones work in silence while some classmates tease.
Others squirm around on a whim and a breeze.
Did...

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