Best Bystanders Poems
pay no attention to the girl behind the mask,
like the man behind the curtain she'll give you all you ask.
but who gives her?
she'll wither away never knowing who you were.
aint it sad?
how no one recognizes what they had.
pay no attention to the boy and his guitar,
strumming chords to drown his loneliness that still it wont get him very far
but still he tries
so that nobody sees he cries
aint it sad?
how people treat eachother...so bad
they paid no attention as they crossed the crowded room
seeing shadow after shadow, wilting slowly as they bloom
then they see
each one more miserable than he
is it true?
theres some more miserable than you
All the innocent bystanders in the crowd they wait and listen
for some tiny inclination that their voices have been risen
were they heard?
by someone greater and absurd
so that they feel
they're a little bit more real
the girl the boy and all the people in the world
bathe in the sun and shed their skin as high up in the air they twirled
beneath the moon
they could see eachother bloom
could it be?
things are worth what can't be seen
afterall
Which Cowboy bites dust tomorrow at noon,
Fighting duel to end, to death the tune,
The sun at noon shows no glare,
Bystanders, time of day fair,
Outside the saloon, a hot day in June.
Poetry Competition Entry: HIGH NOON POETRY CONTEST
Sponsor: Joseph May
Date: 07/05/2022
The alter has all but fallen...
Once powerful in awe...
The struggle, canal, of waves dissolve...
Great divide stand wilt...
The cries touched with chords
of Braille...
enticed outstretched mallet
drive in another nail...
bystanders reel in wrath...
All consumed by an energy...
they too, themselves...
yet tapped...
I am no bystander to this life I live
W here I am today is the result of things that I did
To blame the world or the jokers I've crossed
Would be irresponsible and a complete bust
They played their parts and so did I
And I've spent a few years of cleaning time
The messes that were made by many hands
It fell on me to draw up a cleansing plan
Still a ways to go but making strides
Until I reach the days that I'm free to shine
Lost will be the heartaches of yesteryear
Glory a constant and days of no fear
It's cleaning time for this wayward soul
Progression and triump the number one goal
Far from who I was but still finding myself
I'm responsible for my happiness; no one else
Saying goodbye to the past and hello to my truest self
Amazing is the heart which is so full of hope
A force to be reckoned with unlike anything else
Cleared away are the cobwebs and dusted off is my heart
I'm grateful for the future I've been able to start
To the bruises and scars that've been made along the way
Rest in the past for you can no longer accompany me on my way
You have your place and can stay in the hands
Of the giver of your pain and the source of your plan
Me? I've faced my demons head on in the light
Forcing them out and leaving them behind
No bystander to the life that I had been living
But in taking responsibility myself I have forgiven
And in this breath of new beginnings
I've gained a life and a future worth living
The world is made up of bystanders, upstanders, and victims.
The bystanders are horrified when their neighbors are falsely accused.
Offended when they see blatant misbehaviors, aggressors, punchers, slappers.
Relieved they are not targeted, the bystanders often become victims.
There is hell to pay then.
Or is there?
The victims are always targeted.
She rolled her eyes at me.
In a crowd of 50?
How do you know it was you?
I just know.
The victims have daily tales of woe.
She glared at me.
She gave me the bird.
He was whispering about me.
Did you hear it?
No.
I heard my name.
Could they have been saying something nice?
No.
How do you know?
I just do.
Being around them is hell to pay.
There are very few upstanders.
Maybe one in every two or three classrooms.
They are assertive, confident, and
Unafraid to speak up
Even if they are standing alone.
They speak up for the victims.
They speak up for the bystanders.
They speak up for the teacher.
If we don’t take our cue from the upstanders,
There will be hell to pay.