Best Came Poems
May be sung to the tune of It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
It came upon a prophecy
in ancient days foretold
that to the earth would come a child
fulfilling words of old.
For all the earth to be redeemed
this gift of God's great love:
a Savior, which is Christ the Lord
came down from heaven above.
As Joseph came from David's line
to Bethlehem went he,
and with him Mary, great with child,
in heeding Caesar's decree.
And so the Lord was born that night
in lowly cattle stall:
in him was life, and his bright star
would be the light of all.
The prophet Micah's words fulfilled
of which the faithful sing:
"O, Bethlehem, though small are you
from you shall come a king."
The angels joined to sing Noel
announcing God's own Son;
with shepherds, Magi bowing to
the long awaited one.
In ancient days this prophecy
Isaiah did foretell,
The virgin shall conceive a son,
His name: Immanuel.
"To us a child is born this day,
to us a son is giv'n" -
He reigns on David's throne on earth,
and God's right hand in heav'n.
The butcher came for the sheep
the cow did not moo, she wasn't a sheep
The butcher came for the goats
the cow did not moo, she wasn't a goat
The butcher came for the pigs
The cow did not moo, she wasn't a pig
Then the butcher came for the cow
her bull and her calves,
The rest of the farm was eerily silent
Remembering the poem of Martin Niemöller
"First they came …" a post-war 1946 poem written in prose by Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller, who was a German (1892–1984). In it he speaks of cowardice which German intellectuals as well as some of the clergy felt in the hellish nightmare of the Jewish people. In this poem, by his own admission, a coward, looking away during Hitler's rise to power. In my own rendition of a farm, compared to his, is rather ridiculous. I just want to acknowledge his poem at this time in history. Please pray that God give our leaders insight, and clarity on what must be accomplished. Please pray for the people of Ukraine, and, please look the poem up.
I waited for him as the soldier comes
With a beating of drums and trumpet call;
But he arrived instead with a quiet tread
That my ears never heard at all.
I thought he would come like the blazing sun
And claim me for his bride;
But in the soft twilight of a starlit night
He stood there at my side.
I thought he would come as loud thunder
That shouts to the midnight skies;
Instead he came as a whisper
And the finger of love touched my eyes.
I dreamed of the fire that shone in his eye
Might give mine a more tender glow;
But I saw in his face a more intimate grace
That I discovered not long ago
I thought he would come in the tumult
Of ten thousand voices in song;
Instead he came in soft silence
And brought me to where I belong.
I hoped would come to incite my soul
As seas are split by storm's strife;
But he brought me balm of a sublime calm
And tranquility that crowned my life.
I Came By…
(to see you)
You don’t see me.
I see you, everyday.
I am afraid to say hello.
You may say good-bye.
I just want to ask,
if you like dinner,
have you eaten?
Do you eat?
Of course you have…
or will..
or might…
I believe I will bite my lip,
until it bleeds.
I wanted to know,
what color is your favorite?
Do you like your coffee black?
If there is cracker jacks in-the-box,
do we,
should we,
fight over the peanuts,
and split the prize,
or…
I have no courage.
I am lost,
the map…
blew out the cab window.
The ship sailed,
and left the baggage,
on the peer.
I am craving
chocolate…
It is my solution…
to the mathematical problem
of fear?
If it only added up!
The horizon was brewing ominous clouds,
Dark as if they came out of hell.
The once azure sky became hazy
As the north wind chilly breezes
Puffed up more stratocumulus,
Rain-heavy clouds signified storms.
I rested against the balustrade
Of the promenade, looking down at the sea.
Waves upon waves dashed at the dark crags.
Seaspray washed my tired face.
Above the seagulls came to enjoy
The thunderstorm that would soon erupt
Above the small bay, now emptied of boats.
The seagulls were indeed a sight to see.
Only a hundred or so circled the inlet.
They plunged into the sea for food
Irrespective of where the chilly wind blew.
They were an elegant sight to see.
As the first drops of rain fell, I betook myself home.
My wife was waiting anxiously for me
Afraid I’ll get wet. “Watching the birds?”
Clearly, she was not very much amused.
She turned her back on me, as thunder boomed
And lightning flashed but I went with the wind,
And clasped her round her winsome waist.
She did not resist, and neither did I.
He'd be typing away on his desk
with blueprints for the next big thing,
While I'd be staring off into the azure sky
appreciating the "insignificant" things
You really are a genius
in your field of technicalities,
with which you thoroughly water;
A wife, a place of your own,
and a destination in mind
Me?
You'll find me in the corner
(no not a corner... think rounded edges,
much more safe)
Half past ten, still in bed,
with rolls of cash in a Ziploc bed
(I'm not dealing and I'm sorry if I gave you that
impression... more likely
just a descendant of Scrooge)
Your perfectly organized life
(my just screw it attitude)
Well I must say you are on your way,
but where exactly too?
I solemnly wish
we had, but one thing
in common, dearest brother,
Even with the knowledge
that I wrote this for you
I'm sure deep down
you'd think this quite sappy
And being the person that I am
I'd immediately think of tree metaphors
(now what what rhymes with cedar?)
And being the person you are
you'd probably just go about your day
wondering about the latest Apple product
You live next door
and yet somehow
galaxies came between us,
Practical you gathered sticks and stones
for your shelter here on Earth
(I was too busy daydreaming
on Mars)
From the moment I opened my eyes
and peaked my little head out
from the pool in the backyard,
we were brothers, through and through
... so why do I have this nagging urge
to shake your hand and ask
"Have we met?"
Darkest Of Days, When His Ship Finally Came Home
A wicked chill, even her house could feel its creep
Tho' silence would not hear its horrific demands.
A dark dream, had awakened her from her deep sleep,
With it, she felt blight and doom had come to her lands.
Day's first somber hour, her heart felt its evil threats,
As old clock ticked away with a deafening roar.
She recited morning prayers, to hedge all her bets,
Went into dirty streets to give aid to the poor.
An angel waiting for ship to arrive in port,
Heart and soul knew, he had been away far too long.
Homecoming, one she prayed weather could not abort,
Time flew by, to docks she raced, love singing its song.
Faith, love and hope filled all her lonesome, aching heart,
With such promises, her wanting nights had been spent.
Sun shown bright, her heart suddenly felt a new start
With merriest of thoughts, onto the docks she went.
Crowd hovering around a blanketed body there
Suddenly her heart felt greatest of her dark fears
Please she prayed,"If its him, tis more than I can bear"
Then she saw, her feet felt wet of her falling tears.
She had ran away, falling down to cry and pray
Looking back, at his ship's flag wave, in wafting wind.
Yet no answer came, Fate had had its dark death way
Answering her cries," Please Lord, let this nightmare end".
A wicked chill, even her house could feel its creep
Tho' silence would not hear its horrific demands.
A dark dream, had awakened her from her deep sleep,
With it, she felt blight and doom had come to her lands.
Day's first somber hour, her heart felt its evil threats,
As old clock ticked away with a deafening roar.
She recited morning prayers, to hedge all her bets,
Went into dirty streets to give aid to the poor.
An angel waiting for ship to arrive in port,
Heart and soul knew he had been away far too long.
Homecoming, one she prayed weather could not abort,
Time flew by, to docks she raced, love singing its song.
Robert J. Lindley, 2-19-2018
Rhyme 12/12,(When Fate Speaks)
NOTE- This was completed this morn, written from an old poem fragment from back in , April 2001. I am trying to finish many of my great many old poem fragments , before my time arrives , as Fate waits for no man!!
She came to me in the noon day sun..
her world wistful, longing for an unsung quiet.
But I would not remain still, nor silent,
though her hours in life, never meant for long.
Desperately I grasped her up in loving embrace..
And in her arms cried, please let her remain!
I offered myself in sacrifice to assuage,
but enchanted sirens called sweetly, come.,
and left me alone on an empty stage.
Once upon a time many years ago
There was a sweet and lovely red, red Irish rose
That was plucked prematurely from the garden vine
A budding beauty taken in her prime
She was laid to rest upon the death of a lovers dream
Upon a chest of ebony where lie his would-be Queen
Lowered deep into the depths of the church yard cemetery
Her scarlet petals wilting in the summer breeze
Then the earth begin to fall like autumn leaves
Upon her petals and the chest of ebony
From above her tomb where stood the grieving groom
Weeping, weeping like a willow tree
Then the sky begin to disappear amid that mournful cry
As tears from above fell from that lovers eyes
And came to rest like dew drops on that Irish rose
As she disappeared beneath the earth
There in his grief below
In time he laid a stone of ivory upon her grave
Etched deeply with the promise he had made
To love his Irish Rose forever and a day
The years and all their seasons came and went
And a million lonely tears were cried and spent
Upon her grave where everyday he knelt and prayed
And dreamed of her until his dying day
The epigram has long since faded on the ivory stone
That still stands alone upon her grave
Where from the million tears of love he gave
A seemingly impossible blue, blue rose has grown
It came and passed, and not a word was spoken
as trills sang sweet from the tongue of the sparrow.
Indifference now, our love was but a token,
my heart’s pierced through with Cupid’s broken arrow.
With morning break I felt the deepest sorrow
and setting sun heard silence, yet unbroken,
then tolling bells left no time more to borrow.
It came and passed, and not a word was spoken.
The cool breeze blew, no cloud in azure heaven,
no voice raised loud atop the rolling barrow,
like yeastless bread our words could never leaven,
as trills sang sweet from the tongue of the sparrow.
So deep our passion grew in early sun rise,
till lost in evening sleep and never woken.
Like snowflakes that melt upon our hands are lies,
indifference now, our love was but a token.
Forever has now come with painful remorse
With night our light is dim, and vision narrow,
as in the dark we fumble to change our course,
my heart’s pierced through with Cupid’s broken arrow.
Long each minute passed in sorrowed memory,
no tears to shed for moments lost forever.
Flamed to ash in naught but burnt black cindery
as, like the day, we’re but a lost endeavor,
…it came and passed.
10/27/2017
She waited....
heart beat expectancy
to heightened degree
it would come
It MUST come
every day
waiting
for the message
"There must be a mistake!
How could he just vanish
disappear into thin air
and not care
No, there must be
some explanation!"
Perhaps he was sick
perhaps he was dying
and he didn't want her to know
wanted to spare her the pain
all sorts of crazy thoughts
keep her awake at night
as she waited
and waited
for that message
The months passed
the pain grew and didn't subside
it didn't grow dull
nor did it recede
it did bleed...
though her eyes it tore
down her cheeks it bore
her disbelief
it could not be
where was the message???
asking for...forgiveness
begging for....love
a second chance
revival of romance
She waited
for that message
waited because her faith in him
refused to be shattered
though battered
by the calendar mockery
day and month debauchery
Yet...each new morning brought hope
steeped in the belief
of his chivalry
and integrity
for the one whom she knew
could not be the one untrue
cruel and heartless enough
to have to taken her for a fool
she grew heart old
and soul weary
dead on her feet dreary
as she waited for a message
a message
that never came
Eileen Manassian
When starlings were swimming in the azure lake,
When bats and owls began their nocturnal ride,
When all the Earth under a dark blanket lay,
And man and beast into sweet repose retired,
My Muse, like a sweet temptress, came to me
To set this captive free, to give free rein to my fancy.
She sang into my ears the lovely strains
Of a placid melody, bathing me in sheer delight
Creating in me a passion too intense
To articulate my disjointed thoughts
Into vibrant melodies of beauty and love.
Soon fireflies of thoughts came flitting,
Like bees around a looted honey comb.
In a butterfly net, I trapped them all.
They clustered together in a clumsy heap,
Making my darkened zone bright
With little arcs of shimmering light.
I placed them carefully in an ordered strain,
Word after word, in meaningful sequence,
Fashioning them into a beautiful symphony,
Arousing in me mystical spells of joy.
When your Muse comes knocking at your door,
Delay her not, but let her in
And go for a merry ride with her
Into some sleepy glades where silence resides.
There, let her magic wand kiss and caress you
From head to foot and all over,
Awakening your fancy from deep slumber,
Parading before you, scenes of beauty and wonder,
That, songs of passion are born from you
Gushing forth in streams of honeyed dew.
So, write on....!
Queen Guinevere was quite a sight
When Arthur returned from a fight
He looked up and down
Then said with a frown,
"You look like you've had a rough knight!"
Arthur opened the bedroom door
Where clothes lay all over the floor
"This looks rather bad,"
Said Sir Gal He Had,
"I've mistaken your wife for an whore."
There's more to the story than that
The Kingdom of Arthur fell flat
But Queen Guinevere
Did not shed one tear
For she loved to give tit for tat!
You Came To Me (out of the Winter’s snow)
You came to me out of the Winter’s snow,
On the scented breeze of the early Spring,
When shifting winds of fortune oft’ times blow
And in my waiting heart I heard you sing.
It was errant chance brought you to my door,
The warmth of Summer’s kiss upon your lips,
To drink of your love and left wanting more
As vintage wine is drunk in measured sips.
And when the span of Summer’s heat is passed
And Autumn’s uncertain wind shakes the boughs
My hope for your love, by degrees, is cast;
As the depth of your love for me allows.
For your warmth is not by cool Autumn chilled
And my love for you, by your love fulfilled,
02/03/2020
*****This poem inspired me to show or make sentient as possible a woman of special appeal, which provided an apt challenge of my poetic Powers. Such words as 'countenance opulent' 'L'Amour and debonair' and the rhyming structure creates the 'magic third' as Bach said of music; this exists throughout much of my works. I am a professional guitar player, lead guitar; my sense of timing and feel --- creativity, must have helped my poetic abilities since music is poetry in motion. To express oneself sincerely is good enough, yet why the expression? What makes the poet express a line, stanza or the poem itself?*****
A softer silk she came,
with tresses as a willow
weeps long to seeking love;
Her air as stars and moons,
of countenance opulent,
L'Amour and debonair;
Whose eyes seek the hidden bloom....
(such goddess of slender strides
and aerie chimes)
She hath not heard of death ----
knows it not,
and only life knows her,
for a softer silk she came
Endeared she whose lips speak as rushing waters
and mellow cinnamon climes,
whose whisper furled Apollo
and all the rhyme he felled;
Whose ear heard never a temptress distant knell,
nor some grim hades from some bitter-wrought hell,
for 'o what a chartered hope,
the lovely of her spell!