Best Civility Poems
Red hair protruding from the soldier’s cap
Bright sun and heat, his freckles clearly seen
How peacefully the lad appears to nap
Mae Caulfield moans while searching for her teen
Too young her son to know what he fought for
The gun they gave him longer than his legs
Already two sons dead; they wanted more
And soldiers care not how a mother begs
This “Civil” War is anything but that
Mae sighs on seeing bodies strewn about
She finds her ginger boy, removes his hat
Dry crust against his ear where blood poured out
His gun still loaded, Mom fires one more shot
Now two graves will complete the Caulfield plot
Written January 1, 2019
Civility is a characteristic I wish to revive
Long dormant in our society, it is so rare
Since we all live together trying to survive
Let’s be nice to each other, showing we care.
I know everything is not sugar and spice
And into “every life some rain must fall,”
But, for heaven’s sake, can’t we be nice,
And get along with each other, after all.
Being polite and courteous in all we do
Not getting involved with the dross of life
Just showing kindness with a smile or two,
Helps us to avoid any pettiness and strife.
Treating others as we like to be treated
Is the Golden Rule, a foundation for civility
Some folks strike out, feeling mistreated,
But being civil is within everyone’s ability.
THIRD PLACE WINNER
Written October 18, 2022
Submitted to “This or That, Vol. 14" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Edward Ibeh
There's too much civility hanging out here
Will try to create mayhem while drinking a beer
For the common good
Will do what I should
But it may be too much for this mortal so mere
© Jack Ellison 2015
Tortured by sheer civility
Civility tortured by me
Duties lie in the world of pain
Challenged by poetry
Who dies, who lives, who cries for life
Meek in emotion for thee
Who dies, who lives, who cries for life
Death from civility
Because I may have opposing views on certain issues
There are vastly more things we see eye to eye about,
There’s no reason for anyone to break out the tissues.
We would agree on the freedom to stand up and shout
And the right to peacefully protest social injustices,
There are vastly more things we see eye to eye about.
We are all against bullying and superficial prejudices
The right to worship and practice one’s faith guaranteed,
And the right to peacefully protest social injustices.
I could never stand for bashing another’s faith or creed
One’s right to political persuasions without retribution,
The right to worship and practice one’s faith guaranteed.
In any conversation we should respect fair contribution,
Refraining from behavior making someone’s heart bleed
One’s right to political persuasions without retribution.
Frankly, I am open to helping everyone in sincere need
Because our country has vast resources, enough to share,
Refraining from remarks making someone’s heart bleed.
Always standing up for what is honorable, right, and fair
Because I may have opposing views on certain issues,
Because our country has vast resources, enough to share
There’s no reason for anyone to break out the tissues.
HONORABLE MENTION
written October 9, 2021
"Celebrate Difference" Contest
All Poetry, October 17, 2021
The words you can't ignore
the ideas unexplored
the exploited weakness of an ongoing war.
dig the paint from your nails, pull the screws from it's frame
bite down on the bullet as the bad blood is drained
swim through the clouds, and don't ever come down
talk to the half that's in need of a friend.
flip your old grin, into a crooked, chipped frown
for on the callous cold floor, your level again.
the mirror distorts, and your view is estranged
the perspective you trusted, compels you to change
why is it that in such a stupor, our soul is revealed
as the senses will fade, enlightened minds rear
to educate ourselves, and strike down the order
to choose what we learn, and the knowledge thats forged.
the will for exposure, a progressing motion
that defines our respect, dignity, and devotion
devotion to the pious, selfless and righteous.
to fend off the hordes of thieves and of liars.
pull back on the throttle, and breathe in an answer
spreading benevolence through the wind,
like a contagious cancer.
it's in these few moments, that words touch an audience
and the verity of an action, the truth of one's valor
is the symbol of resistance, and is judged by their credence
in the smoldering ring, of an engulfed company
live the smoky remains, of authentic civility
They stole your light
The fire that you worked so hard to attain
Now lies in the hands of greed.
Your sacrifice lives on,
A testament to the ability that my kind can twist;
Even the holiest of holies.
They call it civility.
Its fuel is conformity, a chain that shackles the limbs
Wrapped with a cushioned fabric so you don’t kill yourself.
Their intention is “pure”
Unbiased! It chips away everyday at your soul
When science calls, ready an offering from your flesh
It feeds until you are reduced to (nothing).
They stole your light, son of Iaptus
Prometheus, they worshiped that ember and fed it
Now your fire consumes us all
Like a dying sun that won't set until it eats itself.
It’s respecting your elders,
And holding open doors;
Obeying your parents,
And doing your chores;
It’s holding your tongue,
And being polite;
An overall knowing of,
What’s wrong and what’s right;
Being courteous and letting,
Good manners shine through;
Removing your hat inside,
Not wearing it backwards or askew;
Being cultured and gracious
To everyone you know,
And when your feeling angry
Not to let it show;
It’s the way you act to strangers,
And helping those in need;
Only with elegance and compassion,
Can civility succeed.
Civility and Man: A Historical View
Since man began to populate the earth,
And feel the pull of Satan’s evil ways.
The angels came to teach the fallen souls:
Proposing righteous ways to live earth days.
Decorum had been taught both then and now.
Man, Adam and his wife with death had played.
The badly chosen fruit waylaid their plight.
Enlightened, but from loving God they strayed.
Significance and consequence brought death.
The mortal two began to populate.
So rules of etiquette began to grow.
And man’s new fate embraced their mortal state.
Before too long, grave envy showed its face.
And Cain did not obey the rules, as taught.
He chose a rock and struck his brother dead.
Civility was not wrought in that rock.
When Moses led his people through the sands.
And Father carved some rules upon a stone.
Uncivilized, they bickered, played, and sinned.
Respect for God and His great words had flown.
When Socrates and Plato came around,
Civility…philosophy was deep.
The Ten Commandments were the reigning rules.
And politics gave zealousness a hold.
George Washington and others wrote some rules.
These rules were social rules, not civil laws.
Civility back then meant manner’s guide.
Respecting one another, yielding self.
The hundred plus ten rules, then set in place.
Fell prey to proper conduct’s judging ways.
And judgment for their lacking could be cruel.
If down the nose one’s self-worth found a sneer.
Dear Harry Truman taught a civil dream.
Of unity within the scope of men,
Together working for the greater good.
All brothers hand in hand respecting each.
The world today is filled with hatred’s fray.
Mankind now turns away from loving ways.
The common man believes all shall be well.
Surprise! Civility is on the road to hell.
Good actions are respecters of all men.
With energy beget not violent ways.
Or great travail shall overcome mankind.
Civility to me, most surely means:
Loving one another, there and at home.
Willfully revising loveless thinking.
Rebuking darkness with the light of love.
Unity and freedom…let us ring.
United wisdom drinking of love’s well,
No longer greeting slaughter of lost hope.
But civilly, rethinking plights of man.
© Name withheld for the contest
March 21, 2010
Poetic form: Free Verse
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE WORLD AND FORWARD THIS AS INSPIRED.
Is done with world war 2
We may begin writing
Western Civilizational
Spent seventy cents on sentry saints
Though soul and spirit rebel with the pulse
I read their abuse with an effort of excuse
This rum, this loaf to feast is grossly imbalanced
These pennies paid with pains on African plains
Twice a dozen days my labor effort to afford
This gesture though un-lorded is induced
To keep on keeping on a faint kiss on the cross
Multitudes embrace, a singly saint can't otherwise
Not for the hate, neither duty nor pride
It's to keep the tradition not to go instinct
We were schooled givers never lack
For fair play, takers also never lack
In appreciation, a pauper comes riding a Lexus
And by the way life goes, Earth will crowd Heavens
Wouldn't there be a gendarme post raised?
Then a ghetto for the screening of saints
But for the cents, the kobo's and cowries offered
Heavens will erect a bureau De change
God, for the treasure the Earth offers thee.
Civility where have you gone and why have you gone missing
Since you left, all I hear, is an awful lot of hissing
No matter how I try, to avoid, unpleasant situations
They pop up wherever I go; no longer aberrations
Times are hard, it’s very sad, what so many must endure
What will happen next, no one knows; it all seems so unsure
There are so few jobs for the young or old, or people in-between
The cost of living skyrocketing like nothing I have seen
Everywhere you look, there is so much, waste and destruction
And everyone’s, so tired of hearing, about all of the corruption
There’s much to deal with, that’s for sure, no wonder you went missing
Sometimes I feel like going missing too; I think I’ve started hissing
I have found that civility
Can diffuse most animosity
When applied with honesty,
And a heart in the correct vicinity
In our fast paced “modern” society
We are subject to a never ending drudgery
Which has increased our susceptibility
To that which is opposed to the Divinity
Brothers and Sisters I implore thee!
Pause, breath, rest, restore your vitality
Take a break from our pounding reality
Be one with your heart and soul, completely
At peace, it is much more easy
To find the time for that civility
Which can relieve all that animosity
And make it a better world for you and me.
Inspired by the contest: "What is Civility to you?" sponsored by:Adelana
I pray for the return of dignity
When men spoke the truth, and listened well
Treated each other with civility
If their own thoughts, they could no longer sell.
A give and take with a compromise found
No bullying forced, no blood on the street
When gentle voices are the only sound
When the other side must make a retreat.
Shouting and anger are not the best tool
With mouths open wide, and ears closed to all
If you cannot listen, you are a fool
And you will be destined to take a fall.
We must hear all sides, we must find a way
To work together to build a new day!
Exponential growth
of capital and unkindness
in wildly unsustainable urban centers
viciously competes without more virtuous cycles
of silent wilderness integrity
NonCapitalized outside my tribe
compassion co-investments
enveloping local community resilience planning
for optimal health and safety
Community trauma prevention
through personal and public
intimate and cultural
nonviolent
nonverbally sustained co-investments
in family and multiculturally extended friends,
sacred EarthTribe co-investors
All with nomad roots
emerging from a savory
sensory
sentient wilderness
Inviting privileged Elders
to become more actively curious
and retirement committed
to pay co-investments forward
to restore EarthHealth
resilient justice
through universal
cooperatively win/win
healthy and sacred bodhisattva
co-redemptive pay compassion forward
vocations
Fed and watered by silent wilderness
vacations
from finding sufficient time
and capital investors for one more war,
tolerating one more angry domestic retort,
this one final partisan revenge
While co-investing in sufficient wilderness time
and curious interest
and courageous urbane places
for spacious enculturing peace,
kind and quiet response
absorbing regenerate empowering health
and resilient enlightened promise.