Best Col Poems
my brittle bones are like this fence, so built
on throes of horrors shrouded with the hilt
of war's inanely senseless blade, now dulled
by all the precious souls its edge has culled …
now ages gone, those boys amid their dreams
and yet the air still trembles with their screams
so daubed in bleeding sun, how death imparts
these fields of poppy roods and purple hearts.
~ For Lt Col John McCrae, and all life lost to war ~
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Purple 2" Poetry Contest, Kevin Shaw, Judge & Sponsor.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Contest 545 Any Form, Any Theme" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor.
(In honor of the poem by Lt Col John McCrae, and all lives given to war).
What Col. William Barrett Travis might have said to the defenders
of the Alamo on March 5, 1836, the twelfth day of the siege.
Remember the Alamo
My fellow Texians hear what I say
your courage inspires and leaves me in awe;
as I humbly stand before you today
your gallantry from which my strength I draw.
Sant’ Anna’s troops surround this mission’s walls,
and from this bout we face, there’s no escape;
we’ll fight to death until the last man falls,
and with the blood we shed, the fates we’ll shape.
For friends and fam’lies our lives will avow
the future hopes and freedoms they’ll attain,
and when the final man has made his bow,
please know that we will not have died in vain.
Our deeds here will forever write their scripts
when “Remember the Alamo” leaves their lips.
September 18, 2020
Unsung Children
Somewhere deep inside you
Behind the patches and the plasters
Of your broken heart
Somewhere in the shadows
Lays the summer of your soul
As timid as a naked flower
Before revealing the splendour of her petals
To the world
Somewhere running under the rivers of your veins
With the same fragile courage of porcelain
Your tenderness is stronger
Than any army’s rage
And I wish I could take you
Hand held out into the sun
Show you how the cracks and scars
Will be your deliverance
Turn those solemn sorrows faded burdens
Into the breaking clouds of blessed rain
Washes away the ugly stain
Till you see yourself again
Somewhere in the soil and earth of being one
The rooted light and love patiently wait upon
Waiting for the moment
When you burst out from behind the grey
To stand your own salute to the overcome
And I wish I could discover
The realisation of who you are
The exponential trigger
Which would shoot you out to your freedom
With the truth in the splendour of your sacred flower
Leaving you amazed and unafraid
In the libation of your own illumination
To see
All which you couldn’t believe
And which disbelief has bidden
All which you were forced to disbelieve
And which believing has so hidden
Behind the plasters and the patches
Of your broken heart
I know that I am unable
To wipe away the anguish and your pain
But if I could for just one moment
Ask you look into this mirror
For you to see yourself
Once again
You would see the salt in your tears
Are the shinning diamonds
Of your heart
In the unsung forgiveness
And the sacrifices
You have made
“ Wake up my precious loves
“ Slowly steady the nightmare shall recede
“ See
“ With me
“ My precious loves
“ How wonderful
“ You really are
Dedicated to all my friends and my unknown companions
Who as children suffered abuse in any form
It is our lot, to be the un-understood
The cold ignored and the lost forgotten
And an embarrassment to moralities fickle truth
We do, however, have each other
“ X ” Col
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies grow;
Their roots reach down to twine amongst the bones,
The mouldering bones.
Each skull in grinning disbelief voices
Its eternal question, for what? And no answer comes,
No answer comes.
There are no lungs to find;
Long rotted from within, from gasping breaths of gas,
From choking gas.
No flesh remains to clothe the
Bones; torn from limbs by hammer blows of fate,
Cruel, indifferent fate.
No heroes these, but common men
Who selfless thought to serve, to do the right thing,
Unquestioned right thing.
Their souls now wait deep underground;
Deep amongst the rusting, shattered fragments of twisting Death,
Of youthful Death.
Only the Sun kissed faces red;
That wave upon the land above, serve to remind,
Ever remind us.
In Flanders fields the poppies grow.
(With acknowledgement for inspiration to Lt Col John McCrae)
To the memory of my Grandfather, who endured the Somme and spoke not a word of it. Each year, he and my Grandmother made thousands of poppies to sell on Armistice Day for the survivors of that Contemptible Little Army.
" Sci-Fi Bar Jokes & Riddles ... "
( 1 Tim. 1: 11)
(1.)
"Star Wars Bar ..."
A Jedi Knight and a Wookie, walk into a bar ...
The Jedi tells the bartender to keep the drinks coming.
Around dawn, when the Jedi is too drunk to think,
the bartender, then tells them both, its time to pay
their tab. Then the Jedi, turns to his buddy, the Wookie
and asks, "Do You Mind?"
------- ------- ------ -------
(2)
"Dune's Sand Bar ..."
On Arrakis, the desert planet known as Dune,
A Duke and a Baron, walks into a bar ...
Now, which one orders the biggest bottle of Mezcal?
------- ------ ------- -------
(3)
"The Matrix-Mixer Bar ..."
Neo and Morpheus, walk into a bar ...
On that night, every patron, gets their first drink free
Now, the selection is between two drink choices on
the list: They can choose either the 'Crimson Cocktail'
or the 'Blue Kamikaze' ... Which did Neo pick?
------- ------- ------- ------
(4)
"Stargate Symbol Bar ..."
Col. O'Neill and Teal'c, walk into the Stargate
and wine-up in a bar (he-he) ... in a world
very much like our own. While there, they
socialize with the locals, sample strange brews
and get very intoxicated. However, not to worry,
on this world, the bartender is used to visitors
who can't handle the native liquors ... So,
the bar has their own taxi, on standby
for such occasions. So he dials the cab.
But before the cabdriver comes, the taxi
has to be gased up. The question is:
"What gas station does he use?"
------- ------- ------- -------
(5)
"Barsoom/Mars' Whiskey Bar ..."
A Thern and a Thark, walk into a bar ...
They join John Carter, who was drinking Cutty Sark
and a Martini. Also there, is The Princess, who
sips on deja-blue water and a shot of Royal Crown.
The Thern, gives his order for a glass of Jameson & Gin
And the Thark, orders: Jim Bean and Jack Daniels
... and a Bourbon ... and a Beer
------- ------- ------- -------
(6)
"Star Trek's Hit The Deck"
As They Journey Into Darkness & Each Distant Star
Kirk & Spock Walks Into The Enterprize's Bar
And Tho' The Ship May Shake & Warp-Drive-Drop
Mr. Spock Keeps As Cool As A Glass of Ciroc
And Captain Kirk, Just Orders A Scotch On The Rocks
('Cause Scotty Takes Care of All The Enterprize's Stock)
------- ------- ------- -------
Poem/Jokes by: MoonBee
Form:
White mist drapes the col
bitter cold nags at my face ~
black grouse lekking.
"We are the dead. Short days ago
We loved, felt dawn and saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved ...."
By _ Lt. Col. John McCrae (In Flanders Field) 1915
________________
Let me tell you a story . . .
I recall a little boy who played in the sandbox
and drove me crazy most of the time
I had to chase him everywhere
but he had a dream to be a soldier
a Canadian Peace Keeper
we, the family were proud but frightened also
Dad would say, he is a peacekeeper so he will be okay
anyone who tells you peacekeepers do not die
is lying because they do ...
my little brother came home in a box
like so many he fought in a battle far, far from home
I visit his grave often
passing the rows and rows of white stone military markers
my great grandpa fought in WWI
I have a photograph of him in uniform
my grandpa fought in WW2
he never spoke of what he saw
grandma said he came back a changed man
I think a lot about all the men and women who go to war
who have given their lives for peace
wish I could go to Flanders Field Cemetery
and see the 12,000 crosses row after row
is war to be part of this life forever
for, it seems there is always a war somewhere
I read somewhere that
the poppies are dying in Flanders Field
_____________________
November 13, 2021
Poetry/Narrative/Where Poppies Grow
Copyright Protected, ID 11-1606-322-13
All Rights Reserved, 2021, Constance La France
Written for the Premier contest, War
sponsor, Kai Michael Neumann, Judged 12/22/2021
Seventh Place
Reet peteet
go the feet
in Silk Shiny Stockings
toe tapping
knee slapping
Dizzy's beat with Hendricks' words ...
the Poet Laureate of Jazz, dear Jon.
Feel the funk
laid down by Monk
sway with Bird's Just Friends,
those sounds that sear
through time and heart strings.
You'll never hear
another era as
syncopated as that of the Duke.
Gone Miles away now
on a Col' Traine ....
(please don't go)
with only a few left to know
the Strange Fruit sung out of
Billie's soul
whether Strayhorn or Holiday
they've all gone away.
Triumph At the Cross
“ 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. ” Col 2:15 NIV
Christ triumphed over Satan
And his unholy alliance;
Made a public spectacle of evil
In His sacrifice of compliance.
Satan was stripped of his power;
His authority lost forever.
Christ in His obedience
Became our High Priest of favor.
Although it seemed all was lost
To His disciples and followers alike,
Christ’s Triumph At The Cross
Began with each cruel strike.
He was beaten for our healing,
His blood spilt for our redemption—
The Son of the Most High,
Made responsible for all creation.
The Triumph At the Cross
Was not what it appeared.
Failure to the world
Was victory veneered.
On the resurrection morning,
Christ’s victory was made known.
Demons watching His body,
In great fear of God had flown.
Although Christ had been tempted,
Not once did He sin.
His obedient life and resultant death—
Ensured the Victor to win.
Triumph At the Cross
Rendered Satan a banished foe.
To the powers of evil,
This was a mighty blow.
This poem is featured in my Easter Poems book
Copyright © 2010-2012 Maureen LeFanue
www.maureenlefanue.com
There were Indians just over the Brazos
With a buffalo herd in between
They weren’t trying to stay hidden
They wanted to be seen
The chief of these Comanche
Buffalo Hump by name
They say no one's looked him in the eyes
Was ever quite the same
The COL said go parlay
Invite the chief to sup
I want to look him in the eye
And determine just what’s up
With our white sheet fluttering in the wind
Like the scalps on the big Chief’s lance
We started out across the plain
Taking quite a chance
Our crooked-tooth Pawnee scout
Led the way through the herd
Through the smell of a thousand animals
And the sound that would drown each word
I felt and smelled their hot breath
As I rode my pony near
I turned my pony into the throng
A pathway none too clear
Inching through the buffalo
Blinded by the dust
I held on fast to the reins
Just riding my pony's trust
Once through the thundering buffalo
I glanced up to the rise
The Indians still were waiting there
Much to my surprise
The Pawnee scout then turned to us
Said if they should attack
First take out the big chief
Then that little one in the back
I can understand the big chief
But why the little guy
He said he’s like a badger
He’ll fight until he dies
He said that one's a horse thief
The best you'll ever find
He'll snatch a horse from under you
As if you had gone blind
The big chief started towards us
Shut up the Pawnee said
You young boys keep your damn traps shut
I’ll do the talking instead
The Comanche’s body shone with grease
Had a necklace made of claws
He had a stench about him
That made you gag and pause
My eyes met the chief’s eyes
My hand rested on my gun
He had a look could kill a soul
But I was too scared to run
The Pawnee and Comanche
Spoke in some foreign tongue
I vowed to learn their language
While I was still young
Then all at once the chief turned
And rode on up the hill
Our Pawnee scout turned back for camp
But I just sat there still
For he had pointed at me
With that scalp encrusted lance
And said he’d have MY scalp one day
If he ever got the chance
For last week on the Brazos
Someone had killed his son
And looking me right in the eye
He knew I was the one
Mdailey 2/26/12
1st place finish in contest
For PD’s contest dare. Chapter 11 of Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry. It has been years since I read a western but am finding this one interesting.
History of the Star Spangle Banner
Maybe idea of Major George Armistead
The glory of Americans who scan her
Of Mary Pickersgill she was begat
The creation of the original flag
Be still a subject highly debated
Mary Pickersgill was not one to brag
Old Glory she made, beauty wind inflated
Armistead first requested it to be
A large garrison flag for reason
So the British have no trouble to see
Good to see our flag has flown in season
Fifteen colonies equal fifteen stars
Having eight red stripes and seven white stripes
Red and white stripes run in parallel bars
She flows in glory apart from other types
Rumor has it two glories were first made
For a small and a large Mary did charge
A document exists a bill was paid
Though small one be lost or is still at large
The varied small Star Spangled Banner
Never made it home to the Smithsonian
Would be nice to see displayed in some manner
In national museum the large is on loan!
For Contest Dazzle us with History
For Carolyn Devonshire and James Frazer
The History of the Real Star Spangled Banner
The creation of the original flag is still a debated subject.
However, the general story accepted by most historians is that Mary
Pickersgill was commissioned to make the flag by Major George Armistead
for $405.90. Following the victory at Fort McHenry, the flag was preserved
by Col. Armistead and it remained in the Armistead family. A smaller one
which was flown during the actual battle, and a larger one that was
flown as a replacement immediately after the British retreat.
This was a common wartime practice of the period.While no one
can say for sure what really happened, documents exist that show that
Mary Pickersgill was paid for two separate flags, a small one and
a larger one. If the smaller flag exists, its whereabouts are unknown.
In 1907, George Armistead’s grandson, Eben Appleton, expressed
interest in donating the flag to the state of Maryland or to the city of
Baltimore. After discussions with Maryland’s governor and the Mayor of
Baltimore, Appleton eventually placed the flag on loan to Smithsonian Institution
and it was displayed in the Hall of History at the National Museum of American
History. The loan was converted to a gift in 1912 and can still be
seen at the National Museum in Washington, D.C.
No citizen has become a politician and no politician was not a citizen
That is Right Of Citizenship which is the fourteen amendment
I think legislature and parliament does the best they can under the
Circumstance but it comes a point of Leader and what know as Leadership
And the quantity of standard know of citizen which is the
Twenty Fourth Amendment
Individualistic and character define once culture it is what makes
A colonel a state to separation standard of parliament and if not
True the minimum wage would raise for all states what is the true agenda
For some!
Take the first col ligate marching band of 1907 Chicago one band one sound
Let take 1932 of Four Freedoms I bare witness to say history does repeat it
Self and oh how they march on capital hill for Freedom Of Speech oh how some may disagree with E sports it may lead the way to new ligate law to set to place
TO question all that is discuss just for a moment question what is
Populist.
The years fold into one another
like that old collapsible cup
I used to take on picnics;
memories in sepia and disappearing,
resistant, resurrected only by
a word, a sign, a sound.
It is a vaporous thing to cherish;
the wonder of it, not in its nostalgia,
rather in its why.
Old images grow ragged on their edges.
The simple times were not the best,
and fine sandpaper
is the modifier of choice.
I thought of lemonade at four o'clock,
popcorn by the radio
and Stoopspeakle nagling*
on a Sunday afternoon.
Then it is that I remember
turning up the volume
just to drown, I think,
my parents' argument.
~
*Col. Stoopnagle was a radio comedian
back in the early 40's, whose shtick
was speaking in spoonerisms
Triumph At the Cross
“ 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. ” Col 2:15 NIV
Christ triumphed over Satan
and his unholy alliance;
made a public spectacle of evil
in His sacrifice of compliance.
Satan was stripped of his power;
His authority lost forever.
Christ in His obedience
became our High Priest of favor.
Although it seemed all was lost
to His disciples and followers alike,
Christ’s Triumph At the Cross
began with each cruel strike.
He was beaten for our healing;
His blood spilt for our redemption—
the Son of the Most High,
made responsible for all creation.
The Triumph At the Cross
was not what it appeared.
Failure to the world
was victory veneered.
On the resurrection morning,
Christ’s victory was made known.
Demons watching His body,
in great fear of God had flown.
Although Christ had been tempted,
not once did He sin.
His obedient life and His death
ensured the Victor to win.
Triumph At the Cross—
rendered Satan a banished foe.
To the powers of evil,
this was a mighty blow!
This poem is featured in my Easter Poems book
Copyright © 2010-2012 Maureen LeFanue
www.maureenlefanue.com
CHARIS
May grace pour upon us ,be
ever in our mouth,upon our lips
& a garland to our head.This grace
that brings salvation in our time
of need to establish our heart
To do great wonders and signs
among His kingdom people.To
witness the Good News,proclaim
the riches of Christ Jesus,as good
stewards to the manifold grace of God.
Zech 12:10 Ps 45:2 Prov 3:34 4:9
Rom 3:24 Col 4:6 2 Tim 2:1 Tit 2:11
Heb 4:18 13:9 12:28
Acts 6:8 1 P 4:10
Listen to me recite all my poetry on youtube