Best Common Poems
A tribute to young daffodils
may grace the poet's page:
new grass, full streams, or nesting larks,
as Spring takes center stage.
To write of faith feels natural
when pondering creation -
to render praise in poetry
with words of exaltation.
When wisdom is attained in life
not cheap or lightly earned,
and life throws shadows on our path,
we share what we have learned.
A little romance warms the heart
to reminisce of youth,
though tales we weave of loves long past
might quaintly stretch the truth.
A word or two of elegy
while contemplating death,
lamenting those we've dearly loved
who've drawn their final breath.
From time to time one must admit
it does the heart some good
to set one's sense of humor free
to lighten up the mood.
Yet other times a sharp protest
upholds the poet's creed
to fight injustice, hatred, war,
or poverty or greed.
The common thread that drives a soul
to take up pen and ink -
is being human to the core:
to love, to feel, to think.
written 29 April 2023
Now I’m thinking, while sitting on a chair,
There is something that I would like to share
I fear my mind is dense
Can’t make out common sense
How come they call it common if it’s rare?
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Quote: “Common sense is very uncommon”
(Helen Gurley Brown)
"Common sense is not so common"
(Voltaire)
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Contest: Dumb and Dumber Personal quotes
Sponsor: John Freeman
Every Day,
My Father got up early
And sat there, in the dark, like a mushroom,
And thought, and thought, and thought…
And... grieved...
He would not be the hero that he'd hoped,
An ordinary fellow with flat feet...
What DID he think? enveloped in the pre-dawn hush?
Perhaps he thought up all the ways that he would live the day,
And do some thing for everybody else... why? Just to pay
The
Deal He Bought.
To do something he hated, to provide…
To do something he loved, just to provide…
Perhaps he grieved for sons
He feared would fail him,
Or grieved for lonely life lived long in misery,
Or grieved for death's shadow… long, and inching closer
But, No.
I think that was his Pure time,
When stars were still alive, and shed a light
That could not yet be lost in day's grand smear of Sun,
When the silent house made the homely sounds
That only he, at that hour, heard
When the dark enfolded him, and was his blanket,
Reassuring him, that he would have the strength to face
Another day, another week, another year,
Like every Ordinary Man Does,
With slow faith,
And quick fears.
The traveler reeked of weariness,
His companion was Fatigue
Wear upon his clothes suggest
He'd come a million league.
Gaunt were eyes deep set and brown
Above his cheekbones high
His being was pure somnolence
And I heard his silent cry.
Hard roads had been his travel
The pains chiseled on his face
In lines of furrows on his brow
Permanently enlaced
Around I saw no motion there, then ...
His head began to rise
Finally he looked at me ...
Suffering in his eyes.
So quietly I attended
And with a heavy heart
I wanted so to speak to him ...
But knew not how to start
Within his labored breathing
He then began to speak
His words, when finally spoken
Were truthful and unique
His lips worked to form the words -
Then said; "My name is: Common Man,
I'm a father; I've worked hard;
' always done the best I can.
"The road's become uphill and steep with
Burdens I can't propel
I've tried to move on forward -
But, I stumbled here - and fell.
"There are others on me
Who so do depend
I must move on forward,
This mustn't be my end.
"Now I must reach out to you
'Cause before I've never failed
I'm turning now to you
'Fore on hardships I'm impaled".
A calloused hand then extended
Toward my outstretched hand
And I want to heed the call
For this Common Man.
But, Greed and Avarice have won
And assistance can't be lent -
Wall Street, you see, owns me now:
I'm Your Government.
whether bound and dragged
behind a pick-up
‘til limbs slowly dismember
or shackled hand and foot
then tossed unsecured
into the back of a rolling
makeshift coffin
whether judge, jury or executioner
all don the same hat
and fancy themselves a God
and your only crime was to exist
in pigmentation unlike their own
let us not forget our tears
our laughter, our blood
our date with mortality
these common threads
that bind us
Will you leave this life
Without a murmur or a whimper
Be cast down to the depths below
In a hallowed tomb of timber
You did not exit stage left
To the sound of thunderous applause
Or the scream of heavy bombardment
Or some tearing tiger claws
To all the men who slipped away, unnoticed
Here is ye're epitaph
We looked at the world with unblinking eyes
And all we could do was laugh
He wrote poems for the common man,
That everyone could understand.
Gave us life in rhyming works of art.
Brought smiles that could lead to tears.
Made us face our hidden fears.
Touched our souls then led us to our heart.
He painted skies with blues and grays.
With images that danced in haze,
To songs that whispered through the winds of time.
He touched the source that guides us all.
Felt life's essence, heard the call.
Filled our glass so we could sip the wine.
That amphibian-skinned day
(in time) will soften to cotton
perhaps even a strand of silk
with love forever entwined.
The heart pond filled with nibbling ghouls.
In time will turn to whispers of silky soothe.
Dear, hold on for another moment.
Nothing can soil a heart forever.
Not even a cluster of thunder or village idiot.
That angel mind, pecked by crimson crows.
Cawing that same worn song.
"Where did it all go...go...go......go"
Just hold on for yet another moment.
All the haunt and hurt will turn to blue bird mist.
Chirping, "It never left you, dear one.
It was there all along".
You never were really left alone.
Those horrible things coming from the mouth of fear
in time will turn to flowers on golden glade...
the honorable seed takes time to blossom
and never chain stem and petal
to the burning vase of mundane.
That off taste in the goblet
will turn to something needed.
Something far beyond sweetened
Just hold onto the chain of hopeful moments
for infinity if need be.
George Orwell tried to tell 1984
but here's what 1984 told us
1984 was the year we had
The Terminator
the ultimate movie
about Artificial Intelegence
with the ability to travel through time
Today we have AI
Let me be the first to name it
The Terminator
It also has the ability
to pass through time
Soon there will be
no need for employees
No taxi drivers, no cashiers
No stock brokers, no managers
No teachers, No cops
No salesmen, No clocks
What need have we
for prejudice people
they only waste our time
Soon you won't
be able to buy or sell
unless you have AI.
COMMON Faith
In faith, I do have and see with my eyes
From sunset to sunrise beauty in the skies
It’s my heart that loves
While the heaven moves with wooing doves
Old and dote a foolish heart
Memories no longer a part
Only my plaque thus far I count my faith
For He despite of view His light I bathe
4/12/2018
Faith
We might not see eye to eye
And write the same way and fly
I was never a nerd, or never in a convent
Lost a friend at a young age suffered a bereavement
Your love for dance under the disco ball
Makes you love the arts and tell all
I don't know if your Spanish or not,
But your last name makes your verses hot
Your faith is strong when it comes to our Lord
Love and joy of people no matter color you have always stored
Your kind hearted and believe
Make a great afford to conceive
4/12/2018
Love
When people aren't right
I head for the door.
I no longer ask, why, or what for??
When people escalate
I look for the gate, because
you know things aren't going that great..
I did not cause their anger
I did not cause their pain
I'm not their therapists
there is no monetary gain..
I avoid their toxicity by escaping the vicinity..
It's not that complicated
their anger can't be negated..
don't be a target and don't be dense
just remove their audience, it's just common sense.
a first sip of miso soup
exotic and warm
forging a downward path
flowing like a life force
transporting me
as I close my eyes
to a timeless moment
sharing with countless kin
through the ages
young and old
some in the prime of life
some near their final breath
the sum of their days
deep in their heart
AP: Honorable Mention 2020
Submitted on March 6, 2019 for STANDARD CONTEST 190 sponsored by BRIAN STRAND - RANKED 1ST
I'm concerned with the lack of common sense:
notably missing when it's needed most.
And while its absence comes at our expense,
nothing else can match it, not even close.
It once would mitigate anger and greed,
and yet, lately, it has been a no-show.
I pray for its return to thought and deed
if it's still relevant; I'd like to know.
It once untangled impossible knots,
for common sense could cut right through the lies.
But it's missing; try connecting the dots
for it's why anarchy is on the rise.
The phenomenon known as a sneeze
Hits with major velocity. Jeez!
What a mess might ensue
If you heard an “A-choo!”
From the guy on the flying trapeze.
For The Sneezing Limerick Poetry Contest
hosted by ~Gwendolen~
Common Loon we love the most
Can be seen from coast to coast
Across this land gliding on lakes
All across Canada the route it takes
Nesting on islands surrounded by sea
This bird Canadian easy to see
Floats so easily dives for fish
Just as common our Friday dish
A hoot and yodel is its holler
Permanent mark Canadian dollar
Sleek pointed beak head black as kettle
Hardly seen amongst the nettle
Around its neck color green black
Extending wings or tucked in back
Whichever way Canadian beauty
Protecting this bird it is our duty
Reason why this national treasure
No other bird can even measure
Common Loon across this land
Without doubt a Canadian brand
Think Canadian anytime soon
Can't be done without the Loon
Maple leaf loved in a song
Common Loon Canadian strong