Best Compatriots Poems
I remember clinging on to the naked branch,
which had been my home since the season of birth.
In my days of botanical glory,
flourishing and nourishing in nature
I would spread my vibrant wings of luscious green,
blooming alongside a canopy of compatriots,
shading the world from bright sunlight.
At night we would shimmer under moonlight,
sheltering sleeping nests weaved by 'expecting' birds.
When only baby feathers remained,
and as birdfeeders slowly emptied,
skies altered their aura in hues of grey,
one by one my 'fellow stems' started to fall.
Helpless I watched them decay under trampling feet,
each step sucking the life from them.
Rampant rain arrived soaking the veins of my life,
dripping tear drops upon the ground beneath me.
I wondered if the sun would return to show mercy,
hydrating my crumbling sallowish skin,
but in its goodbye,
I was left abandoned in the cold.
Wondering
is this my destiny?
A temporary existence -
why was I not formed in an evergreen shield?
Lost in thought, abruptly,
the winds began blowing stronger,
rain pelted more persistently -
my grip became weaker
so I let go screaming
I remember falling in slow motion,
being blown around,
twisting and twirling, up and down,
as my
'whole life flashed before me'
Car headlights flashing,
I was defenceless to my upcoming doom.
My end, a predictable fate of fragile vulnerability,
was near, as I prepared for my last sigh.
but before I took my last breath,
I fell upon a brown eyed,
giggling child's face,
tangling in her curly hair -
"Mummy, can I keep it."
she asked
as she placed me carefully in her schoolbag.
in between the pages of her diary..
Categories:
compatriots, analogy, autumn, innocence, perspective,
Form:
Personification
Covered in Clovers
With a green pen I scratch out this holiday cheer,
as I chug down another pint of Guinness Green Beer.
Reminiscing with compatriots from our ancestors country of old,
the unconquerable island surrounded by waters of aquamarine cold.
All our blarney and boisterousness of our Irish Ancestors comes out,
no matter what kind or how much beer is consumed pale ale or stout.
Pretending like we we're in a pub in lovely downtown Dublin, Ireland,
acting up like the fools, dontcha wanna know these crazy men?
There's no place on earth as beautiful for I've searched the world over,
Not one place can compare to this island meadow all covered in clovers.
Categories:
compatriots, beauty, color, drink,
Form:
Couplet
The bones of a forest are stripped clean by the ocean and strewn on her shores. The sun-bleached wooden cemetery leaves a somber impression on the morning scavenger of shells, who meanders in the gray mist of a fall morning dawn. He is lulled by the hush of the fog and the rolling waves that break on a gravel strand. With a head bowed down and hands crossed behind him... he searches... searches for opalescent treasures... like answers to life's questions. Is this how it all started, or is there some grander purpose? Then a gull caws as if an angel calls the seeker's attention. And as he looks up his sight receives a message delivered by two brown pelicans sailing along a cresting wave. This was here before you... and it will continue when you are gone. But now... you are mine... and we are one... divine.
by Martin Braun
6:30 a.m. September 20th, 2023
Jenner, California
To my oceanic compatriots. They put our love under a glass dome, posted deterrent signs on the paths we created 35 years ago, and sealed off the oceans. If they heard my, your, stories, they would run the environmental Bolsheviks into the sea like the demon-possessed pigs that they are. These self-righteous propagandists closed Drakes Oyster farm with lies, and they, like gulag interrogators of 1936, threw us into a sort of prison within the spaces of our minds, torturing us by excluding us from "the motherland's environment", and created an unimaginable wasteland with the walls they built by a lust for power. We are of this world... it is they who are aliens. Let us enjoy what God made. We created the protections with our respect and love for the environment. The environmentalists simply make laws, criminals, and prisoners.
Categories:
compatriots, beach, ocean,
Form:
Free verse
white balloon of pulse beats
its sluggish hops on March land
matted with half melted snow
freed from a nearby high rise balcony
cut from its red and blue compatriots
still hooked onto the railing
a matter of strings becoming frayed
small white blimp
reacting to a wind that means much less to others
unsettling to think it can't find its mooring
its bustable skin
flimsy
like the shallow breath of an aged sleeper
how long before it flees to some kind of shelter
small white balloon
soon to be picked up as litter
bouncing in its frailty
blow by blow
a swivel from side to side
and always
its sense of being under seige
Categories:
compatriots, allegory, allusion, endurance, imagination,
Form:
Free verse
February 19th- March 20th
P is for Picturesque, strikingly handsome or beautiful.
I is for Independent, not swayed by others.
S is for Steadfast and loyal compatriots.
C is for Cooperative, an asset to any team.
E is for Eclectic, one of diverse interests.
S is for Satisfying, and most excellent company.
Happy Birthday to one and all you delightful beings!!
Love, Panagiota Romios
February 17, 2020
10am PST
Categories:
compatriots, birthday, tribute,
Form:
Acrostic
Arise, O compatriots,
Let’s come together to build the broken walls,
Arise, your sinking ship for safety calls;
Let’s rebuild our heroes’ humble halls.
Nigeria's call obey,
Like a baby she yearns and yells for succor;
The spears and swords of war grieves her sour,
Let arise to save her heart that’s faint and poor.
To serve our fatherland,
And not to sell our brain to the western pest,
Nor make our green garden, a terrain for test;
Let’s arise to give our fatherland the very best.
With love and strength and faith…
Not with our grains soaked in gall and greed;
We have a patriotic plea and a noble need,
To build a nation with love: a colorful creed.
The labour of our heroes past…
Yearn and yell for our hand to uphold
The sure substance in our state’s stronghold,
So we can remain a fat and flourishing fold.
Shall never be in vain…
Let’s furnish our field to stop brain drain;
Let’s shield our seas from spills and stain,
Let’s get our gains without playing with pain.
To serve with heart and mind…
A land where there is hope and health;
A land where lords and labors walk in wealth,
A land where giants and ants share same strength.
One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity
Walking in wealth and wisdom,
Seen by sons and strangers as a kind kingdom,
Where everyone is sure of soaring to stardom.
Categories:
compatriots, dedication, people, heart, heart,
Form:
Verse
Vula Amehlo (open your eyes)
"Vula Amehlo"is Zulu for "open your eyes"
Vula amehlo
sisters and brothers
though eyes aren’t needed to behold
the flowing tears of those of us, left out in the cold
vula amehlo
sisters and brothers
the time to turn your back is long gone
no time now to pander and no time now to fawn
vula amehlo
sisters and brothers
we the people are hungry, angry, and our skin is torn
though we say it loudly, unbowed we are, and not forlorn
vula amehlo
sisters and brothers
we may be invisible and tucked away far from you
but we are here, still, waiting for the promise of freedom to come true
vula amehlo
sisters and brothers
you see us sometimes, though you avert your gaze
come on now, compatriots, awaken from your complacent daze
vula amehlo
sisters and brothers
we are the open wound that festers on your ostentatious display
band-aids won’t do anymore, we are here, and we are here to stay
vula amehlo
sisters and brothers
as you roll down your windows and toss us some coins, look in our eyes
we are your slumbering consciences, we are the famished proof of your lies
vula amehlo
sisters and brothers
forget us not as you tuck your pretty children in, and turn off the lights
we too are the children whose mothers, fathers fought for all our peoples’ rights
vula amehlo
sisters and brothers
don’t think that we are bitter and livid for no reason or cause
we have been waiting and waiting, for days and a decade, without any pause
vula amehlo
sisters and brothers
vula amehlo
mothers and fathers
vula amehlo
brown and white and all shades of this rainbow so bright
we repeat what we said, we are not going to melt away into the night
vula amehlo
one and all
our patience is being tested from day to day, year to year
we have listened to your promises and we now demand that you hear
vula amehlo
open your eyes
and see us, and hear us clearly, and hear us today
band-aids won’t do anymore, we are here, and we are here to stay
vula amehlo
open your eyes
Categories:
compatriots, black african american, courage,
Form:
Oh, slaves of the nation who works and sweat!
Tired and restless--but still flee overseas
to support a hungry future that frets.
With barks and claws gained from descent degrees,
if we must succeed-- oh, let us nobly work
so our blood and sweat may not fall to scrap,
veins swollen yet act by act we don't fall to smirk.
Freeing a flood of effort through thorns of gaps
though greedy compatriots act like monsters,
their eyes open wide but gone blindfolded by lies
some struggles and shout, aiming to conquer
bracing away from forms of guns and bribes.
Slaves are we but we're brave enough to replace
those crashing obstacles with lace of grace!
____________________________________________
***Sponsor Shadow Hamilton
Contest Name Your Favourite Old Poem #3
++Placed 5th++
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***Sponsor Cyndi MacMillan
Contest Name I CAN'T BREATHE: A peaceful Protest, An Anthology of Powerful Poems
++Placed 1st++
O.E. Guillermo
4:29 pm; December 12, 2014
Categories:
compatriots, angst, desire, inspiration, life,
Form:
Sonnet
Why Africa
Africa! Africa! Africa!
Once considered, the bosom of unity
Often regarded as the mother of humanity
A center for the respect of human dignity
A people embedded with the spirit of integrity
Usually seen as the world’s mirror of charity
Characterized by the true meaning of hospitality
We were once referred to as pillars of morality
What a plague on Africa?
Africans are now killing Africans
Brothers are slaying brothers
Patriots are betraying compatriots
Mothers and children now refuge under bridges
The old and the weak abandoned to their fades
Where have we kept our forefathers’ legacies?
They taught us love and oneness
Trained us to stand for uprightness
Showed us how to be compassionate
Nelson Mandela fought for love, peace, unity and justice
He had a dream for African unity and not Afrophobia
Kwame Nkrumah advocated for African freedom
He did not promote African terrorism
Africans, Africans... where are you?
Stand up and drop your arms
Drop all weapons of destruction against Africa
Embrace your fellow Africans with love
Unite and put an end to racism and discrimination
Rise above your selfishness and stop xenophobia
Africans, we are one and indivisible Africa
Together, we can put an end to all xenophobic attacks!
TANGWA LIVINUS ACHA
UNIVERSITY OF YAOUNDE II, SOA
20th April 2015
Categories:
compatriots, abuse, africa, discrimination, racism,
Form:
Epic
As dark as night
You are nothing but agony
Misery ,separation, cries , death ,hate
Perpetrators once my
Friends, neighbors, colleagues, companion
Transformed to haters.
GERMANY , EX YUGOSLAVIA ,RWANDA ,BURUNDI
You patrolled with negation
See ,see now they walk
Head bend ,shame on their faces
doubts in them , repentance they seek
We pardon them, come changed compatriots
Click clack boom boom
Click clack boom boom
Cling cling chop chop
Babies, women ,men ,young ,old
Down, hmm.
Never ,never again
Categories:
compatriots, bereavement, betrayal, dark, depression,
Form:
Imagism
I watched them took-off for their search for greener pastures
Adventurers with unclosed or unknown destinations
One thing was sure; they were going to cross the Mediterranean
Their determination overweighed the risk ahead of them
They were so desperate for a better life than their present conditions
Even like armless soldiers at war, they were ready to embark on their journey
These were all disgruntled youths from Africa
Their fingers of anger were all pointed at their leaders and governments
I watched them packed their loads, ready to face the unknown
Their faces proved disappointments from their fatherlands
In their minds, there was no better place than across the Mediterranean
These were jobless graduates from Africa
It was better to die in a strange land than live in a corrupt fatherland
These youths were running away from embezzlement and violation of human rights
But little did they know that all their dreams would be shattered in the Mediterranean Sea
I saw a group of frustrated mothers when the sad news stormed our land
Their dreams for a rich and better life had drowned in the Mediterranean
They cried with accusing fingers pointed at the government
Yet the government showed no compassion for her fallen compatriots
Neither did they express any pity for tears of these poor mothers
How I wished this injustice was rendered to them as well
But there was so little I could do by then
Categories:
compatriots, adventure, africa, grief, journey,
Form:
Epic
A rare Arab and Asian identity which is distinct in topography;
blessed with an excellent human resource in health services;
its heart, destroyed and rebuilt seven different times;
having a name unchanged and sustained to reach historic zeniths;
surviving a number of years more than the number of Brazilian Airports
while its tongue resonates in three different dance moves.
This land historically occupied by over 19 intruders
holds the world book capital and appears in the league
of the most popular shopping destinations globally.
In the global skyscraper of night clubs, sky Bar stays at the top.
The creation of the first boat and the establishment of the first sail
makes the Phoenicians topple Christopher Columbus to reach America.
Down town Beirut raises its flag high above all others
in the building of its law school.
Rooted from its gardens is the creators of Tom and Jerry
and holds the shield of pride as the first constitution driven Arab Nation.
A plug in the large socket of the Arab peninsula
is this land with the highest percentage of Christians in its league;
having a city named after the combined scrolls of the Christ-like religion
and sidon signifying the first miracle center of the Messiah;
with the popular belief of the divine plantations of the cedars.
It is sealed by the several mentions of both land and tree in the holy scriptures.
Even though it is a fortieth of the entire religious empire
its garage gives out a large chunk of the peninsula’s publications.
Unique in its spring, when skiing and swimming are both possible;
possessing fifteen flowing waters, each coming from its own mountainous source;
with four times more compatriots outside its landmark
than within its territorial fence.
Its past time events of the wild fire of civil wars
all ignited by the sparks of inter-religious differences
reflect a large society harbouring eighteen different faith
to form a nation with hidden political and economic influences.
Categories:
compatriots, arabic, community, earth, education,
Form:
Ode
as some African
young leaders
are standing up
with the problems
of millions of Africans.
they know well
about
the work they are doing ...
Africa's advocates
who know
the consequences
of the dangerous tasks
which they are choosing ...
Just to help their compatriots.
they can be wiping out
silently
at any moment
by the problems
makers.
Young leaders who saw
the struggles,
Struggling to convince
some folks
Who ignored
their struggles
for centuries.
But
Africa will rise
Africa will rise up
Africa will rise and
shine the whole World.
Categories:
compatriots, africa, imagery,
Form:
Free verse
Nigeria is on the precipice
A country in dire need of redemption
Blessed extravagantly by providence
But ravaged ignorantly by
Leadership failure
Built on faulty foundation of
Impunity, corruption and nepotism
Which has engendered overtime
Inequality of crass proportion
As insignificant few
Swim in obscene opulence
While embarrassingly majority
Wallow in criminal poverty
Arise you men of good will
Silence is no longer golden
Arise wrestle our country back
From the spirit of live and let die
Arise my compatriots to the clarion call
To rescue God’s masterpiece
From total annihilation
Stand up and be counted
Together let us overcome
Categories:
compatriots, abuse, anger, betrayal, conflict,
Form:
Free verse
He betake himself to his room
Does a clear blue sky betokening a bright day?
His motivating memory needs to retrace the day,
The reverberating revival and the doom.
In the boulevard, sloppy and slippery
Derelicts yet living on the streets
Where are the members of the expedition?
Buster! Prominent players on the pains.
In his fatherland, full of luxuries,
Where he is used and kicked
With nothing like honey moon or period
His readiness is there forever,
Like compatriots who look to their history.
For words he wails in himself is not of doubt:
What goes around, comes around
And what comes the world goes the world.
A deranged attacker, could he be?
Categories:
compatriots, home, hope, memory, sorrow,
Form:
Narrative