Best Contritely Poems


Fear Not, Death

Fear not death 
when it comes for you...
Death is not a monster, 
not even a master, but
a servant--
having no more choice 
in the taking of you than 
you have in the going....

And if you are defiant, 
telling lonely Death,
"By my hand, not yours, 
I will set my own fate!"
Death will smirk, laugh, 
and say without rancor:
"Take my job, please! 
It has never given me
a moment's pleasure. 
To be forever feared,
hated, despised--
when all I have ever done
was to open a door....

But know, proud human, 
(the only animal who
disputes my work), 
when YOU turn the knob,
yes, to eternity's door...
it may not lead you
to the same place 
as when I open it."

I knew his meaning, 
responded contritely:
"Fear not, Death--
I will not resist 
your silent coming. 
I know Who issues 
your deadly orders.  
Forgive us humans
for our denial: 
we keep forgetting 
we exist always, and 
this life is but 
a scratch in time."
Categories: contritely, allegory, death, faith, fear,
Form: Iambic Pentameter

Premium Member One Dreadful Day

As spring showers soaked through to my soft skin,
In hapless home in youthful age akin,
Through stabbing sorrow's sleeplessness I knew,
I grappled grief as fantom fears came true.
He was gone, greener pastures caused his leave.
My haunted heart was left bereft to grieve.
For seven yearning years his loss for me
Caused suffering in mindful misery.
Those years that passed helped heal my hurting heart.
He returned, contritely claimed a new start.
My longing love fraught fitfully with cares....
God had answered this mourning mother's prayers.

3-19-22

*Note: when my son was 14 and a half his biological father stole him, taking him 2,300 miles away with promises of greener pastures. It was the worst regret of his young life. After seven years at the age of 21 he returned home. We remained very close until his recent death at 44. 

~First Place~
My Lost and Found Love Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: JCB Brul
Categories: contritely, mother, rain, sad love,
Form: Alliteration

Premium Member Dark Black Night

Once upon a midnight, ghostly,
Partied many, dead ones mostly.
Feasting in the graveyard, sprightly,
White eyed werewolves gorged, engrossedly.

In the bone yard, drab and squalid,
Apparitions (staring stolid
Neath the veiled moon, clouded lightly)
Sought fresh bodies, lean but solid.

Fiendish eyes shone, light and sparkly,	
Ghouls and demons danced so darkly.
Maggots munching mush unsightly,
Black blood streamed like ink, quite starkly.

Fetid flesh oozed, flowing freely
Through the crypt doors, cold and steely.
Shadows, ashen, pranced contritely,
Ebon serpents slithered eely.

As it happens, all too often,
Zombies dimly closed the coffin –
Ra, the sun god, rising slightly
Hunger pangs were soon to soften.

If you ask, I’ll tell you blankly,
When you’re feeling dark and dankly
Come to where this happens nightly.
They’ll enjoy the feast, quite frankly...
Categories: contritely, fantasy, horror,
Form: Rubaiyat

Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry


Premium Member Falsifying Truth

The concerned politician was running for re-election
   But a very cool, steamy sex scandal he struggled to hide
He used his thick, bald head to provide some harmful protection
   By taking a scholarly, dim-witted babe to be his bride

By hiding appearances this loser won the seat he sought
   But the love/hate relationship with his former mate went on
Under cover, above reproach the governorship he bought
   The wickedly good scheme went awry, the lover suddenly gone

In the shadows of limelight his true love would no longer stay
   The powerless governor didn’t want his private life public
And his charming, boring wife soon suspected there’d been foul play
   Lying alone in her separate room made her healthy heart sick

A sleazy, reputable reporter showed her photographs
   Of her husband and his lover in a platonic embrace
When confronted, the governor made a fortuitous gaff
   Laughing contritely, he told his wife their love he’d not debase

But well-intentioned cons have a way of gleaming through darkness
   For the long-lost mate found his way to the governor’s mansion
Startled resignation on his wife’s face so expressionless
   To explain he was gay led to consolidated expansion

The news was revealed, the governor was forced into hiding
   For he was no longer viewed as a truthful politician
He’d not been upfront, but back down in a closet confining
   And he’d risen to downfall with a concealed revelation 



*For Kristin’s “Oxymoronic” contest
Categories: contritely, confusion, politicalwife, love,
Form: Quatrain

Premium Member In Plain Sight

In the Scottish highlands, a storm's brewing,
lightning flashes lighting up the night sky.
And a liquid moon pools above the clouds,
on a sultry summer's eve in July.

Lock Ness shimmers like a silver shilling
its surface rippling ever so slightly.
And a submerged serpentine silhouette
glides through the waters, almost contritely.

Nessie seldom swims in the full moonlight,
for darkness is its only proven friend.
And instinctively, it hides in shadows,
fearing its sighting might lead to its end.

Under cover of the approaching storm,
it feels safer upon this moonlit night.
And it likes the accompanying rain
so much that it risks swimming in plain sight.

Living in the depths of the lock's waters,
it sometimes yields to the light of the moon.
And rises to play and splash in the waves,
dreading that it'll have to go back soon.


(Quatrain)


Jan.7, 2018
Categories: contritely, fantasy, feelings, imagery, imagination,
Form: Quatrain

Mockingbird

"Mockingbird"

What sayst thou?
Now, here you sit and I speak to you
through strange keys revolutionary,
poetry what is thy purpose for? A mirror wall? 
Where visions unseen speak and reply contritely
black and white pedestrians robed in all their colours 
walking now through their other realms? 
“sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, 
and often is his gold complexion dimm’d;
and every fair from fair sometimes declines, 
by chance or nature’s changing course untrimm’d;”
nightingales and mockingbirds all feathery poets in night-flight quilled
Nightingale, Nightingale thy eternal summer shall not fade, nor fail, 
shining loudly, blessed revelry held in the loving hearts of pages whispering,

“Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May” …

(LadyLabyrinth / 2023)
Categories: contritely, muse,
Form: Narrative


Premium Member Speak To Me With Light

He winces contritely,
The new silver in his hair 
Is only a wise light.
I try not notice for only
He is only my life.

I stare with abandon,
My wine glass
And how it fills red, violet, white
And can only be the vessel for reflection
The filament spreads evenly
And this liquid delights.

I retrace the warmth of the quiet
To the long mountain road at midnight 
The trees in the headlights
The thick forest blackness
Hours of clean air
I crack the car window
Freezing July tonight.

It is longer than expected,
But I know how to wait.
No longer a wispy maiden with eyes of dread.
Life is this heartbeat 
He glances at me often on the curvaceous up climb
Our mature honeymoon 
Captured in memories' sight.

I tell him this is a good place to stop.
It is frightening to be at the top of the wilderness in the cold,
But be bold for the cosmos has an order
That fills every space with spectacle,
In the pitch, there is no interference.
No glaring light bulbs or street signs.
Only creation's windows.

He winds me into his arms, 
Our celestial bodies are now the heat
Against the shiver--Death's  a small disturbance
Speak to me with light my love
For existence only 
When the only cover for sleep will be these stars.
Categories: contritely, inspirational, introspection, love, mysteryme,
Form: Free verse

Premium Member Cut Loose'

Clean cut; people clean cut.! Well styled suits, groomed to impress we gel well 
in success, success reads so well.. Glitz is the goal WOW  the 'surface' the substance.' 

Cut so clean.' free standing see you all & now; how i'll stand not bow..
Yet my whole truth? there's another side too, so today oyay.. Oyay.' 
When I knew I'd been cut.! I felt the keen, clean cut after I saw blood
 Felt its wet slick flow.' the air hit me cold then I felt the blades touch..!

I slipped into the gutter, feeling shock in the fog; a fog of de'je-vue
How was made that clean cut.! Cutting away my humanity; tearing up 
the deal struck with me, going to a better source its just a buisness
of course.! 

So back to the stage, to a new charge who'll be groomed.' To the clean
cut scene, and sin.. What then its purpose? & Is it always to subvert us?
I take note of its action, can I repel its attraction? it starts blunt as a weapon
that over time starts to sharpen, with indifference it hardens, reminds me
of bad times, of my ancestors whoredom; drudgery  worldly serfdom' of
the chains I am wearing, the pain deeply tearing pushes me deep into drown

Become aware of the driver; satan the conniver who through this whole
gamut, is 'himself' just a marker a 'pawn' shades of darker, whom you will
use should it please you, if you want to show us who's who.' So when we
sop ourseleves deep in.. In the oceons of a worlds sin, we will be turned to
our insides? will we tire before we expire? fed up to our backteeth of sin & its
mis-chief.? become ready for redemption; Clean cut from the marle of the mire

Cut from the cords for the fire, when sin has outworn us before death 'is' to call us, of one thing be certain, Jesus rent that great curtain.. Faithful & True
He beat down deaths sting, so forget now your mis-givings to call on Jesus the mighty, call out now contritely.. From the the heart of the humble, from a soul that has stumbled, become 'in Him' to rightness one more spark in His brightness.'
Categories: contritely, jesus,
Form: Verse

Humanities Insanities

Failing to possess 
undeviating qualities 
Railing as they obsess 
retaliating anomalies 
Demonstrating abilities 
observed, are unlikely  
Estimating hostilities 
served contritely 
Lucidity inconsistent 
appearing manic 
Clarity nonexistent 
fearing similarity 
Novelty an avalanche 
ideas essential qualities 
Solidly indefiniteness 
of all meaning modesty 
Simplicity, transparency 
harmony of variety  
Brilliancy of consistency 
Illuminates notoriety 
Complicity of humanities  
with a pure naïveté
Categories: contritely, conflict, life,
Form: Rhyme

The Scottish Play


There was a young Scots lass named Lilt
Who wondered, “What’s under Mac’s kilt?”
She asked him politely,
He answered contritely,
“It used to be braw but it’s wilt”.

There was a young Scotsman named Vin,
A wench tossed a coin with a grin.
He hoisted his kilt,
Said,  "Keep yer wee gilt -
I forgaw ma knickers agin!"

March 8, 2021
Categories: contritely, humorous,
Form: Limerick

Emitterment Is Adamantic

Embitterment is adamantic,

Contritely it binds us to banality.

Why so perplexing to commend?

Compliments coloured profane.

Fawning bravo elucidates,

The wax before the wane.

Inadequacy, scourge of all,

Comparison should be banned,

Rulers immediately burnt,

Thus measurement will cease.

Envy is our burden,

When weal should be the cheer.

Sore it is to adulate,

Inswathed by constant fear.

But paragons revolve like signs,

And Excellence is exceeded.

With each distinctive aeon,

Beauty dons a different skin.
Categories: contritely, introspection
Form: Verse

He Cured Infection

The hardships of my life
Are like a clump of maggots digging through my skin
They are deep within...
How do I inspect them? Where do I begin
When I am in profound distress and sin?

I’m infected…but yet You healed me from all illnesses
I’m defected…but yet You cleanse me from any blemishes or messes
I’m dejected…but You certainly lift up my spirits
But I’m far from being resurrected…I’m ruefully neglected

Jaded by the nightmares…striking me with discord
Like a released sheep roaming in the plains of fate
How do I encounter with my shepherd?
Are we ever going to integrate?
When I’m a lost, stray animal…trampled down by a frown,
Worn-out by my regret and knowing my demise is my royal crown
I’m infected…but yet You healed me from all diseases
I’m defected…but yet You purified me from any filth or squalidness
I’m dejected…but You certainly lift up my spirits

I’m infected…but yet You healed me from all wretches
I’m defected…but yet You cleanse me from any blemishes or messes
I’m dejected…but You certainly pumped up my heart
But, Lord I’m far from being resurrected…I’m contritely mistreated
I’m infected…but yet You dealt with all of my despair
I’m defected…but yet You cured me with blessings you address
I’m dejected…but You definitely rely on my faith that I kindly share
But I’m aching recklessly…but I’m still in progress!

The tribulations of my life
Are like a cluster of wasps, stinging me with vigor in my shin
They puncture me deep within…
How do I infect their nests? Where do I begin
When I am in profound melancholy and cave in

Tell me, Almighty Lord, why do the demons ensnare me with their curses?
They won’t break the tension…in these godforsaken verses!
Categories: contritely, depression, father, fear, hope,
Form: Free verse

Only Two

If all the world's religions
were condensed into only two;
Would it help you in deciding
which proves false, which true?

Well, it's been done already,
a very long time ago -
In the contrast of Cain and Abel,
God's true worship to show.

One came unto God proudly,
by way of the works of his hand.
The other one came contritely,
in the way of God's command.

Cain's offer to God was bloodless,
signifing he felt no need
of the grace God has provided,
by Christ - Abraham's promised seed.

Abel came with the chosen sacrifice
shown in type and shadow before -
as Adam clothed with animal skin,
and the sacrifice the alter bore.

The worshipping of false gods,
is the most common one to see.
It is so natural to carnel thinking,
that nothing is ever free.

These are the two religions,
though, many shades of one there be:
that of works - but, not of grace,
grace is God's gift, work free.
******
Gen.22:8 Abraham said..."God will provide 
HIMSELFa lamb for a burnt offering"... 
Isa. 55:1..."come, without money, and buy"...
Ephes.2:8&9..."it is the gift of God: not of works,
lest any man should boast"...
Rom.8:7 " The carnel mind is inmity"....
1Cor.2:14"The natural man receiveth not"...

Lionel
Categories: contritely, education, religion, god, god,
Form: ABC

Big Sea

Big sea exists not on its own.
It assembles rivers from various sources.
Rivers run kilometres to only end up
In a bigger river that callously swallows them all.

Dirty or clean, big sea never cares about colours, 
For it is a careless and colourless loss, like death.
Queens and Kings, men and children,
Animals and trees both contritely swallows.

Death is as unpredictable as a vulture
Who, date and place never warns of.
Big sea and death are both similar,
As they are never satisfied.

Poem by Mugisho N Theophile
Categories: contritely, anxiety, death, sea,
Form: ABC

Beware Enemies and Enemas

BEWARE OF ENEMIES AND ENEMAS  

Beware the scare to share with sharpened steel
To note the difference ‘tween  fantasy and or the surreal
Take heed for what I say ‘tis truth unclothed before thee
Three routes but bear right and wrong you couldst just be

Oh that old trail’s been there for too many years to count
That road be akin to a mustang who no one would ever mount
The other two lead to a  place where no one has ever returned to recount their tale
And obviously it’s not a place where someone could send me any mail

Tread contritely to the ones you’ve hurt who bare now the knives
Because it could be a matter of who lives and which one survives
This is no missive to depress you nor make anger the way of the day
And I know because you’re all young but my black hair has now become gray

So I give you this lesson not to order you, discipline you nor tell thee what to do
You’ve got three ways to go but only one leads to peace and tranquility for you
I’ve known where to go when the road splits and I’ve known since I was an infant
And here you are at fifty-five, still consternated and no, I will not give you a hint
I                ~© 2011.….free cee!~
Categories: contritely, angst,
Form: Quatrain
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