Best Espousing Poems
I hear the voices you once bequeathed to me
Enchanting concert music in symphony of love
But I left the theater before the show was over
Walking all alone in the missteps of contempt,
Endorsing the reticence of unspoken words.
Deep in my psyche these memories now reside
Where devoid of fond smiles, blossoms have dried.
As I refuse to accept that I’ve lost you forever
Echoes of outcry from the unsung emotions
Poignantly evoke the saddest lines of discourse
In conversations espousing laments of my soul,
Within backstreets of mind amid chaos of thoughts
Having lost directions to dreamlands of the past,
For I refused the promise in winter’s goodbye
And rejected fiery passions of autumnal vibes,
As I squashed the dreams in flights of monarchs—
Never kissing fragrant lips of doting ambrosia.
Though you guided me through twilight of romance
I struggled in ineptitude of lovesick night of dark—
Oh, how I missed my mark beneath the northern star!
As my storm keeps churning, hosting a cyclone,
The rivers, once calm, have flooded my crops
And gusty winds ravaged dismantling my farm
And tall weeds have now occupied my sidewalks,
As dissonance of our love remorsefully squalls
Within indecisive nomenclature of my timid heart.
September 25, 2019
Placed 1st: In the backstreets of my mind poetry contest
Sponsor: Silent One
Placed 3rd: Strand select C contest by Brian Strand
Categories:
espousing, love hurts,
Form:
Free verse
Woken from a sound sleep
listening to the walls breathe
sense something new on the cusp
of my imagination island
ears perking up
feel like I am not alone
hear the last five words of a poem
ideas flickering from my bowels
living poetry is difficult
loving poetry easier
I know a spirit guide is here
wanting me to do something
I wait for a sign
poems nestle in my soul heart
covert missives
espousing a truth
I do not recognize
a complete stanza writes herself
in my mind’s eye
I shudder
time to write
my soul knows
Categories:
espousing, poems, write, writing,
Form:
Free verse
A lifetime of waiting, stacks of National
Geographic half as tall as me, piled on
every step. A girl with nothing to do but dream.
The yellow-black jackets buzzed, I flowered
as I turned the pages. The relics of Tutankhamun
fascinated: gold, turquoise, lapis and the slaves
in mud-brick houses they live in still.
I longed to be the Pharaoh’s daughter;
I kohled my eyes.
Egypt called to me. Pyramids, deserts baking,
heat mirages, and oases of palms with still blue water.
The twenty-first century’s reality is far different.
Cairo teems with discontent, Mubarak’s campaign
posters hung from each lamppost.
Two weeks before the Arab Spring, I was there.
The only safety found behind the gun-guarded,
razor-wired gates of the upper class, and even then—
A country espousing religious freedom was killing
Coptic Christians in the streets, and bombing churches.
Cairo’s one poster child synagogue stood empty,
except for tourists—dark, decorative, haunting,
full of tales of Christ’s sojourn in Egypt?
The pyramids rose hen-pecked by pollution
through a surreal orange sky. Masked women
walk the male dominated streets. Women
live in fear in or out of the hijab.
The majesty of yesteryear, the pyramid of Giza
squats like a discard in the ashtray of desert.
Vendors and tourist litter the site.
Baksheesh is the only God in Egypt,
baksheesh and the horded water of the Nile.
First Published in here & there magazine
in the UK
Categories:
espousing, anxiety, fear, travel,
Form:
Free verse
Dear dada
add an “ist”
to it all
I reject
in the face
of it all
Aestheticism
true beauty
is found in the
ugliness of it all
peaking out
under coverlets
of mud
throwing
spit balls
of pulchitrude
wrapped up
time bombs
that stick
to the banal
unexpected beauty …
of it all,
ambitious
edges and curves
open and inviting
accompanied by caveats
there will be
splendid over-ripe
gardens of Eden
followed teasingly
in close pursuit, by the
madhatters’ tea parties
and Hugos' balls
rooms too large,
and rooms too small
it’s all
rather
simple
underneath
the dirt
of it all
precious
and most expensive
jewels are found
smudged kisses
mascara stained
cheeks of Cinderellas
holding spaces
for roses are red
and violets are blue
daisy chains
of love me
love me knots
tightly
tied
small victories
virtues held
and lost, conquests
stroking glass slippers
drinking in the gins
and espousing
their 3 wishes
looking for
long lost Kings
failing that,
settling for
paupers, not
princes
their crystal balls
over brave and
missing the mark
shattering
then later
lying unclaimed
under the sun
melting
through the
flaws
Dear dada
add an “ist”
to it all
escapist
artist
tourist
minimalist
extremist
illusionist
fatalist
but never
realist
escape artist
mud wrestling naked
in poetic jello, at the
Cabaret Voltaire
Candide Diderot. ‘24
Dadaist.
Categories:
espousing, art, muse, poets, satire,
Form:
Free verse
A very interesting, yet a confounding topic
That may perhaps raise a storm in a teacup
Those espousing the cause of women’s lib
Might find it disparaging and worth a snub.
Anyone can be as cute as one can be; in fact
But it is yet better to be wise than to be sweet
For brains will guide ever in life; a true friend
But in beauty one finds a playmate; short-lived.
For beauty is temporary that lasts for a while
It fades away with each passing day’s smile
It is not the outward appearance that is vital
But one’s own soul’s doing that is beautiful.
Generally beauty demands added attention
But it is the brain that commands position
The ignorant countless madly chase beauty
But a chosen few pursue brains diligently.
Thus it is better for the fairer sex to concede
That the peripheral beauty is but skin deep
And what truly in the long run matters most
Is certainly not looks but grey matter intact.
Categories:
espousing, beauty, confusion, wisdom, ,
Form:
Free verse
Winter's crisp yet early breath whispered to me this eve
A yearly session as we, the cold and me, gather
Conferring when, when can I join her, join her as she
gallops wild and free-
Life has been cocooned, reigned tight and sensory
deprived-
all I cry for is the wild. The wild and the wind, as I was
meant to follow-
Espousing her movements is where I was meant to be.
How could you know?
Wrapped in a thick, sticky web of dubiety, never has she,
the wind,
seen me free. Dreams of conifers and dancing emerald
aurora always
calling to me, always calling and pulling me.
Yet, in this populated, polluted cocoon I remain as a
corpse,
not as a thing wild. A thing to lick raindrops off grass and
go where the day seizes me, never to wander among the
honeysuckle and bees, listening... just listening...
Concrete, lights, noise, horns, words, highways, bi-ways,
runaways, flyaways
Speak easies, slippery tongues, silty breaths, monitors,
breaks, jump ropes,
shoes, bonds, bonds- chains. Always chained.
Bosses, fights, liars, diers, criers, things always moving,
changing, squirming, vibrating, stinking, pissing, kissing,
f***ing.
Disease and lies- untruth to ones own self.
Utter self deception- the worst sin of all.
The cold wind fingers my hair, touching intimately
the parts she wishes to follow her-
the cocoon wraps even tighter, pushing her away,
completely away.
But I can still smell her and know she wants me.
She knows I want her, she knows I love her,
she knows I will die before ever truly knowing her.
Categories:
espousing, confusion, me,
Form:
Carpe Diem
A Wish
For children sired from out of wedlock
Roaming the streets, begging for alms
With weary eyes from a day’s plight
To get their crumbs and spare the night
For girls robbed and sanctity trampled
Buried in rut, and scared to move
Spurned and cast away from home
With queuing lads to buy her form
For souls scorned and gloomed
Who live a life of doom and misfortunes
May find their life at the end of the fork
Espousing all strength, and daring to move.
Categories:
espousing, sympathy, life,
Form:
Quatrain
Some Choices We Regret
Written: by Miracle Man
2/5/2023
Sometimes in life we will make bad choices,
while believing that some have no escape.
During waning years comes to us voices,
saying, “time don’t allow for life reshape”.
Certain choices we’d thought were forever,
so with mental distress we’re now beset.
Being late in life, one choice we won’t sever,
so declining years contain much regret.
So we spend many hours backward browsing,
searching for a time that might give us hope.
Both were not given to same idea espousing,
so in sorrow we now cling to a knotless rope.
Categories:
espousing, anxiety, health, life, love,
Form:
Quatrain
I grew up holding a dear man in high esteem,
And as strange to you as it may seem,
Though there was a plethora of heroes to be had,
My all time hero was and is my dear old Dad!
He led his family by setting a Godly example.
His loving kindness was more than ample.
Struggling through the Great Depression,
Supporting his family was his only obsession!
He was a devout believer in God and his nation,
And was always active in his congregation.
Dad was a firm believer in the Golden Rule,
Espousing that old adage teaching Sunday School!
Though he has been gone for many years,
I still think of him and shed rueful tears,
As I recall the greatest hero I know of.
Care of his family and others was a labor of love.
He made no ripples as he traveled life's rocky road,
And with many burdens his back was bowed.
Just an ordinary factory worker in the local town,
No doubt in Heaven he wears a many-starred crown!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved
A tribute to my father, William John Hinshaw
Categories:
espousing, family, father, hero, old,
Form:
Rhyme
Truth is clear and One, but the veils of belief
hide outward constructs causing spiritual grief.
The Word is Truth, in reading some comprehend
but the heart’s intuition does not transcend
the Spirit’s intent, so, afraid to awake
and slumbering ‘til death, His truth still opaque
revealing dirty mirrors of illusion,
but still espousing pride’s hidden confusion.
The Truth is eventually diluted—
the fruit bearing tree becoming uprooted
with truth’s seeds being cast in Love’s wind waiting
for Allah’s planting of rebirth, creating
fresh hope and flourishing gardens of His Will
always reborn, Truth never becoming nil.
Categories:
espousing, faith, religious, spiritual,
Form:
Masnavi
Why do we search so far and wide
for fruitless quests of worth?
Or confirmation of valued deed
from external source unimpressed?
Why strive for others to conform while
espousing how needy they are?
Then when eventually let down, no surprise there,
why hide behind drug or jug?
External the search, so my experience has been,
seems the easiest path to take.
Yet doesn’t it seem that path is often
a rotary to where you began?
Outwardly we search, when all the while,
our answers are very close by.
Seldom we dare to look near by for the fear
that we harbor inside.
The answers, we fear, reveal a truth we fear,
that our true selves are ugly and vile.
Yet I’ve learned the truth, faced my ugliness inside,
changed what I wanted and accepted the rest.
Face yourself, be honest to you, choose who you are today.
Stop looking out, look in at yourself
keep what makes you happy and lose the rest.
Categories:
espousing, allegory, drug,
Form:
Free verse
She is adorn in henna blooms
Her lips as red as crimson
Her fragrance fills rooms like pillars of smoke
Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense
Betrothed to One Husband
A marriage of minds
A virgin hard to find
A chaste virgin Bride
She is called to be Holy
Pure and intolerant to sin
A spotless wife without blemish
She bears pleasant fruits, the very best
She has marred her beauty
She has turned away and is gone
She has given in to idolatry
Espousing to another deity
She’s like a leaven that leavens the lump
The Bride in town is corrupted
“Your garment is greatly polluted; you have played the harlot with many lovers,
yet return to me”, says the Lord. Jeremiah 3:1b
Categories:
espousing, beautiful, divorce, engagement, forgiveness,
Form:
Free verse
Wee, wee rid rid coated thing
tae ma hert sic joy yea bring.
Wae elegance an' tender charm,
ma racin' hert yea sae disarm.
Yea hang there among yer kind,
Bright an' braw but sae refined.
Ma wee rid rid coated friend,
sae Bonny, I'll nae pretend.
Each year fur us yea come along,
espousing nature's sweetest song.
A song not o' sound but o' exotic taste.
a taste fur oor lucky paletes tae be graced.
Here fur oanly a wee wee time,
yea mak ma taste buds gently chime.
Tastin' like nuthin' else oan this earthy place.
wae yer wee rid rid bonny smilin' face.
Frae yer parent tree yea duly burst ,
as a wee fluer yer gently nursed.
Caressed by bees yer scent doth bring,
eventually tae be a wee green pimply thing,
Bathed wae the Sun's life giving rays,
growing, maturing in such a wondrous way.
Changin', yellow, pink, noo tae yer rid rid style,
tae a Bonny Cherry tae please us fur a wee wee while.
Av jist picked yea up frae among yer like,
frae the box foo o' Cherries whay are jist alike.
But you ma wee wan are jist fur me,
hope yer taste is in the proper key.
Oh my, sic a burst o' pleasure,
ma wee wee rid rid bloomin' treasure.
Say juicy say sparklin' ma mooth foo o' joy,
wunnerful, exotic, aw ma senses yea do employ.
hank yea, thank yea ma wee rid rid friend,
yer the greatest, aye I'll nae pretend.
Tull next year, tull wee meet again,
whin I'll listen tae yer song o' sweet refrain.
A song o' taste an' no o' sound,
o' tasting magic from aw Cherries abound.
Rest now yer gentle parent tree,
an' please bloom anither day fur me tae see.
The Auld Yin.
Categories:
espousing, nature, song, song,
Form:
Quatrain
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, born 1806,
Extraordinary Poetess, daughter, sister, wife, Abolitionist
Confined for a time yet her heart, mind and spirit
Roamed free beyond her environment, espousing, expressing
Love and devotion so eloquently in beautiful Sonnets
To: Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Entry into Brian Strand's Vignette-Literary Love Affair Contest
Categories:
espousing, dedication
Form:
Narrative
We as British people are known around
the world for our own individual traits
Such as we are supposed to be and
thought of as polite
Love ever so saying and apologizing
for anything and everything even if it
isn't actually in fact out fault
People say we even love and don't
mind queuing
Our self deprecating sarcastic sense
of humor
The Crown a Royal wedding like when
Harry met Megan
But there are also a few other traits that
can be added to the list which aren't
that great , such as
How we love espousing our views and
values upon the world at large with such
overbearing righteousness and sincerity
Well that is all well and good if in fact
theoretically it actually worked in practice
and we had managed to solve our own
problems here closer at home first
No 1 has quite ever explained why we
can't don't or are unable to rather try fixing
our own 1st before we go in search of others
And I promise then I will start worrying about
the plight of the snow leopards of Afghanistan
homeless cat's 3rd world debt and adopting
a child or building a school in god knows where
When I have any spare change left after
tripping over and giving to the homeless
on my doorstep or soon to be able to afford
and provide either electricity or food for
my own family
Who made us the arbiter of the world
and best placed to right and solve
all of the world's problems and wrongs
Our day's of Empire are long gone we
are no longer technically a superpower
Maybe it's time to start concentrating on
matter's here closer to home
And try instilling and restoring a bit
or some sense of pride back in all
of our own
Because everyone would benefit from
that and wouldn't only be good but
Great for all of us who reside here in Britain
Categories:
espousing, slam,
Form:
Free verse