Best Even Keel Poems
What playground does not hold the magic lure
Of see-saws firmly braced upon their stands?
What child resists excitement, felt for sure
In ups and downs: the hard thump when he lands;
The surging thrill of bouncing up again-
To know that when he's hit that lowest low,
It's followed by a swing to new heights when
He'll know once more the joy of that plateau.
In contrast to the see-saw, truth is found,
For truly, were it stable, it would bore
The simplest mind; for only from the ground
The grandeur of the heavens makes its score.
For, only in imbalances, we feel-
The balance that keeps life- on even keel.
See-Saws - (First Poem posted on PoetrySoup, 08/04/2014)
What playground does not hold the magic lure
of see-saws firmly braced upon their stands?
What child resists excitement, felt for sure
in ups and downs: the hard thump when he lands
and surging thrill of bouncing up again?
To know that when he's hit that lowest low,
it's followed by a swing to new heights when
he'll know once more the joy of that plateau?
In contrast of the see-saw truth is found,
for truly, were it stable, it would bore
the simplest mind; for only from the ground
does grandeur of the heavens make its score.
For only in imbalances we feel
the balance that keeps life on even keel.
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In Response To My First Poem
Yin and Yang
Just as a see-saw's motion, up and down,
echos the yin and yang of heaven, earth;
these complement each other, turn around—
like dark of night becomes the new day's birth.
All seasons here on earth their balance keep,
along with oceans' rise and fall of tides.
The yin and yang, the ebbs and flows must sweep
throughout the universe—become our guides.
The ups and downs along with highs and lows
in our own lives—imbalances we feel—
are yin and yang which we cannot oppose—
that balance which keeps life on even keel.
But sometimes balances can be unfair
when dark of yin can linger, bring despair.
We pray see-saws can rest awhile—prepare
to longer bask in yang of life midair.
Sandra M. Haight
~6th Place~
Contest: A Response to Your First Poem
Sponsor: Silent One
Judged: 09/30/2015
-- Just a bit of silliness --
"Baissez le rideau, la farce est jouee..."
---- Daumier
39 & 1/2 days had passed;
the rain had lessened.
Noah, grungy and grumpy,
paced the wet deck
like a caged Lion of Judah.
Reading the Odyssey by blubber-light,
Jonah, a free-thinker, cruised
in his whale below; he marveled,
captainishly, carefully pronouncing
the unfamiliar Greek, an uninvented
tongue he couldn't speak.
Ham, an adherent to all the dietary
restrictions, was relieved
at the journey's almost-close.
Consultation of the Holy Books
had proved he wasn't kosher
and, therefore, could not be served.
Still, Shem and Japhet eyed him oddly.
They had a lean and hungry look.
The wives, sensible lot,
cleaned the kennels, did the chores
and tried to keep an even keel
in the anachronistic mess.
They drifted onward,
tired of fishing fruitless waters,
doubtful now of being made
fishers of men.
All things considered, it was
a perfectly normal situation:
men were mystics
and women staid and sturdy workers.
And yet, Ararat, still beneath the waters,
may not have been the only futuristic
structure in this grey, flat
seascape.
Well thank God they left. Nice local sports bar; I sat close to an elderly man, probably 80 years old, and a younger guy that was his son, as I gathered from their conversation. The old boy kept an even keel and decently good humor throughout; he was used to it; the allowances we make for close family; or no use to fight a battle now. Much of what the son said bounced off and ended up on the floor, like water off a duck's back, and thank God for that too. I was instantly irritated - the constant patter of vacuous suggestions from the son as to what the father should be doing in his life, what he should do differently.
Just look at him: the old guy is fine, you can tell just by seeing him. But the son, ah now this was worthy of a stage character, the slight build, the receding hairline, the pencil-thin mustache, a mousey look overall, even rat-like, with furtive eye movements and almost constant physical twitches, he must fear silence indeed to have the need to fill it with such drivel, if not telling his father how to improve his life, he was proclaiming his own shrewdness and ambition, such prowess we rarely see, to joke about it - ah, when the truth is that he's a 35 year old in a job that would be barely good enough for a 20 or 25 year old. When you have to go on about it so, we all know it's not the truth. I never once snorted, or caught the old guy's gaze and rolled my eyes; I stayed within myself.
Maybe it's just me. Really, how bad could it be? Well no, it's not just me - any sane person would be inwardly cringing, massively, fighting the urge to run screaming into the night before the younger man's words induced brain cancer in them. What a world....
But I suppose that at least a little bit it is just me.
When times make me wary, where do I seek strength to carry
me through? I pray the chaos, loss, and grief won’t tarry
till all are bereft, with nothing of our “normal” left.
God of Grace, please let not our rock of hope be cleft.
When typical closeness isn’t safe, I know loud verboseness
against restrictions won’t banish the moroseness
or ease the burden many experience worldwide.
God’s Word says “PRAY.” I do, each day, that He’ll stem the tide.
When life becomes surreal, what, besides prayer, helps me feel
peaceful—when the world is not on an even keel?
loved--when I can’t be with friends and family?
free—when my tiny corner of the world is all I see?
wind chime music, stately trees, a southerly breeze;
frequent newsy phone chats and drive-by waves that appease;
knowing He’ll “never leave me,”* though pestilence may rage.
assurance that someday His healing hand will turn this page
Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you;
he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Date posted: April 23, 2020
Grace and Solitude Poetry Contest placed 4th
Sponsor: John Hamilton
Practicing for Easter
I had heard from God high overhead
In heaven and here is what He said
Sings songs about me and my Son
On bright sunny day until it is done.
Songs in mind and heart start singing
Closer to God are constantly bringing
Who with others should always share
For your songs and poems always care.
When you start practicing each song
Only do it for short time and not long
Practice loudly and also with full force
Voice will be scratchy and end up horse.
Choir and organist together shall feel
All of their sounds are on an even keel
Doing it this way over and over again
And much better will begin to blend in.
Easter morning bring all of your friends
And shivers up spine our singing sends
You are sure to know from very start
God is in their singing and also heart.
James Thesarious Hilarious Horn
Retired Veteran and Poet
Wife told me after choir practice
before Maundy Thursday service
that all of the practicing was
making her become horse.
Unlike the newspeak of today the media rodeo plays the bull clowns chasing a scripted delay boxed up and ready to go fast food for the loll the upper end following the lower end Yet political satire's even keel will transcend while the real bull gores the clowns He can be ornery when being contained coming like a federal expess roaring down newsmail bringing the letter restrained the same package to every town the same package of the willing consripts freight in the End a older railing bull holds his own wieght
This dreamless sleep
You are in so deep
Inner space,
free falling within
Your place
You travel so far
but you go nowhere
You must forgive me
I am not in your space
...........It is your race
...........you see
How can I explain
what I feel
When all I feel is pain
I am not on an even keel
This distance I must walk,
for there is no time to talk
The journey starts here,
forget your fear
I carry with me,
the memories of the souls
that I knew,
that want to travel with me too
This ship full of.........
lost souls
Trying to find their way,
find their goals,
keeping fear at bay
This lonely ship,
passing through............
Space
So many souls,
passing through
Which one are you?
Trying to find their way.
Me too
This limitless space
Looking for your place
Where is my way?
Deep space
Going far
To distant star
Another day
Another place
So far to go,
but not far at all
Nothing to fear,
far,
All is here
Posted on Christmas Eve, happy cuz Trump soon leaves
America finally gets a reprieve from the lies he weaves
Well, pardon ME if you disagree, but he's one and done
He's been pardoning crooks, murderers, daughter & son
giving the phrase, "Who let the dogs out?" the answer
It's the narcissist who infected the country with cancer
It's time for a celebration and Happy New Year to cheer
A new President will reside in the White House next year
Trump will have to vacate his throne. It's been conferred.
No fraud took place or election rigging. That was absurd!
Joe Biden will be moving into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Uniting our country without Trump's drama and ballyhoo
What a poor example he's been as a leader; head of state
America was better off before he said he'd make it great.
Move along with your counterfeit tan and puckered mouth
Take your cocky kids with you as you putt your way South.
Let's hope once he's gone, out great nation will soon heal
with a commander who can keep our ship on an even keel
"Trump's descended into madness," "He's lost his mind"
Recent headlines that his supporters will claim are unkind
but considering the mess he's made of many vital issues,
the only sympathy I can offer them is a box of tissues
The oval office will need steam cleaning and fumigation
No portrait of him to hang. Let him take that to litigation!
It's reported Trump is headed South, to his Florida estate
His new slogan, just released: "Trump 2024 ~ DONATE!"
He's spent more time golfing than acting like a President
His Mar-a-Lago neighbors don't want him as a resident!
The worst possible fraud committed in the last four years
is the fake role he played, condoned by Republican peers
It won't be smooth waters for a while because of the scum
he's left behind; that shameful man, that do-nothing bum
America has been stumbled from each inept Trump blunder
pitting brother against brother; he's ravaged us all asunder
He once said the world was laughing at our great nation
The truth is they laugh at him; a presidential abomination
Jesus feel
Hell so real!
Crucified
Died
Humans on even keel
Form:
I look at people but everybody looks like a stranger to me
I don't know them
Do I want to know them?
No
Why should I know them?
They don't do anything for me
I got all I need
In here - me
Why should I know them?
Why would I know them?
I couldn't care less
I don't need to know nobody
There is no reason to
I could survive on my own
Do I want to be on my own?
I don't know
Sometimes I just don't want to know nobody
Be on an island - by myself
But at other times I want to be with everybody
And have everybody to myself
What is this polarization?
I can be hot
And I can be cold
I can be mean
And I can be keen
Sprint, blink, swing
Help me to be even
Do I need to be even?
Do I want to be even?
No, no, no
I am not on even keel
I don't eat even leaves
I don't give evenly
Why do I need to be even?
I have it all
Why do I want to be even?
Haven't I had it all?
Ahhh but why?
Why they look like strangers
And why they look like friends?
When they come closer
And when I truly care
Now I don't care
Go
No come
No go
Come
No go
Make up your mind
Ok make up my mind
You can come
And you can go
And you will always be a friend to me
But when ahh ahh
Can't go back now
Can you be a little bit a stranger?
"For only in imbalances we feel
the balance that keeps life on even keel."
-by Poet
Each life can offer hurdles- somewhat hard to solve
filled with imbalances that rock the soul and heart.
The pleasures versus struggles battle to resolve
a peacefulness that governs when ordeals depart.
For what is joy without its contrast with despair?
No tides would push and pull devoid of ebb and flow.
The earth would die with just the sun- no rain affair.
Sans darkest night, no day could wake to renewed glow.
Life's struggles shape realities defining peace;
must strive to overcome each dire adversity.
Combating, pushing to adjust- new joys increase
to help forget- accept new-found diversity.
Life struggles create stormy days that come and pass;
with hopeful perseverance- brighter ones amass.
March 5, 2021
~1st Place~
Contest: Life's Struggles
Sponsor: Constance La France
Judged:03/09/2021
When things seem to lose all proportion
And disagreements become the notion
Misunderstandings, (“He said,…she said”)
Differences, righteousness, (Oh, dread!)
It helps to use some D-C…perhaps a friendly motion
To head off the flack, (as Damage Control)
It may seem absurd, a need to play the role
But, the mediator, the even keel,
A level head, has great appeal
In case of attack, (whatever it be)
When some are offended…by facts they can’t see
Or if some feel the right, when they strongly disagree
With what others think, or what others may believe,
To bash them or harass them,
Let us turn on A-C !
To cool down the heat, and clear the air free!
Not to say, we don’t have the right,
To B-C our news....
Just as long as we broadcast without such abuse
We were born with a B-C…written to claim
Signed by our parents, and given our name.
It gives us the right, to live in this land
To worship our own God, to live hand in hand
Whatever our faith, or what we decree
I hope we can be proud, on the day we take leave
When our D-C is printed, declaring desceased…
Let us hope we have honored, a life filled with peace
__________________________________________________________________
DC = damage control
AC = air conditioning
BC = broadcast
BC = birth certificate
DC = death certificate
Vera Selena (Osburn) Hinshaw (June 4, 1935 - July 19, 2018)
We bought our house on Judson Street in nineteen sixty-seven.
Though we endured many vicissitudes, you made it pure heaven!
You loved everyone and everyone loved you, that's for sure!
Your sweet smile and gracious southern charm added to your allure.
You were a stay-at-home Mom who in our girls took great pride.
You mentored them to be the ladies they became and was their steady guide.
You made sure we went to church and the girls attended Sunday School,
To adhere to God's Commandments and abide by the Golden Rule.
With wonderful wit and great insight you kept us on an even keel,
And with tender and loving kindness, all our hurts you could heal.
So many cherished memories you created during the various holidays,
That became family lore and traditions earning our eternal praise!
You were a creative cook who took pride in serving delicious food.
The aroma of supper simmering on the stove always lightened our mood!
Eating black-eyed peas for good luck on every New Years Day,
Seemed peculiar to this Yankee dude but we still observed it anyway!
We relished the times just reminiscing by the fire sipping mugs of joe,
Or watching glorious Colorado sunsets with our family on the patio.
Thank you dear for your love and care - for this we were very blessed.
You truly made our 'house a home' (to paraphrase the poet Edgar Guest)!
Written in collaboration with my daughters Leanna and Leslie
I’ve been down this road
So many times before
I often wonder if at the end
Will there be an open door?
What seemed to be
What I thought once was
A hopeless dream, in fact
A totally lost cause.
Is now actually a series of events
Coming to fruition
But in a more peaceful, loving
And different rendition.
Is this my chance to try again?
To set things right with my life?
Or is it just a visualization?
Of what could’ve been perhaps an insight?
Only time will tell as the
Fragmented pieces fall into place
Making a difference and a change
In my life as the memories give chase.
Being sure to keep up
Not ever to be missed
But yet called upon at a moments notice
So I can reminisce.
Whenever I feel down and out
Like I lost my friend,
I can reach back into my mind
To smile and laugh once again.
You see, that’s the thing about
Memories both good and bad
They will always be there for you
Whenever you’re happy or sad.
They level the playing field of your mind
Keeping everything on an even keel
Especially those times when
You’re not sure what or how you feel.
Life is full of ups and downs
As well as trials and tribulations
It’s up to us as individuals
To know when and how to set the stipulations.
When we reach that final chapter
And the last page has been turned
You can stop, look back and say
Wow, this is what I’ve learned
Now take this and share it with everyone
Even those you may not know,
So we all as individuals and
A collective will continue to grow.