Best Flach Poems
Your contest I don't want to be in my friend
You want our lives to be a forever contest
Your best friend you always say that I am
Do you always need to be one up on me
I get something new and tomorrow you have it too
I get an illness and you have it or had it only worse
I say I love something and you always loved it first
I want to be me and you be you, as life isn't a contest
to me.
"The Contest Contest" of Joe Flach
Written by Carol Brown 03/15/2012
Honorable Mention
Thank You, God.
Thank You for everything
that I know that I wanted and You withheld.
Thank You for everything
that I thought that I did not need and You provided.
Let me be like the one leper
out of ten who returns to give thanks to Your Son.
Thank you for what you have granted.
Thank You for what you held back.
Thank you. Always. Amen.
P.S. Lord, Thank you for the following incomplete list of talented caring people
who have filled my heart and engaged my head.
They, too, are one of You gifts to me:
Be good to them always and protect them as Your own. They are:
Carolyn Devonshire;Francine Roberts;Andrea Dietrich;Carrie Richards;Destroyer Poet;Chris
D. Aechter;Harry Horsman;DorisCulverHouse;Audrey Carey John Freeman; Wilma Neels;Dr. Ram
Mehta; Sean Kelly; Deborah Guzzi: Ambassador Carol Brown;Andrew Crisi;Brandlee
Augustus;Joyce( I told you first!) Johnson;Ralph Taylor; Charles Henderson; Joseph Spence;
Karen O'Leary;Connie Marcum Wong;Barbara Gorelick;Iolanda Scripca;Susan Palli; SKAT*;
Katie Lindsay;Michael Jordan; Caryl Muzzey;James Fraser;Rich Parise; Joe Flach;Tim
Ryerson;Mitch White;Nathan Dilts;Daniel Cwiak;Chris Smith; Brian Strand; and The Rambling
Poet. Thank you all and Thanks to all whom I foolishly overlooked. REGARDS! GERARD!
It is not worth the pain inflicted
to continue our mutual fight
so let me be the first combatant
to wave the flag to make things right.
In an attempt to remove the darkness
that has crept into our life
I wave the flag that lacks any color
hoping it will restore the light.
We united together in marriage
born from a love so deep and pure
to stop this argument from ruining it
I wave a flag from the dress you wore.
I surrender to you completely
it’s not important to me who’s right
I hope the colorless flag that I wave
puts an end to this stupid fight.
white / for nette onclaud's Color My World contest / by Joe Flach
He plays a song passed down for centuries,
By a nation that exists no more;
On a flute carved from a sycamore tree,
While sitting on the forest floor.
His father was a tribal chief,
For a people who once were great;
Now living on welfare relief -
His punishment for being born too late.
Holding fast to his cultural ties,
He is the last of a dying breed;
Not succumbing to a history of lies;
Warnings to fit in, he does not heed.
At home by himself in the thick of the woods,
Under a full moon in the quiet breeze;
He lives his life the way that he should -
The last to play this melody.
by, Joe Flach for Constance's "Tell His Story" Contest
I will always love you more,
I whispered in his ear;
The only one that I adore,
No need for you to fear;
Never will I change my mind,
I will always love you more;
A love like ours can’t be confined,
It needs room to explore;
Eternal love you can’t ignore,
And no matter what you do;
I will always love you more,
My gift from me to you;
I can feel it deep within my soul,
Like nothing I’ve felt before;
And though I may lose all control,
I will always love you more.
~5th Place in the "One Good Quatern Deserves Another" Contest by Joe Flach~
I am not a cat person - they just don’t fit my style,
But when that stray walked in my door – she decided to stay a while.
My door is always open, as I work in my shed in back,
She comes and she goes on her own whims – she is her very own cat.
I didn’t bother to name her – but I did put out some food
And refreshed her bowl of water – it’s the least that I could do.
She would sit and watch me working – cutting my carpenter’s wood
And chase the mice out of my shed – I’m kind of glad that she could.
I started talking to her – as I usually worked alone
And she seemed awful comfortable – making my house her home.
Seldom did I pet her - she stayed out of arms reach
But would rub up against my legs, down by my feet.
For years we tolerated each other – never getting too close;
Staying out of each other’s way – respectfully, I suppose.
I didn’t realize how attached I’d become – until that awful day,
When I cried all day and all night upon the death of that un-named stray.
Joe Flach
Mind wondering from here to there
Thoughts of what is and is not
Is a person better to stay here on earth
With family that is going on into their own world
OR
Reaching up and praying to be with loved ones
Who are waiting for you at heaven's gate
Mind wondering from here to there
Thoughts of what is and is not
Entry: A Dilemma Contest
Sponsor: Joe Flach
Honorable Mention
If you’re feeling low and your taste buds are dry;
Your energy’s gone but the sun is still high;
You want to quench your thirst that keeps building up
Well, sit beside me and say … “Pepsi Please”
Say, “Pepsi Please”
And you’ll have a good day;
Say, “Pepsi Please”
And good taste is on its way;
Sit right here and have a Pepsi Cola
And, just like that, your blues are gonna be over.
REPEAT
by Joe Flach, 6/4/2015 for the Sing me A Jingle Contest.
My Grandmother had a sage saying,
she would regale us with, many times.
With various nouns for exchanging.
But, the meaning rang clear like a chime.
"Pretty is as pretty does".
If, as a diva, on of us girls was heard.
She would hit us with that saying because,
she knew actions spoke louder than words.
Being of a religious nature,
she deplored and showed her discontent,
of those that would shout out their own praise,
then would go about doing ill intent.
"Christian is as Christian does".
Grandma did guide us down that path.
She drummed into me that saying because,
she knew actions speak louder than words.
For the contest : In Other Words
Hosted by: Joe Flach
Placement:6th
** This poem was inspired by the wise sayings
of my Grandmother who raised us. This one means...
Actions speak louder than words.
Differences can tear apart or bring you close together
Sometimes songs have harmony when sung by birds of different feather
Listen close and you might learn about a thing or two
Close your mind and shout a lot – no one listens to you
I jumped in the soup, a neophyte, afraid I might get burned
But found support from learned souls, everywhere I turned
Taken to places I didn’t know exist; a new world opened up to me
People willing to share their gifts of limitless possibility
But, some were stubborn and fought a lot about forms and certain rules
Some were full of jealousies and were being rather cruel
And at times, the soup began to acquire a bitter taste
But soon you learn what ingredients to savor and which ones are simply waste
Differences can tear apart or bring you close together
Sometimes songs have harmony when sung by birds of different feather
Listen close and you might learn about a thing or two
Close your mind and shout a lot – no one listens to you
So, jump in,
Take a swim,
The soup is oh so fine;
Add some spice,
Help make it nice,
And bring along some wine;
Sit over here,
And bend my ear,
With thoughts I never thought;
I want to learn,
From everyone,
The things that they were taught.
Differences can tear apart or bring you close together
Sometimes songs have harmony when sung by birds of different feather
Listen close and you might learn about a thing or two
Close your mind and shout a lot – no one listens to you
by Joe Flach, written and posted on 6/2/2014 for Dave Wood's contest
Constantly travelling around this Earth
Just ahead of where the sunshine lies
Where in every culture nightmares give birth
Is the splendor of the Nighttime skies
To those who stand in just one place
Night skies seem to come and go
But it travels around in a circular race
With a swift and clever flow
When you the nighttime sky don’t see
Others are wrapped in its dark embrace
And when you look up into its infinity
Sun shines on the others' face
So please enjoy our nighttime sky
When it comes around to you again
And know that when it passes you by
It comes to me, my friend
by Joe Flach
written and posted on 3/27/2014 for nette onclaud's "A Night Sky" contest
This househusband washing his pants
In pockets he must at least glance
If there’s money involved
It might get dissolved
And ruin his future finance
I thought working from home was a snap
And I’d even have time for a nap
But she makes me do chores
Like the laundry and floors
Now this working from home is all crap
Do we post this on Poetry Soup
Let your poetry pals in on the poop
That you street cred’s been stripped
That you’re now “kitty” whipped
And you’ve joined a househusband group
Mdailey 11/10/11
I wrote this for Joe Flach and he even gave me permission to post this saying he did not think his reputation could get any more damaged that it already is.
“In lieu of flowers”, the obituary read, “please donate to a worthy cause.”
But when I thought about how she loved her garden, I really had to take a moment
and pause.
I know her daughters meant no harm, they just didn’t want to deal with the mess;
Having just flown in from out of town, solely to put their poor mother to rest.
But throughout the years I watched that dear labor in her garden all day;
More than once or twice my house was blessed with the fragrance from one of her
bouquets.
“In lieu of flowers” – are you kidding me!
“In lieu of flowers” – yeah, just wait and see.
Her daughters arrived at the funeral home, not really expecting much of a crowd;
I walked right in and introduced myself, probably talking a bit too loud.
“I’m your mother’s neighbor, the eligible bachelor; she may have mentioned my
name.
She loved to tell me about you two – too bad you never came.”
About that time the truck arrived and they started unloading the back;
Flowers and wreaths of every kind in every imaginable color but black.
“Oh goodness sake!”
“What’s all this!”
“And where did they all come from?!”
“Oh don’t worry girls – they’re all from me. And, they’re for your wonderful Mom.”
That funeral home was overflowing, with roses and pansies and mums;
Tulips and daisies; carnations and lilies; orchids of every kind.
There were snapdragons, Mona Lisas and delphinium;
Dianthus, lisianthus and mathiola amongst them.
The girls were shocked, that was plain to see,
They didn’t know what to do,
But their mother was happy,
Smiling down on me,
That much I know is true.
By Joe Flach for the "Flowers" contest.
Okay, so it's a free verse that rhymes, I didn't mean to make it rhyme, it just sort of happened that way!
Umbrellas become afterthoughts
once the rain has cleared away,
And are left behind like discarded lovers
whose partners have moved on for a brighter day.
Held close and tight when the need was there;
opening up to let you in;
Cast aside when confidence has been restored;
forgotten like an embarrassing sin.
And yet, they hang around;
Waiting for the next lover to come along
who needs protection from the coming storm,
prepared to repeat their lovelorn song.
Are you the long-lost lover or the umbrella hung upside down?
Do you give your all to protect those you love or do you run around?
by Joe Flach for Nette Onclaud's "SYMBOLISM: THE UMBRELLA" contest.
written and posted 2/22/14
Vision #2
Dogs love to chase cats
And cats love to tease.
They race up a tree
Then do as they please.
Dogs love to play
To bark and sleep
But most of the all
They love to eat.
Cats love to relax
On a warm sunny sill.
At night they chase mice
When it's quiet and still.
It’s hard to choose
The best one for me,
Because I find both
Are great company.
I can take a dog for a walk
But a cat's right there,
Waiting to be loved
Curled up on a chair.
A dog gives you kisses,
A cat purrs when it's glad,
Both make you feel better
Whenever you're sad.
With a dog and a cat
There are tricks you can teach,
But which one should I choose?
I must have one of each!
For "One For the Kiddies contest" by Joe Flach