Best Friendlier Poems
They say, just there beyond the valley, that
there lived inside a house a little cat
who never went outside to run and play;
she chose to spend her time indoors each day.
They named her Hairless Cat. Her owners called
her that because their little pet was bald.
She was a different breed of cat, and true,
her skin was bare- on Hairless no fur grew.
Some days a while back, she’d gone outside
but never stayed out long, came in to hide;
the kitties tried ignoring her, and so
would not befriend her- would not say hello.
Now, Hairless Cat, aware that she was shy
and different from others that passed by,
began to think of special ways to cope
and make them friendlier- so there was hope.
She thought and thought, whatever she could do,
to let them know beneath her bare-skin view,
there lives a nice, smart kitten hoping that
she could be friends with each and every cat.
That night it came to her within a dream;
come morning, she began to smile and beam!
Her owners left the door somewhat ajar
when they left home for shopping in their car.
Her bowl of yummy dry food in the room
was filled up to the top, and very soon,
she carried dry food nibbles, one by one,
out through the door onto the porch till done.
She stood beside her feast, began to eat,
and soon the cats came by, did not retreat-
but closer to the porch they came to see
that Hairless Cat had planned a cat party.
They came to share the feast each, one by one,
and Hairless Cat was happy they had come!
Her lonely days were over, she had won,
and every day, from then, with friends had fun.
"The moral of this story is: if you
are lonely, and you need a friend or two,
you must reach out to them and make them see
what a good friend to them you want to be."
September 20, 2015
Contest: Fabled Musings
Sponsor: Joseph May
If you desire your friendships to be only "Top Shelf",
Don't expect things of others you don't ask of yourself ...
Relationships that last - where time stands the test,
Travel rivers of respect that flow east AND west ...
Most folks don't mind doing what you ask them to do,
As long as it's something that you'd ask of YOU ...
The sure way of knowing that there's no disconnect,
Is to make sure you're allowing for bilateral respect ...
For when you give others the deference they've earned,
It's a pretty good gamble that you'll rarely get burned ...
But even when you DO, the good karma is yours,
So say your farewells ... and sail for friendlier shores!
~ 6th Place ~ in the "New Poems Only - 2 Friendship" Poetry Contest, Emile Pinet, Sponsor.
Goodbye
There is no good in “Good bye,”
only a finality and a cry.
A parting of “See you soon,”
is much friendlier a tune.
There is no good in “Goodbye,”
only someone wondering why.
Let's say we'll meet in a while,
and leave a reassuring smile.
There is no good in “Goodbye.”
Just a notion to jump and fly.
With a wave, you are gone.
It's tantamont to, “So long.”
There is no good in “Goodbye.”
We will meet again, do try?
Drop the bye leave the good,
and say “Later” if you would.
9/27/16
For contest 240 Brian Strand, Sponsor
Behold the splendor of another magnificent fall!
Every tree is adorned with a resplendent shawl!
All the trees have shed their abundant foliage of jade;
Umber leaves now - they once provided welcome shade.
The ancient Harvest Moon flaunts its ever mellow glow,
Inviting intimate tete-a-tetes for romantic souls below!
Frantic squirrels scurry about hiding their winters' fare,
Unrelenting in their quest since winter frosts are in the air!
(Lawns are carpeted with gold and crimson leaves to be raked!)
Flocks of geese wing their way south by the multitudes,
As they seek friendlier climes in the southern latitudes!
Limbs bereft of leaves lift arms beseechingly as if in prayer.
Lyricists, tho' gifted you may be - describe the beauty of fall if you dare!
Entry for John Hamilton's " Beautiful Fall Poetry" Contest
(11 September 2018)
“Made you look you dirty crook!”
And all those colourful phrases
Have vanished from our lexicon
They now belong to the ages!
“Keep your nose to the grindstone!”
Is another from way back when
So sad they've all but disappeared
Wish they could go back again!
Since the dawn of the computer age
We speak in a different fashion
Conversing in very short sentences
Using acronyms without much passion!
We now seem to have lost the ability
To have an intelligent conversation
Emailing, texting, or some such device
Or some other glitzy presentation!
I really long for those simpler days
When people took time to listen
And all the world seemed friendlier
Now feels like something's missing!
The deep South has a lot of swamp creatures. The South's got alligators, some frogs, live catfish, bugs (flies, e.g.), and stuff. These here parts have been a part of these Southern United States of America since the Civil War, especially when Abraham Lincoln had freed the African-American ancestors and ended slavery. Going to the deep South is like going to either the Florida Everglades, or a rural Alabama town called Summerdale on a Sunday afternoon. What's so great about the deep South is when he or she is laid back, relaxing for a little while, and drinking a glass of homemade lemonade or sweet iced tea on a hot afternoon. Sometimes, the South maybe a bit boring for some people, but the deep South has many life-changing adventures, especially that of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn" written by Mark Twain. Now, how good is that? Everybody is friendlier in these here Southern parts, that includes the locals who are residing in the deep South. Oh, if only the deep South were to come to the Central time zone. And if there's going to be a party in the deep South sometime soon, it'll be like a Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, on a Saturday night during the summer time. Boy, do I love the south. And if the deep South and its rural towns in different Southern states like Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Georgia were to remain a part of these here United States, that would be great.
Devonian birthed an innocent beach
down at the delta of a river great.
Compressed and oppressed by sediment weight,
sand became stone hidden far from life's reach.
A northern ice-angel came to impeach
the cloak of silt atop the stone's pate.
Leaving exposed in a fixed angry state
labyrinths and crevices bred of the breach.
But soon upon the sedimentary,
dampened and moist facing east and north,
spread verdant moss and ethereal fern.
The friendlier integumentary
fed roots of cherry and beech bringing forth
flight that ascended to Holocene's turn.
Ann Silverthorn 1995
This poem is about Panama Rocks, formed by a glacier, in upstate New York.
I can still remember years ago in the 80's
When the pubs were packed
You'd pay for your beer with Ten pounds and get change back
You could keep a girlfriend for more than two minutes
And knew their name
Shame today men and women are not the same.
The music was great and had a melody
And there was always something good on TV
Like only fools and horses
The A team the love boat such classics
For me.
People smoked in public places
You'd get lost in big clouds of smoke
And couldn't see anyone's faces.
We were the new aromatics and dressed real cool
But looking at old photo's now
It's so embarrassing we looked like fools
The band the Human league came from my town
Yhey sang ''Don't you want me''
The singer had hair long hanging down
The other short
And every where you looked were clones of him
And boy George hanging around.
We had jobs then and money to spend
We'd go out every weekend
With our friends
And follow the latest trends.
We weren't ready for kids or to settle down
We were so young carefree and hang around town
Going to concerts like Gary Numan and the Cure
Waiting hours queuing up by the concert hall door.
Although life was far from fun for everyone
People did seem friendlier and knew how to have fun
We had morals then
The likes we will never see again.
''Forever 80's in my heart.''
Peter Dome Copyright.2015. June.
“Made you look you dirty crook!”
And all those colourful phrases
Have vanished from our lexicon
They now belong to the ages!
“Keep your nose to the grindstone!”
Is another from way back when
So sad they've all but disappeared
Wish they'd come back again!
Since the dawn of the computer age
We speak in a different fashion
Conversing in very short sentences
Use acronyms without any passion!
We seem to have totally lost the ability
To have an intelligent conversation
Emailing, texting, talking on Facebook
A computer age generation!
I really long for those simpler days
When people took time to listen
All the world seemed friendlier then
Now feels like something's missing!
© Jack Ellison 2012
A very long time passed between us
Before we met once again
Quite unexpectedly surprisingly
Exchanging very intense looks
Harboring most hungry urges
Possessing the wildest desires
Feeling rebounding emotions
Charged nerves electric and cosmic
Greeting happily and nervously
Walking closely together but unsure
Interested and yet afraid of what
Next could happen . . .
A drink or two or three later at the bar
Then a couple more sitting in the booth
Losing the edge pent up tension from before
Us both now quite talkative
Us both now quite oblivious to time
Us both now quite friendlier
Us both now quite guarded still
We now hold hands remembering
Fun times much laughter much smiling
Depressing times much hurt much unhappiness
Like strangers in the night we really are
But not attracted for the very first time
Ready and wanting to start over again
But not so sure of the “forever” part
Interested and yet afraid of what
Next could happen . . .
And then—suddenly it magically happened . . .
Like destiny taking charge at once
Your touch my touch our touch one touch
Emotions exploding eyes probing hands feeling
Moving closer becoming one and one and one
Breathing faint then excited and more so
Crying sobbing laughing smiling revealing
Our eyes locked rocked as one in a spiral
Saying I missed you so much
Saying you missed me so much
A burning yearning desire a trembling fire
Our lips meet sweetly hungrily with much intent
Our desires at fever pitch ravenous and craving
Igniting our passions on fire on fire on fire on fire
Shutting out the rest of the world—be gone from us
While crying holding caressing kissing openly and deeply
We find each other all over again and again
A giddy feeling of love lost yet love found again
Asking why? How come? How could we? Why not?
This time all is forgiven—our bond unbroken
Our love rediscovered our lives restored
Our personalities mesmerized as one
Our minds in tune same time and channel
Our emotions most electric and having fun
Our oneness whole and most rewarding
Our love and desire both for an eternity
Our hearts' afire our hearts’ desire
Our passions on fire my darling!
Gary Bateman, Copyright © All Rights Reserved
(October 22, 2014) (Free Verse)
HAIKU #12,044-12,048
Our mind is lighthouse
Capturing land sea sky with
All of life's runways
Our mind is like sponge
With its filtering system
That's alive like us
Our mind is labyrinth
Much more friendlier than foul
By grace from the Source
Our mind is structure
Of a hospital with church
And revolving door
Our mind is gateway
To heaven or hell on earth
And that is final.
*
Some have the habit of hurling angry words that wound
and stir up strife...
But I admire the one who uses words of kindness, filled
with love that heals and nourishes life.
Some use words like a sword to cut, to hurt and to bring
others down...
But words of kindness offer a pleasant uplifting and helpful
sound.
Life and death are in the power of one's tongue...
And this wisdom we should share with others but
especially with the young.
Let us keep our words healthful and kind...
And wherever we may go a friendlier welcome we
should find.
Our Words have tremendous power and we should
learn to use them right...
So let us remember, our kind words are like a healing
light.
TK<
my elephant elmer eats peanuts and hay
with his trunk full of water he sprays
to cool off in the heat of day
under elmer is lots of shade
elmer can roll on top of a giant ball
gracefully balanced he never falls
elmer is wide as he is tall
he likes to eat orange carrots raw
elmer is a true friend with lots of tack
he always allows me to ride on his back
he is much friendlier then giraffe jack
elephants are just good like that
elmer wears a polka dot bow tie
he can tiptoe on the high wire so high
he won't forget and can't deny
his cousin was the one who flies
my elephant elmer is my friend
we are buddies until the end
he's big in spirit as his tail is thin
with his big smile we all love him
Death has a habit of waiting
Death is very patience
My Mother has a saying-
when your number is called then your time is up
But Death is tolerant and is more like a friend
Last night at 5:58 pm Death called me on my home phone
Death is also clever and disguised himself
My called ID showed my name and number but when I answered
Death was on the other end
I was very afraid that Death was calling me
Maybe my number was up
But Death said that he was calling for a friend
who has refused to die and was too frighten to left go
And would I have a word
I saw Death in a new light
A kinder and friendlier Death
And one who may not sting
Death said goodbye and I said that I would put in a good word
But I asked Death to do me a favor and try not to call for me too soon
Your birthday arrives in the mild month of May.
You, like the fair month, are delightfully kind.
Your smile is as bright as young children at play.
A friendlier poet, we simply won’t find.
You’re firmly entrenched as sweetheart of our group,
The first to reach out when new bards join the soup.
May words ever come and your heart ever leap,
And your birthday be filled with blessings to keep.
By: Joyce 4/15/12 For Linda-Marie’s contest