Best Gentlemen Poems
"You can't shout. You can't even cry.
The 7 Gentlemen are coming by.
Looking in windows. Knocking on doors.
They need to take seven and they might take yours.
You can't call to Mom. You can't say a word.
You're going to die screaming but you won't be heard."
The above is supposedly from some ancient fairy tale.
I've tried researching its origins but to no avail.
Has anyone heard the fairy tale titled The 7 Gentlemen?
If you have, I'd appreciate any information my friend.
PS
The "7 of what they need to take that might be yours" are human hearts.
As the story goes, supposedly 7 Gentlemen arrive in the dead of night in some rural out of
the way town. They open up a magic box that steals the voices of everyone in the
community while they sleep. For the 7 days thereafter the 7 Gentlemen search for victims.
When they find one, they surgically remove their heart while the victim is still alive. The
victim can't scream or call for help because the victim's voice is locked in the magic box
along with the others. After the Gentlemen have collected 7 hearts, well, to be honest I don't
know what the hell happens next or why in the bloody hell they need to harvest these darn
hearts for in the first place. Which is why I now find myself obsessively researching this
ancient fairy tale which may or may not actually exist.
Some people try
To figure us out.
We sensitive men
Who wander about
Making living with pen.
In lives filled with goals
And family and friends.
All taken in stride,
In the tone of our voice
The words of our choice
The songs that we sing
Intense listening,
We are gentlemen.
With rarely the build
Of a Hollywood star
Boxer or Olympian,
Still, we maintain
Solid good health.
Cook and attend
Opera or shoot
At the range,
With a friend.
All taken in stride,
In the time that we give
The fire in our eyes
Our soft spoken ways
And honest dignity.
We are gentlemen.
On any given day
We walk dogs in the park
Enjoy Handel, Mozart
With minimal need
For profane tirade,
We shuffle about.
With kids by our side
All taken in stride,
In loyal devotion
Lives that we lead
Laws that we heed
With smiles,
And Laughter,
Our cure.
We are gentlemen.
© Michael Wegman 2014
There were two young ladies all beautiful and brown,
beauties who wore delightful designer gowns.
And many suitors suits made, playing melodies as fair
hoping these fair ladies would fall for such good cheer;
But they never did.
Then one evening in early June when the rains came too soon
They took a walk and stayed out late to admire the lazy moon.
They sauntered across a meadow, and felt that life was mellow
underneath the sky where the moon would shimmer like yellow jello.
But it never did.
Instead the evening got dark; as clouds gathered in the sky
one young lady told a joke about the day she had made a pie.
The other, her countenance sad said the darkness was a bother
so they shuddered and wanted to cling to each other.
But they never did.
The two young ladies hurried home afraid they’d catch a cold,
and really, if the truth was to be told they were afraid they’d get too old.
They each made a vow that on the evening next, they’d dared to stroll,
wearing designer gowns through that meadow, that was their goal.
But they never did.
For on that very day two young swain from far away
who arrived in a sleek red Porsche took them for a swim - in the bay.
Giddy with love, the two lovebirds waved goodbye to family
promising they’d return and not elope to Saxony.
But they did.
What caused and made me try this cryptic voice
Did I or did I not have any choice
is Time so cruel to teasingly disgrace
The weaponry I choose to seal my fate
Silence is so easy to embrace and use
I could yet stay a shy reclusive muse
If not for this my desperate attempt
at words of rhymed intention
Alas Alack this stolen time
I'd saved to spend
in quiet contemplation
GENTLE MEN
Yes your right the clue is in the name
Some of you should hang your heads in shame
I'm so sorry but I find that so very few
Gentle men these days that respect you
Instead I drive along and I hear on the street
Even though there is a patter of tiny children's feet
Hey get you mate, your a stain
What me really - now your disrespecting my name
It really seems as though right now is just the time
When swearing at a lady is acceptable, just fine
When stopping in the street and getting out of line
Is just helping me along with my lyrics in my rhyme
You raise a fist and shout in anger
I'm only driving down the street
Gentle men no longer it seems exist
Or one I'd like to meet
So when you look all puzzled
As I opened the door for you
Its just to show you Gentle men
I'm much gentler than you
Mincing words confuses Queens,
Special places in-between
Her Palace Pink, with just a wink-
In bed, but not to dream!
**NEW CONTEST, CONTEST ENTRY hosted by Nancy Jones
In the unforgiving August heat
of a hot Alabama noonday
They sit in secluded shade,
resting in high-back, woven bamboo chairs
on a mahogany carved veranda
Their bodies face outward to the vast white fields,
watching the black raisins move under the sun
Rising then bending,
hard labor unending
Bowing obsequiously to the crop lord
Cotton is king in Dixieland,
but the ***** spirituals being sung is more regal
Perhaps some among them
had come from royal lineage in their once native land
This fleeting thought occurs
to one of the finely tailored Southern guests
Upon their Alexandrian laurels they rest
with gentlemen ease
When suddenly a young, porcelain-skinned belle appears,
bearing a pitcher of fresh, sweet lemonade
A waft of sarsaparilla stimulates their nostrils,
as delicate china glass touches parched lips
Cool liquid relief from the heat
comforts all those who sit with gentlemen ease
Whilst the slaves sweat profusely,
river beads of perspiration saturate their bodies
And those cultured gentlemen at ease
offer no rest for the heavy burdened weary
In tribute to the great black poet, Sterling Allen Brown (1900 - 1989.)
This poem was inspired by his poem, "Strong Men."
9 elderly gentlemen marching down the street
Naked from the waist down
With sandals on their feet
18 sagging testicles swinging in the breeze
4 of them infected
With dirty little fleas
9 little *****es flapping left and right
All of them erect
What a dreadful sight!
9 elderly gentlemen giving it a whirl
Holding each other’s hands
In search of little girls
Never believing that I was deceiving myself
(I guess it must have been a dream)
That I could ever be the man I thought I’d be
And not the man I am today.
Living and loving
With life ever leaving me
Ever leading me on
Through life.
I’d have taken time to be someone
But that time is gone,
And I am left here, now, alone,
With nought to carve upon my stone.
© Barry Freeman - 11th February 2017
where are all the gentlemen
how have I missed them
his firm extended handshake
his perfect glaring eye contact
in his imperfect ways acknowledges God ALWAYS
staying well groomed
doesn't use profanity nor curses
trysts to be just trustworthy and honest
works hard read good books
says please and thank you
find the good in ALL even if they don't seem too
open doors for others men and children to
Well mannered compassionate
Patient, apologetic
Comforting chivalrous
Respectful, dependable
Confident, polite
Caring, charitable, complimentary
lover of humanity, forgiving of ALL things
When is the last time you held a door open for a woman
When is the last time you said good morning
When is the last time you wish someone well
When is the last time you shuck the hand of a stranger
where are all the gentlemen
how have I missed them
his firm extended handshake
his perfect glaring eye contact
in his imperfect ways acknowledges God ALWAYS
someone out there show me, tell me of where
where have all those gentlemen gone
I sure do must them so
1/10/22
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2022©
Gently probing her vulnerabilities
seeking only the slightest advantage
He parries her feints most delicately
awaiting an opening to do some damage...
When she, shockingly, reveals a secret so deep
then casts aside his sword to weep
and declare: A man who jousts with a lady fair
is mete to unseat in her heart's affairs
Ladies and gentlemen of wealth and riches,
and also you, you poor sons of bwitches ~
mark well what I say,
and rejoice for the day,
when God will finally have worked out all of the glitches.
My daddy taught me when I was young
How to be a gentleman son
Open doors for all ladies
Say yes sir, no sir and may I please
Never speak unless spoken to
Keep this advice close to you
It will help where e're you go
And if your mother smells nice then tell her so
If your walking a girl down the street
Walk between her and where the cars do meet
And when going up and down the stairs
He didn't want to leave me unaware
Stay behind when going up
And when going down, stay in front
Because if a lady trips and calls
You'll be there to catch her fall
Never speak when your mouth is full
Cause no one wants to see your food
And elbows belong on your arms
Not propped up on the table son
These are a few things my daddy taught me
To be a gentleman in the first degree
This is actual advice my dad taught me over the course of my childhood. I think he'd be proud I remembered them. Seems these days we need to step up and teach the younger generation and ourselves some of the same.
We look at your life and don't think twice
You've got the best of all worlds
Then we hear, suicide
And realize this isn't Disney World
Who knows the deep dark secrets
That each and everyone hides
Who's been promised this life but can't keep it
Turning off the switch before their time
Does hope never visit the hopeless
Has it left with no forwarding address
With those depressed would we know it
If we had to make a wild guess
The non suffering have no way of knowing
The darkness that invades the soul
A pain that's continually growing
Until it takes full control
The world outside sees your love for this life
And never truly understands
As you struggle to find the thoughts in your mind say
Suicide is all you have left
5:15 PM 14 Aug 2018
Where have all the ladies gone
That inspired beautiful song
Style and grace
Humble and chased
Strong and willing
Proper not chilling
Well spoken and sweet as a dove
Well mannered and well spoken of
Where have the gentlemen gone
Regaled and praised in song
Strong and brave
Worked hard everyday
Humble and caring
Always sharing
They have all been replaced
By demons who curse you to your face
By liars and thieves
Filled with contempt and greed
It is so hard to find in this day and time
Real people for real reasons who are honest and kind