Best Gifts Poems
O, weeping willow shed your sorrow
on whispering breeze to soothe your grief
within whose breath's a healing yarrow
to whisk away tears upon your leaf.
Sweet rustling zephyr embraced in sway
as misty-eyes sigh mournful wind-song,
a wistful heart in bosom ballet
with shadows dancing as currents throng.
Weep not, soulful shimmer 'neath sun’s gold
for chartreuse vines fly the west wind's bend,
enlightenment seeps in roots to hold
as yarrow's pink kisses blown to mend.
Susan Ashley
August 13, 2018
~ Second Place ~
Premiere Contest: 2019 Poetry Marathon Mile 1
Sponsor: Mark Toney
Wild spirit -
I cherished you tender
within my halo of prana;
careful not to hurt you
as I worked to set you free
using hands of peace
in harmony
with my heart's song
I beheld your fragile form
of freedom lost
as your panicked eyes
pleaded release..
and in those precious
and few sacred moments
I felt you relinquish
your fight or flight
to my mission of mildness...
a unifying lesson of love
befell us that day
as we exchanged gifts -
and when again you flew
through reflective silvery winds
on turquoise wings anew
we elevated in mindful mercy
to compassionate heights
in revered reverberations...
gratified to be reborn
in your new found freedom
Susan Ashley
October 7, 2018
The Angels have come
to take me away
The only hug I can give
are the words I write today
In my shaking hand
They've placed a golden pen
So I ponder my past
my here now and then
What words of wisdom
do I have to impart?
At this final moment
I wish to express my whole heart
When you find your soul is aching
and you're far from okay
One gift I can offer
is to learn how to pray
For nothing is as bad
as often it seems
Although life has tearful moments
you must cling to your dreams
Cry when you need to
don't keep emotions trapped inside
Happiness needs growing space
It's blocked by what we hide
Let tears cleanse your spirit
loss and love makes you whole
Don't avoid your sadness
it strengthens the soul
Nothing is forever
so take many chances
Each stage in your life
is a collection of dances
Breathe in every moment
give more than you get
For when your Angels come
you won’t have any regret
For Anthony Biaanco’s Gifts Contest
Sir Poet, Hold True To Thy Gifts Long Given
Sir poet, why hast thy broken thy true pen?
Are not thy words intended to help and heal?
Pray thee, returneth to world of gentle men,
Let both thy mind and fevered blood softly spill!
Sir poet, why hast thy burned thy greatest writes?
Are not thy word-gifts bearing much needed fruits?
Pray thee, this sad, dark world sees thy ink-bright lights,
Begs thy kind soul return to poetic roots!
Sir poet, write deep to heal thy wounded heart
Embrace yet again, thy soul's truest call to arms
Find thy calling, begin an earnest restart,
Seek thee to help not this rash act that so harms.
Sir poet, hold true to thy gifts long given
Join again, poet's rewards in true liven'.
R.J. Lindley
Sonnet (11)
Jan. 20th 1990
Syllables Per Line: 11 11 11 11 0 11 11 11 11 0 11 11 11 11 0 11 11
Total # Syllables: 154
Total # Words: 122
Silver shimmers
reflected by the sea
When dawn kisses each
silhouetted tree.
As sunrise pierces
fleecy clouds of blush
A canvass bides the
eager artist's brush.
Our Banyon bids adieu
to fowl in flight...
Their songs reverberate
in morning light
Attesting to the joy
each dawn excites
In explosive colors
which Sol ignites.
As breezes blow through
azure skies above
I share divinely Dawn's
sweet gifts of love.
12-24-21
'STRAND NO 1042' Contest~First Place~
Sponsor Brian Strand
Merry Christmas (Mele Kalikimaka) from Hawaii….Aloha
For sunsets that can make me sigh;
for all your candy for the eye -
each mountain, forest, lake or shore.
I Praise you, God, for gifts galore.
For all my friends and family;
for everyone who’s there for me;
for those with goodness at their core.
I praise you, God, for gifts galore.
For sciences and for the arts;
for all the things that touch our hearts.
You always give us more and more!
I praise you, God, for gifts galore.
Dec. 30, 2019
Used now for Anthony Biaanco's 'Gifts' Poetry Contest
What Holds More Resplendent Gifts Of The Great And Vast Beyond
Seas of poetry orations, I once took my swims
being strong in spirit, stouter in heart and lithe of limbs
What dread had I of illness or passage of Father Time
when great beauty of verse sang so deep, dancing in its rhyme
Waves of its amber grains, its sandy beach, its great pleasures
stirred heart, pleading soul in immeasurable measures!
If tired, I cast myself upon lands flowing true and fair
seeing magnificence in Earth, Life, Nature- everywhere
Before dawn, before slumber flees this soul's poetry dreams
of paradise shores, poetic thoughts, soft cast golden beams
Winds of change and sublime words to describe and thus to match
castles of hope, beauty's grace and golden eggs- set to hatch!
Fearing not of, high flying fancies and heavenly flights
of lost romantic desires, cast adrift on stormy nights
Or that of abandoned ships left behind in gleaming seas
for poetry gifts its love and blessings of granted pleas
Bountiful harvests of word-seeds so pleasurably sown
are but summer days sending cool winds so gratefully blown!
What holds more resplendent gifts of the great and vast beyond
than poetry, its powers, which poets are so very fond
How its paintings, colors memories one sweetly recalls
of life, living and flames of hot-romance youth often falls
Beyond poetic seas of white-cropped waves and foaming foam
may this old poet's soul, in death, forever gaily roam!
Robert J. Lindley, 12-03-2018
Rhyme, (Inspired verse) (Poetry is Life and Treasure too)
Note- I dedicate this poem to my very good friend Susan Ashley and her wondrously inspiring new poem that inspired me to write this today.
Her new poem titled, The Red Leaf- set me to thinking of its beautiful poetry
and life. And how much poetry means to so many dedicated and in love with poetry poets!
I sat down and this flowed right on out, early this morn.
Note: Use in my poem of "white-cropped" = "white" for good, "cropped" for "appearing unexpectedly".
Thus translated- beyond poetic seas of = unexpectedly good waves and foaming foam.
Definition of “crop up” - English Dictionary
American
English
“crop up” in American English
See all translations
crop up
-pp-
— phrasal verb with crop US ? /kr?p/ verb [ T ] -pp-
?to happen or appear unexpectedly:
My Parting Gifts…
Goodbye, my son, my only king.
You are my love, your name I sing.
My wish was more to be with you,
to be with you, and see you through.
It is my fate to leave you now.
My dread was this, to tell you how.
I’m going away, place unknown.
The way I lived was not my own.
I am going, and I’ll complain.
Letting you go, it’s all my pain.
I am with you, with morning dawn.
Kissing your shadow until it’s gone.
My parting gifts to you, my son,
To live your life the way is fun.
Surrender to the thing you love;
what measures love grows above.
To get knowledge to find out why;
What is this life to you and I?
Me and you both, we are oneness.
There is no fear to feel darkness.
I am going without goodbye,
Remember me the way I fly.
2/16/16 Haloo
For: AJ
Snow is drifting; sugar-like are its crystals
falling on my tongue, but dissolving swiftly -
neither taffy-sticky nor toffee crunchy;
Eye-candy softness.
Twirling in the rosy pink sky of twilight -
cotton candy clouds are the heaven’s sweetness.
Night is falling. Silver becomes the skyscape.
Whiteness is tumbling.
Moon’s glow shows me mounds of a deeper snowfall.
Almond Joy now springs to my mind, but greater
comes the cheer my innermost child is feeling.
Winter brings Christmas.
Not awaken while living
To the silent breath flowing
To the mystery of hearing
To the wonder of seeing
Not awaken while living
To the divine weight of giving
To the hidden Hands us holding
To the heavenly call “Live with meaning”
Not awaken while living
To how fragile life is and fleeting
To how precious God’s many a blessing
To His Grace and Mercy we are witnessing
When deeply shaken
As life suddenly taken
Aware to be mistaken
The heart, to see would be able
How we are gently held when we stumble
As we touch what is in us humble
One other chance
Is so dear
A call from above to hear
A sacred trust in God so sincere
The gift of life to seize and revere
To thank and praise
The Almighty Giver in every breath and gaze
A moment in time and always
A voice of gratitude we raise
Restoring inner peace and deep Faith
A life to earn
A lesson to learn
A memory to burn
A page to turn
Not awaken while living
To the light we are bearing
To the path of Love we are treading
To the gifts of life we are carrying.
October Sun, Gifts Bright Colors Galore
Remember Spring's green now passed away,
Its soft-laid flowers in meadows that thrill;
Cascading upon views of distant hills,
New life, Nature's power holding sway.
God blessed summer, with rays that bright shine,
We our days oft found lounging at the beach;
Far away from work, our phones out of reach,
Basking in warmth, thinking life is so fine.
October sun, gifts cool, colors galore,
Splashes of splendor, an artist's delight
And its gasping moon, sweet romancing nights
Leaving our thankful souls, begging for more!
October 27, 2019
OCTOBER SUN Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Line Gauthier
God/Jesus
Loving, Good
Saving, Blessing, Guiding
King, Lord of Lords, Savior, Creator
Teaching, Leading, Fishing
Powerful, Almighty
Father
Father
strong, industrious
building , directing , sacrificing
family head, director, leader, manager
hardworking, supporting
courageous, patient
Mother
Mother
caring, kind
nursing , assisting, guiding
teacher, adviser, counselor, caregiver,
leading, molding, supervising
tender, understanding
friend
Friend
loyal, warm
brothers, sisters
giving unconditional love
whom we can hold on to and trust,
so,love and honor your father and mother
one of the commandments
of God
Above are precious diamonds and gifts of love,
Safely kept in my diamante- poem treasure box.
August 18,2012
First Place
Contest: Diamante
Judged: 11/13/13
Sponsor: Poet Dr. Ram Mehta
small gifts -
contributing to other's happiness?
# show me a man or woman of simple mind
people who we commonly term as slow #
point out ====>
people
of simple means
Nature’s euphony
Water trickling over stones
Lucid hues beam spring
Christmas Gifts
Christmas time was lonely for this young boy.
He lived a homeless life upon the street.
Remembering before, when life held joy,
Inside, warm and cozy near a hearth's heat.
Snowmen always seemed to share such delight
That he thought he would build one near each home,
Maybe joining in a fun snowball fight,
Always creating snowmen in the gloam;
Sweet surprise for families unaware.
Giving the only gift he could think of
In building each snowman he took such care,
For it was his kind way to share his love.
These gifts brought him such happiness to see
Smiles upon surprised faces filled with glee.
ring size 6 purple, green or blue