Best Giving Poems
Dwell not, O soul, on yesterday,
on sorrows past and gone -
the sketch you drew so long ago,
today may be redrawn.
Dwell not upon tomorrow's wars,
nor borrow from their pain -
that energy you need today
let not your worries drain.
Dwell not, O heart, on failures past
though each one left its scar -
rich lessons you have learned have forged
the person you now are.
Dwell not upon your victories,
for those shall also pass -
let not your pride construct a shrine
to trophies made of glass.
Dwell not, O soul, on others' gain
nor envy those with much -
contentment, paired with gratitude,
brings peace no wealth can touch.
Dwell not on anyone's downfall
as though it lifted up
your own estate; we're siblings all
and drink from the same cup.
So what is left, O soul - where does
the prudent soul pay heed?
Become less of a taker
always give to those in need.
Which seeds are we to plant
upon this plot of ground we plow?
Sow seeds of love, be brave, and dwell
in the eternal now.
Written 6 Dec 2020
Grace-full is the lily born of virtue’s milk
Inspiring me with petals pure in my hour of need -
Vow and vim of passion vivid and empowering as I
Imagine the strength of soulful surrender while three
Nails were driven into a suffering so great -- selflessly You
Gave Your mortal life so I may live despite thorns and thirst
Grateful is my blossom watered with Your blood and tears
Opened with a faith unfurled by Light I venerate
Devotions trumpet from a callous soul once solus - jubilant the
Lifeless root that stood futile in fertile remorse before I
Yielded my yoke to the hands of merciful Love; please Lord
Grant me the fortitude to face my sorrow - Your
Resurrection reminds me of the sacred sacrifice endured
Accepted with the courage I strive to possess -- though I
Cannot conceive.. I believe in the circle of contentment; the
Essence and embrace of God’s white whorl of salvation
Susan Ashley
June 1, 2021
~ N/A ~
Premiere Contest: 2022 Poetry Marathon Mile 16
Sponsor: Mark Toney
~ Tenth Place ~
Premiere Contest: Giving Godly Grace
Sponsor: Regina McIntosh
Love neither gives or takes but from itself.
Be not wiled by fantasies of arrogance.
Take no more than is offered by yourself.
Leave nothing trapped in tortured irrelevance.
Seek not a barter for desires that sue your heart.
Worthiness is the only tender that comes due.
Suffer willingly the melody of pain it may impart.
Bleed joyfully from the wounds that will ensue.
As tree branches lift their hopes towards Heaven's door,
hands together reaching higher than alone will seek
heights that love's imagination most beautifully implores
that from a poets words unending ecstasy must speak.
Whatever you desire your life to be,
may loves reflection be all you see
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
There lives a grand lady near the sea
In Ormand where she delights to be.
She is a Poetess, words she shares
In lovely poems, her heart she bares.
With humble poem good wishes I send.
I feel honored to call her my friend.
A kindred spirit shined from the start.
Carolyn gives with an open heart.
All her friendships she holds very dear
She's always there to spread her good cheer.
A more loyal friend you will not find
Her soul is so pure, loving and kind.
Her beauty glows within and without
She is a blessing without a doubt.
In colors of love, I see her shine,
I celebrate this sweet friend of mine!
9-22-19
~Second Place~
~Poem of the Week 9/29-10/5/19~
Pick a Friend on Soup Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Bobby May
When all is but
dark and dreary,
and coldness wraps the
silhouette of
my wooden surface,
I listen to the
wafer thin whispers
echoing in whimsy tones-
when the moon
wind-chimes sway
to the balmy breeze;
hung on the side
of a weathered balcony,
where the sun sometimes
unfurls her feathery fingers,
to rest upon timber
corners of my psyche,
I search for compassionate
caresses to comprehend
unsung serenades.
But tonight I feel the
burden I carry in
somber stillness,
as my voice is unheard,
amidst pen and paper
wrapped around
my chestnut skin,
with scribbled poems
of ancient tales.
For I’ve long been
sitting like a
silenced marionette,
letting my bones
serve beyond I can give.
Somedays I am your listener,
whilst you grieve in seclusion,
as obsidian tears stain the
edges of my tanned shoulders,
when fears sink into
the depths of carved linings
within my hollow heart.
Yet, sometimes,
I hear your laughter,
sharing the redolent rainbows
within your soul,
when storms steer away,
to paint your crystalline
canvas with mauve
memories entwined
with mulberry musings.
But I still stand frozen;
a three legged table,
with nowhere to hide,
whilst the world
remains oblivious,
to the aching heartbeats-
imprinted between
cinnamon glazed bruises.
Perhaps, there will be a time,
when clocks shall halt and
tick to the rhythm of my thoughts,
and you’ll feel the heat
of my unshed truth,
and I will no longer be just a mere
ornament designed to
perform as you please.
As I walked into the banquet hall of the
Goodman’s Inn, the first thing that stood
out to me were the eyes of the people. I
felt as though I could actually see hope. Eyes
seemed to sparkle and everyone in the hall
sat talking to the others sitting around them
as they waited for the main course of the evening.
To understand this report we need to go back just
over a year ago when Lindsey Long won the 50
million dollar lottery. Apparently the multimillionaire
booked the Goodman’s Inn for December 24th through
to January 2nd of this year solely to house the homeless
over the Christmas holidays. Miss Long walked through
the streets herself over the last week inviting the
unfortunate homeless to come to the motel for these
festivities. Lindsey Long has not only provided the rooms
for this week, she also has clothed them with new
wardrobes and warm winter clothing and accessories.
Now as the people sat around the table they were
told Miss Long had an announcement. We all waited
to hear what this amazing lady had to say
and excitement filled the room. When this
beautiful young woman began to talk there
wasn’t one dry eye in the building. She told them
how she was not going to just send them back
on the street next week but how she had
built a new centre that would have sleeping
facilities and showers to accommodate all
of them. This new facility will be serving
three meals a day which will be prepared solely
from themselves on a voluntary bases.
The feeling in the Inn that night was pure joy
and as the people realized the impact of this
wonderful news, they all broke out singing
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. This is
Rhonda Reeds reporting for
The Good Newspaper.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Written by Brenda Meier-Hans
11.12.2014
Sponsor Mystic Rose
The Good Newspaper
1st
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
Quote By Poet "What I have learned, peacemakers are everything."
My truths shall set me free,
to be the creative person I must be.
Always free to live the life God wants for me,
the life to show Him I do care for Him.
Truth can come in many sizes,
it is all about how we look at our life.
My truth about giving and receiving one's love is priceless,
some things in life one cannot put a price on.
Love in deeds and words are a must,
I will not give out pain.
For that is what this world so freely gives out,
my truth wants to live in peace and kindness daily.
Showing I care for the world,
my truth and Thee shall always be alive.
Her tired old eyes lit up bright.
A thankful tear, she could not hide.
A sweet aroma fills her nose;
because he gave a single rose.
Confined to this dreary nursing home;
having outlived family, she's alone.
Today, with a smile, her face glows;
because he gave a single rose.
He brings them often to his mother.
Today, one extra for another.
Talking, on and on she goes;
because he gave a single rose.
She asked an aid to bring a vase.
By her bed the gift was placed.
Happy and peaceful then she dozed;
because he gave a single rose.
Her final breath tonight was sweet.
Family missed, again to meet.
Her last day joyful, all heaven now knows;
because he gave a single rose.
July 17, 2014
Contest: Random acts is kindness
Sponsor: Debbie Guzzi
The give and take in love should reach a mean
whereby the two be equally disbursed,
so givers' hearts would never suffer lean,
cold hungry hours without love reimbursed.
And those who take would never reach the stage
of ravenous and selfish, one-way traits.
Such balance would create a better age,
if give and take maintained their equal weights.
But somehow this could never balance out,
for givers give beyond the gifts they bear;
in turn, must feed on crumbs, for without doubt;
the hungry takers take beyond their share.
While takers tip the scale with all they gain,
the givers, weak and thin, smile through their pain.
Sandra M. Haight
~7th Place~
Premiere Contest: Any HM Ever
Sponsor: Laura Loo
Judged: 01/22/2017
~ Honorable Mention~
Contest: Love Justice
Sponsor: Justin Bordner
Judged: 01/24/2015
I flew over Bryce Canyon my wings fully spread in a gentle glide
as I marveled at the view below. It wasn't the first time but it always
felt like it. I flapped my wings to ascend even further and consume
even more of the landscape. The weather chiseled rock that always
reminded me of sandcastles children sculpted at the seashore.
I loved the fragrance of the pine trees that neatly grew amongst the
rocks and the white and golden blend of colors that jutted here and there
against an ever changing sky. I suppose if they could see me - humans
would gasp at the sight of an Angel and me well I still gasp at all that
God created for the pleasure of mankind.
22~12~2014
With Love
Maurice Yvonne
The thing with giving is Expectation...
The treasure of giving is the giving itself without expecting anything in return.
A loan creates dependency, inequality.
***
I
bend over
and kiss you
while you are sleeping
The fragrance of your
helpless frailty
Softness of your skin
I cherish
I
rub this balm in the
palms of my hands
to warm it, to give you
pause of sickness
softness without pain
And I lift you against me
Gently
I
Smile in your ear
You whisper soft tufts
of warm air in my neck
You give me the gift
of tenderness
You
expect nothing in return
I only ask to be here, with
you, I give you my life
to love you
forever
***
April 4, 2017
Copyright © Darren White
I’ve received an incredible gift
It has given my heart such a lift
But the date that I see
Is what now concerns me –
It’s the date I no longer exist!!!
Today I was gifted a 'lifetime' premium membership but it is somewhat disconcerting to see it ends on 3/20/2077. I hope TPS aren't psychic!!!!
My mother's great great aunt lived to 111 and 121 days and was in the Guinness book of records - I hope I am around a long long time to make full use of this incredible gift.
14th October 2016
An angel shed a tear from both her soul and her heart
As she viewed the Earth’s beauty that its people called art
Their art came from their souls and from their hands
It came with their giving, shown to every man
It came from the precious moments that were needed elsewhere
And sponsored from the funds that were so hard won and rare
It came from ideas when an occasional quiet moment was won
And in their world, there are precious few of such ones
It came from the hearts that had often known despair
As one paid it forward from a gift of another’s fare
And Hope slowly rose with each and every smile
As a moments’ help began to grow by the mile
And all the thoughts became bright where applied
So remember how important, can be something you do
When someone is given, a momentary helping hand, from you
No matter how small, no matter how much
It’s the love and the heart that comes with the touch
And an Angel did smile
That so many had learned to give in a short while
And they’d learned: there’s an art to giving so very worthwhile
Written 10-25-2015