Best Good Turn Poems
You hit when I was low
The pain you caused, you know
Threw dust on glitter glow
Made weeds of sorrow grow
Cued pent-up tears to flow
You hit when I was low
You hit when I was down
Made me a freak show clown
Took jewels from my crown
Gave not a smile but frown
Held me until I drown
You hit when I was down
You hit when I was sad
Made good turn sour, bad
Streaked pain into my glad
Bandied words like “mad”
Spilled ink on writing pad
You hit when I was sad
You hit when I was lost
Clueless to what it cost
Flowers: blighted in frost
My sentiments you tossed
My boundaries you crossed
You hit when I was lost
You looked down from on high
Not hearing heavy sigh
Not seeing tears I cry
Not caring if I die
And Still you don't know why…
To you I’ve said, “Goodbye”
Jade
Internal Quote by Albert Einstein
On the eve of the invasion, the world braced for an upheaval.
Two ancient foes were poised for war, a war between Good and Evil.
For things are deathly dark and unsavory when Satan's soldiers ride,
and only acts of heroic bravery can help Good turn the tide.
So we watched with pessimistic dread as soldiers circled ‘round Kharkiv.
We feared so many would soon be dead, we feared what’s up Satan’s sleeve.
In numbers seeming infinite, his warring hordes were drawing near,
when we watched a young Ukrainian boy, a boy who showed no fear.
He would play on a grand piano, he would play a soulful song,
he would play sweet chords of calmness in the face of the warring throng.
He would play with skill and feeling, he would play with a touch of class;
while the rest of the world was reeling, he was kicking Putin’s ass.
Electric chills spilled down my spine and there was nary a dry eye,
while we watched and prayed he played unafraid of missiles from the sky.
Will he live to see tomorrow? And what about his family?
Will we learn their fate with sorrow? And can we cure insanity?
For nowhere in this universe could crimes of cold cupidity
be justified and understood but for human stupidity.
And I'm not sure who will win the war, if wars can be won or lost --
the one thing I am sure about in the universe is the cost.
For the cost of freedom is bloody steep, the consequences grave,
if we fail to battle bullies, and if we won’t stand with the brave.
And while we watched him on our big-screens, this boy’s bravery was clear;
just don’t think for a single second “it could never happen here.”
Submitted March 18, 2022, for the Kyiv Poetry Contest, sponsored by Kai Michael Neumann (First Place). This is a substantive revision of a shorter version that was submitted March 11, 2022, for the Keola Poetry Contest, sponsored by Hilo Poet.
As of the date of submittal, news sources reported that the fate of the boy and his family is unknown.
To 'ride on somebody's coat tails'
Is the most dangerous thing you can do
'Keep a stiff upper lip' is another cliché
Mine's not stiff, how about you?
'One good turn deserves another'
Turns my stomach if you must ask
'There's no fool like an old fool'
I'm quite offended by the last
'Sticks and stones will break my bones'
Can break someone's heart as well
So if somebody up and says this to you
Tell them to go straight to hell
'A penny for your thoughts' is yet another
That's pretty damn cheap I'd say
A dollar would certainly be more in line
With the times we live in today
'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush'
Who made up this silly old verse
A bird in the hand is quite messy I'd say
Poop on your fingers or worse
So I've come to the obvious conclusion
Concerning the debunking of clichés
Refuse to use 'em coz people abuse 'em
You'll wind up much happier I say
© Jack Ellison 2013
"Death approaches but we have no regret, when God questions us, we will stand erect”
It is only illusion
and I have no proof
that when the time arrives,
I will surely get to see His brilliant smile !
It is but a dream
that one day soon
He will stand before me and ask me,
"What have you done with your life !"
I have tried to live a life
filled with useful days
helping those less fortunate than I,
being human at every good turn.
The gray hair on my temple is a definite sign
that it won't be long before I meet my King
with folded hands and eyes lifted high,
I dare to ask, "Is there a place for me, Lord?"
It is only a spark of hope
burning bright in the kettle of my heart
I am praying that when my hourglass has sifted
through and through
God will say to me, " Sure I have a place for you! "
He never loved me
Well damn I just found out
Took a shot to the heart
Don't know where I should start
I guess I musta been strung out
Cuz I was straight up on his arm flashing that smile like aint no brother like the one I got
Saying girl I'm so lucky
You just jealous
Whatchu mean he's cheating
Ahh shut yo mouth
Making plans, writing poetry, letting his hands be one with me
He was free to play games with me
With my identity
When he was through with me
I barely recognized who she was cuz she was not me
But I was forever high
See I
I planned our wedding in my mind a million times
Yeah I said we'd name our first kid Tasha
Or prolly Sasha
Even after his great grand aunt Hadassah
Kiki or prolly Eloise
He could bend me over
To his whim or his fancy
Deeply committed was I
To this guy
I didn't care about the why
I just cared about his smile
How his face would light up when he saw me
And just how it was all so wild
Mild
was never a part of our loving
heavy from the get nicca always had me coming
To him constantly running to him
Gunning for him
Loving just him
Giving never ex-pec-ting
He didn't love me
See I just found out
One day it came to me when I was walking around the house
It came to me
How I'd put his needs before mine
Put ma money on his hustle
Saying everything would be fine
Cuz I would be-ne-fit
Joint bank accounts
Cleared out savings
Warning signs begged me to put an end to the ish
But I just couldn't quit
I could not forget
He was that 9-5 that I just could not leave
So I worked tirelessly hoping the boss would recognize
My efforts and promote me.
Promote me?
Dumb me
Strung out
Oh boy kinda good turn out
Everyone showed up but sanity
Cuz I musta been crazy to letchu play me
and sway me to your mindset
Wet, my heart with regret
turned me cold a reject
Deject-ted I stayed that way for centuries
Soul moment suffering through comments
Holding on to moments
Dead to emotion to me anomaly
He never loved me
WELLL I JUST FOUND OUT
I was silly blind trying to find
Reasons for his indiscretions
His lack of confession
Why he never let me in
Musta been ma sins
saying be more forgiving.
He never loved me.
Repeat after me
Is good to be good
For one good turn deserve another
As kindness is a healing
To the wound unseen
So now repeat after me
Kindness is like a baton
In a relay race
When you receive it you
Pass it on
Oh repeat after me
Kindness is like a baton
In a relay race
When you receive it you
Pass it on
How can we make the world
A better place if we are not
Kind to each other
How can we grow if we don't
Care for each other
How can life be when there is no
Kindness
For with just a share of kindness
Heaven is likely on our feet
So now repeat after me
Kindness is like a baton
In a relay race
When you receive it you
pass it on
Oh repeat after me
Kindness is like a baton
In a relay race
When you receive it you
Pass it on
I wonder why people now
So scared
So scared to show kindness
Guess that is the least at least
All people can share among ourselves
For a little kindness
Goes a long long way
So now repeat after me
Kindness is like a baton
On a relay race
When you receive it you
Pass it on
Oh repeat after me
Kindness is like a baton
On a relay race
When you receive it you
Pass it on
Life is beautiful
There are lots of joy to earn
When kindness is shared
Among our selves
we all need care
Who is careless is lifeless
when kindness comes
Your way then you could feel
A joy of being with a heart healed
In life is good to be good
So now repeat after me
Kindness is like a baton
In a relay race
When you receive it you
pass it on
Oh repeat after me
Kindness is like a baton
In a relay race
When you receive it you
pass It on
I rest my case
Did I not help you?
Was I not there when you fell?
I’m crying alone….
My secrets are mine
Do I question you of yours?
The heart is silent….
Intentional pain
Do you think I’m made of stone?
Please handle with care….
I love who I am
Why do you want me to change?
My heart is constant…
Unfettered by time
Do you want to live the dream?
Let me take you there…
Eileen Manassian Ghali
Special thanks to Arthur Vasso for title suggestion
One good turn deserves another...or so they say. How easily we forget to repay a kindness. I love the song by Michael Bolton...Lean on Me.
LEAN ON ME
WHEN YOUR NOT STRONG
I'LL BE YOUR FRIEND
I'LL HELP YOU CARRY ON
FOR, IT WONT BE LONG TIL IM GONNA NEED
SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON
Ecclesiastes 4:9 - 12
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
"The third strand being the strongest one...GOD"
changing the rules
changing realities
listing the rules
color coded names and numbers
take me away replace the whole charade
never mention it
and cash it all in for a trade
worry free
list of names
forwarned with a package
three days before the curse
maybe you wil give it up try again
wash your hands clean of this oxymoron
parade the clowns on april fools day
the numbers before the lottery
back against the wall
the clowns all face it eventually
nice way to kick the bucket
what a wow
euphemism
what a trumpet
lady blue picking the flesh off the bones
make it easier if i could
but we ressurect the reason for the abstract itmes
inside this box
a secret hiding place
clues to find me amidst a headless blunder
bleeding in the screams of irony
doubting good intentions
sell it all
double entent
agent come clean
force you in the wide open
and the cats back in the bag
ring the bell
and the box stays closed
now deal with the envelope
stay in my shadow
lick the stamp
names and numbers
what game of thuinder
tru to the color
im losing the value of the ships im sinking
never made me wonder
will i sleep good tonight
quivering on the streets
im falling asleep
will they find me
replace the secret with the magic
replace the magic with the tragic
string them along
knock by knock
one good turn
and ring the bell
Oh, how I love a good game;
I anxiously await my turn,
And then I make my play.
I also love a good play;
Good scripts, for which I’m always game;
Stories with a good turn.
When the tides of stories turn,
It just makes the play
Afterwards, for coffee I’m game.
On weekends, I love a good poker game; it’s a game that can quickly turn on a wrong play.
One good turn deserves another.
The good you do shall live forever.
No matter how small it will appear.
For those in need it’s always dear.
Their need is what compels a deed.
The deed you do will fill your need.
It’s like you save for a rainy day.
Sowers reap, so wise men say.
The good we sow will multiply.
It will go on after we die.
9/3/2016
Stepping into an unfamiliar view
The room, the faces, everything is new
You've done what you're asked but no one's around
Barely quiet but hard to make a sound
Nothing left to do but sit and just wait
Watching the hours go by until it's late
Hoping a familiar face would drop by
Otherwise I'll just play with my wifi
Something new is what I really do hope
In learning things that's within my field's scope
For now, I think, that would still have to wait
Well it's just the first day, more things await
Surrounded by many professionals
Overhearing stuff educational
But here I am, a fish out of water
Whether there or not, it wouldn't matter
Such is the life of an only intern
Who's hoping that things would take a good turn
Letting time slip by, by writing this poem
Oh look it's almost five. Yay! I go home.
Never argue with a woman when she's tired or rested
One good turn gets most of the blankets
The qualities that most attract a woman to a man
are usually the same ones she can't stand years later
It's better to be looked over than overlooked
Definition of an ******: gland finale
Virginity can be cured
Sex has no calories
Did you ever notice that anyone in favor of birth control
has already been born
The problem with the gene pool is there's no lifeguard
Red meat is not bad for you, fuzzy green meat is bad for you
Never pass up an opportunity to pee
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday lying in the hospital
dying of nothing
No one is listening until you fart
Never hold in your farts... they travel up your spine to your brain
and that's where your crappy ideas come from
A man with both feet firmly on the ground is a man
who can't get his pants off
A lie travels round the world while truth is putting its boots on
Be happy while you're living, for you're a long time dead
A day spent in a well was a day well spent
My ex-wife still misses me but her aim is improving
I googled, “how to start a wildfire”... got 48,572 matches
I'm not as think as you drunk I am
Told my wife I was seeing a psychiatrist... she told me
she was seeing a psychiatrist, two plumbers, and a bartender
A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand
A closed mouth gathers no feet
Eat well, stay fit, die anyway
Felt a little hungry one Saturday
So I followed the herd to a place where the staff had little to say
It was called The Grand King Bufffet
Just $4.99 was all I had to pay
The place was packed
America's finest this place did attract
All God fear'n, hard work'n, typical Strip Mall townsfolk
Why thank you yes I will have a diet coke
Go ahead eat your fill
That is why God gave us freewill
I was greeted by a smiling Asian Girl
A female Oriental Pearl
She led me to a booth
I think she sensed I had a sweet tooth
I could see all kinds of deserts
But I feared if I stepped in the food mob would hurt
So I started with the hot and sour soup
I could smell the Love as I scooped
They really do a great job
Feeding all of us over fed snobs
On my way back to my booth I passed some people leaving
I glanced at their table seeing but not believing
I sat down and finished my bowl
Now the sesame chicken was my goal
I passed two more empty tables then sat down to eat my fill
I took my last bite raised my hand and asked for my bill
Only $4.99 for this feast
How the Chinese love feeding the American Mini Mall Beasts
I felt guilty leaving only two bucks for a tip
But that was more than most of my fellow diners what a Gip
It is easy to deny tipping to our Asian Sister and Brother
But remember one good turn deserves another
So the next time you head to your favorite Buffet place
Please remember it's about time we save our American Face
For God sake if you are fed well
Leave a tip and say to your host farewell
Quote by Albert Einstein
Keola – Rhyme
On the eve of the invasion, the world braced for an upheaval.
Two ancient foes were poised for war, a war between Good and Evil.
For things are deathly dark and unsavory when Satan's soldiers ride,
and only acts of heroic bravery can help Good turn the tide.
So we watched with pessimistic dread as soldiers circled ‘round Kharkiv.
We feared so many would soon be dead, we feared what’s up Satan’s sleeve.
In numbers seeming infinite, his warring hordes were drawing near,
when we watched a young Ukrainian boy, a boy who showed no fear.
He would play on a grand piano, he would play a soulful song,
he would play sweet chords of calmness in the face of the warring throng.
He would play with skill and feeling, he would play with a touch of class;
while the rest of the world was reeling, he was kicking Putin’s ass.
For nowhere in this universe could crimes of cold cupidity
be justified and understood but for human stupidity.
And I'm not sure who will win the war, if wars can be won or lost --
the one thing I am sure about in the universe is the cost.
For the cost of freedom is bloody steep, the consequences grave,
if we fail to battle bullies, and if we won’t stand with the brave.
And while we watched him on our big-screens, this boy’s bravery was clear;
just don’t think for a single second “it could never happen here.”
March 11, 2022
Keola Secret Poetry Contest, sponsored by Hilo Poet
As of the date of submittal, news sources reported that the fate of the boy and his family is unknown.
the god particle concedes to a universal mass
as predictably, it announces its presence
taking the holy sacrament from under its glass
beliefs from before so consigned obsolescence
we now think we know - no...really, we do
how the universe came to exist, massively being
galaxies of stars, unseen dark matters, us too
giving God a reason to give our lives meaning
photons and gluons of stuff are Peter's principals
bosons innumerable occupy the same quantum stated
the best minds wraparound said concept so quizzical
but not before a big bang began branches bifurcated
bosons like fermions those particles elementary
that come into existence and are gone in a blink
transcendental though we may think they seem to be
harder to transcend than at last we might think
what are we to learn of ourselves from this tidbit
of long sought actual theoretical enlightenment
can we care more for each other just a tiny bit?
and concede happily to life's common wonderment
let us learn with concern what CERN can discern
about all the quirks and quarks of this universe
give mankind a good reason to give out a good turn
and make our corner a bit better than the subverse
add Lederman, the goddamn particle's indefinite article
"so central to the state of physics today, yet so elusive" *
is like the first time you borrowed your Dad's vehicle
for a ride with your squeeze to amour more conducive
you wanted get down to the real heart of the matter
and experience the unknown pleasures of knowing
your delving into places and matters that matter
the whole experience just drives you to keep going
© Goode Guy 2012-07-05
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higgs_boson#.22God_particle.22
http://www.npr.org/2012/07/04/156248281/new-subatomic-particle-may-be-physics-missing-link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higgs_boson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Higgs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CERN