Best Greatest Poems
The mellifluous musical tones of the village bells
Echoing chimes over the cold snowcapped mountains
Both finding their way to people in the valley below
Christmas songs — let your spirit sing freely and loudly
Welcoming the Birth of Our Savior and Baby King
Who so charms the Angels on High and God Himself
On this night, The Star was so beautiful, clear, and shiny
Crisp and so crystal-bright, centered above and beyond
Reflecting now the Lord God’s most divine and holy light
There is real magic in the night air as Heaven rejoices aloud
The child and the infant’s divine soul breathe life now intently
Fulfilling truly God’s very promise and His hope to Mankind
Keep this Christmas spirit — share it with others near and far
Grace filled with good tidings as we dance on wings of joy
We all now celebrate in great happiness, love, and kindness
Christmas is forever — and you must never ever close this door
Faith always enters, carrying His guiding torch high and proud
And encouraging Man every step of the way on his long journey
Even in a simple cradle where the Baby Jesus so innocently lay
Heaven doth bathe His cradle with the warmest rays of divine light
Bespeaking the heavenly beauty, joy, and wonder of Our Savior
Amazing peace makes a lovely gift, I wish for all of us to have
As new life blossoms, wrapped in petals of an immaculate heart
God’s holy blessing, love, and intention are clear for all to see
That Holy Night the Angels entire sang mirthfully on Christmas Eve
Praising Almighty Lord God in Heaven on the birth of His only son
The Angels’ paeans echoed in their divine beauty across the Universe
To bring peace now, glowing with your love, is His divine intention
Rejoicing in God’s Greatest Gift to Mankind who was born in a manger
Destined to become Our Most Holy and Divine Savior — Amen! Amen!
Anne-Lise Andresen, Liam McDaid, and Gary Bateman
A Collaborated Poem, Copyright © All Rights Reserved
December 1, 2015 (Unrhymed Tercet)
I got to wonderin' the other day
who was the greatest poet ever?
Was it a guy named Willie Shakespeare
or someone much more clever?
I thought it over for quite a while
just who this guy might be.
Then suddenly a light went on!
By God, it could be me!
So I'm gonna write a Masterpiece.
Just you wait and see.
It'll be the best poem ever wrote
and the author will be me!
Everyone from near and far
will know my famous name.
The poem I write will be so great
it will bring me worldwide fame!
I'll be chauffeured 'round in limousines
and flown in private jets.
Everyone will call me "sir"
and I'll have no regrets.
I'll be treated just like Royalty,
No matter where I go.
I'll be waited on hand and foot,
just to let you know.
So when you're in my presence
don't you forget to bow,
cause I'll be the greatest poet ever,
I'm tellin' you right now!
That's it - My mind's made up
and since I'm gonna be so great,
I decided I won't write it now,
you're just gonna have to wait!
Ralph Taylor
11/8/15
If 2012 prophesies prove true
And Earth’s life cycles again renew
Mysteries of man will be more than a few
Challenges may await future life forms
With intellects far surpassing our norm
Created to live without doing harm
For if they decipher man’s history
What will they make of our great mystery
The one we refer to as bigotry
Black labs, gold retrievers live side by side
Wild stallions and mustangs on prairies ride
Both red ants and black, free to colonize
Man’s refusal to accept differences
To wiser beings may make no sense
What in man’s makeup can give it credence?
Earth’s subsequent creatures may reproduce
Not needing two sexes to call a truce
So mating rituals may be pursued
A single-sex species might not comprehend
Why women workers were paid less than men
And why “free speech” was not just a given
Questions would most certainly arise
How a believer in God denies
Rights to free worship without compromise
And how could so many wars be waged
Evoking God’s name in death-march crusades
With killing, torturing in every age
Indeed such mysteries in man’s history
Would leave a perplexing legacy
Sure to confound any new species
New cultures may thrive on diversity
Of religion and genealogy
And speak of our inferiority
Note: This is dedicated to Christopher Higgins whose poems about prejudice inspire readers
to do more than just think about one of the greatest ills in our society.
Peace, Love, and God’s Greatest Gift
The mellifluous musical tones of the village bells
Echoing chimes over the cold snowcapped mountains
Both finding their way to people in the valley below
Christmas songs—let your spirit sing freely and loudly
Welcoming the Birth of Our Savior and Baby King
Who so charms the Angels on High and God Himself
On this night, The Star was so beautiful, clear, and shiny
Crisp and so crystal-bright, centered above and beyond
Reflecting now the Lord God’s most divine and holy light
There is real magic in the night air as Heaven rejoices aloud
The child and the infant’s divine soul breathe life now intently
Fulfilling truly God’s very promise and His hope to Mankind
Keep this Christmas spirit—share it with others near and far
Grace filled with good tidings as we dance on wings of joy
We all now celebrate in great happiness, love, and kindness
Christmas is forever—and you must never ever close this door
Faith always enters, carrying His guiding torch high and proud
And encouraging Man every step of the way on his long journey
Even in a simple cradle where the Baby Jesus so innocently lay
Heaven doth bathe His cradle with the warmest rays of divine light
Bespeaking the heavenly beauty, joy, and wonder of Our Savior
Amazing peace makes a lovely gift, I wish for all of us to have
As new life blossoms, wrapped in petals of an immaculate heart
God’s holy blessing, love, and intention are clear for all to see
That Holy Night the Angels entire sang mirthfully on Christmas Eve
Praising Almighty Lord God in Heaven on the birth of His only son
The Angels’ paeans echoed in their divine beauty across the Universe
To bring peace now, glowing with your love, is His divine intention
Rejoicing in God’s Greatest Gift to Mankind who was born in a manger
Destined to become Our Most Holy and Divine Savior—Amen! Amen!
Anne-Lise Andresen, Liam McDaid, and Gary Bateman
A Collaborated Poem, Copyright © All Rights Reserved
December 1, 2015 (Unrhymed Tercet)
Why, the greatest enemy of man is man
for man has subdued everything else
Fear not the tiger, fear the murderer's plan
Just hearken well to what history yells!
At times twas jingoism, at times a rancorous desire to do harm
Fear just man's malice and his ugly evil
If his dagger blow fails, he'll get you by black magic charm
His heart and mind alone well shelter the devil.
For how many fall prey to lions or snakes
one could even count them on fingers
Man invents a cure for smallpox but missiles too he makes
and he mercilessly kills without harbingers.
Man invented as many things for his destruction and harm
as he did for his benefit and good
He's inventor of bombs as well as tractors on the farm
And doesn't he detest acting as he should?
Man alone is behind the bloodiest of bloodshed
The angels too had foreseen his wars and battles
From the gory battlefield to the humble homestead
with the shrieks of murder our earth forever rattles!
Close your doors and your home secure
not to deter beasts, but to lock out the robber, the thief
For no greater danger than man lurks there for sure
Fear not the fierce bull, that you can turn into beef!
Wild beasts might be known to gobble us up
but isn't man as well found to be a cannibal?
Gosh, humans too on human flesh do sup
Man tis far more fearsome than any poor animal.
The greatest enemy of man thus is man himself
How much blood has he ruthlessly spilt of his own kind
Look out for the bottle of poison on his shelf
Till the deed is done, no knowing what goes on in his mind.
The poor young lady refrains from venturing out at night
How now, what does she so fear?
She fears nothing but assault by man's might
so rarely is she stalked by a grizzly bear!
Fortunately for us, this ain't how it always ends
man can always be the best of friends
So we can still count more on buddies and cronies
instead of focusing on foes and fiends.
For man he can be a hero and saviour
if judicious he is about right and wrong behaviour.
Besides religion as I know, infact does actually foretell
That the end of ALL killers and murderers
is that inferno of divine wrath we all know as hell!
I like to be somewhere were I can't be traced
I world of magic or stuck in the replay of my outtakes
A thousand pictures saved and phrases enjoyed take place
I could be a mystical being or an animal having race
I could be a goddess, or remembering when I ate Daddy's plate
Pretending I'm kissing a movie star or the kisses of my love; can't replace
O yes, my funnest and greatest transportation, are the ones that my mind would make.
life's greatest anguish:
passion felt yet unexpressed
harrowing hunger
love in confinement
a required sacrifice
desire in f^l^a^m^e^s
cravings and longings
consume the tormented heart
there
is
no
respite
Jade Celeste
WAIT!
the poet laughed
there's love to document
there's passion, there's hate!
WAIT!
where's my pen, my typer?
my life is my art
Living passed by and the world did it's thing, rotating, tilting, and changing
but the poet sat idle, conjuring thought
he dreamt aloud, awake
of simple times
he drank
he smoked, lied, and bargained
yet never put into motion
what realities he should have, could have sought
funny how it happens for the poet
poetically tragic, this nothing whatsoever
WAIT!
cried the overweight, medicated poet
cornered by walls of his own brain
such a creative mind wasting away
a mind with fingers
no friends, and without eyes
the Poet scurried, smelling rain one day
so he looked to the window and wrote "Thee Greatest Poem Never Spoke"
trees gave leaves to fall and winter gave way to crawl
then blew it's load
the poet spoke again,
WAIT!
these beauteous seasons are the very reason my pen leaks prolific ink of lines so great
then spring sprung
bells rang and flings flung
but the poet failed to dare to love
women and children and angels passed his tearful face
and he gasped
WAIT!
I must write and express and show this amazing grace
sadly summer came and went again
upon it's glorious exodus the poet wrote and wrote
more and more of stars he never saw
and of rain his skin failed to feel
and of things he could only imagine
tears of everything doused the poet's pale cheek and he ate the pain which enveloped him
dim lights appeared as a nightmare
and finally one bright light of tunnel vision sizzled his name
the name he'd long since forgotten
just like everyone else
wait...the poet whimpered
wait...
tho' fate
would not,
could not,
WAIT.
She sits and listens
Intent on every word
Not once does she visit the kitchen
Where I need her help, her assistance
There is so much to do, so many tasks
And she simply won’t help me
She sits at His feet
Listening and heeding
His every word brings a peace
To her expression…
What could He be saying?
She looks so content there at His feet
Smiling her love, so attentive
She should be helping me, shouldn’t she?
I think I’ll go in and tell Him…
Mary isn’t helping me with the meal…
He’ll surely make her come in and help me
When I told Him I needed her help with these things…
Jesus told me…
**“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things… but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Yes, she sits at His feet, breathless with pleasure
She sees that this is what she needs…
His light poured out over her soul, shining in hope
Whispering love, coloring her thoughts
In brilliant rays of faith that comes to life with His words.
Just being with the Lord. This is our greatest need!
** Luke 10:41-42 (KJV)
Wise to emulate
“The Greatest Generation”
Depression Era
Hard times faced with dignity
Heroes rose from common men
*Entry for Brian’s Ekphrasis contest. Based on the book “The Greatest Generation”
by Tom Brokaw, a truly inspiring account of how people met the financial challenges
of The Great Depression.
The Twisted Double Strands of Life:
The Double Helix Deoxyribonucleic Acid;
Protein Strands
DNA, blue prints, this of high complexity.
These are none alike, and none similar.
Sample diversification are dogs, birds, cats.
Yet, the most spectacular creation is we.
Wondrously and fearfully created.
We have the potential to rule over this creation.
A golden pen; stronger than deadly arms.
Inscribed truth that is bonded on black and on white.
God given gifts with profound insight.
Many are called, few are chosen, as once said.
For those who have answered the call.
If we truly ponder inward and upward and forward.
Then look to see, “that most humblest is Greatest.”
I was going through some boxes,
that were packed-up years ago.
Thinking I could throw away some stuff,
How much I didn't know.
A lot of it just made me laugh.
Why it was kept, I can't recall.
Our thinking wasn't really wise,
it made no sense at all.
Everything was going fine.
I was progressing rather well,
until I opened up a certain box,
my eyes began to swell!
Inside was my first Baseball Glove,
much to my surprise.
My mind filled up with memories,
tears filled up my eyes.
It was on the day that I turned twelve.
over sixty years ago.
It was a gift my father gave me,
a gift I treasure so!
The glove was what I wished for,
but I didn't ask my Dad.
I knew he couldn't afford it
cause times were really bad!
He brought it for me anyway,
I didn't know what to say.
Two months later, due to a heart attack,
my father passed away.
I'm sorry it was packed away.
That was my omission.
From now on it's in plain sight,
in a "for all to see" position!
I'm never gonna give it up,
this glove I got from Dad.
It's the greatest gift I ever got,
from the Greatest Friend I ever had!
Contest by: Paula Swanson
Contest Name: Yard Sale
Sponsor: Paula Swanson
Who Gave Me #1: Paula Swanson
Opinion: It's my favorite because of what
it represents, a tribute to the best friend
I ever had.
My favorite of songs is The Old Rugged Cross.
The most tragic of days was the worlds’ greatest loss.
For sinners that day were all given their chance.
His Father in heaven could not even bear to look not even one glance.
Forgive them He prayed as His life’s blood ran down to the ground.
Can you picture Him there wearing that thorny old crown?
On that hill so far away, sad but precious memories were made.
Born of a virgin mother in the tomb He was laid.
Death could not hold Him, death would not last.
Three days in that tomb, so long ago, death too it would pass.
He arose and was seen by many it was said.
Our Savior arose from the grave and no longer was dead.
As He gave His final words to His apostles and friends.
He ascended to the clouds but they knew they would see Him again.
He made us a promise He would rule once again.
I feel that day is coming we’re reaching the end.
The prophecies that abound.
With each new day they seem to be coming unwound.
Are you ready my friend for the Millennium Reign?
Are have you sunk to wearing the mark worn by Cain?
Sacrifices my friend we all have to do.
Just look at Jesus and the sacrifice He made, was made just for you .
So on that hill so far away I kneel at the thought.
With His precious blood my cleansing was bought.
And what have we learned, or did He die just for nought?
I look to Jesus and His love I have sought.
He must come first in all that we do.
And when the day comes you’ll see I speak true.
THE GREATEST TREASURE
All the world’s diamonds, silver, and gold,
All the world’s antiques, polished and old,
All the vast treasures of empires now past,
All these together at Jesus were cast.
He took one look at the pittance there placed,
Said, “That’s not enough man’s sin to erase.
You cannot buy even one soul with them,
I’ll give my blood on the cross for all men.
I’ll shed on the cross just all they will need
To from sin’s shackles forever be freed.”
Lying, adultery, stealing, and crime,
Violent treatment of all of mankind,
Drug abuse, drunkenness, passion, and lust,
Rebellion from anything moral or just,
Perversion of sex in an act not intended,
Minds so corrupted and lives that were bended—
These were the treasures He wanted that day,
Not gold or silver or all that array.
They were the souls of mankind bent for hell,
He wanted every one in sin now had fell.
Yes, one soul has value beyond all we know;
It caused the Savior to Calvary go.
Now His great victory o’er all of my sin
Becomes MY great value when I let Him in!
Why, then, does waste from my past not let go?
Why does the damage it did bother so?
It’s only because I allow it to be,
I must trust in Jesus to from it be free.
He paid all the debt I could never repay—
Lord, please place this great treasure in my life each day.
His eyes always see the beauty in my heart.
An ugly duckling is the way I think of me.
He paints me as though I am a lovely work of art.
I'm not dainty like a hummingbird or a honeybee.
An ugly duckling is the way I think of me.
I've never considered a mirror to be my friend.
I'm not dainty like a hummingbird or a honeybee.
This man loves me and he has been my Godsend.
I've never considered a mirror to be my friend.
When he looks at me I see such love in his eyes.
This man loves me and he has been my Godsend.
When I'm in a sultry mood he tells me I'm his prize.
When he looks at me I see such love in his eyes.
He's the man I adore; my greatest love in effigy.
When I'm in a sultry mood he tells me I'm his prize.
My love for him is deeper than fathoms of the sea.
He's the man I adore; my greatest love in effigy.
He paints me as though I am a lovely work of art.
My love for him is deeper than fathoms of the sea.
His eyes always see the beauty in my heart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
March 25th, 2016 ~ Pantoum Contest by: Eve