Best Hampered Poems
I know I’ve made a thousand journeys,
withstood the tests of time and foe
shed the dust and shouldered worries
struggled onward against the flow.
Unconforming, seldom bending
straight the path I ever took.
Challenge was my unending passion
contradiction I forsook.
I’ve battled tempests ‘fore and ‘hind me,
I’ve seen the devil at my heels.
Seldom knowing what lay before me
never knowing how respite feels.
I’ve seen the Valkyries and Forty Furies
their mazy circles in the sky,
taunting, haunting, ever daunting
beckoning from their aeries high.
I’ve crossed the searing sands of Gobi
and scaled Himalaya’s rocky tors,
badlands, wastelands all behind me,
walked upon the Seven shores.
I’ve gazed upon the Northern Lights
and seen the Southern Cross at sea.
I’ve traveled east and journeyed west,
no home or kindred claiming me.
No ebb of tide did succor bring me,
no place of solace ever found
but grappled fiercely all that challenged,
gaining purchase on the ground.
I rose against what life beset me
with courage the gruel for my soul,
hampered, harassed, never emptied,
firm and resolute toward my goal.
But it’s finished now, I’ve done my part
and I’ve left nothing uncompleted.
No looking back, no ruing thoughts
all my convictions undefeated.
And now I’m on that final journey
through all meridians of time and space,
with hope to meet the God that gave me
aeonian fortitude to run the race.
© August, 2015
Home to President Woodrow Wilson
Ivy scaled Monmouth’s outer walls
Laughter of youth from decades past
Resonated in marble-floored halls
The theater building was set apart
Further down Cedar Avenue
Another spirit stalked the stage
Where college actors made debuts
A gift from the Monmouth Race Park
Actors’ dressing rooms were stalls
Where a stealthy ghost spied silently
As thespians answered cue calls
Arriving early one April night
Eager to recite the witty lines
Of “Blithe Spirit’s” Madam Arcati
Rehearsing her séance foremost in my mind
In character I asked, “Is anyone there?”
Was it a true spirit who answered?
A short young man swept down the aisle
Stage lights my vision hampered
“Hello,” I called as he disappeared
Into the workroom below the stage
For a moment I stood frozen
Losing my place on the script’s page
Curious, I followed his path
But the work area was empty
Where did he go? Whom did I see?
Unanswered questions tormented me
A bit of fear entered my heart
To doors above the seats I raced
No one else was in the theater
My terror was not misplaced
But as I opened the door to leave
Professor Harrison entered
Stunned, I gasped, and he had to ask
“What’s wrong?” (I was usually centered.)
“A man came in as I rehearsed,”
I panted, “wearing a shiny hat
And a jacket of dark blue satin.
He vanished, gone, just like that.”
My mentor grinned as I composed
“Believe me, what I’m saying’s true.”
Harrison smiled and said calmly
“Huh, I guess you saw him, too.”
I wasn’t first, perhaps not last
To see the lost jockey searching
For the stable that held his steed
As the great race was approaching
*October 16, 2014
True story. It turned out many students had seen this jockey's ghost. Professor Harrison worked on set construction and I could sometimes hear him talking to the "ghost." Happy Halloween!
I don’t know why I love you.
It must be the bolero in my soul.
We’re rivals – opponents – we’re opposite poles.
You’re always in need of the things I can’t give,
and what I can offer, won’t help you to live.
I seek you in others, but can’t ever find you,
keep trying to free you, but just seem to bind you.
There’s nothing between us that we can agree to,
but I call out your name, even when there’s no need to.
I don’t know why I love you.
I tread very carefully – you hurl yourself in.
I just want to love you, but you want to win.
Your image in mirrors is oddly askew:
you have all these facets, but which one is you?
I’m pinching myself, but I still don’t accept it.
When I wrote all my hates in that poem, you kept it.
If I wasn’t so eager,
you’d treat me far better.
I’m like some red setter
who, battered, beleaguered,
just wants to run free,
but the faster I scamper,
the more I am hampered
by the rope around me.
I don’t know why I love you.
This can’t ever end in a fiery fandango,
still less in a sensuous, smouldering tango.
Are you just playing, or are you in deep?
This should be bliss, but it’s wrecking my sleep.
Sometimes I think I can take you or leave you,
but I lie to myself, so that I can believe you.
I don’t know why I love you.
A love such as this has no value, no title,
there’s nothing about it that’s wholesome or vital.
You offer no future, you come with no past.
There’s nothing in this that is likely to last.
I’m like a leaf, getting blown here and there,
and only content when I’m up in mid air.
I was water
I flowed as calm as a breeze
You hampered my flux
Stopped a force of nature dead in its tracks
You brought me to my knees
You swept through my forest
You burned down all of my trees
You did it so naturally
You did it with the slightest of ease
© Dr. Upma A. Sharma
Tidal locking
Like waxing and waning
of moon, his love shuddered,
The tidal locking
that hampered my zing,
Effulgent life lost
in darker side of silvery moon.
In its brightness
drowned my shimmer,
Then it abated into a sickle
to slice my pride,
Forlorn, I chose to live by
the dark side of the moon.
Consumed by its force,
deep on this side of earth
where peace calls my name
I lean and stay,
over the reflection of waves
on the dark side of the moon
The horizon rips my heart
two bodies weaken
by its physical use,
and tidal locking
Welcoming and affecting everything
On the dark side of the moon
Written August 11th, 2015
Contest- collaboration celebration contest
I am Thankful to Linda for contributing last two stanzas that have made it amazingly meaningful and beautiful.
~ A poet destroyer collaboration~
Tidal locking- tidal forces from Earth slow down rotation of moon and the same side faces the earth. The other side, the darker side always remains dark.
hampered by deep snow
progress slow as molasses
in January
------------------------------
wild and howling wind
opens the portal wide to
the reign of the wolf
-------------------------------
21st May 2014
Contest: Two Haiku (Describing The Month of January)
Sponsor: SKAT A
Blisters from shoes, hampered his speed
Banters from foes, sauntered to bleed
Ran barefooted, marathon booted
Ethiopia on his feet, milestone in feat.
Tonight I thought passion would bring
But not in the shape of a bed spring
The very moment I peaked
I felt what was breached
Now I am so very hampered in upswing
~*~ For Francine's "Wow Me in 5 Lines" contest ~*~
It is not because I was unduly worried then.
That miserable beauty spot was becoming a ball.
I never bothered about it since I was a man
Or that it could some sort of vicious cancer I recall.
But my ugly beauty spot grew just below my eye.
It hampered my vision and made it difficult to read.
So I went to the dermatologist with a big sigh,
Hoping that cutting the spot off would not make me bleed.
The doctor laughed, we just burn it off, it would not hurt.
Alas hurt it did but the spot of beauty was just gone.
But then I could read properly for me, my dessert.
Happy I was though I had to pay well to Doctor John.
That was twenty years ago. Nothing disturbed my reading.
But now the beauty spot returned all covered in black.
I will not pay another bill and see it bleeding.
I could read my all-lovely books from back to back.
NB This is a true story. The spot or wart was a hindrance. It grew back as a dark flat skin after some twenty years. Trust my daughter to insist I should do away with it. More wasted money. I bet in twenty more years it will grow again. But in twenty years I will be dead. So who cares!
I hated sailing away from you when duty called,
but love, I'm headed home; a prisoner now free.
Battered and wounded by war, my body mauled,
I pray you will be upon the shore, waiting for me.
Time moves so slowly and too much has been wasted.
Without you by my side these years, I've been cast adrift.
I've imagined your sweet lips, remember how they tasted.
I wish I could unfurl all sails to make this ship more swift.
Too many years have passed since we've been together.
I long to see your face and hunger for your loving touch.
Thoughts of you kept me warm in Winter's coldest weather.
Oh my Darling, being apart, we've missed out on so much.
Time keeps lingering, I'm hampered by each windswept wave
but when I envision being with you, my heart fills will relief.
If you don't want me, I'll wish I'd died in the battlefield grave.
But if you still love me I vow to never leave you in tears of grief.
I see the shining beacon from the tower in the village square.
In just a few more moments I hope I'll hear you call my name.
Oh, my love, if you're still mine I know you will be waiting there.
I yearn with desire and need of you. You fuel my love's flame.
I see tears run down your face and hear you call me from the dock.
With you in my arms, I am truly blessed to have the love of my life.
It's time to heal your broken heart and unchain the hands of the clock,
and sing to you melodies of how I've missed you, my darling, my wife.
This poem was adapted from The Righteous Brothers' version
of 'Unchained Melody.' ~ by far the best in my opinion.
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April 23rd, 2016 - Gren's Evergreens #2
Many take Kate for granted for her sight,
Beautiful and gracious with a strong will,
Her touch is golden oft soothing and skilled,
she does not take defeat without a fight,
Full of life,though her eyes are without light,
She runs daily ,going up and down hill,
not hampered by this defect ,but fulfilled,
determined to endure to prove her right.
I tried to woo her and make her my love,
For she is unique though blind,but not bind,
My skills and love made her meek like a dove,
Lovely damsel like this is hard to find,
Her traits and compassion came from above,
To protect and cherish her,These!I signed.
Dedicated to all physically challenged people in the world.
I say--you can still live a better life.
Oh God,
The entanglements and complexities
Of our worldly earth
Are overwhelming.
Sometimes its beauty and goodness
Are strangled and hampered
By the webs of civilization.
But most of the time
Your splendor survives
And shines through strongly
Despite the barriers,
For those who want to see and feel
And appreciate.
Grant that we,
Caught in the traps of materialism,
May realize
That we too are rooted
On the earth,
Which was created by your love;
So that we may have the strength
To persevere, and grow and flourish
Despite the entrapments and burdens
Of our times,
To be able to share in and reflect
The beauty and peace in the world,
And the goodness and love
Of You.
November 24, 2015
Premiere Contest: Inspirational Christian Poetry
Sponsor: Regina McIntosch
The world does be a mysterious place to live in
Already hampered with its yet to be unlocked secrets
It does cause us all to enjoy while, at the same time, having us basked in sin
If I could change some things about it, pray, life would be as sweet as a ballet
See, humans would need to become pure
No more shall there be wars to endure
Humans shall be tolerant of one another
Even if differences of all sorts, around us all, do hover
Religions would need to be more unifying
Indeed, Holy Books, of the way to Heaven do teach
But then, humans, of hatred and mockery for one another do be screeching
As if, of peace and tolerance, their religions do not preach
Earth has had enough of its fill of pollution
Machines and gadgets I would bring forward,
Having the preservation of nature as their main mission
No more would trash and dirt fill the nooks and crooks of the world
Pollution does cause the death of life
Nature does become impure to our health
So much that Earth does feel like she is going on her way to her own death
Pray, a new world it shall be, one with air so fresh
If I could change more about the world,
Why, I would make sure death and disease do be in-existent
Pray, death does be so bold, it does cause us all to be so sad
Disease and the loss of our loved ones do cause us all to fall to our own detriment
Why, of course, humans and animals would have eternity to live
But at the same time, they would need to be made of good feelings
No more evil, no more sin, no more harms
No more disturbed thoughts, no more wants of abuse
My world, if I could have my way, would be free from poverty
Each and everyone of us would have his own share of gold
So that content shall be his stomach and that of his family
Content shall also be his heart, indeed, content shall be his little world
Why, does the world be a place where we, fallen souls, come to grieve
Does it be a place where our souls are to be always ringing with sorrowful alarm
Why, I do claim not to have, at my disposal, the one magic finger
But I shall try my best, to make of my world, a place, one so better!
This rhyme does be my prayer
May the Heavens bestow upon me, their power
Pray, if I could have my way, the world shall be the solace of all of life
Indeed, such a vision does be in my heart, the strength of my own faith!
10 April 2016
My molten core is bursting at the seams
Billowing ash and smoke circle above
Volcanic eruptions are on the rise
Intense balls of fire I toss from my glove
That damnation isle, this Icelandic land
Eating away at our profits, typically planned
This mother nature, no dollar sense
No bonus for us, can she redistribute and condense
Mankind has been playing hardball too long
His head's over-sized and his ego too strong
Iceland is but the tip of the iceberg
I'm now plotting the next eruption surge
There she goes firing of again
Airports are closing, grounding more aeroplanes
Tourism again hampered by her vociferous bellows
Which is a pain in the ass for us holidaying fellows
Don't toy with my gifts; I'll be more gentle
Your fine Earthly home is but a rental
Be kind to my creatures both great and small
Perhaps my fiery heart will cool down after all
Perhaps we have been harsh shooting from the hip
It's a trait of man, it's why we self worship
We appear to have grown a streak of selfishness
As we now look around at our self made mess
Limerick : Once a lazy Lout without any clout
Once a lazy Lout without any clout
Entered politics though hampered by gout
Party voted him Chief
Being good at misChief
Now UN wants him for what ? Ne’er a doubt !
© T. Wignesan – Paris, 2013