Best Hard Lesson Poems
A hardened and disciplined man drove to the grocery store lost in thought,
with setting of sun, the long day's work almost found it's end.
Hoisting his daughter to shoulder, he walked from the parking lot,
and barely noticed her hair smelled of shampoo and pool chlorine blend.
He searched for fresh loaf of bread, and pound of peaches,
careful to tally up each purchase with well-honed skill.
With family's dinner waiting, and worn wallet short on wages,
thinking, that tank of gas will have to wait, and hoped it will.
Looking up from the myriad of baby food jars in the next aisle,
slowly he became aware, as a dense fog clears on a whim.
Now noticed a woman with mouth played in a strange smile,
her instinctive gaze fixed on something behind him.
He turned to see what elicited her quizzical beam,
and his heart melted at the sight in the shopping cart.
A straw haired helper, fast asleep, slumped over in a girl's charmed dream,
her little head now resting against his arm.
The day's worries quickly fled, tough exterior, now stripped senseless,
life's hard lesson and true measure of a man's love now shown.
Left wondering how a resting child could leave one so defenseless,
and that, which a man holds important..,could be so wrong.
Epilogue
I live the rest of my days wiser and more carefree.
For my darling little one, it wasn't I that carried you,
but you that carried me.
Every family has them
These unsettling times these misunderstandings
Times when many things come into play
In most cases these wee spats are soon over and forgotten
But sometimes differences run deeper
Because of other factors
Such as jealousy, middle child syndrome personality
It's only human nature at play
The necessity for all to find our place
In the overall scheme of life
To establish one's self in the pecking order
And accepting it without malice, without jealousy
A hard lesson to learn when we're brand new at he game
Always suspecting that siblings
Are the ones receiving preferential treatment
In reality, they are reacting in exactly the same matter
Trying their best to learn the ropes
To understand what life means what life is all about
But we never do have all the answers
Even if we survive those uncertain early years
And live to the ripe old age of thirty
Well that is what old age is when you're a teenager
Please be assured, you WILL get through
And be a well adjusted adult
Aunt June
My aunt taught me...
how to be; a sewer, a grower,
a knower of "things" important.
She taught me to watch the pot,
until it boiled and never look away.
Canning strawberry jelly,
and making sweet marmalade pie
were the easy lessons
in believing in tomorrow.
Blankets made from scraps
to keep the family warm in winter,
kept "devotions" for another year.
Dresses made of flour sacks,
with corn mill colored ribbon...
They were for spring.
Summer was all about the garden,
and planting... "seeds to fling".
We had chicks for a while,
until my uncle lost his job.
Then we had to eat them.
That was a hard lesson in cooking,
"things" you keep close to the heart,
Sacrifice...
beyond dry tears
to feed the ones you love.
My uncle got sick,
and then he died.
June went to work,
ironed for others,
sewed and cooked and made
their lives easy,
as her's was hard.
My aunt never complained.
My aunt was amazing...
a farm woman,
from the mid-west.
She could rope and ride,
and she would never hide
even from
cancer.
My Aunt was a warrior.
It was an illicit affair, you'd think, they wouldn't dare, they believed, if we handle it with care no one would be aware. Bur they made a grave err and it became a very heavy cross to bear.
Now the woman had flare with long, wavy hair, very well to do, a millionaire, she was known as cleaver Clair. Clair was doing just fine, marriage in tact, the woman was stacked, walking a straight line. Out of the blue, her life turned on a dime.
When she met a man who looked to be grand, seemed to have the upper hand, in complete command and he was called dapper Dan.
Dapper Dan was a secretive.man, although he had a wife and kids, he kept it very well hid. But Claire didn't mind, felt she needed to unwind and leave everything else behind, traveling a road completely blind.
Now they both were prominent the very substance in life they seemed to represent and all the people were looking at them with amazement. Until they looked into each other's eyes and was taken by surprise, they became mesmerized, what came next was very unwise.
They threw caution to the wind and committed the ultimate sin. It felt a so right, it couldn't be wrong, they were singing love songs, two people that just didn't belong. Things soon started to go wrong.
When they had to settle for quickies as their lives became tricky and the affair really sticky. No matter how hard they tried to keep it hid, life opened the lid then came an awful smell when life dropped a bombshell. It was time to say farewell.
Yes the jig was up and they had to drink from an extremely bitter cup. And they were genuinely sad for they could plainly see the beautiful lives they already had. Since they knew they had strayed they became afraid, for the first time in their lives they prayed.
Eventually they put their lives back together but they had to go through some awfully stormy weather. For those beautiful lives they earned. A hard lesson learned.
You see, you can work your game but it will take aim, put a bead on you like a sniper, then strikes like a pit viper, although your schemes can have you feeling hyper. Remember, just around the bend there awaits. The Piper.
A man of few words, my father taught by example.
The best thing he showed me
was to set my standards high
and to be my own judge -
always modest never defiant or arrogant.
If something needed doing
I should do it without expecting praise -
self-satisfaction being the ultimate goal.
He taught me to set my sights high
and to be my own boss
no matter the circumstances –
to be fiercely independent
not count on anyone.
I learned to go about my business and be self-sufficient.
I did not do well in teams – like a bull in a china shop
I had my objectives and went at them as a loner.
I never saw it exactly that way
but I did get good at it to a fault.
One day, it was a rude awakening when
it dawned on me how I was doing things for people
and they were consistently ungrateful.
I knew the problem couldn’t completely be with them
My so-called modesty had become self-fulfilling servitude.
It finally registered that if people didn’t have to ask,
they didn’t have to say ‘thanks’.
And that never mattered to me until
I realized that they were in fact not thankful
And THAT was a whole different ball game.
I literally spent days if not weeks
stubbornly trying to unlearn and reprogram myself.
Tried to get it through my skull that
if people ASK for something,
or at least ADMIT they would appreciate something,
that’s when they might actually appreciate it
How cheap can people be -
what a warped world we live in.
For me, it was a hard lesson in human nature -
I was actually an enabler encouraging people
to take me for granted.
People really do like games
even the ones who say they hate them.
Admittedly it was late in life I learned this lesson
And I admit I often still choose to do things
without getting people to actually ask.
But at least I’m cognizant of my ways.
And admittedly when I do pause
and play the ‘asking’ game, it does pay off.
But I’m so unbelievably stubborn I don’t always
want to pay the price for their gratitude
so to this day, if I feel something needs to be done
I’ll just get it done.
AP: Honorable Mention 2021
Leave My Feet In Poetry Now Firmly Planted
I tried, compose a revelation poem about truth
Did that in earnest, in my wild but honest youth
But with mind fighting a stone wall nothing came forth
it was as if I fought as South against the North.
My brain had shifted into a deep murky haze
I was prisoner chained by a dark-cast craze
Each dawn I rose against a grey, terrible front
All my verses came out silly or rudely blunt
Aggravating, torturous to the nth degree
I gave it a go, took a vacation to flee
Not a damn clever thing I tried seemed to work
I ended up thinking am I fool and a jerk
Failed, threw my hands up and said, to hell with it
I cried out, had me a bad uncontrollable fit
I took a short vacation to a white sand beach
Seeking again, to my ran away muse to reach
As the ocean waves into my soul did soft splash
I ran around shopping spending loads of green-cash
Soon I forgot about all by having good fun
Rose each new dawn saluting the rising gold sun
Eight days, my time was spent exploring deeper life
Soon gone was any shred of hardship or dire strife
That morn, I rose seeing sun's sweeter golden rays
I discovered a much truer life in newer ways
That very night I sat down with pen in my hand
Out like magic beautiful words about this land
And then in another poem sweet love of true youth
Verses and verses slung about love and bold truth
Then it hit me thus, my angel muse had return
No more trashy stale words would I have to now burn
My muse told me she left to a hard lesson teach
She came back not because of words I did beseech
She came back when I had forgotten to her so love
So she left me to deal with dark world's push and shove.
That cool night, I wrote a superb poem on true love.
And if I were writing hand, muse is my dear glove.
Swearing never again, to my muse take for granted
I leave feet in poetry, now firmly planted.
Robert J. Lindley, Rhyme
Last edited by Tyr-Ziu Saxnot; Today at 10:14 AM.
Later she would look back and see
the cracks that were now obvious.
How blind she once had been
in the throngs of her passion.
Twenty years of his affairs
his lies, and his betrayal.
Yet it was only by chance
that she had found out.
Out for lunch one day
she saw him at the back,
with a lovely young woman.
He was engrossed in her.
Their body language intense
she could see the hot flames.
Following when they left
she saw them enter the hotel.
Sicken to her very core
she went home and paced.
Then set his clothes on fire
gleefully watching them burn.
When he saw the flames
he knew the game was up.
He raced to try to save things
Yelling out you crazy *****.
Then a loud screech of tires
he drove off rubber burning.
As for her, the flush of triumph
soon faded leaving her drained.
The divorce was acrimonious
the final judgement in her favour.
He now learned the hard lesson
never cross or scorn a woman.
I was just an ordinary, nine-year-old girl,
eyes peering out from under a doll-like curl,
but, those blonde curls so quickly had to fade,
as I grew up sooner than the rest in 3rd grade.
Taught a hard lesson, though not at school,
I learned at home how life could be too cruel,
from an adult bully whose words abused this kid,
forcing her into a dark room, where for years, she hid.
Turning the pages of books, disappearing into fantasy,
only they took away what had become her reality,
having only known outer pain from scraping my knee,
I discovered then how deep an inner pain can be.
Now, after more than 20 long years, he is finally gone,
though the sting of the words still lingers on,
sometimes, when I get low, when I've failed the fight,
I'm back in that dark room, wondering, was he right?
Then I turn on the music that once brought me joy,
I play it all over again, like it was a favorite toy,
and with the old songs always comes the tears,
as I remember them from my happiest years,
escaping again to those innocent days before 1992,
back to those cherished days before I ever knew you.
*This is a true story. I was that 9 year old girl.
He wore his badge with honor and respect,
For twenty two years on the streets his duty he would never neglect.
Many a poor soul he gave a warning and a break,
And many had listened to the words that he spake.
He was given the nickname Chance by those who ran the streets,
For wanting everyone to get an even break especially on his beat.
He would not tolerate excuses from those who would not learn,
And second chances from him were hard to earn.
Mommas would tell him of bad things their kids would do,
In hopes that he could help them through the troubled times they all go through.
And chances are he'd set them straight,
And sometimes he would show them the consequences, and say it's up to you to change your fate.
Then one day tragedy struck and his life that day it took,
And this little community now torn apart, forever shook.
They tracked him down and brought him in,
To let the courts decide the fate of this mans sin.
Just a teen who got scared and had a gun,
Was now at the mercy of the court for the crime he had done.
A plea of guilty with tears in his eyes, he said I'm sorry, I just got scared,
He poured out his heart, his soul he bared.
He said I found the gun it wasn't even mine,
I was showing it to a friend when Officer Chance walked up behind.
I remember seeing his badge that is all I know,
And hearing the blast as I was handing it to Chance, all I did was let it go.
I ran out of fear and the sight of his blood really made me scared,
I never intended no harm and this is one person I wish God would have spared.
The jury returned nearly as quick as they had gone,
Not Guilty, let this be a hard lesson you've learned, and another chance for a new future,
Chances' last words “grant this child a new dawn.”
Faith exists in the mind, as human thought
with use of written word, this can be taught
Joy finds it's sanctuary, within every heart
The fleeting control of this, we have no part
It's source can't be held or bought or sold
this bliss can be evoked by young and old
humans label things they don't understand
as I had done, till I felt real pain in his hand
I felt love, hope and joy torn from my heart
life is beyond human control, he did impart
I give my present, future and immortal soul
the path to his wisdom, is under his control
It's delight, seen in the present here on earth
It's now not past or future, you will feel mirth
My heart felt the loss of love, hope and joy
This Idea of being in control, he did destroy
only in complete release, could I find his joy
its blissfulness is within the heart of this boy
No feeling, belief, or ideas, to lose or employ
It's in tears, smiles of women, man, girl or boy
I didn't loose my joy, I had really lost myself
My heart filled with hate, a sinner in oneself
A hard lesson for humans, yet all must learn
On a path, no control, it's heaven we all yearn
I've moved on you can't hurt me anymore
I've moved on so go make your next score
Ive moved on I've flushed my heart clean
Hope you won't to the next victim be mean
I pity the poor thing once off guard you beguile
It has been many years but I've learned your style
Subtle cruel actions camouflager with innocence
But there is coming a day where all will be recompensed
Now I can forget the coldness of your greed stained eyes
I will close my ears to the sound of your false cries of lies
I am over you you wont be able to touch or hurt me again
I am over you I took back my life my love you could not retain
Down the wrong road the sign said self destructing track
A very hard lesson I learned I had to take the long way back
A degree in education does not an honest gentleman make
When half of what he professes is just plain fake
Goodbye to you and your heart of stone
Goodbye to you and your words as dry bone
Change your ways or Heaven's Portals you won't see
Change your ways or in Heaven you surly won't be
We were young and in love
It was a gift from up above
You were my everything
You caused my heart to zing
You got a brand new job
Faraway with your uncle Bob
I went with you and left everyone
Because this heart you had won
Your new job changed you instantly
You worked long hours continuously
I never saw you and I got homesick
I missed my family and was always sick
I fell into a deep dark depression
Your love was no longer an obsession
It could no longer reach me
It only brought me misery
Looking back your job was everything
It meant more and I didn't mean a thing
You loved the power that it gave
Our relationship couldn't be saved
Power became your new lover
You loved her like no other
The love that I gave wasn't enough
I missed family and that was tough
I longed to be reunited with them real bad
It would mean I failed, could I face dad?
As bad as I wanted too, I couldn't go back
Growing up and moving out is so whack
This is a hard, hard lesson learned
that I was past the point of no return
12-05-16
Contest: Point Of No Return
Sponsor: Nicola Byrne
Point, line and plan
The point is; that every second is counting for your destiny
The point is; that every human encounter is for a reason
The point is; that every drop is leading to an overflow
The point is; that every battle will frame you to victory
The point is; that each day can begin or end something
The points is; the alignment of points is the line of a plan
The line is the tough lesson you learn in minority
The line is the hard lesson you learn trough vanity
The line is the conviction you build for longevity
The line is the courage you gain against animosity
The line the chemistry your develop for morality
The line is the collection of points for your plan
The plan is the reason you came on the earth
The plan is the purpose behind your pain
The plan is the great that you should become
The plan is the hallo that you will cover you
The plan is the architecture of your testimony
The plan is the harmony of lines from your points
In memory of the victims of world trade centre
Wittebom, Sunday 11 September 2016
BAD HABITS
I never use to drink, never before / never use to smoke, ever before. Kept your company too long, you led me into the den of sin, I got hooked while trying to save you from yourself, now myself alone has nasty habits. Your own bad habits you’ve overcome, you got me hooked on your habits then left me alone, after years ? of sharing your jaded life: I against my true will, did the things I said I’d never do. You left me all alone for another lover and dropped me like a bad habit. While I rescued your heartless and numb heart, I pulled you through and left myself behind to wither and die. Addicted to you and all torn apart. I sit contemplating suicide, hoping to die, since you dropped me like a bad habit. One hard lesson learned is "life goes on"; While I die alone”. As the plane goes down; The First mask you should put on, is your own.!
Every family has them
These unsettling times, these misunderstandings
Times when many things come into play
In most cases these wee spats are soon over and forgotten
But sometimes differences run deeper
Because of other factors
Such as jealousy, middle child syndrome, personality
It's only human nature at play
The necessity for all to find our place
In the overall scheme of life
To establish one's self in the pecking order
And accepting it without malice, without jealousy
A hard lesson to learn when we're brand new at he game
Always suspecting that siblings
Are the ones receiving preferential treatment
In reality, they are reacting in exactly the same matter
Trying their best to learn the ropes
To understand what life means, what life is all about
But we never do have all the answers
Even if we survive those uncertain early years
And live to the ripe old age of thirty...
Well that is what old age is when you're a teenager
Please be assured, you WILL get through
And be a well adjusted adult
© Jack Ellison 2014