Best Hesitated Poems
A view of the ragged woodland from
The window:-
Slender branched trees that shed
From high above to low below;
The faint, mauven peaks
Smattered with barely visible
Scatterings of drifted snow;
Across the matted undergrowth
A bronzed carpet of copper coloured
Leaves
Whose rusting hue,
Momentarily ignited by stray
Sunbeams weakly smouldering,
Briefly refurbished -
Deceives with all the colours of a
Rainbow...
From vibrant red through to shy
Hints of indigo;
Those vague outlines indicating
Receding hills;
Here, arising, long ago, every waking
Dawning,
The creaking structures
Of groaning and imposing mills;
Soon a slow thawing that quickly
Spills
Into the trickling replenishments
Of many gushing and silvery little
Rills.
Enchantment gripped me!
And I found myself wistfully
Thinking...
Maybe, perhaps, maybe, somewhere,
Just behind where the great
Flattening Orb
Is now rapidly shrinking,
That I might, by perchance, find,
If I did so hope to bravely dare,
To happen upon a hidden and
Sedentary way of life up there?
That, forgotten, has turned its
Back on the social conflicts
Plagued by the curses of ingrained
Vice;
Encumbering a soul with its petty
Squabblings,
Imposing upon with demands and
Avarice...
When placing unnecessary burdens
On a honest bodies daily call
Of grinding toil and wearisome
Strife!
And still stood,
With hands outstretched upon the
Painted sill,
At the waist half-bent,
Now troubled by quiet mutterings
In an inexplicable sorts
Of self-imposed discontent,
My staid consciousness almost
Unawares,
As, momentarily distracted,
I hesitated, and, unseeing,
Inattentively stared...
Until...
A ragged chapter of cawing Daws,
Loudly jabbering overhead,
Suddenly wheeled -
And upwardly soared!
Whereupon, in murderous haste,
Awkwardly fled
When laboriously stealing away
Back inside the stubbled fields...
Thus causing me to slowly straighten;
Whilst, with a singular heartfelt pang,
Liken a moorland mist slowly rolling
Over
That indivisibly conceals...
Drew shut the sullen curtains, which,
Heavily embroidered with indeterminate
finality,
Dejectedly hang...
Each draped aside of the cold
Reveals.
Categories:
hesitated, life,
Form:
Rhyme
I had seen her before in the spring and summer
The homeless lady sitting on the church steps
She would ask for help from people going into the church
She mostly was given spare change and occasionally a dollar or two
No matter how small the amount given, she would give a genuine smile and say thank you
The last time I saw her was a December around Christmas
It was very cold and she was shivering in a tattered, light weight, coat
She began to walk toward me and I could see that she was very frail.
I hurried to her. I was afraid that her legs might fail
Seeing her that way, the terrible reality of her suffering, struck me to the core
I gave her all the money that I had with me that day
She was surprised and said I want to give you a gift.
I will tell you my real name.
Realizing this was the only thing of real value that she had left, I hesitated.
She smiled, hugged me, and then whispered Linda into my ear.
After that day, I never saw her again and couldn’t find out what happened to her.
But, I will never forget Linda and her most perfect Christmas gift.
Dedicated to Linda
Categories:
hesitated, appreciation, christmas, december, feelings,
Form:
Free verse
I hesitated for over a month – should I join Poetry Soup …
Would they like my poems and accept me in their group?
It is not my intention to be a famous writer
I try and write with wit to make our lives a little brighter
I write on many subjects – I sometimes have a moan
My humour is ‘unique’ and may make some people groan
Harsh words can knock us back; criticism can drag us down
Let’s try to live here in harmony and smile instead of frown
I try to be lighthearted and if I can make people smile
They may forget problems and their worries for a while
Kind words cost us nothing - a smile can brighten up our day
I hope that I can make a difference with the words I say
Some do not like my poems - I can’t please everyone
But I hope my style brings Poetry Soup some fun!
Well the title says it all … I ‘con’ you all that I’m a poet!
04~14~15
Contest I Icon – Sheri Fresonke Harper
Categories:
hesitated, humorous, poetry,
Form:
Couplet
I smoked a pack of Marlboros
Every day, left butts smoldering
In dirty, smelly ashtrays
The nicotine addiction compelled
Me to quit… yet, I did not
I smoked until there was only
Short, spasmic breaths
Left in my black lungs
And oxygen had to be taken aside
So I could light up
I drank a fifth of vodka
Every day, left empty glasses
In a sink that hesitated
To risk the flood of last drops
Being washed away with Dawn
And the tears that poured
Down cheeks who knew
I was an alcoholic who couldn’t
Quench my thirst with anything
That didn’t say 90 proof
I swallowed a Percocet every time
The pain that pierced my heart
With regrets, remorse, remembrances
Started to edge between me
And the familiar feeling of numbness
That comes from taking a pill
Every time the feeling that rises inside
Feels like you have been slapped
With the truth, the facts, the reality
Coming alive without that 10 mg capsule
The addiction flowed through me in waves
Caressing the beach of my thoughts
Like a sea laps at the sandy shore with
The familiar touch of hope for the sun
Who will light up, with rays, hues of gold
Whispering through the morning
Embracing the pastel shells and mysterious
Swells of ocean water, pushing against the beach
Like a gentle hand will push against my habits
With the knowledge that this dependence is vile
I clasp hands with the truth when I take a breath
And look up at the heavens with a broken heart
Who listens to the words that come alive inside
When the heavenly Father looks down at me
The child who is drifting on waves of sin and shame
And, in a still small voice speaks…
Even the richest, most blessed nation can pray
For redemption.. just have faith,
God bless the USA and AAA
Categories:
hesitated, addiction, satire, usa,
Form:
Dramatic Monologue
From the moment we met, he played a game
Started out telling me to guess his name
And when I asked, “Don?”
He responded, “Right on!”
This lucky guess led to more of the same
“What do you think I do for a living?”
I hesitated, had some misgivings
“Steer the space shuttle?”
Got no rebuttal
So on this roll, I felt I was winning
“Bet you a kiss you don’t know where I live”
My mind was draining faster than a sieve
“A beachfront villa?”
(The truth would kill ya)
So many guessing games I now relive
After dating three months, his wife found out
Burst into our love nest, called him a lout
Eight kids behind her
All hungry they were
Don Juan he was, but surely no space scout
If you meet a man and he asks you to guess
Take it from me and avoid this distress
He may be akin
To Rumpelstiltskin
The anger later is hard to suppress
Now I’ve learned to turn the tables on men
Asking them to “guess” again and again
My private life hid
Won’t remove the lid
And I’ve convinced some that MY name’s John Glenn
*Entry for Shadow's "Let's Have Some Fun" contest
Categories:
hesitated, me, space,
Form:
Limerick
Mother Teresa
She is the mother of every poor people, injured people, ordinary people...
Always we remember the great news
'Mother Teresa will get the Nobel Peace Prize.'
It was one of the best moment in our life...
She lived in our city Kolkata (Calcutta) .
She ate our Bengali foods.
She loved us so much...
One day, I was twelve years old
I met her at Mother House along with my parents.
I looked at her heavenly eyes.
I touched her sacred feet and hands.
I heard her divine speeches.
I love her innocent smile.
I told her only the sentences,
'You are the mother of the world,
Mother of my parents.
So you are my grandmother.'
My father hesitated. My mother was silent.
Mother Teresa said to me with smile,
'GOD BLESS YOU MY SON'
Today my eyes are full of tears
Mother, I miss you.
I love you so much....
SANDIP GOSWAMI, INDIA
(Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic religious congregation, which in 2012 consisted of over 4,500 sisters and is active in 133 countries. They run hospices and homes for people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis; soup kitchens; dispensaries and mobile clinics; children's and family counselling programmes; orphanages; and schools. Members of the institute must adhere to the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, and the fourth vow, to give "wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor".
Mother Teresa was the recipient of numerous honours including the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize. In 2003, she was beatified as "Blessed Teresa of Calcutta". A second miracle credited to her intercession is required before she can be recognised as a saint by the Catholic Church.)
Categories:
hesitated, feelings, love, mother, tribute,
Form:
Prose Poetry
This is who I am
My name is Stanislaus J. O’Connor
Born on April 17th in Belfast, Ireland
Youngest of eight children
My father admired the Polish people
The way they fought
During the last Great War
When the odds were against them
Wanted me to be strong
Like them
So he named me Stanislaus.
I carried that name
Not without some teasing
Took it in stride
Solidarity came along
Organized by Polish dock workers in the 1980’s
Ended Communist rule
Father remembered stories
Of 1910
When ten thousand dock workers went on strike
Closed Belfast down
Taught the Brits a lesson.
Young, unemployed and drunk
I saw an artist friend of mine
He worked on me all day
Not stopping except to wipe the drippings on my back
I felt no particular pain
Jut laid there flat on my stomach
Waiting
When it was over
I had the color and imagery
From the tattoo
Of a Polish Cross.
Listened to the people
Took to the streets
In the struggle
Against the Brits
One night
Strangers jumped out of the shadows
Put flashlights to my eyes
Stood me up
Led me out
In handcuffs.
At HM Prison Maze I was kept in a small cell
Occasionally let out to walk in the prison yard
One summer afternoon
I took off my shirt
Paddy asked me what’s that on your back
Polish Cross I said
Murmur of voices
Fellow inmates hesitated
Someone near the wall broke the silence,
“Let him be. God is in every cross.”
In despair a cell mate said he couldn’t take it anymore
Afraid that he would die in prison
Recalling words
From an old Catholic catechism
I said
“No man can learn what his heart cannot hold“.
I made up the rest
“Tell God what you stand for
He’ll understand
And forgive you.”
Ten years later
Dragged from my cell
Feet barely touching ground
I was released on amnesty.
Coming home
Family met me
Open arms
Some traveled from faraway
Felt good
To touch warm hands
Climbed to the top of Cavehill
Seagulls
Glide in lazy circles
Twelve hundred feet above sea level
Overlooking Belfast
From its heights
The world can be seen
Across a wind swept ocean of dark memories
Of what once was
My youth.
Categories:
hesitated, lifegod, me, god, me,
Form:
Narrative
Normally, I'm not one to be alarmed by things that go bump in the night,
But the other night I saw something that gave me a most dreadful fright!
I awoke to make a visit to you know where (as us old guys are prone to do)!
As I lay there half asleep, a very eerie figure came into my field of view!
Still in a sleepy stupor, at the foot of the bed, I saw a spectre peering at me!
I pulled the covers over my ears yet kept one eye open so that I could see,
Who this interloper could be that so rudely interrupted my peaceful rest,
And could surely be the cause of a potentially serious cardiac arrest!
A ray of moonlight shone upon the scary apparition causing me more alarm!
My spouse was serenely snoring and I hesitated to poke her with my arm.
I moved and it advanced toward me - it was a most fearsome sight!
I saw that it had several appendages, all glowing ghostly white!
Things were looking rather grim for me on that dark and stormy night!
To make matters worse, the clock struck twelve reminding me of my plight!
The shaking of the bed and chattering of my teeth aroused my wife to wake!
I cautiously pointed to the spook that caused her to do a double take!
Now the bed was really shaking due to her uncontrollable guffaw!
She pointed out a startling fact that caused me to drop my jaw!
"You addlepated nincompoop! From you I don't want to hear another peep!
That spook you saw was your foot so shut up and let me get back to sleep!"
Entry for Brendon J. Simons' "Hallucination" Contest
Categories:
hesitated, funny, me,
Form:
Rhyme
I have never lost my zest for fun and laughter
Though long since I could jump a rope
Still enjoy the punchline remembered after
I have forgotten the story leading up to it
Down deep inside is this little boy
Who tells the old man, “It’s time to sit!”
I have often sought from that child advice
When new, fresher approaches are needed
My inner child seldom pauses to think twice.
I have never hesitated to thoughtfully resort
To that little boy inside who never grew up
Who loves the fun and games of a sport.
I have that appreciation for a kitten or a pup
Love to play in the meadow’s creek, and though
Nearly eighty, fight like the dickens to never grow up!
FIRST PLACE TROPHY WINNER
written August 31, 2021
especially for "Your Inner Child" Poetry Contest
sponsored by Chantelle Anne Cooke
Categories:
hesitated, age, child, identity, introspection,
Form:
Rhyme
~*~
It was with just a glance and we fell in love,
Our hearts touched and that was it;
I could literally hear the angels singing above,
Wondering, wishing, should I invite him to sit.
It had started an ordinary winter day,
I had gone for a walk, now I was penning a story;
Writing in my journal a poem, I was swept away,
I didn't know that I would find my own eternity.
It was a small café that I sat quietly writing,
He hesitated and sat and it was love at first sight;
Peaking at what I had penned, he was soon reading,
From that day, we were one, day and night.
He asked me to marry him on Valentines Day,
We planned and waited one blissful wonderful year;
On February 14, we married, that day will always stay,
It was God's will, he must go, now but an angel near.
Our love darling will never, ever grow cold,
Even when this girl is frail and wrinkled old.
___________________________
January 28, 2016
Poetry/Rhyme/In Love Forever
Copyright Protected, ID 16-749-924-0
All Rights Reserved. Written under Pseudonym.
For the contest, Our Year In Love
Sponsor, Olive Eloisa Guillermo
Fourth Place
Categories:
hesitated, love,
Form:
Rhyme
The Irish bank was ripe and ready
For a hood whose hand was steady
And had a gun, not 'fraid to use it
Bent on living life or lose it
Just out side the door he waited
Put his mask on, hesitated
Then rushed in through, the bank's front doors
While standing on the lobby floor
With gun held high he shot one round
"Now everybody-- best get down"
Laying face down on the floor
A dozen patrons maybe more
And a teller, young in age
Standing frozen in the cage
So the crook with lightening speed
Driven by his lust for greed
Tossed a bag and said to fill it
Got it filled, then turned to split
As he ran, a man quite daring
Grabbed the mask the crook was wearing
At once the man, seamed surprised
Looked the robber in the eyes
Then took a bullet in the head
Now on the marble floor lied dead
The thief now desperate, looked around
At all the patrons looking down
But saw the teller, see his face
Then walked to him in rapid pace
And put the gun up to his head
Another victim laid there dead
Now the thief to end it all
Shouted out inside that hall
"Has anyone else, seen my face ?"
Perhaps a glimpse might leave a trace
Then McGee said "I'm no sneak
But I think me wife , just took a peek"
Categories:
hesitated, ireland, people,
Form:
Rhyme
We both reached into the chiller cabinet at exactly the same moment
‘Dinner for one’ you said, and we both laughed
Our eyes met and you gave me a shy smile
‘Let’s make it dinner for two’ you said softly and you touched my hand
I hesitated, but only for a second. ‘Okay Frank' …
Arm in arm we stroll back to our rooms at the sheltered housing complex
Now we are making up for lost time, neither of us is getting any younger
I’d lost my husband several years ago and Frank had lost beloved wife
Who knows what the future holds for us
Love, romance, or companionship
We’ll just take it day by day
Contest: In the mood for Love
Sponsor: Shadow Hamilton
11~25~15
Categories:
hesitated, romance,
Form:
Free verse
As Our Blessed Lady appeared holding Her Divine Son in Her arms
you will leave this state of pain she said in 3 days
In forty days you will leave this state
that she serves a higher purpose Divine
such was the news her heart
it began skipping faster inside joy
Her Lady Mary said to her
you 're the light of all stars hope is your virtue
Smiling the sun for you
as I myself am called Aurora,Star
the moon in her gentle fullness
and the brightness of the golden sun
Now nature will always bow down meek, and very humble
to our Masters voice
Assets it law
in the final moment of combat
Grace will come to lend you it's force
and your angel who is also mine
Gabriel the name expresses strength
will come to your aid in the time of need
you Princess are beloved among my children
It was then the prison filled up with a Heavenly celestial perfume
Her virtues she was bent on keeping
a public chastisement to offend her virtues
Then condemned stripped and scourged
like the spouse Our Lord preferred
Horrifying what they done to her
such are the faces of shame
The prison guards hesitated to unclothe her entirely
they proceeded to tie her to a column
in the presence off, a full court of men
Where they all lashed her with so much violence
until the floor was soaked and herself bathed in blood
Her whole body was an open wound now she fainted
they dragged her back to the dungeon cells to die
Two angels appeared and they began shining their light
inside the dark cell they embalmed her wounds
In the sweetest light of Heavenly oil
one off eternal life and salvation
her strength in His love she grew stronger for living
The emperor viewed her with greedy desire and lust filled eyes
he tried everything he had in his power to impress her
It was when he exhausted every means know to him
Talking about Jupiter
offering her the position of empress of Rome
using seductive words in every manner
blessing her with great honor
to be continued such a story just blew my mind in loves grace
Categories:
hesitated, blessing, faith, god, love,
Form:
Free verse
Yesterday
music & lyrics by Joan May Donnelly Ellis
VERSE 1:
Yesterday came knocking at my door today
Came so unexpected I was caught off guard ...didn't know what to say to Yesterday,
As I hesitated at the door he strolled on in
Confidence oozing from him as his lips widened in flirtatious grin
CHORUS:
I had no love left for Yesterday
So why'd I let him seduce me with his charm
Where was the inner strength
Why can't you pull away I heard a voice say
As I felt his heated fingers tiptoeing up my yielded arm
While my soul screamed don't lets this happen
My heart refused to heed her warning alarm
VERSE 2:
Yesterday insisted things would be different
He said he'd changed...then winked as he gave my braid a familiar tug
My body quivered as he nibbled on the back of my neck
And eased me to the soft thickness of the living room rug
REPEAT CHORUS
VERSE 3:
Yesterday smelled of a green forest after a down pour of rejuvenating rain
fresh and wild. and intoxicating......
I felt my knees weaken knowing I wanted him as much as he wanted me
It was morning when our satiated bodies untangled
We showered together as I attempted to silence my heart's pain
We dressed and he said he had to be going...with a hasty kiss Yesterday left as my heart bled tears of joy and fear...Joy that he was leaving and fear that I might never see him again.
Categories:
hesitated, love, song,
Form:
Lyric
There was a painting offered as inspiration for this contest. I'm sorry I'm not able to include it for lack of a premium membership, but I hope I've managed, just a little, to set the scene with imagery.
Moonlight was diffused by a shadowed sky
Thunder hammered with the power of Thor
Sullen clouds released a deluge in downpour
Something about the night had gone awry
There was a flash of lightning; a blaring scream
With heart wrenching sobs, a woman wept
Her raven tresses billowed, wild and windswept
She appeared before me as a specter in a dream
I hesitated to call out, in fear she'd run away
but I could not ignore another mournful wail
Her arms were thin and she was ghostly pale
She shivered, trembled, and began to sway
She was frightened as though chased by death
Words were mumbled, but none of them clear
Her eyes searched the night, panicked with fear
I spoke calmly until she regained her breath
Her last memory was that she had gone to bed
and was having a nightmare about being stalked
Quite a distance from her home, she had walked
when lightning's crackle woke her from dread
I helped her home, sidestepping puddles of mud
She still trembled, not interested in conversation
She thanked me, but I had a moment of hesitation...
The porch light revealed she was covered in blood
August 6, 2020
Be Inspired Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Regina McIntosh
Categories:
hesitated, night, woman,
Form:
Enclosed Rhyme