Best Holding Back Poems
In visions of yesteryear where there was love
Nothing but despair on the faces of hope
And shattered remains of a romantic fairytale
Whose happy ending has been snatched away
Yet, I grind sand-grains hoping to make water
Counting blindly on the blessings of a miracle
Knowing well indeed it's a futile effort
Like looking for sun when the night has fallen
Mystique is still there much like it was then
But happy tears have been doomed by sadness
And the memories are demanding a hefty price
Making it much harder and expensive to cry
The rhythm I hear is the pulse of your song
When words were precious like diamonds are
But they are free now for no one responds
When I call you by name in voices of the past
It's been so long since you've been gone
Smiles that were friendly now wear a frown
Until I fantasize about the days full of awe
Holding back the time to hold you in my heart
But if you must go, I feel the need to know
Do you ever look back, do you say hello
To the years that used to be music to our souls
And sit there to dream and wish there was more
Written: May 17, 2019
Submitted on January 5, 2023 to:
2022 Poetry Marathon Mile 24 Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Mark Toney
Poem of the day on May 19, 2019
Placed 2nd: Your choice (6) contest by Brian Strand
Placed 2nd: Musical Inspiration Poetry Contest by Joseph May
Song: Holding Back the Years
There is a rain deluge in the cemetery today,
as I open the intricate old gate;
I am lost in a sea of gray,
stones worn old and ornate;
a maze of twisting trails,
step-ruined from all the years;
stones with faded details,
a deep sadness fills me and I hold back tears;
death is an unwanted guest who comes unbidden,
and toppled stones touch like friends;
moss leaving names hidden,
I am on a path that bends;
and now I complete my quest,
but fall to my knees weeping;
for our stone is moss distressed,
on all sides covered and with lichen creeping;
o, sorrow and grief the old cemetery is in disrepair,
I breathe in the smell of decay;
and notice moss is everywhere,
out of place is my bright bouquet.
"I place my flowers and holding back tears turn away."
________________
July 29, 2021
Poetry/Rhyme/Holding Back Tears
Copyright Protected, ID 07-1376-328-29
All Rights Reserved, 2021, Constance La France
Title and Theme chosen - Holding Back Tears
Written for the Standard contest, This or That, Vol. 5
sponsor, Edward Ibeh, Judged 08/19/2021
First Place
When granny was still alive
she used to tell me~
" Don't cry when I die,
for tears are melted salt
that had escaped from oceans;
Spare your tears, spare your salt,
Just sing me a song~
a song I first taught you."
Two decades ago, she bade adieu,
and in front of her coffin,
With eyes frozen,I stood still
holding back my tears~
the hardest thing to do;
It rained in my heart
as I began to sing her,
"Que Sera, Sera ( What ever will be, will be)".
Grandma, whatever will be, will be!
Your love shall dwell in me;
The tears I held back ~
were copious tears
that flowed in my sullen heart.
Now my tears I could hold back never more
Like unceasing cascading stream~
resolutely rushing on
as I stand here~
in front of your tombstone.
18 August 2021
This or That Vol 5 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Edward Ibeh
4th place
A Brian Strand Informel Poetry Contest
1st place
Holding back his tears
In front of him, a soldier kneels
As the mourners look on saddened
Inside the little boy feels
To grow up without his father
As he grows up without his friend
To play ball with him in the park
When he needs him, so much to depend
To be there through out his school life
To make him oh so proud
But not to be there when he graduates
Clapping and shouting out loud
To be there when he gets married
Be a grandfather to his kids
At his fathers funeral he attends
His life in battle rid
In front the soldier kneels
Holding the Stars and Stripes
Presenting it to the little boy
Holding back his tears, from his eyes
http://www.thehighlanderspoems.com/loss-2.php
Simple things that come and go
Are easy to release
From the grip of hope in your heart
They can be soon be forgotten with ease
At times though, when you hold all in
Your heart for no eyes to see
Can make you desperate for compassion
And just peace and harmony
Of course, our stubborn selves in hand
Block us from the revealing the truth
My heart once soft is now turned to stone
Much different now than in youth
Tired of lies and treachery
And pointless words of life
Not once is the point brought up
That it involves hardships and strife
Hate you now or hate you later
It's all a matter of time
But hate is a notorious word
It's meaning doesn't fit the crime
Let it out, let it loud
Let your inner soul be heard
The time for your final attack is now
For defensive tactics are at this time absurd
Form:
They laid her in a tomb, only the bagpiper and I.
The Scotsman, with his pipes, played a dreary dirge,
I stood tall, no tears just intense anger.
A haggard breeze flowed around the verdant trees,
Ruffling the dreary flowers that adorned her tomb.
A hit and run: Dead on the spot.
A mad drug addicted driver who killed my lovely wife.
How can I forgive? She was my love.
Thoughts ran amok in my head.
No tears, just revenge.
Seething with anger I bought a pistol.
I searched for him in his stuffy cabin.
Found him in stupor on his smelly single bed.
Took out my weapon, checked bullets.
The smell in that cabin made my stomach lurch.
Could I kill him in cold blood?
Vengeance is mine, said the Lord.
Angrily, I left and threw the gun in a deep lake.
I could only hold back my tears.
17 August 2021
Holding Back Tears
Sponsored by: Edward Ibeh
I really think I know you, even when I'm blue
When were full of Tasmanian oysters and too much chardonnay
But now your'e going home alone, I'm feeling oh so empty.
I do not think I know you, my dearest Sue, why so vague?
Why don't you return my calls, Should I get a takeaway?
I really think I know you even when I'm blue.
I really think I know you, when the banking statements due
Was that a spending spree when you spent the monthly pay
Now my wallet feels so light and oh so very empty.
I do not think I know you, are you really true
When you go away for days and stray amid the fray
I do not think I know you, even though I'm blue.
I really think I know you, though why so many shoes
How would you pick a pair, if we had to run away
And why keep all the boxes, especially when they're empty.
I do not think I know you, when were standing in a queue
Together yet so far apart, I look and feel dismay
I really think I know you, even though I'm blue
There's nothing left for us to share, our love is all but empty.
y
HOLDING BACK TEARS
Being a single mother is rarely appreciated,
when it is a very demanding, challenging, complex
responsibility to take on and carry on for years.
Who wants to be a single mother? I chose to.
Couples marry to be together and start a family
and do not think, want divorce or separation.
Yet, couples grow apart, change, unable to adapt
to situations, problems arising in having a family.
So, some ends up being a single mother like me
instead of staying married to a problematic
spouse or in a troublesome, exasperating, taxing
relationship, not a good example for the children.
Single parenting is very difficult for it is physically,
emotionally, mentally draining, exhausting. Tough!
You just bite the bullet and keep on going, doing the
best you can as the breadwinner and the homemaker.
You are on your own to face whatever comes your way
in maintaining the house, putting food on the table,
the children’s education, teen-agers rebellions or
defiance on top of your own emotional roller coaster.
Yet, you show a poker face and you hold back tears
for you want the children to know you are strong,
resilient, cannot be broken, being there for them
and will always be there to support and console.
The reality is you are breaking down, falling apart
inside, feeling all alone and holding back tears,
when all you wanted is somebody, someone to hold
you tight and whisper “Everything will be all right”.
I look back on those years of being a single mother,
years of holding back tears that turned my heart
into a stone for when my daughter calls on Father’s
Day telling me “Happy Father’s Day”, I cannot cry.
I cannot even shed a tear of happiness knowing
she regards me as a mother and a father. Charming!
How I wish I could. What happened to my diminutive
heart? Why is it still holding back tears? Don’t know!
8/18/21 This Or That, Vol 5 Poetry
Edward Ibeh
Chose: Holding Back Tears
Oh! That anguishing moment! When I craved to cry,
And pour my tears, like monsoon rains, on some grass dry;
A bit away, hence, from the madding crowd, I went,
To soothe my grieving heart; give benevolent vent...
A hard hand hit my shoulder and commanding, said:
You're a man! Should not cry! Calm! Courage! Go ahead!
We, in our culture taunt, tease, torture girls, torment,
No shame? Showing off before strangers? You pretend!
Go! Wipe tears Apply talcum on your plastic face!
Lest those around judge you an empty broken vase!
Our girls, hence, tie pains like ghosts in their sari-knot,
Paint their faces with multi-color smiles, a lot.
Children! Gems! Never cry! If cry... Bad boys! Bad girls!
Satan is making home in you! His freedom whirls!
Why do angels crave things, like beggars full of greed?
Why, like dramatic artists - fussy tantrums breed?
God's watching like a hawk! Behave! Be virtuous!
Your movement should be angelic! Care! Courteous!
Yet, deaths, dangers, droughts, floods earthquakes for many years,
Have made us shed, like rain torrents, abundant tears;
All who gently hushed up feelings like shut memos,
Have melt into tears as though from lavas or snows;
Seeing harsh callous actions if we do not cry,
God's creating such rich tears has no purpose high.
Dogs cry. Horses cry. Birds, flies, and reptiles cry too,
Feelings, like dew-drops, fill and fall when we're in woe;
Sentiments secrete like wild streams within our hearts,
Full-fledged; flow like fluent falls; finely flits and flirts;
Stopping these, is, like building dams over rivers,
Wherein - water waves; caves; crashes; ripple-triggers...
Holding tears may be raw romantic! Dramatic!
Yet, its nature is to flow and fall full frantic.
Brain stressed; heartbeat skipped! Breath blocked! Body traumatized!
Muscles, nerves, and blood vessels stiff antagonized;
Nature has ways of venting pain and suffering,
Thwarting this is, just like her freedom plundering.
18 August 2021
This or That, Vol 5 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Edward Ibeh
Nothing here is wrong because nothing ever could.
It has been so long,
A time that just never would!
Nothing here was ever lost because nothing was ever found.
It has been a toss,
A time that simply counted down!
Holding back the tears,
Puddles of many lost years!
Holding back my time,
I’m a prisoner with no crime.
There’s nothing here to hold because there never was.
It has been so cold,
A time for just because!
Holding back the pain,
My chronic death inside!
I have nothing to lose because there’s nothing to gain.
Holding back the strength of all my earned pride,
I’m just a moment gained with a will that eventually dies inside!
®Registered: 1997 Ann Rich
Men don’t cry,
Or so I’ve been told
So the tears well up
But inside them I hold
My black suit matches
My jet black tie
I just stare straight ahead
So I won’t start to cry
The casket is not heavy
But my heart is weighed down
I am who I am
Because this man was around
My tomorrows will never be the same
But the yesterdays we had will always remain
As I bid farewell to my father, my friend
I’ll hold the tears inside until I see you again
Destruction of Me
And my father died, and I had a surgery go terribly wrong,
And I was trying to care for my mom, and Covid became a thing
And the tears gushed and flowed and splashed and rolled down my face,
And I realized that holding back tears had destroyed me.
Holding Back Tears
8/30/21
Liberum Divisa 7 Poetry Contest
Holding back tears when you died, I needed to be strong for the others by my side. Holding back tears going through your treasures-what do I get rid of, it was heartbreaking as I touched each one and felt your love. Holding back tears as family lied, I know the truth and it will be my guide. Holding back tears, as you stole right out from under me with cheers.
Holding back tears no more, it is now time to cry a river up to the shore.
Date Written: 8/1/2021
Honorable Mention
This or That, Vol 5 Poetry Contest Contest Judged: 8/20/2021 Sponsored by: Edward Ibeh
It's nine years in a row of continuous crisis
lost in the wilderness of a dry Oasis
on all long bones is the constant emphasis
for a condition which began as Tuberculosis.
The pain and discomfort, too much to bear
she is too ready for the worst to worry and fear
the weather smells nice but will mock and share
neighbours always smile but absolutely don't care.
The body fights just to prove it's a weaker host
medications and herbs, wholly trusted to do the most
yet, her days are numbered, she now communes with a ghost
the traffic light turns red and Earth, no longer her post.
For a forty year old, this shouldn't be the end
I hold back the tears, I cannot pretend
my Aunt's life, God, please extend
all the Angels you have, oh Lord, gather and send.
Counting in weeks, she may not have two more
misfortune slowly acts on eventuality's rumour
a silent killer eats, evident by a weaker femur
a terrible relapse and this time, it's more than one tumour.
9th. August. 2021
This or That, Vol 5 Poetry Contest- Holding back Tears.
Sponsored by Edward Ibeh.
4th Position
The story of love that was never supposed to unfold
Is the saddest story to ever behold
For Death was never suppose to love
But their was an angel above
Her angel lips was a sight Death desired
But would never acquire
She was so beautiful that the sky lit up around her
Deaths day would go by in a blur
Soon Deaths job was forgotten
Which left no one to rotten
Death would wait forever just to be with his angel
Though the love would be fatal
After no one died for a year the angel confronted Death
Death had to take a large breath
Then he told the angel about how he loved her
She told him that the love would never exist and to forget them together
Saddened Death began to murder
All the innocent which lead to him becoming a monster
The angel he loved was the only one who could save him
Which lead to the angel to sit on a broken limb
Now Death was left without a head
The angel was kicked out of Heaven and left on a deathbed
And when she was close to dying she could hear Death cry
Which she could only say goodbye
And as she took one final breath
Death realized he was the one to cause her death
So he said goodbye to the world and he could only decide
To commit the worse crime that was suicide
Contest Name : This or That, Vol 5 Poetry Contest
Sponsors Name : Edward Ibeh
Date : Tuesday, August 17th, 2021