Best Hospitality Poems
The sun cries for us, its heat fades away
snowflakes sprinkle round its orbit, yet go unmelted
it feels like evening, but its yet noon
time never changes its pace but now runs from a rifle
daylight sadly pretends, just to soften night's mockery.
Blood has substituted the rains
death has defined our borders
humanity is rendered homeless
and politics, given the borrowed authority of a landlord.
Life is cheaper than wine
tribal dominance exhibited in a show glass
for love to become an expired product.
Unity is deprived of its oxygen
from a gang of beasts, spare headed by religion.
Genocide celebrated, killers protected
understanding and cooperation, required from the affected
silence and denial, demanded from the afflicted
marginalization defended and grievances rejected.
The edge of the cutlass strikes harder than racism
Indigenes in their own homes hit worse than xenophobia
hope is lost, drowned in the sea of Impunity
faith is locked up in a cage underneath evil's valley
decades of cries to the heavens
the tears flow down to meet more affliction.
The sun rises, but presents in dark red
setting hours later to the notice of no one
a people bounded on falsehood
a large home of smaller fenced habitations
as everyone needs protection from everyone
and where space becomes too small for the stars;
but when distinguished into different galaxies,
it beams brighter to be a better decoration.
An unbearable course too small for the river to flow
makes nature justify its split into tributaries.
Enemies can no longer be in one home,
so live and let's leave, or leave and let's live
is the only policy left for us all
and the survival anthem for this beautiful garden
no more suitable for community germination.
(A Blank Verse Sonnet)
In June, we traveled south to Memphis town,
a public poets' fete with Southern flair.
The mid-south heart unfolded nationwide,
an open cloak of warmth spread far afield
in concert with the sound and sense of rhyme.
A graciousness so coupled with its pride
to sharpen all who came in studied hope
and reasoned well effect, to prove result.
Yet seasoned poets put their pens aside;
the books they found, devoured with eyes and minds
already voiced the thoughts mankind repeats,
our ageless chants for hearts in love or pain.
The weather's pull to southern ports advanced
the lure of southern charm from heart to heart.
Described as a pillar of commitment
in relationships between hosts and guests
hospitality plays the major role
in making Scriptures speak to life situations.
The biblical recounts about these people,
like Abraham, Lot, Ruth, David, and many others;
their expressions of how hospitality is understood,
in the ancient Near East cultures and traditions;
dubbed as a sacred obligation that strangers
be treated well and recognized as one of our own.
When the Israelites were freed from oppression,
God walked with them along the wilderness;
they might have complained so much
but God listened to them with the heart of compassion.
Those prophets and other biblical characters,
their sense of otherness makes a big explanation;
that part of being human there’s a connection
between what is needed and God’s call to everyone.
Well, Christ teaches during meal fellowships
inclusion of those who don’t flow in the mainstream;
these are the poor, oppressed, defenseless, and many others;
that they become the guests in his eternal kingdom.
It’s a great deal of openness to welcome those
immigrants in this country of opportunity;
in spite of growing difficulties in many spheres
America remains a magnet to all cultures around the globe.
While strangers these days become like a threat,
even a continuing question that knows no answer
here in this world we still find how hospitable
the American people in years of that long history of immigration.
Suckers suck
Truckers truck
Mickey Mouse mongrels maltrusively muck
Broncos buck
Lady luck
'Fraid to say the word
….......................................
Inspired by the late great George Carlin
McConnell says blacks are not whites
So there's no need for voting rights
They all have the perk
Of going to work
Though a few may need to work nights!
What's so great about Southern hospitality is when he or she is welcomed by the entire
family from the South. Southern hospitality is also considered a warm welcome for all,
that includes tourists from these here United States. It seems that all people from the
South are very friendly, especially when they want to be friends with a bunch of people
who are out of town. Upon being welcomed into one of their homes as part of Southern
hospitality, he or she's offered a glass of lemonade or iced tea with a slice of lemon.
those people from other states, including Ohio, they will have loved it when the people
from the South will have called them, "Sir" or "Ma'am." How interesting is that? I know
that when I plan on going to the South, just almost to the East coast, I'm going to have a
good time, especially when I get to meet some attractive Southern belles and I'll really
spend the next week in Knoxville, Tennessee (the city where I was born in). If everyone
can experience some southern hospitality, so can I. And upon returning from the South,
it'll be like to people have been hitched on a Saturday night in what used to be a
farmhouse in Nutbush.
She came in the winter.
My Tiger shared of his food.
He did not begrudge her eating.
My Tiger cat is good.
This spring she bore a set of kits.
There are exactly four.
Tiger watches as his feed
Is dwindling more and more.
We must go to the store.
For 50 word contest
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY
cool wind and red souls —
the passion-keepers
of the Superbowl
couples under warm blankets
converse about commercials
thumbs up and thumbs down
inside company pokes holes
into the crackling wood
of Southern hospitality
though none can claim
this as their birthplace
we cover North, West
and Palestine. Sings Gladys
with honor and respect
the National Anthem
hands over hearts, relishing
the antique still relevant
in lovely raiment —
at least to us oldtimers
beings of not the current
generational habits
halftime cursings
beeped out, entertainment
pleasant to those
forty some years
and below
blurrish words understood
like morse code to the youth
my mouth contentious
settle it down
with black forest dessert
where buffalo roam
in chocolate form
still assuaging our team
with handless cameras
and all things red, white, blue
who knows who won
perhaps someone will boast
in pedantic poetica
2/3/2019
Inspired by Ms. Toni Vasser
One early morn upon awake I quickly came to find.
The cobwebs of shadowy ghosts died within my mind.
Those slinky burdens of the dark that boo us from time to time.
‘Tis they the ones who keep our lives to forever twist and twine.
‘Twas relieved to finally think of a memory, one simply divine.
To bring to light a soul that ages as well and fine as wine.
Whenever one is in her presence, she is dutifully inclined.
To extend her hospitality to come to drink and dine.
It may be you to bring the salt, but she will bring the thyme.
Whenever one needs a helping hand, she is the first to chime.
We wish to appreciate the life of her while we are in our prime.
For, not to see the worth of her will surely be a crime.
w07-07-19
There is an aura for the moment looking gloom
Closing in on climatic resolution known as high noon
Weather was dealt the color grey
Heavy clouds outdoor on this day
Blocking the sun from peeking through
Temperatures hot relatively cool
Glaring distractions are wearing nature’s shades
School year ready to hand out final grades
But months earlier an invader came out from the mist
Tying socialization wrists
Being a star taking the stage
Putting the world in a household cage
A viral infection
Criminally contagious facing nation’s united rejection
Traveling the world Covid 19 threatened global protection
Eluded handcuffs reality not having any vaccine injection
When international health did its inspection
A sick situation projected to fizzle
During summer when the north sizzles
A southern pop
Where CDC acts like a cop
Wrote the screenplay strategizing how to make the pandemic stop
Forcing the apocalyptic mission attempt to be a box office flop
Today they will try to collect money
To combat this issue defined ‘not funny’
Four go fore the green
Setting a sporting interacting scene
An opportunity to raise funds
Using an entertaining spectacle when is done
Donors will clap for those that have won
Then as the sunsets
Fast autos will fire off their jets
Under the light signed off by the moon
Creating the thought the holiday is not ruined
Flashy, colorful and cool
Racing at Charlottes’ speedway NASCAR’s crown jewel
Six hundred miles they will speed
Making it southern hospitality roaring like the General Lee
Hopefully, the Sunday message will be comprehended
No need to be defended
When staring at the military graves in rank and file
Knowing yesterday ended with Coca Cola and a smile
You gave me charity, hospitality, and love
You gave me charity, hospitality, and love
You gave me charity, hospitality, and love
I was hungry, you gave me food
You gave me meat to eat
I was thirsty you gave me drink, that's sweet
And I was a stranger you took me in
Housed me for a moment placed a roof over my head
Naked and shamed shoe less you clothes me
I was torn weary and sick
Still you took me in,took me in
You gave me
You gave me charity, hospitality, and love
You gave me charity, hospitality, and love
You gave me charity, hospitality, and love
I was in prison and you came to me
And as a stranger you took me in
You hugged me, shown love toward me
You gave me monies, encouragements, food and more, it's true
I was torn, weary, and sick
Yet you told me I was yet blessed
I was hungry, you gave me food
You gave me meat to eat
I was thirsty you gave me drink, that's sweet
And I was a stranger you took me in
Housed me for a moment placed a roof over my head
Naked and shamed shoe less you clothes me
I was torn weary and sick
Still you took me in,took me in
You gave me
You gave me charity, hospitality, and love
You gave me charity, hospitality, and love
You gave me charity, hospitality, and love
2/01/10
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. ©2010
I met a Cherokee
Who realized our boat was broken down who
Said to me I will get you on your way.
Your journey
Doesn't end because of a catastrophe
With help you will be on your way with no delay.
I met a Cherokee
Filled with generosity
Who helped us on the waterway.
Your journey
Is the key
To many door ways.
I met a Cherokee
He wasn't a Pawnee
Who helped us get back underweigh.
Your journey
Helps you see the simplicity
Of life which other wise you would of let slip
Away.
I met a Cherokee
On my journey.
In four
basic strokes
for all to see-
painted poetry in
sumi
Note:In times past a guest in Japan would receive a sumi(Haiku) 'written' in black on white
calligraphy.The original picture poem indeed!
1.Purpose of household, to
cherish the guests.
2.Evade even Ambrosia without
offering to guests.
3.Cherishing guests ever, never
falls in life.
4.Welcoming guests with smile
would be wealthy.
5.Eating remains of guests
need unsown lands.
6.Guest of heaven cherish
present, future guests.
7.Fruits of cherishing uncertain
guests determine worthiness
8.Undone yearn for not
cherishing guests later.
9.Fools undo cherishing guests
though rich, poor.
10.Hosts’ look crumple guests:
smell fades Anitcha.
------------------------------------------
Dedicated to Thiruvalluvar(31B.C), the author in Tamil
Translated by S.Kandasamy, MUSIRI, TAMILNADU, INDIA
Published in poetry.com on 7-12-13
I saw a man standing by the road
He was bedraggled and beaten down,
I passed him by, afraid to share my empty seat
And thought how sad we have come to this
In our self-satisfied want for nothing,
Afraid, because we hear horror stories
About those who have helped strangers,
Denying ourselves the opportunity to bless.
And, thinking of him, I must confess
Our modern age is filled with many dangers,
But we need to take stock of our inventories
Of good deeds, what to the table we bring
Wrapped in our cloaks of not-my-business,
My life is so pleasing, well-ordered, and neat
Why put myself out for some lowdown?
When I realized many helped me with my load.
written March 28, 2022
[Verso-Rhyme]