Best Interpose Poems
Songs unsung will disappear,
as breathless as a stone, the fear
of Armageddon fills the air
and gathers strength against a prayer
that withers, fizzles into nought,
despite the lessons we were taught,
to love our neighbours as we would
be loved by them, the greater good.
Or take His name in vain, the strain
of blending with another's pain,
the art of empathy forsaken,
errant paths so quickly taken;
thoughts are squandered, so are souls
who glorify malicious goals
and chase false dreams to sand consigned,
the facts misjudged and misaligned.
Cause and effect, the laws of nature,
whom to kill and whom to nurture,
whom to crucify or kiss?
the measures of our helplessness.
There is no try, there's only do,
and I expect the same of you,
to strip away dishonesty,
the trademark of our misery.
To live in love and purity
and nullify our enmity,
we join together, hand in hand,
no hurtful lies, no contraband.
The answer lies amongst the stars
unnumbered in the universe,
a child's first breath, the blushing rose,
where hatred cannot interpose.
(In a 19th-century legal judgment studied by all who
learn the English common law, Sturges v. Bridgeman,
the court found in favour of a "nice" doctor over a
"common" manufacturer, for reasons of pure snobbery.)
The Candyman Can’t
Some legal battles have the power to thrill,
while others never have, and never will.
Some touch on human themes which really matter,
and some do not. We’re dealing with the latter.
This present case is hardly OJ Simpson:
it lacks dramatic shape, and simply limps on
listlessly, with abstruse reasoning,
no sex or violence to give it seasoning.
One Mister Bridgman manufactures sweets,
in premises where Wigmore crosses/meets
its neighbour, Wimpole. Eighteen seventy-nine
of our salvation, two lives intertwine
when Doctor Sturges takes consulting rooms
around the corner. Disagreement looms,
for Bridgman’s grinding, pounding candy line’s
destroying Sturges’ peace, fragging his mind.
The law of nuisance really is quite funny.
It says, “he did you harm? Well, here’s some money”.
What if you’d rather dodge the damage, and
defer the dollars? How to countermand
the duty-breach-then-damages regime?
Suppose we interpose a better scheme?
Instead of “you must suffer, he must pay”,
we stop the harm? The problem goes away!
This ruse is known as “equity”. It functions
by granting prior relief (they’re called injunctions).
So Sturges stemmed stentorian sweetie sounds
by order of the court, and Bridgman found
his business gagged and bound by hoops of steel,
for no good reason. What to do? Appeal!
(For thus advise the lawyers. Such affairs
drag on for years. The lawyers? They get theirs!)
Said Bridgman: “I’ve been cranking out jujubes
for decades now. It’s all gone down the tubes
because some quack dislikes the earnest hum
of my devices. Why, then, did he come
to Wimpole Street? He wants tranquility?
Go hang his shingle in Highgate Cemetery!
I have a remedy for Doctor Sturges:
it’s swallowing his antimony purges!”
But Bridgman lost. One cannot help but feel
that making toffee wasn’t quite genteel
enough. Their Lordships said behaviour
that’s unacceptable around Belgravia
can find a home in Bermondsey. The latter
has lots of lowly types. It doesn’t matter
if they have noisome noise, and have to live
in filthy fumes – for they’re not sensitive.
Songs unsung will disappear,
as breathless as a stone, the fear
of Armageddon fills the air
and gathers strength against a prayer
that withers, fizzles into nought,
despite the lessons we were taught,
to love our neighbours as we would
be loved by them, the greater good.
Or take His name in vain, the strain
of blending with another's pain,
the art of empathy forsaken,
errant paths so quickly taken;
thoughts are squandered, so are souls
who glorify malicious goals
and chase false dreams to sand consigned,
the facts misjudged and misaligned.
Cause and effect, the laws of nature,
whom to kill and whom to nurture,
whom to crucify or kiss?
the measures of our helplessness.
There is no try, there's only do,
and I expect the same of you,
to strip away dishonesty,
the trademark of our misery.
To live in love and purity
and nullify our enmity,
we join together, hand in hand,
no hurtful lies, no contraband.
The answer lies amongst the stars
unnumbered in the universe,
a child's first breath, the blushing rose,
where hatred cannot interpose.
Songs unsung will disappear,
as breathless as a stone, the fear
of Armageddon fills the air
and gathers strength against a prayer
that withers, fizzles into nought,
despite the lessons we were taught,
to love our neighbours as we would
be loved by them, the greater good.
Or take His name in vain, the strain
of blending with another's pain,
the art of empathy forsaken,
errant paths so quickly taken;
thoughts are squandered, so are souls
who glorify malicious goals
and chase false dreams to sand consigned,
the facts misjudged and misaligned.
Cause and effect, the laws of nature,
whom to kill and whom to nurture,
whom to crucify or kiss?
the measures of our helplessness.
There is no try, there's only do,
and I expect the same of you,
to strip away dishonesty,
the trademark of our misery.
To live in love and purity
and nullify our enmity,
we join together, hand in hand,
no hurtful lies, no contraband.
The answer lies amongst the stars
unnumbered in the universe,
a child's first breath, the blushing rose,
where hatred cannot interpose.
Songs unsung will disappear,
as breathless as a stone, the fear
of Armageddon fills the air
and gathers strength against the prayer
that withers, fizzles into naught,
despite the lessons we were taught,
to love our neighbors as we would
be loved by them, the greater good.
Or take His name in vain, the strain
of blending with another's pain,
the art of empathy forsaken,
errant paths so quickly taken;
thoughts are squandered, so are souls
who glorify malicious goals
and chase false dreams to sand consigned,
the facts misjudged and misaligned.
Cause and effect, the laws of nature,
whom to kill and whom to nurture,
whom to crucify or kiss?
the measures of our helplessness.
There is no try, there's only do,
and I expect the same of you,
to strip away dishonesty,
the trademark of our misery.
To live in love and purity,
to nullify our enmity,
we join together, hand in hand,
no hurtful lies, no contraband.
The answer lies among the stars
unnumbered in the universe,
a child's first breath, the blushing rose,
where hatred cannot interpose.
Songs unsung will disappear,
as breathless as a stone, the fear
of Armageddon fills the air
and gathers strength against the prayer
that withers, fizzles into naught,
despite the lessons we were taught
to love our neighbors as ourselves,
not disrespect our worthy lives,
or take His name in vain, the strain
of bleeding from another's pain,
the art of empathy forsaken,
carefree paths so quickly taken
Thoughts are squandered, so are souls
who sanctify disparate goals
and chase false dreams on sand consigned,
the facts misjudged and misaligned.
Cause and effect, a law of nature,
who to kill and who to nurture,
what to crucify or kiss?
the measure of our helplessness.
There is no try, there's only do,
and I'll expect the same from you,
to strip away dishonesty,
the hallmark of our misery.
To live in love and purity
we'll neutralize our enmity
and join together, hand in hand,
no hurtful lies, no contraband.
The answer lies among the stars
unnumbered in the universe,
a child's first breath, the blushing rose,
where hatred cannot interpose.
(Moses Gava Featuring Kudakwashe Victor Shoko)
Neither did it start yesterday
Nor yesteryear
A scroll further backward
Deep into the historical era
I could see him crawling
During those years of polling
They were born egoistical
I wish I were not
Philanthropic, I would have preferred
To see them holding my trifles
At them I would fire a rifle
Only that my fingers couldn't shoot to kill
With strong aversion
I behold them thriving
Because I'm striving
At them I'm diving
Only to interpose
To forslow them Of course
If jealousy were a disease
Surely I would be among the ill
Opting to get well soon
And so, Starting Today
I will loathe no more
I will cheer evermore
Economically and Socially
I am ailing
Starting Today
I will retreat into writing
My treasure, My company
Lies in that realm
It's my world,
I create what I want
This world
Is an awfully awful place
I'll shrink from it
And venture into were I find solace
Starting Today
I'll excrete sadness and sorrow
I'll take gulps of happiness,
Today not tomorrow
Things cannot go in your favor always,
Let that sink in
You can't create happiness in someone's world
You'll be altering its design,
Create your own world
Happiness or solace,
You'll put what you want
Hell or paradise of your making,
How is that?
The orator is Starting Today
When is your today?
Today is today, Start Today
Starting Today, let's all Start Today
You know what you want, get it Today
************************************************************
Annunciations renascent bird in verve, upon an amulet wire my eyes do see!?
Animated, amid the sunburst branches as fluttering its tiny little wings ~
Chirping aside heartens amiable fertile waterfall, so joyfully splashing
Its springtimes radiant colours into the wellnigh river refined; interpose....
************************************************************
....“Amours, Psychogenic Forest” *
...inspired by 'Reveille' by Joseph Brodsky
Songs unsung will disappear,
as breathless as a stone, the fear
of Armageddon fills the air
and gathers strength against the prayer
that withers, fizzles into nought,
despite the lessons we were taught
to love our neighbours as ourselves,
not disrespect our worthy lives,
or take His name in vain, the strain
of bleeding from another's pain,
the art of empathy forsaken,
carefree paths so quickly taken
Thoughts are squandered, so are souls
who sanctify disparate goals
and chase false dreams on sand consigned,
the facts misjudged and misaligned.
Cause and effect, a law of nature,
who to kill and who to nurture,
what to crucify or kiss?
the measure of our helplessness.
There is no try, there's only do,
and I'll expect the same from you,
to strip away dishonesty,
the hallmark of our misery.
To live in love and purity
we'll neutralize our enmity
and join together, hand in hand,
no hurtful lies, no contraband.
The answer lies amongst the stars
unnumbered in the universe,
a child's first breath, the blushing rose,
where hatred cannot interpose.
Leaves of Frost (on Glass)
Leaves of frost (fueled by more intimate breathing that thickens glass panes)
interpose art, between life's adlibs and detritus. Should life mock
a dead stars' diasporic aspects. Through eons of "spacetime," mute
murals form fractals, eclipse all the patterns the mind of man dreams?
Day's light shines through cave windows we mold now above ground to shelter,
keep safe, things that life will hold dear, though they're death knell for entropy.
Fanciful cobwebs appear sans a spider (all somethings with brains?)
that gives motive to artist. Are thoughts then just patterns, a Rorschach
whose meaning's in eye of beholder, faux leaves etched on glass? "Oh shoot,
God seen here's present? Faith never had prayer, if God has no schemes?"
Though most needs do get met, is that God? Are such thoughts out of kelter?
You know? Life evolved to fit space, space to life? "What will be, will be!"
Brian Johnston
24th of December in 2022
Songs unsung will disappear,
as breathless as a stone, the fear
of Armageddon fills the air
and gathers strength against a prayer
that withers, fizzles into nought,
despite the lessons we were taught,
to love our neighbours as we would
be loved by them, the greater good.
Or take His name in vain, the strain
of blending with another's pain,
the art of empathy forsaken,
errant paths so quickly taken;
thoughts are squandered, so are souls
who glorify malicious goals
and chase false dreams to sand consigned,
the facts misjudged and misaligned.
Cause and effect, the laws of nature,
whom to kill and whom to nurture,
whom to crucify or kiss?
the measures of our helplessness.
There is no try, there's only do,
and I expect the same of you,
to strip away dishonesty,
the trademark of our misery.
To live in love and purity
and nullify our enmity,
we join together, hand in hand,
no hurtful lies, no contraband.
The answer lies amongst the stars
unnumbered in the universe,
a child's first breath, the blushing rose,
where hatred cannot interpose.
Songs unsung will disappear,
as breathless as a stone, the fear
of Armageddon fills the air
and gathers strength against the prayer
that withers, fizzles into naught,
despite the lessons we were taught,
to love our neighbors as we would
be loved by them, the greater good.
Or take His name in vain, the strain
of blending with another's pain,
the art of empathy forsaken,
errant paths so quickly taken;
thoughts are squandered, so are souls
who glorify malicious goals
and chase false dreams to sand consigned,
the facts misjudged and misaligned.
Cause and effect, the laws of nature,
whom to kill and whom to nurture,
whom to crucify or kiss?
the measures of our helplessness.
There is no try, there's only do,
and I expect the same of you,
to strip away dishonesty,
the trademark of our misery.
To live in love and purity,
to nullify our enmity,
we join together, hand in hand,
no hurtful lies, no contraband.
The answer lies among the stars
unnumbered in the universe,
a child's first breath, the blushing rose,
where hatred cannot interpose.
Murder with callous authority
Murder with casual face
behold guilt and indifference
behold helpless public pleading
cries to mothers past and mothers now
behold public death - oh, watching eyes
behold the citizens’ fear to interpose
behold the helpless sheep, oh lion!
where came such fear?
behold the face of arrogance
behold the face of tyranny
are you safe in your coop, chicken?
where came such power?
Share the barking dogs’ epiphany
wake the half-asleep and world-weary
clutch the scoundrels
Let the pain of others be warning
And the alarm of villains ring like music
No particular rhyme nor,
reason explains to boot
within mind of this (boyish
looking) ole coot,
why sudden flashback didst
kickstart metered metrical foot
when during bout with anorexia nervosa,
I did not give a hoot
analogously harried and swiftly kicked
with barebones styled tailored jackboot.
Said eating disorder, sans
self starvation arose
without explicit explanation
this grown man tries
till he gets himself bluenose
to recapitulate an ill fate,
he conveniently chose
still baffled, thus
without aversion disclose,
silence of echoes
confidential matter
I willingly expose,
said trauma that
nearly did foreclose
emotionally mortgaged corporeal property
boarded figurative
windows, whereat up goes
for sale sign testament to
recalcitrant stalwart hardnose
father and mother felt
obligation to interpose
lest premature demise,
would invariably juxtapose
dealing mortal psychological
(albeit unfair) blow
to parents plus two sisterly kiddoses
perhaps family pets (cats and dogs),
whose meows and lows
punctuating equilibrium
volunteering, (when suicide
gripped stranglehold)
spurring personal tragedy
with sincere manifestoes
(mainly not a verse
to dabble with poetry)
striving to cater to nonheroes
to thwart tragedy, whose nose
(mine) sniffs fallout mainly upon me
woebegotten life somber
(time to cue oboes),
asper the plethora of
influences that predispose
one in the throes
of adolescent experiencing
oh ma dog...gushing hormones
analogous to young lives
loose then taut like mama's yoyos!
Songs unsung will disappear,
as breathless as a stone, the fear
of Armageddon fills the air
and gathers strength against the prayer
that withers, fizzles into naught,
despite the lessons we were taught,
to love our neighbors as we would
be loved by them, the greater good.
Or take His name in vain, the strain
of blending with another's pain,
the art of empathy forsaken,
errant paths so quickly taken;
thoughts are squandered, so are souls
who glorify malicious goals
and chase false dreams to sand consigned,
the facts misjudged and misaligned.
Cause and effect, the laws of nature,
whom to kill and whom to nurture,
whom to crucify or kiss?
the measures of our helplessness.
There is no try, there's only do,
and I expect the same of you,
to strip away dishonesty,
the trademark of our misery.
To live in love and purity,
to nullify our enmity,
we join together, hand in hand,
no hurtful lies, no contraband.
The answer lies among the stars
unnumbered in the universe,
a child's first breath, the blushing rose,
where hatred cannot interpose.