Best Laude Poems
I wrote this 50 years ago, yup, been dipping the brain in ink for a few years now.
What do you do on a rainy day
'sides twiddle your thumbs to pass time away.
I have a suggestion, mere conjecture,
escape from it all, attend a lecture.
There you can doodle, take a few notes
- fill up your pad with ambiguous quotes
from Shakespeare and Bacon and Chaucer.
Study and cram and stay up all night,
let your brain fly unbelievable heights -
you know all the answers, let no one deny,
any question you're given you correctly reply.
Summa Cum-Laude then straight to the top,
your ambition, your knowledge, no one can stop
...and just when you think you've got the world won
you awake from your dream, late for class, off you run!
Categories:
laude, life,
Form:
Rhyme
I picked "cinqku" because I don't know
what form that is, and I'm too lazy to
look it up; but if you've ever read any
of my poetry you should know I don't
want to lead anyone down a particular
path, but just that you read into what
you want to read into. However,
comments are left open to release,
and it seems PoetrySoup has an in
and an outside crowd. As Groucho
Marx once said (maybe a paraphrase)
"I wouldn't want to be a member of
a club that would want me as a
member."
So, with my last poem I stated about
paying my bill. So I have settled what
I owe, but I do leave a big tip, and if
you are wise you will follow, Maureen
McGreavy is the best TASTE out of
this pot.
For you bible pushers and preachers, "In
the beginning was the WORD." Choose
your words wisely. That verbal stone you
skipped might just hit you in the ****.
My wife has often said, "Why is the F word
the first thing out your mouth when you were
class scholar and magna cum laude?" F them.
Categories:
laude, age,
Form:
Cinqku
G is for Gershon,a very kind heart
E is for Enthusiastic,ever encouraging
R is for Rollicking, clever poetry
S is for Sensitive, and so inspiring
H is for Humanistic in all ways
O is for Openmindedness, so rare
N is for Nourishment for our souls
W is for Wisdom, he blesses us with
O is for Outstanding humor,'Cum Laude'
L is for Loving, that is his attitude
F is for Fortitude,and that is no platitude
*****
Dear Gershon,
You are such a loving support to so many
of us. And bring your unique laughter to us
all......every day!
With deep appreciation,
Panagiota Romios
8/5/2021
Categories:
laude, appreciation, dedication, friendship, poetry,
Form:
Acrostic
life is full of treasures
sitting looking out at the courtyard
she is not comely
but has the most precious smile
it radiates in the brightest sunny day
her little wave of the hand
acknowledging my existence
as she passes on the walk
in tandem is her cat
i love watching them react to each other
he unfolds upon the lawn
rubbing his stomach
it is easy to see the joy they share
the old couple emerges across the way
he will secure the door upon leaving
hurries to the parking lot
where he attends her door
securing the belt
soon they leave and will return later
age has left her a bit slower
he manages the door and releases the harness
while she is on the way
he pulls the folding shopping cart
from the trunk
empties the bagged groceries into the cart
makes his way to the door
where she is waiting to enter
next door is the woman who is here
to complete her education
it has taken a few years for the R.N. degree
began years ago as a hospital volunteer
from there to nurse's aid to L.P.N.
she earns her living caring for the elderly
at some senior center, pays the bills
there is more but we never go there
in our short sharing conversations
a broken heart and children states away
she is dedicated to her dream
two letters following her name
to my right and two apartments away
is a woman who fought life in the streets
she spends afternoons with her dog
they are a melding of hearts
a life now existing in a sober ambiance
graduate cum laude of a woman's shelter
there are more jewels i have in this courtyard
separating the roaming cats
from my passion of feeding birds
and they listen, sitting here peace reigns
night they have the bowl i prepare
in case any needs a nightly snack
as mom always said
the real jewels in life
never know a chain or finger
they are captured by the eye
and held forever in memory
where they will serve you well
when life has its' stumbles
they will give you peace
in the worst gale that calls you away
they are life's jewels teaching you
how eagles rise above the storm
Oregon 10/23
Categories:
laude, encouraging, growth, memory, mother
Form:
Free verse
Children raised with discipline
Parents spanked and praised
Summa Cum Laude
Categories:
laude, graduation,
Form:
Senryu
A midlife challenge offered me its hand-
with careful thought, I took the challenge up.
This choice I made- some could not understand
why this endeavor would help fill my cup.
The cup of knowledge I was meant to fill-
to gather facts of which I never knew.
To read great books and write with added skill-
breathe deep the satisfaction as I do.
Began my part-time college-going days-
a steadfast choice I never will forget.
My journey took six years, and in all ways
a firm decision I would not regret.
Each day on campus, in another world,
my mind consumed sweet knowledge like fine wine.
A deeper way of thinking soon unfurled;
fulfillment and accomplishment- were mine.
Summa cum laude- my graduation day!
My father, husband, children, family
stood proud to honor this in every way;
to praise my choice- be overjoyed for me.
September 9, 2015
~3rd Place~
Contest: A Graduation Blessing
Sponsor: BJ Legros Kelly
Judged: 07/06/2021
~3rd Place~
Contest: The Choices We Make In Life
Sponsor: Edward Ebbs
Judged: 09/11/2015
Categories:
laude, blessing, dedication, education, emotions,
Form:
Iambic Pentameter
I know a maid—her name is Rose.
She has long hair that’s thick and dark,
and great, green eyes like no one knows;
and she can sing just like a lark.
She loves to read, and is well-read:
she’s a genius, and knows a lot—
in truth, there’s so much in her head
to figure out than just let rot.
Glad to say she’s now a student
enrolled in classes at a college:—
how wonderful, how elegant,
that she attends a place of knowledge!
'Ere long, she’ll graduate with honors
and "summa cum laude" distinction,
with a master’s conferred upon her
to pursue disease intervention.
In all this time, I’ll support her;
and be the best friend that she needs:
I’ll be there to urge and exhort her,
to guide her from life's baleful "weeds."
Categories:
laude, best friend, celebration, for
Form:
Bio
His voice was loved,his colour not
Only the former him fame brought
Summa cum laude in study and sport
His origins drew him up socially short
Jim Crow laws were the sinister wedge
Which left him at his country's edge
His nation's shame burned deeply within
Denying forgiveness for his darkness of skin
He longed for the time when men would be equal
His involvement with communism delivered the sequel
At a time when McCarthy sought to unmask the red
So many suffered paroxysms of dread.
In 1929 after his London show he set out for home late
It was then there occurred a miracle of fate
Singing rang out sweet and crystal clear
Voices of Welsh miners singing songs to them dear
Amazed by their power in their penniless plight
He became their brother in arms that very night
Colour was not what bound him to them
But the poverty to which politics the lower classes condemn
So there was born a rich and mutual harmony
Between a star and a proud but poor army
They both knew the the sting of imposed misfortune
Refusing to give up their independence of tune
He bestrode the world like a black Colossus
Until he was pulled down by destructive bosses
Who would brook no challenge to their status
But his example lives on to fully elate us
This man ,Paul Robeson,a tower among men
Met persecution with stout acumen
He stands out as our beacon of light
For all the victims who fought the good fight.
Categories:
laude, black african american, celebrity,
Form:
Rhyme
“Oh Emma, my cherished and unholy soulmate;
Woman of air! Raw phrases leap with love and hate.
Behind glasses seethes a romantic, daring the night
August child of gothic verse, lines we all recite.
Yet , when soirees roll, your flame the men desire;
It surprises me how that glance changes like fire!
In class, we ignite our teachers’ ire with naughty quirks
Creating romps as the batch mimes our theatrics.
Tonight, we pluck more wild seeds of younger memoirs
Still coloring our lives as time waits for girl- hours.”
.........................
* Emma is a dear friend way back in college. As an activist,
writer, and down-to-earth woman, she graduated with cum laude
honors. We regularly meet up to bond and nourish our friendship.
Emma Contest of Juli-Michelle
Categories:
laude, friendship,
Form:
Couplet
Endear my soul
I pled for quest
Your fortune lo and behold
I pored for adore abreast
Lacked in notion by the unspoken magna cum laude
I searched for hope, peacefully at rest.
Love thirst for lust
I longed for my desire
Your fortune lo and behold
I last for a threshold to admire
Belie by the vile magna cum laude
I held down so that my mien aspire.
Unholy my pilgrim
I tossed for my solitaire
Your fortune lo and behold
I graced for a mighty meriting layer
Avowed by the chromatic symbiosis magna cum laude
I breathed to my valentine, preached for an eonian prayer.
Categories:
laude, life, love, nostalgia, passion
Form:
Englyn
This is what it feels like
to be king for a day
The coronation would be
bullet hailed
as an assassination holiday
Giving a princely speech for
unity and peace
Would bring out the hate
This is what it skin chills like
to be king for a numb nation day
The pall festivities
would unwaveringly have
a tear-stained flag lowered at half-mast
To honor fallen royalty of the past
Solemn faces would bravely force
a rosy picture smile
As the thorns of pious peddle lip service
pierce their sullen hearts
with celebratory guile
This is what it feels like
to be king for a laude long day
Given the crown colony’s ignoble state of moral decay
What would this king’s renown namesake say,
as rotted hope
fills the catechism chokes on ceremonial display
And the assimilation marches and votive merry
look regal glorious,
in a faux triumphant way —
As the court of bigotry still holds colorful sway
This is what it feels like
to be king for a dethroned ideal day
01-17-22
Categories:
laude, death, feelings, holiday, memorial,
Form:
Elegy
I Am MoonBeam
My Sisters, StarLights
My Brothers, SunRays
… All-Academic-Bright
My Family of Heaven
My Mother, DawnSky
Father of Celestial Lights (James 1: 17)
Taught At Universe-High
By Father’s Master-Degree
And Mother’s Alma-Mater
Brother Graduated
Summa-Cum-Laude, Super-Nova
Dine At Dimension-Table
Of Cosmic-Family
Global-Bodies, Glowing-Grace
In Our Galaxy
Our: Cambridge, Yale, Oxford and Harvard
Are: Comets, Orbits, and Asteroids
Black-Holes, Pulsars, Waves and Quarks
Red Giants and Red and Snow-White Dwarfs
Enlightened Astronomers, Radiant New Worlds
Time-Continuum, To Unfurl
Outer-Space, Advent-Solar-Systems
And A Big, Blue Jewel, Freed From Cataclysm
Light-Years Away, From Today …
But Still Quenching Thirst, On Milky-Way
and Planetary-Rings and Eclipse
Satellites, and Soaring-Rocket-Ships
Atomics and Evenings-Scholarly
Lectures, On Pure-Energy
To Explore and Expand Brilliantly
‘Diplomas’ … thru Eternity
I Am MoonBeam
My Sisters, StarLights
My Brother, ‘Big’ SunRay
Shone-Academic-Bright ! …
Categories:
laude, adventure, allegory, devotion, education,
Form:
Light Verse
I barely can recall the day of my college graduation.
Even though my husband was my only comrade in attendance,
I felt proud to be with cum laude honors, sitting in a special section.
Also it’s a good thing all we graduates wore loose-fitting robes.
At the time of this event, I was almost eight months pregnant,
and I do believe that even in that flowing robe,
my pregnancy was showing!
It’s been decades since that day, which is why
I barely can recall a thing except for my feelings
of joy, accomplishment and pride – that despite the challenges
of raising a daughter for the prior three years, working part-time,
and even walking back and forth to college
(I’d still not learned to drive),
I had managed to complete the necessary courses
to the best of my ability and obtain my bachelor’s degree.
You can be a parent and you can have a job
and still do well in college.
It only takes desire, focus and energy.
I am proof of that; my education gave me a profession,
and never will I regret my efforts.
March 17, 2023
for Graduation Day Poetry Contest of Craig Cornish
Categories:
laude, school,
Form:
Free verse
Nostalgic about moving-on moments
my mind lingers at throwback scenes
milestones surpassing oblivion challenge.
1974... Kindergarten toga and cap propelled my steps
toward big brother’s elementary campus
midst anticipation of sumptuous recess-snacks.
1981... Triumphantly leading alma mater pledge
I then saluted fellow graduates
eager to roam along high school corridors.
1985... Absorbed by prepared valedictory address
my heart could never stop tears, yet I managed still
since commencement song would soon reverberate.
1989... Grateful to parents, my perpetual mentors
I handed their partnership university diploma and cum laude pin
delighting them for scholarship returns, indeed grants from the Lord.
1999... Charged with “Enter to learn, go forth to serve” pursuits
my faith accepted Bible College graduation's quest
Thus, I press* on, furthering kingdom of God --- all by His grace.
*Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Narrative in Tristich form
March 24, 2023
Categories:
laude, appreciation, blessing, encouraging, god,
Form:
Tristich
At no time say never- that it is too late
fulfilling accomplishments you've left undone.
At times, what you long for is not met by fate;
Must tend to those wishes yourself- to be done.
I, married with children, had turned thirty-nine;
two went off to college, the other, soon too.
A gap in my life at this time seemed just fine
for me to reach out, a new venture pursue.
It took six long years- although what a great ride!
As a part-time student, in college, I bloomed-
with English BA, Business minor, my side-
rewards in my writing and work status zoomed.
At the graduation, my heart filled with cheer!
With summa cum laude, Nineteen eighty-four,
I walked on that stage with my family near-
all praising my courage for growth to explore.
At times, what you long for is not met by fate;
at no time say never- that it is too late.
Anapestic Tetrameter -/--/--/--/
Categories:
laude, appreciation, graduation, inspirational, uplifting,
Form:
Rhyme