Best Length Poems
Love.
A few too many breaths of fresh air,
A sun over water shines a glimmer in your hair,
A palm reaching outward quickly to hold,
A pointed and true reason to want to grow old,
A scent of coming rain sweet enough to see,
A sobering storm I'm willing to weather...
As long as you're with me.
Hope.
As tried as I've been and held down as we are,
The eclipse of this lifetime will surely fail to burn out our star,
We are young and yet old enough to make something real,
As long as we retain these once muttered feelings that we feel,
We are strong, stronger than the values of the things that we own,
And I'd give them all up to take your heart...
On a loan.
Love.
I will never back down or let go or give up or give in,
Always twice a loser it's more than time to win,
I will never break or falter or wane,
I will hold you at arms length to measure this rain,
Because despite its depth and the flood that we swim,
We didn't just fall this hard as a joke...
On a whim.
Hope.
Is always...
Enough.
Categories:
length, love,
Form:
Rhyme
Born so meek, far out at sea
She gathers strength, espies the shore
White caps atop her apogee
Escaping ocean's grip, the wave is free
Foam and spray rise high and roar
Born so meek far out at sea
Mounting ever higher she would be
A fount, from her triumphant waters soar
White caps atop her apogee
Sensing shoreline, ravenous, hungry
Lapping up beleaguered shores
Born so meek far out at sea
Settling in the sand, down on her knee
Peaceful calm now, powerful no more
White caps atop her apogee
She now recedes, stripped of pedigree
Nor mist with drops of salty spray
Born so meek far out at sea
White caps atop her apogee
Categories:
length, beach, ocean, peace,
Form:
Villanelle
Heaven has not left
the long dead bone,
alert mouse whiskers,
still move the seven seas.
At the beginning and the end
there is nothing to come,
that has not come and is.
Mammoths stride
a thousand leagues,
over a single blade of grass.
One small sparrow -
an Ark for infinity.
All that is,
is but one single event.
The speckled hen
lays worlds within worlds.
The unbridled beaks of seagulls,
unlock a book,
of common prayer.
Categories:
length, poetry,
Form:
Free verse
You keep me at arm’s length
Afraid to draw me closer
Afraid to let me go
You want me close enough to see
But not close enough to hold
Close enough to warm you
But not close enough to burn
You want some of the glow
Enough to bask in a tender light
You want to know I’m near
Near enough to touch!
And so I stay at arm’s length
For I’m so loathe to leave
I don’t want to lose sight of you
Or I might start to bleed
Tempted to be a base stealer
I move when you’re not aware
Sometimes I come much closer
Other times I slink farther away
Then I judge your expression
To see if you’ve noticed the change
Is that worry or a smile
That I see reflected in your eyes?
But here comes a warning
Straight from my heart of hearts:
At some point I’ll get tired
Of this little charade
Of standing still like a lifeless statuette
I’m not one who can survive
Without being touched
So, though this is your comfort zone
It definitely doesn’t describe me
I’m a hands on kind of gal
Steeped in dreams of ecstasy
I love to experience
Emotions that are raw
No cover ups and pretenses for me
I see past that all
I love to set off
A firework display of love
The kaleidoscope of bursting colors
That no one can tire of
I know what I’m worth
I’m aware of my powers to please
Possession’s the game I play
And I always play to win!
Lukewarm doesn’t cut it
You’re either hot or cold
So, for now I’m docile and submissive
Playing your little game
But you better know who I am…
And know my other name:
“Woman of the Intense”
So, sweety, keep me at arm’s length
Occasionally look my away
But let me tell you this…
One day when you look back to see
That standing passion pillar of fire
You’ll see the scorch marks on the ground
Of where I used to stand
Burning to be
Closer to you
Than your arm’s length demands.
Wherever I'll be...
At that exact moment of truth
While blazing away in someone else’s arms
Keeping someone else warm
Know this:
I’ll smile a knowing yet sad smile
For I’ll see you in my mind’s eye
Reaching with both your arms outstretched
To pull in emptiness to your chest
Instead of that sweet desirable girl
Who could have set your world on fire…
That girl…
That you steadfastly, stubbornly kept
At arm’s length.
Eileen Manassian Ghali
Categories:
length, desire, fear, feelings,
Form:
Dramatic Monologue
Do You ever just get tired of Being You?
Up there on The Highest of pedestals as You rule...
Is It You feeling selfish or alone as an unhinged fool?
I care of Your most inner thoughts and about You often...
May My remarks make Your Strength become more soften.
Do You ever get tired of Being You?
Even with All Your Money or possibly Self for filled greed...
I can't help You understand for I only have Me to need.
I hope I can Be of Your Beckoned Service when You actually want to See.
For as I share this marking wound of Your deepest fear I hide inside Me.
Do You ever just get tired of Being You?
The Children captured in Their different varieties of worlds holding pain...
Wondering if Their Next Meal or life matters that may or will ever Be obtained.
I'm just trying to hit Our common grounds to Our Survival...
We are just mismatched in A Huge Puzzle yet unsolved as We form rivals.
Do You ever just get tired of Being You?
As The Richest of People plummet into cesspool of remorse over My thoughts...
There Doors locked for discussion as Wars are created from the shadows taught.
Do You ever just get tire of being You?
The Length of A swore is vast,thicken with Evil Doers,and blood drenches are filled.
The firmness In My Words silenced;I have spoken from My small mind as willed.
All left for concern of Me;is silent,disheartening,as Your sunsets go on for now... All is red and done;Seemly to reflect empty words dusted underneath A sad Brow.
Categories:
length, allegory, anger, care, character,
Form:
Villanelle
Yes, I am guilty, Sir,
Guilty as charged.
I confess, I confess
I know it must be wrong, Sir,
And wring it must be,
Because no-one seems to do it Sir,
Is there anyone but me?
Yes, Sir, I confess
I must be wrong
Yes, I confess,
Yes, I wrote my love that song.
Yes, yes, confess I will,
That it is true
That after all of these years,
It is my wife that I love still!
Categories:
length, irony, love, marriage,
Form:
Ode
We are each Earth looking back,
out,
in at Self's human identity
longing to return
from where we have never left.
Each bicamerolling lens,
frame,
each informating incarnating karmic string of DNA
revolving back through generations,
back to Prime Relationship
of species branching off
our multiculturing Tree of Life,
absorbing RNA crystal light sap
soaring back through space-time's
polynomial plasma fold
Zero-sum win-win ecologic Codex,
grace-fields of regenerating economic
Commons prehension,
being our becoming Earth-bound
climax community.
Each death of willfulness
a redemptive pledge of willingness
to share each breath,
each life,
Earth's Self-Care.
How is Gaia looking today?
What does Earth's emergent identity absorb through you?
Through us competing to consume?
Through us producing, learning, growing, singing, dancing,
working and playing,
laughing and crying together?
Categories:
length, appreciation, confusion, culture, earth,
Form:
Free verse
The "DEPTH" of one's life is the true measurement!....The "Length" is barely an inch!
(WTA-IV)
3/4/2016
Categories:
length, philosophy,
Form:
Monoku
An Arm’s Length Dream
Sometimes, frivolous dreams of turquoise waters and white beaches
Swaying palms amidst sea grape borders, bronzing sun,
warming my pale white skin. I would sip lemonade, soothe my body in laziness,
my mind in boredom. And when it is over, I dream of when I can return.
Sometimes, the dream of power motivates my talents.
Quickly to be realized, a task I am not suited for, but dream
of what I would do, if only….
I would probably fail, for my nature is fair, full of empathy.
I dream of fortune, because that is the answer to all of life’s problems.
Or so they say, I do not believe, so fortune eludes me.
Knowing myself well, I would give it all away,
for there is always someone in need.
But in my silent dreams, the ones I feel within my heart;
the dreams I would perform with no hesitation;
the dreams I dream in prayer,
of little faces drawn with darkened eyes.
The Orphans, starving, the hungry, the crippled.
Thirsty in the African deserts, tiny children,
scattered by disaster, wandering from disease,
clinging to each other, for there is no one else
I dream I have arms so long I can embrace them all.
I calm their fears, heal bodies, and teach them love.
I would dry their tears, have them feast and feed their souls
Their darkened eyes soon become bright.
And while my arms are stretched around the world of children,
no longer orphans, for they would have me.
A Mother, a protector, a guardian,
And they would know LOVE.
Categories:
length, childrendream, dream,
Form:
Free verse
The Length and Breath of Time
Yes, you linger so succinct my fellow of graying hue;
Like a ember coal is you as you fumble for a cigarette;
Eyes burning down to the filter; the very best of your
Soul is unbound with time, but you lie unaware in longing and regret. How shall we entrain
you? We who seek your solace, your collar stayed conformity to watch it fade and falter.
You stand upon the altar of time with folly pinching your
Belongings – how dare the Jester diminish the gifts he gave you?
A home, a shell of leather on your feet, a small itching on the back of time that all is
filtered through sublime; breathe it in my friend. It is coming to an end.
There’s a furnace deep within you where all acts do
linger fueled bright.
You stoke it day and night, yet no fire lights the
Architecture of the soul’s encasement, for it is billeted elsewhere, beyond the realm your
secrets have devised.
This should come as no surprise,
You can quench the fire, and scatter through the ashes
But find no answers there,
Another day,
Another week,
Another year…
Pull back that iron door,
Bite your tongue and curse the darkness
To light that flame once more…
Categories:
length, devotion, family, health, longing,
Form:
Ballad
Just when we thought
wars were well and truly over,
done and dusted -
Russia invades Ukraine.
No mettle for friends
to take up arms.
to don the coat of arms
and fight tooth and nail
to quell the invader.
Instead its alms that are offered
and sanctions to starve and demean
the invader's will to fight.
It's a new World Order
at arm's length.
Categories:
length, conflict,
Form:
Free verse
All of our lives changed for good.
We’d all change it if we could.
We’d all bring back Clay,
For just another day.
Oh, all the things we would say.
If we knew,
He’d never see the next morning dew.
The hardest thing to say, Goodbye.
Although if we said this, it’d be a lie.
Because we’ll all see him some other day.
Because of the price, the good lord paid.
And in the Lord we will find our strength.
To deal with this time of struggle and length.
Without a person who was so near
So dear
To our hearts
And will be to the end and has been from the start.
Many of us just lost :
A friend.
A Brother.
An Uncle.
A Papaw,
A Son.
But for me and my sisters,
We lost the one who used to cover our blisters.
The one who changed our dirty dippers.
And when we would cry, he’d act as windshield wipers
The one who tries to help us cope.
The one that for us has high hopes,
The one when we’d mess up, he’d get mad.
The one we got to call dad.
I’m sorry for being mean, rude, obnoxious, loud.
But ill do my best to make you proud
It’s hard not knowing.
The pain I believe is showing.
We don’t ever know,
When it’s someone’s time to go.
We leave them with anger and rage,
Without a thought that soon
All too too Soon
Have to start a new chapter. Turn the page.
With the lights turned down dim.
Without him.
Looking into the future may seam a little grim
Not knowing what to do without him.
The way he’d rub my feet,
After I came home tired and with defeat.
The way he would just talk and talk.
And back on the trail, we’d walk and walk.
Or maybe even ride our bikes.
Either way its all alike.
Picking a few of the prettiest flowers
And at home in a vase they’d tower.
Wishing he was still here.
Because his time just didn’t seam near.
It isn’t what any of us would of thought.
Its what any of us would of fought.
Many of us fighting it now.
Sitting with silence and tears wondering how?
Haven’t eaten. Haven’t slept.
But the Lords plans we’ll soon have to accept.....
Categories:
length, daughter, death, dedication, father,
Form:
Free verse
There was once a thin plumber named Stipe
Whose large wife always nagged with a gripe
She was constantly bummed
For each time that he plumbed
He came up inches short with his pipe
Well, he asked and he asked her to hush
Still, the scolding continued to gush
So he fit his wee shlong
With a pipe, extra-long
And the nagging was gone with a flush!
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Limericks" Poetry Contest, Joseph May, Judge & Sponsor.
(Syllables counted at HowManySyllables.com)
Categories:
length, funny, humorous, marriage,
Form:
Limerick
What if I forget to live
If I keep count of my lifetime’s breath
In years lived, how nor yet in good faith,
Live in past lures' pale lust,
In tired dreams drenched in rust,
I'd forget to live and die ere death.
___________________________________
Reflections | 11.02.2017|
Categories:
length, age, how i feel,
Form:
Limerick
Sometimes, when we hurl
angry words—
ancient stones thrown by indifference,
lodging in the ears of our children.
Witnessing horror twist itself into child’s play.
A stone’s throw—killed our empathy.
Anger knows its enemy:
sitting next to,
sitting opposite of,
never with.
It sits a stone’s throw away.
Rising from the ashes of fear—
Vapours of flesh smoulder
as blooded lava flows.
Cools—
our scarred magma to a crusted creed.
The stitched social fabric
binds us—
its loud colour blinds us.
Worn by both—
the right
and left sleeve.
United buttons,
reconcile for peace.
Unironed—full of wrinkles.
We tear further apart
the closer we come,
repelling—mirroring
the same magnetic face.
We read our compass,
in a bipolar place;
wondering how,
we’ve lost our way.
Believing everything
we’ve been taught,
until we die—
Realizing—
too late,
it’s all been a lie.
Categories:
length, anger, angst, conflict, discrimination,
Form:
Free verse