Best Letting Down Poems
The blackberry's love for the garden rose
Brought down the gardener's wrath.
The blackberry sensed the danger
As he wended the garden path.
" A love so true as mine", he sighed,
"Must dare to brave the hoe.
Just a few more feet to reach her,
My true love she must know."
He crept along so quietly,
Sometimes quite out of sight
Until he nudged his darling's feet.
Did he dare to trust the light?
He heard the gardener's heavy boot
And hid in craven shame.
He knew he'd soon be weeded out,
A seedling with no name.
"Have I no worth since I don't rate
Some Latin nomenclature?
Without a well known parentage
Am I a freak of nature?
His darling's line was long and pure,
No skeletons in her past.
He had to make his feelings known.
Those boots were treading fast.
Gently then he wrapped his vine
Around his loved one's spine.
In great amazement he opined,
"Her thorns are sharp as mine".
The sweet rose felt his tender touch
And realized his fear
And wondered at his bravery
In coming to her here.
She heard the swishing of the hoe,
She heard those nearing feet.
Quietly letting down her leaves
In a manner so discreet
She covered her wild lover.
The gardener unaware,
Stopped but to view her beauty.
He saw naught hiding there.
She whispered, "You are safe now".
The blackberry's heart was light,
Thankful that his dear sweet rose
Had not exposed his plight.
"A rose is still a rose." she said,
"By any other name
And in our distant ancestry,
We share some of the same".
"I'd rather know your wild love,
Than a love that's dull and tame,"
Cuddling close, returned his kiss
Without a bit of shame.
Next season there were seedlings
Of a very different kind.
The gardener delighted, cried
"A horticultural find."
The moral of this story?
Things aren't always what they seem.
The love you look down on today,
Could be tomorrow's dream.
In a tossing and turning night, to wake up I forgot
Never slipping from a series of perpetual dream
A strange situation over and again, escape I could not
In the fabric of this woolgather, I couldn’t tear the seam
A speech in front of hundreds, I yearned to scream
Standing in my underwear, my shaking voice was caught
Closing my eyes tightly, trying to change the theme
In a tossing and turning night, to wake up I forgot
Skating across the ice, I wind up to take my shot
I miss the net completely, letting down the team
I’m stuck in a roar of booing heckles, an onslaught
Never slipping from a series of perpetual dream
Shut these lids again, restarting in a shallow stream
Running with aching legs amidst a forest, I am shot
A hunter hovers over me, to finish his prey I deem
A strange situation over and again, escape I could not
With the bang I take off again, sprinting on the spot
There is no ground below, I plummet from a height extreme
Anticipating the collision, pinching to change the plot
In the fabric of this woolgather, I couldn’t tear the seam
Is it over? Am I out of this self-induced figment regime
In a jolt and thud, I reach the cloth of bed that I’ve sought
A sigh of exhaustion and relief, I’m all out of steam
Bedding and pillows askew in the chaos that I brought
In a tossing and turning night.
June 6th, 2022
A RONDEAU REDOUBLE POEM Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: L MILTON HANKINS
I've been here since quarter past two
I've thought of nought else but you
I just want the chance to see
If this could work for you and me
When i'm with you i always smile
For you i'd walk the extra mile
Finding words to say is hard
I'm scared of letting down my guard
Just to show you i'd change my ways
I'll stop all habits in just one day
I'm fed up with living in the unknown
Lying in bed feeling so alone
I understand if you don't want the same
I will be the only one to blame
For letting you steal my heart
And using the chance to tear it apart.
What can I say about me that you can’t learn within a day?
I was born to be a hopeless romantic,
except I never have any romance in my life
I am a gentleman,
I take my chivalry seriously
I want someone to hold and never let go of,
I want someone who will be there
I want someone who will tell me everything will be okay
I want someone to hold my hand
I find myself surrounded by beautiful girls,
but they always seem to find happiness in somebody else
I’m great at reading the negative signs
I’m terrible at reading the positive ones
I always misinterpret friendship for attraction
or vice versa out of fear of rejection,
out of fear of being mistaken, yet again
I am always, just a friend
I am blessed with the best friends in the world
but, I fear, I might turn my back on them to some extent over a girl
I’m afraid my friends will disappear
finally realizing I’m not worth keeping
finally seeing what I see in myself
but, I hope and pray that they never do
Far too often I wonder
I wonder if I died, if anybody would really care?
I wonder if anybody would really miss me like they say they would were I not
there?
I’m smarter than I’ll admit,
but I still fear I’m not smart enough
I’m afraid I’ll never reach my goals
I’m afraid I’ll never graduate from college,
become a doctor,
meet that one special girl,
and start a family of my own
I’m afraid to let myself down,
but I’m even more afraid of letting down others
I am a people pleaser,
but I’m not sure if I ever really please many people
I like knowing what’s around the bend,
but I don’t enjoy monotony
or spoiled endings
I enjoy having fun,
but I enjoy being serious
I’m easily amused
but I hate stupid things
I write best when I’m depressed,
but I hate feeling that way
Yet I love writing so much,
I just can’t win
Pam
Mother, grandma, sister, and wife
Sister of Pat, Cori, and John
Lover of compassion, chocolate, and my family
Who feels pain, love, and hope
Who fears a shortage of chocolate, letting down my family, and not trying hard enough.
Who would like to see the earth healed, more compassion expressed, and Las Vegas.
Resident of Salem, Oregon
Deremer
Summer days
Just thinking of you
Just being alone
Not being blue
Going swimming
In a small lake
Thinking of love
Trying to bake
Watching the sun
Come up and go down
Signing my name
Wearing a gown
Calling my friends
Talking for hours
Making funny faces
Taking hot showers
Looking pretty
To go somewhere
Making strange noises
Letting down my hair
So, these I have loved
And will never forget
The games of love
The people I've met
Sheets and bolts of distant lightning
Backdropped by a blue gray sky
Rumbling thunder softly, deeply
As the steady pitter patter, pitter patter
Of rain on a tin roof fluctuating
Playing symphonies to the soul
With natural melodic choruses
And invitations to the Ancient dance
Of wind-driven clouds sweeping low
Whirling visions and peace of mind
To a captive audience within
Letting down their windows
Falling, lying with ears to the floor
As the rain echoes throughout the house
I am from day old make up, from hand me down clothes and sharpie covered arms.
I am from a dirt filled well and barefoot on gravel
I am from black and brown caterpillars to the landlord’s koi pond with orange and silver creatures nibbling on my toes
I am from unwanted yearly get togethers and harsh words and tears, from Tia and Lisa to uncle Ricky and the kids who are unfortunate enough to understand
I am from stuberness and bitterness with flashes of extreme bipolar
From “never letting down your walls” to “men are not to be trusted”
Well I have news, I didn't listen
I am from the trees, the water, the earth, the wind and the sun. I am from everything and will come back again and again, something new but always ignored
I am from Portland, land of addicts and freaks
Ramen noodles and sugar-less kool aid to grandma’s boiled over salted chicken with bisquick mushy dumplings
From the uncle who’s afraid to get close, the mom who is now finally trying to connect but will never be able to fix the static of our relationship to the aunt who does nothing but drown her problems with a bottle of whatever is on sale
I am from nowhere for I have been everywhere. the everywhere is nowhere. Home has never been a word used much, theres only rest stops
Sheds. trailers, friends beds and couches to the ground.
Life goes up and down, so I am from the waves of living, from doubt and open arms, from hands to hands, hiding in cracks.
I am from here.
We spent all month planning
The perfect surprise for you
Conspiring with your family and friends
To keep you from getting a clue
Keeping all this from you
Has been actually pretty hard
You always seem so aware of things
Never letting down your guard
With all of this excitement
It is you I wish I could tell.
But I’m so excited to see your face
When “Surprise!” is what we’ll yell
When you see all the streamers
And balloons all over the place
The beaming look I hope to see
Appear upon your face
The time and date have come for you
to walk through the front door
“Surprise!” we yell as loud as we can
Then stunned, you hit the floor.
6/25/2021
Don’t get tired
But ride
Spinning never hide
Soul, soar the game blindside
Built equipped like a freight train minimize
Size never be another like me
Dinosaurs extinct can’t stop destiny
Every thing in me released
The beast
Everything in me they’ll see
Grave couldn’t hold science class astronomy
Pass anomaly
Phase graced Tsunami
Covered grounds
Beats by the pound humbly
Hold history
Die empty
Taking everything off the shelf
Plenty left
Plenty to give
Gave a sample snippet still popping pills
Feelings passed the emotions test
Bold took over brought out the best
What rest
Time to get it done
Hold back for what when what is pushing out production
Raising arms letting down hammers
Gather note books pen cameras to capture
Moves never recorded before
Hold down every town wanting more
Score notes sing melodies from heavens door
Pore out painting canvas creative shore
Wave expecting hurricanes covering matters
Been ready
Been gunning down Safari scenes scatter
Splatter sheets of success
What rest the beast bench pressed the test
I see beneath your outer side
of toughened nails immune to hurt
where downy nature still descry
the empathy for which you thirst
Brave you face each day uproarious
your smile seldom giving way
through work bent down and often rigorous
no thought of what your burden weighs
You speak the truth and do what you say
In quiet quality of masculine grace
then play like a child who can't replace
exhaustion for the thrill of living today
I find myself lost in a stare
of disbelief beholding you
your colors revealed underneath
and the view is strikingly beautiful
Your like sunshine on my darkest days
on golden fields... the rain
the revelation of prayer, earnestly prayed
the kindred soul that will never be tamed
I used to look through tinted lens
that airbrushed imperfections
but on myself alone depend
unable to trust in intervention
You take the lead
then in patience teach
and still give me room to breath
humbly you take the place... of ground beneath my feet
We built our walls of protection so high
some came close but never climbed
but we see beneath the beautiful
and know the need of saying "I'm fine"
Safe to take off strengths facade
when love in action won't deny
letting down its trusted guard
saying... take it off I see inside
Inspired by "Beneath your Beautiful" (by: Labrinth)
I've always had satin coated dreams. I always believed blindly in love,
romanticism and such and never wondered what it means.
I wanted romeo to win juliet and applauded his valor in the end. I wanted snow
white to be discovered by her prince and wondered why the witch was so mean.
I loved the of repunzel letting down her golden hair. In an effort to lead her
prince to the love that awaited him there!
So my dreams of love had very little to do with time or place. It was more looks
and space.
It was a dream born when I was a very young girl. So being idealistic is not a bad
trait to have in todays world.
So you don't have to be gorgeous and you don't even need money. All I require
for you to bask in my glow is love and you can share my land of milk and honey.
I read in the news the other day,
Believe this if you can.
We should have a gingerbread person,
And not a gingerbread man.
Yes, things should now be genderless,
In order to avoid the flack,
Should anyone be offended,
When buying a gingery snack.
When it snows, don’t build a snowman,
Avoid the ladybird,
No, if you’re vexed by the gender of biscuits
I don’t think you should be heard.
If upset by a Portuguese Man of War,
Then I hope it’s because you’ve been stung.
Not because it shouldn’t be male.
Please just watch your tongue.
So sheep must be feminine,
According to your rule.
Or maybe they’re just sheep after all,
And you’re really just a fool?
Do you avoid mannequins?
Their manly name make you sad?
Or do you try not to be happy,
For a male is contained in ‘glad’?
Manchester must surely be added,
To your list of masculine foes.
But it also contains ‘chest’,
And we all have one of those.
In this scary world of ours,
With so many keen to divide.
We must choose our battles wisely,
And then fight them with pride.
We must support those who need us,
Targeted for who they are.
For their race, religion or who they love,
And we must re-set the bar.
Equality, yes! Ridiculousness, no!
There is a much larger war,
And everyone should have the same chances of life,
However they are born.
I think it’s clear to most of us,
That it’s really very drastic,
And we must act now to prevent the planet…
… from drowning in a sea of plastic.
I cannot fathom how so many treat
Our fauna and our flora,
In a world where so much is advancing,
Our planet is getting poorer.
The world is going weird on us,
And should it be deemed fussy,
When a woman has to ask…
… that she is not grabbed by her pussy?
And the UK is struggling too;
Do we leave or do we remain?
Just tell us of the final deal,
And let us vote again.
We’re letting down the NHS,
The sick, the lonely, the old.
And I think wealth is skewed beyond belief,
If I may be so bold.
So when choosing your battles in future,
I really wouldn’t risk it.
Nobody has time for someone,
Who’s offended by a biscuit.
Once upon a time there lived an anxious girl,
Family, friends, and photography were her world,
With a heart that has been damaged yet is still made of pure gold,
Willing to give her soul to the world so that no one will ever have to be cold,
Anyone want my soul? SOLD.
I guess you could call me young and bold,
But why would a 21 year old want to sell her soul?
Such a selfless act so that the world wouldn’t have to be cold.
Once upon a time there lived a girl who loved too hard,
She was reluctantly tricked into letting down her guard,
By the time she realized it they were already way too far.
Once upon a time that same girl fell in love,
She’s spent 6 months going on 7 with her beloved,
Thus this is not what the ideal fairy tales are made of.
That moment I felt like I couldn't breathe.
Everything I felt and thought left me.
My mind and soul, suffocating.
The very minute the phone started ringing.
Just a blink in my eye, you had vanished.
The desperation I felt, couldn't stand it.
Never know how the hell I will manage.
No mending this depth of damage.
It's been unstable for me since you been gone.
No matter how many drugs that I been on.
None of them ever numbed this pain.
It's just to strong.
Wish I could have said my 'So long'.
I'm sorry if I failed you now.
Things have been rough since you ain't around.
The songs I heard no longer make a sound.
Never thought I'd hit the ground,
rock bottom,
I was meant for space bound.
I wonder this Earth now so lonely.
Feeling a lot like I'm the only,
one who understands or even cares,
to even know me.
I wear this heavy burden.
Smile while I'm hurting.
Act as though I can manage,
then cry as my back is turning.
Maybe I should seek some therapy.
In a nut house is where I'd be.
You see.
I'm ashamed to be grieving.
In fear of letting down your legacy.
All the 'sympathetic' 'love' I would be getting.
Would set me off,
end up in house fires,
I'd probably be setting.
I know you wouldn't be to shocked at this.
If it was your's that is missed,,
you'd feel this twist.
When your heart doesn't just break it shatters.
Into a thousand micro pieces,
then like that, black confetti,
Your emotionally scattered.
Battered, tattered, feeling like the mad hatter.
And as time goes on,
I become madder and madder.
Wishing I could go back in time,
just to hear your laughter.
It fades like a record,
from the good old days,
scratchy, and warped,
the more I try to make it play.
I know it will never sound the same.
Wish you could see how far I've came.