Best Live Poems
POTW 12th May 2019
Thank you for visiting my third Visual Video Poem, more or less a continuation of my previous poem – ‘The Dreamer’
(I invite you to view the complete production effects and the superb narration by Kelvin on the video above)
I LIVE FOR THE DAY when faith in ourselves will unshackle old beliefs
I LIVE FOR THE DAY belief in The One Spiritual Energy will be redeemed
I LIVE FOR THE DAY that armed conflict against so-called enemies
Is declared pointless and therefore unnecessary will be deemed
I LIVE FOR THE DAY when wizened skin a thing of beauty will be perceived
Our elders revered and adhered
Their words of wisdom respected and believed
I LIVE FOR THE DAY when people will recognise the power of natural curing
And not be influenced by the greedy Pharmaceutical manipulating
I LIVE FOR THE DAY when equality by all will be shared
Power segregation abolished ~ racial discrimination repaired
I LIVE FOR THE DAY when schools will encourage children’s gifts and abilities
Rather than stick to outdated systems that stifles innovation and possibilities
I LIVE FOR THE DAY when Man will adapt to our Earth a more reverent conservation
Our steadfast purpose toward environmental change
And Mother Nature becomes our commitment to her preservation
I LIVE FOR THE DAY …
By Maria Williams
Copyright © Maria Williams
Video arrangement, production, direction
and compilation:
Ron Williams
Video editing, sound mixing, graphics:
Jayne Hartano
(Our very own Lariese.com Art Director)
Voice over:
Kelvin
Music:
Our Future
Composer:
Peder B. Helland
POTW 12th May 2019
I learn to live
with the silence.
Thoughts echo
in the empty house.
I transform your room
into my space,
place
candles and shells
on the windowsill.
Your books are still
on the shelves –
old friends
who keep me
company
and speak of you.
August 13, 2018
When Do We Start To Live
Collaboration poem: Space Cadet and Darren White
Voice: Wesley C.
How do I know we’ve lived?
If you’re certain then tell me when?
When? When have I lived?
Do I live now?
Is it the tap-tap of my hand against the window;
the drum played by my fingers on the chair?
Is it the slowed back-beat, or the snare drum speed,
under your hand at rest,
on my chest,
in this 2 AM discotheque.
How do we know we’ve lived?
Is it a faint notion, or
movement in my legs:
A lotus reed on my calves
I'd never felt until it tickled me?
How do I know I’m still alive?
Is it when the ice-blue swaddles
me in abyss, of
inky darkness?
Or when I’m a borne flutter of this butterfly
crinkled away in my chest
cavity?
Or as sun rays play
with light and words that tumble,
crumble, and fall to pieces,
in their own stubborn way,
here,
on this paper?
Is it found in a friend’s voice
that pulls me from dark,
penetrates a radiance inward,
up from me, out,
to my face,
ablaze with why I'm here to exist?
“Not enjoyment, and not sorrow;
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than today.”
A Psalm of Life, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Because I live, I am me, avid voice among the free,
Flexing freedom, defining contours of my dreams,
Ambling life’s prairies, rowing life’s eager streams,
Braving challenges, eying serene, hosting sublime,
Purposefully furthering life, with every tick of time.
Curious, conscious of the mortal world, I am aware,
Amplifying empathy, nurturing amiability, I care;
Not prone to seek hurdles, when faced I will dare
Maneuvering around the detours on life’s highway
So tomorrow would shine, upon my brumous day.
Witnessing travails faced, wishing for a fairer way,
Vying hope of rising dawn, exiting night of dismay,
Resembling urge of spring rooting in wintry decay,
Aspiring to a kinder world, short of goal, yet I wait,
To pluck fruits of morrow, negotiating course of fate.
April 12, 2023
Because I Live Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Mystic Rose Rose
Just because your voice reaches halfway around the world doesn't mean you are wiser than when it reached only to the end of the bar.
Edward R. Murrow
don't teach me how to think
when all I want to know
is how to live
a self-crowned sparrow perches up on high
a song he sings slowly swirls the storms
as if life itself weren't already wrong
like him, extols are the only norm
fly now where the cliffs are bare
where sullen is your sacred air
for beats of the heart dare move
under undue distress
fly away now where the nest is neat
and fledglings fall upon your feats
rise me with a ruse of wit
where simple doesn't merely fit
with trills of tripe and finer grit
something fresh and neatly writ
I don't need your force fed fodder
I need to live or why even bother
WHERE THE CITY FOLK LIVE
At the confluence of the cultures
Where the politics ebb and flow
The tide of humanity crashes
Against their collective soul
The spires of religions
And posters of beliefs
Crush against each other
Through the weave of city streets
Registered colours of commerce
And trade mark tags of youth
Line the valleys of glass and steel
On floor, and wall, and roof
The constant clangs of progress
Idle growls of restricted motion
Drift across the green spaces
Invading every moment
The scent of communal sweat
Wafts upon the breeze
From the fires of exotic dishes
And the fumes of commercial needs
Feel free to swim the city
Frolic in the human flow
But be aware of the waves that break
Against your precious soul
I need more lives for me to live
In this universe of beauty;
I plan more days to find new ways
Of doing freedom's duty.
I need not more joy than this
For I am life's dear lover;
And when I wage to turn the page
I'd never want another.
The glorious pledge of sunny Spring
With sweet June coming after;
Bring autumn sighs and summers cries
Lost in winter's laughter.
With virgin moons and scorching noon’s
And stars of a thousand nights;
I'd need no heaven if love be given
With all its sweet delights.
There are many splendors for the eye
And such music for the ear;
The mind would reel with all to feel
And see to touch and hear.
There's many ways to spend the days
And more to do what's kind;
For bread now cast on waters past
Returns again I find.
There are such gifted souls to know
And many more to learn;
While a promise rests in earth's warm breast
And unknown stars still burn.
In six days God made all the earth
The bible is known to say;
Six lives I need to plant a seed
Of love with one for each dear day.
But sad if love should fly away
Or hide his face from me;
Six lives aren’t much if I had such
But one’s all that need be.
With unhappy May and sorry June
Sad dawns and weary night;
A sorry world through space was hurled
When love had lost her light.
“Who will not open a gift given with love? Life is a gift, own it, open it and treasure it.”
_ By Poet
God has breathed life into me, and I live.
To make this life as fruitful as I can, I shall strive.
Life is a blessing, a treasure to cherish
I should make it a celebration with every moment to relish
Though life is one of ups and downs with sorrows rife,
With perseverance, I shall try to overcome every strife.
Life is a precious gift we can never forsake.
It is a journey uphill, we must all undertake.
Though life is a roller coaster ride with twists and turns
There is so much in life, each one ardently yearns
Even amid struggles, one can savor the beauty of living
It lies in the art of forgiving and in the joy of giving
In learning new things, in aiming at new heights
In relishing new scenes and in savoring new delights
Every day I take a new step, a new chance,
To improve the quality of my life, its worth enhance.
With a beacon of warmth and a touch of grace,
We can light up lives and bring a smile on many a face.
I wish I could fulfill my purpose, to light up the dark
To make a difference in some lives and leave a mark.
As long as I live, I should see the power within,
To love, to learn, to grow, to strive and to win.
April.12.2023
Because I Live Poetry Contest
Sponsor- Mystic Rose Rose
"I have lived thousands, thousands and thousands of days;
I have loved a hundred loves or more;
I have written thousands and thousands of words;
And this has been enough. "
Quote by _ Constance
Because I live- I have been able
to help my parents who loved me well
in their last days
I have been that arm that cradled their heads
that hand that held theirs
in a final breath
Because I live- God has blessed me
given me this gift of words
and I am ever grateful
to be able to pen my pain
and if my sorrow can help a single person
my purpose is done
Because I live- I have God and Jesus
in my life and they are my path
they have filled me with kindness
compassion and giving
and their heavenly light
shines from me
Because I Live- and did not die
many times along my journey
I have been able to touch many a life
with my words, poetry and pen
with inspiration
and who can ask for more
Because I live- I met true love
the most amazing man
beautiful in face, heart, soul, and mind
and though his destiny was short
and his home is a heavenly one
I will love him forever
Live Or Die, You Couldn't Do Both
Upon that dark ground, life was bloody and blue
all dark mists brought more than was due.
Dusty storms, blew about with black hands of Fate
lost as hurt seemed to escalate.
Within hidden shrouds, nights ate sad, dying souls
you cried within odd rhythmic rolls.
Never again, never again, your sworn oath
live or die, you couldn't do both.
Crying for rest on that spirit-eating ground
dancing along but with no sound.
Whenever that rare day's gleaming sun did shine
you grabbed it fierce, saying its mine.
Greatest of dreams was life would find saving lights
hope shown, banishing blackest nights.
Robert J. Lindley, 11-13-2016
Sonnet form, Lin 11, 8 ...
Poem Syllable Counter Results
Syllables Per Line: 11 8 11 8 0 11 8 11 8 0 11 8 11 8 0 11 8
Total # Syllables: 133
Total # Lines: 17 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically: N/A
Total # Words: 102
let me live in each moment
and feel the whispering of an endless love,
as it holds me silently in its warm embrace . .
- i am captivated -
simply swept away, by your amazing grace
it happened once upon a time,
in the harmony of words;
as the playful touch of a gentle breeze -
touched all of me,
i am free
and my heart found peace in the soothing symphony,
of everlasting bliss-
yes, my world cradles around you
so let me live in your heart forever,
and these tiny seconds that caress;
the whispering of an endless love
__________
~ because i want to be your everything ~
* a little romantic scribble *
Authors note: Endless Love - the piano version I had playing while I wrote this, as it set a beautiful mood for me. While reading these words, it needs to be playing in the background. Only if you choose to, you don't have to.
Also, there are many poems that I have written that are my favorite. This is one of them.
I like writing in lower case sometimes, as it is like a whisper upon the page.
Up high on our soul’s trapeze
we tire of the bar we hold
but we find it hard to release our known.
Eyeing the free bar of full potential,
we wish to air dive, then faith-catch that swing
so we may fly to where our allure roves.
All crave heights something in us sights.
Here comes, now nears, the free bar
we thoroughly want to grab,
but fear paralyzes all dreams we have.
We tell ourselves what convinces ourselves
to stay put, we count the reasons we should:
"there’s no way it could work out;
not with the balance in my bank account;
I'm too body sorry and old for dating;
I’m so tiny they won’t want me playing;
If I joined, problems would just stack;
Not without good health that I lack;
Trying would just lead to more crying.
Many angels tend God’s blessing warehouse,
some dusting boxes of blessings bearing names
of those who felt they deserved no claim.
When faith lacked so did dust thick stack.
Father stressed pressed,
promised abundance,
yet many clutch less
and name it their best.
Such believing may weave soul regret debt
for our depth knows we were made to love, not fret.
When I’m in glee of your alluring smile
As you gaze merrily ebullience of dawn
Caressing blush of emerging sunrise
Scintillating fervor upon magenta arc
Whispering gingerly to budding revelry
Strolling in morning’s flowery breeze
Creating your own moments of intimacy
Ignoring plea of my romantic appeal,
If only I could be that spectacular sun
Whose arrival you await so longingly;
May be, I too, can live in your dream.
When somber moods reign the night
And darkened clouds shroud horizon
I hear the clamor of dissonant vibes
Speaking boldly, yet saying nothing
Awaiting silently for glimmer of light
Exuberating luminance of galactic arena
Where, in its adoration you feel lost,
If only I could be that brightest of stars
Twinkling for you from heavens above
And touch like it does your fervid aura;
May be, I too, can conquer your heart.
When face of your winter turns harsh
Thrashing snowfall in freezing storms
You seek relief from autumn’s reveries
Reminiscing in zeal of crimson prairies
Nostalgic in colors of passionate alacrity
Rejecting emptiness of frozen vagaries
Eyeing instead for enchanting greenery,
If only I could be your spring’s ballad
In lyrics that arouse pulses of desires
Elevating harmony in rhythms of harp;
May be, I too, can seduce your song.
Sometimes you tell me, I’m your dream
Sometimes you say, you own my heart
Sometimes you vow, you are my song--
As the dream and the song live on and on…
August 4, 2020
Placed 2nd: If only, may be, sometimes poetry contest
Sponsor: Silent One
Racism, ageism, sexism, name it!
If there was tech-ism, we’d have to game it
Why should the pattern of reckless decision
Further a hate based on sex or religion
Why not let love and let live be your “ism”
Spreading its beauty like light through a prism
Loveism, likeism, careism, make it!
After a while, you would not have to fake it
What if our would had no isms at all
Changing the course of our strange little ball
Love and let live and leave others alone
Foster the greatest true love ever known
Cinnamon and apple fill the air
Scent of Gram's famous pie
Warm fire roaring in the hall
Music turned up for all to hear
"Vivo per lei da quando sai
La prima volta l’ho incontrata,
Non mi ricordo come ma
Mi è entrata dentro e c’è restata.
Vivo per lei perché mi fa
Vibrare forte l’anima,
Vivo per lei e non è un peso.
Vivo per lei anch’io lo sai
E tu non esserne geloso,
Lei è di tutti quelli che
Hanno un bisogno sempre acceso,
Come uno stereo in camera,
Di chi è da solo e adesso sa,
Che è unico per lui, per questo
Io vivo per lei....."
Thoughts of you ring in my mind
Playing the music in my soul
A burning desire
Making my heart beat strong
Vivo per lei
I live for her
My warmth, my breath, my soul
Taking my lonely
Making it whole
My heartbeat, my strength, my home
From the depths of my heart
to your soul
My vision, my meaning, my know
Even though far, we really are near
Oceans apart but I feel your touch
Sweet music is all that I hear
Whispering I love you so much
*** "Vivo per lei" by Andrea Bocelli ***