Best Longer Poems
When dawn's blush of light eclipses the moon
And afternoons find meadows sprinkled with dew
When I view willows smiling instead of weeping
And the keeping of promises is no longer a prize
When artist's eyes see only hues of sepia and gray
And the Milky Way abandons its billions of stars
That is when I will say, "I no longer love you"
And my heart will perish in saddest adieu
***
When my pen is lost, and my ink well runs dry
And the sky fills with clouds of yellow daffodils
When chills from the sun freezes over the seas
And bees create pollen and flowers make honey
When agony and love have been clearly defined
And my mind does not hold you in each thought
That is when my heart will no longer love you
And life will have no meaning in a world askew
***
When songbirds stop singing in harmonic trills
And heathered hills have lost their sweet scent
When fermented grapes become a bitter wine
And the shine in my eyes dulls when I see you
When a view of sunset does not leave me awed
And God turns his face from a repentant sinner
That is when I will say I don't love you any more
And oceans waves of blue will no longer rush ashore
***
2022 Poetry Marathon Mile 25 Contest
Sponsored by Mark Toney
July 25, 2017 ~ Romantic Contest Write
Sponsored by John Hamilton
From outfield judging eyes await your plight,
though sweat and stupor feign to your ruin.
Now pull up your trousers, cinch your belt tight...
glaring down from mound, pitch straight and proven.
Blurred ball unleashed, pitcher's swift arm uncoiled...
tho' bat be av'rage, the batter may not.
Cauldron-like blood boiled, fever'd swing loyal,
now away to skies, all eyes on prized swat.
Faithfully she watched from merciful stands,
clouds roll away from fancy, fated rush.
His chance to meet life, alone in her hands,
though startled by a bat's powerful crush.
Will you strike true in life's bewilder'g plan,
carried on shoulders of heavenly fans?
I will no longer look for you
in the setting of the sun,
or in the breeze that sways the trees
when the tired day is done
I will no longer look for you
in the Milky Way so bright,
or in the glitter of the stars
on velvet of the night
I will no longer look for you
in the rosy streaks of dawn,
when nature wakes and the dew breaks
in diamonds on the lawn
I will no longer look for you
in the weeping willow tree
whose branches graze my shoulders bare
with touch of constancy
I will no longer look for you
in clouds that sail the sky
like wanderers, adventure bound
who simply pass me by
I will no longer look for you
beside the sun kissed shore
where wanting waves lap at my feet,
and pleasure waits once more
I will no longer look for you
in every passing crowd.
Although the banter flows around,
my heart keeps my head bowed
I will no longer look for you
when darkness bids me sleep
I'll close my eyes and dream a dream
where I am loved so deep
So know this painful truth I share:
My searching days are through.
Because you never looked for me,
I will not look for you
Eileen Manassian
That other world
is out there, beyond the quiet
I keep bubbled around me,
the noise growing louder along
the flag strewn streets,
banging drums marshaling
the inflamed minds of the masses.
Something has gone wrong.
I no longer feel I belong.
I keep my door closed
and curtains drawn to shut out
the anger from a passing mob,
reinforce the boundaries of my home
with walls of books. They have
marched through and littered
all the lovely places
where I once walked, covered
beauty with garish signs.
Something has gone wrong.
I no longer feel I belong.
Out there, all seems to be
of no worth unless shackled
to a cause. Tribal camps yell
obscenities across the lines
of division and commandeer
their gods to mouth
a sanctioned hate.
Something has gone wrong.
I no longer feel I belong.
And what can I do
but play with a frail voice
and think of what could be
and on dark days,
take hope and defiance
in the gentle arms
of Emily Dickinson's poetry.
There is a time
When all a person can feel is pain
It becomes hard to contain
All the crying from the ache deep inside
You felt all alone
As if you had no friends
To call your own
It seemed that all this would never end
But then
When you least expected
Right when you needed it most
There were people there for you
Friends to call your own
The real true kind
Someone to get through the hard times
And stay by your side
And someone to have fun with
And make memories that will remind you
That you are no longer alone
~1/31/2018
If Death should call, let me go free;
it is only Heaven beckons me.
If I should step beyond the veil
of sight and sound and voice, all is well;
I shall be glad to place my head
beneath the sod with other dead.
My spirit will not linger there
but float on myriad colored air
and dip its wings over twinkling stars
and ride the moon's bright, silver car.
At last my yearning soul will know,
forever ceased its worldly woe.
If Death comes, do not robe in black
as if you want my spirit back;
I would not want your soul to grieve
nor stand here desolate, bereaved.
I shall be glad at last to go;
rejoice with me who wished it so.
It is not a morbid, ghastly thought
but one in Grace and Glory wrought.
For just beyond life's ebbing sea,
beyond earth's pain and agony,
I dimly see the other shore
where I shall live forevermore.
Death shall but serve to chauffeur me
from galaxy to Galaxy.
His fingers do not clutch and tear
the soul from one who does not fear;
that soul is borne up in his arms
in ecstasy, without alarms.
Death will not be my dreaded fate:
He is Heaven's opening gate.
Copyright, 1987, Faye Gibson
My eyes were sorely struck when once they perceived
verity in your insightful words. Oh, how they grieved
when you chose to kneel low enough to kiss the ring
of a cunning being, whose unmerited praises you sing
My ignorance would have been a cliched state of bliss
if I'd not stumbled into great depth of a poetic abyss
'Twas with bitter regret that I unveiled your charade
No longer do I doubt the crux of a contrived crusade
With prudence and humble nature, you oft' disclosed
but a false facade was revealed and hubris exposed
As a poet you declared compassion and a meek heart
but sold your feeble soul for the nod of a counterpart
Poet, I hungrily supped at the banquet of your lines
but a person's integrity is one that genuinely defines
human value. From reading you, I refrain and eschew
Aware of your pretexts, I know what motivates you
*You may think I only post something on PS when I have a gripe, and I have when I've felt it was warranted. It's your right to believe what you will. My recent posts prove otherwise, but after very recently reading something that touched my heart in a sadly profound way, I chose to write about it instead of trying to forget that I saw the words. Writing has always been a means of comfort, solace and closure. This write serves as a dissolution for me.
When Sweet And Soft Morn No Longer Calls Out,
Dedicated to my dear friend, Connie Marcum Wong
When heart is broken, ocean is drained
All becomes sad-blue, all life is stained
Dawn brings epic sorrows, no real relief
Ripped and torn, shattered some beliefs
Midnight moon casts down that terrible blue
Everything sad even shining new.
When heart is broken, ocean is drained
All becomes sad-blue, all life is stained
When sweet and soft morn no longer calls out
And life cries for hope, with dark mourning shout
Hours flow forth like whimpering aches of day
All the green blades of grass seem morbid gray
Hurt promises to let other shoe drop
And mind wonders shall this agony stop.
Robert J, Lindley, 9-14-2022
Sonnet
Born from a poet's heart that has seen too much sorrow and loss.
Dedicated to those lost. And to my dear friend Connie Marcum.
I truly think she would have loved this one.
As she saw the merits in sad, dark and truth in life should be represented in poetry.
Part Three of the Sixth poet honored
(Emily Dickinson) in famous poets dedication series
(3.)
From Weeping Tears, No Longer Shall Joy Find In Heart Anything
Creeping thick fog has dimmed my view of morn's resplendent lake
so dreary is life's sorrows, more than this sad soul can take
yet tomorrow promises mysteries that leap from the dark
tho' my life's worries have wrinkled my skin like Sycamore bark.
Night shall come, with its agonies crying to be unbound
as its bellowing howls screech out, horrendous gasping sounds
very soon midnight moon will swallow up my despondent soul
spitting it out as fragmented black-stained pieces of the whole!
God forbid! That from this nightmare I never dare to wake
to that of Life, dear sweet Love, I never again partake
and from morbid sunken state, my heart crumble and be no more
fallen into heaps of crushed bones, spilled blood and ghastly gore!
Woe! The epic pains such broken-heart images dare'st tonight bring
From weeping tears, no longer shall joy find in heart anything.
Robert J. Lindley, 2- 12-2019
Sonnet, ( The Sad Depths Of Sorrow's Deep Epic Pains)
dedicated to Emily Dickinson, poets dedication series..
(4.)
There's More To The Old Forest Than Its Ancient Trees
As years are peeled back, this gladden heart now truth sees
there's more to the old forest than its ancient trees
mystery in places, savagery in its nights
more than just imagination, it hides from sight!
Yet such does not negate its most beautiful gifts
its Autumn colors, songbirds notes that so uplifts
bounty of its harvests, peace it oft can instill
calm that one may find there, treasures that oft so thrill.
Tho' darkness lurks there deep and hides its evil ways
one can visit its truth, find self most any day
walk along its well worn trails and about life muse
all of its many wonders, in this dark world use!
As years are peeled back, this gladden heart now truth sees.
There's more to the old forest than its ancient trees.
Robert J. Lindley, 1- 18-2019
Sonnet, ( Amazing That This Dark World, Has Such Beauty In Its Forests)
dedicated to Emily Dickinson, in poet dedication series
Note:
(1.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Dickinson
(2.)
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/emily-dickinson
He was the child that did not smile, or live
or breath, towards his death he did not look
as though he had the time to duck and dive
he was taught to live or die by the book
Bruised and battered in a dishevelled state
hiding in corners wrapped only in tears
he, deprived of love, a child they did hate
starved of food, under the stairs, hiding fears
Then justice stepped in and took him away
to a home full of love, fun and laughter
in that tormented life he could not stay
as one so young he could not look after
He grew into a man without a care
Adopted a child, saved them from despair.
©1/3/2014
Shackled
Deprived of freedom then held as a slave
mental torture, in every race and creed
trapped in a void, while trying to be brave
inside looking out, a broken heart bleeds
Tormented, abused, while home is their jail
shunned by a partner and tainted with lies
no contact with friends including no mail
then pushed to the brink each day they despise
Whispered sweet nothings, then captured by love
charmed to the alter, their vows they both read
the cracks appear, as does a boxing glove
sentenced to life for an innocent deed
With prayer and patience they will be released
A living hell at the hands of a beast.
Affluent and formal
pink lilies deck the tables;
we await the
sweet, affected
laughter of our friends.
Bedecked in bouffant hair-do's
perfumes, ermines, jewels
brocades and buckled shoes,
we dazzle, yes! We dazzle
with our mirrors, and our decals,
our precious art, and plaster,
exotic candelabras,
but I can't wait to make my
exit to wander in the gardens
and let the scented air restore
my soul
To get completely
lost in moonlight and
fragrance of the night
never to return,
to that balcony, nor
endure, the boring empty twitter
that temporary glitter.
I can barely wait till daylight to
mount my noble horse
and gallop miles and miles
and miles away.
To feel the solid earth resound
beneath his flying feet.
I have crossed that fragile threshold
into madness.
I can no longer be a Duchess
Suzanne Delaney
Sleepless nights
Held myself tight
All alone
I’m on my own
Tell me you love me
Tears down my face
Throwing myself all over the place
Filled with anger filled with hate
Why did I leave my heart to break?
You knew what you were doing
You never ever cared
I’m stone cold sober
Disaster in the air
No more love
No more tears
No more phone calls
No more fears
No more kisses
No more hugs
Because my heart no longer bleeds for you
It will never bleed for anyone else *sigh*
Heart breaks happen to everyone but remember there is always light at the tunnel
I believe because we fit so well my love,
Love was foreign now you're my heart’s song.
You made me believe you're a gift from above.
Before you, my love my life was all wrong.
I’d listen to your confessions all night long,
I’m utterly happy to be your loving wife.
In your loving arms is where I belong,
I’m grateful that you are a part of my life.
My love, we mesh together like hand and glove,
I could never doubt our love, it's solid and strong.
You are so gentle and you don’t push or shove,
I’m so glad we met that night in Hong Kong.
On that sweet day loves wings came along,
I didn’t believe in fate until I found you.
Sweetheart in your presence folk just throng,
I’m grateful that you are a part of my life.
All of your touches are gentle as a dove,
You take me to new heights, my Armstrong.
Life with you is more than I dreamed of,
I’m no longer a wayward vagabond.
Honey, we have such a remarkable bond,
We’ve had ups and downs but not much strife.
My heart and yours will always correspond,
I’m grateful that you are a part of my life.
12/24/2021
Contest: “B'' Forms, 10 Plus Lines
Sponsor: Constance La France
No longer seen nor heard
No visits nor calls
Not involved or included
Feeling insignificant and small
Out of sight , out of mind….invisible
Treated as such
Past your expiry date
No longer required…..out of touch
Do not let others ignorance define you
You do not need them to feel complete or whole
Always remember YOUR value and worth
Live your life for YOU as that is what you control
He is caught between one life and another
while my pain lengthens like a shadow of the moon
We are like leaves, played with by the wind
O lengthening dark vision
reaching across our lives
It came, at last, without a sound...
his leave taking came without a word,
but we both heard it in the silence....
His world is in the palm of his hand
and my world is this moment that does not move
O furtuna, sternit fortem
O furtuna, rota tu volubillis
Never was he mine, never was he not mine
The child, no longer, child that bends and sways
My eyes reflect the clouds upon the sky
for he reaches out a hand upon my crown
and I feel the gentle warmth upon my head
A knowing hand of man, not boy, that once I vowed to keep
must leave and know that I will weep
as if I am the child, ....not he,...instead
O fortuna, velut luna
Statu variabillis, semper crescis, aut decrescis;
I force a smile, and watch him fly away
Quod per sortem .... Sternit fortem,
never was he mine, never was he not mine
-----------------------------------
For Deb's Contest: Bi-Lingual
Latin translated
----
O Fortuna (O Fortune)
Velut luna (like the moon)
Statu variabilis (you are changeable)
Semper crescis (ever waxing)
Aut decrescis; (and waning;)
Quod per sortem (since Fate)
Sternit fortem, (strikes down the string)
Rota tu volubilis, (you whirling wheel)
Corde pulsum tangite; (pluck the vibrating strings;)
Quod per sortem (since Fate)
Sternit fortem, (strikes down the string)