Best Mannerly Poems
In years gone by, folks didn’t like to say
God’s name to show surprise or great dismay,
and so you would hear “Goodness,“ “Gol” and “Gee,“
and also euphemisms for J.C.
Jiminy Cricket! Doesn’t that sound nice?
Jeepers Creepers, Jason Crisp or Cheese and Rice?
Godfrey Daniel! Surely you know that
is slang for God and “God rot it” is “Drat!”
“Oh my gosh,” “My goodness,” or simply “Lord”
replaced expletives that today come poured
from mouths of kids who can’t be mannerly
to just say “Leapin‘ Lizards“ or “Golly Gee!”.
You’ll hear (for damning something with God’s name),
“Dag nabbit” and “Dad gum.” They might seem tame
but fit the bill and give us a small thrill!
But dang it, why would someone say “Sam Hill?”
Words from the Holy Bible we enjoy
employing when we say Holy Moley,
Holy cow, Judas Priest (but WAIT!)
For Pete’s Sake! How did Judas ever rate?
Great Scott, there’s even Jumpin’ Jehosophat!
How the HECK did they ever come up with that?
By Jove, I’m nearly finished. Now pretty please. . . .
Instead of using Christ’s name, just say Jeeeeez!
Written July 26, 2015
The Supper Table
by D.A. Brooks
Steam rising, sifting through
The kitchen air that we once knew.
Collards, peas and sweet iced tea,
Hoping they'd save some for me.
Sliced tomatoes, juicy red
Triangle cuts of hot cornbread
The smells from days so long ago
Still linger in my head you know.
Golden chicken, crispy fried
Countless veggies on the side
Knowing if we cleaned our plate
Our prize a slice of caramel cake.
The nine of us sat 'round each day
Waiting for a prayer to say
Then mannerly, we'd pass each dish
"A leg for me" was what I wished.
Now years have passed the four of us
Can fellowship and oft' discuss
Those simple times, those happy times
Those Momma, Daddy, Aunt Ruby times.
Now loud and laughing, fam'ly fables,
Around that supper table.
Betwixt our deceptive connection
Lies told, to always end in
I’ll never have a profound perspective
As my skepticism results in your grin
When our paths crossed
Like two sailboats in a panoramic sea
I believed you were mannerly
Though, sprouted unexpectedly was your immorality
My standpoint was already set
My conception was that you’d abet
To all the curves, bumps, and facets of me
Though you’d never devote to me
You’d only break me to debris
Every word transmitted from your “soul”
Carried no true sentimental worth
Yet I believed you, over my mind you had control
Desiring for your concealed lies to rebirth
Lies and gas-lighting were brought upon me
Despite your affectionate expressions
I thought truth be told, that I was free
But I’m now trapped under your early impressions
Doubting and doubting your false affection
Perhaps you don’t know how to express emotion?
But deep inside, I know that’s untrue
That I’m just someone to be used, at least to you
Though acceptance is quite challenging for me
I’m unsure of why I still trust you
As you treat me like nobody
Though these lies will forever pursue.
How mysteriously mythical
And mystical you look
Magnificently minute
Maritime majestic migrants
More than marginally manic
Mesmerizing meanderers
Masterpieces
Peacefully going about
Your business
Magical make-believe
Monarchs of the sea
Upright and elegant
In your mannerly march
Moonstruck prone to
Misfortunes and misadventures
Oft mostly monologuing
In monotonous monotony
Mediocrely misconstruing
Mischievous mongrels
And misconceiving misplayed
Merciless minutiae
But merry merciful
Momentous messengers of love
Marketable motive and
Mission to mirthfully mate
You mavericks matched
To mettlesome mistresses
Masqueraded maroon
From menacing mercenaries
Marvelously masterful
Is your mimed courtship dance
Mellifluous entwining
Matrimonial love embraces
Mounting and moving
Mimicking moody miscreance
Swaying to measureless
Maudlin melancholic melodies
Monopolizing methodical
Momentum and motion
A meticulously modulated
Mellow match of merging
A most memorable metaphysical
Millennium melodrama
AP: 1st place 2022, Honorable Mention 2022, Honorable Mention 2020
Submitted on April 16, 2018 for contest SEAHORSES sponsored by JULIA WARD - RANKED 5TH
Estrangement is an empty house that brings us loneliness,
mining poems from deep within, a frantic frenzied prayer;
and problems soon confront us that we simply must address.
Tweak the score and rob the store as details you finesse,
the truth is like a putty that you shape instead of share.
Estrangement is an empty house that brings us loneliness,
Wishing not to board upon the hermitage express,
you take a route that’s mannerly and all would think is fair,
and problems soon confront us that we simply must address.
Attempting to be forthright you produce a squalid mess,
thinking that you’ve lost it ALL brings forth an eerie scare.
Estrangement is an empty house that brings us loneliness,
Clinging to your ego you conceive a passive guess,
skirting all around the fact that in your heart you care,
and problems soon confront us that we simply must address.
Being drained and out of synch bring worry and distress,
shrouding soul with ragged cloak of weft and warp despair.
Estrangement is an empty house that brings us loneliness,
and problems soon confront us that we simply must address.
Through the bank account
over painted naivety
it is so intense just to be here
between look and expectation
knowing
I'm just one step from alighting
to be
your personal abyss
afford me completeness
in the same way that
high ranked husband
of well polished wife
pays to a prostitute
by the sadness of creator
using the silk ribbon
you are compressing my foot
(praying that it will stop the growth as the way you'll keep me yours )
I promise that I'll learn:
- to wash my hands in that lemon juice after finishing the portion of high quality
shrimps
- I won't applause in that gap between two arias
- I will pull on that poker face when your hand suddenly leaves mine while we're
standing in the street and you are asking me for an address as you are lost ....
sorry sir I can't help you, I am not from here
with naive faith-
secret is easier to bear in two-
piece of paper
adopted the image of birth
grey tiles
mannerly disinfected
under the glasses misplaced empathy
hand in the pocket of white coat
and naive faith
i guess there is no alternative
when the only thing left as your heritage are nails
i wish it is not the life
and that just a day went wrong
this way
only thing left is a label of
river
down which
no one will ever again dare to
release the paper boats
it would be better
everything
if only
it crossed your mind
to
tide my tubes
(presumably still alive
predicated on rumored sightings dive
ving fast as blazing saddles,
her blitzkrieg,
nothing but a blurry beehive.)
Swifter than Usain
(lightening) Bolt
Eden Liat
(thine eldest daughter,
a mixed hybrid breed
greyhound and whippet)
leaves in the dust
topnotch any racehorse
prompting speculation,
she harkens, and begat
from a long line,
sans award
(at trough feed ding),
many a cooly
winning super naturally
infused awk worded Colt
surpassing (with a flash,
plus even sub track ting
considerable handi
capped add halt
ting delay), thine
prestigious, princess,
and prodigious exalt
ting marathon running
smart lee zipping
as a whip lash heiress,
thru no fault
in the stars
of her astrological designs
oft times humbly declines
adulation, benediction, dedication
and deferentially finds
reasons amazingly, gracefully,
and mannerly deflects
self imposed grueling practices,
that she quickly grinds
into pulverized powder,
any high top custom made
high tech lines
brand name
threadbare sneakers saved
with countless
trophies that aligns
storied (and stuffed
animal bedecked)
bookshelf, even gag
me with a spoon
humor tinged competitions,
faux rotten tum ate oh
(John Heinz)
seeded "ketchup with me"
hash-tag game
opened to all kinds
of village people, including
some barenaked ladies,
where flashy Mainliners
dressed to the nines
(essentially for sound
garden variety public,
who generally favor squash),
that crop up during
Indian Summer salad days
punctuates the warm air,
where one after
another lover doth appear
oak kay embracing ephemeral
pseudo sappy romance
spine tingling
as sharp needling pines.
Man
A word so small but huge with emotions, stress but you have to tag along
So creative yet so blind
So loving yet so abusive
So manipulative, lying and cheating in a sensible way yet so emotional
Man, a family, love, respect yet so arrogant
An ear, shoulder to lean on and encouraging
But a killer in a leopard skin
Man, very smooth talking creature
A smile that turn to sorrows and pain
Oh man the creator of a woman through bone yet so conniving like an on-going headache
A comfort, protector and a free ride yet park station in terms of feelings, care and emotions
Confusion, misinterpretation, Father, uncle, husband yet a rapist
Man, oh man
A fighter, a role model yet cruel
An adviser, a friend yet so jealous in a mannerly way
A hell sender like terminal disease
Man yes man, man oh man
the conduct that codifies the laws of human behavior and such
involves phrases that are mandatory or by your parents you will get touched
to be mannerly, to be courteous and to act like you've been raised right
to use those phrases that society deems as being polite
excuse me, pardon me and of couse may I and please
words that we learned as children and as adults should use with ease
but the most important are the words thank you
the obligatory phrase that God our Creator is due
now Jesus was on His way to a town called Galilee
when He encountered 10 men afflicted with leprosy
now Jesus was One who would meet you wherever you are
no matter how high no matter how low be you broken, whole or scarred
He came not to save the saints but to help those who needed Him more
the sinners, the sick, the hurt, the lost and those who needed a cure
so when those lepers saw Him they cried out "Lord have mercy on us this day"
Jesus replied"you are now cleansed so to the priest go on your way"
but only one man came back and said in a loud voice "Lord thank you so much"
Jesus then reflected "were not all 10 men cleansed by My healing touch"
I've got to give Him thanks is what that Samaritan felt in his heart
I've got to give Him thanks for I've been healed by the hands of God
so why did the other 9 men not give Jesus what He was due?
why did they not show Him an ounce of gratitude?
we act like God is obligated to make us happy and whole
but what people fail to understand that in this life what is their role
we've got to give God thanks because He gave us the breath of life
we've got to give God thanks even during times of heartache and strife
and comprehend that God will always deliver if we have only a mustard seed of faith
and never to forget after being delivered we need to say to His face
thank you Lord, thank you God, thank you Jesus the Christ
thank you for everything that you have done in my life
it's not an option, it's not a choice, it's and obligation that is due
for everthing that we are to Jesus we simply say Thank You
(Extracted from William Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet")
ROMEO: [To JULIET] If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
JULIET: Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.
ROMEO: Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
JULIET: Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
ROMEO: O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
JULIET: Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.
ROMEO: Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.
Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged.
JULIET: Then have my lips the sin that they have took.
ROMEO: Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged!
Give me my sin again.
JULIET: You kiss by the book.
She Needs It: Daily and Continually!
Well bro, you got the ‘prize’ and you done play your part!?!
You’re not secured yet bro; listen and take it to heart.
She needs your compassion and attention, now and forever;
In your future together, you need to make her a believer.
Part-time affection and sometime appreciation, can’t cut it;
Full-time commitment in courtship, is what gives mutual benefit.
Roses, presents, and hugs and kisses; they never seem to fail;
But when you “mess-up,” a sincere apology will always prevail.
Being overly romantic and mannerly is not just for the start;
It should be frequent and continue, “… Till death do us part.”
Treat your woman right, there’s no time for complacency;
She will appreciate and needs sweet compassion continually.
Not just when you’re feeling freaky and want some loving;
For her, a night full of passionate loving, starts in the morning.
So, treat your woman right: speak well of her and to her daily;
She’s the apple of your eyes, and your one and only baby.
Then she will fully respect you and your every effort;
And you’ll get the best of her, from her; listen, for what its’ worth;
Isn’t it worth the effort to have a good, long-lasting union?
Listen bro, it’s my writing, but many a woman’s opinion.
End
By Dion O. Penville
When winter comes it brings a special charm
With holidays and decorated trees
With guests and firesides to keep us warm
Despite the icy chill of winter's freeze
That torments us with plummeting degrees
And snow to depths that's well above our knees
But silver frosting’s on the window pane
The sentimental smells of cider’s spice
With laughter and the joy are shared again
And all the world’s a cheerful paradise
(With gifts beneath the tree just to entice
The children to be mannerly and nice)
Then turkey’s gone, the cakes and pies devoured
This day is done, the children all worn out
The pots and pans and dishes all are scoured
The guests must go though no one’s gone without
And from the drive a last farewell they’ll shout
Then soon to bed they’ll all retire, no doubt
And while we both agree it’s been worthwhile
We’ve nothing left to share … except a smile
December 3, 2018 Winter Wonderland Poetry Contest "Urban Sonnet" Sponsored by: Emile Pinet
Interrupting a person in a rude way
Makes me irritable much of the day.
I do not yell and scream or even say.
But it makes my heart unhappy and gray.
I would rather be alone, sitting without a word
Than to be interrupted, which is totally absurd.
It shows a lack of manners, empathy or technique.
It’s something that only a boorish person would seek.
“Excuse me!” is ridiculous when they decide to interrupt.
It makes me angry. My bad feelings are ready to pop and erupt.
Pretending to be mannerly when you are in every way rude.
Makes me angry, positive proof that you have the wrong attitude.
Your love is a yellow hue
do paint me this meadow
with delight from Dion's blues
pleasing the third quarter ear.
When it chirrups chirrups!
& rock my heart so fierce
do strum your gentle palms
& lips blushing pilgrims.
And in some mannerly devotion show
tread upon my winter seasons
unpleasing the envious autumn,
when the eyes is nothing without the Sun.
It’s so easy to love the loveable
Those that smell wonderful
They are well spoken
Mannerly
Have the same religious beliefs
Political beliefs
Possibly close to the same economic status
But what of the unlovable
They may smell offensive
They may be too loud or too crude
Rude
No religion,
Conflicting political views
Poor and without status
Dressed oddly
And quite possibly scary
And outside your norm
Whatever you do
To the least of these
You do unto Christ
Does that make it easier