Best Misconstrue Poems
Take from me that which you will
Those things that I possess
Strip from me the trinkets
That speak of my success
Look at me with jaundiced eye
With disdain on your face
Treat me as subordinate
Keep me in my place
Speak to me with vitriol
Mock my point of view
Contradict my every word
Their meaning misconstrue
I can overlook these things
As you strive to denigrate
Because the measure of a man
Is forgiving those who hate
Color me blue
As I think of you
A love once true
Has lost its radiant hue
Tomorrow I begin anew
How? I haven't a clue
A love once true
Has now faded blue
Where is the joy we knew
Happiness that grew
A love once true
It's gone; it flew
I know we're through
All around I see blue
A love once true
Leaves me longing for you
Wondering what I can do
No more to pursue
A love once true
Has left me so blue
I eat my words, I chew
Taste like a worn shoe
A love once true
Has gone askew
Did I misconstrue
I strove to continue
A love once true
Until you withdrew
Color me blue
Love
By Dane Smith-Johnsen
Love approaches and does not scare.
Love bears and does not let go.
Love cares and does not shrink.
Love declares and does not shun.
Love establishes and does not tear down.
Love forgives and does not remind.
Love gives and does not expect.
Love has and does not gloat.
Love hears and does not tell.
Love hopes and does not give up.
Love instills and does not corrupt.
Love joins and does not run over.
Love keeps and does not stray.
Love lives and does not stress.
Love manages and does not control.
Love persuades but does not discourage.
Love proclaims and does not hide.
Love questions and does not badger.
Love rejoices and does not displease.
Love sees and does not condemn.
Love talks and does not defame.
Love understands and does not misconstrue.
Love values and does not insult.
Love wants and does not ignore.
Love XOXOXOX and does not reject.
Love yearns, and does not insist.
Love zaps, and does not destroy.
LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Poe laid flowers on her grave
His lost Lenore
One he’d love forevermore
But doomed to see her nevermore
Storm clouds expelled true daylight
Yet near her grave on a dead oak tree
An ebony raven stared and seemed to agree
“Nevermore,” the bird mocked, flying off with ironic glee
Clouds burst, pelting the cemetery with rain
Back to his horse and carriage Poe ran
Was Poe a pawn in this raven’s game plan
An unhealthy racing of his heart began
Arriving home, Poe sought to forget
But there was the red-eyed, sinister bird
Perched on the pallid bust of Pallas, it said just one word
“Nevermore,” was all Poe heard
Stealthily the bird had entered through an open window
“Did God summon you to add to my grief?”
Poe pleaded, “Will I ever find relief?”
“Nevermore,” cried the demon, to Poe’s disbelief
Poe tried to rid his home of the tormenting invader
“Fly away; take your word with you!”
But the evil visitor would not bid adieu
Its single word was malicious; Poe could not misconstrue
When rainfall ended, the raven flew to the windowsill
“Be gone!” Poe screamed, his voice filled with hate
It eyed him once more, leaving Poe in a crazed state
But loving memories of Lenore it could not desecrate
*Written October 1, 2014
Some painters challenge us with art abstract
We study them and speculate intent
My love, he takes the short route; it’s a fact
He speaks three words, no question what he meant
The intellectuals look for new ways
To speak of love in words no one has heard
Or verse for songs that no one ever plays
For love is truly greater than a word
His aqua eyes convey a heart that’s true
On chilly nights, his warm arms hold me close
No words he speaks, but do not misconstrue
When love is true, who needs the grandiose
We’ve learned to find peace in the quiet time
Together any steep path we can climb
February 5, 2020
Remembering days of azure skies,
I dream of you,
Knowing we're through.
Cerulean thoughts impose;
Tomorrow I'll begin anew.
How? I haven't a clue.
My heart's encased in cobalt walls.
Where's the joy we knew,
Happiness that grew?
Lonely, indigo nights await,
Wondering what I can do,
Nothing more to pursue.
'Neath night's sapphire cloak,
I eat my words. I chew.
How did I misconstrue?
Angst, veiled in navy curtains,
I ponder love once true
Until you withdrew.
*Word Count is 78. For Dale's "Brevity in Blue" contest.
Knowing what she knew
she let them misconstrue
and righteous was her smile
it made her feel worthwhile
Knowing what she knew
Knowing what she'd seen
She wasn't really keen
to be played like the rest
she'd passed the hardest test
Knowing what she'd seen
Knowing what she'd heard
She kept alive the word
that gave her solace sweet
with pride the day to greet
Knowing what she'd heard
Knowing truth from lies
she saw past hungry eyes
Kept firm her strict resolve
her conscience to absolve
Knowing truth from lies
Tell me, Sweet One, if you've the nerve,
how is it, that you love to play?
Is it warm, with a touch of verve
that softly steals the breath away,
and makes all tight resistance sway?
Whatever you say, we can do.
Come on now, you can have your way;
for, I'm a bad boy...it is true!
Don't worry if your values swerve,
not all is black 'n white – there's gray;
and, with our colors, that best serve...
we'll look no further than today.
There are no rules left to obey;
for now, there's only me and you.
So, let's lie down and come what may;
for, I'm a bad boy...it is true!
Your breasts are rising, I observe...
the sparkle in your eyes betray
your yearning 'neath each writhing curve.
Oh, heaven knows we can't delay!
The essence of your sweet bouquet
excites me, Dearest, through and through.
You're wet and warm, a lush buffet;
for, I'm a bad boy...it is true!
You say, "Don't go," that I must stay!
Yes, I'll remain, don’t misconstrue...
too long would be to your dismay;
for, I'm a bad boy...it is true!
Rascal Jones
©2012
And so legend goes, of a daisy, not a rose
of a love to behold that quickly grew cold
Etched in regret, Daisy ponders in a fret
should he return, for him would she yearn
One eve a sweet miss was given her first kiss
her heart took to flight on that moonlit night
He lured her with smiles using wicked wiles
Promised to be true in words he misconstrue
In Spring's lush bowers he gave her flowers
She was crazy about the ones called 'daisy'
He gave her a bouquet each and every day
With loving care he twined them in her hair
Near Summer's end came signs of portend
Her lover disappeared, so then she feared
He played her false with each sensual waltz
they had ever shared, pretending he cared
Legend is hazy, but it's said that each daisy
turned a shade of blue, of the deepest hue
That Summer it snowed and her tears flowed
salty crystals froze because of love's throes
Rejection brought pangs so now there hangs
a canvas of art, painted by her broken heart
Blue daisies in a vase, hung above the fireplace
where fire never burned, once love was spurned
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
June 17th, 2017
Blue Daisy Contest
Sponsor: Mystic Rose
My foolish heart; I had no clue
that you could ever be untrue.
Our time was great. You can’t deny
together we were flying high!
Why did you leave? What did I do?
How did I ever misconstrue
the way you felt? The man I knew
would never want to see me cry.
My foolish heart!
When after all that we’d been through,
I can’t believe you turned into
a stranger! You became the guy
who didn’t even say goodbye
when always I’d been there for you.
My foolish heart.
Submitted Feb. 11, 2021
for My Foolish Heart Poetry Contest of Craig Cornish
Sometimes my poetry flows like honey
and sometimes it's been misunderstood.
That's when I tend to find it seriously funny
that some take it personally, as if they should.
That's the way a narcissist's mind thinks.
They see themselves involved in everything...
The center of attention. The one getting winks
in every line of poetry or songs people sing.
It's always the guilty who reason that way,
giving themselves credit where none is due.
It's seriously funny and by the end of the day,
buried in their mind is what they misconstrue.
*for Mark Toney's Challenge
You want to hear me say I’ll love you forever.
And yes, I well could say those very words to you:
For after all, they simply state the current truth.
But at the risk of seeming callous or uncouth
They’re also words one could easily misconstrue.
And whether couched in language simple or clever,
In timeworn expressions or phrases fresh and new,
All such words would ultimately be misleading—
For how can anyone pledge a love undying?
The future’s hidden—to deny that is lying.
And nothing lasts forever… still, since you’re needing
Reassurance, this much at least I’ll promise you:
You are the best-beloved of my heart today:
I can’t foresee I’ll ever feel another way.
November 14, 2019
NB: This is an "almost sonnet"-- but differs in line length (12 syllables instead of ten) and, instead of having three quatrains before the couplet, I have used two sestets with an ABCCBA DEFFED rhyme scheme. Also, the lines, while each of 12 syllables, do not really have any consistent metrical structure. By the bye, the word beloved here is meant to be pronounced adjectivally, that is, with three syllables: be-'LOV-ed.
As we did the month preceding
This the next department meeting
Time and time without a reason
To be present or to listen
For there’s nothing on the floor
Beneath us different than before
It was the last time that we met
As everybody knows and yet
Again we sit around the table
Top our seats but still unable
To understand why we should read
Another memo from the Dean
Of students who have never met ‘em
Or her or maybe better, them
For whom the Chair is working under
Standing in the room, we wonder
How’d it ever get to this
Friday morning’s foolishness
Of faculty who should know better
Than to debate what doesn’t matter
That they’ll only misconstrue
The points they’re missing when they do
Interrupt each other speaking
Words better spent in classrooms teaching
The coin snaps off the fingers
As gravity works the spin
I turn for you, flip and land
I see your patience running thin
It's heads, not what I want
So I choose tails and I choose you
Past indecision, I now confront
Our mess I must attend to
You don't need to explain our love
It's really between you and me
They may not understand, respect
A mother/teacher/ student reality
I refused your many lessons
From constant pains that bruised fast
Most hurt caused by self
unhealed wounds brought from the past
When your tries bring on a new sting
I resist though I want more
I only see the pain and so lose
The lesson's blessings in store
I don't need to explain our love
It's really between you and me
The may not understand, respect
A mother/teacher/student reality
I go to you, I run from you
What you give I misconstrue
Let's prove them wrong with how we do
I'll honor what we've been through
Letting go of darkness everyday
Bowing with the homework you give
I choose to learn thru the pain
And be the light we all will live
...together...
“With Education you can change the world”
I was a fly on the wall and I saw... The “discriminating few” students take many steps back, In giving values, ethics and morals the sack, Whilst cultivating fear in the hearts of a divided nation And rejecting dignity in search of debt relaxation.
I was a fly on the wall and I saw... Potential school leavers view the status quo void of hope: From the “frying pan” of the challenges of OBE life Into the cauldron of the “#FMF” strife, they ponder, Or the ‘opportunity cost’ of joining the UIF queue: With bleak futures on the horizon, they search for a tunnel light to ensue...
I was a fly on the wall and I saw...
Two decades ago a proud nation take a forward stance, Shepherding an era that elevated every unified plea, Touching hearts and transforming minds at every fleeting chance; Heralding Madiba’s legacy of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace...
I was also a fly on the wall when Madiba said: “Education is the most powerful weapon one can use to change the world”.
So distorting the view, a discriminating few seemed to misconstrue: That by “Using strife to change the world, ‘Free Education’ falls into your lap”. And as the smoke clears, it doesn’t allay many fears, ‘Cause the precedence that caused many tears, Is doomed to widen the generation gap...
Ronald W. Springfield