Best Misery Poems
In the shrine of my soul,
In the cathedral of contemplation.
In the temple of tenacity,
In the mosque of mercy…
Beside the rushing riven river,
Beside the thundering towers of waterfalls,
Beside the immeasurable leagues of a lagoon…
Above the depths of despair,
Above the abyss of abject misery…
On the shores of a sea of self-doubt.
As close to me as my heartbeat,
Nearer to me than my own blood,
Concerned beyond the call of loyalty
About my welfare…
The state of my psyche…
And the health of my heart.
That is where you are,
Where you remain,
Where I will always find you:
Precious Friend.
On the eastern shore, she knocked on our door
Then drifted away to the west
She then turned north, and steadily forth
With rage upon her crest
As she gathered force, On a steady course
To a land below the sea
Too Unaware, or unprepared
For such a tragedy
Toppling of homes, the shredding of domes
of a wind that relentlessly blows
All the terrain, was flooded with rain
When the lake did overflow
And then she passed, and none to fast
This city beneath the sea
Leaving this flood, which carries our blood
Through a land of misery.
Hurricane Katrina
When Betty hit the menopause
her symptoms all came on at once,
with her brain fog; she feels a dunce!
At night in bed, the hot sweat pours
and her nightie is soaked right through
she changes; then runs to the loo!
Bill tries to speak and Betty ROARS
as her mood swings are quite severe,
he grits his teeth and says ‘yes dear’!
She nags at him without just cause,
and Bill’s wants are quickly dismissed…
there’s no sex, it’s right off her list!
He wished there was a get out clause
but they’ve been wed for many years
Bill understands, copes with her tears
When Betty hit the menopause
at night in bed, the hot sweat pours.
Bill tries to speak and Betty ROARS
she nags at him without just cause …
he wished there was a get out clause!
Inspired by Constanza Contest
Best rhyming poem October to December 2017
Sponsored by John Hamilton
Entered on 07/28/20 into Old or New Constanza poetry Contest
Sponsored by Joseph May
NB This poem was written by an English poet - so to the 'British ear' the rhyme is correct
11-19-17
I was a man, a cold blooded drunk, as they come.
I lived my whole life in a little house on my dad’s farm.
A broke hustler with a defunct bank account,
My career's future was always in doubt.
I married late, at the start of my forties.
It was not for love, I just wanted society to notice.
I did it to save myself from the embarrassment,
So she was not exactly for me heaven sent.
If I thought I was unhappy before, I was miserable now.
I my search for stability I had eloped with a cow.
I had to drink more, to feel like a man again.
Had to play deaf and mute, not to go insane.
As the years passed, the cow bore me a calf
By now I was weak and my income had reduced to half
The bottle was killing me, but it was Still my only friend.
To hold my hand and kiss me, everyday till the end.
The bottle was all i had, to wash away my sorrow
I had to have it, whether i should beg, steal or borrow
The meaning of life had now escaped my grasp.
All I did was sit, drink and watch time elapse.
Misery matured to sickness and still the years went by.
I shed no tears but within me there was a silent cry.
That of an old man whose whole life had been a lie
Pleasure is only found in the sweet wine a youngster sips.
For death hangs around the bed, every time an old man sleeps.
No amount of slumber nor sweet dreams can sooth,
When the heavy hand of time strikes away youth.
The dagger of illness and age was soon on my throat
I who called my wife "cow" was almost a slaughtered goat.
The reflection of my old face was unbearable on the mirror.
I looked haggard and horrible, i looked like a killer.
The cow and the calf left me to seek better pasture.
I was now all alone, expect for the bottle and my pastor
He visited often to preach me the holy word.
He warned me of hell, i assured him, that i have already had
He gave up, went his way as death came mine.
No regret, no redemption and no cloud nine
There was no glitter, there was no glory
I was bitter, and that was the end of my story.
Why do you show me
such treasure,
only to deprive me.
When you are gone,
smoke fills the air,
I'm misplaced in
the mist of misery,
w a n d e r i n g
helplessly lost,
masking melancholic
emotions.
Parasite winds
bring little respite.
If only they would
whisper my
mute messages,
blowing tepidly
into your heart -
then maybe you
would gift me one
more glimpse.
Then like the
majestic sun would
you re-appear?
Embracing me with
passion and desire,
so my heart smiles
like the crescent moon,
till darkness comes,
veiling your light
and then
you disappear (again),
leaving me
misplaced in
the mist of misery.
Oh what misery!
The heart-
an indigent and feral beast
kept in lock down
in an inner cage
for my own good
What treachery dwells
within that creature!
It's wiles,
it's devious nature
eludes my control
and entices me
to act on
base instincts...
that leave me
in want of spirit,
disillusioned...
My awakening to
sensual pleasures
enraptures me...
I am left smitten
and imprisoned
to desire
So now...I ask
who is the slave
and who is the master?
The yearning for
carnality overwhelms...
my conscience is
frozen solid...
immobile
with nothing to mediate
debauched desires
I spin into
delirium...
wholly lost in
the unholy
oblivion of reality
I consecrate
my mind,
and I submit
to His will...
however,
I tread on
the edge
of a delicate
imbalance-
Obtuse
to the destruction
that
pummels my will
and dedication
me,
now a willing
participant of
egregious sin
I wallow
in self-pity
Oh, what misery!
Sample for my 8 word challenge contest
John Derek Hamilton
August 14,2019
A big hole is in my shoe
My front tooth is on the loose
Poor car won’t start today
My best friend just ran away
He’d be better off as stray
3 days now we have no food
Thunder and the rain begins to fall
From the roof and down the walls
The flood rushed off with the bed
Empty pockets and broken smiles
Everyone turns away to hide
Is there any help to get
Money worries is what I have
I need some cash I pray
Can you lend me by the way
I’ll pay you back
But I can't tell you how or where and when
I lost my job again
The bad luck never ends
I have no money
Can’t buy honey
Nobody cares about me
I have no money
Can’t buy any honey
What's happening to me
Save me oh Lord
From this pain and misery
I’m losing all my hair
Life is just a despair
Save me Lord
I can’t stand this suffering any more
Feels like I'm dying
Nobody cares about me
My name is Justnoway
Better luck another day
I'm the black sheep of the family
Not a cent to call my own
No cooing dove to ease my soul
No satisfaction for the meek
Save me Lord
These awful sins are much too much to bear
Does anybody care
Save me Lord
My life is slowly coming to an end
Left without a friend
I have no money
Can’t buy honey
Nobody cares about me
Your name is misery
here to haunt me in my dreams
In my waking hours and in my sleep
Nightmares and worst fears
of course you can make them come true
For
Your Name Is Misery
You are the demon
That called himself a dad
You are my illness, my shame, guilt and pain
I cannot shake you
I try to run but you always catch me
I try to hide and you find me
Your Name Is Misery
You are the cause of my pain
I used to blame myself
But lately I have found I am not the one to blame
I was a child
Innocent and helpless
when you took my dignity, my life my sanity
Your Name Is Misery
You have presented yourself in many forms
The school counselor who tried to violate me
The Father figure who molested me
The strangers who forced themselves on me
A gang paid to rape me
A Fiance who beat me
And killed the child inside me
The voices that torment me
Your Name Is Misery
You have so many faces
It would take my whole life to paint a picture of you
And quite frankly
I don't want to waste my time on you
I just want to forget you
Your Name Is Misery
I wish I could get away from you
Break away from your grasp
Take away the control you have over me
I hate being under your spell
I hate the pain you constantly cause me
I hate crying because of you
I hate the darkness you bring with you
Most of all
I hate you
Your Name is Misery
That is no lie
There is no mistake
You bring havoc, drama, and chaos
All the things I despise
I don't want you near me
I don't even want to look you in the eye
Your Name is Misery
I am afraid of you
I can't stand you
most of all
I am mad at you
for you have made my life a living hell
But no more
I am cutting you out
I have never wanted you around
It is high time
I got rid of you
It's time to stand my ground
I am going to take you down
I don't need you
I never want to see you
Get out of my life
For I am not going to let you bring me down
You are not welcome here
Your Name Is Misery
By: Jean Shular
Note: Sundowning – Most commonly in Alzheimer and Dementia patients, Sundowning, is changes in behavior that get worse in late afternoon, evening and can even last all night. Patients may be agitated, confused, unable to sleep; it may appear in other forms of disruptive behavior.
Eight sleepless nights, pacing non-stop;
legs, knee-bent, dragging toes are scraping carpet.
Enduring a painful back; each breath drawn
makes it throb and exhaustion’s in control.
I can’t sleep until he sleeps;
must stay awake in case he falls.
I hold my breath to stand;
it dulls the sharp stabbing pain in my back.
I swallow another migraine pill and
pray for him to fall asleep; he does not.
Respite eludes me; caregiver to a dementia-mind,
I collapse into a chair, dizzy and call myself an ambulance.
I’m drained, hungry and he’ll Sundown several nights.
I pass out and am brought around by an EMT;
my patient's oblivious to the fact that
anyone’s come into the house…
he paces…and paces…
My arms are outstretched
Searching
Finding nothing in this lonely,
Black pit of nothingness
My eyes are tightly shut
I am unable to see
I open my mouth to scream,
Somebody,
Please save me from this misery
I’ve found no way out
I have given up
Please don’t come looking for me
I am lost and forever I will be,
Trapped with misery
because we all know, She loves company
Look into my eyes
what do you see?
The happiness, the joy,
what about the misery?
Can't you see I'm hurting?
The feeling is plain as day.
I don't know what to do.
I don't know what to say.
Day by day
I hide the pain
behind Blue-Green eyes,
wishing someone somday
will unravel my cheesy disguise.
But not yet,
not today.
My pain ninja
is here to stay.
He locks the door
to all of my secrets.
I smile and laugh
at what cuts me the deepest.
Scared by his blade
at every painful memory.
Kept inside forever
is my well-hidden misery.
This journey of disclosure
The first to this world,
A forsaken exposure
A planet unfurled.
A constant gaze at twilight
To spy just a glimpse,
A distant glance of starlight
The eye seldom skimps.
The mornings have not spoken
All life remains still,
Dawn’s chorus has not woken
Bleak this ice age chill.
A barren place the cosmos
Without seas of green,
But for those in dire chaos
Sown the human gene?
Earth i need to feel your grace
Touch the dew the rain,
Just to dwell within your race
Walk a country lane.
Oh! Joy of humanity
A portrait of love,
To render one’s sanity
Praise the lord above.
Alas one can only dream
Caress a troubled mind,
In this a different stream
Of the humankind!
© Harry J Horsman 2012
Tears streamed down her face as she swiftly ran in the woods, saving herself
from “ Herself “. She continuously wept as she looked around, not finding what
she was looking for. As she ran faster her heart ached with sorrow, for every
beautiful image of nature reminded her of him. Suddenly, she stopped crying,
and running, for her notice of pain faded away by “it” ’s beauty. Nothing was
heard but the breathless breathes she hopelessly breathed in.. It looked
beautiful, just like it always did. With it’s body held up high, and it’s emerald
leaves swaying with the stormy wind. She cautiously came closer and tenderly
felt it’s branch, where they both carved their names in a heart. Betrayal swam in
her blood, making it more bitter, as her face twitched with pain. She helplessly
laid her wounded body under the shadow of the tall glamorous tree where he
used to hold her tight in his arms whenever they’d go there.
However, this time nothing held her tight but agony. She started weeping again
until love had blinded her and suffering had defeated her resistance. The sky
pitied her death with passion as it roared with thunder and wept with raindrops of
sorrow..
Maybe someday he’d go there to reminisce, and find that she had buried herself
in his memory, and rotted under the tree where all their memories lived.. Could
misery happen to be any sweeter.. ?
Sitting here
flushing out the tears
drowning in my misery
that's piling up through the years
I thought of you
On my face, a smile
I read your poetry
cuz it's been a while
I don't know if I've thanked you
for being "there" for me
I can't imagaine how great
a man you'll turn out to be
It's unbelievable
how sweet you are
know that im happy
to be your north star
and if it were possible
i'd cry on your shoulder
lie down beside you
as we grew older
************************
I'm not proud of this poem (from a literary standpoint), but I wrote it down anyway...because
as I was sitting here being sad, he was the one thought that made me smile...and I had to
tell him.
Pray, I await for when you would hold my hand in yours
I await for when I would feel the warmth of it
And just know
That somehow, the skies, like me, are appeased!
Our souls shall be forgiven, for whatever it was that
We did, it does not matter anymore
What matters is that we shall be granted an entry
Back to that place where the Gods reside
Where birds talk and where flowers read
Where butterflies dance and where lovers, like you and I
Take in lungfuls of sparkling dust,
Meant to have us fly high on ecstatic clouds,
Immersed in the joy of our well being,
And in the aknowledgment of our celebrated love!
Pray, I await, with the rhythms of misery pulsating loud in me
For when you shall tie my hair to yours
So that when the God of Doom would come to Earth
To kill the Evil hovering around,
He would see us, recognise us, as the lovers so in love
With each other since times immemorial and having inhabited
All the realms of the universe, in all life forms
And he would help us, to climb the ladders of purity
To reach safety while abashing on the rest, his weapons of doom!
Pray, the rhythms of misery are played in me by the demons
Who gather their strength in the display of the illusory Maya world
They tell me that faith can be shaken, that it can be false and misleading
That my heart can end up broken, that I can get shattered into pieces
As you might not wish to save me, by holding my hands in yours!
Pray, have I claimed to adhered blinded faith to the skies
To obey have I pledged, even if that would require
Being a human bait, a human shield, a human sacrifice,
But, if you hold not my hands into yours,
I shall turn my back to the skies
And I shall flee to there where souls suffer constantly
Without ever having any scope to even hope to be saved!
Misery pulsates its beats in me still
My belief in my own faith keeps it in place for now
My endurance is not limitless,
I am frail, I am bloomed, I am awakened, I am your conscience,
While you shall be my Existence,
Together, we shall write, for this Earth,
Its next chapter!
Written for Misery Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Edward Ibeh
Written on 28th Dec 2018