Best No Option Poems
As legend has it, there lived Bai Balkhash, a rich man
In the North regions of the then Soviet Kazakhstan
Had a beautiful daughter Ili who was without her Smiley
So Balkhash held a feast with a contest to win Ili.
Ili, loved a shepherd called Karatal and easily managed
For Karatal to win the contest of the grooms staged
But Karatal followed the ancient tradition of love stories
Wherein the fathers were supposed to oppose the realities.
Now the lovers had no option but to run away and marry
And the angry father had no options to go contrary
So he turned them into rivers and himself a lake between.
Made himself a laughing stock taking water from rivers twin.
Today’s reality is Kazakhstan and China using Ili’s water
Poetic justice done, the lake drying, two rivers dying forever.
********
Burlesque Form
======================================
Dr. Ram Mehta
7th place win in:
Contest: Beloved Poem by Giorgio Veneto -
RANSOM NOTE
A stark white note left on the front door,
Bright red droplets of blood on the floor,
Dear God, let my niece and child be alive,
Please, please let them survive!
I am told do not to call in the police,
Lest they take revenge and their patience cease,
But I have no option, I must,
True story of this kidnap is lust,
Money they want, I want my children and peace,
I want my children back, please!
I sit anxiously and terrified by the phone,
I’m so exhausted I fall asleep all alone
Waiting to hear good news,
And praying the situation will defuse.
I’m frozen with fear to my very core,
But suddenly hear voices, and a knock on my door,
With trepidation I open, there stand the police,
With two wide eyed children, my son and my niece,
They look battered, a young girl and a small boy,
I couldn’t contain my tears and ecstatic joy,
As I engulf them in a hug, dear God, they’re alive,
You made sure, that you helped them survive!
The wicket culprits were arrested in a dark lane,
Inflicting petrified children with unthinkable strain,
My life no longer seemed senseless and black,
For I had my purpose for life back!
Justice and the long arm of the law had won,
The greatest joy for a mother, under the sun!
No, I can’t believe it happened again!
Surely folks think I stand out like Big Ben
The Jolly Old Green Giant
Snarls at me, so defiant
Green hair – and I’m not a comedian
It first occurred just before I was wed
Dyed my blonde hair brown; it turned green instead
Now the chlorine in the pool
Made me look like quite a fool
And I’ve no option but to shave my head
Eighty-four pounds at age 27
An illness nearly claimed my life
“You have an option,” the doctor said
But the choice was one that cut like a knife
“Pray for a miracle; linger in pain
Or negate any chance of having children”
My husband had died, my hope long since drained
In a sense I already felt barren
No way to rejoice, given such a choice
Knew I’d never feel like a real woman
So I sought guidance from my inner voice
Made the sign of the cross, said, “Amen”
“Do it,” I cried, tears welling in my eyes
My body dying, I saw no option
It seemed better than facing my demise
This was my darkest hour without question
Career struggles I faced in years ahead
And there was no man standing by my side
Empty within, faced the future with dread
Had I made the right choice? Still can’t decide
Perhaps a miracle would have occurred
I believe God watches over us all
But to a pain-free life I had deferred
Instead of trusting blessings would befall
* For Ryland's "Darkest Hour" challenge
At once my thoughts be still
To hear your voice so calming
Your song a melody
All but late in passing
Through my eye you run
From last to first return
If only gone was time
I'd be your arms surrounding
For every day is turning
And every night so long
Forgotten is no option
You'll be my home, my song
Earth element
Driven by instincts feral
Self-centred stance
An animal in human form
Gravity pulled me down
Material possessions
I seized by any means
Territorial behavior
In an imaginary cage
Yet in this density
In moments of silence
Love within stirred
Signalling God's presence
Water element
Lust and domination
Testosterone oversupply
Insatiable hunger
Danse Macabre
Brutal savagery
Plunder, rape, violence
Sadism at it's peak
I dwelt in the darkness
Yet in this density
In moments of silence
Love within stirred
Signalling God's presence
Fire element
Head and heart discord
Chaos and uncertainty
Conflict and self-doubt
Desire entwined with fear
Anger and remorse
Striving for balance
I was blown like a leaf
Powerless but in denial
Yet in this density
In moments of silence
Love within stirred
Signalling God's presence
Air element
A subtler realm
Of vanity and pride
Jealousy and dark envy
I was a black magician
Flickers of recognition
Appeared and disappeared
Whispers of conscience
Were sometimes audible
Yet in this density
In moments of silence
Love within stirred
Signalling God's presence
Ether element
Art and poetry
Grazing the vibrant void
Flirted with the ethereal
Breath by breath thus
Right brain oriented
Selective empathy surfaced
In but not of the world
I had lost my bearings
Yet in this density
In moments of silence
Love within stirred
Signalling God's presence
Epilogue
From gross to the subtle
As yet chained to form
The dance of polarities
Clouded heart and mind
Upon reaching exhaustion
There being no option
I plunged into the void
Relinquishing identity
Here within the bardo
Vaporised as a bliss mist
I became love's elixir
As a witness to myself
10-January-2023
Silent Mirror
My lyrics must reflect my inner
silence
The words that bring a
reflection of truth
As I walk in the wrecked past
From the future my voice
silently weeps
For the lost generation
Without equation
For my lyrics reflection the ills
of this generation
I look at the world
Through the tainted glass
As I clear the glass I see my
own faults
With reflection of madness
All this fear I hide
I am troubled inside
Let me unravel
And magnetize
Materialize
This vision and realize my
ambition
There is no option but one
To walk through hell and find
the light
My lyrics reflect my inner
silence
And I Silently listen.....
By Ernest Badounts
I had a dream that I was the President of the USA and this
is what I would do to make my country strong again. . .
Get every single citizen vaccinated for Covid 19 and variants
Work with advisors on ways to open up the economy
Implement a plan to help citizen find jobs, shelter and food
Work with Border Authorities to open up the borders
For sure make the "Dreamers" USA citizens
Release Mexican children held in cages and unite with family
Work to achieve Climate Change with advisors and scientist
Form a plan to reduce pollution in the rivers, lakes and oceans
Find ways to help endangered species and loss of habitat
Put a stop to import of trophy hunter kills from other countries
Work to create a friendly relations with Canada and Mexico
Respect the rights and treaties of the native Indians
Put into action an end to police brutality with zero tolerance
Work on how to end racial prejudice for all races and religions
Create a great health care plan for all citizens
Improve relations with allies and all countries of the world
Work on gun reforms making ownership more restrictive
Make prison sentences have no option for parole or pardons
Show compassion in times of national or world tragedy
Do everything in my power to make USA strong
______________________
February 10, 2021
Poetry/List/If I Were
Copyright Protected, ID 02-1327-582-10
All Rights Reserved, 2021, Constance La France
Written for the Standard contest, If I Was President
sponsor, Matt Caliri, Judged 03/19/2021
Third Place
It's lonely on a pedestal.
It's hard when failure is no option.
Everyone deserves a guardian angel.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
When the news of a child is heard by the parents,
They buy a lot of presents.
For their cute & little child,
Who's skin will be so soft n mild.
And finally when the child is born as a girl or boy,
They buy n give them many a toy .
They take so much care of them,
& keep them happy upto the brim.
They fulfill all their wishes that are needed,
And buy all the necessary items for them to be feeded.
And as they start going to school,
They give them all the important instructions n tool.
They are given valuable lessons,
At starting and ending sessions.
But as they start to grow,
Their tolerance began to get low.
And this makes the parents feel sad and gloom,
And they start falling in their mental sickroom.
And with passage of time they becomes a woman or man,
And thinks that they could do whatever they can.
Thus , this thought comes to their mind,
That their parents would make their ways shrine.
So when all the properties come to their hand,
They made their their parents life fully banned.!
And they leave them in an old age home,
To make them sleep in a rubbish foam.
And then the parents realized ,
That their child was the biggest reason of their demise.
But now no option was left alone,
Rather to die together in an old age home!
..
By alfia ahfad
MOTHER GHANA
I was told about your retrospect, after that scene, I burst into tears. I learned they came to genuflect like angels and took away your possessions. They dehumanized your progeny like animals. They dragged them as if they wanted to tear. Your progeny toiled just for us to cheer. They (the visitors) hypocritically played the drum expecting your progeny to dance. Your progeny suffered for my emancipation especially when the visitors wanted their nod consolidated. Your bold progeny tried come hell or high water to get it emasculated, but the more they tried, the more it got devastated. They fed your progeny and told them to regurgitate. They forced them with the rod anytime they tried to hesitate. They (the visitors) searched the brave among your progeny and escorted them to the grave. Wherever the deceased are, I pray the creator keeps their souls. You suffered but the battle ended. We thank those who toiled their blood and passed through all holes. We live confidently because of their fight. I couldn't stand the sight when I watched pictographic scenes of the battle. We were discarded but have been found. Today is your day for you were freed this day. Although I am happy, I am sad and I hope you know why. You were freed long ago but as if we have reached an impasse, we can't go. Anytime I think about it, I have no option than to sigh. Your present progeny need to wake up and work relentlessly, for your name should climb higher than I can see. You deserve the world's priority for you suffered immensely. It is unequivocal that your womb is blessed. We see bloody things in your neighbor's houses but we live happily on your compound. Awake present progeny and make your mother proud. You have tried but looking at your mother's grief, it is very minimal............HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL GHANIANS
Morning lights on my leaden eyes
And on my body still weighted in sleep
Fuzzy thoughts try to creep into my mind
I try to move not sure if I really want to wake
I check the time on my mobile
That is beside my mattress on the floor
(Even though this bed is not quite ideal I reflect
At least I have a roof over me and I am safe)
My body clock and nature’s demands
Say I must rise
In this I have no option
I roll over holding my sore back
I will my legs to move
I shuffle slowly at first
It helps my circulation
The heaviness dissipates
I start to move less painfully
The warm summers day looks on me with lacksadaisy eyes
My body responds like a dull knife that is not able to cut anything
I need a sharpening tool
They say ‘Iron sharpens iron’
I need this if I am going to make this day cut with any precision
Painlessly, cleanly and with heightened sharpened wit
I look to the Rock that is higher than I
My heart is quickened within as I acknowledge His spirit in me
I am not alone for the sword of His word brings me light and joy
His presence in me brings me peace
And soon that which is corruptible will be swallowed up into eternal day
‘This is the day that the Lord has made’ I will rejoice in it
For YOU have made me Glad!
© Brenda V Northeast 3 Jan. 2012
I wish I was more of a fool,
Whose only happiness is to make folly my desires;
Nonsense to which I assented my ego,
To err the only decency I fondled.
I wish I was more of a coward,
Whose only dismay is I myself being a hero;
A morsel of gallantry is scattered,
Losing the identity of a knight errant.
I hate it when I become so enthused,
With the thing most of the people hate;
Or perhaps I am just so fond of pretensions,
Candidly spoiling the inceptive of sanity.
I hate it when the heart's debacle is unmasked,
Becoming too mundane to obscure;
Dragging me to the abyss of deception,
Desperately seeking for my lost soul.
What can I be to you? A scoundrel perhaps?
A naught would be much appalling too;
It gives me no option for bliss,
Nor the dire longing for a kiss.
I walk leaving with no trace.
Head held up like a king with no crown;
Wide enough my kingdom it may seem,
My queen I lost, my treasure I wasted.
How can I get up from below,
Deserting the future it may offer;
I can only do a little with what I have,
Constantly waning from what is left inside.
I wish of my own stupidity, bragging it loosely,
Claiming my own ardor in disdain;
The desolation was never in my mind,
Until I lost my fervor, my amity, my love.
We were like brothers since we’re Grade 9.
We expect to be cool and end things so fine.
What happen when you get so cold?
Snubbed me to death when I just so called…
Now that we have a bad clan!
A cold war that is not part of my plan.
Won’t even talk till the 3rd month ends…
Forget the good days of so called best friends.
Feeling incredibly awkward…
See you every day is so hard to move forward
You could tell me to save our good memories.
Left me no option of bad mysteries.
Still have this query in my mind.
Do we still have the chance to be fine?
Coz I miss you my dear friend…
Let’s get this petty cold war end.
In the morning, I awake with a thought,
A thought about a rose I never got.
Its beauty, oh do I reminisce about.
And the thought ever grows like roots sprout.
Even in the embrace of my flower, do I miss it.
I’ve tried brushing the thought out my heart and mind,
But upon site of it, my heart rushes as do the wind.
From its memories have I failed to conceal,
I know, forever haunting me, this thought will.
Upon thought, my feelings fail to jump bail.
I got no option but to put these feelings to veil.