Best Now Poems
Dwell not, O soul, on yesterday,
on sorrows past and gone -
the sketch you drew so long ago,
today may be redrawn.
Dwell not upon tomorrow's wars,
nor borrow from their pain -
that energy you need today
let not your worries drain.
Dwell not, O heart, on failures past
though each one left its scar -
rich lessons you have learned have forged
the person you now are.
Dwell not upon your victories,
for those shall also pass -
let not your pride construct a shrine
to trophies made of glass.
Dwell not, O soul, on others' gain
nor envy those with much -
contentment, paired with gratitude,
brings peace no wealth can touch.
Dwell not on anyone's downfall
as though it lifted up
your own estate; we're siblings all
and drink from the same cup.
So what is left, O soul - where does
the prudent soul pay heed?
Become less of a taker
always give to those in need.
Which seeds are we to plant
upon this plot of ground we plow?
Sow seeds of love, be brave, and dwell
in the eternal now.
Written 6 Dec 2020
I think no stimulus could be
as potent as the one to pee.
A feeling frequent and innate
is this - the urge to urinate.
It comes each day to everyone
at work, at play, or on the run.
It comes sometimes as home you drive,
and soon you're hoping to survive
the bursting of your inner dam
while sitting in a traffic jam.
Then down the street you drive distressed
with thighs together tightly pressed.
You wish so badly it would cease
and then you pray for sweet release.
And as you drive, you ache and ache
and curse that drink you had to take.
You want to speed, but big surprise -
a cop's behind you. Squeeze those thighs
to keep inside what wants to flow!
You do not dare to let it go.
Few impulses can so compare.
Oh, how you'd love a diaper there!
Then home at last, you do a dance.
You run while pulling down your pants.
And horror, if when once inside,
you find the bathroom occupied!
WEll, just be glad it's mountain dew
you're holding in, not number two!
Thinking of you in crimson dawn rising
Voice of fervid night keeps calling me
Naming the lady of my fabulous dreams
Meet me I say, gleaming amber glory
Start right there, where you left me
Whispering to beats of sensuous feelings
Listen to words waltzing verses of lyrics
Pulsing cadence of your heart’s music
Letting the chorus of smitten souls sing
Pleasing our tunes of euphoric melodies
As you dazzle me like glamorous painting
Upon the canvas of my sensual gallery
I hear you saying, “don’t try to rush me
Read me like a magical script of fantasy
Gently now, gently, unfold me softly
Kiss me like you love me, kiss me fervently
Gently now, gently, unwrap me slowly
Blossoming in bosom of love’s ecstasy”
Let my desires bloom in your spring
Thriving like pink lilies, doting zestfully
Whirling like nectar in fragrant ruby winds
Luring the tempo of butterfly wings
Arousing titillation of seductive reverie
Blushing my face in rhapsodic revelry
When you hear the sigh of surrender
Subjugating me in embrace of your zeal
Winning plea of my zealous appeal
Ready I’ll be love, to write my story
Upon the pages of your life’s allegory
Revealing secrets of romantic odyssey
I hear you saying, “don’t try to rush me
Read me like a magical script of fantasy
Gently now, gently, unfold me softly
Kiss me like you love me, kiss me fervently
Gently now, gently, unwrap me slowly
Blossoming in bosom of love’s ecstasy”
Gently now, gently, unfold me softly
Gently now, gently, kiss me fervently
Gently now, gently… gently now, gently…
September 6, 2020
Poem of the day on September 8, 2020
Placed 1st: Pick – A – Title, Vol 22 - -Lyrics 2 – Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Edward Ibeh
Title chosen: Gently now, gently
Placed 1st: Completely your choice (19) contest
Placed 1st: Battle of most acclaimed 2020 poems by John Hamilton
Darkness Where Now Poe And Raven Reside,
(Part One)
As the Raven cross into the dark pits
Those in torment went into heaving fits
Its shrieking calls, alarms even down there
Far worse its image to dying souls scare
With great trepidation some turned to Poe
Begging, master far away make it go
Poe only smiled, saying, come now my pet
I have far, far sweeter work for you yet.
As Raven lands on Poe's black-stone table
Spits out two bloody and half eaten hands
Asks, does this remind you of that fable
Promising keys to kingdom's treasured lands
Given to a man willing and able
Freeing princess, her captor's sword withstand
Where death's deeds and bloody might enables
Morbid masterpieces of art so grand.
From all around, their banter brought loud moans
From wretched sinners in that dark hell cast
Raven spoke in wicked, evil tones
I toyed with her, to make my pleasure last
Poe commanded, Raven, please no more of that
We are here to enjoy the pleasant scenes
And in our deep joy, grow lazy and fat
Let us not her poor soul thus so demean.
Raven again spoke, come now we need pain
And louder wailing that soothes a black heart
For what good is torture if has no gain
Or tearful pleadings that come as it starts
Master, order yon' demon band to play
For I shall fly above and watch you dance
Let us enjoy sadder cries on this day
With evil's first bride, a little romance.
Poe then rose to do as his pet wanted
Poe laughed and said, Raven dear, please be nice
Let not our blackened pride thus be flaunted
When bit better decorum would suffice.
With that he motioned demon band to play
Its favorite and first great monstrous hit
As waiting victims begged that they may
Have some relief from their torturous fits.
Robert J. Lindley, 4-30-2019
Dark Rhymes, ( As Raven And Poe Both Survive Below)
Part One...
Syllables Per Line:
0 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
0 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
0 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
0 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
0 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Total # Syllables: 400
Total # Words:306
Soft is the pillow beneath my head
as dread sweeps over the world
Haunting dreams with chilling screams
shrill as a lonely wind
Crisp and cool is the linen sheet
ample and soft in my generous bed
Instead of the act of counting sheep
I count the ones who trudge the night
who shake with fear in weary flight
While those who sit so eagerly
sit smug and bask, contently reek
with pride who boast philanthropy
What consequence lie the victory?
Who pretends surprise that when a limping peace
Returns in fragments a nation's youth
Do they turn their heads, for second look?
Those who stand erect in patriotic pride
Forgetful that it was not they who've sacrificed?
When dread sweeps over the world tonight
Bleak as a wind in the desperate fight
As I lay myself down to go to sleep
I pray for young souls who now lay dead
And pray for souls that trudge the night
And all the brave who fight the fight
Now I lay me down to sleep
And last I pray for those who weep...
~
I’m grateful for the sun
which shone on younger days
The days of scurried heartbeats
and butterflies of love
And for the carefree hearts
on beaches of my youth
The nights of clothes and cars
and bars of clubbing beats
I’m grateful for the sun
which lights the memories
of newlyweds with king sized beds
and never-ending dreams
And for all the glory days
I’ve lived and loved, gone by
Yet, as I know sun still
I’m grateful for the glory days of now
If someone leans upon an ancient tree
In future’s shade, a thousand years from now
Might they engage a wrinkle in the brow
And ponder over death of fallen leaves?
Are we not formed alike in fairness gained
Or time might choose to forge us enemies?
Would cloak, or hair, or skin of different blend
Invite your eyes to shun away from me?
If those born first, have greater weight to bear
Or yours, one day, the lift more heavy lot
Each step by step, we travel blind and torn
our crossroads come the same, or do they not?
Will one day find you leaning by a tree
And find a stone beneath the powdered dust
And wonder if it once belonged to me
To think it bone, or questions turned to rust?
___________________________________________
Iambic Pentameter........By Carrie Richards
Now that your spirit hovers in chilling night air
Can you find your way to offer me some insight
So many times I pledged my love to show I care
But your lack of response trepidation would ignite
If I could hold you once more, would you tell me now
Would you utter the words I longed so much to hear
Instead of leaving me hanging from love’s frail bough
You’ve passed from earth, but in my dreams you reappear
I see your lips moving and long to comprehend
Words that silently escape into the vast void
I reach for them and your death I try to transcend
Expressions in life that you never employed
Our hearts had been broken countless times before
Your actions showed love, but the words I needed more
Upon a breathless moment in time,
A thousand hells do exist;
Within a paralyzed paradigm
A love is lost in the mist.
Where hearts are broken forever,
Amidst the never ending now;
As anguished sorrows sever
And tears break the bough.
A twinkling second of love lost,
Like mirages melting of mind;
A neglected nuance in frost
Caged memories are confined.
In an instant love is crushed,
And a lonely moment hushed.
July.17.2020
JUST A MOMENT Poetry
Sponsored by~ John lawless
Placed 4'th...Thank You
It is quiet now
-the sun moves up the ridge
Honey crisp scent of freedom
-hovers and engulfs the air
Pangs of pleasure peal
-the primrose bows her head
Yellow paints the morning
-the fields are all aglow
Darkness Where Now Poe And Raven Reside,
(Part Two)
Song over, Poe told demon band to leave
And then pointed to the now empty stage
Wretched souls, look as thy lost spirit grieves
I present this new contest- all the rage
Blood and gore will flame your dark desires
Giving some respite from thy crying pleas
In dire conflict, comes death and fire
No weak romance, on love, birds and the bees
Suddenly cast there a hero alive!
In scant armor and flesh soaked in red blood
How this mere mortal had fought to survive
His legs covered in fresh, battlefield mud
Slow to rise, but so defiantly proud
His eyes gleaming with courage Heaven sent
Then yet another crash so very loud
From lightning, its power blasted and spent.
From that flash came a monstrous beast so great
With power from fangs and dagger-like claws
Dragon of massive scale, thick armor plate
Able to spew fire from massive jaws
At first glance it sighted the hero there
Bellowing out with its accursed breath
From thy flesh my claws will now rip and tear
Until that mortal body meets thy death.
Alas! Thy foul breath has no greater foe
Its effects are horrendous unto me...
Yet there is more than even you beast know-
Stronger are roots from my ancestral tree
Send forth thy evil, hottest flaming blast
As my great shield in its glory holds true
Thy fate, thy end has now came at long last
This brighter new dawn, shall be your end too!
Master Poe laughed with his booming voice
Stepping back, giving their battle more room
Announcing this is my gift, my first choice
Entertaining you, pleasure seeing sweet doom
This hero, with mercy I gave his shield
And his scant armor to give him a chance
Battling to the death, neither can yield
Here comes blood and guts, no feeble romance!
Robert J. Lindley, 4-30-2019
Dark Rhymes, ( As Raven And Poe Both Survive Below )
Part Two... Part Three to be written soon.
Syllables Per Line:
0 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
0 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
0 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
0 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
0 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Total # Syllables:400
Total # Words:306
~
The fog, it clings the heavens low,
a damp and murky sight
Where creaking branch and fears bestow,
this chilly autumn night
The path it winds, a serpentine,
a' slither 'long the way
As shadows dance a drastic scene,
in silhouette array
My heart now beats a rapid pace,
cold shivers grip my spine
Escaping breath, no steps to trace,
don't even know what's mine
A rustle neath the thicket dense,
it scurries past my feet
I stop and turn, in my defense,
now praying for retreat
Oh why, I wonder, have I strode,
this eerie, ghostly way
A shortcut to my own abode,
I’ve traveled on by day
When then above, the faintest glow,
appears behind the mist,
The moon, now full, begins to show,
“Not now,” my screams insist
My skin it rips, expanding burn,
I howl through sharpened teeth
Long scraggy hair, a hungry yearn,
my soul of no relief
With eyes, now such a larger size,
much easier to see
And ears so huge, it's no surprise,
I'm hearing perfectly
On fours, I crawl, through forest thick
when then, a blanket thrown
A trap, I yell, a dirty trick,
come out, I say, be shown
A granny's quilt, that's how it feels,
so heavy, woven tight
It's thick with dust, it now reveals
that something isn't right
I toss the cover from my head,
a ripping, tearing, scream
Its then I tumble out of bed,
my word, it’s just a dream
Well, that’ll teach me, teach me good,
this thought I’ll have to keep,
Do not read, “Little Red Riding Hood”
before I go to sleep
Written for: Scary Stories Cash Prize Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Crystol Woods
Oh, there was a past time when though my path was rough:
Joy once dallied in my heart but death now dwells-
like the frosty silence of a tomb.
In agony, I journey a stone path,
I am lost in endless weeping and grief.
In placid hours come thoughts like a winter dream:
Earth embrace him,
love, laid to rest!
My soul is aching and I am sleepy with numb pain:
Joy once dallied in my heart but death now dwells-
let him rest with dust in his eyes.
Oh, no more will he stir, nor breath,
how white the cemetery and how snowed-in.
I visit his tomb and stand suspended in time:
In this dead place,
by a frozen river.
Suddenly, the wind is kicking up the snow drifts:
the trees shake as a wild wind whistles
in winter pines,
overhanging boughs
pulling my hair:
I whisper- is that you my love . . . .
_____________________________
March 1, 2019
Poetry/Verse/Death: Now Dwells
Copyright Protected, ID 19-1119263-02
All Rights Reserved. Written under Pseudonym.
Written for the contest, Dance with Death
sponsor, Chantelle Anne Cooke
First Place
Here In The Now, Amidst Fleeing Of Twilight
Here in the now, amidst the pale twilight
that fleeting moment, - dying of the night
that most precious air, - dying of the light
cometh, morn's breath, - its beautiful new sight.
Here in the now, within mind's newest eye
that pondering thought, - let my spirit fly
that exquisite joy, - sweetest tears I cry
cometh, renewed hope, - truth I'll not deny.
Here in the now, as that whisper so thrills
that divine promise, - love needing no pills
that merciful vow, - relief from world's ills
cometh, beautiful truth, - love over-spills.
Here in the now, amidst fleeing of twilight
That stirring moment, - waking God's divine might.
Robert J. Lindley, 9-01-2020
Sonnet, ( A dream, A promise, A sweet renewing of faith )
Syllables Per Line:
0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 11 11
Total # Syllables:142
Total # Words:112
Note (1.):
Poem born from a dream last night
awakening to a day so bright
as twilight's new rays therein gift,
sweet poetic words to uplift,
heart and soul into joyous praise
relief was born from dark malaise.
Note (2.)
A new month, a vow to have a new and positive new start.
To attempt to compose more positive and uplifting verse.
To deny the dark clouds that attempts to overcome
To walk in the light and deny the dark that seeks to destroy....