Best Oft Poems
Oft Woe Is Sorrows, Of Mere Mortal Men
Of fine artist brush and true poet's pen
oft woe is sorrows, of mere mortal men.
Tho' great the powers, sun's glow in blue skies
majestic the beauty, in dawns bright rise.
What purpose poetry, if not to give?
What purpose existence, if not to live?
What verse can such magnificence reveal
more so than inked truth that searching poets feel.
From revelations of heart's deep desires
to blazing flames of romantic fires.
What purpose poetry, if not to give?
What purpose existence, if not to live?
Dare we beg our muse, cast unto us more
of immense depths from which others did score.
Gift hearts, souls and minds creativity
or beauty even in versed brevity?
What purpose poetry, if not to give?
What purpose existence, if not to live?
What of importance of the sad and black
do we ignore from courage we may lack.
Nay! Ours is to set truth on its gold throne
tho, on that journey we may trek alone.
What purpose poetry, if not to give?
What purpose existence, if not to live?
When begging paper, cries for new black ink
of course from both heart and mind we must think.
And with purpose write to all, as a gift
Life, Love, Inspiration that so uplifts.
What purpose poetry, if not to give?
What purpose existence, if not to live?
Under Nature's blue skies that beg our praise
dare we give verse light, to cut world's dark haze.
Endeavor to create what time will note
with blessings, take great pride in what we wrote?
What purpose poetry, if not to give?
What purpose existence, if not to live?
Robert J. Lindley, 6-12-2019
Rhyme, ( A Poet's Heart Must Accept Its Truest Calling )
Categories:
oft, appreciation, art, assonance, creation,
Form:
Rhyme
Oft I thought I loved her - her beauty and her grace.
Oft I thought her lovely, the light dim beside her face.
She spoke to me with twisted tongues
and hands that moved in graceful ways -
Oft I let her love me, though she left a bitter taste.
Categories:
oft, lost love, love,
Form:
Free verse
O' Man, Thou Art In Arrogance Oft Lost
Within earth's vast herds mysteries abound
as man walks in shadows that prance and play.
Life is an ocean that swirls and confounds
such odd, vain and weak creatures made of clay!
What of miracles, for fear we do not tell,
for shame that such will never be believed.
Nights when one just knows he has been in Hell
and was only, by dawn's bright lights relieved!
Silent prayers uttered in agonized mind,
with blessed answers that arrive to heal.
Of lost treasures we thought to never find
returned by way of, things that dreams reveal?
O' man, thou art in arrogance oft lost.
Blindly stabbing that darkness at great cost!
Robert Lindley,
sonnet-
1985
Categories:
oft, appreciation, art, humanity,
Form:
Sonnet
I Write And Write Oft Through The Night,
Words Dedicated To All Poets
I write and write oft through the night,
ponder deep, world that slowly creeps
hold pen, in left hand not the right
inking heart's truth, as out it seeps
I write and write oft through the hours
inking what our souls dare not say,
gems of life's beautiful flowers
celebrating the live long day.
I hope and hope oft through the day,
wonder well, how we make it through
hold my faith, oft bowing to pray
blessings for my loved ones and you
I hope and hope oft through the storm
penning wins over our travails
wherein truest of love is the norm
and ever onward our love sails.
I write and write oft through the night,
I write and write oft through the hours
I hope and hope oft through the day
I hope and hope oft through the storm
Ponder deep, world that slowly creeps
Inking out what souls dare not say
Wonder well, how we make it through
Penning wins over our travails.
Robert J. Lindley, 7-06-2020
Rhyme, ( Wherein The Poet Must Relay Heart's Truest Gifts )
Dedicated To All Poets, as poets sacrifice to ink their art.
Categories:
oft, appreciation, art, beautiful, creation,
Form:
Rhyme
Oft I Wonder Can This Fairy-Tale Truly Be True
In my heart of hearts your red rose yet bleeds
longings in delicate touch, with urgent needs
How can I refuse your dance in our night dreams
goddess of such grace and beauty supreme
Your soothing voice waking moon's brighter glow
ignites desire's fires, lets our passions flow
My enchantress, my angel of sweet release
deliverer of love's gold and heartfelt peace
Giver of hope, along with dawn's majestic rays
bringing in paradise wherein our love plays.
With haste I beg for each night's early fall
as you descend into our palace waiting halls
Oft I wonder can this fairy-tale truly be true
am I alive, living and loving each night with you?
Oft I wonder can this fairy-tale truly be true
am I alive, living and loving each night with you?
In my heart of hearts your red rose yet bleeds
longings in delicate touch, with urgent needs
How can I refuse your dance in our night dreams
goddess of such grace and beauty supreme?
My angel, tell me why you first went away
broke my heart turned this old world darker grey
Oft I wonder can this fairy-tale truly be true
am I alive, living and loving each night with you?
Am I alive, living and loving each night with you?
Am I alive, living and loving each night with you?
Robert J. Lindley, 8-17-2017
Categories:
oft, angel, appreciation, beauty, devotion,
Form:
Rhyme
To Be A Poet, Oft Strong Commands Come At Night
Oh, gawd- comes raging middle of the night
This horrid current, rise up and now write
An electric jolt, firing through me bones
Of new fortress looming, huge granite stones
And that tingle surging from old waking soul
As pagan's carving of a totem pole
Words spilling out from a resistant heart
Pen and paper screaming, hurry let's start!
Stumbling amidst and across dim-lit room
Word flowing from life or else dreaded doom
Splash, splash as ink and paper newly wed
Old verses, that a spirited mind said
Some few flavored with Shakespearean awe
Other's cuttings from old lumberjack's saw!
And I, vessel to set these ravings down
Of love, a princess in her golden gown
Dancing slowing across a ballroom floor
One never knows what else comes through that door!
Robert J. Lindley, Nov. 2nd 1978
Rhyme,
( When Poetry Forces A Poet To Wake Up And Write )
Categories:
oft, addiction, art, creation, imagination,
Form:
Rhyme
Power Of The She Vixen That Oft Souls Destroys
Silk sheets graced her sweet, welcoming night bed
promised relief from pain, sorrow and dread.
With such treasure offered truth becomes blind
dark powered beauty that corrupts the mind.
Each victim was a lamb led to slaughter
once thought, no earthly power could halt her.
For her eyes hypnotized and her kiss stole
the power of light in the human soul.
Time did not decay her soft winning smile
deceptive illusion that would beguile.
This truth I now know, I now truly speak
she prayed on we fools and the very weak.
Her touch and lips sealed with a dark kiss
hiding thoughts of that one would dearly miss.
Her admirers would praise her sex appeal,
her next victim would jump aboard with zeal.
Alas! I was such, I make no excuse
pray I, these revelations are some use.
Lone survivor of her destroying ways
I sit alone awaiting final days.
If should you met beauty that so allures
know its curse, from which there are no cures.
Never allow its touch, deadly kiss
open your eyes and hear its snakelike hiss.
Writing now but nightmares tonight shall come
tho freed, I still hear its banging loud drum.
She, appearing in that beautiful guise
to deceive even worldly, and the wise.
Silk sheets graced her sweet, welcoming night bed
promised relief from pain, sorrow and dread.
With such treasure offered truth becomes blind
dark powered beauty that corrupts the mind.
R. J. Lindley,
April 9th, 1979
Note- Escaped but not without deep and painful scars.
Such dark creatures exist parading in human form..
New Note, 3-17-2018 -
How many survive? How many look back and see the perils of youth,
and its love of danger, mysterious and oft deadly beauty?
Categories:
oft, betrayal, conflict, dark, deep,
Form:
Rhyme
Four score and twenty years
I rinsed my lids- so many tears
So oft I sigh
To life anew- firsts breathe
To life lost- ye mourn a death
So oft they die
Twenty years and forty score
I'll weep again, at least once more
So oft I cry
Categories:
oft, death, life,
Form:
Tail-rhyme
Oft have I wondered how wonderful it would be
if there were no fine print
in your love for me.
Even in your arms, inundated by your charms
you seem caught in wayward thought
washed up, and joyful not.
If I dare speak of marriage, of becoming one
there comes a shadow in your eyes
and failings I own arise.
Love lacks conditional clauses, awkward pauses.
It embraces with one’s whole being
frailties forever unseeing.
Do I ask too much, human nature presiding?
Not if time is endlessly providing
and love is pure and guiding.
Categories:
oft, integrity, marriage, true love,
Form:
Rhyme
To A Warrior's Creed, Valiant Death, Fate Oft Decrees
I follow the red line into hot, blazing Hell
with razor sharp long sword firm in my fighting hand
sending the devils down where their demon friends dwell
down, down deep, upon earth's surface I take my stand
I, raging fighter, with valiant blood in my veins
The Sun my only friend as its light clears my way
I leave behind me, nothing but huge bloody stains
I live as a warrior on a pittance of pay
A day's ration of bread and a bold flask of wine
few gold coins for every dark monster I slay
and the great favors of girlfriends, I daily dine
pride and Fate demands I die on some future day.
As life will be forfeit what care I of death's hand
no more than a bad-spit whisper the dying groan
To truth I am sworn, courageous is my dear stand
I am a valiant warrior, I dare fight alone.
My Lord, to an honorable death I so plead.
I lay here glad as away my life slowly bleeds.
Robert J. Lindley, Sonnet
Note- "The valiant brave die but one honorable death"
Categories:
oft, birth, career, character, courage,
Form:
Sonnet
oft living alone
he lost the talent for talk
Dad's eyes spoke volumes
Categories:
oft, father,
Form:
Senryu
Mindless Musings Over Morning Coffee
What Is Wrong Or Right?
Whether It be dark or light
Be it in…or out of sight
Wrong or right is neither
Truly Wrong or right
It all depends upon
One’s point of view
Perhaps Unique to you and only you
Perhaps shared by more Than just a few.
Wrong or right are just opinions
That’s hard to wrap one’s around
Formed, molded, conceived
Under different conditions
Mass murderers, Parish priests
Both shaped by fate to say the least
Both lay claim to knowing concisely
With exactitude, what precisely is
Wrong or right
It’s fair to say most know right from wrong
While at the same time acknowledging
The hard truth that right and wrong are only concepts,
Beliefs and opinions held in one’s mind
And nothing…absolutely nothing is truly
Wrong or right
Categories:
oft, allusion, culture, fate, humanity,
Form:
Verse
11/7/16
Originally was not that strong
Oft was wrong
Overnight the wind brought in the fog
In areas where you can see the occasional fox or frog
When I had some, I'd walk my dogs
Around the block and way beyond
Up and down the hills making brief stops along
To enjoy the beauty of nature, and any phenomenons
Speeding faster than a rocket pod
To be honest, I've never been on the autobahn
All along
All in all a lot was odd
I sware some suckers would even con their mom
Knock their lights out, regardless of if they sob or nod
Why is the cycle going on and on?
Stop the facade
Get a job, don't be a slob
Those outlined by chalk now gone
By: Dalton Ogletree
Categories:
oft, poetry, rap, word play,
Form:
Rhyme
Earth Years, Oft Brief As Sparrow's Flight
To walk among men knowing not
world is ugly, full of its rot.
Alas! Gone is youth we once wore
and innocence sings, never more!
To love too much or not at all
past times, sweet treasures one recalls.
Earth years oft brief as sparrow's flight
yet great blessings when love is right!
How we dread, death's eternal kiss
as if its dark touch could we miss.
Pray mercy for those that remain
hold faith we shall see them again!
To walk among men knowing not
live good life, you already got!
R.J. Lindley,
July 9th, 1979
Sonnet, (Looking Back From Those Future Tomorrows)
Categories:
oft, art, creation, writing, youth,
Form:
Sonnet
Love And Reciprocation Oft Fantasy Of Lonely Hearts
She saw such handsome features, his eyes and strong arms
She - ravishing creature succumbed to his dear charms
Her ecstasy was a river in deepest flood
Sensual passion took hold, HE was in her blood
Could ever reality break such binding chains
Or future nights denied, bring ever greater pains?
He saw such beauty, such grace in her soft blue eyes
Thinking this was treasure reality 'oft denies
His longings then burst forth like a collapsing dam
She then gave that smile that cried out, " here I am"
Mad raging thoughts came of sweetest nights in her bed
Magnificent fantasy born in heart and head!
Party over, neither had a single word said.
Moment had come, now just as swiftly, it had fled!
Robert J. Lindley, 4-24- 2021
(LOVE OFT FAVORS THOSE SINCERE AND BRAVE OF HEART)
Categories:
oft, appreciation, art, beauty, fantasy,
Form:
Romanticism