Best On The Ground Poems
Saddle up! Saddle up! It time to go.
I heard the Sergeant’s call
I held by rifle against my chest,
And vowed to give my all
It’s time the Sergeant said, move out
Let put your boots on the ground
For God, Corps and Country,
I took a solemn oath, I’m duty bound
To the landing zone I gladly went
Then the day slowly began to wane
I picked up my ammo and weapon,
Not a word did I complain
Suddenly, I heard high in the sky
The gunships thundering roar,
I watched with great anticipation
Then felt my pulse begin to soar
Six Huey Cobra gunships suddenly
Bursting forth from the sky
It was my ride to to camp Khe Sanh
Where many marines live and die
Towards the besieged compound
Without a word we went
Their engine roaring louder,
The gunships pilots refusing to relent
When I arrived on the battlefield,
I stepped out and pensively planted my feet
I looked around at my surroundings
The pestilence of war their I meet
From inward fears beyond passion’s pledge
In their hands they held my fate
And of this mortal enemy
Their rockets would not abate
Then I heard the sergeant shouting
I wished the rocket had gone awry
While in this dreary existence
I turned to God and sought a reason why
I dove into my sand bag bunker, I didn’t’ hesitate
I felt my heart beat strong in a bunker in Khe Sanh
And when the sun rises heralding a new day
I’ll strain all my senses, look and ponder long
I never meant to linger, only thirteen months I’ll stay
For strong is the life of which I intend to save
As the North Vietnamese Army surrounds us
Their intent obvious, to put me in a grave
A ventured stroll away from talk
taking in all superfluous detail
allowing it to fill my corrupted senses
an escape from the tedium
it invites me to escape from the routine.
To open new ways of perceiving
at what has been seen before
yet never revealed afore.
Rarely a moment goes by
when the same view cannot take on a new hue
for the view is alive
pumping subtle life
into each crook and cranny
so that every microcosmic detail
the tiniest of other earthly intelligence
are also offered the opportunity
the same that we are given
to flourish
of making a worthy society.
Beneath our very feet
subtle signs are there
for us to perceive if only
our eyes are able to notice.
Cracks and fissures around
infrastructures hardened textures
allow glimpses of those forces
not insubordinate
just seeking a share of living space
to echo their colourful vibrations
on our un-perceiving attentions.
An eye so keen to accept such notices
might be tempted to see
such sacred messages for us to feel or heed.
Madness may even encroach
to accept the design of such a divine creation
is at work edging around our corrosive borders.
Behind the corporal language
a communication so deep and so fine
no human sense could fully comprehend.
Unless we learned to abandon
our fleshy bony vehicles for a simpler primordial state
surrender complete intimacy with all of creation.
Hearing unutterable whispers of shining comfort
through the cracks and fissures along
the pavement, striding, roaming
surging up through gutters and drains.
The unsuspecting borders between nature
and our singular self-enhancing interactions.
Life is surging,
urging us to manifest,
in joining in feeding on its royal bosom
sharing in the feast of creation
so we, in turn, will return
to nourish the elementary message
of our purest love.
Blue sky patches of white clouds
They are slowly drifting by
A Spring thaw brown patches
of grass
Shadows are seen upon the ground
Different shapes and sizes seen
One looks like a huge dog
Another like a bird in flight
Then huge circles spread outwards
The shadows on the ground
A sunny day brings them out
They stay there all day long
Until the the sun begins to set
I been down so low
So low to the ground
Singing sweet to my love
I been down so low
And it seems that time never stops
When we sing sweet melodies
I been down so low
You picked me up off the ground
And the leaves fall round
Every winter
And the love comes round
Every summer
I can’t leave you on the ground
You picked me up and took me around
And I know that our love is so tender
And I know that our love is to be remembered
I can’t find myself falling down
I can’t find myself on the ground
Daredevil Jim always let it be known,
first time succeeding most times is blown,
and his theory is right
for on his first flight …
Jim should have left skydiving alone.
WITH MY FEET ON THE GROUND
With my feet on the ground,
I looked to the stars.
Darkness can steal away your soul.
Like a blood thirsty beast,
It sinks its teeth deep within your throat.
With my feet on the ground,
I looked to the stars.
There was an attempt, once again.
An attempt to steal my treasure chest of happiness
A happiness that I acquired and caressed.
With my feet on the ground
I looked to the stars.
There was a loud start of music.
As loud as thunderbolts, I could not hear.
Could not hear the unkind words of my kindred.
Darkness can steal away your soul.
But you see, my feet are on the ground.
A ground that keeps me from altering.
Unkindness from people, cannot alter my own.
I was taught compassion, I was taught forgiveness.
Thieves can rob you of your happiness.
But you see, with my feet on the ground.
A ground that keeps me from altering.
Thieves never succeed, an attempt cannot alter my happiness.
I was taught happiness from within, I was taught content.
Music can play, roar loud like thunderbolts.
But you see, with my feet soiled to the ground.
A ground that keeps me from altering.
Unkind words cannot trump a kind soul.
I was taught understanding, I was taught endurance.
My mum taught me to forgive, I have experienced a great deal of hurt in my life, by the people I care about the most. They seldom ask for forgiveness. I forgive anyway, it gets weary sometimes but I just forgive which always brings me more happiness. Happiness that I know I never want to compromise for anything in my life, nothing at all.
© Herzel Poshiwa :)
Order dispatched from the commander in chief
Send in the men, the mission to be done
To conquer the enemy, long last and due
Proudly they went in, America’s sons
Ever in danger, but alert and on guard
Objective they know and eager to find
Dark in the compound, bare minimum light
Proceeded as instructed with mission defined
The battle, it started as a shot gave off light
No American casualties among the guns sound
Left standing, the sons, objective was met
Well planned execution with boots on the ground
No aerial strike this evening, for sure
As camouflaged men had evened the score
The Pear On The Ground
Apples good for food,
Oranges sun kissed and juicy,
A pair spoiled the fruit !
For and in honor of Carol Brown
And contest: Apples? Oranges?
A mosquito wanted to bite Deborah Lee James
The victim push the blanket and covered her upper body
But her feet were uncovered Suddenly the mosquito heard a soft voice from under the blanket It said:Attacking from the air may be effective but you need boots on the ground
She rolls on the dusty ground
pulls her hair
scratch her skin
dress halfway out
to a stranger this may look like the Ingoma dance
she falls on her knees
tears streaming down the cheeks
mouth wide but no sound comes of her screams
"It has happened again." They utter in whispers
She cannot hear the voices
Her nerves gone numb
eyes light out
skin is flooding with goose bums
her heart bleeding faster than the body she has scooped on her laps.
she is paralyzed by the pain...
"Parents should not bury their kids."Bitterly he spit
"But when they defy the law we have no choice."
He pick the gun and disappear in the thickening crowd.
Another body on the ground another bullet to the count
To family and friends it is another mistaken identity
Police man word is "Dangerous criminal."
We could riot in the streets, sing solidarity and slogans
but we know what happens each time
The order is "Shoot and kill."
One by one we will make our way home
socked in sadness and disbelief
The nation will run a headline "What happened to guilty till proven guilty?"
Nothing new really,just a few new punctuations on the last re-run.
Human rights groups,NGOs and lobbyist will pick it up,make some noise,attract more donors then go black
In the village the drums will echo for a week
we will dance round the fire each night calling on our gods for solace.
Then on Friday we will put his shattered body six feet under
hope our son(s) will find peace beyond the misery of us living.
Only right before the flowers on the grave goes faint
another son will be on the ground,another bullet to the count
And the ritual goes on...
Who dare question Uncle Sam?
pine tree on the ground
makes me remember the days
when Stars were Alive....
He pushed me on the ground
And then pulled me by my hair
I tearfully asked, ‘Is that why I married you?’
But he kicked me. That’s not fair!
I ordered him to stop
I asked him to set me free
And when nothing happened
I begged him ‘please’!
But he didn't stop
And I started to cry
Then I remembered my rights
Why not to give a try…!
I pushed him greatly
And succeeded
But he reattained the condition
And instantly defeated.
He blowed hardly on my face
That I was forced to bleed
And suddenly I woke from my nightmare,
‘What happened, my sweet..?’
Hitch up those britches
Don't show those gitches
Stained with skid marks, no gitches
keep the crabs on your private witches
Bust the slack and expose the crack
Makes me see TP and talk some smack
Cover your assets; keep it in the backpack
Or I will use a thumb tack with a good whack!
The world is not in pause;
It turns round and round,
Our feet on the ground.
A spinning top,
It doesn't wobble and stop,
A gifted miracle we don't fly off.
4/24/2022
It's just a feeling,
that is within me,
its like I'm stealing,
a thing that can't be,
the paint is peeling,
you see what I see,
it is revealing,
this thing that can't be.
The motion of the ocean,
is the love that you make,
you might need some lotion,
when your skin starts to break,
you might need a potion,
or some pills you can take,
because your deepest devotion,
is what is at stake.
When you lose the feeling,
you tremble and quake,
you consider stealing,
your will starts to break,
the pain is revealing,
more than you can take,
to begin the healing,
you make as you fake.
It was just a feeling,
Taken too far
you stare at the ceiling,
you sit at the bar,
your skin it is peeling,
you wish on a star,
the pain is revealing,
its all that you are.