Best Overburdened Poems
These are the times
I sit and ponder at the beauty of it all,
amazed at the bounty of my blessings
Overburdened with foolish reminiscing
For the time has come for the present...
...life's never ending event
I admire the lovely wetness
of unexpected rain
Walnuts that look like human brains
Trees that sprout out of elk heads
to battle others for honor and for mates
I marvel at the convenience
of the kangaroo's curious pouch
The patience of eagles lying in wait
Chameleons (that rainbow reptilian)
shifting colors at a glance,
occasionally russet (at times van Gogh)
The industry of ants,
single file,
row
by row,
by row,
(not one little rebel)
The diamond skin of a pineapple,
amber juices aburst with sweetness
(and even the librarians in their neatness)
...not one little thing is worthy of omitting
For this bird bath of a planet
is positively brimming
with secrets to behold
Like the fangs of fire foxes
that tear into flesh
(but the story doesn't end there,
lest we forget)
For the pricks of a porcupine
are there to remind you,
regardless of strength or size
In the dark every creature
has the same set
of glowing eyes
The sunniest of marigolds
that brings the promise of summer fun
Just as much as the paper I like to fold
Cranes perched on the windowsill
(longing to fly just like the real ones)
There is magic everywhere you go,
no need to reinvent or fantasize
about some hidden secret or treasure trove
I can see the Pacific in your eyes
The Milky Way in a nautilus shell
(you can see it if you're looking,
you can hear it if you're blind)
Just sit a spell and listen
to the eternal song
of the infinite mind
Or catch a glimpse of April fireflies
(the misfit stars that got left behind)
So keep your gold, Leprechauns
Mermaids of old with your siren songs
serenade some other hapless chap
to the edge of the sea (and never look back)
And Genie of the Lamp, keep the other two,
for here's my first and only wish:
I want the earth, and everything that's in it...
...just as it is
PS. Inspired by the poetry of Suzanne Delaney and Carol Mays in their wonderful book, Poems of Nature, Enchantment and Mystery.
A sigh escapes still, immune to overt silence, unabashed...justified
Another teardrop enters the infinite pool of resilience, uplifting...reinforcing
Another hand empathizes--
touching, impulsively putting one's heart unto wounds, alleviating pain
enfolding memories into paper, ostensibly vigilant
Unborn dreams awaiting fruition.
empty streets, impacted pieces: occupied lives, unwavering spirits
Arighting the entropy--
"Not Impossible!" Heaves Obstacled Nation -- Untiring, Persevering!
A lone emboldened seed is planted, objectifying hope,
ushering life amidst rubble,
engaging tenacity inherently within overburdened, yet undauntable voices
Ardently surging, emerging from insidious waves of chaos,
ultimately touching azure
Time effortlessly moves, insensitive to ordeals
nonetheless, undoubtedly healing...
As wings echo distantly, irradiated winds oscillate
blush unfurling light...
Arise, Sun! Embrace the illuminated blossom. Orbit Love's universe.
0330040203042013
11th March 2011
**It has been two years since Japan encountered
such a devastating triple tragedy
of the earthquake in Tohoku, tsunami and
the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster...
They are still slowly picking up the pieces,
so much needs to be done,
so many are still displaced, uncertain of their futures, of their lives...
hopefully they are not forgotten.
It may take long, long years,
but I honestly believe Japan can rise over this, I honestly hope so.
****Thank you David for this enjoyable challenge.
It has pushed me to approach this topic in a way that
I would have never thought of on my own....
It wasn't all that long ago when covid
choked the world with it's grasp.
People became anxious, some belligerent, when
asked to merely mask.
While others stock piled toilet paper to
wipe their sorry ass..
A million Americans suffered.
A million Americans passed.
Our health care system became overburdened
with such a daunting task..
People craving answers, turned to the experts to ask.
Our Ex. President gave misinformation with a
racist slant, calling covid the "Chinese virus",
he'd over and over recant.
Innocent Asian citizens were aggressively attacked.
This former President refused to abide by the precautions that
were advised. He wouldn't wear a mask and the medical community he criticized.
How many of us Americans would still be here today, if we had
stupidly injected bleach as this President once did say?
Four years wasn't all that long ago dear friends.
Is this the type of leader that Americans want again??
Gee, how we blame our culture for starting this!
Oh, how ignorant can we be!
We blame men as evil and macho?
Yet we drooled when younger over Ralph. Macchio.
Ask any woman who gets up at three!
How great it is to get out there and earn a salary?
Then not only commute but slave all day.
Pick up the kids at three, and then the kids
overburdened with hours of homework?
Mom has to help them like a enslaved Turk!
Then each night prepare dinner for all three?
While clothes in the washing machine be?
Women's Liberation~~
My, my .....oh me!
I have not listed endless shopping or sports
on this list!
Gloria Steinheim's neck and women's lib needs
a quick twist.
Women brainwashed to theif very core.
Now think its an honor to wear
pants, which I abhor.
We are far to flabby in buttocks and thighs.
Walking, our legs look like an
earthquake, Richter Scale 5~jello surprise!
Perms begone, no more pretty hair, we must look
like men?
What's comes next?
Smoking cigars in tweed jackets in the den?
Sorry to rant, but I miss women
having time,looking fine...
To run a home, not looking for
a shoeshine.
I will write later of the history of
a woman's place being in the home.
And it's close to the time of Ancient Rome.
October 11, 2019
I desire to live a pain free life,
I'm ever expectant for a brighter day,
So I put my hope in goodness alone.
I concentrate so much on my troubles,
Reading through them like a novel,
Trying to catch a glimpse of something better in the situation.
I flee from many,to an island of isolation,
Where I yearn to speak to God and seek for his counsel.
But my heart is overburdened with sin that I feel hopeless,
And what I pray for,I oppose my tongue with disbelief,
Saying I am not worth a chance.
At the end of the day,my situation remains the same,
Day after day; year after year.
But,of late,I have found out something,
That I can never change it all if I have no faith.
So,this day,under this sun,
I pray to God,to give me great faith like Daniel's.
Sad Thought Came To Brain
Found this sad thought on my brain;
Effort to find good priest was in vein;
We pulled off shelf;
Loves hearing self;
Listening to his sermons we refrain.
Sermons priest must be sure to record;
Relationship only casual with the Lord,
And if grim,
Blame them;
Was all that vestry board could afford.
About new priest we have been bitter;
Always wants to be an attention getter;
Voice be heard,
That is absurd;
Only few here we know need babysitter.
Service overburdened with technicalities,
And of life seem to be one of the realities;
When knelt;
Difficult;
Both knees were creating many fatalities.
Jim Horn
A member at Large
Who does embarge.
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poets/top_100_poets_most_poems_all_time.aspx
You can call up all of my poems at this website locxation.
Scribe Under Fire
The wall had been there for an eternity
closing gaps of time and sacred places
field stones memories and gentle caress
Hans could not write any longer any
shorter it was too loud and far too quiet
the truth did not escape the lonely
fortress of sheltered dreams’ betrayal
He had lost a touch of his mind and a hand
already in previous senseless exchanges
luckily he was born tough and left handed
before right became wrong and left was a crime
When the trenches had become thicker
with blood bodies sticky bayonets guts
gore debatable glory and forlorn medals
Hans wrote from the depth of soul and despair
Hell bombs grenades shrapnel and agony
enacted a torrid cacophony of fire and noise
his nostrils became scorched while his ears
refused to hear and to listen any much longer
Scribbling poetry on the back of cigarette packets
his molten fountain pen fused with his mind
and he fought for his life his sanity and one
terminal act of kindness morale and advice
Hans could not release even one more shot from the
gun dangling from overburdened shoulders but
the sergeant shouted ‘attack you wretched coward
for King and for country for honour and sweet victory’
It had been a modern war and someone must have
known about shell shock or post traumatic disorder
but when they executed him with clean merciless shots
from a nameless firing squad because it was not for refusal
But for spreading fake news about the beauty of war for
sabotaging innocent minds of future generations for
soldiering with a mighty pen and not with a glittering
sword so he was shot at the wall for writing and not fighting
September 2018
Each day is a new day for the Police
Looking around protecting and serving the public
With a smile and politeness
They guard us from deadly criminals
Whether the weather is cold or hot, wet or dry
Whether they fear or feel joy
Whether they are sad or mad
Whether they are sick or not
Whether day or night
No matter what their personal lives holds
They took an oath to serve and protect you and me
To maintain peace, order and crime prevention
They have unlimited duties such as VIP security, Border guarding
Tackling smugglers drug traffickers and counter terrorism
And they thrive with such perfectionism
When the whole world is in deep sleep
They walk in streets looking out for any potential crime and criminals
To protect us from thieves and dangerous criminals.
They are injured, stressed, trying to do the right thing
Where we would dare not to be there in their place.
Out of honour, duty, justice and respect
They strive to save the lives they haven't met
To protect this world from the coldness and dark
They sacrifices their family and their loved ones
In order to protect us and our families at the cost of their own lives
The badge they wear is heavy that carries all the burdens
With many responsibilities overburdened
To promise to help those in need
And comforting them indeed
For they would stand guard, to serve and protect.
They never know what the day will bring
For that day could be their last day in their lives
They hardly hear the praise they deserve
They hardly are appreciated for their hard work.
They hardly hear the words of Thanks
They are the ones who do incredible sacrifice
Making the world better by their sacrifice
Every day in everyway
They are the real heroes who risk their lives every day
For they have a dangerous job
Bringing different challenges throughout every day
They are constantly being faced with the unknown and the unpredictable situations
With frustrations and complications, when the things are complex.
With pride integrity they protect our world
And making a better place to live in.
Their commitment is beyond priceless
Always willing to give their life to protect others
May God bless them and keep them safe
Be proud to be the Police officer!
Sometimes I sit and wonder
What you see in me.
I’m not always the nicest guy around:
Do you just choose not to see?
I don’t always say the right thing:
Put my foot in it often as not.
My big mouth causes me trouble
But it’s the only one I’ve got.
I know I’m not always considerate
Of how you feel and what you say.
How do you put up me like this
Day after day after day?
You know, I break my promises
I sincerely make to you
And often I don’t do what I say
I am going to do.
I’m stupid when you need sensible,
Often late when you want reliable.
I don’t always act my age
Drink too much and act the fool.
I’m untidy, lazy and a slob
I sure don’t pull my weight
I put a lot of pressure on
Your overburdened plate.
On the plus side, though
I know you laugh at me
Even if it’s unintentional
And inappropriately.
I buy you chocolates and flowers
On Valentines and your birthday
At Christmas I buy a present that costs
More than I can afford to pay
I clean up after the dog daily
And empty the cat-litter tray as well
All because you say you cannot stand
The awful, disgusting smell.
I hug you and I tell you
When you look sexy as hell
(To be fair you say the same thing
To me, sometimes, as well)
I know I’m still crazy about you
I tell you frequently
You say that you still feel the same
But do you really like me?
Couldest Thou Not Tarry
As I think of the night that Jesus suffered
and the disciples He chose to pray by His side….
but they lay sleeping while Satan’s plan now was unfolding
as Judas was leading the soldiers to take Jesus all because of lies.
It was no ordinary day as you can be sure
but one of anticipation for the tension seemed to hang in the air,
and although the day was filled with Lamb preparations
you just knew something or someone needed an extra time of prayer.
Yet, with all of the noise and clamor of that busy city
children crying, barking dogs and people begging for just another touch,
“I’ll wait till later”! Cried Peter – You understand don’t You Father
for I know You can see here is another man hobbling on a crutch.
But there will always be needs we feel that we must meet
but then where do we eventually draw the line?
For we absolutely must take time with our Father God
or how else then is He able to keep us so fine?
Would you rather wait until you have lost complete sight of Him
and then and only then fall down on your feeble knees,
crying and wailing with a very loud voice
“My God, what now is to become of me”?
Tarry dear child of God for spending quality time with Him
is certainly no waste of your most precious time,
and He will come and fill and refresh your weary and overburdened soul
while you hear Him say, “I love you dear sweet child of Mine”.
Written by: Marilyn S. Jennings
No Recommendation
Unreadable ideograms
Beaten thin leaf to tenuous holds
Of failing parchments
Brittle in their folds of tears
Remember, they struggle for survival
In clasps ever present
Reverberate continual back down
The long lost corridors
Searching for the regurgitation of their meaning
Black and white memories
Of some sickness
Which threw off kilter
Every next days other day of life
The heat of its brand, a whimper
Kicked on late stirrings against a pillow sleeping
Fizzog fierce of demons forming
From an ugly defining rampage torturous
No recommendation
Other than a scar to pit against its will
Other than the pain burns continual
Of insubstantial rape
Its shame to twist and wring the neck
Till breathing burdened
Utters not
Its last and inconsequential gasp
Released
The lump constricted full of throat
Strives to cough up on agonies point
The vendetta it holds against the past
And its freedom overburdened by desire
Children, screaming into silence
With a wish of blooded nails
To scrub away the indelible marks
And eaten hours
Rips against the mirror inside a heart
Cold implacable bleeds
The warm vein of isolation
Designs its unreadable ideograms
There are no recommendations
All for one
None for all
A house of cards that will
Bring about a great fall
Only a select few
Can spellbound the masses
Becoming Kings and Queens
With illegitimate claims to fame
We lift them up high
On a plinth made of our backbones
We the new third estate
Glorify them as demigods
Who conquered us all
With just a little bit of gloss
We are their slaves
Enthralled to them
We give them all
Unholy wolves
Swaddled in wool are they
Devouring all with their avaricious mind-set
We pay them tithe
Which they feel is rightly theirs
The public purse is for them alone
Everyone else must get by on their own
Just a few control the building blocks of society
An inbred top heavy hierarchy
That exert undue pressure downwards
Maiming those they lord over
Stymieing their advancement
A limited gene pool of ideas and talent
Hinders the legacy
That today passes to the future
A sure way for eventual extinction
A very sad prophecy
Selfishness and graft
Erode decency in society
Harassing the pillars of unity
Resentment thus festers
Those in the middle
Are full of hyperbole
Their spiel of being undervalued
Naught but insouciant drivel
They craftily forget
The power they wield
And the economic gains they do so
Hard to conceal
Society must benefit if we aim for equality
Those that contribute
Must see their labour bear fruit
All and sundry must get a slice
Of the overburdened public pie
Don’t know about you, but I think it’s stupid
To give lethal weapons to a diapered Cupid
(and what happens when he’s gotta go?)
See his soft feathered wings?
(Those fat little things!)
They flutter fast as he flies to and fro
But as he tries to take aim
To start the Valentine game
He sees the earth rushing up from below
For he keeps sinking down
And hitting the ground
Overburdened by his arrows and bow
---
He comes to our planet just one day a year
To practice his skills as a shootist
The rest of the time he’s hidden away—
What’s he do in absentia? Be a flutist?
‘Cuz he sure can’t shoot straight, this fat little angel,
Child of eros and chaos and earth
I wonder if Venus had any idea
He’d be so fickle, so playful, perverse
Some of his arrows are gold-tipped,
The tips of the others are lead
And where the gold ones inspire amoré,
The lead ones breed hatred instead
---
Yes, he’s armed & he’s dangerous,
This chubby fly boy
And he’s out of control in the air
At sweet couples kissing,
He keeps shooting & missing --
Hither & yon, over here, over there
So I say, Watch out for that cherub!
Stay out of his way!
Young lovers, go, take cover now!
Give one another a bear hug
And try to live through this day –
Look, he just hit a tree – Holy Cow!
Like I said, it’s just stupid
To arm this babe, Cupid,
To entrust him with arrows and bow
For while he can fly, he just can’t shoot straight
And I don’t want his hands to be holding my fate
I tell ya, he’s just got to go
Before something happens
And his lead-headed weapons
Accidentally break the heart of my beau
Patience, not disturbed by words,
works wonder
to hide the unrelieved pain
of a guilty conscience
remaining the overburdened broken heart
untouched by an unwanted peep
into the turbulent mind
and the skeleton
thrown to its ultimate destination
where Peace serves the dried eyes
a perpetual relief
that the soul always looked for
to grow the flower of life.
Sweet blooms in golden hour's wake,
As a diploma is given with handshake.
To blue-gold skies over glassy lake,
Scarlet redbird, the clouds overtake!
Nature is alive, and so is the degree,
And just no telling what all will be!
Like midnight stars in afar enormity,
Or a new dawn that whispers, "destiny."
As overburdened trees drop the fruit,
When succulent ripeness is absolute,
So marches the young graduate, astute,
With keen precision and mind acute.
These are the times to watch so, oh!
Though up to now, it was touch and go.
Childhood's memory we'll always know,
In fond hearts, while it doesn't show.
As summer beckons and butterflies flit,
And dreamy green bowers songs transmit,
There is one vivid blossom I do admit,
Stands apart from all others, exquisite!
written in honor of my daughter's college
graduation in 2008