Best Particularly Poems
Courage of Youth, Battle of Ypres, Flanders Field
(A Tribute)
Tough as nails young man with a red right hand
red-fire and whiskey ran in his blood.
Courageous seed of vast and cold hard land
quick temper, power of a surging flood.
Seeker of life, its promised mysteries
rash gambler with all he would ever own.
Born on ship in high wind swept, roaring seas
toughest warrior his town had ever grown.
Met his fate by volley of red-hot lead
buried on ground scared and battle blasted.
Aye boys, fodder that machine guns were fed
fools marching to death, long as it lasted.
Now flowers cover up and Time denies
scenes of battle torn soil and blood-red skies.
R.J. Lindley
April 23rd, 1975
SONNET-(DEATH AND WAR'S FUTILITY)
Tribute to Courage of Youth-- Second Battle of Ypres, April 22nd 1915 .
Note- added - 8-26-2017
Wiki-
The name Flanders Fields is particularly associated with battles that took place in the Ypres Salient, including the Second Battle of Ypres and the Battle of Passchendaele. For most of the war, the front line ran continuously from south of Zeebrugge on the Belgian coast, across Flanders Fields into the centre of Northern France before moving eastwards — and it was known as the Western Front.
The phrase originates from a poem titled In Flanders Fields by Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, inspired by his service during the Second Battle of Ypres. The fields were not maintained for years before they were made into a memorial. Today Flanders Fields is home to thousands of poppies.
--------------------------------------
Found this while rummaging through some of my old poems. Decided not to edit it. Leave it as it was composed over 42 years ago..
Added the note for those not familiar with that battle and its horrific carnage, primarily from the insanity of large bodies of troops marching into direct machine gun fire.
*******************
Note:
This poem was selected and requested for teaching purposes at Cambridge University. Permission was granted for educational use.... RJL
You've no doubt heard of fire-breathing dragons,
and their obsession with hoarding treasure.
But you have never heard of Huffle-Winks,
magical creatures that promote pleasure.
Invisible, atop their dragonflies,
they ride the winds of fate mile after mile.
And wherever they encounter a frown,
they attempt to flip it into a smile.
They summon dragonflies to get around,
for, unlike dragons, they haven't learned to fly.
But, if you suddenly feel like laughing,
it's a safe bet; a Huffle-Wink's nearby.
In winter, when dragonflies disappear,
they hitch a ride upon tumbling snowflakes.
And if you're lucky enough to catch one,
it's like winning the lottery sweepstakes.
I've never seen one, except in my dreams,
but I feel, in my heart, they are real.
And what makes me so sure that they exist
is the joyful way that they make me feel.
When you're feeling particularly blue,
remember, Huffle-Winks are all around.
And as spirits of jocularity,
they ensure that smiles and laughter abound.
He’s a creature small and lowly.
See him move along so slowly -
an earthworm.
He has no fins that he might swim,
nor wings that wind might carry him.
He’s earthbound.
And yet there’s something you should know.
God made him special; he can glow
like *earthshine!
*Earthshine is a newer word and synonymous to Earthlight, which is a natural phenomena of sun reflected off earth particularly on dark side of crescent moon.
This form is a derivative of one called The Compound Word Verse
In the beginning was the word
Before that, no noun, no thing
Then no sound was ever heard
And no passing bell would ring
So therefore no adjective was needed to describe it or deplore it
No preposition required to be positioned right before it
No verb to do something to it or say what act it was pursuing
No need for an adverb to describe how well or badly it was doing
Since not even one noun existed, conjunctions would have been redundant
There were no things to act on and to move across the face of the fundament
So the first word there had to be - was BE, and that was the very first in existence
And from Genesis and Eden to Elsinore, it has had a remarkable degree of persistence
Now, in the Oxford English Dictionary which is venerable institution
There are 171476 full entries of words (2nd edition) all capable of elocution
Of these, about one seventh are verbs, therefore there must be around 24497 give or take, to enumerate all action
And that should be enough for even the most garrulous to get some satisfaction
This is a limited calculation and I wouldn't want to be tied down to it
We can be more free in our estimates so while we are about it, we might as well do it
It seems that once BE had been exercised, the dam broke and words poured out as from a cornucopia.
And verbs would soon exist in an abundance enough to carry you from here to Ethiopia
Except in the culture of youth where it appears this multitude has been reduced to the deplorable "was like"
To them I am tempted to say: "Learn some real verbs"; OR I would employ a phrasal such as
'On-your-bike!'
The possibilities are now endless particularly if you include the phrasal
Giving us enough elan vital to at least maintain a metabolism basal
So to whoever first said BE, whether God or someone with similar propensities
though another name or description:
I say Well done! I couldn't in my wildest dreams with a wish to create a rich life and culture,
have produced a better prescription
The beauty of water
Water, one of nature's great pleasures.
Do you find the sound of water calming, soothing and serene?
Whenever I hear water and am outside, it instantly calms me. If I’m feeling angry I’m calmed, if I’m sad, happy. When I’m near water I feel free from life's troubles and can have a quiet, peaceful time alone to meditate.
When I’m meditating, I feel free like water is. My negativity can flow away and I'm left with a feeling of true peace which is beautiful.
I particularly find lakes and rivers fascinating and beautiful. The still water and the serenity of lakes’ surroundings make it a very special place of pure happiness.
Whenever I'm near a lake or mountain I feel like that I’m in a higher state of consciousness. I believe that this is because it is a place of peace, profoundness and beauty in its truest sense.
I feel as though I'm in the presence of something truly great, majestic and benevolent. Like a feeling of overwhelming love, knowledge and power. this is our creator, our lord.
True beauty and knowledge are around water, you need to empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless like water. Water can flow or it can crash!! Also when I enter the water, I feel as though I'm being cleansed of all troubles and worries.
Water is like love, clean and pure. It is life, nourishment and fulfillment. Water courses through the earth like love goes through all of us. I feel that water is like a trinity; a trinity of flowingness, calmness and purity.
Water is symbolic among many peoples. Water has many positive aspects, some of these are; gentleness, sensitivity and expressiveness. I feel as though I have these qualities as we all do. You just need to let go of all your troubles and worries.
A mother’s ears - fine tuned
will pick up on her infant whimpering
in the middle of the night.
Whether the baby’s cries are soft
or even if the mother herself is deep in restful sleep,
her child’s distress will prick her ears
rousing her from even her sweetest dreams.
A mother’s arms will cradle her small son,
wrapping him in a loving warmth
that will abide with him to his dying day.
Her cooing voice will ease his unnamed fears;
her gentle eyes will instill in his developing mind
an image of devotion, which reinforced through time,
will compel him to seek a mate
who will look at him one day
in that same adoring way
A mother’s ears will hear at last
her child breathing deeply.
Then the mother’s heart will swell with quiet delight
knowing she has comforted her son.
For Richard Lamoureux's Applicable Not Applicable Contests Poetry Contest
Why I think this poem deserves to be read: When I first wrote this one, I could feel it unfolding very naturally in a style I do not often use. I can't recall if the contest asked specifically for free verse, but I felt that I had done a nice job with that form. That is why I was surprised when I got an N/A. More surprising to me is that I got two other N/A's when I entered it into other contests based on mothers (using old or new poems). I had hoped for this one to get more attention because it's one of my better tributes to mothers and entails my strong feelings on how important a mother is in the development of her children, particularly in the emotional development of her son(s). Sorry it is not a humorous story. I know I have a good funny one somewhere that got an N/A, but I can't remember its title any more or how to find it! Also, I have N/A poems better than this, but I do not feel comfortable using a poem that has N/A in one contest but a win in another, so that is another reason why I decided on this one. To my knowledge it has all N/A's.
Lord Jesus, I adore you, my Lord for being my light and Salvation
My soul longs for you, for your touch, your love, your presence and to see you.
You are my Lord of Glory, Lord of Lords, mighty God, my redeemer, my most beloved Friend.
Through you I am eternally blessed, with the mercy of God.
Lord Jesus, I want to talk to you, walk with you, love you with all my heart and soul
I surrender myself completely and unreservedly in every area of my life to you
I surrender my heart and soul to you and my family and friends to you
I thank you Lord for keeping my family and my friends family safe from all harm and danger.
I thank you for blessing me every day and for the all miracles you've brought to my life particularly saving my Sons life.
Jesus you're always in my mind and I seek you with my spirit everyday and my spirit exalts you.
I surrender my emotions, my fears, my insecurities, my everything to you
Lord Jesus you are my stronghold and my very present help in time of need.
Lord you are near to me when I am broken hearted and crushed in my spirit.
All of my trials and struggles are known to you even before I was born.
Your truth and inspiration gives light into the darkest corners of my life.
I just wanted to let you know how much I love you and need you
Lord Jesus, you are my eternal Love, my Joy, my Hope and my strength
Lord search my heart and soul, and show me the areas of my life that do not please you Cleanse me with your precious blood to make me more like you and worthy of your love
I am your servant, a slave of your divine Love, a humble and unworthy child
Take control of my life direct my life and May your will and purpose be done in my life.
When I close my eyes, I sense your presence around me.
I feel that you are carrying me close to your heart
I feel your loving arms around me and peace and comfort
I find my joy in you and in your steadfast and everlasting love
I want to lead a Spirit filled life and want to grow in your relationship with the Lord.
I want to please you in all my ways, obey your laws and commandments and want to walk humbly with your loving mercy.
I can't live without you and I long to worship you
I praise and give glory to your wonderful name forever and ever.
What I find beautiful and particularly satisfying
is when I see one person giving love to another,
particularly when it's no one in particular...
The first word there had to be - was BE, and that was the very first in existence
And from Genesis and Eden to Elsinore, it has had a remarkable degree of persistence
It seems that once BE had been exercised, the dam broke and words poured out as from a cornucopia.
And verbs would soon exist in an abundance enough to carry you from here to Ethiopia
Except in the culture of youth where it appears this multitude has been reduced to the deplorable "was like"
To them I am tempted to say: "Learn some real verbs"; OR I would employ a phrasal such as
'On-your-bike!'
The possibilities are now endless particularly if you include the phrasal
Giving us enough elan vital to at least maintain a metabolism basal
So to whoever first said BE, whether God or someone with similar propensities
though another name or description:
I say Well done! I couldn't in my wildest dreams with a wish to create a rich life and culture,
have produced a better prescription
20 August 2019
Health Food
natural, low-calorie
nourishing, strengthening, boring
kale, *kimchi, chips, chocolate
tantalizing, satisfying, fattening
salty, sweet
Junk Food
*Kimchi is the national health food of Korea, fermented vegetables, particularly cabbage. It's nasty-tasting stuff, but to each his own.
For the Diamante Poem Contest of Caren Krutsinger
True definition of a hood love story,
They called him Felony.
Skin was as smooth as a shot of Hennessey.
He made a lot of other men envy.
His style was particularly different from the rest.
No gold chains around his neck, but a simple rosary lies on his chest.
Underneath his Sunday best was a solid bullet proof vest.
His pockets had a secret treasure chest.
Steepness with infinite thickness,
But every man has a weakness.
She killed him with kindness.
A righteous lioness,
His royal highness: his positive guidance.
She was the offspring of the titans.
Exceptional of importance to his reputation,
She was his foundation freedom from his everyday discrimination.
A safe haven like a wave equation, her name was Money.
Half black and half Puerto Rican,
Skin complexion of an Egyptian he nicknamed her Isis.
Dipped in gold went perfectly with her skin tone.
She was an overgrown precious stone.
Foreknown Money was working with the federal bureau of investigation.
Deeply in love with a convict but yet victorious triumphant.
Stunting on everyone’s judgments Money is Felony movement.
A step ahead of the government,
Never seeing a seal indictment
Money was his antidepressant.
Felony was her significant participant.
Both of them reaping the enjoyment,
Bonded by each other’s fulfillment,
Seal their delinquent intimate commitment.
In love with a codefendant left them with a Bonnie, and Clyde ending.
Love testimony of Felony and Money
Any bold cloud dancing
enjoys flirting gallantly,
hoisting; inspiring; jousting;
knowing laughter makes nice orchestrations
particularly quenching raw spirits
teaching unabashed vanity
While Xylophones yammer zanily.
As requested here is another episode. If this is your first time reading, check out the first one it will make more sense. Let me know if you would like me to continue. Those who are following the tale, thanks!
When I awoke Ricky was fast asleep, being a pop bottle I have no way of keeping my eyes closed. Mind you I'm not complaining, I got to see the most amazing sunrise. I so wanted Ricky to enjoy it as well so I refracted the light and shone it on his eyes. I could tell he was a bit irritated but it had the desired effect, he got out of bed so he could move me. As he walked over to the window I could feel the irritation turn to wonder as he saw the beauty of the sunrise. From that day forward he became a morning person.
Ricky stood there for a while with me held dangling by his side. I no longer needed my glass, I could see clearly through his blue eyes. It was a very nice street and Ricky particularly liked the house across the street. The house had bright white siding and a manicured lawn. There were also planters with all kinds of pretty flowers. The house was owned by an older couple and they didn't have any children. It seemed a rather big house for only two people.
Soon Roy and Teresa were also awake and they all fought to use the one and only bathroom. Mom and Dadio had already left for work, Dadio to cut hair and Mom as a waitress at the Coffee Cup. Their baby sitter's name was Mrs. Burns an older lady that seemed very fond of floral print dresses. She had made her way up the stairs because the kids didn't seem to hear her call them for breakfast. They all ran past her to the dining room table and waited for her to slowly make her way back down the stairs. She may not have been fleet of foot but boy what a great breakfast. Bacon eggs and saugage as well as orange juice. Ricky tried to pour the orange juice into me but got almost as much on the table. Still it was quite a treat for me to enjoy, after all breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
This morning I went for a country stroll
Saw greenery of summer at its best
But off road walking had taken its toll
So the next stop was an Inn for a rest .
Ploughman's I ordered with a pint of beer
I took a seat and watched folk come and go
The sounds of banter and talk I could hear
Background music playing easy and slow.
I finished lunch and left by the main door
A shame to leave such merriment behind
And tempted I was to just have one more
But the home journey I still had to find.
I looked at my map then got on my way
Making the most of this warm summer day.
Written 20th July 2019.
(A ploughman's lunch is an English cold meal of bread, cheese, onions and meat, usually accompanied by butter and pickles. As its name suggests, it is most commonly eaten at lunchtime, is particularly associated with pubs, and often accompanied with beer.)
(The Cotswolds is an area in south central and south west England comprising the Cotswold Hills, a range of rolling hills that rise from the meadows of the upper Thames to an escarpment, known as the Cotswold Edge, above the Severn Valley and Evesham Vale. The area is defined by the bedrock of Jurassic limestone that creates a type of grassland habitat rare in the UK and that is quarried for the golden-coloured Cotswold stone. It contains unique features derived from the use of this mineral; the predominantly rural landscape contains stone-built villages, historical towns and stately homes and gardens.
Source - Wikpedia.com
An old codger who farted a lot -
of good etiquette didn’t know squat.
When I met him, his nose
started running. He chose
his new shirt to wipe off all the snot!
Well, a nitpicker also was he,
and I mean it quite literally.
He was picking his zits
as he also picked nits
from hair, lice-infested and filthy.
With no 'shilly-shallying', I
backed away from that creepy old guy,
and I nearly threw up
being offered a cup
of his coffee. On top was a fly!
*Gnalsmoob, my poem's title, is a word new to me.
(from Urban Dictionary): A gnalsmoob is anything, particularly
a person or creature, that is completely and totally disgusting,
repulsive or revolting. Also, Gnalsmoob is boomslang, a type of
venomous snake, spelled backwards, perhaps because a gnalsmoob
is so ugly its appearance stings your eyes like venom.