Best Persist In Poems
An almost stillness came about
as she strode into my door,
like breath itself refused to move,
fearful of touching her mysterious beauty
But her obsidian eyes betrayed her.
Sharp and gleaming,
with a silver sheen
she looked at me,
and I knew…
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Molten lava spilled forth from her mouth, melting our clocks—
eighteen hundred nightmares compressed in two hours.
Long hand moving forward, as the short hand moved backward
How can memories persist in such an acrid life?
She spoke of a beast in the guise of a man,
one who ravaged innocence with the flick of a click
A coward that collected milk teeth for hardened bones
of other horny beasts with no spine
That throaty tenderness when she spoke
sprinkled crystal seeds of frustration in me
She says he loathed him, denied she loved him
but her obsidian eyes betrayed her
There she was, a bud he plucked from the nuns’ garden
He grafted then he pruned her,
spreading her pollen, wafting her scent
yet folding her petals to himself
Caterpillars feeding upon her leaves,
she lets them devour her,
yet once they are wrapped in their cocoons to sleep,
she stabs them with her thorns.
Tears then slid down from her midnight lace eyes
and it was all I could do to catch them
She said she was weary of curtailing butterflies,
of tearing their wings before they can even fly
I had to ask, how many… how many winged gems?
She lifted her sleeves, and showed me her scars
One ugly mark for each innocent child plunged deep,
my heart getting slashed at least three hundred a beat.
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A certain stillness came about
as I strode into her door,
like fear itself refused to move,
letting breath touch her mysterious beauty for the last time....
Her obsidian eyes had betrayed her.
Sharp and gleaming,
with a silver sheen
I looked at the knife beside her.
Maroon-mapped sheets, a stunted womb.
Strains of Bon Iver’s “Flume”
flit past the sighing air like a butterfly,
and I knew…
08112014
Written: October 28, 2023
_________________________________________
Among the living is where perfection is found.
Stoicism is a path of life that acts as dull ground.
The advice is to focus on the bright side of life.
Dispel the negativity, and let vanish all strife.
Inciting people to enhance their morality
To foster resilience in the face of adversity.
Strengthening your resolve and impediment
Beat iconoclastic wits for a fine pediment.
Grasp of the overarching rationality
Sustaining integrity even amid adversity
The Stoic Path is a philosophy of such depth.
With wisdom and tranquility in your breadth
Life taught us to persist in the face of hardship.
To sustain balance while still preserving worship.
Maintain calmness under challenging conditions.
Surmount your inhibitions and avoid suspicion.
And to welcome fulfillment with dignity.
Handle highs and lows with stoic sympathy.
Stoicism, truly, provides solace and calm.
A way of living that allows us to fully qualm.
How? By concentrating on our inner proclivity.
And shedding our bonds is an act of loyalty.
We are liberated from the bonds of conflict.
And accept a promising, significant life profit.
The Stoic Way is a philosophy with lofty stature.
steers our deeds into an improved, sound future.
Integrity and prudence in the face of misfortune
To mold ourselves and have a vital life and fortune.
(Please read The Park -- Part One first ...
This is a continuation from Part One, due to space limitations)
Yes, kids at play are bold and wise
with flashing smiles and knowing eyes.
Children tire easily of grown-up prattle;
thoughts turn to cakes, to toys that rattle.
They think that Belles and Bills tell lies.
Tme is a birthday gift or a new surprise:
games to play; a windy day for a kite one flies;
coins that shine; toys that squeak;
a trip to the zoo at the end of the week.
Belles and Bills persist in their story.
Some even mention forgotten glory.
Children go home to eat, to sleep,
as Belles and Bills their vigils keep
then wearily drift back to flats
to listen to the rustling rats,
to sip their beers or gins or rums --
to wait until the morning comes.
They stand and stretch, look all around,
surveying the world to which they're bound.
Then they shuffle away with airs of sadness
at being always on the verge of madness.
They'll see once more the sun's first ray,
the birth in the park of another day.
Eyes are glazed and minds are dazed;
the atmosphere grows dim and hazed.
An eerie echo of an unheard bark
reverberates throughout the park
amid falling leaves and a darkening sky
and the nightly proof of the chilren's lie.
Only I Decide My Fate
By Kathryn Collins and Terry O'Leary
At times when I am dark and deep
joy but flickering dim,
I upon the portal keep
stilled like phantom limb.
Braced by winter's welkin wind,
distant clouds unfold,
where once the roar of laughter dinned
I taste the burning cold.
Stood in life's predicament
immobile on the sill,
I wait for grand encouragement,
to warm this awful chill.
Stranded in the winter bleak,
with breezes bitter blown
slicing like the sleet oblique
I find myself alone
If frozen at the brink I stand,
persist in stagnant stall,
my feet will melt to silken sand.
gone my soul, my all.
The glamour of their squalor is found
in specular highlights of crisp brown eyes
peering through mud-matted hair, crying.
Weeks of eating an abundance of whatever,
which consisted of scarcely more than bugs
fished from non-potable cesspools.
A decade seems a long time, until singularly
it accounts for one’s whole life…and yet
we won’t home them, because they are a plague.
Self-righteousness cannot bear the reminder
that “refugees” might be people…children even;
running from nightmares that persist in daylight.
Ignorance is bliss, after all…
and who chooses to come down from a high?
We have full tables, full inns, and empty hearts.
Opportunistic politicians see a platform,
borne on the backs of the starving and desperate,
they manifest feigned outrage and farcical hand-wringing.
Droves follow droves out from the gloomy dread
greeted by cool apathy or worse; outright derision…
what more is to be expected of humanity?
The squalor of our glamour is found
in hopeless disconnection to what matters, or
to the reality that we could have been them.
11/18/15
When I began to be born again
I no longer saw with the eyes of man
I began to see with spiritual eyes
I began to hear with a spiritual ear
My tongue formed words that my 'father' taught
As he filled my mind with his spiritual thoughts.
Ageless and ancient at once I became.
The 'Lord' calls me by a different name
Transfigured by 'Him' and his to keep
No shepherd has taken better care of his sheep.
Shall I tell you what my spirit eyes see
What lies beyond; what soon shall be
I must tell you with my spiritual tongue that my father taught
While he filled my mind with his spiritual thoughts
Speaking in tongues that none can hear save he who has a spiritual ear
I will spill the secret in a single breath, few though it be who pass this test
What lies beyond and soon shall be
Persist in Genesis 1, 2, and 3
Hear , think and speak oh spirit filled man
For now you know what no one else can.
A parable, another clue oh born again man I give to you
Six days have I labored and labor to write
What you now read so passes six nights
And now so that you do not sin, the spirit speaks lay down your pen
And take to you the Sabbath's rest, while men strive hard to pass this test.
The spirit speaks, a promise makes
That in the morning when I wake
Restored, renewed, reborn I'll take
My pen in hand and strive to make the work I had begun to make.
A work in progress, soon to be a part of all eternity
For times and times and times
Times three.
RETA PRUITT
August 18, 2016
In the depths of my own fault, I find,
A longing to mend what's left behind,
No blame to cast upon your name,
For in my own mirror, I see my shame.
With pleading eyes, I seek your gaze,
Yet you turn away, lost in a haze,
If only you could witness the truth I hold,
Choosing you, forsaking fears untold.
Let my thoughts fade, and my heart prevail,
Together, we're destined, destined not to fail,
Through the trials you've imposed on me,
Through pain and deceit, a tangled decree.
Why do I search for reasons to keep,
A bond that's fragile, causing me to weep?
I alter my stride, my very breath,
To feel my heart's leap, conquering death.
Some days I can't face my shattered soul,
You've torn me apart, taking your toll,
But strength resides within me, untamed,
I know I'll endure, never to be maimed.
Yet when you depart, my world ablaze,
The flames consume me, a scorching haze,
But I'll silence my mind, and listen instead,
To the whispers of love that my heart has bred.
There's no division, no rift to mend,
Against all odds, our souls transcend,
Through pain you inflicted, a treacherous tide,
I persist in seeking reasons to abide.
For in my heart, I find the solace I seek,
Amidst the turmoil, love's whispers speak,
No, I won't be severed, I won't let go,
With reasons abundant, our love shall grow.
In the realm of my heart, I'll firmly reside,
With you by my side, our spirits shall glide,
Through trials and torment, we'll defy,
For reasons to keep you, I can't deny.
So, let me forsake my misguided mind,
Embrace the love that in my heart I find,
With no blame to bestow, no fault to pursue,
I choose to keep you, for my soul yearns for you.
It is difficult to get rid of the false self
A believable mask has taken years to develop
Such safety precautions demand extensive disguising
Dear i ask, why can't we all be living in the bare?
The conditioning begins at a young age
Everyone is trained to look good at every stage
Shame on you if you don't protect your private space
Outrage will result if someone is caught in public Nude.
Who makes this decision, and why does everyone follow orders?
Since we only bring our skin from the divine with us,
Being bashful, prideful, or ashamed is not a problem for me;
Instead, i admire animals for being so pure and unadulterated.
There are laws that punish what is considered lewd behaviour
Such behaviour is blasphemous in some religions
It's widely accepted that Adam and Eve were covered in leaves
It's deemed wickedness to uphold one's birthright.
There are absurdities in religious doctrine, which is truly unfortunate
Should individuals disregard the regulations they are made to dread?
Some female folk are told to cover even their head
Many are compelled to hide their body or off with their head.
I seek honesty,
Which would leave me vulnerable,
As is pretty obvious
Should this be the case, i persist in being true to myself.
I am not just a bare-Naked black man
I am a christian bisexual bare-Naked black man.
~The fount of life’s bubbles having a desire to be, becomes many bubbles
of love’s own state or desire to continue. Life bubbles into four seasons for
reasons of changes preventing mere human concepts from becoming obsolete
conservations in control. As life's being bubbles forth holding uniqueness in life forms, each and every one is remarkable in itself of origin. Many would say,
"Life is like an assortment of lively bubbles."
~The human species is a dream bubble of the higher nature, “I would Say!” A paranormal dream living in its lower nature pending one's transition into the higher
consciousness. Can a dream respond against one's own identity as man's
knowledge and develop a model army of one's own ego; love being the first
impulse? Can an individual formed reply, “Why was I formed thus?” Life bubbles
are akin to human consciousness, of Love’s paradoxical notion, to be are not to be.
~"We shall today we shan't tomorrow!" Humanity hath not expression of his own
destiny this or that way, "For human nature hath not yet conceived in adulthood, the
exuberance of man place in infinity. Love knows not a today or tomorrow for
love is today and tomorrow, in the bubbling off of shape.
~For life's stream of a human being that persist in shallow government would not
yet be a person format in full payment by faith in the source, would he? For the now,
the subject of testimony provisioned of, is the constant guide, people should rely
on its divine tracks; besides nature's plan guided by divine reference, there is non
other!
~As for me, I will recommend, support and arise as a bubble of humanity’s
meaning in life, as long as I have the paranormally significant amount. I shan’t
exchange nor change my right of authority. I shall provide bubbles of irrepressible
joy and happiness as they are the paranormal measure; I shall hear of and rest in the design of divine pattern... "I THINK!"
Only I Decide My Fate
By Kathryn Collins and Terry O'Leary
At times when I am dark and deep
joy but flickering dim,
I upon the portal keep
stilled like phantom limb.
Braced by winter's welkin wind,
distant clouds unfold,
where once the roar of laughter dinned
I taste the burning cold.
Stood in life's predicament
immobile on the sill,
I wait for grand encouragement,
to warm this awful chill.
Stranded in the winter bleak,
with breezes bitter blown
slicing like the sleet oblique
I find myself alone
If frozen at the brink I stand,
persist in stagnant stall,
my feet will melt to silken sand.
gone my soul, my all.
Thanks to Kathy for her support and inspiration
EYE SHADOW
-----------------
WOW!!!!
I love the color and how
It accentuates the tone of your skin
Truly, it brings out the brilliance
Beaming bright from your face
As I gradually gaze
I lose myself in a daze
Simply amazed at the light
Leaping deep in my eyes
I'm flaring in flames with delight
From viewing this gorgeous site
Your color choice cascades
Like a clique of crystal colored
Clouds calmly caressing
The blue sky
Even the light from the sun
Can't outshine the suave design
Of the portrait displayed
Right in front of me
But tell me something.........
How long does the liquid splashed
Upon this portrait last
Before the palms that painted it
Mark a smear with a mash
It is removable right?
It's severed at some point
The darkened dusk of the day
If I'm not mistaken
I mean, the mascara
Surrounding it meshes
At the tinge of a tear
The full ethereal effect
Of the face elapses
Evaporates in seconds
And all at once disappears
So, why persist in painting
Your pupils as if going to war
When bound in braids of beauty
Just the way you are?
Why continuously cope concealed
In optometrical colors
When one has already seen
And sees what the cosmetics cover?
~Poetra Jah~
Why is it:
we plant gardens
but we garden plants?
we call natural medicines drugs
and we call unnaturally produced drugs medicines?
we label our disease-addicted corporate-insurance complex
a humane "health care system"?
we prefer fetal alcohol syndrome, pickled livers, and dead drunk outcomes
to THC induced probable failure to ever develop yet another over-yanged Type A personality,
with an antisocial proclivity for sprouting pickled livers and other deadly outcomes?
we tend to respond to uninvited Type B personality invitations
with Type A fully-alert personalities,
yet we respond to uninvited Type A demands
with Type B laissez-faire, neglect, and cognitively hypnotized languishing?
the older our nation grows
the younger our culture appears to prefer?
we pay more and more to elect politicians
who produce positive economic priorities and outcomes less and less?
the louder and longer I persist in persuading you of my wisdom
the shorter and softer grows your attention span
and capacity to hear me?
we produce prodigious amounts of dispossession destined for the trash
yet we seldom intend to ever possess and take ownership of our future trash?
Business As Usual economists respond to eco-logical health
as if their home eco-nomial turf were some alien crazy wealth?
domineering competitive Business As Usuals
fail to see we are a sustainable cooperative economy's
most significant source for disinvestment
away from Earth design health
and resilient development wealth?
we seldom have enough time to notice and appreciate new places and faces
but we drag through ponderous time invested in the same ol' retiring spaces?
if some communication event between two people
is called a transaction
then we think "economics,"
but if some communication event between two non-humans
is called a relationship
then we think "ecology"?
that digital information is always binary
but polynomial information is not assumed to also flow binomially balanced?
we invest in gardening well-crowned edible and ornamental gardens
but we often find it prudent
to nationalistically divest
of co-evolving nutrition-rooted Earth?
Oft' I've pondered if when God peers down upon this His own Creation,
And sees this blue marble heading for calamity with each day's rotation,
That He must shake His head and weep at the chaos humanity hath wrought,
Wondering why folks can't abide by The Golden Rule His Son once taught!
Peoples who cry out for freedom are crushed 'neath wicked tyrants' heels,
While autocrats amass vast fortunes, ignoring the impoverished folks' appeals!
He must be appalled that there are even some religions that foster strife;
That there are those who plot evil and don't respect the sanctity of life!
He must look with dismay at the lack of stewardship and the mess we've made,
Of His once pristine orb that we've managed to leave so polluted and frayed!
His magnificent forests and waters aren't immune from mankind's rapacious greed.
We've harvested their bounty and ravaged resources without regard to need!
Old men plot and the very young die carrying out their nefarious schemes.
All too young they die, never having the opportunity to realize their dreams.
God must wonder why there is so much mayhem and lack of brotherhood,
Among folks of diverse races and creeds even in their own neighborhood!
He must at times consider hurling this orb of His into the ebon void of space,
And begin genesis anew since we persist in certain doom at a steady pace!
Thankfully, we have a merciful God Who will sort things out for us along the way,
But it might be well to concoct a plausible story to tell Him on Judgement Day!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved
How cruel my heart
is!... To persist in beating
although you're gone...
Here is to you crazy fellas
Those who are covenanted to the religion of distinctiveness
And heralds of unique unthinkable patterns
Here is a salute to you
Those, who against the popular opinion and trend, stick to their principles and confession
Thus cementing their loyalty and guaranteed blessings
Here is a tribute to you
Those, who go against traditions in a bid to creating new arts and unconditional techniques
Thus cementing their status as dynamic civilization heralds
Here is to the dogged ones
Those who despite numerous failures, get back up and try for one more time
Thus embedding their names in the scrolls of the victorious
Here is a much needed recognition
Those, behind the scenes who humbly strive to attain victory, (which most people ascribe to another)
Thus laying favorable foundations, upon which their launching forth would be smooth sailing
Here are much needed encouragement
Persistently persist in your beliefs,
For in them you shall be celebrated
Give no cognisance whatsoever to people around, Who continually discourage you for they are spectators who must cheer for you when you make it
Love yourself much,
For you will certainly not feel the love around your environs
Love God best,
For only He can give you the strength to achieve all your heart desires.
#BASHORUN