Best Pettiness Poems
When you reach your twilight years,
It is important to keep an active mind,
Do everything possible to minimize fears
Leave resentments and regrets far behind,
Try not to dwell on all your pet peeves,
But seek out the positives in your life
Stand firmly for your cherished beliefs,
Avoid headaches from pettiness and strife.
Keep in mind you’ve only your life to live
So, try not to take on the lives of others,
Remember it is always more blessed to give
Through serving your sisters and brothers.
Lastly, try not to succumb to needless worry
Or becoming entangled in all kinds of grief
Take your time, there’s no need to hurry
Old-fashioned rocking chairs bring such relief!
#31 on Best New Poems List
April 27, 2022
POEM OF THE DAY
Poetry Soup
April 21, 2022
Written April 19, 2022
“Be like the sun for grace and mercy. Be like the night to cover others' faults. Be like running water for generosity. Be like death for rage and anger. Be like the Earth for modesty. Appear as you are. Be as you appear.”
Rumi
In times of persecution, poems give me butterflies,
but meaningless scribes leave behind silent lullabies.
Life has abandoned me to burn in embers of rage,
now my words are leaving me facing a blank page.
In your soul I placed the catharsis of my poetry,
now I'm exhaling the exhaustion from empathy.
Fate keeps triggering a release of perpetual pains,
I guess we don't appreciate the sun until it rains.
Should I be judged against a typical male stereotype,
suffering from the sins of a macho archetype?
I'm dancing away from fears of toxic masculinity,
you may disagree, but I respect all forms of femininity.
Fields of fairness bloom in my flowery poetic garden,
but some use your words as weapons when their heart hardens.
Many petals die in the pursuit of perfection,
yet we still sow seeds to grow forever flowers of affection.
I refuse to wash my hands in rivers of regret,
we can't wear the same crown with a suspicious mindset.
I can't let destiny drown in those tides of jealousy,
there's no prettiness to pettiness and hypocrisy.
Conversing with tantalizing tears of torment,
composes musical misery with a chorus of repent.
Why sabotage the things you love the most, settling for silence?
Search for a stairway to attain peace and end demonic violence.
Promises of patience are a symphony we'll make,
the mere reflection of me shouldn't cause heartache.
You believe this heart is made of steel and cement,
like artificial apologies and roses without a scent.
In reality we can reflect like rays of a graceful sunrise,
so when you don't doubt my worth, together we can arise.
A candle burns deep, in core of every soul,
A sacred flame, an ethereal halo of intellect,
A guide heavenly, a mystique that educates,
Defying overtures of egotism and pettiness,
A beacon of wisdom beaming rays eternal
On passage to liberty that was always there
Yet, elusive to arrogance and ignorance,
Mired in obscurities and misguided fallacies.
Soul never rests, sailing vast oceans of life,
Whether upon apex or troughs of tides
Vying shores spiritual, buoying endearment,
Inviting apathy and hubris to temple of solace
Delivering words of sermon compassionate,
Teaching of awakening and enlightenment,
Liberating from beliefs narrowly defined
Toward empathy, enriching hearts, and minds,
Transcending to rebirth of happiness divine,
In harmony with salvation, an epic realization,
An epiphany heard through angelic citations
Emanating from influences beyond transitory,
Forever missives of attainment and peace,
Embracing serenity of solitude, clarity of being,
Achieving bliss of cohesion and congruity,
Set free beyond bounds of mundane, ordinary,
Attaining divinity in realm of humanity.
you know some people talk out of their a$$
to fill inside some deep unspoken need
and so they try to make their gossip pass
to let the demons out and to be freed
I do not know who's spoken ill of you
why would they so malign an angel fair
they fling malicious words, I'm sure untrue
and now you've gone, there's not a poem there
I'm sad, I'm sad, I'm twisted deep inside
You gave to many here the chance to write
the gates of membership, you opened wide
and now your name is gone from on this site
To those who know not what they do or say
Your words, your deeds have pushed my friend away
Eileen Manassian
I'm very sad because a very dear friend of mine has deleted her account from this site. This women has handed out PMs and Life memberships as though they were candy. She's intelligent, smart, and beautiful, and I'm gutted to know that some people have been unkind to her. This is a sonnet slam, if such a thing exists. I have not been told who the people who have spoken unkindly are...but it isn't the first time it has happened. My friend is above and beyond pettiness...She left quietly...but this is me being upset.
Round and round the rumors go
As rumors often do
And each one adds a juicy bit
Of gossip about you
Reputations crumble down
And evil ones rejoice,
but I am lead to stop and think:
Is there a better choice?
When innuendos fly around
Do you take time to say?
“No need to add to pettiness
Let’s drive these words away?”
For I have learned this simple truth
The ones who must malign
Are sometimes those who suffer most
They’re sullied in the grime
In flinging dirt, you will get hurt
You will get dirty, too
So stop the rumors that go round
Let kindness shine on trough.
Eileen Manassian
They are EVERYWHERE,
if we would only look,
and bend and scratch
through the thick dust
of the weary mundane,
a world too often heavy
with boredom, pettiness,
even thoughtless cruelty.
But the jewels are there!
Kick bravely into life's dirt,
you'll see them sparkling
like secret stars in some
dark, cold, lonely universe:
red rubies of love, the deep,
deep blue sapphires of hope
and most precious of all--
myriad perfect diamonds,
each one an endless soul,
God's eternal treasure....
Civility is a characteristic I wish to revive
Long dormant in our society, it is so rare
Since we all live together trying to survive
Let’s be nice to each other, showing we care.
I know everything is not sugar and spice
And into “every life some rain must fall,”
But, for heaven’s sake, can’t we be nice,
And get along with each other, after all.
Being polite and courteous in all we do
Not getting involved with the dross of life
Just showing kindness with a smile or two,
Helps us to avoid any pettiness and strife.
Treating others as we like to be treated
Is the Golden Rule, a foundation for civility
Some folks strike out, feeling mistreated,
But being civil is within everyone’s ability.
THIRD PLACE WINNER
Written October 18, 2022
Submitted to “This or That, Vol. 14" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Edward Ibeh
In these wintry days of cold winds wafting,
far too many wrinkled faces wear a frown.
With my attitude, I keep smiling and laughing
even though the world seems to be upside down.
I pretend I'm Holly Golightly, Audrey Hepburn,
whose blithe spirit is in my body and soul.
Worries and troubles, I do my best to spurn,
never allowing any issues to take full control.
I dance when upset instead of flying into a rage.
Usually, it's just finding the right song to sing.
I wear a feathered boa, but I'm not a bird in a cage,
so don't try to capture me when I'm on the wing.
I appreciate everyday mundane things,
snowflakes on my tongue, raindrops on my finger,
the simplest of joys that happiness brings,
and peacefulness that allows serenity to linger.
Pettiness is a burden I choose not to carry.
The weight of the world is not mine to shoulder.
I smell the roses in my garden and tarry
so, my free spirit will thrive as I grow older.
a portrait is a picture or a likeness of an object, person or place
a rendering, a representation of something in all of its grace
but a portrait of a Pastor is more than just a facade
it's not an image of what man thinks but a reflection of God
people come with their own agendas about what a Pastor should portray
but it's not his clothes nor his cars it's the message from God he conveys
a Pastor should be pictured as a faithful speaker who reveals the truth in his speech
an under shephard of our Lord Christ and it's the Gospel that he'll preach
a Pastor should be drawn as a mentor to his members and circumspect in his behavior
a prayer partner in conjunction with the Holy Spirit and Jesus our Savior
a Pastor should be an image of one who comforts all in their times of need
a teacher of the Gospel who in his flock tries to plant God's righteous seeds
a delineation of an obedient servant leader who stands firmly on God's Holy word
and he should not be the subject of gossip nor the pettiness of this world
a portrait of a Pastor should be a comment on his spiritual calling
an anointed man whom God will use to catch us when we've fallen
a portrait of a Pastor should be an exhibit of compassion, wisdom and respect
a display of leadership, kindness, humility and intellect
it should be a picture of a potter who tries to mold us into godly shape
a silhouette of a counselor who doesn't judge but advises when we make mistakes
a portrait of a Pastor should be a reflection of the image of our Lord Christ
a man who will always allow the Holy Spirit of God guide and rule his life
D. H. Lawrence was a Better Man
I read about his snake
And was quite impressed with the
Alliteration and symbolism he used
To express that moment
As they met at the “stone trough.”
I appreciated his struggle with
The voice of his education which told him to
“Take a stick and break him now,
and finish him off.”
I too have faced the snake
And made a decision not so “perverse”…
or “cowardly”…or “honorable”.
The rattler was long and sleek
And glistened in her new skin.
I found her waiting in my tracks
As I returned across the field.
There was a moment as she flicked her tongue,
That I stood and gazed upon her,
Knowing what D.H. had felt.
Why was she there… and
How was it that we should meet?
My admiration was brief…
Shovel in hand…I struck her down.
It was the voice of my father
That said she must die…
“And truly I was afraid…”
Surely she would have struck me
Had I not seen her first.
And yet I questioned my decision…
Was it “paltry” and “vulgar…a mean act?”
I too shall think of the albatross…
And yet be watchful for the snake…
Again there will be a decision to make…
Having felt his “pettiness”…still I know…
D. H. Lawrence was a better man.
My ego is never enlightened to my own selfishness
I think that is a sense of meaninglessness
Now days to help someone it is very imperative,
That for God I use my talents to be creative
To bring peace I want to sing this song, spreading joy so sing along
I want to dance to give homeless children a chance
To spread the gospel I want to preach, I’m God’s disciple; lost souls I want to save and reach
I love to write to motivate and inspire, to help spark your spirit inside on fire
In this violent and cruel world we shall overcome
With the help of others this too shall be done
I will walk the path of my choosing, and if any other (soul) shall join me
I will share my allotted portion of love that this universe has granted me, but Jesus made me free
The filth and hate in our hearts is constantly tearing us apart;
Our selfishness and pettiness has made us blind
Have we all lost our minds?
Sometimes our own corruption is our own understanding
In our lives when we are feeling pain that is more then we can bear, I thank God for keep me standing
“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world, is and remains immortal.”
Albert Pine
Ready my heart for the rise of it all
Embrace the echoes as everyone falls
Settle the pettiness poisoning you
Take a brave leap into the darkness you knew
These are the scores which remain at a stall
Steady she goes as we tear down the wall
Leave it behind; rusted shackles of lust
Admit it; this life is the prison in us
Must I digress when I'm speaking my mind?
Always a war of the bittersweet kind
Cause we win and we lose, or nothing at all
Put down that sharp needle; you'll never be tall
You'll never feel strong or enough to be judged
This isn't a nudge and it isn't a grudge
I gained everything that I wanted to find
It all left me broken and trapped in my mind
So I'm shoving you; can you please lead the way?
I fell into lies and the greed yesterday
Desparately searching for a haven from the light
Only to find my devil awake in the night
I'm falling away from their outstretched fingertips
Turning my cheek when they go for a kiss
I'll never be wealthy as I wanted to be
I'll stay in the dark till the day I can see
Becca, Dear Becca,
say it ain't so!
I hear that you're leaving and
from Soup you'll go.
You have many friends here,
who think you are a gem.
Don't listen to the haters.
You're so much better than them.
In fact, you should stay,
as they are probably just jealous,
of your sweetness and talent -
for poetry not pettiness they should be zealous.
Becca, dear Becca,
say you won't go!
You are a beautiful writer,
and loved more than you know!
10/1/16
For Jerry T Curtis "bye bye Becca" contest
Be the bringer of peace
In all you say and do
Be an oasis of calm
When chaos surrounds you.
Try and do the right thing
And be upstanding always
Employ your moral compass
Throughout all your days
Be not the source of conflict
Nor of trouble or of strife
Be above all pettiness
Live a clean and blameless life
Take wisely the counsel of elders
Show them courtesy and respect
Even if you disagree
Do not their words reject
Be aware of your social standing
And of what it means to you
Abide by scruples and values
That influence all you do
Be loyal, honest and trustworthy
Be dedicated, reliable, caring
Earn your pleasure from giving
And of generous sharing.
Above all be the person you are:
Unique and wonderful
Be proud of all you stand for
With head held high and walking tall!
Do you want to know how the pomegranates tasted?
Oh mother dear, would you like to know how they felt?
Like freedom.
Oh mama, don’t you know?
He didn’t kidnap me.
He didn’t have to.
If we’re being honest here,
I stole him.
With all his darkness and silence,
his dark kingdom with no queen-
it’s so alluring.
No longer am I merely a flower
and the power of being queen is addictive
Oh Mother dearest,
your darling sister is using her power wrong.
Using it with spite and pettiness,
what a foolish woman.
my kingdom is smoke and bone,
my lovers eyes are brimstone and his mouth
is stained red with pomegranates
that taste like blood.
You warned me against gods like him,
told me the story of your brothers,
how they were all trouble those three.
told me to never taste his world, no matter how tempted.
But mother, oh do you know how he tastes?
The pomegranates were so very tempting.
it’s really not so dreadful here.
All I really wanted was to be queen,
I suppose was a tad more ambitious than you Mother
And who is going to question my rule?
It’s so funny
how my husband, always kind and faithful,
is always the villain,
and I, the goddess of flowers, am ever the victim.
Isn’t it funny how everyone only knows your side of the story.
But that’s okay,
they don’t know how I love my power,
as Queen of the Dead.
They’ll never know the hunger of the flower queen
Don’t you realize how difficult eating pomegranates is?
I had to pry the fruit open with my bare hands fingers bloody from
nails breaking
I used to be so weak.
And if they still look at me and see,
only a rose ready for picking,
oh, mama, they deserve to prick my thorns and bleed.