Best Precedes Poems
I sense the fullness
in fleeting moments
At those rare times
I'm able to let go of me
The ebbs and flows
of non linear thinking
when I am part of the everything
I was born to be
For within the simple
Magnificence is grasped
The beginning precedes an ending
that in the future will be passed
Over and under
all the spaces in between
If we look only with our eyes
the answers won't be seen
Quiet is not time wasted
each moment we have has been lent
Some things don't require saying
Through actions we learn what is meant
Feel the power of pausing
Within a moment thoughts can crystallize
By choosing to listen with intention
We learn the wheres and whys
Observations is much more important
then any of my (me)s or (I)s
I often get lost within my own talking
and hold onto my wordy lies
When I use a different kind of perspective
I hear the whispering of the Wise
Floating upon eternal verses
as within my being they steadily rise
Viewing the mosaic of all creation
The wonder of how all things interconnect
the order of God's magnificence
creates inner peace and Holy respect
My thoughts are no longer singular
Like droplets of water ideas collect
The things in life most important
I see things I didn't expect
For no person is truly independent
Through God's grace we draw every breath
Here within this total miracle
I've witnessed God's width and His depth!
I believe our souls recognize our creator when we are in tune with God's Creation.
Categories:
precedes, blessing, creation, forgiveness, god,
Form:
Rhyme
Children placed in foster homes are
swiftly shuffled from heart to heart.
Breaking links in a chain of love;
goodbye; precedes every new start.
Wary eyes scan every fresh face,
trying to catch a glimpse of hope.
But intolerance and half-truths;
aggravates their plight, so they cope.
Love sounds like an empty promise;
delivered by a silver tongue.
For it's either misunderstood,
or disbelieved in hearts so young.
They've been suckled on hope and fear,
feelings felt from an early age.
And on realizing their fate,
they oft succumb to inner rage.
They remain undesirable
right up to their eighteenth birthday.
Upon which; labeled a burden,
they are abruptly sent away.
Categories:
precedes, care, child, emotions, family,
Form:
Quatrain
To Look Upon His Face
Nativity of Jesus
Oh! Starry twilight this December night
Guiding light glows so up high
Moonlit shadows slow dance
Shooting stars flashing close by
Angel's sweet melody echoes flow
With the embracing of heaven
Human beings, wildlife, and nature bow down
Paying homage to our God's son
Sparkling eyes and glowing heart
Spirit enthusiasm precedes me to look
For a brief moment upon His face
Heavenly virtue weeping tears overtook
To want to lift Him up and hold in my arms
My humbleness to submit to Him
And seek his grace and favor
Spread my wings and sing a Cherub hymn
Oh! Starry twilight this December night
Guiding light glows so up high
Moonlit shadows slow dance
Shooting stars flashing close by
Angel's sweet melody echoes flow
With the embracing of heaven
Human beings, wildlife, and nature bow down
Paying homage to our God's son
11/21/2015
Categories:
precedes, angel, baby, inspirational, night,
Form:
Quatrain
Last time it rained was in April.
It did not rain that much,
but it was enough to dirty everywhere.
You see, it was a south easterly wind
and the clouds arrived laden with sand from the north African desert.
That was nearly five months ago, and the farmers are already up in arms,
bemoaning lack of water as they till the arid soil.
dust flies in the air
the sun blazes overhead
sweat drips profusely
Prayers have not gone unanswered!
Dark clouds creep from behind the hills
fast multiplying, ominously, obliterating the blue.
The calm hot air is ruffled by a timid breeze which soon turns
to gusty wind. A sudden horizontal flash followed by drawling thunder
precedes a few big drops of rain which testily hit the ground.
increase of tempo
deafening cymbals clash
erupting deluge
Water gathers then flows steadily down the streets;
thirsty fields drink greedily; trees bathe in delight, relishing
heaven’s kiss of life on their moribund leaves, roots breathing in relief.
Then, worn out, the wind slowly abates; so do the thunder and the rain.
The clouds shyly disperse, permitting an unobstructed view of the sky above.
Satiated, the sundrenched land savours the afterglow.
sensual appeal
petrichor emanation
veins pleasantly throb
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Contest: Rain Rain Come My Way
Sponsor: binibining P.iNk
8th June 2016
Categories:
precedes, rain,
Form:
Haibun
It’s a sad situation, the state of this nation
of murderers, molesters, and thieves
I can’t help but wonder as we continue to plunder
at how we create our own grief.
We bully and batter, look out for the splatter
as we rob our own children of pride,
It’s no wonder our sons take up their guns
while we all sit back and ask why.
In this generation, of vain masturbation,
which can create its own self in a tube,
Each woman is master and can now choose to blast her
fetus right out of the womb.
Gender reversal is no longer controversial
(in fact it’s barely thought of as odd).
As men become women I find my head spinning
at man’s struggle to be his own god.
When possibilities ignited we just got so excited
about the fact that we could,
that perhaps we forgot to think whether or not,
as a civil society we should.
Somewhere in the thicket chirps our Jimminy Cricket,
hoping that someone will hear,
While we in the piety of civilized society
stand stoic with fingers in ear.
Make no mistake ‘bout the risk that we take
by not heeding ol’ Jimminy’s call.
Consider the thought that God you are not
and pride always precedes the fall.
Categories:
precedes, angst, life, social,
Form:
Rhyme
I am known as a sky rat, or a beach thief,
most call me a seagull and a nuisance.
I love to fly across the ocean freely, soaring with
my wings spread while darting into the water.
I see a photographer, maybe I will be featured,
instead I go unnoticed as whales are surfacing.
My eyes are keen as I search for crustaceans.
Feeling bored I decide to move onto the beach.
I tease humans with my little show and dance,
always winning a few scraps for my troubles.
No one knows my struggles to exist with my flock,
we squabble, fight and bully for food until bloodshed.
Crabs are our delicacy, it’s like finding the jackpot.
I will win you over with my beauty and charisma,
until you leave me with your lunch as you swim.
It then becomes all mine, except for the wrappers.
Yes, my reputation precedes me again!
7/09/2020
Contest: Bird Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Constance La France
Categories:
precedes, appreciation, beach, bird,
Form:
Personification
She prowls the night
with clenched jaw and pride,
nothing able to smite
her remorseless stride.
The ominous reflection of moon
shines forth from devouring eyes
of a nocturnal beauty spun on the loom
of the Creator's bid and sighs.
Grace moves her every limb
and she precedes an enraged scream
caused by ruins of a forest now grim
and held alive by all but one stream.
Her claws prophesy of vengeance
though her heart yearns for reconciliation.
Yet now there would be no leniency
for a soul's annihilation.
Now on journeys through lush valleys and ashes
she will embark
until all that remains after furious thrashes
will be the tigress' mark.
Categories:
precedes, allegory, animal, beauty, betrayal,
Form:
Quatrain
"Deep Duet"
When I write I feel my fingers tapping keys
In my mind they are stroking black notes and ivory
You are sitting with me
Place your warm hands on mine
“Metronome”, you whisper
Warm breath on my neck close behind
“But there are rules”, I say
I lean back into you
Time to move in tempo
We are deep duet
He colours my world
Intermezzo
Keys
Love Notes
Sharp
Accidentals
White and Black
(Lovejoy-Burton/April 2018)
"Love is like playing the piano, first you must learn to play by the rules, then you must forget the rules and play from your heart".
"An accidental, in music theory, is a musical notation that is used to raise or lower the pitch of a note. There are a handful of accidentals - sharps, flats, naturals, double sharps, and double flats. In piano, when an accidental precedes a note, it tells the pianist to play a different note from the original."
Lyrics/Let Me Love You - Peter Murphy
https://genius.com/Peter-murphy-let-me-love-you-lyrics
Categories:
precedes, imagery, romance, sensual,
Form:
Free verse
Archetypes flash straight from a pack of Tarot cards
anti-terror Jing Jang synthesis with neuro-spiritual precision
implants explosive animation from the deep unknown
like a taro rootstock growing wings to fly with found suspension
Stereotactic stereotypes archetypes semi-circling soothing storm clouds
thunderbolts and enlightening darkness are my enema of anxious anger critique
of the mono-morph collision of the scalpel shadow ‘Prozacian’ nemesis
neology of ‘animusity’ of ‘newfoundlandel’ comprehension
Dialectical complementation rises higher and higher culminates in
ethereal transcendence where collective personal unconscious
presents my animus in wishful thinking and projections as
soft and gentle revel rebel raising entropy in tender conservation to escape from
Dogma categorically demanding artificial classification replacing with dimension
flow and rivers stagnant pools of stream of consciousness evading
sexist fragmentation disenfranchising marginalisation assigning male
and female emasculated o-variation where seminal origin implantation
Precedes nurture socialised indoctrination assignment of celibate promiscuity
My animus refuses to accept in emotional rejection whether Jung and I read
symbols from the same page or not of masques façades and liberated self
where academic artistry split hairs and personality for the premise of debate
I am a rebel and claim no higher lower ground of superior distension
He or she who animates friendly animosity is right and incorrect whatever
common ground belies the provocation I propose but possibly my
presentation of what others mean in kindness is too neutral neuters psyche
While anima and animus illustrate conclude a symbiotic destination
the starting point of this and that left right up above and side by side
is far too circular an argument when we should start not end in union
Male and female are constructions of disparity of power and repression
Archetypes are not therefore I am
11th June 2016
Animus-Anima Part II—Animus – Poetry Contest
Sponsor Tom Quigley
Categories:
precedes, men, society, women,
Form:
Free verse
October came in nice and benign.
Of sometimes brusqueness gave no sign.
But already she is half through.
Rain and wind are surely due.
I give thanks for each day,
knowing weather's too good to stay.
Today we had some rain,
then sun came out again.
About tomorrow we shall see,
what there is to be.
October frequently changes her mind.
She precedes bold November
who melds into December.
November brings a holiday
before he goes away.
Christmas in December,
something to remember,
bringing children joy.
To girl,
to boy,
happiness.
For Andrea's I don't know contest.
Categories:
precedes, fun,
Form:
Rhyme
Golden oak, the banister gleams,
its clean waxed surface lightly
touched by her soft, soft hand as she
descends the green carpeted stair,
tossing her lustrous, long blonde hair.
She is modishly dressed, in a casual way
(a green twill frock) and she is
eating an intense red, crisp apple,
which she carries aloft in her left hand,
left elbow resting on left hip.
The apple aroma precedes her to the door
and out, into the bright gold light.
She closes the door, engages the lock,
firmly bites into the crisp apple flesh,
flashing her strong white teeth;
her pink tongue licks a dribble
of juice from the left corner
of her red, red mouth. She shakes her head,
gold in the golden light, and she tosses
the half-eaten apple to the lush green lawn,
laughs at a soaring greenjay, passes (unnoticed)
a flight of fluttering golden butterflies,
and blithely continues on her determined way
to her beauty appointment, her club luncheon,
and the rest of her busy, busy day.
Categories:
precedes, life, social,
Form:
Free verse
[Inspired by the melody: 'Pastel Reflections' by Kevin Kern]
www.last.fm/music/Kevin Kern/_/Pastel ReflectionsCached
[A 25 sec introduction precedes the Lyrics.]
------------------------------------------------------------------
I called out your name, but I got no answer.
You had gone away without a word; no reason why.
I called out your name; echoes filled the cold deserted rooms
and the silence I could not bear.
Time has now gone by, yet I can not forget nor give up.
I live in hope that you will come back to me.
Always in my heart there is a place reserved just for you.
Do not let my tears flow down in vain.
I called out your name. In my mind I saw you
in a swirling mist of hazy blue, beyond my reach.
I called out your name to the wind that blew in restless nights
and I wondered where you could be.
Time has now gone by, yet I can not forget nor give up.
I live in hope that you will come back to me.
Always in my heart there is a place reserved just for you.
Do not let my tears flow down in vain.
I called out your name to the stars above me;
to the rolling sea where secrets hide among the waves.
I called out your name as I sat alone and longed for you
and the silence I could not bear.
I still call your name
as I live in hope.
Life is not the same
since you went away.
I call your name.
-------------------------------
Contest: Pastel Reflections
Sponsor: Craig Cornish
Categories:
precedes, hope, lost love,
Form:
Lyric
4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse
The last book of the Bible-Revelation, has intrigued and terrified many a reader in the last 2,000 years or so since it was penned. If you don't like religious writings I suggest you check out of this one. I wrote this not to scare anyone but rather to inform those who care to know, the true meaning of this enigmatic write.
(For reference purposes please see Revelation chapter 6; Matthew chapter 24; and Luke chapter 21.)
In Revelation 1:1-3, we see that Jesus Christ is the one who gave this vision to the Apostle John, so that all would know how future events would unfold, and would give his faithful (Christians) hope for the future. (see verse 3 which shows that those who read this book of prophecy could be happy even during these turbulent times)
In Revelation chapter 6 we see described the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse.
First the rider on the white horse (evidently Jesus Christ)
Second is described a rider of a fiery (red) colored horse.(World war)
Third is described a rider on a black horse. (World wide famine)
Fourth is described a rider on a pale colored horse.
(War, Famine and Pestilence)
Each of these horsemen are symbols of what is foretold to occur in the period the Bible calls the "last days" or "end times".
When a comparison is made between these parallel accounts (Revelation 6; Matthew 24; Luke 21) we can discern they are one and the same in meaning.
They were all prophecies spoken by Jesus to his faithful followers as to what they could expect to happen before his second coming.
They describe a period of time where Worldwide war, Famine Deadly plague and Great earthquakes would occur at an unprecedented (never before seen) scale.
Those who choose to know, and understand, find hope (not fear) in these words of the book of Revelation.
May these difficult times find you searching for understanding in God's Word the Bible.
If you do read it, you will no doubt find comfort in knowing that these difficult times are what precedes, a wonderful new world, paradise restored here on earth under one government, God's Kingdom! See Rev21:3,4
April 21,2020
John Derek Hamilton
Categories:
precedes, bible, christian, encouraging, faith,
Form:
Didactic
Like a warm cotton bud used to give inner ears a clean
there is something comforting about routine.
Knowing where you stand and the order of play,
knowing what to expect at every point in your day.
Living to a schedule, everything has it’s time and place -
knowing the slots you have free for any plans you need to make.
Wardrobe colour-coded, in garment order.
Wallpaper with a matching border.
Appointments at ten to, five to, on the dot.
Check, double-check, the doors are locked.
Yellow ball, green ball then pot the brown.
Big box, little box, upside down.
I like to gaze into the sky and dream, of an afternoon.
Relaxing. Like the scent of a chaste tree, when in bloom.
A cold glass of lemonade, a long and foamy bath,
humming along to the radio, a love that warms the heart.
Reading the Sunday paper, and making it an event,
the delightful things the kids say, things only they could invent.
His reputation precedes him: a disruptive, class clown.
Never completes his work, he’s always mucking around.
A big-mouth, show-off with far too much to say:
He asks if I ever considered teaching him in a different way.
‘A physical learner’ - he’s heard about it on the news.
There could be something in it…but I’ve far too much to do.
Cars whiz about, people in a hurry.
“I’ve waited over an hour for my curry.”
Twenty four seven lifestyle, word abbreviation.
Text message becoming the preferred means of communication.
Everybody rushing, to keep on schedule, to maintain status quo.
Everyone a cog in the system: You’re whipped, if you don’t row.
Seamless is the transition between asleep and awake,
when you just let it happen, not worry about being late.
An unrushed project results in a rewarding prize:
taking your time meant you got it right.
So bin the itinerary, flout the rules,
just for once why don‘t you try something new?
Categories:
precedes, life, on work and
Form:
Couplet
There's a love that won't be silenced
Though it doesn't say a word
It sings into the universe
Though its voice cannot be heard
Like the breaking of a sunrise
That precedes the dawning day
Like the memory of a sunset
That never goes away
Categories:
precedes, class, love, romantic, romantic
Form:
Rhyme