Best Prevented Poems
She wept as they buried her one true love.
Each day thereafter she brought him a rose,
the flower she knew he was fondest of.
Her grief unbearable, beyond repose.
What pain and suffering his death bestows.
Nothing prevented her daily visit.
She didn't want him to feel all alone.
When beside him her face was exquisite.
When weary she would sigh and then lay prone,
weeping for her love in soft languished moan.
There, in restless sleep, flames of love still burned
'til the twilight hour, when she felt a chill
as the gentle warmth of sunlight adjourned.
She heard a dove singing a mourning trill,
begetting heartache's tears to flow and spill.
November 3, 2022 ~ 2022 Marathon Mile 19 Contest
Sponsored by Mark Toney
Originally written on 23rd of July 2016
Three Stanzas of English Quintain, 10 syllables per line
with a rhyme scheme of a-b-a-b-b
Smoke Rings
If she wanted to stay he would make her a place,
for he loves ev'rything that she is,
and he'd willingly give all the world and the stars
for her love--if they only were his.
But he likes it alone, and in silence he knows,
if he wants, he can talk to the moon,
or hear voices at bars, or the children he loves,
and if wanting to go--he'll go soon.
Or to stay if he choose, for the night is still young,
but she's there, and he's wanting to say
all the words in his heart--but he's holding them back
and the night is much colder than day.
So he goes to someone who's no danger to ways
though he smiles, he is really not there
and he wants to forget, but he wants to live on,
if she stays or she goes, he will care.
And the one he is with, sees the love in his eyes,
and she knows it's not hers anyway,
but the ones' who was late, and the one who will go,
and the one he will never let stay.
If he asks and she stays, he'll go off the deep end,
and he knows she loves silence--as he;
and she stays for a while, til the silence is deep,
and the end is the end that must be.
But she looks at the floor when he wants her to see,
and she goes when he wants her to stay,
but the words are not there, and he watches her go,
with the thought that it must be this way,
but he smiles in his heart--for he's known her at least,
and he's loved--and has found love is good,
and the end that he feared, he prevented in life,
though he wonders if he ever should.
And the journey is long--he'll look back on her face,
and he'll think, many times, there it goes!
and he'll always regret; for it's always alive,
and she's part of his life, and he knows.
And the others who see--feel the same for their own,
and they wonder why he doesn't try,
but it's smoke rings they see; or a bird in their hand
that is wanting to fade in the sky.
And the sky will embrace ev'rything in the end,
and the things that we see are a mask,
and the smoke rings that fade to the will of the sky
are in love--and the sky didn't ask.
WHAT IF Written Pre-Pandemic
What if a rigid thinking, extremist group
Decided to do something about Planet Earth’s
Over-population,
I mean let’s just think about this, fantasy
Of course, Just a vivid imagination!
What if they wanted to eradicate and eliminate
At least fifty per cent of humans’ world wide
And the ‘HOW” would leave nowhere to hide.
The secret would purposefully be let to leak,
So that chaos would reign, terror would spread,
People would freak!
Traversing from one side of the globe
To the other, Armies and Air force alerted,
Governments, Presidents and Prime Ministers,
Appeasing and trying to calm hysteria,
A killer cerebral virus, a very aggressive malaria,
To be released the news headlines said,
Within days millions will be dying or dead!
What if fifty per cent of the rest of world
Were told would be allowed to live,
People then going into frenzy,
Who was to stay alive and who was to die?
What if this extremist group succeeded
And brought this horror to fruition,
What a demon like, despicable ambition
What if?
Think of the film Inferno
That virus was caught just in time,
And so the hero prevented an
Inhumane crime!
I Am Mortal Man, Made Of Mere Flesh And Bone
Sad and lost soul walked in his old worn shoes,
dark clouds covered his bowed and forlorn head.
Life had beat him hard, made him pay heavy dues,
cast jagged stones into his every night's bed.
He looking back at all his dear family now gone,
his broken soul cried- God release me please.
I am mortal man, made of mere flesh and bone,
my every path hard, nothing comes with gentle ease
Yet the spirit was strong and his heart held dreams,
hope that another day would great blessings bring.
Each night's prayer he found new flowing streams,
such that morn's new light made his joy sing
As each day brought its bricks and falling stones,
Hope, his greatest shield, prevented any broken bones.
Robert J. Lindley, 4-15-2016
Dedicated to all my friends here that give me hope each day.
Hope that life will give future blessings and my family will
be well and safe when I am gone.
In the past you’d fought bouts of depression
but your sudden death came out of the blue
You hid so well the signs of your regression
and that you’d plunge and die in the blue bayou
I gather up my words and start stuttering,
at your funeral service I take the lead role
I wish I could have prevented your suffering
and that I’d noticed you were a tortured soul
I’m at the church where I was due to be your bride
a torrent of tears flood from my sapphire eyes
I hold a single rose as I stand by your graveside
your tragic death has taken everyone by surprise
FICTION WRITE
5/ 19/18
Let your Pen drip contest
Sponsored by Broken Wings
Theme ‘ I gather up my words’
Rhyme Scheme ABAB
Dear Marshall, I'm writing this knowing you don't know who I am
You've heard it millions of times, You'd probably laugh and call me Stan
But growing up, your music prevented me from committing suicide
I just want to thank you cause your music saved my life
8 years old I heard you for the first time
Not going to lie I only liked it cause of the swearing
Too young to understand the genius way you made words rhyme
I already had a connection because I also had issues with my parents
The Eminem show was released when I was 10 and I got my hands on it
Played it at full volume, Had so much admiration for the man on it
Saying all the things I wasn't allowed and some I already related too
Cleaning out my closet helped me to make it through
Your words gave me strength to stand up to bullies and depression
Ignored my teacher and spent school days just quoting your lyrics in my lessons
Parents never picked up the phone to call me, instead they picked up harder liquor
I was moved around foster families, and you were my father figure
Walls covered in posters of you, Hood up with my middle finger up
All I needed was your music so I didn't want to be approachable
You showed me it's okay for guys to be angry, sad and emotional
People told me you say a lot of wrong things, but I said they obviously don't listen enough
It felt like you were writing about me in the third verse of sing for the moment
You taught me to stand up for myself and tell the world to bring on the opponent
I know care staff hated that I couldn't go a sentence without saying your name
But you have such a talent for portraying your pain
And most of what you talked about was relatable
I didn't care if the care staff didn't find It favourable
They couldn't see that your words were taking a lot of weight off this boys shoulders
You taught me to be a bigger man and to not fall down like a toy soldier
I know this is corny but your words and music saved my life
They helped me through depression and prevented me from committing suicide
If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be where I am
Thank you Eminem, Sincerely one of your biggest fans
Tropical quadra plateau, Amazing bright sunny,
Glided waterfall Carrying happiness in their gunny.
Long nodding flower's joyously plumed,
Everbody waving happily, the herald bloomed.
Eureka, I love this heaven on earth!
Hazy perished hills, houses trenching at the outskirts,
Swaning over to the fluctuating peak of mountains, roosted with struts.
Orchid waftured, Clinging on to the cluster of flowers,
Precipitated rain was about to shower.
Gosh, it Stimulated my soul!
King of beast, sucking the sweet tempting fragranced juices,
Solitary alienate species including Honey bees mused badly abuses.
Fluttered wings, Struggling with them, Leisurely travelling my journey.
Fitnessed physically as if I am in an defensing army.
Situation turned to be horribly muddle,
Tremendously, I wanted to sort and excitedly cuddle!
Proud to have an Airfoiled wings of mine,
Antennate feature you prissily shine.
Rainbowis passion lying inside me,
Resourcefully mingled with music and dance, happening besides me.
Whoa,People got entranced!
People jeopardize the innate beauty,
Relishingly wanna do my duty.
Actuating my arms, Ventured to fly high.
Intended inspiration wanted to reach the sky.
Weaving the web spiderman thirstily trying me to catch.
Escaping from them I ran, prevented myself from getting snatched.
Ohhh,They had a Hostile faction accord!
Nature's beauty aspiringly propelled me.
Blowing wind, tactily sensisizing my skin,
Blushing cheeks, spilled the bean.
Nocturnal creatures will wake in the dark,
Aerophilically dangling around the shruby bed,before they bark
Stopping by sayonara, continuing my next stigmatic destiny!
By Madhavi
Too long spent in deep shadows
prevented my eyes from seeing
why the lights were so dimmed
why I had the need for freeing
Verses written by candle light
but not signed with my name
with one step out of the shadow
my first poem went up in flame
No lack of inspiration to fuel
a captive poet's sensitive ire
he reached for my written words
I torched their corners with fire
A ray of light through a small crack
the dungeon door he didn't close tight
stimulus kept me awake and writing
penning until darkness of the night
Words of anguish and freedom I wrote
morning shadows danced on my face
he came once more to taunt my soul
he who buried me in this tomb-like place.
He reached for my writings on the table
I stubbornly shook my head, turned away
clutching my night's work to my breast
I bravely said, "I must see the light of day."
Carried from the cavern's earthen ground
I looked at him near the edge of the river
he reached again for my treasured verses
into the rushing water, my writings deliver.
Hands covered my face in fear of reprisal
his strength brandishes strikes with clout
eyes shielded from the sun's blinding rays
I waited for him to take his thrashing rout
No clobbering fists or slaps given in anger
no harsh threats to bring forth my cries
no monstrous shadows looming over me
freed from my shadow by opening my eyes.
Notes played by the wind sounded like 'Taps.'
A sad song without lyrics, expressing lament
Sorrow pelted me like crashing white caps
Beneath the fading light of the sun's descent
darkness gathered in a leaden sky
as I whispered with tearful breath, "Goodbye."
So many words we'd left unspoken
when fear prevented us from speaking
Somewhere along our journey we were broken,
never discovering what it was we were seeking.
I laid a rose from my garden then turned to go.
One set of footprints imbedded in the snow.
Behind me arose the baleful cawing
soaring in the sky, a flock of ebon crows
Tears coursing from my eyes as if I were thawing
The wintry world held me in its throes.
On I walked, pathway lighted by the moon,
listening to the notes of 'Taps,' a haunting tune.
T h e S a l e
Near the end of a lonely road
A home where an old man did reside
Traffic parked all around the house
Contents "For Sale", - the sign implied
"He'd lived there as long as he could, -
Ninety four years", I heard someone say
Immediate family, now passed on
At last, now he has moved away
For decades, this had been his home
How sad, he had to go
Feeble hands, prevented tasks
And steps were getting slow
Furniture, battered, worn and aged
Old radios, fans, and silverware
Used garden tools, and books galore
Some ordinary, but others rare
So many items, inside and out
In their time, each held their place
Now little more than a cast-a-way
His new address, had little space
I'm sure within his memory bank
Many younger days he recalled
A telephone, - - the first TV,
Or when a furnace, was installed
Only a few items, now adorn
The place he now abides
A bed, a chair,and one small table
A few special pictures, are his pride
There to live out his final days
Lonely hours, seem to have no end
A highlight that would mean the most,
Is a visit from family, - or a friend
Colan L Hiatt = 09-24-13
© All Rights Reserved
I plan to end the fantasy mystery in this part
And hopefully end up capturing her heart
I guess I’ve withheld her name for far too long
This unnecessary suspense is just wrong
So finally I made that move that has long eluded me
A smile lit her face -- and it was clear for me to see…
She had been expecting this move for a very long time
But my cowardice had prevented me from singing my favourite rhyme
A rhyme that every woman loved and appreciated
Thank God now am getting slowly acquainted
And who knows she may just be the one I might take to the altar
And then I can reflect and confidently say – I have come really far
Unfortunately I can’t tell you her name
But maybe I will – after her wild beauty I have managed to tame…
as I sit in the dingy saloon. Dehydrated and week.journey so long,I hardly feel
my feet.town name, town name, plays over in my head.the name rot and gut is
playing over instead. my insides are the first, and the second are the same.my
travils have prevented me from from feeling sane.as I turn my head, to view all
that is around.the whiskey and beer is flowing so sound.relief ,relief, is all I
need.so I raise my hand for the bartender to see.the room is humming,with an
awkward sound.one as if, just alchaholics around.as I order my drink,I feel a
pain inside, been to long, no alchahol to be found.as the drink gets slammed in
front of my being, the name of the town releases it's fear, rotgut,rotgut once
again in my mind.as I look around,there is no real cowboy to be found.i pick up
my boots and head for the door.never again will I drink no more.making my way
out the dusty town,my life looks better, no rotgut around.
Seeker
I searched long and far
for a good man
a kind and Holy man
One who was not consumed
by wealth
position
power
or lust
I wished to meet
a compassionate
loving
selfless man
Who was
Fearless
Bold
Yet slow to anger
Instead
I found
scared feeble men
Who had not kept their vows
They were liars and adulterers
Covetous and weak
In each of their limitations
I recognized
My own failures
My ego
My appetites
My selfishness
and so I felt ashamed
I cried to God
Are there no good men?
God comforted me
Revealing the true nature of man
Their kindness
Their Love
Their Loyalty
Their striving
Their beauty
God Removed my shame
For that was what separated us
Shame prevented me from
Seeing
Knowing and being
a good man
Then behold
my blind eyes became clear
I could see
Good men
Kind men
Both Holy and flawed men
As I looked into their eyes
I knew there was hope
And I thanked God
Copyright March 4th, 2021
Richard Lamoureux
Swim in the pond of darkness,
Dive into a complicated world,
Try to breathe the air...
Smell the sorrow,
Beneath a dark world,
Where life doesn't exist,
Where souls are drenched with grief,
Where words are silent,
Eyes do not sleep,
Tears do not cry,
Hearts never share love,
Lies drown in lives,
Nothing shines, even
The sun gives darkness,
Skies fall apart
Oceans split into two,
Disguised with smiles,
While covered with invisible tears,
Betraying your own souls, for you're
Lost in a web of fear,
A life that changes an angel into a devil,
A life of sickness with no remedy,
A place with haunted hearts... Where
Souls never see "life,"
Prevented from light,
A world filled with dishonesty,
Souls drowning and dying
Tears pretending to smile, but crying,
One day, some one will have to face the truth,
Souls will rise to the top, and
The darkness will fade away....
Nothing seems to erase the pain
Of losing someone you love
Memories return now and again
Come; bring your hurts to God above
Losing someone hurts; now that's true
Death snatches him from your hands
Circumstances separate her from you
Come; place your pain in Jesus's hands
'Could I have prevented that loss?'
'If only I could turn back time...'
Come; lay your regrets at the cross
God unfolds His plans in His time
Grief leads our eyes to God's mercy
In brokenness, He comforts us
In loneliness, He keeps us company
No one knows grief better than Jesus
His disciples abandoned Him
When His enemies took Him away
The Father turned His face from Him
As He bore our sins on that Day
Cling to Christ, our loving Saviour
Though you can make no sense of grief
When you're unsure and filled with fear
Fix your gaze on Him and find relief