Best Priorities Poems
Death be not proud but humble with strife
Old man flicks ashes, has one last choke
‘Tis nothing to fear, just the nature of life
Many passed before him, cut off like a knife
They fester in his memory with this his final smoke
Death be not proud but humble with strife
In youth there were ladies, his courtships were rife
But never a vow, no promises he spoke
‘Tis nothing to fear, just the nature of life
He lived wild and free, never seeking a wife
Much wealth he acquired, never to be broke
Death be not proud but humble with strife
He failed to see beyond the edge of gold’s knife
Shared nothing, loved no one, found no comforting cloak
‘Tis nothing to fear, just the nature of life
Tonight he wishes that he should have changed his life
He snuffs his candle, knows he’ll not feel heaven’s stroke
Death be not proud but humble with strife
‘Tis nothing to fear, just the nature of life
my needs are simple
when isolated
from my wants
it took a while
to realize
my many wants
were mere
obstructions
preventing me
from
focusing
on my dreams
Published in my 24-page photo/anthology ~GATEKEEPER~ 2020
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Submitted on December 18, 2018 for contest MINIMALISM sponsored by CECELIA HOPKINS-DREWER - RANKED 1ST
When the internet goes down,
When you have no good shoes to wear,
When the only thing in the cupboard is bread and jam,
My friend, you shouldn’t care
When your friends no longer see you,
When you cannot buy a beer
When you pay your tax return
Things aren’t so bad here
When you see the ASBO adults
When the branch is shutting down
When love becomes a story
Then begin to frown
When the government goes down,
When you have no clothes to wear
When the only choice is food or power
Then my friend I care
I am recovering my mojo, though I have almost no hair
That damn Chemo stuff took it away, and one day it was not there
And it really did fall out in a matter of days
Almost comical your mind says HEY!
And despite being a woman, I feel I look like a man
A bit embarrassing you see, it was not in my plan
I had worn the "cold cap" that supposedly preserved it in health
But while they were nuking my body, they nuked it to hell
So I wear those funny hippy hats now,
those slouchy knitted caps that you see
And I do my best and pretend they don't see
I know it grows back, but there is embarrassment still
And it may come back curly.. good lord a new hairstyle I will
But for now it's an inch, and a little sparse on top
And for a while before it all came out it was an Albert Einstein mop!
I kinda laughed horrified when it went to that point
And well, I now smoke those pot joints
It helps with the nausea which I still have
and it relaxes me on the things that make me sad
See I just lost an ex business partner to hospital error
and that played my sleep, her wife in despair.
Losing my hair is nothing compared to that loss.
I know it down deep, I have suffered that cost.
And so now, I laugh at the vanity hit
and put makeup on when I need to look fit
And I still run around braless you see
because well I am a heathen, societies freed
And if dignity was bent by the small sacrifice
I project my personality and suffer that cost
Keep swimming, Keep swimming...
Like what Dory said
That's my motto that sings in my head
How to get out of the funk. Artimus (C) 2/3/24 Susan Manley
Inspired by Rebecca Heineman , my friend, former business partner who lost her spouse Jennell Jaquays.
The light once so bright
In the humble dandelion,
The power that amazed us
In the migrating birds,
The patterns so intriguing
In frost on the window
Are not lost forever, merely
Held in reserve,
Awaiting sweet release
From the numbing effect
Of fixed preoccupations,
From the stealthy separation
Of projected self-propulsion.
There was an old pirate named Greg
Who found a big hole in his keg
With no time remaining
And rum quickly draining
He plugged it with his wooden leg
Now, normally Greg would not balk
But this placed a limp in his walk
Yet each one of his mates
Felt it planned by the fates
That both ship and captain ... should rock.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Pirate Them,ed Limerick" Poetry Contest, Tania Kitchin, Judge & Sponsor.
(Syllables = 8,8,6,6,8 X 2, counted at HowManySyllables.com)
Honoring commitments
Is healing though you're sick
For soul has many aspects
And Love is not a trick.
The contracts that you honor
Give you more faith in man
And that which helps your brother
Enriches your lifespan.
With facets like a diamond,
Restated Golden Rule,
Shines light in many corners,
Not covenant of fool.
Still Kantian confusion
Can lead a man astray
And boundaries too complex
Can hamper human play.
Remember you’re forgiven
The Father loves His child,
Man’s deepest expectations,
Reveal a soul that’s wild.
It’s knowing you’re a sinner
That shows the path that’s true
And longing for the Father
That tells us what to do.
Brian Johnston
January 23, 2016
I'm feeling things now I've never felt before
Maybe because I saw myself standing at deaths door
The devil tried to claim me, just another naive prize
But God granted me his mercy, and extended my time
There's people I need to love more, more I have to give
Before I leave this world, to feel I've really lived
There's children I need to kiss, and hug once again
And ask for forgiveness, for causing any pain
There is a woman who has my heart, whom I owe deep gratitude
Sometimes I took her for granted, and acted quite rude.
She deserves all I promised, she deserves so much more
I have never loved anyone, like her before.
So I pray God gives me the wisdom, to waste not his grace,
To put my affairs in order, before I vacate this place.
To love beyond measure, and rejoice in blessings coming my way
And thank God for his mercy to breathe in one more day.
Revere God; raise your voice.
Make daily praise your choice.
Through deeds, show loved ones care.
Of friends’ needs, be aware.
Help those with less than you;
good deeds will bless you too.
To self be true, I’ve heard*.
Set free your dreams deferred.**
*“To thine own self be true” from Shakespeare’s Hamlet: Act I, Scene 3,
Polonius speaking
**reference to “A Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes (“What happens to a
dream deferred?”)
July 2, 2020
Contest: Verses in Essence, 8 lines Placed 1st
Sponsor: Joseph May
The kitchen's disinfected, the worktops squeaky clean,
The laundry's in the wardrobe and nothing's left in the machine.
The crockery is washed and dry, it's stacked in cupboards, looking neat.
There's just one nagging problem, I've got nothing left to eat!
Only one
of my assets
qualifies
as glory crown.
Pampered hair
plumps my ego
and has drained my pockets dry.
Permanents,
dyes and rinses,
cuts and sets
salon shampoos,
never missed
hair appointments,
as if it matters at end..
6/15/12
Crown of my Body..A Whitney contest
Aurora borealis dances across cold december skies.
Putting on a spectacular display.
We're left awestruck by its magical beauty.
AP: 3rd place 2025
Priorities
I Know that I've hurt you
Let me tell you, "I apologize."
I know I messed up, and told you madd lies.
Our lack of understanding has brought us to this break.
but with better communication, this break we can escape.
I feel like I'm losing you; you're slipping away.
No, I can't lose you; When it comes down to it I really want you to stay.
No one could ever bring me these feelings that you bring to me
Your hugs, your kisses, and how I love your touch...
Things have been difficult for the both of us.
If you really want to leave, I have to let you go.
I'll wait to see if you come back to me, but only God knows.
So I'll keep "us" in my prayer; I'll keep you close to my heart.
I'll be loving you forever more; I'm just scared for you to part.
The feeling of missing you has overcome me so quickly.
Sometimes I feel as if I'm sitting in the dark as you move by me so swiftly.
Here and then gone? I'm not sure that I can cope.
but I can tell you one thing, I keep my faith and hope.
I say all of that to let you know this...
You're the one that I love and the one I'll truly miss.
By: Aleasha A. Martin
Meandering paths through the forest of voices
We all hunt the Fox, the fox of truth and of choices.
Let loose the hounds that lose the scent.
The foul fishy flash that keeps their nose bent.
Sell your head scratching questions to buy the cheap thrill
From the glossy silver lips of the letters on the hill.
The grand distraction of planned attraction
Gets a bland reaction 'till they force down the pill.
Count on the fact the books make us bored.
“Is it time for the signal from Greenwich?”
This just in...your minds been twined with a flaxen cord.
Keep your eyes on the chest, leave the treasure ignored.
The gluttonous fat man with round swirly eyes
Circles through the channels as he shoves in the fries.
Ignorance is only the fault of the one.
He never opened a page or his mind ‘fore he dies.
The man on the horse knows his time is soon spent.
The dogs and the fish have open resent.
Cunning and silence keeps the fox so majestic.
The pray of the fish is to keep doG domestic.
PRIORITIES
By Sammy L Holt, Sr.
Throughout our lives we celebrate,
Special events and even some days,
We always allow an amount of time,
And make a big deal in different ways.
The ides of March is no big deal,
But we remember just the same,
Then comes St Patrick’s two days later,
Better wear some green or go in shame.
Next comes a religious holiday,
Get a pinch no wearin’ of the green,
St Patrick still in the ground today,
But held aloft by man’s own dream.
Then comes Easter created by man,
A celebration with lunar control,
Tainted with, Pagan overtones,
Thinking it will be good for the soul.
Next a folly, a consort of fools,
A day set aside for a prank or two,
Some get serious and go all out,
Others go on better things to do.
And in May, we have Mother’s day,
When all Mothers are held in esteem,
Honored and served and rightly so,
An everyday event but a dream.
Then I heard said, on Mother’s day,
No baseball games scheduled today,
Quite an honor for Moms don’t ya think?
That’s really an honor I would say.
With all that said, now what about God?
And why doesn’t God, get a special day?
For all He’s given, we are thankless,
A couple of hours, we’re on our way.