Best Publicly Poems
I remember when . . .
kids fought at school.
At worst, they’d end up with a bloody nose.
But kids today get bullied publicly
and ridiculed on You Tube videos.
I remember when . . .
folks’ arguments
took place and few of us were “in the know.”
Today, though, we see idiots galore
that cuss and brawl on Jerry Springer's show.
I remember when. . .
brutality
was televised when kids were tucked in bed.
Now your child need only type the word
and see a victim get shot in the head.
I remember when. . .
we had a war,
but it was “cold” and seemed to be maintained.
Today the terror is at your own mall.
We’ve lost - in spite of all that we have gained.
Children as young as three years old,
Killed for not doing as they’re told,
Forced to forget their culture bold,
What a tragedy to unfold!
Two hundred fifteen, that ain’t less,
Young innocents abused, suppressed,
How can humans be so heartless?
It breaks my heart, I must confess,
Wonder, how they would have pleaded?
Their cries for mercy unheeded
Residential schools, not needed,
Were soon closed, but lives conceded,
In the name of education,
A way of ‘assimilation’,
Native kids faced termination,
What a gruesome excavation!
07.01.2021
{On 28 May, 2021, the bodies of 215 children were discovered in a burial site at the grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School using new, ground-penetrating technology. The deaths are believed to be undocumented. The school, which was closed in the late 1970s, is located in Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation. First Nations refer to a section of indigenous inhabitants of Canada, along with Inuits and Métis people.
Between 1831 and 1996, Canada’s residential school system forcibly separated more than 1.5 lakh First Nations children from their families in order to assimilate them into the Euro-Canadian and Christian ways of living. They were forbidden to acknowledge their indigenous heritage and culture or to speak their own languages.
According to an information resource set up by the University of British Columbia, children were subjected to physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse.
In 2008, then Prime Minister Stephen Harper publicly issued an apology, on behalf of the Government of Canada, to all indigenous people acknowledging the country’s role in the residential school system.}
For Edward Ibeh's "This or That, Vol 4" contest
Senseless fear of others, being shy.
All my life, been the uneasy guy.
It's a functional thing, not organic.
Social situations, just that little bit of panic.
"Stranger anxiety" from early childhood,
never left me, then even Mom and Dad weren't good.
You'd think I wouldn't feel it, at least with my wife,
though even there it's a tiny part of life.
Get through the day fine, and publicly do okay,
but what would it be like to not feel this way.
December 5, 2016
For FJ Thomas's contest
I sat down today....
Found myself prideful,
Sinful,
Selfish, and unruly in places.
I found myself publicly appealing!
I sat down today.....
I saw a cloud between me and God.
I could see him, but barely.
The midst gave a rough odor!
I seen thunder and I felt the lightning in my chest and it was all I could do to hold on to his unchanging hand.
What is it to self that finds me!
I sat down today.....
©2017
Two Presidents convened on this date,
reportedly to negotiate, the end of the
war and Ukraine's fate..
Instead the President of the United States,
and his very arrogant running mate,
chose to publicly bully and intimidate,
cause that's how we "make America great."
President Zelensky didn't take their bait.
He's a man of character, a Presidential trait,
and Ukraine's still a democracy. It's not
the "deep state".
By Elton Camp
Animal rights groups are in an uproar
They don’t want to hear of it anymore
While swimming, a shark came around
Into its fin, his teeth he viciously ground
He said shark fin soup was his best treat
One that he took every occasion to eat
They said the shark was in his own habitat
And that nothing could be wrong about that
The man, they wanted to be put away
In a prison cell, for many years to decay
“A shark’s life is very precious to us.
That’s why we are raising such a fuss.”
“We can’t see why it’s hard to understand.
Animal life is fully equal to that of a man.”
The animal lovers came down to the beach
A lesson in caring there to publicly teach
They offered the shark a tasty treat
But found he preferred human meat
The animals rights folks he dragged away
No more about cruelty did they have to say
Splotches of black ink stain my diary and hands
most of them much larger than tiny grains of sand
splatters caused when he slammed down my well
hoping to end the love of poetry I never shall quell.
Fool is he for believing his childish tantrum and rant
would keep me from retrieving my pen, for it shan't.
He delivered his message with vicious brutal force
now I shall have a turn to take a retaliating course.
He underestimated my courage and now I seek
to pen my poems choosing adjectives less weak.
My writings shall not be contained in diary alone
Publicly I intend my poems to be read and shown.
He wasted my ink and inflamed my strong-willed desire
To rebel against the monster with thorns sharp as briar.
Well! I have a hundred pens and more ink to fill the well.
If I believed in Hades, I'd write him into the fires of hell.
Born into this world as a humble, helpless Babe
Christ increased in wisdom and stature
Grew up in favour with both God and man
Baptised publicly by John the Baptist
Tempted by the devil, but overcame him
Preached the gospel of the kingdom of God
Befriended the publicans and the sinners
Turned the water into wine, did miracles
Cast out demons, healed all kinds of diseases
Backed up twelve fishermen as His disciples
Taught them, led them, and washed their feet
Spent three and a half years moulding them
Broken, He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane
His sweat as blood, such spiritual agony
Ready to do the will of God and drink the cup
Beaten and scourged on the way to Calvary
A crown of thorns placed upon His head
Spat upon, mocked, and smote by the soldiers
Bruised, He was crucified on the cruel Cross
He hung there with no form nor comeliness
Reviled by passers-by wagging their heads
Bereft and forsaken by His own Father
Carrying the sins of the entire world
He suffered and bled, but forgave and loved
Beseeching His Heavenly Father to receive His Spirit
Lord Jesus Christ gave up his ghost on the Cross
And the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom
Buried in a new rock sepulchre, the stone was rolled
The tomb was sealed and the watch was set
But on the third day, as prophesied, our Lord rose up
Behold, there was a great earthquake
The angel of the Lord descended from heaven
And rolled back the stone and sat upon it
Bewildered, the women heard him saying,
“Fear not, ye seek Jesus who was crucified,
He is not here, for He is risen, come see where they laid Him”
Brutal death could not chain our Lord,
He overcame it and appeared to His disciples
And was carried up into heaven
Believe on the Lord Jesus, He was crucified for our sins,
But He resurrected from the dead, never to die again
Now He sits on the right hand of God, interceding for our sins
Beloved, He will come back one day
Not as the Lamb, but as the Lion
To take His loved ones unto Himself
Before it is too late, accept Him into your heart
You will enjoy peace, love and joy, which this world can’t offer
Repent, believe and rejoice for the Lord Jesus Christ is alive.
9th April, 2022
For Regina McIntosh's "Easter" contest
The scorpions creeping out from words slowly, acutely framing
where judgement claims the higher position unconditionally
lone vulture hanging over its unsuspecting prey ready to pounce
once so blind ambitions reverberates back as unqualified honours least deserved
Pompous narcissistic elements with nonsensical fruitless talent
held within egotism where fools of choice becomes one’s ability
under total admiration publicly declared in lonely self-centeredness
becomes a sterile reflection back to oneself blinded by arrogance
As friends become nemesis’s unnamed obstacles of your vainglorious rise
Sounding echos reverberates a never ending recording of undeserving self-pride
knowing more than all of what is right claiming the false prize for me, me, me
It matters not that lonely superiority must accept the great divide
False praise their claims attention that inflames your senses unjustly wise
crying regrets a prize is a prize nothing to be gained under the sun or moon
striving after winds have blown a gale force within hidden torment
the wreckage that's left after such destruction can only be found wanting
a co written piece in unrhymed quatrains by Donna Loughman and Liam McDaid
They said it’s time I settle down
If I can’t find a man of my own
They will be pleased to help me with that
They’re going to find me my man
They’re talking about me
As if they’re advertising me publicly
Like I’m up for sale
Ready to be picked off the dusty shelf
Wow
Do I not have my rights anymore
What is life without your own rights
Is life only complete when sharing with someone
But what’s wrong with my free spirited life
I’m happy
I’m enjoying life freely and joyously
I’m please to say my freedom is my happiness
This is me my body and my life
I hold the wheel but trust God to guide me
My life isn’t perfect but I am living in the moment
My freedom let’s me do as I please
So put a stop to make me your business
I maybe journeying alone but never lonely
Who said happiness is only when coupling
Happiness is your free will and to know God
It’s unbeknownst when
It’s unbeknownst whom
My heart be captured by IF EVER
But I’m not dying to get there to find out
I’m exploring life in my fearless freedom
Because the possibilities are unbounded
This world is full of life and adventure
I am a free soul seeker with a passion to experiencing my true self life
And with that said
This is me and my life
I make my decision choosing my path
And until then I’m driving solo singing loudly
Akkina
2/4/21
For my best friend who’s family is trying
to get her settle down and marry while she’s exploring her young life and adventuring this beautiful Earth...
Rock Hardon just called a staff meeting
To hear a complaint about cheating
Our Xerox machine
Could not be wiped clean
So privates were publicly sheeting
You want me to pick just one!
I can’t do it. It can’t be done.
Selecting one is just too hard.
All the others I can’t discard.
Andrea was the first to welcome me;
Jared’s challenges allow me to see;
Chris entertains me with his exuberant youth;
John helps me to seek the truth.
Linda-Marie made me a member;
There’s so many more to be remembered.
Constance and Carrie and Amy, too;
Please forgive me for not mentioning you.
I know I am not following the rules you set,
But not selecting them all I would regret;
It’s not just a single person that’s been a pal to me,
It’s the whole, damn entire PS community.
Larry and Bob and the Poet Destroyer;
Jimmy and Carolyn and others who are newer;
The Doc, Barbara and that Highlander guy;
I am missing others, I hope they understand why.
There’s Tirzah and Carol and nikko with the small “n”;
Audrey and Joyce – I can’t forget them;
Mac and Doris, Daniel and Catie;
And other special gentlemen and ladies.
So rank my entry at the bottom of your list;
I really don’t mind not winning this,
But Adeleke I want to thank you for urging me
To recognize these friends so publicly.
why will men fight and suffer to advance the interests of their masters, who fling them aside when they have no further use for them?
Arthur Findlay
The black king and the white king, well they didn't see eye to eye
A war was looming, but not them; it was the pawns that would die
They placed them up to the front, with their cavalry at the rear
No side had any notion of backing down, and no side showed fear.
God is surely with us, the bishops on both sides proclaimed
Anyone saying otherwise would have been publicly shamed
A white pawn was the first to move forward, ready for the fight
But in just a couple of moves was struck down, by a black knight.
Two white knights moved forward in a blazing counter attack
The black pieces managed to hold the line and didn't fall back
Then a white bishop moved forward in a straight diagonal line
Black King told his pawns to move forward; everything will be fine.
The black queen wanted action and urged her pawns to be brave
But it wouldn't be her or the king that would be digging their grave
One by one her pawns were slaughtered, like lambs on the battlefield
A ceasefire was out of the question, because neither side would yield.
But the proud white king was about, to meet an agonising fate
When the black queen with her knights, declared a checkmate
But there were really no winners or losers, in this senseless war
Supporters on both sides wondered, what the hell it was all for.
The two main players in the background escaped without a scratch
And were already preparing to meet on the battlefield, for a rematch
Both sides exchanged their battered pieces of the injured and the slain
And maybe tomorrow or the next day were preparing to do it all again.
Meanwhile the arms manufacturers, were making big monetary gain
Whilst the landed gentry ate caviar and sipped on their champagne
Victory parades were held in all the towns, with all the pomp and flair
Hollow platitudes read out to mourn the dead, but do they really care?
Written on 6th June 2022.
Are socialists human beings?
Do they need food?
Are they capable of goodness?
Do they deserve to be tortured, starved, abandoned, beaten?
What makes a socialist cry?
It isn't sad movies -- or is it?
Why should I stop hating them?
I have the right to punish them, do I not?
Or do I?
When Mother Teresa found a Communist, starving, abandoned, beaten, she fed him, loved him, made him feel the hands of Christ, touching him through her hands.
When the SS found a Communist, they shot him, tortured him, starved him, gassed him
When the Communists found a Jew, they tortured him, starved him, took his property, made certain he was strung up as an example, that people do not have the right to own their own property.
When Gandhi found that Hindus were murdering Muslims and Muslims were murdering Hindus, he fasted publicly until they stopped.
Whose example do you prefer?
Mother Teresa's, or Stalin's
That of Gandhi, or the SS?
That of Christ?
I have the right to shoot every Democrat who angers me -- or DO I?
I have the right to impeach every Republican for being Republican, to loot his store, to force him to perform abortions, to punish him...
Somewhere in Africa, a father drove nails through the knees of his teenage son
For converting to Christianity.
I am hatred.
I am anger.
I am violence.
Whose example do you prefer?
Christ's?
Or mine?
This is where we save ourselves,
Or destroy ourselves.
'Let Brotherhood, Peace and Progress become landmarks of attainment', it has been written.
Well?
Which do we prefer?
It's a question to ask yourself every day.
When I win, I make the whole world bleed,
And I LAUGH!
Not such a nice fellow am I.
"Turn on the television",
Says an angel munching popcorn,
At the end of each century
"What are the humans up to?"
15th Century:
Columbus exploring lands on unending voyages
Enchanting symphonies of musicians
Words printed publicly
On yet another note,
Empires waging wars for supremacy
16th Century:
Shakespeare sprinkles an era of Literature
Novel religions blend together
World marvels at inventions
Oh! Their foolish twist,
Struggling against man made plagues
17th Century:
Pascal, Boyle, Newton bask in glorious Science
Folks marvel at exquisite cuisines
Discover how universe expands
But humans need a change,
How about propagating slavery
18th Century:
Darwin and Berkeley penetrate philosophic minds
Austen explores societal strata
Mozart floats among harps
Well enough, humans think
Let's plot royal conspiracies
19th Century:
Civilizations soar with industrial revolution
Pasteur creates life-saving vaccines
Giant machines uplift cities
Isn't that much for now
Time to expand slave colonies
20th Century:
Theories leave immortal traces in all fields
Carbon dating, electromagnetic rays,
Nuclear reactions building spaceships
Humans have a different need
Devastating nuclear bomb thrills
Bored, angels switch to channel Earth
Only two decades past 21st century,
Interstellar voyages, flying planes,
A primitive human wouldn't believe,
But oh they can never change,
Bubbling venom of cold wars,
Dead humanity, tortured nature,
Cheap thrills of pointless debates.
"Okay that's been a while I say,
It is time to give them a taste.
At regular intervals in this century,
Humans with their wolfish greed
Surpassing idiocy need a pause."
Combating over money, religions,
Nature, opinions, nothing else
While humans oppose each other
Forgetting to ponder their doings
Angels and demons dance together
Letting nature throw up for a while
God laughs as he tunes for showtime,
"And now for something completely different..."
May 20, 2020