Best Reacting Poems
Steady rustling of stacked-high newspapers,
On the vendors stand US skyscrapers;
A long face further parting with brightness:
The type that treated not things with lightness
It’s a man heading for a child’s mistake;
From last medical check-up much at stake!
Started it had with a rumored broadcast,
Which listening through made Chapman downcast.
Now, he’s at Lukman’s vendor stand for more
Of a hitting news that few minds could store:
“All banks shan’t be working for two weeks,
Their once-cheerful customers goddamned freaks!”
Yes, some bank manager did cook alive,
For home they’d sought to cashless point drive.
Chapman looked like he would die in a week,
Who had seemed throughout January sleek!
Stunned by her beauty, our tongues would not work
We could not stop staring, she was a flaming goddess
A princess, a queen, the quintessential woman
We admired her from afar, afraid to get closer.
Her beauty might dazzle our eyes out.
Who is she? I asked, when I regained my speech.
Aphrodite, goddess of love, beauty and passion.
Validation that I was not overreacting.
When I don’t feel safe, I draw back and flinch,
shutter in fear and I can’t seem to calm down.
Little or big things can set me off in a pinch
and instantly I feel like I am going to drown.
It’s the way my heart races so quickly in fear
that makes me want to run and stay clear…
OF-
Those darn commercials about the animals abused,
a loving dog shelter taking a charity donation.
I can never understand why some are amused
inflicting pain on one of God’s sweet creations.
For there are no words to express my distress,
as my eyes close with woe, heart racing in stress.
OR HOW ABOUT-
The fact I love horror movies yet hate being scared.
Why do I torture myself when I watch those movies???
I jump off the couch and scream so despaired
from watching the scariest movie Paranormal Activity!
Blood, guts, violence and guns make me weak in the knees,
my blood pressure rising and body two hundred degrees!
THEN THERES WHEN-
My hubby thinks it’s cute to tickle my sensitive feet.
It’s like, he knows it makes my itchy skin crawl.
I have to be nice because he is being so sweet,
but there’s been times when I start to bawl.
He thinks it’s my time of the month when I shriek-
Nah, it’s ‘cause I hate it…so I flinch and I squeak!
SO-
These are three things that make me jump back in fear-
Geez…give me a break! My wincing is clear and severe!
June 14, 2019
What Makes You Flinch Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Julie Leigh Rodeheaver
Not reacting you can stop the pain,
Not reacting you can change the fate
Not reacting, when the world needs your voice
Not reacting, when there is no choice...
Being passive, when the world needs your action
Living only for your own satisfaction
Your own personal cell is the whole world for you
Take a look outside someone may need you...
You can stop the wave of death by positive noise..
You can stop the killing by making a choice
You can save the animals and be the rebellion force
Standing against the evil empire of suffering and gore.
M.J. 2020
You’re in a great mood
Whistling dancing twirling.
Loving your life
Suddenly the TV gets louder
Two hundred fires
A plane crash that killed a hundred
Thirty-one car pile up
You stop whistling
Your dancing feet tangle up
You fall, now in a completely different place
Wait! Your angel says.
That is them. Not us!
You begin arguing with her
Suddenly you need a nap.
You are feeling sluggish
You cancel your dinner plans
Is it guilt?
Is it empathy?
Is it fear?
It certainly is not positivity
It is not optimism
It is not realizing this might be your last day to whistle and dance