Best Resided Poems
I can’t breathe
still in my shackles
no chance to escape my isolation
cries of anguish emancipated
from an awareness that is unfree
the stain is but human made
a long history of human trade
Humanity dehumanised
and put to shame..
I can’t breathe
air is not for free
I have to pay the fee
the earth does not to me belong
It is not my right of birth
as if my breed had done something wrong!
for water, I have to dig wells and pits
as I am denied rivers, lakes and seas..
what shall I do to stay alive?
peel my skin!
for you to admire my drive?!
How would I,
hate, contempt, intolerance.. survive?!
I can’t breathe
deep are my roots
my heart, a mine of diamond
why don’t you see my immense wealth?!
why do you still confiscate my breath?!
and deprive my six and five
of a mundane dream and desire
of being decent and upright
why I have to pay a disastrous price?
my own flesh and blood a sacrifice!
I can’t breathe
Humanity still can’t breathe
a “house divided”
souls of shades moaning under sins weight
a sacred “eternal Truth” deafened
unfree souls kept pending
a body bleeding
a severe infection persisting
In need of breath, Love and Trust
I need to seal my chest bruises, heal my tortured soul
and regain my Oneness
my cause is just.
I can’t breathe
Long ago, a man named human had a dream
the emancipation spirit into his mind remained seared
“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”
in the promised Earth with a mine of Justice
“Justice, a reality for all of God’s children”..
Now, it is high time I won back my right
and freedom I could breathe
I have a mission beyond what you see of my skin
let me breathe and unveil the beauty within
I Can’t Breathe
A song of a poet
as peace deserted my mind
and ache resided in my heart
My words that couldn’t remain silent
flowed to reach your Hearts.
* My humble work is a voice I couldn't suppress and I wanted to share with my dear fellow poets and friends on Poetrysoup in the contest sponsored by Richard Lamoureux but couldn't compose it in time.
Another Christmas season has arrived, at last
and like so many others from Yuletides past,
I'm glad some things have remained unchanged
Although the furniture has been rearranged.
Across the room, a fire crackles and burns
Jenny has grown; for love, her heart yearns
I recall when all she wanted was a baby doll
and skates for the new ice rink in the mall
I've been unpacked in just enough time to see
my family hanging ornaments upon their fir tree.
Garlands of holly berries and popcorn strung
The green velvet stockings beneath me are hung
There's gingerbread scent and carols on the radio
Dad sneaked a kiss from Mom under the mistletoe
The angel nods to me as she's lifted into place
atop the tree. She once told me her name is Grace.
There's old Kaci, the collie, fast asleep on his rug
Grandpa looks sad. I wish I could give him a hug
Mom is headed for the mantle to give me a shake
She's always gentle, taking care I don't break.
I was a gift from her Mom on Christmas, long ago
when she had asked Santa to please bring her snow,
but snow didn't fall in the South where she resided.
I was the closest thing Santa had lovingly provided
Tears fill Mom's eyes as my snow starts to flurry
I've become a bit cloudy and that makes her worry,
but I'll see her smile again Christmas Eve night
when she puts me in Jenny's stocking by fire light.
December 15, 2020
Christmas Poems ~ Old or New
Sponsored by ~ Constance La France
Drained of opaque innocence
Perfected by your toxicity,
I was laid bare beneath the narcissistic sun,
Searing deep within dehydrated pupils,
Stripping my soul of all humanity,
until your sinister tongue was all I could hear.
Your empty promises clothed these bones;
running was no longer an option,
as hiding became nearly impossible within your shadows.
Voices, eating through my cerebral cortex,
tainted even the demons that resided within my mind.
Minuscule reminders of my life before became particles of dust,
floating through suffocating air,
choking the little oxygen you let me breathe,
until the poison became too much to take.
Falling to my knees, vomiting your vile lies,
my life flashed like motion pictures before my eyes.
A choice was given:
either purge—rip the cursed, stinging nettle from my veins,
or die under your cruelty.
I will not rot for an insignificant monster;
a cleansing is long overdue.
I relate this story from my room in the Quiet Vale Giggling Academy
A reader might find my story hard to believe
BUT!
At one time in my life –
As a matter of fact quite recently –
I had just finished Dr. Doolittle’s great study
‘Talk to the Animals”
And after several months of following Doolittle’s observations
Found I could actually understand animal talk
Which was really just grunts growls and bodily motions –
Tail switches
Chop-licking
Lurches
Farts
Things such as that
Quite by accident
While walking in the woods one day
I happened on a scene
A robin told me was ‘animal court’
Resided over by Judge Grump
At once I noticed a huge lion
Seated on a stump
His heavy tail thumping the back of the stump
“When Grump thumps the stump court will come to order
And when Grump thumps the stump all better listen!” sang the robin
There were a number of spectators -
Squirrels
Possums
Raccoons
Deer
Birds
All chattering at once
So that Grump had to thump the stump many times
Growling horrendously till they stopped chattering
There was no jury
No lawyers
Just this marvelously striped tiger
Tail down
Standing in front of Grump seated on his stump
I assumed the tiger was the defendant
The lion judge began with a thump of the stump
“You are accused of eating your best friend
Is that correct?”
The tiger swished his tail
“Yes”
“A dachshund named Stretch
Is that correct?”
The tiger swished his tail
“Yes’
“Sad” the lion judge continued
“You were reported to have done everything together –
Touched noses
Sniffed out-holes
Even wrestled together
Such fine friends
What could have caused such an action on your part?”
At this point the attending group began chattering vigorously
The lion judge Grump thumped the stump
Thumped
And thumped
As thumping the stump wasn’t loud enough he growled
Finally the crowd quieted
“How could you do such a thing to your friend Stretch
I’m stumped.”
The tiger looked around
Eyes blazing
Jowls dripping
Gorgeous stripes undulating blazing in the sun
Tail swishing in manner of reply
“I was hungry” he said
“Case dismissed!” said Grump
With a thump of the stump!
they’re sensitive my words
exposed wires
like veins hidden
under the scars
of too many verbal attacks
like swarms of vampire bats
who puncture the night
turn the downpour red
you’ve never been able to stay on key
or open doors that needed one
like the beating one under your breast
with the rusted bars and the rusted lock
living in the city
alone is your state of mind
where once you found
the company to be friendly
where you could block those thoughts
travelled in the dark memories of your existence
and the only light was the bright white smile
you so casually hid behind
your casual stiff pose that fooled no one
not for a nickel or a dime
where glass although smoother than ice
cracked under your sharpened blades
it was there your pretty face resided
ugly and broken from that perspective
until you pulled out
your pencil and paper
until you placed people
and moved them
taught them to talk
saw something in that
for a little while you turned off the tap
suddenly attracted a crowd
one or two even saw beyond your guise
felt fine just to be you
for a length of time
before you fell
on the pavement
buried
in the concrete
oh too real
you were there
you were gone
and never regained your balance
life as easy as it comes
was too difficult
couldn’t explain
how you managed to grow old
sitting singular in your unlit corner
where nothing came of your success
or of your kind words
from your kind lips
and still kind
hopefully
to the bitter end
I remember those days when just a kid,
the old ten shilling note, and the odd quid.*
Teddy boys in their drain pipes, fur collars
smelling of nicotine, street wise scholars.
Conkers,* glass alleys* and comics as well,
bow and arrows, gat* to ring the school bell.
Electric tram, trolley bus and steam train
holidays in Blackpool, not yet in Spain.
Left over stew, dripping dispersed on bread,
a choice of marg or jam, not both was spread.
Roly-poly pud with custard, oh yes
school dinners, oh the ridicule the stress.
Journey in to space radio drama,
while bathing in a tin bath pure karma.
Medicals at school and nit nurses too
combing for the eggs, washing with shampoo.
No drugs, only cigs in small packs of five,
fifty fifty dance halls, old and new thrive.
Outside loo, oh them freezing winter nights
oil lamps, a candle to enhance one’s lights.
High street fish and chip shop charging nine pence,
potato crisps, tab* of salt to dispense.
Tanners,* hape’ny’s* and those threp’ny* bits,
meccano sets, clockwork trains came in kits.
Motorbikes, British pride on just two wheels,
Triumph, BSA, a nation reveals.
Alas long gone these balmy days of laze,
happy to have played a part in this phase!
*Quid:::: A one pound note (UK)
*Conkers:;;; Game played with the fruit of the horse chest nut tree.
*Glass Alleys::::: A type of Marble for the game of marbles.
*Gat::::: A catapult, or slingshot..
*Tab::: One brand of crisps in the UK, place a small blue pack of salt in each packet
*Tanners:::: A sixpenny coin
*Hape’ny’s::: A halfpenny coin
*Threp’ny bit::::: A Threepenny 12 sided coin, also called Thrupence depending where one resided in the North of England
.
© Harry J Horsman 2012
An old stone cottage stands on the seafront
Abandoned and alone
Windows covered in sea salt and cobwebs
Its history and story unknown
A small white cottage with good bones
That has weathered many a storm
Now unloved and neglected
Still stands steadfast ,proud, yet sadly forlorn
A large stone fireplace graces the front room
Blackened by the years that have withstood the test of time
Giving warmth and comfort to many a soul
Comfort so sublime
I wonder who resided here
Was it a happy home
Was it alive , full of love and laughter
Or harbouring sadness and secrets unknown
I would love to sit inside this cottage
Light the fire and share a cup of tea
So the cottage could tell me its story
Of life as it used to be
A story perhaps of long lost secrets
One of intrigue and mystery
Or maybe just a simple tale
Of a loving family
In appreciation and gratitude for story told
A cuddle it would be
I would visit time and again for the warmth of its fire
And to share another cup of tea!
I watch the tears fall from your eyes, but then why am I mad? …This is the day I was
told about, they said I’d be happy, blissful, content, and victorious, so then why am I
sad…
Man, today I met a new side of me, I learned you could confide in me, and know that
your secrets are safe with inside of me, trying to weaken the soul that lies in thee,
but my heart is as wide as the sea. And I’m stronger than I ever thought I could be,
because I learned to forgive YOU, and to love ME!
So I wipe your tears and ask myself where is your strength… the strength that kept
me in complete darkness, provoked words of cold harshness, the times I CRIED and
YOU acted heartless, I let you guide me as though you were my compass, but you
chose to destroy me and feed off my weakness, leaving me to pick up the pieces and
tidy your mess. So if you’re wondering if I feel your pain, my answer is yes!
The pain you feel was a place I once resided in, so my only words of wisdom is take
this as life’s lesson, learn that things happen for a reason, ppl we think we know
change like the season, learn to fight your daemon. Don’t let this be a rerun, don’t let
your soul get beaten, train your mind not to weaken, don’t wallow in your sorrows,
forgive and forget and your life will sweeten……mines did!
I did, I moved on, forgave and forgot, and in turn I am grateful for all that I got. Road
out the waves, rolled with the punches, built back my strength, my emotions and
senses, brushed myself off when you threw me in the trenches. Drowned my
sorrows, faced all my stresses. And at the end of it all I made a few pledges.
I pledge to love me and put myself first, love me through hard times, down to my
worst. I pledge to forgive, we all make mistakes, I pledge to succeed and do
whatever it takes. Avoid all the foes, follies and fakes. Avoid stepping on skins of all
cobras and snakes. I shall not conform to gossiping and sin, because despite what
I’ve been through I choose to win. Do good on to others, be kind, be true, and your
hardship will cease, your sorrows will be few. Now wipe the tears from your eyes,
cuz you finally paid your due. You can run and you can hide but karma will always find
you!
He stood at the French window fascinated with the storm outside.
Thunder boomed as lightening formed serpents in the ebony sky.
There would be no rainbows beneath the heavy dark clouds.
The uncouth woman lay supine on a comfortable couch
She looked at him almost contemptuously like a jilted bride,
Her cruel eyes darted like lancets that could only kill.
Had she even shown some compassion, he would have
Run to her and planted on her full lips, a loving kiss.
He felt her looks, knowing full well why he felt so jaded,
Yet slivers of her lust still resided in his soul,
She recognized he was not just some ghost from the past.
Though he yearned to tolerate her as a lover,
He knew she was not worth it. She realized how he hated her,
Saw her face darkening and foreboding,
Little did she know how strong he was and in full control.
He knew she wanted his body, not his tender love.
He felt her yearning heart now beating faster.
Outside thunder rumbled across the murky skies.
This wrought havoc as it continued to rain!
There was a fury inside her too, yet he yielded not.
He refused to be a mere plaything in the hands of a wanton woman.
Calmly he put on his jacket and raincoat,
And left her, knowing he needed a true radiant rainbow.
Quiet Please
I was born and grew up on the relatively quiet side of the planet. Nevertheless, there was a train line right through the heart of town.
And there were also cotton gins, tractors, and lots of farm machinery.
Obviously, we were not exactly 'noise free'; but basically, the noise I heard most were an occasional barking dog, crickets, bull frogs, and rooster crows.
After high school, I relocated to a very large northern city by a great lake. Suddenly, all my familiar noises of crickets, frogs, and roosters were gone.
Without warning, the sounds of combines and crop dusting planes disappeared They were replaced by commuter buses, automobile horns, sirens, and garbage trucks.
In my late 20's, I moved again to a large western city by the Bay and the Pacific. There, for 30 days, my family and I resided in a motel embraced by a street car rail line. Also there, we were annoyed by rap and rock from loud radios, and more sirens. But also there, we slept sweetly by the ocean waves and fog horns; gentler noises.
03082017 PS Contest, The Noises, Shadow Hamilton
The lines of the glass blur,
the scenery blends
except for that
strange,
semi-translucent curvature.
What lay between me
and my living room,
clear yet an acrylic
boundary to freedom;
as I survey
my post nap situation,
with mortal eyes
I realize...
I’m stuck in a snow globe.
My snow globe,
with the quaint pre-Victorian
house and the sleigh and
snowman
in the front yard;
I’m tiny and my
living room furniture,
gargantuan
as though a giant
resided within my house.
A parallel world perhaps?
No, it’s my world and
at some point between
twilight sleep
and awakening,
I ended up inside
of my own globe.
My it’s cold in here,
oh no, it’s starting to snow
and this snow is not glitter...
what is the Grinch
doing in my Living room?
12-8-19
Stuck in a Christmas Globe Poetry Contest
Bobby May
Romantic
teacher, writer, fitness enthusiast and self-proclaimed movie critic
who loves family, friends, and food,
I play with words, explore interesting/controversial topics and celebrate life;
feel grounded in my Earth sign, zealous in my goals, and happy in my solitude;
fear having unresolved issues, becoming helpless in old age or suffering pain; would like to regain perfect health, take a family cruise and visit faraway friends.
Homesick for Iowa, I’ve resided 3/4 my life now, however, in the Beehive state -
Realist
March 29, 2020
Contest: Bio Modified Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Dear Heart
There resided in an Orphanage, called Blessedville
Lovely girls whose names are Charitybelle,
Faithgayle and Hopedelle.
They are best friends and in prayer they are aligned
Asking God to give them adoptive parents who are kind…
Yet they must wait for guardians with good heart and mind.
One day, their home was visited by Mr. and Mrs. Kompassion
Giving all children food supplies, and for each one, a school-provision
As they announced their adoption-related decision.
They planned to adopt two girls who are cheerful
So all children have become more responsible and dutiful
Including Charitybelle, Faithgayle and Hopedelle who are hopeful.
“We want all of you to be part of our choice”
Said Mrs. Grace Kompassion, “so now rejoice
And answer our question without making a noise.”
Mr. Merc Kompassion smiled with delight
Stating, “Just do what is right and write without fright
To make us know that you are the great child in our sight.”
Mr. and Mrs. Kompassion asked each child for recommendation:
“Among all of you, what two names can you give as suggestion
To be included for our family expansion?”
Each child wrote one person including own name
But not Charitybelle, Faithgayle and Hopedelle who are the same
In not placing their names for their full claim.
Charitybelle considered Faithgayle and Hopedelle for the best
Faithgayle mentioned Hopedelee and Charitybelle to be blest
While Hopedelle noted that Charitybelle and Faithgayle are the greatest.
Because of the love* they showed for each other
Charitybelle, Faithgayle and Hopedelle were adopted together
And Mr. and Mrs. Kompassion became their father and mother.
Until now, they visit Blessedville Orphanage with eagerness
Expressing that they thank the Lord for His graciousness
Making them belong to a wondrous family of joyfulness.
*1John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Tristich in Rhyme midst Narrative form
April 7, 2023
1st place, "Write a Sweet Fairytale For Children with a Good Outcome Ending; Nobody gets hurt" Poetry Writing Contest; Sponsored by BJ Legros Kelley; judged on 5/6/2023.
Gone, and gone with love!
Up forlornly went my breath
Down my body sank, of death
I but recall, in love with you intensely how I fell
And evermore was I there while you were unwell
I broke jokes to you to keep you calm
And I took care of you when you broke your arm
I waited for you to admit that you love me
And to assure me that we would soon together be
I waited for you to discard your pride and take part
But I doubted that your love resided in a confused heart
And so long I cared for you till my love did decay
As I loved you in vain till the sun came and took me away!
Pity when I was gone I learnt that you loved me too
And that it was belated of time that I then be with you
Because now I’m gone, and with true love I’m gone!
Tribute
Bright star, ascendant,
Now too quickly gone,
Light becoming -
Bright as transparent rainbow colors
Made of sun and storm
Lingering on the sky
With not one color unseen,
Full spectrum complete
Of joys, of tears, of hope -
Abiding memory
Of child becoming one
With woman
In endless summer days
Winter secrets spoken beneath storms
Running through the spring
To autumntide.
Bright Star
With images held fast by midnight,
Rememberings paused,
Nothing added –
Nothing changed –
No words re-spoken
No actions explained;
A circle completed
All the threads joined
Into a tapestry of light
As shades attempt to separate
Present from memory
Going beyond
The still and final chord –
The naked soul
Fleeing to the light.
Bright star ascending
I still look for you
Upon the velvet sky,
Searching that empty space
Where you resided,
That place
Where daily tasks busied your active hands –
Where shimmering dreams
Guided your every step
In quiet recesses that even friendship
Left untouched –
For your light reflected
Life’s ever borning essence
Bubbling up,
You reflected the stunning wonder
Found in all creation.
Bright star,
This night I stop along the way
To tell you
I still miss
The patterns of your light
And honor you
With tears
Of separation,
Celebration,
And of love,
Quietly residing
Where the signature
Of your days
Wrote an indelible portrait –
To you, bright star -
A light that never dies.