Best Resisted Poems
Here’s to a love that never existed!
And to the departing you insisted,
Let me give in to all I’ve resisted
It is true through our frivolous trail
Our lives were but a tale;
Though if I hadn’t thought of it
Pure hearts indefinite,
Not mattering even then,
Would I ever believe again?
We never win, we never fail
For what we had was only a tale
I’m lost within a dream never dreamt
Inside a slumber never slept,
And I caress the intricate design
Of the world I can never find
How vast! Yet still it is dying
Fading into the nadirs’ binding
As I fill the world with crying—always crying!
Oh world! Can I ever bring myself to hold
The warm nothing growing cold?
Oh world! Can I not take away
The love I gave with my will today?
We never win, we never fail
For what we had was only a tale
Thru maritime miles of minions in motion
We hedge our opinions while pledging devotion
To serving the Captain and sharing our smiles
Through barrels of onions and flea-bearing trials
But even the pirates who pose in a rumble
Are learning the merits of those who are humble
The path of our choosing where sinning is pleasure
Is better for losing than winning a treasure
I plunged overboard when I soared off a plank
At the point of a sword and a sore lady's prank
The captain's first mate made her daddy agree
That my fate was a date with the fish in the sea
I knew she was baiting my body at brunch
To catch me in waiting and serve me for lunch
All pirates are worthy to fish and to feast
But no one should make me a dish for a beast
From well on the brink to a splash in the sink
I fell in a flash for a female fink
I knew she was watching me fall in the tank
And laughing discreetly with Daddy to thank
I should have resisted the words that she said
But when she persisted they went to my head
I told her I loved her but so did my mate
Who never returned from his very first date
It seems bloody retching but fatefully true
When somebody fetching is fatal for you
You flee from the danger but fractured you find
That pretty young stranger has captured your mind
You think she is true but you never can tell,
Her saltwater stew is a bitter farewell,
A mob in her keep is the poorest of help,
Who force you to leap in a forest of kelp,
Though mad as an adder I drifted from reach
To bob like a bladder in search of a beach
The Great White beside me was my willing host
To have me for dinner and eat me the most
Then something resembling a storm with a tail
Came surging at me in the form of a whale
I lost my composure and when I passed out
She tossed me all over to sit on her spout
Upon this brave lady who skirted the water
I fled for my life from the ship captain's daughter
She brought me to land on the girth of her blubber
To flip me ashore like a lousy landlubber
From deep in the sea to a seat by a seal
The freedom I keep is a cheap kind of deal
The beach that I sleep on is sunny and hot
So happy to be where my honey is not...
I salute you oh mighty time:
My best friend,
My worst foe
For
To live without you is simply
Impossible!
Throughout my existence
I have, unsuccessfully, struggled to accept
Whatever you brought to me,
Either it was a sweet smile
Or a bitter tear with
Equanimity
Since
I could not enjoy the one
Without
Suffering the presence of
The other
For
This, you told me, is the order of things,
This is what the heavens
Decree,
But
I, a fool ignorant, resisted!
Now, however,
Older and wiser, an obedient child of yours, oh time,
Have I finally become
So as
To abide by your universal rules
Of growth and decay
Without
Any complaints!
© Demetrios Trifiatis
22 July 2017
It sat there—not as metal, not as memory,
but as something half-asleep and listening.
A quiet creature of keys and shadows,
its body dulled by dust, its spirit still humming
beneath the years.
It had known the weight of a man
who believed words could bend the world~
a man whose hands were rough with labor
yet gentle with letters, as if each keystroke
were a small salvation.
I remember the music of it~
that click-clack cadence like rain on a tin roof,
like a heartbeat learning to speak.
I was a child then, cross-legged under his desk,
catching the syllables like fireflies,
not knowing they were seeds, not knowing they were mine.
When Granddad passed, I carried the machine upward
as though escorting a relic to its resting place~
a silent procession through the narrow throat of the attic.
It waited there—through summers that smelt of cedar and heat,
through winters that whispered of things forgotten, it waited~
a sentinel of stories I was too afraid to write.
Years later, the attic groaned under my return,
as if recognizing the footsteps of someone
who had once believed in beginnings.
The machine was still there, its silhouette steady,
its longing patient. It had survived because some things endure
even when we abandon them~
faith, memory, and the quiet insistence of a dream
we pretend we outgrew.
When I touched it, the dust rose like breath.
The first key resisted-a refusal,
a reminder of all the years I’d resisted myself.
But then, a single letter, dark and certain,
punched through the page like a pulse returning.
By the third paragraph, I understood:
I had not resurrected the machine. It had resurrected me.
And somewhere between the rafters and the rising words,
I realized this truth: I was never the one writing the story.
I was the story finally finding its way back to the page.
The accompanying memoir vignette can be read at poetrysoup.com/short_stories/a_dream_deferred_13827
( The poem is based on the biographical details with quotes of Lord Byron the renaissance poet. The poem is Stand By Me appeal to the criticism of Byron being an outspoken, atheist and passionate poet)
By accident his left leg was twisted
Mary nursed it though he resisted.
A day came when Mary died and
Her dying words about him were at the end
“All for the love of the child, she nursed in lieu”
He said then, “I can put on a simple shoe”
He asked himself, “Why should I weep?
Her matchless spirit sweeps
In the shade of her bower
I remember the hours
We shall meet
In this rural retreat
Now we will see each other no more
One last look what we were before”
Pleasure became a pain to him
At the sight of people’s screams.
+++
January 21, 2015
Form: Rhyme
Fifth Place win
Contest: Stand By Me
I had much to accomplish last Saturday,
But far too many things got in my way:
As always when awaking, I took a pee,
then went to see the emails piled up for me.
I stayed so long, missed boxing class, so then,
I grabbed some food and went downstairs again!
Decided I’d swim laps at 12 instead.
Felt tired, so I lay down on my bed.
Put the TV on; dozed off. Oh my!
Woke up at noon, so skipped the swim (sigh!)
Told myself I’d later use the gym.
Then called my hubbie - talked a bit to him.
Called a sister too and talked forever.
Thought about the gym. I’d get there never!
Decided to do lesson plans and got my book.
Went to the computer, but at Soup I took a look!
Saw some blogs and got involved in those.
Got up to pet the dog and blow my nose.
Remembered I had vacuuming to do
But had to write a poem that was brand new.
Decided that the vacuuming could wait.
Took a bath and readied for my mother/daughter date.
Put on better clothes and got to thinking
lesson plans and gym were off (my heart was sinking).
Happy nonetheless, I drove my car.
Went to my sweet daughter’s house; it’s not too far.
Drove an hour more in pouring rain
just to eat at Maid-rites once again!
Satisfied and chatting, headed south.
Taste of Maid-rites lingered in my mouth.
Arrived in Sandy for a film called Child 44.
Resisted smell of popcorn and the urge to eat once more.
Got home late. The dog was filled with glee.
I let him in the house as he jumped all over me.
My lovely weekend’s nearly gone. What fun. . .
when vacuuming and lesson plans are still not done!
(A list poem written for Sara Kendrick's "What I Accomplished Today" Poetry contest on the following day, Mother’s Day,when I actually finally did the vacuuming and my lesson plans! Nothing like putting things off till the last minute!)
Going on down to the demos today
the last farmer has been put away.
They shot him down
just outside of town.
Police found him in his own cornfield,
where he resisted and refused to yield.
Since his were crimes against the state,
then death obviously was to be his fate.
Going on down to the demos today
the last farmer has been put away.
He refused to buy corn from the corporation,
produced his own seeds for his liberation.
He refused to buy genetic sprays
to eliminate the bugs and the butterflys.
By his wanton self pollination
he threatened the food supply of our nation.
We're going on down to the demos today
to give thanks to those who put terrorists away.
Tantalizing love, how long I’ve known you.
How often I’ve succumbed to you, but
how often I’ve resisted too -
while wanting you so badly.
I’ll never tire of you,
nor do I want to,
for you’ve been a
part of my
greatest
times.
I
have had
to learn to
control myself
when you are around.
I’m not the only one
who loves you more than I should.
You are so good when you are bad!
Oh, to breathe your scent and hold you to
my lips! Delicious food, I adore you.
WRitten 9/19/14 for the Double reverse Etheree contest
of Shadow Hamilton
The Damnable Sin of Self-righteousness.
All of our leaders have their different views of human rights.
Our leader has repeatedly resisted calls to assume the moral leadership that is expected from. Rage, hatred, and bigotry are spreading like a wheat field on fire. Lie after lie, has cemented like and ant hill filled with fire ants. Do we want to live in a country ruled by a ruler with total power over our country; with maybe a result of genocide in our nation? Thousands of children might now become homeless orphans.
manipulation
sorrow, tide of fury grows
where are the children
His self-righteousness is destroying the future of human lives. People are out of work, which adds up to, no food on the table, no insurance for healthcare, car, or home. Not enough money to pay the house and utility bills. Will they be out on the street joining the thousands of homeless people!
When is this going to end?
I look at my hands
dark brown, green, black, red, yellow
with each heartbeat felt
6/28/2018
Rebellious hearts won fame and infamy,
And knew black nights of burgundy.
Then resisted we the merest tyranny;
For we'd so long longed to be free.
So hip and wild and young--
We touched tongue to tongue.
And to our dreams fiercely clung;
Children of the flowers we frolicked among.
In an age of such degeneration,
Blossomed the youth of my generation;
Who had a penchant for creation,
And caused very much diversification.
We graced museums with pop art,
And sang pop music from the heart.
Memories of scarlet evenings won't depart;
Naked lust never kept lovers apart.
All the world was young when I was!
Seems even the bluebird had a cause.
Our actions gave authoritarians much pause;
We broke the most rigid rules and laws.
Breath to breath, flesh to flesh, toe to toe;
Baby, tell me, where did the years go?
Of smoky rooms, black nights and disco,
And the rosy mornings of love's afterglow?
If you could step into my shoes
Would you see the things I see,
Would your head feel dizzy like mine is now
Or would you still walk easily?
If I resisted like you do
Would I be this wreck of a girl,
Do you think I'd have turned out stronger?
... A lighter step, a happy twirl
If I was as white as you are
(Or as you seem to be)
Would I be someone's angel too?
Like the angel you are to me.
If you could step in my shoes
Would you understand my pain,
Would you have fallen just as hard
Or do you think it was all in vain?
Take a look through my eyes
And tell me what I'm doing wrong
Tell me how to fix it all
Whether the situation be short or long.
If you could step in my shoes
You'd see much better than I
Your beauty, wisdom, pure intent
Is enough to make me cry
If I could step in your shoes
I wonder what I'd see,
Would the world become more beautiful;
Does it all depend on me?
Today, I got into a Polite Fight
Over the last Wonder Woman night-light
"Oh, its yours," I insisted,
She demurred, I resisted,
Until I gave in and let her be right!
4/8/18
Dark thoughts emerging from a lifeless spirit,
a wandering ship sinking into the remotest depths;
denying itself reality and its sense of comfort...
and was ever there a lighthouse to disperse its darkness?
A captain stirring his erring ship,amid furious waves,
for an imminent and fierce war,
not noticing the making of its destiny...
fighting unnecessary battles of ambiguity,
hoping that luck would bring it safely ashore;
even a small island was hidden from his gaze!
An unwise listener would not take advice from anybody,
he didn't reject it embracing his own vulnerability;
a good decision that didn't imply a cost...
would he ever been discouraged or lost?
For uncountable years, this eager sea-man,
resisted and spoiled many pleasures for victory...
freezing time to avoid another tragedy
with a perception so sharp to defy anyone's will!
And did he deserve the harshest judgment
from others, who were pleased with their fate?
Loneliness was chosen by him
for unequivocal reasons and he craved it
like the bitterest, strongest wine
to make him strong and invincible...
nothing swayed him from his pride
to obtain that impossible goal!
Howling winds flung me into the sea
waves lashed kelp ropes around me
my belligerence grew when I was seized
anger brewed the tighter they squeezed
With fists raised and teeth clenched
I resisted the harder they wrenched
voice rang out in acrimonious scream
my face contorted, wild eyes agleam
spittle dribbled from cracked lips
I neared the verge of sanity's eclipse
Man is but an elfin grain of sand
a mortal never has the upper hand
when wrangling with a sea of thunder
I was punished and plowed asunder
beneath coral reefs to ocean's floor
I cursed until I could no more
My swearing wails echoed my destiny
retched was my body from an angry sea
briny foam spit me on the rocky shore
done with me like an oft beaten whore
My crime was that I'd chosen wrong
the one I loved became my swan song
Piercing needles of torrential rain
burning injections increased the pain
Such bitter tea the cruel sea can steep
and I, a crumpet, tossed in restless sleep
Howling winds flung me into the sea
waves lashed kelp ropes around me
my belligerence grew when I was seized
anger brewed the tighter they squeezed
With fists raised and teeth clenched
I resisted the harder they wrenched
voice rang out in acrimonious scream
my face contorted, wild eyes agleam
spittle dribbled from cracked lips
I neared the verge of sanity's eclipse
Man is but an elfin grain of sand
a mortal never has the upper hand
when wrangling with a sea of thunder
I was punished and plowed asunder
beneath coral reefs to ocean's floor
I cursed until I could no more
My swearing wails echoed my destiny
retched was my body from an angry sea
briny foam spit me on the rocky shore
done with me like an oft beaten whore
My crime was that I'd chosen wrong
the one I loved became my swan song
Piercing needles of torrential rain
burning injections increased the pain
such bitter tea, the cruel sea can steep
I, a crumpet, tossed in restless sleep