Best Resolutely Poems
Oh my dearest love, how longingly I recall
Amorous wink of joy, teasing zealous eyes
When you held my hand on journey of life
And never let go despite the arduous climb.
Happily you greeted what justly we toiled for,
In view of gratitude plentiful it always was.
Staying true to hallmark of your own resolve
You didn't falter when fate made bad calls.
Exuberantly you reveled in garden of roses
In purple orchids and fragrance of Jasmine
Beneath cosmic infinity wooing your fantasy,
As resolutely you held on to truth of reality.
We traveled far eying cultural renaissance
In Sistine Chapel and the Statue of David
As museums found you mesmerized by art
And paintings in Uffizi held you spellbound.
In your honor, I'll memorialize solemn oath
Lovingly etched in the temple of our hearts
Saying in your voice, there are no goodbyes
When love shall endure till the end of time.
December 14, 2018
Placed first in last letter to my beloved contest by Silent One
Placed 3rd: Strand choice S contest by Brian Strand
POTD 2 July 2018
Humans are capable of ‘Changing their State’. At times, a stressful, negative fusillade can be encountered from an individual wishing to subvert a person for whatever reason.
Lady Gaga so aptly describes this in her video clip above - and she should know through experience.
Kindness is a sentiment no one can ultimately reject.
Hard to do you say? - It’s easy.
Firstly, refuse your alter ego permission to react immediately.
(Your alter ego is programmed to protect your from a ‘painful’ situation)
The brain is a Bio-computer and can easily be reset to ‘Default’ by breathing into your abdomen (not into your lungs), - hold and then exhale, each action performed slowly to the count of 6.
Accusatory fingers pointing ~ eyes glowing hate
Seeds of venom spewing forth slanderous lies
Jealousy in all its inglorious green eyed splendor
Wool clothed wolves with undetectable smiles
Any tick of the clock it creeps up upon you
Evil plays no favorite it’s any man’s game
Seeming to push you up that stairway of victory
Then perniciously denigrates ~ disavowing any blame
Damned if you do ~ Damned if you don’t
Kindness perceived as weakness gets cast out the door
Tendencies to vacillate creates chinks in your armour
Resolutely walk the tight rope ~ lest your knees hit the floor
Eyes wide shut to the Evil all around us
Detach from this Chaotic Web in which we dwell
Be the Peace that ceaselessly penetrates the darkness
YOUR prerogative is to choose either ~ Heaven or HellPOTD 2 July 2018
Quote: A man can fail many times, but he isn’t a failure until he begins to blame somebody else.
John Burroughs
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Inspired by life’s goals, winners are intuitively aware,
A loss is but a steppingstone, not a reason to despair;
Again and again, with certitude they play the game,
For triumph, they envision, is written in every name.
They never seek to blame others, for own mistakes,
Instead, they course-correct, averting heart-breaks,
Re-learning, deep in introspection, as they re-assess;
Ameliorating ways of failures, reaching for success.
When life is perturbed in adversities, they fear not,
Cognizant~ anything worthwhile must be hard-fought;
Summoning conquering ways, every failure taught,
To attain ultimate milestone, reveries of victory sought.
They accept, they advance, when things go wrong,
Strumming theme winsome, emanating from life’s song,
Echoing a pledge revered, treasured for quite long;
Avowing~ to them, the reigns of future shall belong.
Dreams of passion, dreams coveted, refuse to die,
For resolutely their objectives, driven believers vie;
Until triumphantly, bells-elated, of success chime,
Trumping sad sighs of failures, defeated over time.
Though she holds his hands, he feels all alone
As moonlit desires sense his dissonant vibes
Emanating from pulses beating in discord
Plundering away ambiance to vacant thoughts
When a cogent conversation becomes a task.
Silence he placates discarding her prompts
Preferring the dark over company of stars
As a lone-bird sits forlorn on a leafless branch
Awaiting for daybreak to build a new nest.
Steadfastly she holds on to her view of galaxy
Undeterred by forces of invisible black holes
Comforting his woes till he rejects her call,
Deciding resolutely to abandon her place
When the lone-bird flees before daybreak.
November 5, 2018
Placed first in contest #520 by Brian Strand
It took the Israelites forty years
to finally reach the promised land.
I could well take double that time
till my long journey comes to an end.
Having trekked for endless nights and days,
faced many storms and hurdles on the way,
I would at last come to my destination.
Stopping at the bank of the river of fire,
an angel guides me, ferrying me across
to the other side, where resolutely
I walk through a shroud of thick mist.
Then, to the sound of heavenly song,
I step into the realm of Elysian Fields.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A ‘Cross’ themed contest
Sponsored by Carolyn Devonshire
Placed 2nd
Awarded POTD ~ 1st March 2019
© 27th February 2019
Quote: Know your value. Confidence breeds success. Act like the person you want to become, and people will start seeing you as that person.
Mark M Ford
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Those who embrace, avid ambitions of heart,
To them shall the reigns of future belong;
From charted path of passion, they never part
For earnest is the promise treasured for long.
O, how they strive, aiming for heavenly skies,
Flexing audaciously to conquer higher highs,
Fixated on life’s goals with purposeful eyes,
Focused mindfully, primed to win the prize.
On might of confidence when achievers roar,
On strength of willpower their dreams soar
Employing fortitude resolutely brought to fore,
Sailing to shores, dreamt in travails of yore.
Glumness they defy of shroud and sorrow,
Planting seeds of hope in despair of woes,
Aspiring bright horizons on dawns of morrow
Overcoming hapless shadows cast in throes.
O, the doers and believers instinctively know,
Hurdled with failures is the road to success,
As they drive dreary nights to mornings aglow,
Fueled by aspirations, dreams revered possess.
Happy New World
A new day glows as the year comes to close
Opting for true love that rejects old throes,
Wishing happiness for all ringing heavenly bells,
Offering hand of friendship as tranquility dwells.
No need to waste time making elaborate plans,
A silent prayer in unison will awaken all hands
Linking solidarity to defeat emissaries of evil
When angels will join in to vanquish the devil.
Citizens of this world over seven billion strong
Have enough power to defy mighty atom bomb,
For no one would die if no one would fight,
Refusing to pull trigger will end unsightly fright.
Healing won't begin until we recognize the pain
Hiding in places where despair and grief reign.
A tiny part of each of us can restore dignity
As people rise-up to save anguished humanity.
May volunteers bring smiles to saddened faces
As regal actions shine brightly in angelic graces.
Imagine billion hands reaching to those in need
Uplifting resolutely, engaged in a noble deed.
May the world unite with heartfelt compassion
As message of kinship reverberates true passion.
In a world without wars there are no weapons
For trust builds friendship that peacefully beckons.
May new-year dawn wishing happy new world to all,
May deliverance of goodness answer every call,
May courage dominate defying perils big and small,
May harmony loom large as unity stands tall.
December 30, 2017
First place: Best poem contest by Silent One
The yellow lambent moon
sent its rays across the shimmering sea.
A balmy breeze moved the waves
in a rolling fashion towards the beach.
Crabs hurried and dived into the foam.
Distant horns sounded as they passed
A mighty lighthouse, that sent its warning.
It was a peaceful night, as I sat alone
On the clean sand of the long beach.
From afar, I could hear revellers drinking,
And some even ventured to sing some sea songs.
I felt at peace, alone, on the vast beach.
No emotions resonated into heartbreak,
For I knew my dear wife was safe at home.
She’d worry about this world full of evil,
But there are things that could not be helped.
Time for me to go home and relax,
But for a moment I sat still in the warm breeze,
And watch the waves rolling creating foam.
I stood up and turned resolutely home,
To enjoy my love of love in peace.
An odyssey through hurdles, yet a blessing it is to dwell on earth,
Aiming for destination beloved, chasing sweet dreams of mirth,
Through successes and failures, amid joys and woes, since birth,
Life can be hurricanes and storms, but living it justifies its worth.
Sometimes life beams with hope, sometimes despairs in throes,
Navigating peaks and troughs, undulating with highs and lows,
Yet, unyielding to reign of angst, life rejects doldrums of sorrow,
Aspiring boldly to sunny horizons, hosting endeavors of morrow.
Life, a realm of virtues divine, resounding endearment of love,
A benediction, an endowment, a gift from the heavens above;
Its paradigms and precepts reverberate from temple of soul,
Echoing sapience of enlightenment, teachings paramount toll.
On strength of sheer endurance, aspirations of dreamers soar,
Flexing willpower of ambitions, resolutely they bring to fore,
As life rewards strenuous efforts, striving for its worthy goal,
Fulfilling purpose of tomorrow, triumphs of achievers extol.
Life toddles, stumbles and falls, enduring as it learns to walk,
It stutters, it babbles thoughts, yet persists as it learns to talk,
Cognizant over time, sorting good from bad, right from wrong,
Obeying tenets of morals and values, guiding humanity lifelong.
Applauding sun’s halo~ inspiring, rewarding,
Mindfully I rise with the ebullient awakening
Letting soul enliven while robins are singing
And horizon crimson glimmers in dawning.
I hold time still for the blossoms of spring,
Rivers that burble sprucing green prairies
And blue tides bouncing summer’s revelry
And resplendent dazzle of autumnal leaves.
Every memento of love I treasure in delight,
In embrace of family, I cheer life sublime
Rejoicing when I sense success in their eyes
Celebrating milestones of things done right.
Realizing I own a mere fraction of eternity
Elated I feel holding just a speck of infinity
Succeeding more often than failing or quitting
Coping resolutely with poor hand of destiny.
I shun nightmares, choosing dreams of night
Lifting troubled mind when grief occupies,
When darkness rules, I invoke moonlit skies
And paint on visage of hope blissful smiles.
I yearn not for the ships that already sailed,
Regret not having tried the conquests I failed,
But I chase prospects of aspirations deferred
Yet, remain focused on things that matter.
July 20, 2021
Placed 1st: Motivation poetry contest
Sponsor: Shreya LN
I sat with a reluctant story teller
my legs crossed
holding my breath
The fabric of her mind
was tightly folded
tucked in carefully at her edges
I reached for a thread
gave it a gentle tug
hoping that it would come loose
My desire was to know her secrets
Her's was the ability I so desperately desired
She smiled a knowing smile
Looked deeply into my eyes
I gazed back resolutely
Searching for my prize
She whispered
"Come close
within my hands
I hold the ghosts
They scream with force
to be released
You will not be protected
by your Priest
I'm trying my best
to hold them back
If they escape
they will attack!"
My childish wonder
turned to fear
Could real Ghosts
have followed her here
As I wondered
she began to laugh
Within my soul
I felt a draft
I got my wish
Storied spirits grabbed hold
I could not handle
the tales she told
So I ran
through the forest
Spirits close behind
sang a chorus
"We are released
our stories are yours
Fly with us
through hidden doors
The forest our home
a magical place
we knit our spells
with silvered lace!"
Her thread had attached
firmly to my mind
The desire within
had rendered me blind
The reluctant story teller
she knew me best
deep down convinced
I'd fail her test
As the fabric unraveled
I absorbed her pain
Those silvered threads
now formed a chain
The ghostly spirits
wrapped links round my soul
My eyes of blue
turned black as coal
Nothing was left
of earlier me
I became like the one
I wished to be
I am the Reluctant Story Teller
The fabric of my mind tightly folded
tucked in at my edges
You sit cross legged
holding your breath
You pull at a single thread
hoping my fabric will unravel
You desire to know my secrets
"Come a little closer
so that I might whisper in your ear,
I have stories to tell!"
Dedicated to my Friend Vicky a story teller Extrodinaire.
(These are 2 etheree I put together to form a double etheree.
They were inspired by the marvelous
documentary movie "March of the Penguins.")
In the Empire of the Ice:
“The Plunge” & “When Childhood Ends”
They poke small heads out from underbellies;
feeling chill, retreat; and shivering,
remain a while longer where it’s
safe. Nourished by both parents,
the chicks adapt. One day
they’re left alone, but
Sea soon beckons
them, and . . . they
take the
plunge.
Five
years they
play, chase warm
waters’ flow and grow
with stomachs always full
before black heads emerge from
sea. . . Swollen bellies slide on ice.
Upright, they resolutely waddle
miles home. . . fierce winter storms not prevailing.
A tale of meraki
Overcome by the burden she sat teary eyed
Holding closely her two little boys by her side
Immersed in sorrow they had endlessly cried
After her loving husband had suddenly died.
Soaring from her seat elated with newfound joy,
Making herself a promise with an assured ploy,
She picked up her two boys holding them high
Shedding ambivalence boldly with assertive sigh.
Dedicating bravely to parenting with rigor,
Fighting ingress of despair with almighty vigor,
She crushed hindrances powered by love alone,
Aiming meraki resolutely to reach her throne.
As the boys grew older she faced new struggle
With eagle-eyes she kept them out of trouble,
Enamored in plans for sending them to college,
Guiding them to yearn for power of knowledge.
Not retreating when incurable illness struck,
Refusing to surrender to randomness of luck,
Amid doctor's visits she kept working at her job
As if nothing sublunary would cause her to stop.
Her kids grew up to be intelligent young men
Finding success in college with power of pen,
Earning scholarships for duration of all terms,
Getting job offers from many reputable firms.
Having reached destination of her ardent trip
She embraced her kids with a joyous firm grip,
Longing to hold fervently till they reach their prime,
Knowing well she'll be dead in a very short time.
December 15, 2017
Meraki
Sponsor: Silent One
Placed 2nd
“death approaches but we have no regret ~
when God questions us, we will stand erect”
When Death resolutely comes
With his deadly summons
Tarry not like a galley slave
But like a courteous host behave.
Do not waver and do not droop
As if you are to be hung on a loop
Never dread lying under the dust
Within the narrow vault thrust.
When God questions us, let us stand erect
Our life should be worthy that we won’t have any regret
Obey God’s command and place Him above all
Love your neighbour with your heart and soul.
If so, when ousted out of terrestrial space
We will be enfolded into God’s embrace
Know, it is only when seeds rot
That fresh and florid lives sprout
When death comes and it’s time to go
Strut like an indomitable foe
With swinging hands and head held high
To be welcomed by angels of the sky.
There will be the music of clanging cymbals
And the rising rhythm of sounding bells
With all claim, into a kingdom, bright and cheerful
We shall enter, that is far radiant and blissful.
When granny was still alive
she used to tell me~
" Don't cry when I die,
for tears are melted salt
that had escaped from oceans;
Spare your tears, spare your salt,
Just sing me a song~
a song I first taught you."
Two decades ago, she bade adieu,
and in front of her coffin,
With eyes frozen,I stood still
holding back my tears~
the hardest thing to do;
It rained in my heart
as I began to sing her,
"Que Sera, Sera ( What ever will be, will be)".
Grandma, whatever will be, will be!
Your love shall dwell in me;
The tears I held back ~
were copious tears
that flowed in my sullen heart.
Now my tears I could hold back never more
Like unceasing cascading stream~
resolutely rushing on
as I stand here~
in front of your tombstone.
18 August 2021
This or That Vol 5 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Edward Ibeh
4th place
A Brian Strand Informel Poetry Contest
1st place