Best Scrimmage Poems
Father’s are wonderful people
Too little understood
And we do not sing their praises
As often as we should…
For, somehow, Father seems to be
The man who pays the bills
While mother binds up little hurts
And nurses all our ills…
And father struggles daily
To live up to his image
As protector and provider
And “hero of the scrimmage”
And perhaps that is the reason
We sometimes get the notion
That fathers are not subject
To the thing we call “emotion”
But if you look inside Dad’s heart
Where no one else can see
You’ll find he’s sentimental
And as “soft” as he can be
But he’s so busy every day
In the grueling race of life
He leaves the sentimental stuff
To his partner and his wife
But fathers are just wonderful
In a million different ways
And merit loving compliments
And accolades of praise
For the only reason Dad aspires
To fortune and success
Is to make the family proud of him
And to bring them happiness
And like our heavenly father
He’s a guardian and a guide
Someone we can count on
To be always on our side.
This piece is dedicated with love to J.E. Gauthier, Jr. Active addict and father.
Only by the grace of God may he be saved from the error of his ways.
For years a dark man walked through a seemingly revolving door
Steadily leaving his wife and kids as he searched for something more
Occasionally calling home every now and again
In his voice they could hear the taint of black sin
Back then life on the road meant drugs money and women far as the eye could see
He said he'd never look back 'cuz he was born free
Life grew emptier as he grew older
The drugs grew heavier as his heart grew colder
His four children left behind with no place to call home
From day one they made it in this world alone
For years a dark man walked through a seemingly revolving door
Steadily leaving his wife and kids as he searched for something more
Occasionally calling home every now and again
In his voice they could hear the taint of black sin
Every few years he'd arrive unannounced offering money and a hug
All while using the garage to hide his drug
His spitting image could smell his guilt a mile away
She rolled her gloomy blue eyes in unison with every false word he had to say
Today his girls are grown raising girls of thier own
December came and went
February turned to Lent
On a stormy midnight he still turns to his blue eyed spitting image
As the clouds clear she is again lost in the scrimmage
She lies awake with a bottle of wine in hand
On her mind weighs a dark man
His ways make him lonely and lost
Yet to her death she will fight for him at all costs
For years a dark man walked through a seemingly revolving door
Steadily leaving his wife and kids as he searched for something more
Occasionally calling home every now and again
In his voice they could hear the taint of black sin
Falling acorns gather like pebbles on a beach
Floating leaves sway which are hard to reach
Blue jays sounding, seeking food to eat
Squirrels scrimmage in brigades, not doubting defeat
Brisk air puffing, glittering sun streams thru
Rabbits hip and hop over the wet morning dew
Sparrows and finches begin their daily flights
Breadcrumbs are scattered abound for their delights.
Fall is here, crisp leaves crunching, a seasonal birth
The foliage beautifies and encompasses our mother earth
Various hues adorn the banks of the creeks and streams
A moment to escape catching the sunlight’s autumn dreams.
Scrimmage upended linemen
Super bowl Sunday
The crowd roared, foot ball sailed high.
Receiver zig-zagged down field,
Ball spun overhead,
Runner snatched in air— touch down!
Somehow silence provided perfect
conversation.
Being at the right place, right time
undefined creation.
Merry go round throughout the night
a game of confusion.
Invisible connection
or an optical illusion?
Opposing personalities
but truly mirror image.
Politely staring eye to eye
deep down yearning to scrimmage.
Causing havoc in the mind
while wrestling the heart.
Rooted emotions coming to life
asking where to start.
An unsettling ping pong match
only visible to us both.
Dominating souls
not used to rapid growth.
A fleeting moment
that occurs by chance.
Synchronicity taking over
without announcing in advance.
Early on we miss these signs
maybe later we pay attention.
A mystery meant to bring
a fateful soul extension.
Encountering a stranger
that feels your twin.
Will rearrange your world
while round and round you spin.
The original encounter
that spawned a dizzy maze.
Requires a sequel for fans
to relive good ol' days!
A beautiful story
that paused to work through strife.
So in the end if could provide
eternal shelf life.
A real documentary
for anyone that understands.
A message in a bottle
created by many trusting loyal fans.
It was all heat and sweat. Controlled
anger and subdued agony.
Driving themselves beyond known limits.
Pushing bone, sinew, and muscle.
Expanding capability, while honing ability.
Intimacy with a few acres of dry,
chalk-lined practice field. Controlled
fury.The last three weeks of August.
Snatching gasps of fiery summer air.
Every inspiration burning the tongue
and throat over 3 hours of practice.
The heart is a furnace. The air its fuel.
Blood thickens despite hydration.
Ears pounding. Dangerously
elevated heart-rates.
Sprints, agilities, power trains.
Sled drills, Full contact. Three times
a day, two in full equipment. Profuse
sweat flooding every pore.
Brutal, full contact drill and scrimmage.
All measured, yet seeming eternal.
Meetings. Chalk talks. Special Teams
run-through mid-day. All to play the game.
Sacrificing everything
to be part of the team.
At night, sultry stillness.
Craving and needing rest for recovery.
Before claiming deep sleep, meditating
on the gladiators of past millennia.
They trained to extend their life.
We train to see who we are. To play.
"Coach, we who are about to
sweat, salute you!
Will we ever play a game?"
The Agony
Fall Camp '74
Let's go.....
I'm on a rough route to a righteous destination,
Tormented by the obstacles, blockin' my path
So I'm embracin',
All my miscreant guilt, blended up with my sorrows,
So I follow,
what lives in my heart
but I step wisely because somethings in life
are definitely hard to swallow,
and my motto's,
"knuckle up & search for the prize",
I see the world with clear vision
but evil sights are hurtin' my eyes,
What's the remedy for this Black Rain?,
Will success make my grey sky blue?
Is my pain ordained?,
I'm blessed with the breath o' life
so I communicate with my Savior,
I thank him for everything he gave us,
and God made us,
In his own image,
and the Holy Bible's the best book to read
but somedays
I still grimace through my scrimmage,
And somedays, I'm still drip dryin'
in the devils thunder,
and those days filled with blunder,
make me hesitate & wonder,
do I have what it takes
to keep me from goin' under?,
They say we're treadin' in the last days
I'm tryin' to conquer the beast,
My good out weighs my bad
so I feel I'm winning, because my minds at peace
As i fly through the sky i believe i’m alive, this breath tonight.
is the First in my life, sun glistening as the setting brings the first,
restful night, without, white fright, or police might.
But let me remind you, and tell you my strife,
born through the tears of my life,
tears that grant me life, once again tonight.
I promise you, to believe in belief that stems from grief,
And bow to no thief, so we can weave a new future,
From that bloody history, but not before,
You come to terms with me.
I am sleek black wings, miles in between,
Intelligence in beings.
Although stole from my home,
N robbed of my bones, they whipped,
N shipped me clipped and snipped me.
Through all that, i remain,
I am sleek black wings, miles in between.
Although beaten N killed,
raped N pealed N grilled for real,
although enslaved for life,
and freed to die,
Freedom never cries,
N white caps pry, at my eyes.
Burst N fry, civil rights for life,
Golden age snipped N cagged.
Although,
Still Black N Sexy as ever,
History endeavor.
Although beaten N shot,
N killed on the block,
I still shout back, and kick about.
I’m apart of this world,
And I belong here to!
So get lost telling me to hide,
although, I’m the problem, you created to solve,
Around me worlds revolve,
N you think that you can solve?
More complex than
anything you can behold, my body is the world.
Although you tried, to hold us all our lives,
Our heritage survives, so i’ll smile,
I am sleek black wings, miles in between.
Swift as the light that rises in eight minutes,
To never diminish,
A perfect finish to an elegant scrimmage ,
Although there's blood on the finish,
As we clean, it'll diminish,
But forget never the vision,
Of black lives missing,
Mothers kissing as kids leave kicking,
Hanging in front of the kitchen,
Burnt in sanctuaries, N kicked in,
Freed N enslaved by the same parade,
I was the victim of an age,
I am sleek black wings, miles in between.
What A Revolting Development
(Not by Groucho or Karl Marx)
Bernie with bent back grudges does carry
Decided to become another Revolutionary
Always knowing exactly what he meant
By this being a revolting development.
Hillary's tough questions were a strain
Until about brilliant Bernie did complain
Just because people prefer my sound advice
Was paid handsomely which was very nice.
Just how handsome do you have to be
When you are in competition with me
With talkative staff started to scrimmage
One had a professor and grandfather image.
All of this did come up with a certain feel
That to younger voters would have appeal
To make sure and eliminate all of the doubt
Made sure young women were not left out.
Closer and closer campaign competition became
Who would be President receiving glory and fame?
But what if your shoddy support were to lack
We should go in search of some Super Pack.
Bernie went door to door and bell after bell
Said, Don't vote for Hillary Dillary in the Dell
By my blessed appearance you could have been
With me and wrinkled clothes looking like a ruffian.
Heard some say I surely look like a Sherlock
At home with pipe in mouth which is a crock
And in front of home we do have a doormat
Saying I have become a stubborn Democrat.
What if old Holmes's hat I were to wear?
Do you think this would start a new scare?
At least mine is much better the Ben's brain
Thinks Egyptians in Pyramids store their grain.
But when by many who Ben they all adore
Are told he dropped out and ain't in race anymore
They did discover something about Ted Cruzer
Is a bruiser, blunt, big bully and a lalapaluzer.
Any dirty tricks, you pick, and Cruz has tried
Lied about original country where he did abide
And when atmosphere became dull and grim
Why would one more Republican vote for him?
Cruz has sold his own party down the drain
Republican voters for him have much disdain
Discovered greener on Democrat side is the clover
So if Republican or undecided come right on over.
I think Republican Right is know as Tea Party
which consists of a huge bunch of malarkey.
James Thesarious Hilarious Horn
Retired Veteran and Poet
RiverSea Plantation
Bolivia, NC
It's Christmas time, the most beautiful holiday
It is time for music, it is time for play.
Play of snowflakes, here and there
Play of the children from everywhere.
Everywhere Santa is sharing toys
Everywhere Santa is sharing joys
Joys and happiness
Joys and soul peace.
Peace from above, heavenly one
Peace brought to us by Jesus, the Son
Son of God and Son of Man
Son born in Bethlehem according to a plan
Plan of salvation,plan full of grace
Plan performed here,in this very place
Place visited by shepherds and by angels
Place visited by Magi, the eastern strangers
Strangers in the world, aliens on the Earth
Strangers are we all like Jesus at His birth.
Birth and life, death and ressurection
Birth and Ascension are proves of God's affection.
Affection for the whole human race
Affection mixed with charming divine grace.
Grace, mercy and peace from Jesus our Savior
Grace, saved by grace from our bad behavior
Behavior and sinful nature
Behavior typical to human creature.
Creature with inclinations to scrimmage
Creature made by God in His own image
Image full of beauty, image of perfection
Image received by man at Creation
Creation , rebellion then Abel's blood
Creation followed by a world flood.
Flood and destruction, olive branch and dove
Flood and eight souls saved by God's love.
Love, sacrifice and fully paid bill
Love revealed completely on Calvary Hill
Hill of the Skull, the place where Jesus died
Hill of the pain where Christ was crucified.
Crucified by Romans in the past
Crucified for our sins at last.
Last but not least for the sinners who were in danger
Last but not least Jesus, the baby was born in a manger
Manger, a poor stable in a building wing
Manger, only a manger for our beloved King?
King of kings and Lord of lords
King is the Word in the world of the words.
Words of gratitude for Chrismas days
Words of forgiveness and bright sun rays
Rays...
Days...
I blink my eyes and then the world is gone.
Open once again to see some peons upon the lawn.
They came to hear the Lion yawn and swipe a wife by dawn.
That's why I keep my pride and believe,
to conceive that it's respite is my reprieve.
But you yuppies be just mere pawns in the grand scheme;
placed at rank 2 file C.
I treat myself to treats I don't need to ask the priest.
I fill a lady's niche when God's dead like Friedrich Nietzsche.
I'm an autonomous man, the world needs me.
Due to greedy deeds, I lost the lot of you to petty thievery.
Now standing orthogonal to the bishop you orthodox Cis.
Tearing holes in the fabric of time while mother nature sits and knits that.
Amidst a scrimmage over minish mishaps, fisticuffs and misfired mitts with whiplash.
Hexed by wind and turbulent syntax.
As activists vehemently flail at the fascist crux; only to be met by impasse.
Making my attempt to love exclusively an outward expression;
a barrage of affection bombarding the good intentions of a meta-man’s vision.
Otherwise known as fortified Freudian defense mechanisms.
To deal with ideals in an asymmetric system.
Oh but I pray praise that I am what I be.
Hallow thy be virile amongst a creed of faulty seeds.
Yet I’m an enantiomer, a Chiral Beast;
my courage can never be superimposed upon the fear of defeat.
Finally granted with the Coupe de Gras when disagreements meet.
As if graced by chance, I advance with the apex of a Sword’s vertice.
Striking clean from the left to then evade your deceit.
I take a seat while a woman cleans my wounds with peace.
Ahh but even in victory, the warrior’s woe must be debriefed.
Besotted winged pollinators
roistering barrage drowned
amidst general insectivorous cacophony
indistinct auditory signals communicated
intermingled with bounteous wafting fragrance
midwifed edenic floral pullulation
sensate admixture viz colored spectrum
amidst unrehearsed extemporaneous
orchestral suite bedded lambs
amorous ewe man like bleating songs
nature all aflutter actively socially vociferating
profuse living color rainbow pastiche
teeming soundgarden smorgasbord
cornucopia ignites mordent Utopian aural swath
visual vistas stilling spellbinding
spilling riotous carpeted web
uniting doubting Thomas's existentialism
despite unanswered queries
asper diverse modalities each specie evolved
to survive despite countervailing destructive forces
generating plethora pandemonium ironically
promulgating harmonic exemplary convergence
Highland Manor concourse aflame with new life
parented by instinctive imprimatur anonymous patents
now genetic mapping usurped with untold outcome
analysis bred crispr discovery Earthlings fiddling
glorifies honied indemnity Judeo-Christian kudos
leaves of grass kudzo resistance mutation immunizes
biosphere once prolific differentiation shrinks
becoming monocultural setting virtual stage
catastrophe plus food shortage would become
global debacle predicated, sans virulent
viral and/or bacterial strain renting asunder
tripwire unspooling delicate webbed whirl
already widely compromised more so
since Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring
*****sapiens population explosion
pits profligate predilections planet Earth in extremis
dire crisis cavalierly dismissed humans
in hot pursuit racking up superfluous wealth
dirty deeds done dirt cheap - tricking
mother nature, who will unwittingly
spring scrumptious feeding off scrimmage
forcing capitulation or total extinction
meanwhile fostering long tall floral inflorescence
a composite having sessile flowers
apiary abuzz, cuz queen bee
can no longer wax bereft of royal jelly.
What provides comedians the gift of speech
uncensored with lessons that teach?
Their open mindedness provoking ease
undeterred to speak as they please.
How easily the comedic commentary flows
to places typical populace dare not go
and those few who do
too easily are declared hatred spewed.
I cannot judge, it is not my place
and it stares me in the face.
that history can be lost
at freedoms repeated cost.
Today there are so many points off limits
words not to say in any scrimmage;
should they slip out no matter how you pretend
they are deemed words none dare defend;
unless -
race, gender or personage might use them
it's understood, they are free to abuse them.
I'm not prejudiced, no, really I'm not
but every now and then I have to question saying
WHAT? -
some random thought emerges
with a hint of deceptive questioning surges
Can't I reason and ponder
without fear I am on the brink
of vocalizing what I might think.
Comedic relief displays,
the hidden prejudice revealed in wordplay;
for blacks to say the N word is okay and accepted
but for the whites it is hatred protected;
while LBGT communities seek unity
others are not allowed displeasured scrutiny;
your religion is blind faith for Muslim and Jew
should you practice in this state if it's not my view?
how often is it true
that what we say is not what we always do.
Indeed, there are those
who speak hatred in their prose
but not everyone is afraid
to say that freedom is a sharpened blade.
Freedom of speech, the right to bear arms,
Freedom of religion without harm;
the Bill of Rights fought and well payed
too easily fades away on the paper frayed.
George Carlin revealed it all so well
surely those thoughts and images, could not send us all to hell.
“If it’s true that our species is alone in the universe,
then I’d have to say that the universe aimed rather low
and settled for very little.”
The sun's rays come calling
Foreclosing on winter's frost
The sounds of life awaken
With the return of a season lost
Water lapping upon the shore
Shrouded by a misty fog
Nightcrawlers peeking out
From beneath a dew drenched log
Cloaked by dense green tules
In a boat solely manned
I am the stealthy fisherman
My rod and reel in hand
I can feel you gently biting
Nibbling my tasty treat
You strike with such accuracy
Then wisely you retreat
Hunger over powers caution
Snap! secured upon my hook
Let the scrimmage begin
Penance for the bait you took
Twisting, flopping. fighting
As I draw you to the shore
Your tenacity exudes maturity
You’ve played this game before
A desperate attempt at freedom
From your watery den you bound
Good lord I’ve caught Old Bassy
Your reputation is renowned
Fret not my aquatic friend
Your legacy is safe with me
A quick snip of my line
I most graciously set you free
Surely I will tell this story
But much to my dismay
They’ll call it a fishermans tale
About the one that got away
In Texas, High School Football is king
Every Friday night there’s a game
A big event and the stands are full
The games aren’t played for fun, they’re for fame
In my second year of College life
My High School Football team went to State
I was compelled to go to Baytown
A Championship maybe their fate
So proud was I, my team on the field
In the high school color, power blue
The group of us sitting in the stands
Tyler High fans through and through
Then the Abilene team came on the field
I could feel a big lump in my throat
Man for man they all looked like giants
The front linemen were something of note
From the first snap, you knew things were bad
Abilene’s linemen were in control
The whole line of scrimmage moved with them
My team got trampled under their roll
Yes, Trampled would be the word of choice
And it continued throughout the game
Abilene won the Championship
Trampled Tyler left Baytown in shame