Best So Far So Good Poems
Life is a journey
So they say-
Some are happy
Some are not
Some struggle
Some do not
My life's journey
Is frustrating
I see a road
I want to take
I start upon the path
So far so good- I say
Until I walk furtherier
Along the road
What I see -I do not like
A barrier pops up
Oh..my gosh!
So I get up-set
But I try again
Again and again
Where they came from
I do not know
My dreams for my life
Comes and goes
I wish it would change
So I can be-
Where I want to be
Instead of where i am
In limbo not knowing
Where I will be
There has been
Two many sorrows
In my life time
I say-Time for a change
For a better life for me
So I have decided-
To keep walking this road
For as long as it takes me
Until I see no more barriers
Then my life will change
for the better
As a former executive recruiter, I used to hear about some incredible things that applicants have said on job interviews. A few of them are a bit 'spicy' to list here, but here are some choice tidbits:
My name's John. But you can call me 'Lizard.'
You forgot to offer me a cup of coffee.
I left 'street address' blank. I live in a trailer park.
Your last name is Spears? Related to Brittney?
I'm on my fourth marriage. So far, so good.
Before we talk about the actual job, can we talk money?
Between you and me, I couldn't stand my last boss.
Are there any gay bars near here?
I left my last job because the work wasn't meaningful enough.
Put me close to the bathroom. I have issues.
So, how do you like Trump?
I didn't see the 'Meditation Room.'
What's your policy on music?
Can I park my bicycle here in the office?
I have to leave early every Thursday for my AA meetings.
My hair's not long now like it was in college.
Let me show you some pictures of my kids...
August 01, 2019
Writing Challenge 3, July 2019 - List
Dear Heart
How much do I know
of how reality plays?
Can I touch the sun
always on a fine day
Can I see inside you
perhaps using X-rays
Can I skip a heartbeat
if she comes my way
Can I fix the future
it’s best to make hay
Can I reflect myself
damn mirror broke today
Can I overcome fear
so far so good anyway
Can I know what’s true
of course by going astray
Can I justify reason
much easier than dismay
Can I show you God
maybe it’s best to pray
Can I define reality
only what my mind betrays
Can I be immortal,
in death, time goes away
Can I rise up again
in endless guises, I’d say!
Break the mirror Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Unseeking Seeker
03/05/23
Wedding Day
I can say that I had a bit of a headache.
We should have had more drinkers
If we planned to float the keg.
I left in plenty of time...to be on time.
I had my tuxedo complete with shoes.
And, maybe those aspirin would do the job!
Well she was upset...There's no such thing as 'on time'!
Lots of pictures needed to be taken...
This day must be recorded...not repeated!
My brother...the Best Man...forgot his tux!
He wore Robert's...another brother.
I felt bad for him.
I'll never forget standing up front
Waiting for her to enter.
Then they played the song.
I didn't have a headache anymore.
She was BEAUTIFUL....
Of course!
I watched as she approached with her dad.
He looked relieved to put her hand in mine.
It was like a foreboding moment...
But don't worry...It's all been good!
I just wish she could forgive me
For forgetting my street shoes!
When we left the reception
With me in my tux shoes,
Johnny gave me his mastercard,
"Put the motel on this," he said.
Good thing - I had One Hundred Thirty
Dollars to my name!
We drove straight to our little duplex
And spent the first night together...
We were so tired, we went straight to sleep.
We would have wedding cake for breakfast!
The rest of the story is yet unwritten,
But so far...So good!
P.S.- 35 YEARS IN AUGUST
I woke up this morning,
and then without warning,
I rolled off the bed,
soundly bumping my head.
That was just the beginning of what I call,
my most exasperating day of all.
Here's what happened next:
Got into the shower,
then suddenly lost power.
Stubbed my toe getting out,
causing me to curse and shout.
In the dark I tried to dress,
hoping I wouldn't look a mess.
Lights came back on and sure enough,
mismatched socks and other stuff.
Spilled hot coffee on my blouse,
just as I was leaving the house.
Back inside to change my clothes;
so far this day really blows!
Ran some errands, so far so good,
maybe I should knock on wood.
Called a friend and met for lunch.
While eating I felt a startling crunch!
A tooth had broken - I wanted to wail!
Why couldn't I have broken a nail?
Now I'm feeling mighty stressed;
this dental problem must be addressed.
Dentist saw me right away,
and told me what I'd have to pay.
Tears welled up at his words.
The price was totally absurd!
Maybe I should just go toothless,
these dental fees are way to ruthless.
Driving home I was so distraught,
I didn't stop as I ought.
Police lights flashed in my rear view;
now what am I going to do?
The policeman asked for license and registration;
I started to blubber in frustration.
How could so many things go wrong in one day?
Now I have a ticket to pay.
I made it home without more trouble,
and then I poured myself a double
portion of sweet iced tea,
to refresh and comfort me.
I think I'll just go to bed,
pull the covers over my head,
and pray that tomorrow will be,
a much better day for me.
8/7/16
(Fortunately, this is a work of fiction)
Today's my first ultrasound
Tiny baby to be found
11 weeks to the day
We have found a way
So far so good
All as it should
Last time such pain
All in vain
We lost a child
My body gone wild
Such sorrow we felt
My heart did melt
We tried once more
This time for sure
I hope and pray
Everything will be ok
It’s an old story.
We were classmates, you and I,
And later became colleagues,
Working under the same roof.
We had more or less the same specialization.
Married in the same year.
Our children went to the same school.
So far so good!
Now the plot thickens, so to speak!
Once, if you remember,
The boss comes to you for help,
Specifically for helping his sibling
By doing her assignments,
Given to her by a (prestigious) university
Where you and I studied
And where I am a Tutor now—
A concurrent position held by me.
If I were you, I would say:
“Sorry, it’s unethical.”
Or, would tactfully excuse myself—
Maybe by telling a white lie.
Instead, you tell him a blatant lie:
“I’m not hot on the subject, I’m afraid.”
And you go further
And out of the way to add:
“But so and so is. He can help you, I’m sure.”
The boss comes to me straight,
And beating about the bush, tells me:
“Now that so and so is not hot on the subject…blah blah.
Now it is a Catch-22,
Which you have contrived:
If I say yes, I would be exposed
And if I say no, I would be in trouble—with the boss;
There would be no more bonhomie
Between the boss and the boy.
How clever you are!
Furious, I choose to say no—bluntly
And let me face the music.
But now I know that
You are a round character after all,
And an Iago at that.
I appreciate your motiveless malignity.
I shrug my shoulders and mutter:
“Let it be!”
Composed and posted on August 3, 2017
Oh my God! Is it morning already?
Check! Yes, I can see things in my room quite clearly now.
The sun, at least, has started on his appointed rounds.
OK, remember to move slowly Brian. Let’s stretch a little first.
But not too hard, those cramps that you get in your calves
Some mornings can take a half hour or so to work out.
And if you don’t message them vigorously right away
You will be feeling the pain of this cramp all day!
Check! I think the tenderness from last week’s muscle spasm
Is on the mend, just a hint of lower back soreness now perhaps,
But there will be no bouncing on the bed this morning I think.
Check! God I miss getting out of bed with no fear of back pain,
But that will come again, I know, I hope, I pray
As it has so many times before when I was younger
And felt far more afraid that my body was betraying me,
When, as young as thirty, I experienced occasional back pains
That left me crawling to the bathroom for a week or so.
I am 72 now and my expectations of a pain free life
Are tempered by years of real life experience
In both overdoing it and making up for it later.
And no, you young whippersnapper, I am not out of bed yet,
But now, my body stretched out along the edge of my bed,
I am ready to move my legs off the edge of the bed
And let their weight pull my body erect to a standing position,
Check! Well, that went well this morning!
Now, I rest momentarily, butt leaning against the bed,
To test out lower leg strength and balance.
Check! So far so good. I take my first few steps
Holding on to the foot of my bed frame momentarily
Before letting go to begin the trek to the bathroom.
It may be hard for you to believe, if you are under 50
But I am hoping to be playing tennis in an hour and a half.
Check! Morning libations accomplished. POTUS on the move!
Brian Johnston
November 1, 2015
Meet me halfway across the sky
We may stay or say goodbye
So far so good on that same road
The travel started in similar node
Generic flying, eating healthy, fly like a cockney
Like a Martial Arts beast, like a young terri'ble.
So far so good, driving force, all cards in hand, why not?
I can breath fully, stop the intoxicants.
Healthy like a peach, living well, rich, powerful.
Living like royalty, wealth, aspiration, money.
It really looks like success is at hand
Sleep apnea is finally at bay
Guess I'm good for another few years
Hallelujah! Oh happy day
I'm waking up singing a happy refrain
Have an extra skip in my step
Thought I was done for, the jig was up
For my parting I started to prep
A new lease on life that's what they say
Feels like I'm ready to rumble
The way it was going, I really imagined
My life was starting to crumble
Modern research has found a treatment
A great new solution is at hand
A CPAP machine to enhance my breathing
Must say my future looks grand
Physically I've always been in tiptop shape
Except for some extra pounds
I don't expect miracles but so far so good
Like the way it's starting to sound
© Jack Ellison 2015
CPAP – Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
Ghosts are in the house
as the music is playing loud.
Spook me out, man!
Stir up the trouble like a hound
dog as scared as a phobiapheonominum
so far so good as to say I helped out
at the haunted hospital, with the witchy
nurses and the Dr. Frankenstiens there.
This is a spooky poem with a message,
Be ware of the texting while driving,
so you don't run into a wall full of slime.
Halloween is on the way, so get ready for some
action and a little trick or treat, white or wheat,
give me something good to eat.
Like a loaf of spooky bread.
Enough is enough of this seriousness
Back to the sillies where I belong
Here's something to ponder, my friends
Why is the word 'abbreviation' so long
I don't usually have to think twice
Before giving it a second thought
You're schizophrenic? That makes four of us
Skydiving is good to the last drop
Have you heard that gravity is a myth
In reality, it's the Earth that sucks
Did you know old people have a secret
That secret is known as luck
You know you have a small apartment
When Kellogg's Coco Pops echo
Maybe our world is another planet's hell
Sure wouldn't surprise me to know
Why do psychics have to ask you your name
Going to live forever... so far so good
I adore you more than beans and rice
If I could love you more I would
They say, hard work pays off in the future
I say, laziness pays off now
Some sage advice, never ever stand close
To the back end of a cow
All those who believe in psycho kinesis
Will you please raise my hand
People usually wind up in a prone position
While involved in a one night STAND
What happens if you get scared to death twice
What do sheep count to help them sleep
Ever wonder why all blackboards are green
Do birds shake wings when they greet
© Jack Ellison 2014
The cable guy showed up at 5
And what was most surprising
Was not that he arrived on time
With no one compromising,
But rather that he did his job
And fixed what wasn’t working
(Although I won’t be shocked
If other problems might be lurking).
So far, so good. With fingers crossed,
I’m watching my TV.
The cable guy was nice, but still
There is no guarantee.
“Shall I compare thee to summer’s day?”
Asked Shakespeare,
But did not stay for an answer!
Thiruvalluvar compared timely help
To human hands hastening
To right a slipping dress.
Bharati compared fear to death.
Linguists compare languages
Critics compare literatures and theories.
Philosophers do have their comparisons.
Chomsky claims his grammar to be
An analogue of the native speaker’s mind.
Management gurus compare systems
To eliminate silos effect.
Teachers relate their ideas to life
By means of comparison.
Christ’s parables, Aesop’s fables, Panchatantra tales—
Are all comparisons, implicit or explicit.
All this is possible because
Comparison is a mental faculty.
And the instances cited are all healthy comparisons
And so far so good.
But when someone rich compares themselves
To the richer, then there is trouble.
It is unhealthy and is bound to
Breed jealousy or frustration;
Would engender a rat-race syndrome;
Robs one of the joy of living.
But, unfortunately, our educational environment
And the corporate ethos seem to put
A premium on rat-races.
Even a system like yoga,
Which seeks to foster detachment,
Or a spontaneous and leisurely
Activity like poetry writing
Is not spared nowadays:
Pray, what is a Yoga competition
Or a Poetry contest, if not a glorified rat race?!
— Ram, R. V.