Best Soul Destroying Poems
I feel very privileged to have been able to contribute something small to a second collaboration with poet extraordinaire, Robert Lindley, whose mastery of all forms of verse continues to inspire. Thank you, Robert, for such fellowship and inspiration.
The Unseen, As Swirling Ebbs Of Time Plod Along
A collaboration with Robert Lindley
19th October 2018
Fight disbelief, as its intended power is to deceive
its low, hard constant drone, echoes shattered moans
with razor knife edge, bloodied cuts hide in its deep,
at dusk's waning hours, path falls to the cold and dead
And what speaks in dreams, oft walks in shadows at day
spreading aching sadness, horrific chills sent to curse.
Yet disbelief will not be fought
for waging of battle demands that you believe
existence says, believe you do not
for from whence, otherwise,
did disbelief's bleeding red-blades appear
if not from blindness, saddest of such sad truths ?
Is this black magic in its unfathomable infinite embrace
cut short by false Gods that once held its great powers
nay, the same, blood for blood that mercilessly seethes
from its savagery, demands we live weak, wasted lives
In soul destroying expanse, sorrows birth deeper woes
man a pawn, dwelling within Time's never ending shows.
Yet the ancient false Gods be not false
for only true Gods could control and mask
their own hidden goals and divinity's truth,
and their every mysterious whim,
as the oscillations of a cruel lover,
echo divinities that we'll not ever divine.
If one sees, finds a way to break the mold
they are targeted, struck down long before the old
as were celebrated artists felled in fleeting youth,
rotted in earthen soil, living now in dreams of more
Behold, evil, slow-walks hand in hand with father Time
recurring patterns, anger born, in man's fallen mind.
The Unseen, As Swirling Ebbs Of Time Plod Along
Fight disbelief, as its intended power is to deceive
its low, hard constant drone, echoes shattered moans
with razor knife edge, bloodied cuts hide in its deep,
at dusk's waning hours, path falls to the cold and dead
And what speaks in dreams, oft walks in shadows at day
spreading aching sadness, horrific chills sent to curse.
Yet disbelief will not be fought
for waging of battle demands that you believe
existence says, believe you do not
for from whence, otherwise,
did disbelief's bleeding red-blades appear
if not from blindness, saddest of such sad truths ?
Is this black magic in its unfathomable infinite embrace
cut short by false Gods that once held its great powers
nay, the same, blood for blood that mercilessly seethes
from its savagery, demands we live weak, wasted lives
In soul destroying expanse, sorrows birth deeper woes
man a pawn, dwelling within Time's never ending shows.
Yet the ancient false Gods be not false
for only true Gods could control and mask
their own hidden goals and divinity's truth,
and their every mysterious whim,
as the oscillations of a cruel lover,
echo divinities that we'll not ever divine.
If one sees, finds a way to break the mold
they are targeted, struck down long before the old
as were celebrated artists felled in fleeting youth,
rotted in earthen soil, living now in dreams of more
Behold, evil, slow-walks hand in hand with father Time
recurring patterns, anger born, in man's fallen mind.
Robert Lindley Lawrence Sharp - collaboration
10-18-2018
Note: Yet again I have had the great honor of writing free verse, with my dear friend Lawrence Sharp and being inspired by his beautiful poetry. Such fellowship is indeed a boon and a wonderful experience as I continue to travel on my poetry journey.
Tribulation always has been in the world!!
You can literally choose to rise above it.
Ever notice,there is agreement how
terrible life is, in a dark, black swirl?
Well, then, what are you going to do about it?
Dare to express joy or peace, my friend?
Your friends will send you emails about
how the sky is falling.
You, yes you, determines your joy that never ends.
As a poet, to lift souls, is a most divine, propitious calling,
Mind clutter as delivered by the media?
Endless, evil, totally soul destroying,
We are the ones listening rabidly to all
this, searching for life's answers in Google or Wikipedia?
Turn off the news,and discover life is still incredibly beautiful
and spiritually, quite soul- buoying!
Oh, do create miracles for others right now!
Do not crush souls, by being a negative media twin!
It's on our power as poets to lift souls
out of the mud, with the Spirit of Light, somehow!
July 22, 2020
One September morn, Barry is born, one day a little man that society will chastises every day, poisoned with dour memories of a life passing, staggers habitually along life’s broad way, yet still, he believes an ardent player of this earthly cast.
the mould human kind
every one naked the same
circumstance fate plays
One September morn Larry is born not a volunteer, into this place, no developing embryo given a democratic choice, but oh the joy the accolades, freedom of youth rampart significant, carte blanche credit card.
silver spoon protrudes
freewheeling society
so much to tire of
An unknown purpose aided each step, for Barry with holdall and worldly baggage around his neck, whilst trying to escape societies goals and social orders, life’s hypocrisy filed against this frail oppressed old man, living with a menial existence inside prejudiced borders.
daunting are the nights
beneath a blanket of fog
soul destroying dawns
Here Larry the mellow fellow who toast, boast every night drunk with his host, cocaine his specialty, whilst trying to escape societies goals and social orders, now his empire has closed the high life exposed a hobo a bench a lamppost his only light.
Barry and Larry
mix for the first time at the...
crematorium.
Entered 2022 Poetry marathon Mile 20
sponsor Mark Toney 12/11/2022
written 2021
Years of heartache
Living a soul-destroying life,
While being a child and
Somebodies wife.
Isolated from the world
Feeling trapped, but not kidnapped.
Found my way, I shall not sway
I know now, all will be okay.
Time to heal
Time to repair
Focused I am,
Now that I care.
Strong I am,
stronger than you,
with all that, I’ve been through.
I forgive, forgive for all
This is the new me
And this is my call.
Free I feel
No burden no more
I’m free to live
happy to the core.
Forgive those, who do bad
In the end, their life will
Be sad,
And a clear conscience
you will have.
I aim always to make money
My plantations have made me wealthy but
Along the way I might have lost my humanity
In the meantime I will love and enjoy my money
I did not start the trade
As a second son I needed to make my own way
So I turned with no regret to slavery
I am colour blind
I see only a commodity
That can bring huge returns
Prosperous is all I want to be
I do not get my hands dirty
I have the ship captains and
My agents and overseers
To do the soul destroying work for me
I count my money
And my conscience does not bother me
I am human
The slaves are but savages
I am stronger so they must do as I say
I work them hard
For profit is the only way
Sugar and cotton
Are my gods
I create a supply for there is a demand
On black suffering I do rely
I shrug my shoulders but never sigh
My conscience is easy
It is not a lie
taunting oh the night
together move gracefully
soul destroying dawn
© Harry J Horsman 2015
Mouth dry, face numb.
My eyes feel like exploding.
Back and forth between dark clouds,
halfway between heaven and hell.
I'm tired of fighting. I need a hand.
The feelings are toxic and soul destroying.
Trapped within the labyrinth of this betrayed mind,
I'm under attack from an unrepentant enemy.
Elements that speak of decay and decline.
A supernatural infused horror.
Snapped bones, smashed noses, inhumane experiments.
Human depravity and cruelty on such a vast scale.
Desperation, self destruction, exhuming loathing and fear.
Renouncing faith through vile persecution.
A sickening procedure that hasn't been without its casualties.
This is certainly no place for the faint of heart.
Yet, like a modern day Lazarus,
I continue to count my blessings each and every day.
Yes, this is the measure of my God given lot,
but nobody ever proclaimed that life was to be easy.
Persevering against the odds,
It's time to step out of the shadows.
Digesting truths, no more secrets.
Space to rebuild the Spirit.
Journeying towards acceptance and understanding.
Never allowing the darkness back into the realm.
Maybe that's why I'm a Survivor.
Longing to have someone to share my life with
One special person just for me
Nobody around to love me for who I am
Everybody needs somebody
Living on my own is so difficult
I crave company… I just need someone to talk to
Never felt so alone and isolated
Envious of others who are in a relationship
Solitude is so soul destroying
Someday I will find someone to share my dreams… someday
10th May 2015
Hot, unforgiving heat, ravaging the land with seasonal torture.
A place where the weak die and the strong survive.
A place where the soul destroying sun, beats daily.
Shifting daily winds along with shifting sands, move frequently.
Hot, sapping days, draw every ounce of ground moisture.
The vegetation gets gnarled and twisted from intense heat.
Day after day, the fight for survival becomes real.
The strong will push, and the weak will perish quickly.
In nine months, the rains will revive this land.
1/11/13
9 line contest
11/01/13
I watch TV sometimes it goes over my head
It leaves me discontented and sometimes brain dead
Daytime TV can be so soul destroying too
This is what happens when it’s all that you do
Creative sparks fly when there’s nothing on TV
Just the laptop I type on here on my knee
This is great I can write creative things
Tomorrow is another day lets see what it brings
It was late November, as I now remember,
In that fearful autumn as I lay in my room,
Dreaming of a lost love, a love now gone forever,
Whose body lies so still and quiet deep inside her tomb,
When I saw before me (oh, soul-destroying vision!)
The nightmare gates of Hell and all who therein dwell,
Sent as a warning by one within that prison,
Sent by her who’d loved me from out that burning Hell!
Writhing souls and flaming skies then spread out before my eyes;
Countless was their multitude, deafening were their cries!!
And I could see, as if a god, all, ALL their thoughts and memories,
Heard ALL their hopeless lamentations, felt ALL their agonies!!
Memories of a billion wasted empty lives flooded through my shattered mind,
While the screams and the pyres of a billion souls drove me deaf, DROVE ME
BLIND!!!!
Now I've been in this room ever since then.
I try to keep quiet, I try to be still,
Still as a tomb when the doctors come in.
One with a needle and one with a pill,
I sit very still in the room that I’m in,
The big room downstairs where they put the mad men.
(Sept. 12, 2016; Scare Me Good contest)
2.
Off into the distance, total darkness,
to the right where all was light
Divinity thy beast is coming
from his land of endless night.
The thunder and the lightning playing
terrors own sweet symphony.
Darkness, which is soul destroying,
brings the man of dark to thee.
And then the beasts do scream in anger,
for the vengeance of the light is near,
summoned by an angel cry,
many of the night shall sing death's song.
As God's anger strikes the earth,
upon lightning bolt Unicorn falls,
black as night, horn ivory,
upon its back, a figure of black.
The Arlaghs, they who never fear,
kin to wolf, they never run,
head of wolf, body of man,
legs of wolf to speed them on.
Always toward enemy, ne'er retreat,
kill all mortals, eat of meat.
Red the day when Arlagh strikes,
blood, their nutriential drink.
Fear spread through the mortals that fled,
they saw the signs, all was lost.
A master of the darkest night,
now come to earth but what the cost?
Would womanhood pine away,
at the closing of the day?
Would man be done, ne'er to return?
Would their flame finally blow out?
Riding forth across Badicha's plain,
unicorn and man of night.
Straight as the errant flame,
they both do come into the light.
Sword, Utamol in his right hand,
held aloft to the child of light,
in salute to beauty's all,
in salute to woman's power.
They do turn to face a foe,
the Arlaghs they begin to come,
ground will shake where e'er they go
they do come upon the run.
Come then forth to meet thy fate,
Hounds of Hell, no hesitation,
for Utamol does softly call,
the sword of blood will have you all.
"Stand alone and you shall die."
an Angel cries from way up high.
"I stand here, let any come,"
The dark man said, before the gates.
No man came, he stood alone,
Arlaghs forming as they ran.
The charge was coming, the blood red noon,
A Dark Man did await his fate.
With slavering and gnashing teeth they came,
the Arlaghs on their deathly charge.
Both Unicorn and man of night,
Moved not from where they stood.
Silent as statues standing there
both ready for the blood-letting to come.
Man and Unicorn, single heart, single brain,
standing under a now darkening sun
To Be Continued..........
Something destructive lurks deep inside,
something inexplicable,
impossible to hide.
It seeks to confuse,conflict
and cause pain,
this evil thing runs through
my every vein.
There's a sickness in my mind,
of the absolute worse,
the addictive kind.
Drain away this poison,
detoxify my heart,
should never of gone there,
right from the start.
There's a dark shadow
at the back of my brain,
that creeps to the front
every now and again.
It seems to be
that there is no cure.
Futile to resist
it's powerful lure.
I've done my tests,
diagnosis came through,
this soul destroying drug
is you.
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