Best Start Off Poems
If you want to succeed at poetry, start off by showing your work.
Be proud of what you’ve created, even when others will smirk.
Focus on what is important, take a chance and write what you please.
Always stay true to your form and remember the a. b. c. ’s
Never be afraid to fail, get back up and follow your heart.
What you think is masterfully written, others will rip apart.
There are many types of poets, together we are never alone.
Follow your own set of rules, nothing is set in stone.
Don’t worry about comments, or how many hits you may get.
There is a reason why you write, so please don’t ever forget.
We all have to start somewhere, ignore the bullying jerk.
If you want to succeed at poetry, start off by showing your work.
In a horse life.We can play with a burlap feed
bag, an empty milk jug, or chew on the barn stall
door.Just to kill some time, or to kill some every
day bordom.In a horse life.We get names like
Black Beauty, Flicka, Seabiscuit, or Secretariat.
In a horse life.We do tricks like bowing our heads
down, or placing our shoe upon a pedastool.Picking
up the cowboy hat.While tapping our feet rata-tat-tat.
In a horse life.We like a good block of salt.With lots
of minerals, to lick upon.A wholesome bale of hay.To
start off a brand new day.Or a bucket of grain.To keep
us all healthy, fat, and sane.And a fresh bucket of water,
to wash it all down.In a horse life.I could be losing a
horseshoe.While the rider is losing his mind.In a horse
life.We can be a workhorse, a race horse, or a trick pony.
Or maybe a showhorse, or possibly a circus horse.With
out all the phoney baloney.In a horse life.We can run all
day in the open sun, or run the race trak.While the betters
place their wagers.Of course, at the horse racing track
betters window.In a horse life..
“Back in my day” his stories all would start
I’d lean in close to listen though I knew ‘em all by heart
He was a living legend, one of Texas’ best
Not just another lawman with a tin star on his chest
He fought along “RIP” Ford & John Coffee Hayes
When Texas was wooly & wild, back in the good old days
“One Riot, One Ranger” I’ve heard it said many times before
from fighting off Commanches to turning the tide of a range war
A Ranger never faltered, never imagined he could lose a fight
He’d go hell bent for leather just to turn a wrong to right.
From Nueces to Salado Creek he patrolled the border land
Dealing out swift justice with a smoking Colt sitting easy in hand
Hardin, Iron Jacket & Sam Bass thought they could get away
The Rangers ran them down to ground, the stories still are told today
Great Granddad was a hero, one of Texas’s best
Not just another lawman with a tin star on his chest
He passed on the legacy & the stories I’ll now tell
as I hear his voice echo when I start off, “ I remember well”
So tip your hat & raise your glass to the Rangers out there on patrol
and to all the Shadow Rangers, Rest in Peace, God rest your soul
I awake to the dawn of a new day
I wonder what this day will bring to me
I reckon I should start off with a prayer
I feel as empty as my barren tree
I’m drifting back through the years of my past
I don’t know what I’m hoping to find
Perhaps something that I missed long ago
That is secretly plaguing my lost mind
I pray my mind is not forever lost
As I quietly stumble through my past
Trying so very hard to find away
To forever shatter my homeboy mask
My mind now holds me in captivity
I pray my heart and soul can set it free
I roll over exhausted and hit the snooze,
This early morning wake up is giving me the blues;
I crawl out of bed more tired than I got in,
Til my son gives me his good morning grin;
I’m up and at ‘em, showered and clean,
And we walk out the door at 7:15;
Off to work, too bad it’s not play,
That’s how I start off my busy, busy day!
09/15/12 Tirzah Conway
I sleep, though it’s only temporary
Simple love exists there within my eyes
However it’s broken, quite unhealthy
I cannot sleep, I awake with disguise
Simple love exists there within my eyes
She holds all my thoughts firm outside and in
I cannot sleep, I awake with disguise
As though she holds me, she doesn’t begin
She holds all my thoughts firm outside and in
Confused about our love I wake again
As though she holds me, she doesn’t begin
Never can she grasp my heart, it’s a sin
Confused about our love I wake again
She has messed with my head from all over
Never can she grasp my heart, it’s a sin
What she has done to me, she’s no lover
She had messed with my head from all over
Such to keep me up all hours of the night
What she has done to me, she’s no lover
I can’t find sleep, it’s truly out of sight
Such to keep me up all hours of the night
I don’t know how you could do this to me
I can’t find sleep, it’s truly out of sight
I start off sleeping, a light sleep I see
I don’t know how you could do this to me
However it’s broken, quite unhealthy
I start off sleeping, a light sleep I see
I sleep, though it’s only temporary
Russell Sivey
Contest: Sleepless Nights
Sponsor: Leonora Galinta
7/2/2013
Casablanca
Gone with the Wind
I've seen this movie before,
and I know how it ends
First we start off slow,
then become Best Friends
That's when the Love Story begins
We have ourselves a True Romance
which brings us skin to skin
And the way we are now
is The Way We Were then
Deja vu
Double Indemnity
We created the Perfect Storm,
our love has no Misery
You're my African Queen
and I'm your Lion King
We're on a Streetcar Named Desire
that feels like a Ring of Fire
Key Largo
Kate & Leopold
This love was Too Hot to Handle,
but we couldn't let it go
We found a way to hold on tight
because we were both Spellbound
Now it's A Wonderful Life,
our love is such a Phenomenon
Boomerang
The Baker Boys
Steel Magnolias
Sophie's Choice
These are just a few
of the movies I see
whenever I'm loving you,
and you're loving me
A Star is Born
A Place in the Sun
The Best Years of Our Lives
Strawberry Blonde
These are just a few
of the many movie scenes
that always let me know
what our love truly means
Braveheart
Moonstruck
Pillow Talk
Notorious
These are just a few
of the movies I see,
once I fell in love with you,
and you fell in love with me
Love Jones
Cleopatra
Wuthering Heights
It Happened One Night
These are just a few
of the many movie scenes
I always see you
when I'm looking at the screen
Casablanca
Gone with the Wind
I've seen this movie before,
and I love how it ends
I challenge you to a rhetorical
to prove me wrong else be unconventional
‘bout a problem that’s gone systematical
everyone’s so radical and cynical
once burnt all swear to now be rational
petrified to be poetical and get physical
relationships always problematical
they start off superficial hardly practical
usually nonsensical and contradictional
end up analytical emotional or psychological
enigmatical fanatical or plain lethargical
sometimes as wild as satanical
yet sure enough it’s almost typical
it’s really absurdly comical
the inevitable becomes the eventual
you go and fall and it’s unconditional
starts off all angelical and sensational
turns out illogical and territorial
often becomes tyrannical
immoral and unethical
then cryptical and diabolical
there has to be something remedial
it’s just too tragical
how we now prefer to be online virtual
we might as well be asexual
because there’s no sense being sensual
we’re all too freak’n skeptical
to believe in the magical and supernatural
do you have a comeback what’s in your arsenal
or are you just too visceral
or too darn busy being metaphysical
AP: 2nd place 2020, Honorable Mention 2022
Submitted ton March 5, 2018 for contest QUICK FIRE RAPID RHYME sponsored by BRENDA CHIRI - RANKED 4TH
Do you remember the first time we locked eyes,
At first neither of us knew where our future lies.
We both thought the other was going blow the other off,
We both know we didn't start off that soft.
The moment I looked deep into your eyes I saw something,
Your eyes were full of passion, need of love, and determination for anything.
The second we had our first conversation I wanted you,
But I didn't want you in a sexual way, just the positive committed way.
You have that fire in your eyes and the heart of a warrior,
I was the battle and you won the war as a lone soldier.
The battle was for me lacking the ability to love again,
Your victory granted me the privilege to be in love without much sin.
My dear sweet love...I love you for who you are,
Not for what you're capable of or what's in the trunk of your car.
But I love you for the simple things that count,
Cause mostly it's the simple things in life people forget.
My future wife...I promise to give my all to you,
I would never lay my hands on you.
I will never lie, cheat, or break your heart,
And by the way...I already knew it from the start!
I hope this letter, to you, a stranger
Becomes a letter to a friend
As we travel on this journey to its end
Yes we’ll start off as mere strangers
Trying to share the selfsame track
And what matter, if you stray a little
For I'll just lift you up and bring you back
I will steady you if you stumble
Catch you if you fall
Hold your hand when you get weary
Guide and protect you through it all
Oh I pray you learn to love life with a passion
With a zest and inner smiles
For that in truth, is the secret fuel
That will drive you countless miles
If loving life is too hard right now
If deep worry spreads across your brow
And your health is not as good at it might be
Well don’t fret my new - found friend
Just stay with me until the end
And that youthfulness will bloom again you’ll see
Together we will tackle any fear
Banish doubts when they are near
Grow a smile when one is lacking
For you have always got my backing
I’ll help you always go the extra mile
Help you scale mountaintops in style
Then I sincerely promise you will find
Life will love you back in kind
In more ways than you would ever guess
Adding life to years and years to life no less
For your circumstances always follow thought
And a life worth living is never cheaply bought
I’ll keep you on the straight and narrow
If you will but let me take the lead
As if we stick together on the journey
We cannot fail but to succeed
And no longer will we be strangers
But partners till the end
Now that’s a heart felt promise to a friend
I wander through my journey, interspersed with joy and pain, always grateful
Though not by choice, some days are somber; yet others follow with abundant joy
In my solitude, memories come alive with the recall of some old song from another time
When life was carefree in everyway! No worries and not one care!
First heard as a child; the title now lost to me, so I’ll call it "Mama’s Song"
It’d start off soft and slow; its rhythm smooth, graceful, incredibly beautiful!
Then lingering on my mind, gently reviving memories lost somewhere in yesterday
It’d calm my spirit, take me away- away from countless, mundane tasks
All necessary things, but they arrest my days, imposing, threatening, vying for attention
There’s a constant battle that rages within, and I often ask, “Should I lay down this burden
of joyless pursuits which hinder valid expressions from my heart? Should I?
And to what profit? Surely monetary gain is a necessity, but at what cost to my spirit??
Were I guardian only to myself, I’d simply choose to live lean somewhere by the sea
I would cast my net for food, and barter for grain and herbs. However, the compass is set
So, I escape in the melodies, with my eyes closed, and fly high, above this terrain
Sailing on the massive wings of a Condor, unafraid; over rugged pathways and
Jagged edges of mountains that rise above the seas, far away from this place of constant
weariness, on my way to a place more tranquil, somewhere in yesterday
I hover over rivers that give life to green valleys below, quite an amazing view to see!
Like black velvet ribbons they meander through the changing landscape
At an angle they shimmer like fine crystal in the afternoon sun, and in one breath,
I am there! At Mama’s feet, studying her as she sews dresses for my sisters and me
I watch, I listen to her, softly singing; feel her contentment and peace through the song
Never complaining, never too tired to go beyond the call, to love and care for family
Teaching by example, using less words, her quiet spirit, ever steadfast, strong
Those times when I feel I can not go on, when afraid I'll falter, I still hear the the melody
and "Mama's Song"!
Note: For Mama - Thank you for putting us first! For the many lessons learned which we nowteach our children. RIP w/Papa!!
I have two sides to my ability much wickegery,
Sometimes i be on deep space nine with unlimited imagery,
My mentality is too far gone you cant catch it,
Im a poet and a rapper combined my mind wont let me forget it,
Sometimes i start off in a song format and i resist it,
I want the poet to supercede my thoughts cause thats the ticket,
I love to write a song and a poem i love to do them both,
In a Poem you can walk through my life its me and you up close,
Its all poetry though whats different is how you deliver,
Its like a fight between what fake (hiphop) and whats real (poetry) i need a mind sitter,
Its a everyday struggle with words i need to decide,
Which of the 2 thought processes im gonna run with and take that ride.
Beautiful bush called tango hummingbird mint
Glows a fiery blue with oranges in a glint,
Hummingbirds, honey bees, butterflies too,
Love this plant with the orange and the blue.
I have been trying to buy these bushes for a while.
I am always polite and use my best smile.
I call them on the phone and give them my credit card,
Always out-of-stock, as these are amazing out in the yard.
I have come to a conclusion; there is only one way.
I have thought of it for a year, six months, and a day.
The only way to snag a tango hummingbird mint
Is to find a start off a neighbor, and not a skinflint.
Birth is a copy of who you will be
Life is the creations of all you will see
Love is the soul that searches for another
Sight shows us which way to go
Hearing brings pleasurable sounds
Tasting ignites our stomach wants
Touching gives feelings of love
Smells give tasting more flavors
All start off and finish the same
It’s the in-between that is not the same
Some are winners and some losers
But in the end it’s how we play the game
If you cheat you will be caught
When you get caught you will pay the price
We are all actors playing different parts
Some will receive an academy award
Others get bored dropping out of the game
We sit across from one another competing
All wanting to win
Some go directly to jail and never pass go
Others end up in a stalemate with no where to go
This game of life is a real monopoly game
You may end up with a straight flush
Or roll the dice and end up with craps
There is only one way to win at this game
It’s a simple one-word scrabble game
It starts with an L and end with an E
If you can win at this scrabble game then
You will win at this game of Love
The O and the V stands for: Our Victory in Love
You lead a luxurious life, superior finance allows you to have a sense of grandiosity, people of a lower stature seem to fit the perfect mold for the term irrelevant,
like appendix,
but soon your wealth leads to vulnerability, standards become everything and the simple things in life no longer trigger your excitement,
so you begin to question your sobriety, maybe that is the answer,
little do you know dependency can be worse than cancer,
so you start off on the bottle, but that only provokes..
you to try something more potent, now your spending habits are more ubiquitous and basically you're poor..
but this all could have been avoided if you kept the attitude of the girl Next Door..