Best Strived Poems
As I stand mindfully, facing mirror of my life,
Juxtaposition of yesteryears’ reflections revive
Mountains of grief and valleys of despairs,
Heartwarming wins and heartbreaking losses,
Echoes strumming joy and shouts in the void;
Thinking of plans shelved, dreams deferred,
Tears of rejoice and bawl of lonesome cries,
Past of dawns darkening on nebulous skies,
Cheerful episodes evoking days of sunshine
Ambivalent in discourse of seasons gone by;
Distraught in endeavors strived, but failed,
Overjoyed in laudable, worthy achievements,
Saddened by the hollering of indelible regrets
Callously crowding the path of my ambitions
On avenues not taken, of choices forsaken,
Competing for space in the mirror of my life;
As memories euphoric verbalize photographs,
And stories euphonic stoke cherished laughs,
And celebrations clap the sound of applause,
Endearingly revered and treasured lifelong,
Where, as I cogitate, recalling a life sublime,
Man in the mirror smiles, content with his life.
May 7, 2022
Placed 3rd: In the Mirror of Life Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Anoucheka Gangabissoon
A woodland path in the dappled sun, hushed and quiet!
My soul is gratified as I meander midst its colorful riot!
Another glorious autumn has burst forth in all its splendor!
The Creator displays a vista no mere artist would dare render!
Gentle zephyrs stir eddies of colorful leaves along the way.
A myriad of wild flowers greet me with their brilliant display.
Trees that a short while ago offered welcome summer shade,
Now lift barren arms as if in prayer sans their leaves of jade.
Not a cloud mars the pristine blue of the Colorado sky.
A skein of geese wing southward sounding their plaintive cry.
Stately Colorado spruce 'neath which deer now gambol and browse,
Will soon have garlands of snow adorning their spreading boughs.
The shrill blare of an elk startles me from my reverie,
As he calls for a mate with his ever sovereign plea.
I pause on a nearby knoll to view yon shimmering lake,
Teeming with graceful ducks, guarded by a magnificent drake!
Foolish poets and artists have strived to portray each season.
They have tried and failed because of a very real reason.
Only He Who is the Master Artist and ruler over all,
Will ordain the beauty of the seasons, especially the exquisite fall!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved
(A Paul Callus & Carolyn Devonshire collaboration)
Standing not far from the cliff’s edge
the aging tree, solitary,
with gnarly roots clings to the rocks -
she shows resolve, tenacity.
My younger days were easier;
as a tiny sprout, I flourished,
surrounded by wildflower beds
that by soft spring rains were nourished.
For many years on rugged land
she had all weathers to endure
and there were times when under stress
doubts crossed her mind, felt insecure.
For centuries nature’s fury
cast afflictions, floods, tornadoes.
Many arms lost to lightning strikes,
but I still cling to bravado.
Exposed to storms or blazing sun,
whipped by the wind mercilessly,
sought reassurance from her faith -
she strived to keep her dignity.
Resiliently, I learned to stand
in the face of danger and doom.
Since I am one of God’s creatures,
the promise of faith may still bloom.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
From his bottle, Grandpa took a sip.
I gazed sleepily at his bottle ship.
Grandpa said that life could be so cruel.
Grandma said, your grandpa is a fool.
Grandpa ran his mouth from his chair and
Grandma said he always runs a fool's errand.
Grandpa said he sought the Holy Grail,
but he came up empty without fail.
Grandpa's poured out tales, an ocean deep.
The bottle ship, soon gone, and I, asleep.
Soon, I was a fisherman in a dream,
fishing for happiness in a saltwater bream,
The bream said, "I'll give you a little tip -
happiness, through your hands, will always slip".
I tried to catch freedom in a sailing fish,
but he flew away, along with that futile wish.
So, I tried to catch tuna, the fish of truth,
and came up with just a fallacy of youth.
Next, I looked for beauty in the marlin,
but she put me down, "Take a hike, darlin".
The fish of justice, my next angling goal,
took money while reading from a scroll.
Ah, so money must be the fish to grab -
but, sick and unloved, I picked up the tab.
Every fish and thing I strived for was a joke,
and one by one they all went up in smoke.
All the fish in my dream were just a school
to teach that searching is the errand of a fool.
When I awoke, Grandpa, too, was snoring,
Grandma said, "to himself, he's even boring".
I decided then, I would make my life at sea -
to catch anything, there'd be no guarantee.
I don't know anything worth anything anyway,
except the ocean's sand and salty spray.
Of all old friends, those we have of old are best;
These the souls we travel with by preference,
Theirs the spirits to whom we grant all deference.
Their hopes are ours, ours their own;
All victories shared, from like ambitions grown.
Their years match step with ours,
Show like passage of the hours,
Silent steps of Time with which our lives are sown.
They are moved as we are moved;
Troubled and pleased by like turns of Fate,
We pass through one another's gates
Into rooms where loyalty is proved
By ties of woven sympathies,
By bonds no outsider sees.
By bonds no outsider sees
We tie ourselves to those who share
The pithy heart of all unspoken cares,
The shadows that would dim our days
If no one shared our private ways,
If none there were to let us know
The fitness of the face we dare not show;
The old friend nods and quietly stays
Close by our side when mere acquaintance leaves,
Unashamed to share our darkest inner night;
Awaits with us the slow return of light.
The old friend trusts and faithfully believes
The tales we tell ourselves of joy or sorrow,
Looks to yesterday and forward to tomorrow.
Looking back to yesterday. forward to tomorrow,
We walk with them through the wilderness of living
Thankful for their presence and forgiving,
As do we, the flaws that mark our human bounds
Ignoring discordant notes that sound
From time to time in all the narrative
We build to define our days and give
Form and substance to the constant rounds
Of night to day and day to night,
Our mutual progress towards Eternity,
The approaching dark we do not wish to see
Unless in company with the comforting light
Of well-earned close companionship,
Of sympathetic souls who join us on the trip.
Seeking truths wherein the brave heart delves,
We guide each other through dwindling days
To face the world, to learn its ways,
Its cruelties and its beauties shared
Both the better for each time we dared
To question this, our common Lot:
To Be, awhile, and then to Not.
So we share all we have got
To fill our time, to weave our lives.
Without old friends, the path is drear and long,
Where goes but one to compose the song
To tell of what we were, and how we strived
To rescue Sense from Folly, all the rest;
Of all friends, those we have of old are best.
there's a damning secret
hidden deep within her essence
the spirit does not forget
she will always feel its presence
refusing to be denied
its taunting's always been there
where can one hide
from predestined despair?
the shadow was so sweet
veiling the truth for so long
light of maturity was its defeat
revealing all her qualities as wrong
a woman born unlovable
swaddled in loneliness
never to be desirable
holding hands with hopelessness
so long and hard she's strived
to be all that she is not
but ghastly truth has arrived
undoing all for which she's fought
it sharpens its claws
digging the depths of her mind
exposing all her flaws
'til there's nothing good to find
She felt the pain and loss of the gain of a midnight true love’s dream.
No one to blame she left and came and I asked her, “how did it seem?”
“Oh heaven, you mean? It’s beautiful and serene like I thought it would be.
I saw your tears when you said goodbye, and thank you for setting me free.”
I sat in fear, so unclear, she's really here! “Why did you choose to visit me?”
She said softly, “honey, I’m so sorry...I can’t forget the look in your eyes,”
Down on one knee, I beg and plead, “do you regret what you took to my cries?”
She sat and pondered and I sat and wondered, “how could she want to die?”
I stood and wandered, for I was younger but I still needed a reason why.
“I hid right under the bridge from the thunder, no more seasons to try."
I needed assurance, “dear sister, do you ever wish you could take it back?”
She pleaded in endurance, “dear sister, forever it’s been self-love that I lacked.”
I believed her story, she now lives in glory, but to her I must always remind,
“your life was stormy and lived too shortly, don’t forget I always strived to find
a way to rid a soul forlornly, left so sorely, you’ll always be on my mind.”
*True story based on a dream I had
last year of my sister who took her own life*
Internal Rhyme Used
Conversation Contest
Sponsor: Frank Hererra
Date Written: September 4, 2016
A blaze of silver breached the surface,
Muscle flexed, sinew taut.
Through the raging waterfall,
Upwards struggled, strived and fought.
Her mighty tail thrusting, driving
Instinct pushing, nearly spent.
A heroic leap, she jumped again !
Over the waterfall, the salmon went.
Entry for poetry contest 248
Any topic, max 8 lines. 13/12/2016
Self-pity became my days in so
many messed up ways,
if only the bottle in my right hand didn’t stay.
I knew I hit rock bottom-
I knew I was reaching near death-
I knew no time could save me,
as I took my last breath.
Flatline,
the fate of mine-
I ran out of time-
for I had become so darn depressed.
A heartbeat appeared as my family feared
I’d never be the same again-
Could there be damage from this affliction
due to my addiction?
I eventually lost all my friends.
I never contemplated ending my life,
for I was a mother and a wife-
I wanted to free myself with grace,
oh, the look upon my husband’s face…
Recovery seemed so far,
as a new flavor of life I craved to taste.
I didn’t want to live a life of waste.
I awoke one morning in
withdrawal and mourning,
for I needed a fix to survive-
But I pulled through and strived
for one more day and had the
strength to stay alive.
A look into my future with a fresh
sewn-on suture,
a mending needle and thread
pulled through with ease-
I needed to rid my life of the rumors,
and needed recovery much sooner
to rid me of this awful disease.
I had a sister back then who
saved me from myself-
I overcame with determination
without contemplation and
fully recuperated to good health.
I needed no wealth,
just sincere motivation and put
that old book upon my top shelf.
For I needed to be free from temptation.
Support groups I attended and many loving
people I befriended and with good counsel
I learned to love within-
God knew my honest life was intended as I
fit in and blended and this battle
I fought I did win.
I may have a broken wing that could never heal,
but this injury reminds of how I don’t wish to feel.
For my past has brought me much adoration,
and forever I shall try to fly in sincere celebration.
The life I hold is completely genuine and real,
as I continue my journey with...
...healthy moderation.
*I will always be grateful for my "broken wing". Thank you for this contest it caused much healing.*
Broken Wing Contest
April 10, 2017
It was supposed to be an ordinary day,
And I couldn’t have it any other way.
I kissed my mother goodbye with her smile so sublime.
I didn’t know it would be for the last time.
That evening was sweet with my dear friends around me,
Bright and breezy in such a pleasant company.
The music and the mood uplifted my spirits so high
I felt I could just spread my wings and fly.
I was young and free, though decent and sensible,
And strived to make my ways so respectable.
But so abrupt was my young life taken away
By the hands of men disturbed in their evil display.
With such noise, fury, fear and pain,
Life was looked down in wicked disdain.
In quest of arms and shoulders to grieve and cry,
Our family and friends kept asking the question why.
All that is left is the enduring memory
Of a young heart with a noble destiny.
But don’t let broken promises and unheard laughter
Be the sign of your life to live forever.
Remember me as being grateful, honest and happy,
And we’ll all cherish our bonds through eternity.
Time will go by with no birthdays or Christmas wishes
We used to share with mummy’s lovely dishes.
Please carry on living and loving as I watch over you,
From above with the angels watching with affection too.
The time will come when we see each other again,
And eternally stand as the unbreakable golden chain.
We’ll share the smiles, the laughter and the tears of joy
And you’ll reminisce all about your favourite boy.
We’ll forget the sadness, the pain and the fears
And you’ll finally dry the few remaining tears.
Though short and broken, you made my life cheerful,
Now seek to make yours content and peaceful.
I was gone too soon, but not alone nor afraid.
For my demise you cried and for my soul you prayed.
I am still in your hearts, so seek to cry no more,
For you will stay in mine, just like you’ve been before.
So, when you look up in the sky, by day or by night
Care to disregard the dark and you will see the light.
I have just reached the end of the school year
giving my last lesson to the last group, as it were
Unlike before, not quite content with what has been done
on whom would I put the blame in the long run?!
Apart from the human factor, we have Covid-nineteen
and under my wings students at the age of a teen
To teach a youth, you need understanding.. patience and time
how would I make it, as students study part-time?!
Day on, day off.. that’s the school year for them so far
how to ensure the development of the learners’ repertoire?!
Hard I strived to hide the leak of confusion on my face
as it was puzzling to recognize my students with a mask on each face!
I spare you the trouble of an everyday struggle with every task
as my students and I are sweating under a suffocating mask!
Just envision me teaching the phonetic symbols and every problem sound
without accurately mouthing utterances and hearing a clear sound!
“Group 1 or 2?” Would you please your teacher remind?
that’s of paramount importance than any other task assigned!
A quick look at my notebook to check what is written down
so that I would be in the know after each two-week lockdown!
To God’s countless blessings I am grateful so much
though guilty with the feeling of not being able to do much
Still facing the dangers of the pandemic and its many a wave
and need not just get Covid-19 vaccine but also be brave
Possess a valiant heart, share Love and Light with a vibrant energy
have faith in God, in human nature beauty and in the “call of poetry”!
June 10th, 2021
Besma
I join my friend and fellow great poet, Poetic Flame, in his inspiring Poet's Call!
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/covid_toll_and_poets_call_1362448
i walk among the tombstones
all my elders have gone on ahead
and have left me
i have become
the patriarch
of our clan
walking with me
are the ghosts of our past
memories echoing through my mind
guiding me along the roads I walk
this is no title I have strived to achieve
but i'm the eldest now
the ghosts remind me
of my duty to my ancestors
and my decendents
I am the old guard now
all eyes are upon me
watching
wondering
when I will go on ahead
the tombstones call me
this winter wind has chilled me
I cant get warm
My savior was born a man,
He came from heaven, but a man is what he became.
Ordinary, fallen, vulnerable, weak, and confused.
He became all of this and more,
For he knew that only in the form of a servant,
Could he save the lost, and set the captives free.
But there came a time,
I tell you, there came a time,
When he rose up and claimed his former self,
And knew his nature,
I am that I am, He said.
I am that I am.
I was born a boy.
Ordinary, fallen, vulnerable, weak, and confused.
Almost worthy of the condemnation that this world has shamed upon me and
mine,
Almost worthy of the epistemological inferiority, that the world complexly imputes
to me,
I was born a boy,
Full of rage and anger, when they called me “boy” out of their own confusion.
But I came to a man, who is a God, but was a man,
And said, “Lord transform me, my God, transform me into what you will for me to
be”
And he showed me pain.
And he showed me sorrow.
But there came a time,
When I rose up, and claimed the impossible,
To be a child and man simultaneously,
I was born a boy,
But I came to a man, who is a God, but was a man,
And said, “Lord transform me, my God, transform me into what you will for me to
be”
And he showed me pain.
And he showed me sorrow.
But there came a time,
When I rose up, and claimed the impossible,
To be a child and man simultaneously,
And now I can look American hypocrisy in the face, and say “God Bless You”
And now I can look klu Klux klan firemen in the eye and say I love you.
Black, beautiful, strong, fearless, and resolute to endure,
Black, beautiful, strong, fearless, and resolute to right this world’s wrong and still
retain my childlike disposition.
I am a man, I tell you.
And that is more than enough!
For once I strived to rise above, but now I seek to rise in love.
For once I strived to get revenge, but now I seek that hatred end.
And men and boys and women to, would claim the light of victory.
Not because of me, I see, but because of a man, who was a God.
And became fallen, vulnerable, weak, and feeble,
As I felt in a time of trial,
Not because of me, I see, but because of a man, who claimed his former self
and rose to set me free.
And now, I am true.
Not perfect but a man nonetheless.
I was born a boy,
But I reached to the sky, and said, “God help me”
And now, I AM THAT I AM, I AM MAN!
Everyone has an obsession
Others are harmless
Hers were not
Obsession devours beautiful souls into the black of night
Hers soul was bright and promising
If only she had known this on that night
They carried her away
Her future fading to black and vanished quickly
She had been consumed with depression
She strived to be like others, tall and pretty
Jealousy rotted her soul slowly
Agencies loved her
But only them
She spent long hours crying
Her obsession? Leaving crimson tear drops in her wake
Pricks and slices
She struggled to hide the secrets
Being exposed to the world for all to see yet even then no one knew
She was dark
Captured by the emptiness of the dark as she withered away
Waiting to be found
That pretty face was no more
Jealousy rotted her through
Yet again obsession took another beautiful soul
Caitlyn Ellison
where we strived for peace and harmony
cared about one another
instead of grabbing guns from the armory
shouldn't we love thy brother
where children no longer respect
parents, guardians that now neglect
education is at an all time low
attention disorders, I don't think so
religious people, they claim to be
believe different, then you'll see
murder and homelessness at an alarming rate
oh well, that's their fate
liberty for all, was the idea
poverty has many searching for a meal
leaders and politicians can't be trusted
the wheels of justice leave one disgusted
seniors dying from lack of healthcare
whatever happened to "I'll be there"
for you and I, life goes on
but tell me, where have we gone.
DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO STILL TRULY CARE