Best Strives Poems
"we woke up early one morn, ego shorn
it felt as though we were in form reborn
nodes within stirred, boundaries blurred
our head and heart, with love concurred"
When heavy clouds shroud the moon with lotus lies,
we walk through fiery flashes of illusion,
seeking blurred validation from starless skies,
whilst in uncertainty, hearts find seclusion.
Darkness unfurls crowned eagle feathers to rise,
letting ego flee through alchemist's vision,
surrender to serenity glazed with gold,
there's a sunset that slumbers in rain so cold.
Grace ebbs and flows through ripples of black and white,
listen to the sagas of echoing breeze.
In the abyss of your soul, is cosmic light,
and with faith intact, confined fears we shall freeze.
When doubts we cleanse through clear consciousness in sight,
keys to a meadow, mirroring inner trees,
Standing firm, unshakable midst storms of strife,
In zen we reap colors to the root of life.
But betwixt twisted tendrils, bud of peace weighs,
and It is from the demise of pride, zest thrives.
Transforming rusty browns to vermilion rays,
a prism of sparkling hope, through which mind survives.
Love is an essence served in jasmine arrays,
whilst with compassion embraced, contentment strives.
So let shackles of shallow shadows unchain,
behold the aura of pink roses to reign.
Living on a planet, unsure if I belong
Where only sand grains and fossils, seem to last long
The instinct to breathe air, compelling me along
And the miracle that’s water, strives to prolong
Hear the wind blow bending the trees
Feel the bones crack inside my knees
High upon a mountain, an avalanche gives way
Yielding to gravity, and powerful sun rays
Down below I ponder, will this be my last day
Still all goes over my head, as life balks away
Holding my grip busting my balls
gives a nice twist when in free fall
A juggernaut of lies, hurtled down that slope
Widening debris fields, spreading rumours of hope
Is there any big truths, or just lies to help cope
The past looks basic, viewed under a microscope
Fossils don’t lie rocks are not bones
Sand remodels back into stone
I piece together the fossils, search out life’s source
Scream out eureka, til my larynx implodes hoarse
Scan skies for graviton waves, stretching time with force
Try stop that damn avalanche, least alter it’s course
Raw energy blood upon dust
Time’s eternal cascading rust
Evidence can be sketchy, when life forms a scree
In the end information, is all there can be
Empirical pathways, are straightforward to see
If they postulate a god, good enough for me
I’ve crawled before I’ll walk again
Encased in skin til god knows when
As a kid in confession, I’d mostly tell lies
I admitted made up sins, without compromise
The priest liked forgiving, so telling lies was wise
He went easy on penance, devil in disguise
Shame on us both playing such games
He wore a cloak, I’m still the same
Lord, place Thy Hand on the yoke of those who fly,
And guide them through the vast reaches of the sky.
Bring them safely through their perilous flight,
And may they ever look to Thee as their Guiding Light.
Lord, protect the sailors who sail the treacherous seas.
Calm the roiling waters that they may cruise with ease.
May they always look to Thee as their Pilot for support,
And with Thy guiding hand, bring them safely home to port.
Lord, protect the soldier with Thy mighty sword midst the battle.
Give him strength to press on despite the muskets' rattle.
Hear his fervent supplication for Thy protection from all harm,
And provide him with courage as he leans on Thy eternal arm.
Lord, shield the brave marine as he storms the dangerous strand.
Strengthen him with fortitude and provide Thy protective hand.
Surround him with Thy angels as he strives to overcome the foe.
Bring him safely through the conflict and upon him honor bestow.
Lord, bless and provide comfort to his family, for they also serve.
Until that day they are one again, give them hope and steady nerve.
Hear their prayers O' Lord, for the safe return of heroes dear,
And from their trust, hope and faith in Thee, may they never veer.
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
(c) All Rights Reserved
THE JEWELER’S LATHE
Summer’s last rose
After many admiring morning visits
And with nature’s rusty brown and gold
Surrounding, drawing comparison,
Becomes even more pink and beautiful
Being aware as being – native to all souls –
Nature strives to improve,
The old become new
New, alike the jeweler’s lathe
Polishing polishing
Refining awareness -
The familiar like a great Schubert string quartet
Suddenly with new revealing.
Leonard Bernstein says about music,
to the effect,
”An old friend becomes more dear”
Refining one’s awareness
There can be no drudgery,
But there must be effort,
Must be the look-through,
A soul’s effort to find.
Therein lies the beauty,
The finding.
When the diamond
Set to the jeweler’s lathe
Catches sun
Dave Austin
My work is identity
The axe in my hand
No blisters to bother me
As for years I just stand
The weeds and the flowers
Call me back down to earth
The brown rust confuses
Destroys my self-worth
The tears and the rain
Have frozen me here
It could be forever
At least that is my fear
But then I hear singing
And love with a twirl
There's something of beauty
This dog and this girl
She stops to acknowledge
Where my work is so stale
I am rescued completely
My Dorothy Gale
We converse, no lips moving
I creak and I groan
She talks of a journey
To get herself home
I determine to help her
As she's helping me
We walk and we talk
It feels good to be free
It's strange but I know that
She strives for the best
I feel something beating
Once again in my chest
Not sure where we're going
When this journey will end
But I feel like I love her
This newly found friend
No matter what you have gone through,
No matter what you have accomplished,
No matter what you have manifested to the world,
No matter what difference you have made,
they just speak about HOW YOU LOOK
Yes, How You Look.
You must have got Gold to the country
You must have shouldered the wings of responsibility
You must have touched many lives
You must have stood by people in their strives
Still, they just care about HOW YOU LOOK.
Yes, How You Look.
I showed the photograph of a foreign affairs minister
In a thought that he would talk about her caliber
Thwarting my expectations, he said, "How short she is!"
Whoever you are, whatever you do, their eye falls on HOW YOU LOOK.
Yes, How You Look.
Met her after a long way in time,
The words she first spoke can't be forgotten in my lifetime.
No 'Hi' and no 'How are you?'
All that she said was, "Jesus. Your face. What is wrong with you?''
It does not matter if you are happy and healthy.
All that matters on the first go is HOW YOU LOOK.
Yes, How You Look.
Cotton on to the fact that
a warm smile is beautiful than rosy lips,
a helping hand is beautiful and not a manicured one,
a loving heart is beautiful than the lustering skin,
a powerful mind is beautiful than pedicured feet.
Your strength defines who you are, not your shape.
Your boldness drives you forth, not your beauty
Look not the skin but notice what's beneath it
Because, when you're in need, it is people not their pomp that comes to your rescue indeed.
My Enemy
From my time I have learned
It is not republican or democrats
king or queens
That shall determine my fate
It is not the color of ones skin
That makes them who they are
Or which religion one serves
Or which corner
They choose to worship
It is not the feud
Of which life matters
It is not this worlds
view in life that withstands
And it's not what race I was born into
It is not the division
This world strives to create
For in this time
I have come to learn
My worst enemy
Is me not surrending
Unto the creator of the all and all
It is only us that separates
Us from the love you never known
For you will see no color
Or care which race
You where born into
For we are all God's creation
And he wants to live
In each of us
That we might reveal
To others the love he has for us
If you are still reading
I pray the Lord
Enters and dwells within
That he might become more
And we shall become less
And be a light
To a world that lives in
Darkness
I love you all
I often think
In darker times
It's pointless toil
Creating rhymes
For what do rhymes
Achieve, and such?
Perfection strives
For words to clutch
Some faint idea
Some headlocked chat -
It smiles, then fades
Like Cheshire Cat
Chasing thought
Down rabbit hole
Succeed or fail
No heads will roll
From bitter world
To jammy tart
Where sweetness lives
In printed heart
No grumpy queen
No neckline threats
Beguiling words
This soul begets
Perhaps, in time
Simplistic notion
Can be transformed
With the right potion
Perhaps, if time
Allows, we will
Through heartfelt words
Our dreams fulfill
She questions her life..
She questions her mortality..
She questions her immortality..
Curiously seeking for answers ..
Of the unknown..
Who am I..
Why do we rise and fall..
Why is there pain..
Why is there suffering..
Imbalances exist in a perfectly balanced world..
Earth is beautifully balanced..
As she spins gracefully..
She is in perfect harmony..
Her pure essence is of love..
Her pure essence is of nurture..
As she nurtures us all with the splendor of nature..
Overwhelmed she is at times..
As our nuturing Mother Earth continuously..
Balances our inbalances..
Of which there are disturbances to her harmonic flow..
She maintains her glory..
As nature shall always remain perfect..
Who am I..
Mortality is only the body..
Immortality is all and one..
An immortal soul strives in magnificence..
No birth as it always exited..
Rebirth as it seeks to remember..
To experience..
An immortal soul glides passionately through..
Different chapters of life..
Lives and dimensions of what is..
One cannot rise..
Unless one falls..
Of which there lies pain and suffering..
We only fall..
Just to rise again..
Again and again..
As she questions her mortality..
Her immortality..
Her answers are found within..
Chosen for a reason
In a season
Not by the dozen
But individually
To be born
A Nigerian
One who can run
Through the thorns of life
Without being cut
By its spikes
Into a family
By a parent
Who will not relent
Making fervent prayers
For the child
In anticipation
Of the tribulations
That lay ahead
The New Nigerian:
One with talents
Silent but efficient
More active than motives
Helping to live
Above the perception
Of corruption
Making him strong
With a song
Above the spiral trials
Of the general material beliefs
The New Nigerian:
One who chose to oppose
The misconceptions
Of the strives of life
Living a purpose driven life
And being juxtaposed
From the affairs
Of the wicked
Through dwelling
In the secret place
Of the Most High God
The New Nigerian:
One who goes
Against the law of gravity
Moving beyond escape velocity
Living in the sensitivity
Of the spirit
Going in the right direction
Of Righteousness and True Love
Facing his challenges Head-on
With strength
From the Almighty God
Are you this New Nigerian?
"An Enchanted Voyage"
love reflects emotion embraced by motivating force
a visual crystal ball evokes journey through endless Time
upon a magic carpet floating guided by heartfelt course.
stars whisper in midnight canopy twinkling soft chime
toward destination to reunite with lost lovers' soul
a visual crystal ball evokes journey through endless Time.
in Fantasy, a tender heart pursues ultimate goal
as love's adventure strives to capture essence known
toward destination to reunite with lost lovers' soul.
the sting of Death refuses to separate powerful feelings sown
an incantation from a mythical book of charms
as love's adventure strives to capture essence known.
thoughts of caressing sweet desire within silky arms
ignite sheer wings absorbing strong love potion spell
an incantation from mythical book of charms.
an enchanted voyage fascinates realm with golden wishing well
love reflects emotion embraced by motivating force
ignite sheer wings absorbing strong love potion spell
upon a magic carpet floating guided by heartfelt course.
"Fantasy Chant"
love power wills
beyond cold grave lives
cast potent magic spell?
*For Terzanelle Fantasy with Questionku Chaser.
To The Unknown Source
To whom this may concern,
I commit my soul, my worm.
I live from day today, as some say…
when I bite the Clover, it is over.
Love Hallowed if it be thy name,
I have heard of thy precept fame.
May thy kingdom come among,
in strives my hands I have wrung.
Of my meanness reaping seeps,
I’ve heard of Love, there be sheep.
Goats of mighty ships afloat,
descend into the abyss moat.
If Love be true Love, the will,
of which one’s life should spill,
then my will has been, bitter pill,
of bitterness has been my seal.
Forgive me as I will forgive,
of this Love I forever will live.
Of my daily bread I will be fed,
feeding my neighbors as I am lead.
Of whom this may concern,
commit I myself of Thee to learn.
Of awesome Precept I am kept.
Of beastly concepts I have wept.
Loose the human concept yoke,
of bitterness pill I am thus broke,
by concepts of which I spoke.
Humans in gross darkness grope.
For Frank’s
Compose a prayer
No I am not as unfamiliar with God as this poem would suggest,
But few know the Source fully as the Love that He actually is.
“Because strait and narrow is the way, few there be that find it.”
My self-awareness is clear.
Blunt.
It's ugly and painful. To call it enlightening, is putting it lightly.
Honestly though, it's relieving, intriguing, and totally necessary.
Character building, and damn near life-saving.
They say "seeing is believing"... But what about these feelings?
The temporary, non-factual, and oh so ing deceiving.
I prefer to walk this life in honesty. Real, raw, and owning responsibility.
Without concern for the possibility of living "lonely".
My truth.
Your truth.
THE truth.
I struggle to grasp how it's so hard to direct all my best efforts...
ANot for you, not for him, or for any of them. But for me. And at least for now, only me...
Like clockwork. One, two, three.
The bad decision making.
I always have been, I am now, and always will be, my own worst enemy.
Some will say that they "admire" my ability.
My ability to rep nothing more, and nothing less... Then just me.
Inside I'm laughing.
It's almost really ing funny!
With a head clouded thick and smokey and a heart I seem to keep on freezing.
Painful realities,
I continue to keep on stuffing.
Like it's all okay. Right here, right now...
see in my eyes that my lips are saying it.
Again.
Sell off another piece of my soul & commence to feeling nothing.
Turns out with all this ducking and dodging of reality, I myself am being robbed of the real me.
The chick they so ignorantly pretend to be "admiring".
It's gotten to the point of what I deem as wasteful & petty, being sold short...
Ultimately starving your life, my life, and this bag Society, of true, legit beauty.
The crimes of passion that fuel within me.
The answers remain exposed. Ever so transparently.
As I once said, my self-awareness is more than a blessing.
Granting the ability to understand what blatantly lay before me.
Allowing my swollen eyes to see ever so clearly.
Observing, the chaos and defeat.
hear me say, although I'd prefer to scream....
No matter the faulty choices, or the seemingly impossible hopes and dreams...
I can be my own muse, my own Mentor, I will be just me. My own home team.
Completely denying the hopelessness that the greatest of evil strives to feed within me
My pen strives to flow,
saturate virgin fibers
crisp, cool and clean,
desires to spread
through virtuous threads
with thoughts, reflections,
colors from within -
yet at any given time
I’m tempted to resign;
my thoughts are faded,
my ink runs dry.
When your mind is weary
and words silently suppressed
like an empty fountain
your muse drains with scarcity -
take my palette,
let your artistry flow,
Illuminating barren scripture.
With you, my colors shine
more richly, my ink flows
to satisfy my need
to touch, and be touched
by beauty.
Together
we observe in clear definition
as unblemished pages
are no longer innocent.
Silent One collaboration with Becca Teagan
Collaborated 3 July 2017
Replenished with rain, it rushes on,
Its brown water pours and spills
Like vinegar from the pickle bottle,
Tumbling over, bubbling through
The jagged jumble of rocks,
Those early plants pushed aside to let it pass,
Its running melody ringing clear,
Competing with the robin’s call,
The stream pushes on, its cheerful song
Belies the chill beneath,
As it strives to outrun Winter,
While the fragile sun sighs
‘Too soon, too soon’.