Best Sweetens Poems
I wrote a poem of despair
My hearts been tossed up into the air
She wrote a limerick that was taboo
She made me laugh when I was so blue
Entering stage left was Tim
Writing of past lovers sins in a hymn
It seems that we laugh or we cry
We live, we love, or we die
The three of us, holding poetic swords up high
Throughout the ages we all do fly
No subject goes unspoken
For the freedom of words we've awoken
No battle to long or too fierce
Our duels are true and unrehearsed.
Through blood, sweat and tears
A bond so strong that sweetens the years
All for one and one for all
Let us carry on and have a ball!
The salt of the seas
sacred in nature...
the salt spice of life
that sweetens our existence...
Albumin, salt of tears
that we cry with blissfulness or sadness...
the salt of the earth
that is offered to the world
to sprout everything, and can not
be tasteless
(thus proclaims gospel)
cheers to salt
of redemption...!
My mum just made me a pancake,
So very round and flat,
I put ice-cream and honey on,
Then ate it where I sat.
The taste is quite enormous,
It sweetens all your mouth,
Mum asked, " Where's the pancake gone? "
I said, "I think it headed south."
Slowly spring sun caresses the land
As kowhais will softly provoke
Flushes of yellow to gently expand
Their buds of the season uncloak
Helping bellbirds escape from winter’s last choke.
Methodical beats of wood pigeon wings
Whoosh thru the quiet spring air.
Melodious trills as tuis’s sweetly sing
Fantails flitter, with hardly a care
While bush robins cheekily dare.
Fragrance of earth sweetens the breeze
New lambs adventure and race
Dragonflies linger, then floating past trees
Whio dart up the river with grace
My core just idolizes this place.
I climb up the mountain out of the trees
A kea, the comedian of the highland flies past
Does a sharp turn, lands on a boulder to tease
It’s green, blue and red feathers contrast
Their intelligence and pranks unsurpassed.
Day turns to evening; a morepork issues its call
A mournful sound that echoes the night
I descend in the darkness at the pace of a crawl
Then the hoarse cry of a kiwi just out of my sight
I'm relaxed. One day with the birds and I’m no longer uptight.
For info on these birds www.nzbirds.com
Not too long ago, and being so small,
I knew of my purpose nothing at all.
~ Oh, sweet little bud, how I yearned to be fed,
Abiding long days, hoping petals would spread.
As cotton clouds cried and moistened my space,
I bloomed forth in glory, sun warming my face!
~ One illustrious morn, as my rounds had begun,
Your petals yawned tenderly, kissed by the sun.
A beautiful bird with fast-flapping wings
Is nourished by me; oh, how my heart sings!
~ Now, dear one, don't fear me, as gently, I spin,
For precious, the nectar, that sweetens within.
The reason my sisters and I sprang from earth -
Sweet-scented and pink - I now KNOW! I have worth!
~ Each sunrise we'll greet with harmonious song,
Serenading the day ... until shadows grow long!
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Duets: I Shall Collaborate With You" Poetry Contest, James Edward Lee, Sr, Judge & Sponsor. Written by Andrea Dietrich, (the flower, left side), and Gregory R Barden, (the hummingbird, right side).
~ 2nd Place ~ in the "Collaboration - Grab A Writing Partner" Poetry Contest, Joseph May, Judge & Sponsor.
The Golden Inkwell
I place a pulse inside my words
Stepping stones to the heartbeat of life
Like a canvas swiveling with colors
Dr. Rams words are better than gold
Sugarcane sweetens your tongue
Scented jasmine engulfs your space
Creations of imagery alive with light
Dr. Rams words are better than gold
As he reads with a total openness
Absorbing words that we have penned
Walking together across the page, we blend
Dr Rams words are better than gold
Accepting a writer experiencing the moment
He truthfully reveals the quality of their work
He encourages everyone to dig deeper
Dr. Rams words are better than gold
Carole Cookie Arnold
I have seen a rainbow
in a small drop of dew
and a flight to freedom
in an abandoned shoe
and in a beggar's face
I have, O God, seen You.
I have heard the dawn break
as the morning greets us
and the despairing cry
of an aborting fœtus
and in words of comfort
Your voice, O God, exists.
I have felt the trembling
of those who fear the night
and the hope created
by a flickering light.
Your gentle touch, O God
brings my soul full delight.
I have smelled the nectar
in tall stems of flowers
and the cool refreshment
of the gentle showers,
the fragrance of your love
sweetens, O God, my hours.
I have tasted goodness
of unselfish givers
and the sweetest waters
of free-flowing rivers
Your grace, O loving God,
let me taste divine bliss.
early sunrise
sugarcoats the morning mood
masking last night's news
in a charade of cheer
melting frozen, salty tears
sun's antidote
sweetens my attitude
I must embrace
new beginnings, and rub salt
into wounds of yesterday
____________________________________
10/14/13
For Andrea Detrich's Contest: "Sweet or Salty"
there is a certain taste to Autumn
almost alien to Summer's fruition of life
it is a different celebration
where the living having succeeded
fruits succumb to ripened apples
the hazel sweetens its core
gourds of every color
deck the leaves now browning
life begins its crawl into hibernation
the breath of the cold to come
whispers in trees where leaves
plummet to the end of their use
it heralds a job well accomplished
a time to celebrate the long journey
that burst thru the mud and ice
as Winter left its' toll
and Spring began its wondrous labors
Autumn is a time to rejoice
dream of the snow crocus
that return year after year
that dutiful call of God
Earth still has a purpose
where mortality labors into immortal
the composts stand ready
to urge the first blade of grass
to struggle and greet the dawn
nourished by life's rotting flesh
Autumn is death knocking at the door
reminding the granary stored
is the duty of God's gift
to the seasons yet to come
OKC 9/22
Not too long ago, and being so small,
I knew of my purpose nothing at all.
Oh, sweet little bud, how I yearned to be fed
Abiding long days, hoping petals would spread
As cotton clouds cried and moistened my space,
I bloomed forth in glory, sun warming my face!
One illustrious morn, as my rounds had begun
Your petals yawned tenderly, kissed by the sun
A beautiful bird with fast-flapping wings
is nourished by me; oh, how my heart sings!
Now, dear one, don't fear me as gently, I spin
For precious, the nectar, that sweetens within
The reason my sisters and I sprang from earth -
sweet-scented and pink - I now KNOW! I have worth!
Each sunrise we'll greet with harmonious song
Serenading the day until shadows grow long!
A collaboration poem for
James Edward Lee Sr.'s Duets: I Shall Collaborate With You Poetry Contest
Our annual sisters dinner at the Melting Pot. We pay to cook our own food. The shopping done by the restaurant. We climb into a huge booth, tell jokes, stories, sing funny songs about serious stuff — some sympathize, others laugh not understanding this is a true story. And we divide two bottles of wine.
the cheddar cheese
melts and devours morsels —
we pop into our mouths
Memories made, smiles exchanged. The waiter’s named David, who’s serving another David and he reminds me of a library book No, David, only I say Slow down, David. With one glass of Chateau Michelle this is a funnier joke.
sisters poke the pot —
assorted skewers hold meat
boiling in hot oil
Now I’m feeling like the holiday roast. This is one place that should only be done once a year. We talk some about kids but our families are mostly forgotten as we enjoy the adult bonding. Our sis-in-law was afraid we might add in shots. We did not but the food itself is intoxicating. After dessert we must make it to the car.
the yin and yang
white and dark chocolate
sweetens fruit and cake
12/17/2018
A tree needs sun, water and soil
gives back its fruit...
and its shade
on a hot, sultry day
A bee needs a flower to pollinate
gives the world honey
sweetens life
soothes living souls
We too have our needs
our sun ---------------- the warmth of parents
our water and soil ---- their nurture
our flower ------------- their love
We too give back
our warmth
our nurture
~ our love
Written: May 06, 2026, for contest sponsored by Brian Strand
10th place contest winner
****************
If you wish for
your joy to wander on—
treasure it as a precious gem,
a quiet secret,
Cosmos cannot clone.
Guard it
akin to flame
trembling in the wind,
an elfin, sacred brightness
that warms everything
It touches.
Hold it close
when the days grow loud;
don’t expose it
to careless hands
or let routine
rub away its luster.
Don’t let it fade
into the ordinary—
Love is not common
unless we deem it so.
And if it tarnishes,
as all precious things do,
polish it gently
with tenderness,
with patience,
with the soft persistence
of someone who remembers
Why did they pick this heart?
It will gleam again,
bright as the first day
You held it—
brighter, even,
for having survived the storm.
For love,
when cherished,
does not merely endure—
it deepens,
it sweetens,
its radiance swells
than the moment
It began.
In this land we had a President teacher
So was our nice neighbour next door
A fertile ground to hold holy such a duty
An easy guess : respect was far more important
Than what we thought of compensation for labour
That renders throats dry sniffing chalk dust
Only moon will tell when will settle the chalk dust
A sunset ago, a gavel gave hope to a teacher
After a century of glittering tearful labour
Now hope of a sincere deal beckoning at the door
No doubt heavier pocket will make light his duty
Money sweetens always what is already important
In every corner of the land you find among the important
A teacher who rides to the market on a bicycle full of dust
Because he has a family to cater for besides his duty
There is no story more familiar in Kenya than a teacher’s
He accepted to teach in a classroom without a door
And to inspire under such sick conditions of labour
The teacher has earned respect through honest labour
So we must put him up there among the important
Grateful we are to defender who opened him a door
To enjoy the fruits and economy of perfumed chalkdust
To walk an inch higher and remind all: “I am a teacher”
A demonstration of honour to an age old duty
We have finally woken up to our reality of duty
To those who polish our brains through hard labour
The doctor up the street and senator have been to a teacher
The syringe makes a doctor, the chalk makes a teacher important
I hope the doctor will know it is the stress and curse of chalk dust
When a tired smart man consults him behind a closed door
Hope is high up the sky, admin keeping a policy of open door
Who are we not to encourage him in this line of duty?
With further engagements we will settle the dust
And render hopeful around country the classroom labour
We will bring to town a statue in memory of a teacher
For all sectors to know he who holds the bottom is important
Hope the momentum will not blow on our faces some other dust
And cut short the celebrations with humiliation for our teacher
What this land has achieved in this regard is far too important
My love for you is deeper than the sea
That stretches far beyond the horizon
And sparkles with a thousand stars at night
You are the sun that brightens up my day
The moon that guides me through the darkest hour
The breeze that cools me in the summer heat
You are the music that fills up my ears
The melody that lingers in my mind
The harmony that soothes my troubled soul
You are the fragrance that perfumes the air
The flower that blooms in every season
The honey that sweetens up my life
You are the reason that I wake each day
The purpose that inspires all I do
The joy that fills my heart with gratitude
You are my everything, my all, my love
The one I cherish more than words can say
The one I want to spend my days with you