Best Take Part Poems
It’s like you’re
in a game of
love, a game I
can’t take part
I’d play the
role of Robin Hood
trying to steal
your heart
The game
you’re in it had
you trapped within
its dungeon cell
A barren
place, with
many guards
I rode into this hell
I aimed my
arrows at the
guards striking
them with force
Then grabbed you
in the nick of
time and rode off
on my horse
We rode
all night, made
our escape and
got back safe and
sound
A ceremony
then ensued
which brought
out all the town
At the coronation
happened what I
always dreamed
I became the
king of all the
land and You
became my queen
After all is
said and done
we’d sit side
by side
And rule
forever King
and Queen
together you
and I
Written in Queens, New York -Circa 1994 (Revised in Texas 2012)
Happy Father’s Day to my Late Son Rob
My son, my sweet son, you now are at rest.
Of all fathers my son, you were the best!
Your son emulates you the best he can.
You taught him how to become a great man.
Almost twenty years you shared with your wife,
With family love you lived a great life.
Organs you donate will help others live,
A legacy you unselfishly give.
I am proud of you son, as you take part,
Some fortunate soul will live with your heart.
You tried to live and put up a great fight.
As you depart and go into the light,
Your sisters will miss you, you helped each one.
You were a great brother, my precious son.
You were only with us forty four years.
You’ll be remembered with love not our tears.
June 1, 2021
I wish all you Father’s a very Happy Father’s Day!
*This poem was written for my late son Rob who
had a severe stroke and was pronounced brain dead on
May 29, 2021. He saved over 6 lives by donating his
organs. Rob leaves behind my eleven year old grandson
Brody, and his wife Akiko. I want to thank each of you
who prayed for my son to recover. Thank you all for your
kind condolences.The love sent from my poetic family has
helped me greatly.
If only for a moment our love bloomed,
If only for a spell we would consume.
My heart torn open I bear a deep wound,
To be thy Sun and you to be my Moon.
Alas, my dear, we were not meant to be,
For there is no future for us at all.
But, don't read into my words completely,
Because I still answer to nature's call.
Does a flower turn its petals away?
In the day when the Sun is out to shine?
For what is the reason that children play?
The reason that the poet writes his line?
We know deep inside, we all must take part,
And whatever that may be, do with heart!
"Poetry is a life-cherishing force. For poems are not words,
after all, but fires for the cold, ropes let down to the lost,
something as necessary as bread in the pockets of the hungry."
— Mary Oliver
With pen in hand, I readily compose heartfelt lines
filled with aggregations of thought and emotion.
Verses that break chains that bind, setting me free
as if I were a shackled slave in the Land of Goshen.
Freed by my pen, I've been redeemed from the sea,
and each poem a litany, recited on a rolling wave.
Poetry is the seafaring wind that fuels my sails,
navigating me to exotic, faraway places I crave.
I'm unanchored without the burden of an albatross
tied around my neck when I choose to compose.
While tethered to a pen, I'm safe and kept afloat
in tragic times of mourning and sorrowful woes.
Rhyming romantic Sonnets stirs my sensual blood,
for then I am imagining being someone's treasure.
With the heart of a passionate poet, I take part
by scribing torrid scenes of fervor beyond measure.
Writing breathes anima into the chasms of my soul.
I celebrate my poetry as art, a revered tour de force.
Poetry is my source of equilibrium, joy, and peace
when life's adversities attempt to steer me off course.
There is a place of beauty, I believe
where dwells all goodness and serenity
I place I enter when I must conceive
A bond of deep and sweet affinity
The sunshine always lights this blessed place
I see my dreams and feel a tranquil breeze
And sunrays dance with joy upon the face
Of ones I love who've come their pain to ease
This place is well secluded in my heart
A gateway leads from there to verdant mind
I take your hand and ask that you take part
Of fruits of fantasy that there you find
We stroll in bliss in this my paradise
There is no evil, and there is no fear
Our outer robes discarded, no disguise
For there is none but you whom I hold dear
No word escapes our lips, but our eyes speak
Of love that does defy the greatest rhyme
We turn to strength those things which made us weak
And taste a peace that is unbound to time
I keep this place for you inside my soul
You need not fear the sting rejection brings
In sacred place of heart, you will feel whole
My love will there transform to angel wings
Jade Celeste
I’ll never forget what’s her name
A PE teacher and ogre she became
For I was such a sickly child
it really made this ogre wild
Held in my hand a medical certificate
exempted from all things physical
with Rheumatic Fever and St Vitus’ Dance
for me to take part ~ there was no chance
Instead I assisted the Deputy Head
with clerical duties I helped him instead
But clearly this really annoyed her
As she gave me her evil stare
She appeared to be looking right through me
No words were spoken ~ was I even there
Each and every year she wrote
inside my school report
A snide remark that ended with
“as usual she did not take part”
For I was told such illnesses
Could leave me with a weakened heart
And so upon Doctor’s orders
in PE I was not to take part
I can still see her face
As she filled me with fear
No compassionate words
from her lips I could hear
Whilst illnesses kept me off school for a year
It’s time I let go of this nasty so and so
For she left planet Earth a long time ago
And my heart ~ it still beats
I’m so glad to be here
With a smile on my face
I have no one to fear
*This was sadly a true story which whilst writing this poem, brought back some of the feelings, which by her actions she made me feel – she made me feel weak and insignificant because I could not partake in any physical education classes, but I did become a very competent secretary in adulthood, so all that clerical work for the Deputy Head was clearly beneficial…some teachers have a lot to answer for...
21st September 2019
9th place ~ Premier Contest
Contest Name: I'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT'S HIS NAME (OR HER NAME)
Sponsor: John Lawless
Contest Name STRAND CHOICE 7,
Sponsor Brian Strand
3rd Place
For years the men have ruled the roost
so it’s high time ladies soccer got a boost
In July the winning team will lift the cup
it’ll be filled with bubbly for gals to sup!
Two teams will play in the final game
the winning side will see their name
as champions; this will open folks eyes
that soccer isn’t just a game for guys!
The players take part from many empires -
some teams are bad, but they are triers.
They represent their nation with such pride
in time we know the teams who've qualified
I watch the tv to see my favorite team
they score a goal, I whoop and scream
Players run like hares across the pitch
practiced set pieces go without a hitch
They score again, I leap from my chair
the other team say the goal wasn’t fair
The ref says play on, but they are fuming
tempers flare, payback’s all consuming
One player grabs hold of the other’s shirt
and pushes her over, she’s badly hurt
How could the ref miss that blatant foul
perhaps she should throw in the towel!
I jump up shouting at the female ref -
Is she blinking blind as well as deaf!!!
Perchance all referees should be male
they’d spot misdemeanors without fail!
It's fun watching the women's world cup
and interest in ladies soccer is on the up!
2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Poetry Contest
Sponsor Mark Toney
6/27/19
You WILL be home for Christmas, this I know
Though far from me, you are in silent pledge
My love for you does linger, feign to grow
It reaches out to you beyond the hedge
A hedge you've built around your blessed heart
You've shut me out, and yet I linger still
For of your soul and life I must take part
For none but you these longings can fulfill
The tree and lights and all the Christmas cheer
Dim in these eyes that fill with tears unshed
And yet I smile, for to my heart you're near
You come to me when all your words are read
At Christmas time at home you're sure to be
My heart I've made your home, and you're with me
Eileen Manassian
We started, all of us, with a dream
A need to be more than we might seem
Add to our lives a bright, new shine
To honour those of an older time
Some few had gathered, one fair day
A party planned, a game to play
A passing fancy to recreate
The lives that have been lost to fate
The players, spent at party's end
Were loathe to join the world again
They wished that they might be so bold
To live as those from times of old
A game, a dream was born that night
And through the darkness spread its light
To many dreamers this dream spoke
And new ideas in them awoke
To re-learn skills, to practice art
And in the chivalry take part
To serve a King both brave and strong
A lady Queen inspiring song
To hear the voices of the bards
To take thy turn amongst the guards
To write the song a kingdom sings
To live with honour in all things
That is what the dreamers saw
The picture that they tried to draw
Though gaming was the simple goal
The dream now had a living soul
Now hundreds strong the armies stand
And face each other on the sand
But once the battle's fought and won
Both friend and foe all stand as one
They sing together of their homes
And bow to one another's thrones
Honouring the bond they share
The common dream that brought them there
The dream that draws us ever in
Calls us to gather once again
To play, once more, our 'let's pretend'
To live the dream that will not end
My soul has a yearning
I dare not speak aloud
The earth forever turning
But my wants I am not allowed
There are things for which I ache
From the depths of my heart
Things I ponder daily
But I cannot take part
My soul has a yearning
I fear I will never know
But I go right on wanting
I cannot seem to let go
SONNET FOR BILL
He told me of a driving force within
That urged in every game where he took part
An undiminished thrust to always win
Impelled him then to play with all his heart
Thus images of my own recollection
School player and athlete of high prowess
Yet he recalled one minor sport connection
When I, a duffer shared with him success
Though decades would diverge the lives we’d known
Later meetings were with friendliness and grace
Now in this life’s game a final whistle’s blown
It’s time for him to plan next match or race
In a new great game he enters as beginner
Will he yet take part in full, and be a winner
Today we sing
great joy we bring
To those sweet souls
words long forgotten
For just a while we take them
to a peaceful magical place
a place they knew
a place they loved
a place to put smiles on their face
Even those who do not speak whose memories faded long ago
They’ll sing along inside their heads the words they used to know
And as the music starts to play deep inside a memory stirs
As slowly they will rock and hum before the words begin to come
And by the time we reach page two they sing along with me and you
‘Blue Moon’ ~ we sing ~ oh how they swoon
‘Delilah’ ~ ‘Lean on Me’
‘Sweet Caroline' ~ they start to move it really gets them in the groove
We sing with gusto they smile with joy
As memories return when girl meets boy
Our last rendition our final song
Full of joie de vivre the choir and me
We start to sing ‘You Raise Me Up’
I start to cry ~ I don’t know why it always makes me cry…
We raise the roof our souls entwine they almost touch the sky
Our spirits smile with exultation to cheers ~ applause ~ a celebration
For today we really made their day and they have made ours too
Monies sent to Parkinson’s UK we pray a cure is found one day
We bid them farewell ~ We wave them goodbye
I'm so blessed to be part of this choir
It is food for my heart each time I take part
With lovely friends who like me have “P”
Singing together in our Parkinson’s choir
I feel truly alive ~ I feel almost on fire…
Written 12th February 2020
I wrote this today after a performance by our Parkinson’s Choir, where we entertained some delightful folk who are living out their final days within a care home. It was truly inspirational…
Contest Strand Select M
Sponsor Brian Strand
HONORABLE MENTION
Poem is in the 2nd Anthology
Contest 1299
Sponsor Brian Strand
I’m confused
At times bemused
By the turn society’s taking,
Sexuality so complex
Gender needing further context
All my preconceptions breaking.
Are cows good
On this we brood
Carbon footprint the new quandary,
Should we fly
Or cycling try
A simpler world I recall fondly.
Left or Right
The current fight
Politicians all grandstanding,
Little caring
Overbearing
Of our hearts and minds demanding.
To take part
Is quite an art
Every word now needing measure,
Opinions rue
So fast to sue
No surprise the past I treasure.
A Bible thumper how sweet the sound,
That means I’m in search of hallowed grounds.
That means I was lost but now am found,
And know the meaning of Heaven bound.
That day His blood was spilled upon the cross,
To bring salvation and hope to all who are lost.
Father forgive them for they know not what they do,
Even to this day those words still echo true.
I pray for those who laugh and curse His name,
For one day they must answer for their words of shame.
There is not a lot I can say except I believe His word to be our greatest gift,
And know that His return will be mighty and swift.
I pity those that don’t believe an take His name in vain,
For upon His return it will be too late to take part of our Saviors reign.
For upon that day they will be cast away to suffer in torment for evermore,
I just pray they open their eyes before it is too late and see what they all have in store.
Bible thumper, holy roller that pretty much describes me to a tee,
I love the one called Jesus and know He died for me.
Should you ever choose to cross over that line,
I’ll welcome you as a friend if that is not being too asinine.
Each unique soul has a life purpose here.
Be still, search for your answers from within,
The secret is keeping God’s lessons near.
A divine link will help you to begin.
Seek the true path you most gravitate to.
Reiki, a sacred, ancient healing art,
My second career I’ve chosen to do.
I’m divinely inspired as I take part
Healing the ills of those people in need
To give them relief, a gift from their pain.
Divine energy flows as I succeed…
Credit goes to God again and again.
Find your purpose through a divine prayer,
Your gift for humanity you may share.
11-19-22
Earth Life Purpose Poetry Contest~N/A~
Sponsored by: Unseeking Seeker
*What is Reiki? The term Reiki comes from the Japanese language meaning universal life force energy. Reiki is a natural energy that comes from God, Holy Spirit, and Jesus. It is used by practitioners and therapists who channel subtle healing through placing their hands on the body.
Reiki is a non-invasive healing technique that is applied through light touch or hands over the body to promote whole-body healing. It has been used to alleviate physical illness, disease, spiritual agitation and many other ailments. On a spiritual level, what is Reiki can be defined as the channeling of Divine Energy, which comes from a Higher Power.
Reiki practitioners do not have the power of Jesus, but we call on Jesus for help with spiritual healing. “He gives power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increases strength.” [Isaiah 40:29].