Best Temerity Poems
"Until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in heaven."
A thousand, million years had fled
then thousand million more,
yet it was still the morning.
And there stood one, Transcendent,
whom we call God and the Divine,
whose reasoned might
stretched to clutch infinity—
and embraced eternity’s nether bounds
to fashion perfect round—
beginning's instant fused
with very end of things
that time endured no more.
Thus evening interlaced with morning,
from whose conjugative spawn emerged
a cosmic realm, its structure fine,
yet restive, taut and yearning.
Here coherence mingled self with
destiny, and thus arose intelligence.
Among its legion offspring,
daughters of the light
and one the son of morning,
a paragon of intellect—
in depth and reason boundless,
beautiful and firm, named Lucifer.
Beloved of Transcendence and
from whom the mighty angels
fled, nobility confounded.
Across mighty heaven’s parapets
he reasoned and opined.
And many thought him noble.
Yet temerity cannot assail wisdom
nor petulance conjure faith.
He, his mighty acolytes then stood
and cried aloud, trumpeting insistence,
and became among the first
whose grasp did not exceed their reach.
And war ensued—
A war of vaunted intellect,
but also narcissistic,
and rooted in deceit.
For he would exercise free will to battle,
then in victory rob all of its gift.
Therefore a quandary stood
that would not reconcile with reason.
Defeated, Satan stood no more in heaven.
Godly was their sorrow when he fell.
Now in our eyes and hearts and minds
do not echoes of the war resound?
First Place: Julia Ward's Contest: Expand Arthur Miller's Thought from The Crucible (quote above).
When Ravenous Wolf, Prowls At Our Home's Open Door
Of beauty, paintings, flowers and smothering Art
Dares not the innocent truth- ever the race start
Or prisoner, trapped lamb- shear its own white fleece
By all the vanished gods, Death's hands embrace Greece
And dawn's beauty loses its most radiant glow
Whilst blighted forests listens to cackles of crows!
When ravenous wolf, prowls at our home's open door.
We must take action and not its mercy implore!
Down in the dark valleys, poisoned rivers freeze
Beasts above, seek delicious prey with such ease
Alas! Dare we in futile wish cry tis no so
And in fanciful dreams -beg that peace and love show
Within hope of tomorrows, believe such will cease
For we recall, magnificent heroes of Greece!
When ravenous wolf, prowls at our home's open door.
We must take action and not its mercy implore!
Life and Love must walk through darkest days hand in hand
In this our thought to be enlightened world we stand
Not as sheep to be slaughtered at merest of whims
If we fear ravenous sharks in seas we'd not swim
Or during pitch black nights we would cower inside
And miss seeing the heavens and moon's golden ride!
When ravenous wolf, prowls at our home's open door.
We must take action and not its mercy implore!
Such temerity would joys of life thus abolish
Do we allow world its false mirrors to polish
Nay! We prove such hatefulness we will not abide
While in arms of love and truth, we with grace reside
Shall we pray that ever greater Light gift us more
On us all, God's sweet mercy Heaven softly pours!
When ravenous wolf, prowls at our home's open door.
We must take action and not its mercy implore!
Robert J. Lindley, 6-13-2021
Dark rhyme,
( We may only keep, that which we are brave enough to defend )
This poem was born from blessed inspiration found this morn
While I was commenting to a friend, a very fine fellow poet….
Let me translate
My love for you
From written.... to spoken....to touched
From syllable sensuality
To physical functionality
From verbal to nonverbal virtual reality
Or better yet
Let me translate them into YOUR language
Yes, I’m a polyglot glutton
craving your satiation
Interjection velocity
Groan and grope physicality
Touch and tease and taste temerity
Chaste words undulating into unchaste carnality
Let me translate
In meanings that you understand
Points of reference that you rant and pant
In my ear…say it in a chant….
Over and over...
I won't let you recant
your forbidden fantasty frolic…
Baby...I’ll grant
Let me translate
Into the language of YOU
I understand
Your savage need laced with greed….
concede....every one...
to me
This wave won't recede
till that passion is freed...
by my deliciously devilish deed...
My pleasure peaks uncontrollably
Rocked in your volatility
Word translation ecstasy
Come together finality
Verbal.......
non-verbal.....
G~R*A~T*F~I*E~D
unity
So, just let me....
Let me translate
My love
For
You
Eileen Manassian
We don't talk about it, I was mutely told,
Schooled in your nonverbal narcissism, I Attest
I became a linguist in the language of silence;
The tightened line of your mouth when a speck
of childhood play leaked through the Aperture
of your wall of control; the Nuance of your slit eyes,
the stiffness of your shoulders when I disturbed.
The famine of your brevity, starkly juxtaposed with
the Proclivity of your friendly words for the neighbors;
Your perfunctory weak praise, more to lessen your guilt
than lift my esteem.
Even as I write this Saga under the weight of betrayal
nearly undone by our mutual oath of avoidance, and
after decades of delay, you have the Temerity to now
charge me with building the distance, keeping the barricade.
I am bluntly surprised, by your surprise; to accuse me of
this Barren contact, is to blame the clay for the cracks
in the hands that molded it.
And you dare say, why am I this way?
When I inherited the Marrow from you-
10/27/18
for John Hamilton's Eight Word Challenge contest
required words: Aperture, Attest, Barren, Temerity, Saga, Proclivity, Nuance, Marrow.
Written: January 1st, 2023
Rumi's verse, "The desert beckons us as if it were the oasis,"
____________________________________________
An endless, lifeless moor—arid and fright.
A withering sun whips souls—toils to ignite.
Sans shelter or relief, ghost winds stand.
Dry air as shriveled wits seek relief sight.
Spurs appeared as ripples on the sand.
Hidden amid the tall grass of the land.
Quench your thirst at the watery oasis.
Our ravenous thirst for water will expand.
Amid a kaleidoscope of queries rapacious.
Life shrinks to grain of sand on daily basis.
Amid a dust of labor, a haven of serenity.
I was scared upon grasping the base hits.
We're like sand amid an arid sea of dexterity.
Southern blaze stores a feverish posterity.
As a tunic for our ethereal souls improve
Soar twice through the oasis of temerity.
Sky is drawn by daffodil and drifting groove.
Crisp air, soft breeze, and azure feet prove.
Bees buzz over heather, as marigolds rise.
Eagles trim their fierce feathers—rabbits move
Staring into gloom may uncover a prize.
For a dwarf area, glimpse an oasis of apprise.
This domain, this desert, endures best as gold.
It is highly precious than quartz grains size.
Scatterings of color that are scarce and bold.
Covered in a mixture of brown and green folds.
Such a proximity, yet so distant, yet so distinct.
We were transported back to the prior era, told.
A spring that flows with pure water hint
A lush green zone in the arid land succinct
An atmosphere devoid of noise and disarray
Away from adjacent noise or motion instinct.
Emerging from sleep dream temerity,
his remote aurora spectral prisms
from which his wakefulness gives legerity,
from which surfaces new burgeoning aphorisms.
Truth’s contours arrayed in fluid fluency,
his morning ataraxia in the still water lake
from where his senses lose their truancy,
from where ideation sheds the opaque.
He finds repose in a moment's seclusion,
his lucid cortex in reflective possibility,
but he learns his real confirmation in inclusion,
and learns our fellowship best protects our fragility.
So quickly we imbrute each other with walls,
he knows how militarization is summoned by anxiety,
he weeps at the endless requiem protocols,
he grieves at history’s long cruel impropriety.
But he detects his promise in human need,
our struggle against forces of dehumanization,
our commission in communitarian creed,
our hope in human family realization.
Awarded second place in Poetrysoup "Grace and Solitude" rhyming poetry contest sponsored by John Hamilton.
With God’s omnipotence that does attest His wondrous might
I can overcome temptation with its sinful temerity
While fighting valiantly transgressions’ filthiness…
…Pursuing after holiness in living for His honour.
By God’s omniscience that fully opens heavenly wisdom’s aperture
I can vanquish ignorance with its folly’s nuance
While subduing doubts’ collaboration with skepticism…
…Seeking for His truth which sets me free toward jubilant triumph.
Thru God’s omnipresence that marks every great spiritual saga
I can prevail over unfruitfulness of barren faith
While conquering insecurity brought by lack of trust…
…Striving to please Him with my labour of love.
Because of God’s overtaking blessings that highlight His marvelous grace
I can win against discontentment that afflicts my well-being’s marrow
While gaining His favour midst righteous proclivity against time-wasting…
…Advancing the Lord’s kingdom and sharing the Gospel* as His grateful steward.
*Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth...
November 9, 2018
4th place, "Eight word challenge-9" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by John Hamilton; judged on 11/27/2018.
My need for love
is never sated
it's not dated
but continuously present
ever feeling
always reeling
from its demands
it gets out of hand
you can't possibly understand
My need for love...
My need for love
is longevity's flame...
I feel no shame
it's always the same
it sears
and never fears
but scorches and torches
any barrier
livid carrier
it roars
temperature tempter
it soars
flaring and daring
not even caring
that I burn
that I yearn
for more of its heat
to be complete
it blazes
endless kindling
stoking the fire
delirium and desire
together conspire
to take me up higher
till I combust
consumption on repeat
all in my trajectory
consumed history...
what a tragedy
for me
is this...insatiable entity
my need for love...
My need for love
is never quenched
temerity of thirst
always at its worst
It withers me
can't escape...can't be free
its depth demonstrated
its force contemplated
this love well never fills
though fed till it spills
offering liquid thrills
it kills...for in no time, you see
it feels empty to me
can it be?
my need for love...
My need for love
is insatiable
I weep, I weep
for no one can keep
a steady supply
and I wonder why
I sigh
I die
there's not one reply to
My need for love
My need for love...
well now that you know
cause I've put it on show
My love, are you able
to keep it all stable
supply and demand
with your lips, with your hand
be the fullfiller
liberate from this killer
satiation subscriber
desire docilizer
need nullifier of...
My need for love
Yes, my need for love
from sated to abated
fully consecrated will be
when you make love to me
Eileen Manassian
Let me tell you a story…
A story about life, where Solitude gracefully glides into the room, wearing a loose fitting gown, draping her curvaceous form. Piously she takes her place at the table of life, she is surrounded by Faith, Hope, Despair, Vision, Reality, and Fantasy. Furtive Destiny is seated at the head of the table, shrouded in mystery.
Faith is subdued, radiant, gracious and kind. Her reassuring smile gives life and courage to Hope. They share a unique friendship, if either of them departs, the other becomes reclusive.
Hope shines in the spotlight with Faith. She dazzles with magic tricks; lighthearted yet fragile. She holds her breath so often I fear one day she may not catch it. Optimistic Faith, reminds Hope to breathe in and breathe out.
Despair, clad in a dark cloak; averts his sullen glassy eyes. His temerity threatens and blind sights the spirit of Faith and Hope; vulnerable and frightened they reach out to Vision.
Vision is creative, casting Faith and Hope in life’s productions; drawing back the curtain of blindness, revealing hopeful possibilities.
Reality, a disciplinarian. He is strong and terse; building strength on the bedrock of truth. Discerning facts, sorting out fiction.
Fantasy, a flighty temptress, playfully teases Reality who becomes uncomfortable; secretly he admires her, especially when Destiny leaves the room.
Destiny holds the key to life’s fate. Confident and at times unforgiving; she never plays favorites. Wise, with the knowledge she solely possesses the power of our tomorrows. Reality is her soulmate, keeping a harmonious balance. There is talk they are involved, but Destiny does not reveal her private life.
Date: April 19, 2022
For: Form N - Narrative - New Poems Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Constance La France
Theme: Life
Grammar verified on P.S. Grammar check
Placed 1st in contest
the heavens yawn a sea of suns above me
each shining gem to countlessly attest
to how I conned her barren heart to love me
by pining for the passions she possessed
the saga of our love has found its closure
while I, with bold temerity, did ask
if she might give, thereof, honest disclosure
instead of serving, cold, the bloody task
why can't the midnight skies embrace my being
and turn me to the dust from whence I came?
the use has left my eyes, for tears or seeing
her proclivity for just assigning blame
you see, she found her way into my marrow
each nuance of her face now haunts by soul
life's aperture, today, is oh, so narrow
despair as deep as space, and black as coal
so please, dear firmament, consume my spirit
devour me with the flame of earthly death
though she has no intent to ever hear it
please make her tender name ...
my final breath.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Eight Word Challenge - 9" Poetry Contest, John Hamilton, Judge & Sponsor.
We close our eyes when we sleep, imagine, kiss, and pray
because the most beautiful things can not be seen,
they are felt with the heart.
~ Sweet Dream Love Quotes
In dreams I call your name, and slowly you come to me
For the first time I see your smile; the light in your eyes
It's a mischievous little boy grin, but not quite innocent
I think of it as the crescent moon on a warm summer night
I've not heard your voice, but I sense its timbre is deep
except when you ever so softly whisper my name as I sleep
It's always the fullness of your lips that draw my stare
and I feel the need to move closer until I can inhale you
There's an ache throbbing inside me, threatening my sanity
until the beggar in me transforms reticence into temerity
If you sleepwalk, whisper my name and I will find you
“The Memoirs of a Cat Lady”
you slinked onto my sunny windowsill
winked with your one good eye
a no-brainer, all in your face, head
saucy marmalade pants
bittersweet No. 1 wins the day,
in my bed
oh to be dominant
in my realm of warmth
once again
Moonlight
calculates the temerity
of a head-over-heels
One-eyed Pirate upstart
heart-claiming
Love Cat
she remembers
shameless,
she silently grins
(LadyLabyrinth / 2021)
Yo, how long has it been since you quit trying?
Or perhaps your your self-assurance is cooled and drying.
Maybe it is your arrogance that's fortifying
Your state of mind that's forever verifying.
Self-reliance and discretion in latitude,
Confidential secrets kept in gratitude.
Our laziness is a companion to platitude;
Of course we all know it's really an attitude.
So where do you go from here to appreciate
Lessons of objective differentiate?
Making the changes to complete your self-portrait,
Faith and belief reconstruct, reconciliate.
Temerity must fall by the wayside while you persue
Those things given to provide discression to you.
Tact, talent, trust, and truth are the tools we use to work through
Order and procedures that program anew.
Seeing the bigger picture creates flexibility
Thinking carefully opens avenues of discernability.
Your new state of mind, simply served with humility
Shows what fun life can be when you re-think your ability.
The aperture was small, but drew me in;
I saw the rumored 'saga' I had heard
attest to the temerity within
that so surpassed the sadness told by word.
Tied up with rope and fastened to a pole
with barren soil and stones his only bed;
and there, so out of reach, a rusted bowl
next to a soggy, molded piece of bread.
His sullen eyes lacked nuance in his stare;
proclivity for self-salvation gone...
no marrow left to counter his despair.
But then, he heard my voice and he was drawn
to stand up tall...tail wagging to and fro...
for 'man's best friend', new hope did overflow!
November 5, 2018
~4th Place~
Contest: Eight-Word Challenge - 9
Sponsor: John Hamilton
Judged: 11/27/2018
Required words used in order of appearance:
aperture saga attest temerity
barren nuance proclivity marrow
~Honorable Mention~
Contest: 400, Any Rhyme - Max Of 14 Lines,
Sponsor: Brian Strand
Judged: 06/01/2019
Canopy’s aperture, spilled light’s nuance, tinted,
as my eyes arrested, to attest fall’s saga…
A tree proclivity, had me stalled in Ashland,
watching the leaves succumb, leaving stark limbs barren…
Those with temerity, plunged at high speed, head first
Others spun dizzily, tornado-bewildered…
Few flew in gradients, of sideways-sloped descent:
wishes on air sustained, just a little longer…
Some seemed to ride gentle, invisible, sleep-chutes,
touching down easily, with wizened acceptance…
My marrow slowly chilled, as damping moisture crept
But cheer was soon bubbling, as merry maples fell:
swaying in zigs and zags, frolics of to and fro,
to come to a smooth rest, on the glassy brook’s face
Alighting sans ripples, their fate in water’s hold:
floating on a mirror, reflecting their past life,
ere being swept by currents, to their next journey’s start…
(11/4/18 - Repost of Ashland Autumn for P contest hosted by Constance la France)