Best Tidied Poems
A week ago I wrote a list of reasons on why I should take my life
Two days ago I have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder
Today I had major suicidal thoughts and cried for three hours
All of this happened in a span of time
Today is where I realized that I have bipolar but bipolar does not own me
I got out of bed
I made breakfast
I took a shower
I tidied my room
I drank tea and focused on my studies
I did some notes
I read my current book
But most importantly I moved
I did not stay in one place and let my thoughts take over my state of mind
My illness does not define who I am or who I will be
Anxiety, OCD, Bipolar are just a fraction of me
They are characteristics of mine that can be treated and tamed
Mental health is always so quietly put under the rug
Like clothes thrown on that chair in our rooms
If we have a cold we stay home until we get better
However, when we feel the slightest despair
Get over it
Is all we hear
When all we should hear
Is
It’s okay
Work on yourself
Get to know yourself
Learn how to communicate with yourself
Find help
Talk to someone you trust
Because getting over something
Is easier said than done
Until that exact person is in your shoes
Then there is no getting over anything
There is only denial, suffering, and finally acceptance
I will never let my illness get the best of me
Correction: I will try my best to not let my illness get the best of me
The darkest clouds will always rain
But we have the choice to whether use our umbrellas or not
Take your medications
Don’t keep thoughts inside
How devastating it is that we keep smiling our suffering
When all we want to do is scream
Scream
Scream loud and clear
Speak
Please Speak
Categories:
tidied, anxiety, depression, emotions, health,
Form:
One more day I slept serene,
while some where distant bombs
and screams awaken others from their dreams..
One more day I quenched my thirst
while others trapped and feared the worst,
living out war's curse.
One more day I tidied, swept, while elsewhere
children died, mothers wept,
cried in anguish, so bereft..
One more day my skies were blue.
I ventured out with things to do,
while others watched their world unglue.
Categories:
tidied, war,
Form:
Rhyme
The day drags its feet, despite my efforts to speed up its pace. I got up late, so that I could sleep away the morning hours, aiming for a shorter day. Yet it’s only half past ten and I’ve already eaten breakfast and put my dishes in the sink. Glaring at the clock for the umpteenth time, doesn’t help, it just keeps on ticking away; yet I swear that it hasn’t budged since the last time I looked. I already tidied up my room, and picked up last years toys. And I’ve even put some milk and cookies out, hung my stocking up over the fireplace and wrote a note to Santa; yet it’s only noon, now what? What am I going to do for the next eight hours? Why does it always take forever for sleep to come, when Christmas day is the next day?
Cloudy skies explode into puffs of snowy flakes,
Harbingers of excitement and sweet sugar cakes.
Ringing bells peal and chime, blessing this joyous day,
Invitations to celebrate Jesus's birthday.
Santa's reindeer are all set for their flight tonight
To deliver presents; to every child's delight.
Mommies and daddies are all smiles and hugs of love,
As youngsters eagerly search the skies above.
Slumber fuels dreams of elves and a flying sleigh,
Dozing off to sleep, while awaiting Christmas day.
All the months of waiting will soon be at an end,
Yuletide spirits filling hearts as fun and faith blend.
(Haibun/Acrostic/Rhyming Couplet)
Categories:
tidied, anxiety, beautiful, children, christmas,
Form:
Haibun
Marie McCaid was a hotel maid.
She tidied rooms where guests had laid.
On opening Room thirty-four
the odor sent her to the floor.
One guest had clearly overstayed.
Categories:
tidied, death, scary,
Form:
Limerick
Wally Cleans His Room
When he woke up Tuesday, Wally looked around his room.
It really was a mess and so he went to get his broom.
All his cleaning items went into his purple pail,
the dustpan in his right hand, and the dust cloths on his tail.
He hung his clothes up in the closet, placing them just right,
swept and mopped and dusted, and then polished things so bright.
Next was putting all the toys in toy chests where they should be,
When he finished, Wally thought his room was clean as could be.
His bed was made, the pillows fluffed,
the floor was clear of all the stuff.
He thought that he had done enough.
“I am so proud of me.”
Picking up the broom and mop, he tripped and hit the floor,
gave his head a great big whack, his tail caught in the door.
He got up carefully and put his cleaning things away.
“I tidied up my room real nice. Now I can go and play.”
In his lime green studio, he took out all his paint pots.
The last thing that he painted looked like it could use a spot
of color added here and there to make it better yet.
Now it had to sit a while because the paint was wet.
Wally’s glad he cleaned his room ‘cause now it’s spic and span.
The job was easier than he thought it’d be when he began.
He needs to tidy up each day
He’ll keep his bedroom neat that way
He plans to do it on Tuesday
of each and every week.
Categories:
tidied, animal, children, motivation,
Form:
Iambic Pentameter
Nature tamed, organised, tidied and serving
Consummately sanitised for human consumption
Nature bent unnaturally to suit the human nature
Every pretty maid and ducks…in a row
Florid facilities for townsfolk to fantasise
Looking without seeing, treading without looking
Stepping upon the very thing that they seek
Nature expertly hidden to create rustic bliss
The gravel path isolates shoe from dirt to avert mess
A discreet suggestion to look but don’t touch
Controlled decay, stage managed for impact and effect
Nature has been preserved…in a human natured sort of way
Categories:
tidied, animals, nature, places, social
Form:
Free verse
Aeolus God and Ruler of the Wind
Summoned Aura and surveying her grinned
Then proceeded to whisper in her ear
Brought shocked expression, a falling tear
"Please do not pursue the Aurai nymphs"
Whose replicas were on all column plinths
Aeolus struck his staff on marble floor
Ordering her acquiescence through the door
Notus the Southern and Zephyrus West Wind
Both held aloft the reasoning gold string
A murmur bubbled up across the room
As Borus held Aura in a swoon
His chilly North Wind and wintry embrace
Soon revived Aura to her lifelike grace
Urged "Go to your nymphs, divine Aura breeze"
"It is useless to argue or make pleas"
Doe-eyed she surveyed all attendants there
No others showed concern she was aware
Except the Winds who were her only friends
Ominous forebodings brought dire portends
For he who sought them to trap and entice
The Aurai nymphs debt was to be paid thrice
Aura took herself away from there
Praying for insight as she plaited her hair
The sad nymphs found her, as they often did
As one tidied her plaits and then redid
They all knew perceptibly the dire news
That Aeolus wished their powers to use
Aura decided without any doubt
His wicked order she would therefore flout
So then with her nymphs she fled the King's Realm
Each with saddened hearts to overwhelm
For sometimes you may feel them touch your cheek
Or in their terror rise to wail and shriek
So with Aura they curled, swirled and whirled
To try seek refuge in the human world
Dated: 12/13/14
Categories:
tidied, fantasy, wind,
Form:
Rhyme
Reverence
I see you in the mirror, I see all three of you looking back,
I see all the hate and void tidied in perfect little stacks...
I feel presumptuous fingers running, tips brush skin and,
I feel six penetrating eyes, but only two cold damp hands...
I taste my iron flushed saliva, as blood runs my bitten tongue,
I taste the bass echoed hollow, from the screams my throat sung...
I hear judgments as shadows laugh and dance in primal screams,
I hear my rages whistling kettle as my sanity tears its seams...
I know that chances come at costs, coincidences have consequences,
I know this reflection, lost, mouthing these words in silent sentences...
Categories:
tidied, conflict, deep, identity, parody,
Form:
Couplet
Fancied boiled eggs
with brown bread for this morning’s breakfast.
Well, that was the plan.
Boiled them for ten minutes
then out of the pan.
Put them by the breadbin
I would surely not forget.
Pottered around the kitchen – tidied up, washed up
pottered around the bedroom – made the bed, tidied up
thought: what shall I have for breakfast?
Oh yeah, muesli, haven’t had that in a while!
made muesli, ate muesli, washed up.
Two eggs sat by the bread bin
still in their shells.
Egg mayo sandwiches for lunch, then.
Unless I forget!
Categories:
tidied, humorous, irony, memory,
Form:
Free verse
Mom woke up early to bake the pie. The special occasion pie. Her daughter’s favorite. She rolled out the chilled dough with the old rolling pin and crimped the edges just so. She danced with anticipation as the custard bubbled to its chocolatey glory. When all was done, there were eggshells everywhere. She tidied the kitchen humming their favorite tune.
At last the doorbell rings and there is the delightful smile of her beautiful girl! Though a bit awkward they hug and chat pleasantly. But before Mom can present her scrumptious offering, something from the bitter forbidden list almost slips from Mother's lips. Almost, but her daughter’s keen ear hears it. Almost is enough. Enough to trigger her daughter’s rehearsed response--leaving Mom stunned and alone with her disappointed expectations.
behind the slammed door
the said, unsaid, and dust swirl
untouched meringue weeps
3/8/2021
Categories:
tidied, mother daughter,
Form:
Haibun
On this date,we both celebrate!
when our paths came together!
I met my mate over broth filled plate!
then felt daft!when the soup trickled over!
we both broke out in laughter!
as you tidied up my chin!
Will you be my pal forever?
Master and mistress in everything?
Categories:
tidied, family, wife,
Form:
Ballad
And she picked it up -
The sleek black and white feather,
Threw it in the bin.
Black and white against
Unrelieved grey. Graceful curve
Against the straight lines.
A flash of beauty
In the gutter. Tidied up
To dull, gritty grey.
Mock Jasmine flowers -
Beauty and perfume all lost
For neatly trimmed hedge.
Bright scattered colour -
Gold and bronze leaves down the drive,
Machine blown away.
There’s a concrete path
Through the forest now. It’s grey
Stark, unwelcoming.
Remember? “You don’t
Know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”
Paradise is lost.
We’re lost in a world.
Where Nature is untidy.
We’ve cleared it away!
She robbed us of it -
The sleek black and white feather,
Stole it from our sight.
Categories:
tidied, beauty, bird, color, earth,
Form:
Haiku
Guardian of the Light
As night wind blows its many wicked chills
upon an earth filled with darkened blight
Fleeting shadows stir upon the night kills
as evil comfort comes from the dark of night
Those commanded to in wickedness engage
wander this earth free to their evil ply
Hatred and wicked deeds soothe their rage
upon this hardened earth and nighted sky
Yet relief comes with each brilliant dawn
rising of that splendid ever shining Sun
I look out across my huge sunlit front lawn
thinking of all this light has forever spun
Man needs the rest of each blessed night
body and soul gains anew in our sleep
A weapon to guard and to use in needed fight
darkness rises , evil spirits kill and reap
Nothing protects more than coming light of day
against the terrors and deeds of dark nights
Evil must never be allowed to get its way
or triumph in the many desperate, hidden fights
Time has the remedy of this eternal black war
when sending the eternal Guardian of the Light
Earth wakes to the rising of the shining Sun
rescuer from many terrors of evil man's night
God's hand this gift for us so wisely made
a beauty is its rising and setting sight
Or in resting under a fine tree's blessed shade
shielded from intensity of the Guardian of Light
Night winds chills are held in eternal check
by Sun and its life giving, life growing rays
Like thirty-two guns on a battleship's deck
it blasts the darkened night's evil far, far away
Our brilliant Sun is our Guardian of the Light
an eternal warrior set in man preserving mode
Rays cast forth to defeat wrong and protect right
as it shines within our eyes like glittering gold
Robert J. Lindley, 03-29-2015
Note-- A rewrite of an older poem that I wrote back
in the early 80's. Shortened a few verses and tidied
up a wee bit. Original was never titled, so I did so now..
As memory serves this is the title that was intended.
As Sun and the "Son" are both represented in the piece.
Categories:
tidied, appreciation, beauty, blessing, creation,
Form:
Rhyme
Never finished answering to the dead
Prompt from Have You Prayed? Li-Young Lee
Sit up straight
Get your elbows off the table
Good manners don't cost
Less haste, more speed
What’s the magic word?
Have you tidied your room?
What time do you call this?
Smile!
You whisper in my ear when I'm shopping
You remind me to try harder
You interrupt when I am thoughtless
You correct my grammar
You reprimand impoliteness
You even follow me on a night out
Like a sentimental trinket, I carry your voice
Haunted by memories that chastise
Forever remembering your lessons
Forever remembering you.
24 May 2022
Categories:
tidied, emotions, grandmother, memory,
Form:
Free verse
A friend of mine best left behind
could not resist clutter
She’d cluck her tongue and pile up some
with each and every mutter!
I’d come for tea and heaven’s me
the kitchen table bore
Piles of papers, clips and pens
and envelopes galore!
Just lookie here, I’d say to her
“Where shall I put my cup?”
She’d move a pile of laundry
and then she’d laugh “What’s up?”
Tiring soon, I took pan and broom,
and box and bag and tidied
Well she was livid and truly pissed
at all the tidied.... I’d did!
You keep your junk I roared at her
but don’t call me to that table
Maybe next year I’ll return
that is unless you’re unable?
Please dear friend it’s best you see
to finish what you start!
Clean this HOUSE, fold those clothes
I’m done with this heart to heart!
Categories:
tidied, funny, friend,
Form:
Light Verse