Best Totters Poems
A child with a crayon can color an imaginary world,
With dolls of mommies, daddies, boys and girls,
Full of horses, cowboys, cars and trains,
Can scratch them out and draw them all again,
Color me a rainbow with a pot of gold,
Color me a fairy with ribbons and bows,
Paint my face, a bright yellow sun,
In a green grassy field where a blue river runs,
With mountains and trees set in a colorful scene,
Monkey bars, teeter-totters, an old tire swing,
Color my face with a bright happy smile,
In a wonderful world, if only for awhile,
I can pretend my life is happy and gay,
Not worry about the mean stuff, just for the day,
Not worry about what I will eat, or where I will sleep,
Or the cockroaches and rats that make me creep,
Color me a family with brothers and sisters,
Color me a man to call Daddy, not Mister,
Color my mom in a bright yellow dress,
Stretched in a hammock under a tree with a nest,
In the yard of the house, we can call our own,
With neighbors on each side of our lovely home,
Color my dreams carefree and wild,
Color my life always as a child,
Color me a father, color me a Dad,
Color me the life that I never had.
Color me a garden with fruits of all kinds,
Apples, pears with grapes on the vine,
Color me a crayon that’s really a crayon,
Not this old sharpened pencil that I just found,
To draw my picture on this brown paper bag,
That was once filled with gin and Ole’ Granddad,
Now, Dream me a dream…Once upon a time,
I had a real father that I can call mine!
Categories:
totters, childhood, family, father, life,
Form:
Narrative
Life can be such a fragile thing.
There is nothing that is for sure
When you think its figured out
Circumstance has no certain cure
It changes in a matter of seconds
Sometimes change is in the cards
As life teeter-totters up and down
Being the fulcrum can be very hard
As we plan ahead we look behind
Using our memories from the past
Just as every dream has a scheme
Every single play must have a cast
As you choose your teams players
Learn to choose them very wise
Many people you cross in this life
Are illusions based solely on lies?
I was once that type of person
Wizard came before my name
My universe was in my flask
I was a master of the game
Honesty has no boundaries
It is never best for us to lie
If we do these words are true
Something up inside of us dies
Life and death is but a breath
Only a second rest in-between
Through honesty I have found
Lies destroy any type of dream
So as you build up your life
Let truth be your foundation
In the end, you my dear friend
Will be such a beautiful creation
Categories:
totters, inspirational, introspection, life
Form:
Quatrain
Chewing garlic in the evening
helps a sore throat.
Garlic will not kill a rat.
The sun kills,
shining against the eye;
it is both enemy and friend.
There is enmity between
the sun and man.
Beams dance by the window sill
and sparkle like rain
against old wood.
The old man leaves the house
to visit the grave
of his late wife.
His grizzled hair and foul breath
blows like a trumpet.
He prays to the sun god,
but receives no answer,
only a bitter taste
of resignation.
A rat crosses his path like some demon.
He throws a front kick,
then totters,
tripping on a vine
as he moves along.
The vine is a snake of green and brown,
twisted, gnarled
like a calloused palm.
Soon he must head home.
It is evening and the day is dimming
like a short wick.
The old man is dim of mind and feeble.
His limbs carry many wounds
like thorns.
Surely sleep will restore his memory.
Surely he will find his way home.
Categories:
totters, age, death, memory,
Form:
Free verse
Goodness knows the greed involved
Unwilling to admit, unable to proceed
Life on this fragile rock totters
For we have never fouled the nest like this
Oceanic trauma, on a voyage, east then north
Ice, blue-clean, beauty, dead before the march of black gold
Listing heavily to one side, we're taking on what used to be only water
Smug arrogance put us here
Plans within plans have failed
Ill-gotten were the riches, ill-tended were the fields
Laddie, grab a pail and bail for all you're WORTH!
Let's just all hope they're not setting the price on that too!!!!
Categories:
totters, nature, political, sea,
Form:
Free verse
Old Mr. Nicholson
totters across the town square
to the barbershop where
Clive has cut his hair
for the last forty years or so
Not hardly needing
even a trim
but pretending
he has a reason besides
the gossip waiting within
Inside, the shop smells like hair tonic
shaving cream and old leather
and the only noticeable things
that Clive's changed
in the last forty years
are the calendar, magazines
and gumball machine
Tall and gaunt, Clive stoops and
shuffles around the shop
a bit slow and shaky, but still
the cheapest and best around
as he drawls out the latest
scuttlebutt from all over town
Harry Van Hoorn leans
sideways in the old barber chair
hanging on every word like an old hound
ears flapping in the breeze
making an odd squinchy face as he
holds back a sneeze
bits of loose hair tickling his nose
While old Arnie Bruner
broods in the corner
his usual sour-faced self
like an old prune
all wrinkled and dried up
without a single good thing to say
“Well, hello Ed!” Clive stops and says
as Mr. Nicholson sidles in
he amiably waves his comb in the air
continuing to work on Harry's hair
thoroughly ignored as he
continues to speak
“Long time, no see!” Harry sings out
even though they were both
in here just last week
“Hiya Harry!” Mr. Nicholson says
in his high-pitched little whine
“Have you heard about-”
“Oh wait, lemme guess-” Arnie breaks in
in his growly bass
“...it's about that place... next door to-”
“Jim and Grace” Harry cuts in
“No, I was going to say-”
Mr. Nicholson chirps
a bit snappily
“It must be about Jenny Mae...”
Harry chortles gleefully
“No, it's gotta be about Faye!-”
Arnie belts out grumpily
Meanwhile, they're missing
all the scorching details
of the greatest scandal
as Clive croons on
amid the din
of his gabby, blabby customers
each desperate
to get a word in
Back and forth, in and out
with bickers and shouts
hums, warbles, trills, groans
solos and accidental duets
their crazy cacophony has become
a funny (albeit gossipy) kind
of barbershop quartet!
Categories:
totters, community, humanity, humor, humorous,
Form:
Free verse
Matthew 6:22
22The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
if therefore your third eye be open your whole body is light
pure energy gathered from the cosmos is an inherited human right
but because of the cosmic battle we were disconnected from the father
and the balance of humanity is on a scale that teeters totters
if the bread of life is the word of God then show me how to eat
and if bread is all we have then how can we enjoy the meat?
i know this sounds so fascinating and so very hard to accept
but our imaginations and our thoughts are often left to neglect
if men would only love he would see creation at its best
but the mind is swayed to imprison love in the cavity of his chest
guilt and fear is the venom concocted by other beings
transferred to the psyche by mans collective feelings
if we can listen carefully we can hear our inner cries
the cataclysmic events that induced the turning of the tides
Lumeria and Atlantis was where human thought was key
as the balance between their forces brought the world to its knees
both civilizations were doomed from the beginning to meet their fates
as the portals of each dimension became a closing gate
each gate was locked for a reason, specifically we do not know
but only in our collective consciousness can a picture start to show
if thoughts are really physical as scientist do suggest
then how can we not believe if we never put our thoughts to the test?
we live in a multidimensional universe that we have little access to
but the key to unlocking true potential starts with loving you
Categories:
totters, introspection, light, body, light,
Form:
Rhyme
hidden in my memories is a playground ...
where I played ... as a young girl with my friends
I remember it so clearly like I am there
the children laughing and shouting
running around
it is a nice memory to recall
~ the playground was not far from our home
and I went every single day
except in the rain to play on the swings
because they were my favorite- I went higher and higher ~
at that time there were seesaws (teeter totters)
monkey bar structures and merry-go-round spinners
but, nowadays they are considered too dangerous
so playgrounds in my city don't have them anymore
but they exist in my memories ...
~ sometimes mom made me bring
my little brother so, I would put him in the sandbox
oh, that kid could spend the day building stuff ~
our park had a wading pool shallow on one end
but a little deeper on the other like waist deep
of course, there was always staff around for safety
I really liked the slides and little bro did too
I remember the playground as being quite large
the ground was grass ... and parts had sand
in the winter there was a skating rink that I 'loved' ...
~ lots of wonderful and forever memories
I have from those carefree childhood days in the playground
and of summer and winter delight ...
... now, let me gather up my yesteryear memories
and put them away ~
Categories:
totters, childhood, memory,
Form:
Free verse
I
The depth of steep, hellish ascent
darkness abides, the peak obscene.
cliffhanger of sweat, the creature bent
attempting to climb, make a dent.
No wind brushes away the hair in her eyes.
She recalls nothing of birdsong or sunrise.
A hunchback of time, minutes pass slowly.
Diamonds glitter, the sun beats boldly.
Like a desert walk the road is parched.
With a sting of bumblebees she marched.
II
Delightful descent of diamondiferous slide.
Easy-peasy pleasant, air-conditioned ride.
Beautiful petals of friends, flutter of wings,
a moon full of stars, the universe sings.
Bare feet, toes polished bright pinks and reds.
Canopied four-posters, wide open beds.
Trees with jade and ruby candies, sweet
to the tongue, as she tells of her wild treat
life, retreat with angel feathers, falling
for her many handsome men, wailing
on her silken sheets as she says so long
to the coddlesome place she knows she belongs.
III
Suddenly the slide falls out, the flames shoot up.
She drinks the potent blood from her chalice cup.
As her fear and anger explode, the fire grows hotter.
The ground like a hurricane ship, teeter-totters. Sinks.
IV
Her twin stands tall, as a snowy white sail;
blue skies, the eyes of God, she hails.
All torment wiped from her brow, she’s strong
She climbed upwards by the narrow way.
V
Don’t take the easy ride. It’s a bottomless pit.
Fly to heights of eagles wings - the depth of eternal lift.
3/13/2021
Categories:
totters, imagery,
Form:
Rhyme
all roads lead to rome
they used to say
i contemplate the roads I travel
the milestones of oneness
the monuments of memories
i find they lead not to a city in italy
but to our home
walking past the red brick church
where we exchanged vows
joyful, joyful we adore thee
polar opposites: you in white, I in black
each proclaiming "till death do us part"
and here we still are
praise God from whom all blessings flow
riding past the park
where we strolled with the little people
talking to chipmunks and waving at sparrows
accompanied by the soundtrack of early parenthood
the wheels on the bus the itsy bitsy spider
pushing happy swings and riding giggling teeter-totters
growing up together
finger tapping on my steering wheel
our song dances out of the stereo
so happy together how is the weather?
pulling into the driveway
at the end of my appian way
salty smiles coursing down my cheeks
red bricks swingsets favorite songs
all thoughts lead to you
written 13 Feb 2023
[according to wikipedia: "Romans ... were masters of road construction. Their roads began at Rome, where the master itinerarium, or list of destinations along the roads, was located, and extended to the borders of their domain – hence the expression, "All roads lead to Rome".]
Categories:
totters, husband, love, marriage, wife,
Form:
Free verse
The nervous chatter
The haunted stares
The muted prayers
Their motherland
Totters all about
Democracy gone bad
Democracy a tool
Of elites to amass..
Power with a guise
Of legitimate rule..
A sad twist of affairs
Has the motherland
Tottering in gloom
Modernization.. is it
Westernization.. is it
Democracy.. elitism
Now has them disillusioned
Going at each others jugular
Please dream my people
Of home grown solutions
Please do break away
From the chains of reasons
From the chains in seasons
Categories:
totters, africa, humanity, meaningful, political,
Form:
Prose Poetry
When I was a kid, the family reunion was the highlight of the year.
Aunts, uncles and dozens of cousins came from far and near,
To meet at Memorial Park to eat, brag and enjoy the fellowship.
I was admonished by Mom to behave and not voice any sassy lip!
The ladies vied with each other to provide jello, cakes and pies,
Pertater salad, baked beans, termaters and heaps of chicken thighs,
Ham, peas and carrots, cole slaw and gallons of lemonade,
And home-made ice cream, the speciality of Aunt Clara, the old maid!
The patriarch of the clan was usually asked to bless the food.
Stomachs growled, flies swarmed, the old geezer wouldn't conclude,
Until his spouse of many years poked him saying, "That's enough!"
Then, all took a seat and elbows flew as they began to stuff!
After the meal was over, old folks would reminisce and muse.
Others found a shady spot to curl up and take a snooze.
Ne'er-do-well Uncle Wilbur would sneak a forbidden nip of booze,
While snobbish Cousin Sarah boasted of her Caribbean cruise!
The kids frolicked on the teeter-totters, swings and slides.
The older ones grabbed bats and balls and chose up sides.
Now I'm the patriarch and am usually called upon to pray,
But I make it snappy so we can get on with fellowship and play!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
(© All Rights Reserved)
Entry for Craig Cornish's "The Park" Contest
Categories:
totters, cousin, old, , memorial,
Form:
Rhyme
Draped in the darkness of the night
In a weather so dull and blight
Sad thoughts like a deadly shooter
Come out to bombard her outright
Shaking off their fitful slumber
They rise from their inert stupor
From the reservoir deep, spill out
As through newly opened shutter
They come from an unknown hideout
As all trace of life to wipe out
Unable to block the current
She totters in a drunken bout
They spill forth in mighty torrent,
With a beastly force violent
Like an angry mob on long wait,
Infringing all rules, nonchalant
Caught in the vortex of that spate
Her body began to gyrate
She lost all her sense of balance
Her sad fate, no one could abate
May.13. 2022
~Placed First~
Rubaiyat Poetry Contest
8 syllables per line
Rhyme scheme- aaba-bbcb-ccdc-dded-eefe.
Sponsor- Sotto Poet
Categories:
totters, angst, betrayal, conflict, woman,
Form:
Rubaiyat
Nobody Likes A Know-It-All
(Or ... I Know What I Know)
(Prov. 1: 29* / Prov. 1: 22-33 / John 15: 19 / Matt. 7: 3-6 / Prov. 3: 7 / Prov. 9: 7, 8)
Nobody Likes A Know-It-All
They Either Get On Your Nerves
Or Make You Climb Up The Wall
They Come On Like Squalls
Their Opinions Sprawled
We Shake 'Em Off Like Tattered Shawls
... Nobody Likes A Know-It-All
So, If I Happen ... Across Your River To Row
I Don't Mean To Come Sounding Like An Old Crow
Or Waste Your Time If You Say No ...
But Listen ... I Know What I Know ...
I've Read & Studied & Meditated
Perused & Pondered & Got Educated
In Reason & Rhyme - I've Ruminated
My Thoughts Into Rooms Are Relegated
Raised Questions & Quizzed & Investigated
(Even Made Some Folks Uneasy & Agitated)
but GOD Said That 'That' Knowledge Would Be Hated
(John 7: 7 / John 17: 14 / John 15: 17-20)
So With All Due Respect -- So and So ...
... I Know What I Know
... of Innocence & Intelligence
Ratified Ideas & Reference
Cataloged Diligence & Resilience
Always Bravo'd The Beauty of High Brilliance
In Conventions' & Congregations' Confidence
& Assemblies & Achievements' Evidence
In Citadels of Archives' Residence
In Colleges & Scholars' Licensed Competence
In Trust's of A Counselor's Expert Guidance
and In The Word of GOD's Reverence
With Lessons' Continuance' Vigilance
In Meaning of Life & Purpose & Spirit's Significance
and Carpe' Diem When Possible and Patience ...
So, That Even In Philosophy's Status-Quo ...
... I Know What I Know
... From Countless Hours - In Half A Century of Years
In Conversations From A Constellation of Peers
About Life & Death & Future & Fears
About Love & Passion & Lust & Leers
About Laughter & Joy & Pain & Tears ...
About Mercy & Justice & Truth So Clear
About Fame & Fortune & What's More Dear
About War & Peace As World Totters & Veers
About Freedom As Kingdom of GOD Draws Near
About Why We Cheer & While Others Jeer...
(Part 2 of 4)
Written & Copyrighted ©: 9/20/2013
by: MoonBee Canady
(Part 2 of "Nobody Likes A Know-It-All" is the serious side of addressing "Knowledge ... ... So, this free verse is really about Godly Knowledge, Biblical Learning and Spiritual Intelligence ... (first) ... and then about education and different areas of study in an academic way. So when reading this write - that should be kept in mind, to get the most out of it ... MoonBee
Categories:
totters, bible, christian, education, life,
Form:
Free verse
Again the sun will rise and the moon will shine,
Again the night will shudder,again the night will whine.
Again the darkness will beseech, the sky will remorse for its stalemate,
Again her wail will lament in the hellish night, her body will be bruised and her soul will creamate.
Again the candles will burn in smoulder, again the cortège will walk,
Again the daily gazette will be flung with headlines and debates and talks,
Again the horde will scream for punishment and justice,
Again the social media will rise in protest, again the court will surfeit with another case.
Again another news will herald, another "she " will be torned apart,
Another imploring wail will groan in the sky, another predator will born with benignity full of wry.
Again another delicate soul will wane, another trust will be transformed in bane.
Again her eyes will open to witness the succour given to her,
Again her eyes will close to re-experience the horror she had to bear.
Marching, rallies and "online" protest will continue to stay, the vermin will continue to lacerate its prey,
To stop the beastly crime everyone must "stand" together, without any class barrier.
Covering the body is not important, to uncover the veiled thinking is more significant.
Not clothes but coarse glare is more ablest, for an impeccable child cannot lure the beast,
When the probity totters, even demon can be born in priest.
Woman are not for consumption, she is anyone's mother, daughter, sister or wife.
Do not pierce her soul and let her die, she can bless the world with a new life.
Let us not be the second one, but the first to secure,
Because once upon a time you may have heard "prevention is better than cure".
Categories:
totters, abuse, emotions, evil, lust,
Form:
Lyric
Written in my heart
Is my love for you.
The story began once
We shared moments of intimacy.
The feeling of magic
Began in my heart.
The love that you placed in my life! Written in my Heart is
Essential thoughts
That feed my soul.
You are a cherished memory
In my heart!
You are quite magnificent!
Just the thought of you
Ignites fire in my Soul!
Knowing that you are just there,
sends security and safety in my life!
That's what is written in my Heart!
No eraser can erase
Or fade you in my heart!
You were stuck in my ventricles
And you are my future blood sustainer.
You are a book in my heart
Where you were given a page
So as to write thyself and
Other of what you want.
Gazetteer you're to my heart,
Glistening Gem you're in my heart,
Gleed knowledge you're to my heart!
What totters my mind is that
Let me discern your likes.
Whenever your lustrous teeth
Gleam beside my mind, I used to
Love and cherish all my dislikes.
I used to chuck beyond the
Clouds levels of network that
Delivers my fax.
It's not a blasphem if I compel
Anyone who sights you to
Pay a tax.
Don't vamoose me in a
Bloody meditatings that
will lead me to long bad things.
My lock, my key; my run, my stop.
You were written in my blood
Chamber with scalding ink.
Categories:
totters, africa,
Form:
Alliteration