The strike was very swift.
Yet they gave us a priceless gift.
But the bone of contention was still there.
The elders called all concerned to be here.
Behold the other tribal chiefs were still discussing
the rift.
WHY
Three letters
commanding attention
Three letters
the bone of contention
One syllable
bigger than Everest
One syllable
birthing our interest
Questioning forward
questioning back
Answering tightly
answering slack
Words that fall silent
words that delight
Trapdoor to darkness
— gateway to light
WHY
(The New Room: March, 2026)
I have become a moaner,
Huffing, puffing, growling, groaner
I find it hard to bend and stretch
My dog is too old to 'Go fetch'
'You fetch yourself.' my old pooch said.
As he snuggled up in his doggy bed.
I totter outside to get the paper,
That's lying on the lawn
It's poured with rain, the newspaper is wet,
Dirty, tattered and torn,
It was beyond redemption
Too far gone to read
Another bone of contention
Just what I need.
I can hear the telephone ringing,
From inside the house
My ears are stinging
Where is my spouse?
I try my best to hurry,
To answer the phone
If someone doesn't answer it,
They will think we are not home.
It is no use calling my husband,
Because he is stone deaf.
Not only is he deaf, he is losing his mind,
If truth be told, we are two of a kind.
I must try not to grumble, mutter and complain,
I must get more positive if I want to stay in the game.
Life is what you make it. I understand why that is so,
To look on the bright side is the best way to go.
Too many changes, differences and loss
Some changes are necessary,
Others don't count the cost
Of change
Change of direction
I am sure I don't know,
This way or that way
Which way should I go
The indecision is driving me mad,
Because some of the changes
They are reckless and bad,
Change for the better
I'm all for that
Should I clap,
Or pat the person
On the back.
Who makes changes for the better,
Why mend something?
That does not need mending
Especially when serious changes
Are always pending.
And need urgent attention,
Climate change, for one
It is a bone of contention.
The force of nature is strong,
Where are we going wrong?
There are viruses in the air,
They are everywhere
Causing death and sorrow,
Heartless people who have power
Give no thought about tomorrow
Devastating winds, fires and floods,
Famine, unrest and wars
Bloodshed by many
Is this what we were born for?
Who shall we blame,
At the end of the day.
Point the finger and smugly say
Things have got to change,
As we look the other way!
A bone of contention
can be chewed until
nothing worth having
is left to be won.
May 20, 2022
Naani Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Joseph May
21 syllables checked with howmanysyllables
Must Mention Each Ration of Compassion
About Trump are things we must mention;
Definitely has been big bone of contention,
And nibbled at,
A dumb doormat,
While many problems exist with retention.
Jim Horn
Trump Big Bone of Contention
Trump was big bone of contention;
Smart Aleck at political convention;
Much disdain;
Constant pain;
In ranks raised so much dissension.
Jim Horn
I heard someone say that they don’t like poetry,
I hope they don’t close their mind
Just as I, with any prose, like to wait and see,
Hope I will continue and find
That the words I read are the words I need
To express feelings, simply sow a seed.
It may be a start or a bone of contention,
Herald thoughts, lead to invention
Of a best seller story or a perfect rhyme,
But I always give the words time,
To make an imprint, try me to impress,
Lead me to issues I have to address.
Put on the water,
and boil it real, real hot
Sprinkle in a dash of salt of deprivation,
then put in a hefty portion of whatnot
A generic brand of anything of no substance;
meat substandard,
having zero nutritional value
Seething through and through
the bone of contention
Waste by-products peddled in the ghetto
Tainted meat sold past the expiration date
My bloated belly babies,
with anxious eyes, holding out their plates
Contents ready to eat
And I, with shame, give them unnourishing things ...
defiled food that my body purchased and got
Now though the kettle boils over,
empty is the pot
When you get to the king’s palace
My brother
Whenever you get the chance to sit and dine with the king
Do not raise your shoulders so high,
So high above the level of your head
Do not ask him for too many favors
Do not stir up old quarrels
Never should you reflect upon the past bone of contention;
Remember all those who helped you-
Those who introduced you to the king
And his cohorts
Do not eat hastily
Nor drink noisily
In the presence of the princes
Uphold your beautiful, courageous character;
Do not deflower the young princess there
Do not stand or leave the presence of the king
With crumpled shirts or an unkempt bow-tie
Many lives have been lost before you gained acceptance
And recognition to stay in that glamorous palace-
It sounds though like Pyrrhic victory in my ears:
Our gains do not outweigh our losses.
May we sing the glad song of Moses?
I shall be consoled by the long stretch
Of the dotted semibreve.
Written by Ebenezer K N Baiden- Amissah
P O Box LG 1254, Legon, Accra.
Telephone 0245310380/0201257024
has always been a bone of contention
the way your eye lashes skim your face
are they your own or an acquired invention
no sign of an embarrassed blush can I trace
your teeth are like pearls
very old ones that have yellowed with age
a crimson red gash across your face
not suitable for a number one page
noticed a few more things that aren't right
your knees seem to knock as you walk
you might think I am being trite....yet
I also noticed that you stutter when you talk
are there assets I have missed
maybe you drool when you're kissed?
words used..... bone...eyelashes...teeth...knees...talk...drool...kissed
penned 9 Sept 2016
Trump Absolutely No Good
Only few poets read Trump poems I wrote
So more time to Hillary I should devote
Maybe missed and can't find bone of contention
Democrats did have best political convention.
Trump sure seems to sing same old song
Many things about America must be wrong
But his big seat he better grab hold
Look at Olympics and see all of our gold.
Do small hands equal to size of frantic feet
While his actions self-destruct and defeat
If these actions in Olympics used and would
What he would do is absolutely no good.
Jim Horn
In A Deep Forest
In a deep forest I did find myself lost
Trying to cool temper with some frost
Then went to sleep off into oblivion
And now am a North Carolina Bolivian.
Is amazing how Bolivia got its name
On sacks was identical and the same
Being that all the people are so poor
Maybe we should be called Ecuador.
People on Carolina have became high
And sold souls to someone passing by
Republican campaigner happen to be
Wanted to change things dramatically.
What unbeknownst to me had been told
Go to Carolina when you want to grow old
And another thing may want to mention
In soup just threw last bone of contention.
So I started swallowing my Poetry Soup
Now just how low will I have to stoop
Before body aches and back does explode
Carried a heavy load down Tobacco road.
~~**~~
not my intention
nor a bone of contention
social convention
~*~
look for facts I search
I research but get confused
or am I confused
~*~
I used to be brash
I used to be brazen bold
no more I got old
~*~
we take sides to fight
politics and religion
pray or become prey
~*~
hate poisons the mind
arrogance is ignorance
divided we fall
~~**~~
~~**~~
father gave me life
his love fills my heart with joy
my daddy is best
~*~
moms are heaven sent
angels on earth mothers are
love like no other
~*~
look for facts I search
I research but get confused
or am I confused
~*~
not my intension
nor a bone of contention
social convention
~*~
I used to be brash
I used to be blazen bold
no more I got old
~~**~~
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