Buttressed Poems | Examples

Linger on the Binder

My wish is to make it into an anthology
I've framed thought with gold leaf and slag
buffed them into positive and negative action.
At times I've both bullied and buttressed the weak
trimmed away and added insult to my fellow man

They say there's only one path 
at times darkness has thoroughly dusted this man.
the heart beats out of rhythm and rhyme
Can't do much about soul crimes of the past.
but I'm praying away the clutter of the mind.
Will I make it into the anthology of souls
only the pristine scale of God knows....
For now, I linger somewhere on the binder.

TRUTH UPHOLDING MY BEING

                        Truth* upholds my being and becoming
        anchored upon God Almighty, the Source of truth
instructing me to walk on paths of righteousness with love 
directing my heart toward trusting His divine precepts against doubt…
                        With sublime truth, my faith lives
buttressed by inspired precious Scriptures that constantly quicken my soul 
reviving my spirit to rejoice in His bestowed eternal salvation
      securing me throughout eternity, assuring triumph midst pardon of sins… 
            Tenaciously standing for truth instilled in my belief
                        I continue to share the Gospel
propelled by the redemptive transformative power of the Lord 
            with earnest prayer and blissed zeal for its fruitful propagation…
      Such is my fervent desire with gratitude
                        since my all is nothing without God’s truth.

*"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." Jesus Christ in John 17:17 of King James Bible

October 29, 2024
Honorable Mention, "YOUR CHOICE E" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 3/26/2025

Forest

In the mists of the giant bark beneath
  rise old growth saplings out of crag and earth,
where tumbles an ancient evergreen leaf
  from that marvel of great and splendid girth.
That footing seed, that pod, that budding shoot 
  to spread its shedding crown in fulsome yield,
when ringed trunk buttressed by conifer root
  in furrowed skin wraps its tubular shield.
High on sky perch over forest thickets
  the sylvan canopy the clouds do climb -
to fell, to log, to mill into pickets
  and trusses tempers not this heart of mine.
It does me good (those sap bathed arms bended)
to see your mighty scaffold extended.


               Written: May 1992

Ant Colony Reigns

ant* colony reigns
buttressed by food fortress
conquers hunger strikes

The Creator cares
even for ant colonies...
let's trust* God always.


*Proverbs 6:6-8 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

**Proverbs 3:5-6 Proverbs 3:5-6 King James Version 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
 
August 13, 2024
7th place, "Collective nouns" Senryu Poetry Writing Premiere Contest
Sponsored by Suzette Richards; judged on 8/15/2024
(Second verse added after contest was judged.)

The Way

I've looked for a way in,
a tear in the silence
that walls whatever is behind
be it nothingness or being,
bright mornings that almost 
tip into the ecstatic, a blessed
oblivion where boundaries 
dissolve and all things 
become one, but the world 
always holds together, 
its forces fail to break.

A prisoner of form, 
my cathedrals are cathedrals 
of space buttressed by trees, 
a sacristy for the echoes 
of creation still sounding across
time. Forgiveness is the gentle
wash of rain and the frail beauty 
of a wildflower, white as snow,
is the candle flickering 
on the altar of the unknown.

Pale Daughters Part Six

Pale daughters dont give their heart
Conceived in the garden of Eden
The brambles alternate now

To give your heart
is a irritant Sin
Low things elude fences
The Moon is a big enough bust

Tired of giving
Following familial line
Keep buttressed
Our spirits struts outside wedlock

Aunt Rose

Politely stood 
with feet together 
and socks not up
resigned and ready 
the boy awaits 
as towards him sails
coos and quivers
powered cheeks
and bright red lips
gently lifted 
and tightly folded
into that powerfully perfumed 
and well known chest
the boy succumbs
at last released 
the boy stands silent 
stoutly anchored 
by straightened arms
whose purple-painted pointers 
firmly grip 
a set of shoulders not yet manly
then steeled and stoic 
with eyes shut tight 
the boy endures
as lips swoop down 
still tirelessly exclaiming
to leave on his forehead 
all wetly red
the grand finale
to the ever exuberant 
softly yielding 
yet firmly buttressed  
obligatory embrace  
duties now performed
and ritual complete 
they return to their different worlds
carrying with them that inner glow
that mysterious warmth 
each gives the other 
that wondrous bond
the love of family
the power of blood.

Because I Live

Because I live*, I do my best
Beyond mere survival as blest
By God Who grants breath bestowment
Bringing share for life’s betterment.

Building lives midst compassion bliss
Buttressed by love from heart’s abyss…
Be that my goal, always blooming
Braced by Christ Whose light keeps beaming.

(Alliteration with Quatrain)

*Romans 14:8 “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

April 14, 2023

Too Far Gone

It hangs upon the precipice:
once lethal, looming by design.
A stalwart, buttressed edifice,
the press of time has not been kind.

The howling seas, like dogs of war,
have savaged once proud prominence.
The cliffs that thwarted all before,
succumbed to tidal dominance.

With shoulders squared, and jaw tight clenched:
no further; here, the line was drawn.
The hounds at bay, thus firm entrenched,
a costly, lasting truce was spawned.

By blood, by sweat, a people saved
to live out days beyond these walls.
There on the battlements engraved,
vita pro omni, life for all.

Ironic, then; ‘twas built to last.
Uncaring, time just marches on.
A crumbled vestige of the past,
no rescue now; it’s too far gone.

----------

for the Pick-A-Title, Vol 31 Poetry Contest
sponsored by Edward Ibeh
written on 07/10/2022

Book Ends

Bookends call a gaggle of bedraggled books to attention.
The big fat tomes, short stories, paperback,
are all pulled into line, toe-to-toe buttressed on parade.
Books need bookends to get propped up and be seen,
to get up out of bed, get dressed and be presentable.
Likewise, bookends need books to lean against
or else they topple over in a huddle.
They pine, sigh, moan and whimper, 
with no books to embrace and cup one-handed.
Like spoilt kids they chuck temper tantrum fits, 
get hissy, fall over, lay on the shelf and sulk.
So remember to keep your books and bookends 
in happy symbiosis, with good reads kept to attention,
held in check by bossy bookend majors.
But, beware, those cheeky bookends tittle tattle at night,
and can speed read between the lines. 
They skip the plot, and jump straight to
'In the Beginning' and 'The End'.

Poverty Ails

Clamor for food security prevails
midst scarcity of basic necessity
such confronts the world; oh, poverty ails.

Though there’s great Source, supplies demand high sales 
inequality reigns, buttressed by greed’s certainty
clamor for food security prevails.
 
Hear the sick in their bad health pity wails
afflicted with insufficiency’s futility
such confronts the world; oh, poverty ails.

While technology upgrades production scales
rice shortage remains a global verity
clamor for food security prevails.

Then population-explosion issue hails 
malnutrition problem along infant mortality 
such confronts the world; oh, poverty ails.

Let’s reach-out with care, since charity* never fails
trusting God to end this sad reality: 
clamor for food security prevails
such confronts the world; oh, poverty ails.

*1Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth…

April 24, 2021
10th place, "A MAJOR WORLD PROBLEM" Villanelle Poetry Premier Contest
Sponsored by L MILTON HANKINS; judged on 5/9/2021.

Shoots of Virtue

Men defend 
their mental status quo 
even through a mortal neglect.

But here, 
a rare deed 
emanates from a girl’s heart. 

She plucks 
the puppy
from the crow beaks that carve death. 

Resisting 
the pessimistic voices around,  
she tends to that stray animal hit by 

an auto rickshaw. 
Her virtue is buttressed 
by her brother and friends. 

Confidence illumines hopes.
The flickering life 
gets steady.

Let these shoots of virtue 
grow
in the parched world.  


Inspired by a news clipping about the four children - Varadha, Vasu, 
Ema and Aryan - who brought a wounded stray puppy back to life.

Beckoned Toward Hope's Beam

Beholding bountiful compassion-blessings of God* beyond bankruptcy…
Brothers and sisters, let’s be braced-up, becoming better
bouncing against bitterness borne by crises’ bondage
breaking free from backsliding midst burdens  
built-up now: healed heart, soul and body
bowing to the Saviour Lord, blissful
beckoned toward hope’s beam.

Bestowed with bread and butter from the Creator’s barns …
Beloved, let’s share, battling against selfishness’ bouts
Blowing away boastfulness in stewardship business
beautified along faith-blooms of love’s benefits
buttressed upon biblical belief
besieged by divine boldness
bringing service best.

*2Samuel 22:47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.

December 19, 2020
1st place, "Alliteration" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Eve Roper; judged on 12/22/2020.

Surmounting Winds of Change

Surmounting winds of change, bringing crises
parents’ legacy along prayer might
prevails over catastrophic forces
steadfastly towering by God’s truth-height.

Built and buttressed through the Lord’s love and grace
our home weathers tempests, staying serene
facing challenges' pangs upon faith’s brace
kept in peace-propped fortress against doubt scene.

Midst transformation* blows marked with milestones
Christ be praised for family fortitude
advancing His kingdom through service zones
as His stewards of joyous gratitude.

Responding to shifts and twists, our lives grow
trusting the Saviour for reaching-out glow.

*Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

November 23, 2020
2nd place, "COMPLETELY YOUR CHOICE(46)" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 1/20/2021.

Around Triumph-Hedge

Enclosed around Almighty’s triumph-hedge
Comforted from frustrating downfall pain 
Soul uplifted offers stewardship pledge
For praise-filled worship midst gratitude reign
Driven along service of great faith gain.

Secured inside great fortress* of truth fence
Heart is reproved against lurking pretense 
While buttressed from skeptic mocking doubt
For serene bliss along pardon incense
Shared freely during times of reaching out.

*Psalm 91:2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

October 11, 2020
Honorable Mention, "COMPLETELY YOUR CHOICE(29) any theme any form" 	Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 10/20/2020.

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