‘Tis a pity
if a wee ditty
is not clever or witty
Call on Miss Pretty
~ itty-bitty kitty
You call yourself my father but you never even bother to call me your daughter.
I sat for a while thinking about you
I thought that maybe hes on the moon
“Mollee what did you do, to make him leave all of you?”
I realize that it was never my fault
Hes and adult
Why should I blame myself for him walking away, it’s not like i was old enough to tell him to stay
Thinking about him leaving used to hurt more then bleeding.
I'm 14 now and somehow I still don't know why you left
you just settled on theft.
My time is short before the shadows fall,
But love survives the prison of their lie.
You will return to hear your mother’s call.
The convicted father ruled behind his wall,
A criminal who thought my hope would die.
My time is short before the shadows fall.
His cruel, usurping sister ran the hall,
And stole my proper place with wicked eye.
You will return to hear your mother’s call.
They wrapped you in a dark deceitful pall,
And groomed your gentle spirit to deny.
My time is short before the shadows fall.
Yet truth is grander and outlasts them all,
Our deep, enduring bond they cannot buy.
You will return to hear your mother’s call.
Within I hold our light, Love, proud and tall,
Our triumph echoes to the open sky.
My time is short before the shadows fall,
You will return to hear your mother’s call.
Candide Diderot. ‘26
These days
All call me
a child
That’s how
I know ~
I’ve grown up
Yuh see this thing call life, it does mek yuh think twice.
So much to do, with so little choice.
Yuh see this thing call life, sometimes it's not nice.
When you sit down and really think.
Is like dreams are better than reality.
Truth be told life does snatch yuh soul
It makes you cold, it makes you fold
It breaks you into pieces and leaves you on your own.
Yuh see this thing call life
One day you're here the next day yuh gone
Yuh see this thing call life, it ain't pay to be weak
A telling yuh it ain't pay to be meak
Don't tek this thing lightly,
Cause it's not nice to you nor me
Life would shake you, bake you, and break you
Like a broken glass it would replace you
Yuh see this thing call life, only God knows the future it hides.
Only God knows your trials
Yuh see this thing call life?
It's see your benefit from birth, hoping you'd find your worth
It builds you from all those hurt.
Yuh see this thing call life, It closes and open curtains.
It's filled with uncertainty, burdens, birth and brutality
This thing call life this thing call choice.
Call me Pinocchio, if you will.
Going to school gives me no thrill,
and my worst enemy,
a cricket named Jiminy,
I'm about ready to kill.
I haven’t been okay
in a long time, Ma.
My smile is nothing more
than dirty shoes,
left outside the door
after a long day.
I dial your numbers
then silence swallows me.
My thumb press,
cancels before the call.
I want to speak,
to someone who knows
the language of my pain.
But I keep my cracks hidden,
Because little eyes are watching.
I stitch my voice with strength,
Pretend the weight is light,
So, my younger siblings
Never see me breaking.
Such harmony is seldom seen.
Nature at its finest: the mating ritual.
Procreation, there's no higher calling.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
Hug me, praise me, like me
Slap me, curse me, kill me
Destroy me so thoroughly I won’t have room left for pride
Open me up until I have nothing left to hide
Just tell me it’s love
And I’ll be your pure little dove
summer light wanes, slow.
golden days fold into dusk.
autumn, at doorstep~
chill blasts will soon veer around.
call to lie in dust with leaves.
Poet's Note
Dr. Abdus Salam (1926-1996) was born in Jhang, Pakistan. He became the *first Pakistani and first Muslim to win the Nobel Prize in Science* in 1979. With hope and resilience, he showed the world that greatness can rise from humble beginnings.
Bite Size Contest no 151
Theme*: Hope & Resilience
Chalkboard Dream
Abdus Salam dreamed on a chalkboard
Dust and cracked shoes reached the sky
Storms of doubt, no hand to guide
Still he earned Nobel pride
For Pakistan, for Muslim light
Hope and resilience never die
-
What used to be simple’s
No longer the case,
With AI and tech leaving
No human trace.
A phone call reverts to
The state of “On hold,”
The music appalling,
And not ‘cause I’m old.
The customer rep keeps
Repeating each fact,
But sends you an email
He failed to enact.
So after an hour,
Which soon becomes two,
You hang up the phone
And you haven’t a clue
If he did what you asked
To provide what you need
And you have no idea
Just how you should proceed.
I miss the old methods
Of making a call,
When a pencil and paper
Recorded it all.
body numb from drink
mind paralyzed from thinking
the barstool my throne
When burdens rise and hopes grow dim, don't fear the shadows—call Him;
When faith grows weak and tears grow deep, trust every promise—call Him.
Though idols fail and kingdoms fade, His mercy still is standing;
He lifts the fallen, heals the broken with everlasting planning.
The Lord who formed both earth and sky still holds the world within His hand;
No power of man can thwart His will or change His perfect plan.
He says, "Call unto Me, and I will answer," rich in grace and truth untold;
He'll show you mighty things unseen, more precious far than silver or gold.
Before your first breath, He knew your name; before your first step, He led your way.
Walk close enough to hear His voice, and follow Him each day.
His sheep will know the Shepherd's call, His presence calms the storm within;
He hears, delivers, saves, restores—so never cease to call Him.
Be holy as your Father is, let every prayer draw nearer to Him;
Great things await the trusting heart that daily learns to call Him.
Through every trial, through joy or pain, His love will never grow dim—
Life's greatest victory is found by those who simply call Him.
Though hearts may wander, chasing empty dreams, and idols built by human hands,
God's mercy still pursues His children with redeeming, loving plans.
Though discipline may shape our path, His grace still lights the way;
He calls us home with open arms and welcomes us each day.
The Maker of the earth and skies still reigns upon His throne;
No power of man can overthrow the Kingdom He alone has known.
When fear surrounds and hope grows dim, His faithful promise stands:
"Call upon Me"—I'll answer you with mighty, wondrous plans.
Before our birth He knew our names, each step our feet would tread;
He walks beside us through the night and gently goes ahead.
The more we seek His holy face, the clearer sounds His voice;
His sheep will hear their Shepherd's call and in His love rejoice.
Psalm 91 declares He hears, delivers, saves, and honors those who pray and call Him;
Psalm 145 assures us He is near to all who seek His way.
So let us live in holiness, surrendering all we are to Him—
For hearts that call upon the Lord will never call in vain. Call Him and He will answer.
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