communications could peaceably reform careless complain turmoil
(Weekly Magnetic Poetry Challenge • August 17–23, 2026)
communicate well
listen with your heart
share something of yours
believe their story
concentrate on them
learn about them
pay attention
give them your time
not sympathy
empathy
tell the truth
eye contact
listen
watch them
speak
My buddy Harley never smiles
Hard to know what’s on his mind.
At times Harley’s not such an enigma.
Come dinner time he’ll surely remind you.
When he’s earned treats he’ll nudge you.
Time for his business? He’ll jingle chimes.
Harley hates winter and lets you know:
His walks are cut short, quick in-and-out.
Harley’s not much of a guard dog,
He’s much too friendly, laid-back and easygoing.
He’s quiet and barely vocal,
Might not bark to save his life.
Harley’s always so excited to see me
He’s got this dance that he performs.
Harley’s the most genuine and wonderful companion
There’ll never be anyone more delightfully affectionate.
AP: 2nd place 2025
Why are we fighting
Why can't we sit down like before
And take turns to hear each other
Or we're so out of love that we can't hear anymore
Why are we fighting
Why does it feel like you've got something to say
Have you been suffering all alone
And now you plan to actually be alone
Cause if you'd only lay it on me
And looked me in the eye
You know I'm hurting too
And the silence is hurting me too
You might think I'm fine
But I'm just being a man
I can't let you see the little boy in me
Whose afraid to lose you
How about you wait for a second
Instead of rushing out at the first chance
Or are you afraid of what they'll say
Cause I've been in a room just me and you and we had a nice night
I'll start by saying how sorry I am
Cause you a flower, delicate
And I should have understood you more
But know my feelings haven't changed
I'd hope to hear you tell me
That you are not drifting
You're just floating in your thoughts
And that you wanna hold it down with me
The PO£T
A friendly spider addressed a fly,
"I'm glad you could drop by".
"Thanks", said the fly, "for sharing your thought.
You're glad, but I wonder why".
The spider replied, "Why not?"
What is there to say now
What is left to be said
Has it not all been expressed
Let’s refrain from speaking further words
Discussion can turn into argument
So let’s just walk away agreeing to disagree
We do not have to agree to be friends
I respect all your views
You are my closest friend
Yet we don’t always agree
But that doesn’t have to tear our friendship
We are too mature for such foolishness
We can always accept agreeing to disagree
Let’s vow to keep our friendship true and strong
You always show respect
For I am your close friend
Though we sometimes disagree
There is no need for us to argue
It is good we can rise above the fray
And live our lives as friends agreeing to disagree
And communicate adult- to-adult
We value each other
And give ear to our views
We have so much in common
Which is the basis of our friendship
A strong bond and relationship each day
So let’s model how true relationships are maintained
Friendship is one of the greatest treasures
Surely on this we can agree
Friendship transcends full agreement
On all matters in life
Words are born and some change, adapt, some wilt;
Norse drips into French seeps into English, hidden treasures under silt.
Blendings swirl meanings and semantics shift our daily use;
once uttered by tongue, electric touch now lets language loose.
Ancient lexis under threat became narrower with colonial treks;
Luhu and Yahagn, two dodo vocabularies now buried within texts.
To forge a bond that truly thrives,
And build a bridge where friendship strives,
This poem, a simple guide,
May open doors where hearts reside.
Vulnerability
Lay bare your truth, let tears descend,
A hand outstretched, a trusted friend.
Imperfection, a tender grace,
Connects us all in this human space.
Empathy's Touch
Feel another's joy and pain,
A listening ear, a cleansing rain.
Understanding's gentle light,
Shines through the darkness of the night.
Acceptance Warm
Embrace the flaws we all possess,
For imperfections make us blessed.
Kindness blooms where judgment fades,
A garden nurtured, love pervades.
Communicate
Speak your heart, let feelings show.
Honest words, a bridge they build,
Where secrets hide, connections chilled.
Share Experiences
Through laughter's chime or sorrow's sting,
Together walk, a precious thing.
Shared moments, woven in time,
A tapestry is both strong and sublime.
So take these steps, with open hearts,
And watch connections truly start.
For vulnerability's gentle art,
It unlocks the beauty that plays its part.
** In Spirit with Trees **
I feel sad, feeling a kind of tragedy
When I see that a storm
has broken…
has felled trees.
Grass everywhere green, rises.
Flowers splendidly gracing…And
Blessed crops progress us all… But,
The fig, olive, walnut, willow, ash, and magnolia —
The palm, maple, oak, redwood, and evergreen —
The any and every kind of tree affect me,
As I breathe and dearly perceive.
I must confide, my curiosity
about trees has deepened
Since decades ago, when I read
some Japanese folklore
Tells of the believing their ancestors
Could remain here becoming spirits in trees.
That idea — plus the knowledge about how eons of trees
evolved since their days amidst the dinosaurs —
Has
…increased my awe of them, as I see
growth and strength for purposes, and to possibly
inspire as towering sillouhettes against the sky…
Beautifully awakening wonder, with a mysterious
Sensing
Trees may stand waiting communicate.
———————————————————————————————————
(c) sally young eslinger 7/6/23
Thanks be to God—-
Never leave me lonely on "read."
Just tell me off about what I said.
let's create our own corner of heaven
where you and i will feel at home
away from noise and chaos
we'll sip wine and tell our stories
one-on-one in a secret cozy abode
AP: Honorable Mention 2023
Merlin the cranky cat
sat around getting fat.
Wanting to be heard
he mewed and purred.
He yowled and howled
and even growled
all with the same result.
He felt it quite the insult.
He snarled and hissed
What had he missed?
He tried a mewl
and lost his cool.
Short of a caterwaul
what should he call?
A tiny squeak perhaps?
Were they taking naps?
Chirrups and chirps
brought no alerts.
His tail-raising trills
brought no thrills.
He wanted dinner now.
He raised a loud MEOW!
Using the magic word
he finally was heard!
Merlin became the Magic Cat
in his tuxedo and top hat.
The other cats took their cue.
“Meow” meant “Please and thank you!”
The moral is if dinner you choose,
learn to mind your Ps and Mews!
We just can’t communicate.
Do you see it’s your
reflection?
we often lie about
what we're thinking
deny deny deny
unwilling to divulge
our private thoughts
our inner secrets
not wanting
to be violated
our thoughts are ours
flawed and broken
right or wrong
as they may be
they're ours
and no one else's
we'll share
to a degree
but only when safe
is how we feel
AP: 2nd place 2022
Written by Gail R DeBole
On September 18, 2021
Updated on September 20, 2021
Likes are nice,
But Retweets are sweet.
Faves are all the rave,
But Retweets are hard to beat.
(Tribute to the writing style of American poet Ogden Nash and his poem "Reflections on Ice Breaking" written in the year 1931.)
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