I didn’t feel like running today
Some days I don’t—but I do.
I’ve never finished a run thinking,“I’m sorry I did that.”
I always feel empowered, powerful and ready to deal.
I have blisters on two toes but that doesn’t matter.
Pain is an administrative problem—I just wrap them
with paper surgical tape and run.
I also buy these 1" Polyurethane foam sheets (from Amazon),
that I cut to fit my feet—stuffing them in my socks for padding
—as if I were a professional athlete.
We don’t flinch beneath the heat, cold or rain,
and we don’t prevaricate or complain.
While I believe that life, otherwise, is pretty much nonstop compromise,
I reserve a protected territory for self-respect—where I practice small acts
of discipline—which I can track.
.
.
Songs for this:
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
Somebody's Going to Get Into This House by Jane Wiedlin
again and always
a compromise convincing
but
regretfully
nauseating
(Weekly Magnetic Poetry Challenge • July 6–12, 2026)
You nod pretending to hear.
I know you're not listening one bit.
Your mind is made up.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 2nd place 2026
"On the coasts of compromise,
consider the cost."
Poet
Squalls were forecast
at last evening's meeting;
sudden gusts of duplicity directed decisions.
My wild frenzy wanes, passes now
as I pray.
Today, back at work
Jesus' spirit within my soul
restages me with truth to defeat divisions
as I work to lower temperatures.
Pardon’s plea
Is it the arrow while in its flight?
That determines what is in its sight?
More likely the archer, with steady aim.
Shot not to kill, but to hurt and to maim.
At last, he’ll release his final revenge.
It’s not his choice, the flight to abate,
The target chosen as if by fate.
The arrow its damage, it will do.
The deed is done, the archer is through.
Now he can stop his honor less binge.
Revenge was not the ultimate cure,
For all the pain he had to endure.
A forgiveness path should have been taken,
A better path, be not mistaken.
Love enters in to act as a hinge.
Opening the door to understanding,
Knowledge enters and is expanding.
Two people beginning to comprehend,
Like a willow tree, they too can bend.
They begin to see hope on the fringe.
In death truth is told, the final sting.
The voice of justice begins to sing.
Those not able to make the right choice,
Understand their error from the voice.
All are harmed when the choice is revenge.
I tried to take something off your plate,
That was a huge mistake.
Honestly, sorry for what I ate,
Now there is no way to replace.
Trying to find a compromise,
I honestly want to apologize.
Truthfully, can’t decide,
Do I deserve to die?
The whole time, I was just along for the ride.
Got me staring at the sky
Questioning is my brain working fine,
I tried to brush it to the side,
But now it doesn’t want to hide.
Maybe it was the wrong place, wrong time.
Did I learn my lesson?
Well now I’m second-guessing
I just want to know what’s the message.
Honestly why am I stressing,
Hoping for a blessing,
Steady checking
When I didn’t even have the weapon.
Not one thought of aggressing
Is it time for me to do some reassessing?
Or will I just be regressing?
I sit here with the truth oppressed,
Wearing guilt across my chest
In this silence I’m a mess
All I wanted to do was my best.
A spot on my shirt-cuff
a stain on a bathmat
In the back closet, a pile of stuff
a litter trail leads to the house cat
A chip in the mirror in the hall
a slight imperfection in the paint on the wall
Occasional drip from the bathroom faucet
Smoke alarm inoperable, ought to toss it
This is where the poet moralizes
sensing how quickly former standards slip …
Ha! Fooled ya! I now embrace compromise
Thanks for reading, pal ~
don’t forget my 25% tip
Life shouldn’t be a punishment for living
We can’t be regulated by machines
Accustomed to the stupid self-deceiving
Our freedom is a bird of slavish dreams
Where to it flies, avoiding troubles on its way
We never wonder, giving it the flight control
But freedom seeks its master everyday
And always finds the one to rule our soul
Born to believe, we take it as it comes
We don’t waste time on questions that imply
No clear answers; so to speak in tongues
Must be a compromise, in case we reconcile.
Life presents so many challenges every day
Explore all life has to offer what do you say
What can I do to make life better for all mankind
A good start would be to distribute all the love and happiness I can find
The anger that boils over on our planet is becoming impossible to bear
Eliminate the hate that is shown which creates even more despair
If we want this world to survive and be vibrant once more
It is up to every one of us to put our differences aside to bring a stop to constant wars
One person can not change the world but if we work together we certainly can
An example needs to come from our politicians as it seems getting along they can not understand
The word compromise might as well be eliminated from our lives as it continues to experience a deep decline
If we do not change our ways soon in a more positive way we are all going to be left behind
There is no doubt that Santa is in charge at this time of year
That green nemesis known as the Grinch his only job should be cleaning up after the reindeer
Maybe after Christmas, he may want to consider running for President, we surely know he can deliver
A man who produces peace and goodwill for all mankind I think we should all consider
If you see this as a fantasy have you checked the way our politicians have been acting lately
The constant chaos and fighting within our governments is certainly not stately
What presents have they left us under the tree , more of the same, higher taxes and a book to show you how nothing gets done
Look what Santa achieves with the help of those enchanting elves, who look like they are having fun
Our politicians need to read a book on how to compromise with each other
Both parties continue to play the same old song My Way Or The Highway but with two different results too numerous to cover
Politicians need to take an example from the man in the red suit, a person we all seem to be able to get behind
If you want my vote on election day put on a red suit ,It will help me make up my mind
What the future holds for us, no one knows for sure
Hopefully, very shortly, headlines will read for cancer we have a cure
The human race is like a giant jigsaw puzzle, with each of us being one piece
To achieve success we all need to work harder, a chance for a better world will surely increase
Everything we have in life is from the efforts of so many people bonding together
Why is it that we elect politicians who can't do this whatsoever
I think a lot of them have egos that are so big that they won't even give it a try
What kind of profession pays this well, where nothing seems to get done, it makes you want to cry
If you hired someone to clean your windows and they were still dirty after they left, what would you do
Certainly, you would never have them back,and you would hire a new crew
Compromise is something that seems to have completely disappeared
Politicians, please stop the name-calling and bickering so that we may be able to stand up and cheer
We spend and end our lives
in the cages of compromise.
(02.20.2024)
“Compromise is only a weakness between two who are unwilling to work together”.
In the tapestry of love, two souls entwined,
Marriages, a journey to perfect, beautifully designed.
Imperfect hearts melding in a dance,
A union of flaws, a second chance.
Discussion, the compass in the maze of the mind,
Seeking the truth, the answers to find.
Not to overpower, nor to lay blame,
But to illuminate the path, the passion's flame.
Arguments, not battles, but lessons to learn,
Discovering truths, for wisdom to earn.
In the clash of opinions, let insight arise,
A bridge to understanding, where empathy lies.
Yet, in compromise, a shadow may fall,
When unwilling hearts build a dividing wall.
A weakness not inherent, but a choice to sever,
The ties that bind, a bond to endeavor.
WE GOBBLE GOAT’S CHEESE
Scales of justice weighed in gold and coal
cherubs and demons cheer without fear
horns blow, rooms gather fat
Coaxing a grey Persian cat
climb stairs of glamour
or disillusioned clamour
Heads dance across Florentine floor
joy shiver silent at a wooden door
hazardous stealth the cunning core
Roti fry in sesame oil to serve
with Côté D’ Or, everything coiled
drops of champagne sorrowfully soil
Chameleons cut own coloured flesh
hiding wounds wry waistcoated breasts
Botox gone awry, confess !
Scales dramatise to legitimise
two platters evenly plead
weighing a crafty compromise
We gobble goat’s cheese
celebration up in a breeze
©GhairoDanielsPoetry&
Songwriting2016
Our country continues to move backward
When someone comes up with a good idea it is shattered
United we stand divided we fall
All the chaos has caused our economy to come to a crawl
Compromise is an impossible word for the people we depend on
Days of common sense are long since gone
A step to the left and a step to the right brings us right back to the start
All the inaction from our politicians is tearing the country apart
We can build skyscrapers or fly to the moon
With certainty, we are not making America great again
Come on people let’s join together
This is the only way to make our lives better
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