Merchant, dealer, trader, vendor, monger of the means
To separate from you what's hoped will be in turn what means
It's theft, if when transaction's done, you're feeling unfulfilled
But the trade is fair if the time that's spent has left you feeling filled
With what you ask, and that is fair, for value's a subjective thing
What constitutes a loathsome task to one might make another sing
Creation's a sincere request for you to spend a little time
In turn that what from you was wrest, will balance what is left of mine
Got a minute?
One man is always filled with gratitude.
Another, each time, feels that he's ripped off.
Why the difference in their attitude,
and why does one give thanks while one will scoff?
A crust of bread to one is most unfit.
To another, it constitutes a feast.
So, is this meal not worth a pint of spit,
or the heavenly fruit of baker's yeast?
Every life, from the lofty to the low
is punctuated by its ups and downs,
It is just the way things will always go,
that cheerful smiles are interspersed with frowns.
Be not concerned for your special station,
but feast upon your life's celebration.
A pair of combat boots in black,
Abandoned on the top
Of the ramp right by the river
Brought me to a sudden stop.
Beside them was a khaki shirt,
Its arms tied to the rail.
Together they suggested
That their owner tried to bail.
For a leap into the river,
When nobody is about,
Seems to be a way to end one’s life,
An urban exit out.
There might be an explanation,
Unlike mine, about those boots,
But the evidence implies my theory’s
What this constitutes.
.................Several strokes were made; sharpening this shiV
Sulphuric is the stench; but a sentimental heart; in its echO
Heat beyond conceptualized; melted away my walL
Emotions brought out in forms so basiC
But evolving with flowing skills like a river of lavA
Feeling this intense heat; I am a boiling cauldroN
My personality is very intense; seen often as quasI
Perseverance is a trait; I embrace while others mimiC
Gladiatorial the battles fought; inside this arenA
Fueled I am by what constitutes; life-long fireS
As a cool down begins; I question; what did I accomplisH
Because our world's too crowded, we fear strangers,
treating foreigners with disdain and contempt.
Yet, xenophobia is fraught with dangers;
laws can help, but the entitled feel exempt.
"Go back to where you came from;" such racial slurs
taunts many minority entrepreneurs.
How easily we tend to forget our roots
and what being a true Christian constitutes.
(Rispetto)
04/28/2023
Writing Challenge - Words with 'X'
Sponsored by: Constance La France
"Xenophobia"... Rhymezone/HowManySyllables
Rispetto
The Rispetto lyric is generally composed of eight hendecasyllabic (11-syllable) lines. Early on the rhyme scheme was usually abababcc , but ababccdd is now more prominent.
Cynthia Kwiecinski and Suzanne Colby
You've broken every rule of civility
With the execrable decision you made recently
You withdrew a job offer from a school superintendent
for addressing you as 'Ladies' in an acceptance email
You claim the term constitutes a micro-aggression'
But it's you abominations who have disgraced your profession
The superintendent-to-be meant to compliment you
But you two sows couldn't see that for the cud that you chew
I have much more to say, but come what may ~
You deserve to chew CRUD for the rest of your days
_________________________________________________________
Check out Fox News, April 03, 2023, 'School Superintendent candidate
says job offer was rescinded...' Story by Yael Halon
Sometimes in life, one needs a map to find a destination.
Relying on such a tool can cause a slight defendant relation.
There are times that one might ponder the meaning of existence.
On this journey of trial, error, joy, and pain, one prime element is persistence.
Ignorance of man's law still constitutes being liable,
Therefore it is wise to use references within the Holy Bible.
Pages of the word and lineal heritage abide within,
solutions to problems can be found in the Bible, it's the best place to begin.
Be not dismayed by arrows that fly by day or fire that consumes by night,
for utilizing the scriptures helps in manifesting superior insight.
When lost or dismayed about which way to go,
the use of the scriptures will help you to grow.
Have the humility of the earth, which can be molded into any shape,
and have complete faith in God and his spirit will emanate as wine from the grape.
The consequences of life will work out fine with proper deductions,
when assembling something for the first time, one needs a book of instructions.
The world, a place dreamt perfect, orderly and friendly
Graced and paced, hospitable to both brave and cowardly
The timid forced turgid, the brave at times feeble and shake
At the forces from the four poles, leaving their lives at stake
The tell tale of the noble as the only capable to cope forces all
To quickly mutate into beings that can conquer and hell in stroll
You and I, apostles stemmed on great doctrine that constitutes
Making the world better and better, indorsing the ancient platitudes
We`re awed and perplexed by perspective of the world depending
On the side that we fall, the pessimist or unrelenting
With every rise of the sun, a chance to choreography
And perfect authentic living, whether it ends in tidings or catastrophe
As the light dims every day, conscience deems us gutless or valiant
Therefore with every breathe, comes an effort for a man to prove gallant
contrary to popular religious belief
our universe was not created in a week
the universe did not spring from nowhere
spewing out planets and breathable air
that which constitutes the totality
has forever defined reality
difference lying within the constant changes
which evolution by any other name is
this world was not created for humankind
we adapted became physically aligned
to survive the environment our planet provides
what is possible becoming the ongoing guide
humans forgot their place within being
only themselves they now seem to be seeing
fortunately this universe does not care
if species is self-centered and unaware
that not one condition is ever permanent
including the so-called human experiment
no matter who or how long faith denies
fabricates larger, more intricate lies
self-righteousness and all consuming prayer
realty destroys it layer by layer
coming down to final analysis
existence shall always be all there is
(Series: Silhouettes)
The cloud announce the rain
& the birds adjourn the strike by flying home
The ears give birth to silence.
Longing has raged in both of us,
The ruins on the road of our thighs
Until the valley of buttons fall out of order.
The dialogue between our lips wash with fluids in styles
Warring tribes of unsettled palms roaming the pyramids of nipples.
Quenching waist full of fullness
Down to the home that constitutes the life of a child
In complexion of the night
Group of muscles pump
& signs of femininity shakes
Just on the cusp of experiencing joie de vivre,
the triumvirate of Crooks and Quade
figuratively swoop down
to announce re: inspection
of apartment unit B44
whenever they deem appropriate.
Thus series of unfortunate events
(linkedin with bull limey
Lemony Snicket bro)
got sidelined nsync with
contracting a minor bout
with deadly Amish Flu
symptoms found garden variety reasonable rhymer
bedridden feeling a little horse and buggy (ha),
incapacitated to craft signature poetry writing.
An honest to dog confession
regarding hiatus spewing forth
vociferous versatile vocabulary
mine words - worth their weight in gold
(told woofer I do not know), nevertheless
included perusing a gamut of reading material.
The passion to engross intellect
witnessed courtesy immersing
attention, concentration, excitation
gratification, intoxication;
knowledge prized more precious
than fine spun gold.
Likewise crafting (albeit painstakingly)
elusive notions that flit
to and fro hither and yon
(analogous to ping pong ball)
within parameters of
microscopically crenellated
sixty plus shades of gray matter
also constitutes fervent interest.
search for oddities
into space and time we squeeze
eons can be seen
through highly polished mirrors
on bitter cold night so clear
'The Accident' morphs
dim mysterious brown dwarf
skimming stellar turf
leaving possibilities
constitutes dark energies
lustrous Milky Way
is where we reside today
facing come what may
dusty gas, huge black holes hide
where galactic center glides
interstellar bliss
where supernovas exist
fireworks not to miss
proves the cosmos are alive
eternity will survive
for the non-earth bound
cosmic microwave background
has now hung around
over fourteen billion years
since Great Expansion appeared
sky watching sessions
cosmic history lessons
answering questions
when the universe was born
how our galaxy was formed
sitting in the dark
with conditions often stark
tracing heaven's arc
watching the vast cosmos flow
where true dreamers choose to go
You may find it empty mirth,
Or some meaningless chatter,
But for how so vague its worth,
I choose to write this letter.
Let me tell you, my old man,
What ‘tis that makes one human.
I scarce know if it’s better
To talk, or write a letter,
But as is self, puffed with pelf,
Rare, it listens to the Self.
To me it’s such a pity
That we humans should know not
What constitutes humanity!
Minus money, its colour,
Prestige or be it power,
Caste or community,
And whatso else and any,
Save, O man your dharma
And born of it your karma,
Then take what’s left as balance—
Which, still is quite so immense,
That is man’s humanity.
____________________________
Monologue |02.09.2021| Free verse
Poet’s note: The true self always tries to be in touch with the pretender self, call it one’s ego, but as it happens it hardly listens. And out of frustration it chooses to write a letter. Yes, it is only a monologue, for I think, no meaningful dialogue is possible with a pretender.
For Letter to your Future Self Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Silent One
It is not
The abundance of things we possess
That
Constitutes our wealth, my dear friend,
But
The number of virtues our heart enjoys!
© Demetrios Trifiatis
29 August 2021
A divergency of sorts.
Breaking away from the norm.
I’ll never conform.
A harmonious verbiage full of love and hate.
There’s no reason to segregate.
Planetary arrangements spoke softly to you.
As the crowd of constitutes walked away.
From a Texas governor that may not see another day.
As his own party perceives his hostage taking as a sign of discouragement in what’s free.
True Blue , right on key.
True Blue, I’m right with you.
True Blue stand by me.
True Blue stand up for what is free.
Sub Categories
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.