The struggle for America’s soul
now almost 250 years old
Shoulder-to-shoulder at her border
freedom contends with law’n’order
From ‘Give me liberty or give me death’
to defenders of slavery’s last breath
From ‘In order to form a perfect union’
to ‘The buck stops here’ of Harry Truman
From Chicago’s Haymarket Massacre in 1886
to the violence of this century’s politics
Tempers flare, the gloves come off, and ~ no surprise
~ Our unsure Republic’s been Monarchized
A rainbow or counterflow … symmetry,
Time marks a question measured to wrangle,
Quantity taxes or pay quality.
First, the chick or egg, begs the novelty,
Harmony and anarchy vie tango,
A rainbow or counterflow … symmetry.
Highs and lows, trials on trails that Odyssey,
Couples meet ... kneels, and fingers … betrothal,
Quantity taxes or pay quality.
Germane proportionate necessity,
Bidders will empowerment substantial,
A rainbow or counterflow … symmetry.
Blind contends, an object than rivalry,
A contest midst, wins or lose, a gamble,
Quantity taxes or pay quality.
Observant confident, sees victory,
The keenly bid, competitors scramble,
A rainbow or counterflow … symmetry.
Won prize stashed, slips by geniality,
Bewildered notes calm, auctioneer’s gavel,
Quantity taxes or pay quality,
A rainbow or counterflow … symmetry.
Some say your words act as a balm
A fleet of sweet tidings
Sailing into a gray dawn.
With white sails riding
On the heels of a grand mast
That sways without invoking
A need for true ballast.
It seems as though your rage
That spars with mine among the waves
Has now chosen to disengage
From me among the graves...
Of sailors lost at sea
Displaced by blithely prying winds
And now what will become of me?
Whose multitude of sins
Imply that my veracity
Contends with your tenacity.
Some say your words act as a balm
A fleet of sweet tidings
Sailing into a gray dawn.
With white sails riding
On the heels of a grand mast
That sways without invoking
A need for true ballast.
It seems as though your rage
That spars with mine among the waves
Has now chosen to disengage
From me among the graves...
Of sailors lost at sea
Displaced by blithely prying winds
And now what will become of me?
Whose multitude of sins
Imply that my veracity
Contends with your tenacity.
Ascends a moon, grays an eye-fools goodbyes,
reviews disciplined portrayed nature sighs.
Nightwings greet dusk, whorls up into absence,
ebb star pivots, another consequence.
Penitent pose submissions of prayers,
points at fingers in lieu of sheeps, declares.
Heavyweights contends bantamweights eyelids,
fights to the finish, loser wake--forbids.
'Tis human nature's need, their body's to rest,
eyes seals and falls behind dreams, genteel cast.
We harmonize abandoning chambers,
grants of Old World charm Masterpeace painters.
Anthony Blinken in Israel to plead
for a humanitarian pause
Though Israel contends it would aid Hamas' cause
In the West folks think that Hamas supports the people of Gaza
but they clearly do not, and here's proof positive
While Blinken was speakin,' what was Hamas thinkin?'
They were gunning down Palestinians in cold blood on the highway
for 'the crime' of trying to escape to safety to the south
Seems too bizarre to believe, that Hamas would murder their own!
~ Desperate Palestinians trying to flee the war zone
At dawn, in stillness
Something found me
A presence—calm as water
Yet fierce as lightning
Eyes like flames
Form like bronze in fire
Christ—
The Redeemer
His voice thundered through me
And I knew
Darkness walks the earth in hunger
Dressed as desire
Speaking in whispers
Feeding on weakness
But fear not
For who contends with the Lord?
Light to the path
Guardian of the small and the great
Stand firm
For every knee shall bow
And every tongue confess
God reigns above all
The wind swept wandering through the dale,
With dusty thrashing force, from a fuming gale.
The herder stooped, his club held firm in hand,
And saw the eagle clasping its prey lowering to land.
Then two crows circled overhead, hungry and sly,
Their eyes fixated on the eagle’s feast nearby.
They grappled fiercely until the eagle lost its right, -
Ultimately turning its triumph into a spite.
With a thin, piercing cry, it soared from sight;
The herder stunned, spoke softly at the sight:
“Behold how life contends within the wild -
What once was yours may vanish, swift and wild.”
Not strength alone sustains life’s endless claim,
But how you move and guard yourself in game.
For there is beauty in rise, and pain in fall;
Through trials and perils, let truth guide us all.
While we watch in wonder, taking brief delight,
Be mindful of the battles day and night.
Life’s struggles linger, seeking to subdue -
A ceaseless fight, as in the wild, runs through.
Rights Reserved
Blossoming
flowers
growth.
Growth
contends and assures
life.
Life
via water and sun is
nurtured.
Orchard
acts
likewise.
Allies
like forests and all living
things.
Things
that nature supports like other
species.
Entities
from sea and land, like a woman and
man.
Human
life, like all others, is blessed with its
beginning.
His power comes to height during the night
For in darkness, he glows bright like Moon Knight
Though fierce light took away his sense of sight
His reflexes could sense beyond their might
His legend came to life by misfortune
The loss of his sight came to fruition
He is blind but can see better than most
In darkest nights, he dare walks like a ghost
His courage made him a man without fear
His greatest foe is the man with fierce spear
He contends against forces of evil
Though fierce sound and odor brings him peril
In law and justice, he's a champion
Save the world from evil is his mission
His baton curbs the loops of injustice
His feet stand like the balance of justice
Gorgeous Elektra was wowed by his charm
He damn looks like the one who'd do no harm
But to him, Nuke and Kingpin have ill will
But their evil is no match for his skill
October 30, 2022
Moon Knight Friend or Foe Poetry Contest (4th place)
Sponsored by: Robert James Liguori
Syllables checked by: Poetrysoup.com
Lingering scenes hide in my subconscious
Vie for favor vicariously precious…
Soul that struggles against human nature
Contends to glow toward spotlight feature…
Hypocrisy keeps lurking amidst pride
Brags along false humility’s long stride…
Grievous regrets expose frustration pain
Leave heart in agony against joy-reign...
Repentance* that I neglect to express well
Faith's spirit basks in God’s miracle-swell.
*Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
October 10, 2022
In a silent prayer…
My heart pleads
For the grace, the stirring
Of His presence
His charisma, His spirit
Falling across my soul
Reflecting His precious love
In a silent prayer…
My mind contends
With His cherished spirit
Please bring peace
Joy, hope and wisdom
Rain down your light
Across my thoughts
In a silent prayer…
My heart beseeches
For the power of His love
His kindness and courage
The affection that grows
In abundance, pure peace
Flowing from His blood
In a silent prayer…
My mind entreats
For the song of faith
Poured out on my soul
Sprinkling me with hope
Brilliant and alive
Like His blessed life
In a silent prayer…
My heart petitions
For a song of mercy
Music from the heart
Who knows that love
Is alive on the inside
Of those who know Him
In a silent prayer…
My mind begs
For a grace so beautiful
It lights the night
With its penetrating joy
Its sincerity and wonder
Praising the God of heaven
In a silent prayer…
My heart and soul declare
His love is the only essential
The reason for our hope
The purpose of our faith
The intention of our ways
When we lift our hearts to pray
ALONE
put forth
with tenacity
sustain
then set free
into
a valley so divine
where truth
still reigns
a destiny
stands ready
& resonates within
this cornerstone
of merciful accord
shall begin
to mend & contends
to sow a seed
of unity once more
in pursuit
of a resurrected life
THIS IS AN OPEN(organic) FORM VERSE without grammatical symbols the ' open' relies upon 'the one breath limitation' & so inherently requires the 'reader' (reciter) to input and respond thus making the form a two way interplay and often a unique interpretation by the enigma so derived
Stone for stone, this raised grandeur
With the mountain's contends.
Beauty, austere. With both hiding
Terror's own face within!
One's stormy past of fierce-struck
Outcries, most barbarous
Wolf-sharp, flashingly echoed
Afar stormed; elked and roed.
*Image of Little Boy Fishing by Mutual Art
Cape Cod Boy
A warring feat
expands beneath
petite and huge contends,
a unique line
tugging the brine
taunting as it suspends,
a juvenile
bear naught a smile
a glimpse enigma lends,
too close to shore
new hopes implore
that cod and haddock wends,
true tasty meats
fresh scene unseats
entreaties pleased extends,
aspect well made
fulfilled persuade
the wait, the catch godsends.
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