Epiphany Poetry Contest, Sponsor - Constance La France. Date written: 08/27/2026
manacled...
by gnawing self-doubt;
a life-long affliction
voices in her head
incessantly spewed
lies and half-truths
that grew like watered seeds
planted by naysayers;
she internalized all the nonsense
she lacks self-belief,
but she miraculously turned a corner;
all she needed
was a little nudge
by a caring new friend
to confront the moment of truth,
a reassurance of...
"Trust your gut; you can do anything!"
she listened,
she prayed,
she fought,
v e h e m e n t l y,
against those voices of defeatism,
against negative forces
telling her...
"Not so fast! Think twice!"
she found
the inner strength
she never knew she had
to bravely walk into God's radiant light,
silence the echoes of trepidation
and seize the power
that was always hers.
with every breath
of her newfound freedom,
she finally realized
that she's infinitely greater...
than her circumstances.
Get out of your head...
Muffle that lying, doubting voice
In your head
Turn off that voice of defeatism
Screaming into your ear
So loudly you grow
Gradually deaf
And you're bamboozled
Into believing your best
Isn't good enough, because it is!
Never believe you're unlovable
Because you are, in every way
No, you're not weak.
You're the opposite!
You're not worthless;
You're a precious jewel.
Reject that inner voice
Telling you you're destined
To fail...
at happiness,
at relationships,
at building your dreams,
at anything....
It couldn't be further from the truth!
Mute the voice of insecurity
In your head, lest it forms
A growing crack that becomes
An irreparable fissure
On your psyche.
Get out of your head...
Date written: 01/11/2019
The Duel on Monday
Mark Miller © 09/01/2013
Brain woke today sound of gun shots as a dog walked in
Barks from trains regain my strength for another day filed: distilled feelings
Finished duel last night man named Lansky distinguished appearance hopelessness,
Criticized outlook town folks skewed version of cynicism in mans defeatism
Wonder why people make such horrible mistakes based on needful hates
Nausea stomach aches possible life takes share of stakes in each bet made in haste
Looked outside thought I saw sun say high waved look said goodbye
Still thinking what we truly know of you or who or the dog next store named blue
Do you have clue?
Medication taken emotion still shaken-ed by memory leftover from nightmares stray
Where to go or why to stay he states no other options available its Monday
Spirits heading low in sadden gloomy glow outlook betrayed by dim deadened display
Lost shadow left by kitchen window lost hidden hollow hole by sundown he'll show
Just thoughts gone by through minds tone in status quorum with unconscious quarrel
I wrote these five rules which grew out of some uncomfortable ‘life experiences’. Because of these rules, I am not a victim.
Rule 1. I will not bow to the mindset that feeds me the idea that I am a victim. My perception must be that of a victor, not a victim. The God in me
Disallows defeatism and victimization.
Rule 2. Although I realize that I cannot go through life unscratched, unhurt, and free of disappointments, I will not allow myself to develop a self defeating ‘me complex’.
Rule 3. If I discover that I am in someone's ‘line of fire’, I will simply distance myself. I will not develop a paranoia that tells me that I am constantly the subject of someone’s target.
Rule 4. The ‘poor me, they did it to me again’ attitude will not get me anywhere. This type of attitude will not achieve anything except a basket case on the strap heaps of defeat.
Rule 5. If I take the proper Biblical steps and keep Christ at the center of my life, it follows that I will not have a ‘victim mentality’.
(Originally, entitled The Victim Rules, written in1993) 09142016PS Contest, Victim Or Victor, Nayda Negron
a solider and a sailor
sing a lonesome song just for your entertainment
but in it you are betrayed by visions of heaven
shine with the late night ribald drinkers
after all after a few bottles even mortality seems lively
disjointedly you pick your way
through all these salvation's
never quite believing that you could exceed
your worth and standing
after all you can buy a new life for dirt cheap
long as your willing to give up your lifestyle
long as your willing to be disarmed
of all those quick witted answers you think fit so well
and give up all her peek-a-boo paradise's
the solider and sailor buy a round
and toasting the queen they bury the hatchet
no expectations can lead you on to the
brink of such strange bedfellows but you'll try
you can only hope not to be a victim of such defeatism
when all the ribald drinkers have left the saloon
walking in the thin light of dawn
you will remember all these beautiful things
and dream better dreams
build better sunrises from the gloom of days ending
S o dispassionate I have BECOME
E ager voices of people made me NUMB
R ambling tales of them just gave BOREDOM
I to restore my faith, still silently seek FREEDOM
O ffshore built my own little place to avoid any BOTHERSOME
U nafraid, un-argued, unasked, un-broken, ah my own solemn KINGDOM
S lowly turning in to an old soul though LONESOME
L ooking in the mirror, irking on lost SARCASM
O ver-busied, I made my mind, being DEFEATISM,
O f peace I only yearn and restore gone OPTIMISM
K nowingly of serious look wore, but still don’t know, why feelings are FEARSOME
I guess we all have a story to tell, the best that one may ?
Marked these stripes their colours; heresy his heretic yesteryear
She screams of defeatism ? Delirium tremens; demagogue; lese majesty
Tableau's symbiosis embellished, melodies baroque; neoclassic patrimony....
Reverence while entering His Holy be holy ? Wanderlust, this monuments journey
Mephistopheles; blessed be the poor in spirit beauteous; Shiloh, their twinkling's eyes
Orphaned child ? Inherent her Simon Pure; physical chemistry; love, and we all have, a story.
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