Tipsy hustled through the doorframe, the hinges depleted of rust but sheered off by the sudden wind, roaring against the aged timbers, like solid oak castings that rift through the very door, a silent echo, transdimensional, of the past, and now the present card, the leery often dialect, like cheerful noise should fay like fairies outside of whom whisper sonnets without much boys.
Never quit. Don’t give up the ship
Remember the Alamo
Go down fighting with Tex and Pedro
No throwing in the towel
No waving the flag of surrender
Duke it out. Don’t be a ‘fence-mender’
Win every battle.
Dominate the war
That’s what they pay generals for
Don’t give in to doubt
The enemy is yours to rout
That’s what life’s all about…
Until the first time you’re defeated
And your precious blood is depleted
Got it now? ~ WAR is an expletive deleted
Dark, my depleted garden
no furtive rays of sunshine
August weather, clammy as a snail
sauce redolent of aged shrimp cocktail
Peonies once lined up to burst forth
‘til their came a howler from the north
A sepulchral portrait, pleasing skunks and raccoons
~ They don't cry to Heaven if a garden is ruined
Clearing the land of valuable minerals, metals to build weapons of war
Blowing up millions in bombs, land, businesses and homes
Earth depleted yields humans sick from lack of needed minerals
What will be the end?
With each day that passes
My misery continues to grow
Once I could hide it so well
Now it's beginning to show
No longer will it be hidden
Behind some crafty disguise
Or simply be dismissed
With my deceitful lies
It's hard for me to accept
That I'm losing my control
I'm forced to watch and disgust
As my misery kills my soul
I feel I've been depleted
I have nothing left to give
My misery has gained all control
Over this meaningless life I live
Holy nutrient-depleted soil, Batman
There’s nothing in our garden
From the skies, no rain, no clouds
We must seek Nature’s pardon
What did we do wrong, Batman
What did we do right, Robin
It seems we’ve worn out land and sea
from lowest depth to highest tree
Ireland; coast and bits which aren’t
the Irish; ephemeral stuff of books
words to-ing and fro-ing
chieftains, crooks, priests, poets, playwrights
and ejitts
no more reigning, pontificating
breaking rules or playing the fool
but dark drink somehow surviving
somewhere in special, nurtured nooks
stained by the land
phrases blown and scattered in the wind
remnants here and there
or else off-planet
the island of collisions is heading
for the Arctic when the west will face north
troubles lie behind and beyond the headland
icebergs may congregate along the shore
oscillating to the warming, cooling dance
stump of mountain still surrounding
depleted bog and the sinking flora floor
still hiding lump of ancient wood and men
land bridges may reform
snakes may return
wee shamrocks still appearing
between the craic remembering
377.
The 3 Traders
Now that the Orient knows we're here
The Superpowers came to trade their stuff so dear…
First were entrepreneurs of the Red Giant
Meaty foods, fine clothings, housewares so elegant
Second were adventurers of the Sub-Continent
Strange gems, music & language here they sent
Third were missionaries of the Cradle of Islam
Believers of this system to Allah come
…These Chinese, Indians & Arabs our ancestors befriended
Their influence upon us never goes depleted!
-09/11/2015
(Dumarao)
*Philippine History Rhyme Collection
He looks at me so very vividly;
Amidst a glare, we so share commitment livingly;
I see God in you so beautiful;
A soul of vison of committed merited dutiful;
Lavender asset essense present in the air;
Picturesque vision canopy blossom of brilliant shines grandure;
Seemingly depleted values see within you don't understand;
Be it no misfortune.I just don't comprehend;
No comprehension, yet my heart spirit soul;
My heart beat tells me it's okay go;
It's electricity rainbows vivid in my mind;
Far by chance in euphoric and grace kind;
So eye see involued in mine heart;
Through God's eyes eye beautiful darts;
4/15/26
Written by James Edward Lee Sr 2026
I am his.
His gnarled hands around my throat.
Grasping,
shaking,
pulling me towards him.
I will forever be his.
The screaming is drowned out only by the ringing in my ears,
like bees buzzing in my brain.
I am his.
as the air leaves my lungs,
I am pulled.
not by him,
by something deep within me.
Fight or flight?
Fight or flight?
For the first time,
I chose to fight.
I push,
as hard as my small,
frail,
oxygen depleted body could manage,
I push.
As he falls,
slamming into the old oak dresser behind him,
I am sure-
I AM MINE.
My heart is hurt and in tatters
My gut in a continual knot
My spirit sad and depleted
I truly feel l am losing the plot
My heart has cried a million tears
My soul now fragile and bruised
My being filled with hurt and disappointment
Without clarity, direction and totally confused
I need time to process what has happened
As l honestly don’t know what to do
I do believe changes are inconceivable
I am uncertain and unclear what avenue to pursue
Focus on my passion
Oasis in the dark Go ahead
Hear me now As stories might start
Life and love foretell Of celestial dreams
The bluest Incursion of death
From dream to full passion
Standing alone Seeking solace
Peace felt Caressing the eternal
Stare deep into The music beyond
Not such a thing Under a ladder
Tread gently Like nothing before
Hidden Find it all More resilient
What’s worse Worse than the evil shown
Fallen apart Finally away from them
Creature of the night As from the ashes
Depleted I’ve seen nothing new
Heard your voice From the start
Quite a ride Let the dance continue
Darkened streets All that’s seen
Imagine now With more to come
Walking with white butterflies
For a mere ounce Sensing the same
Once viewed different Don’t even try
Only if to direct Dying in the dark
All I See More than just Darkest of dreams
Willing or not Have no choice Calling Hades
Only seeing the dark Fragments of hell
Day finally come Beware the Windigo ~
(Comprised totally of titles of poems written by poet Flipsider)
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Mom hello, how are you?
We went to mass tonight, they had a special mass of rememberance for loved one who have passed. They had a bunch of candles lit with names.
It was beautiful, I tried not to cry but my tears were shed, I miss you so much although I know your home with Jesus.
I haven’t been doing good with prayer Mom, I’ve been dealing with depression, it’s been hard.. I feel so alone, so depleted..
I don’t know what to do anymore, I’ve started up writing again.. I’ve lost my excitement, will to do it. I wish I could just ..
I love you Mom…. Your home with Jesus, David, your siblings. .. I love you and miss you..
With love it's no different!
If we don't water them, the flowers
wither...
If you don't fertilize the soil,
it becomes depleted...
If you don't prune the plant,
it doesn't grow...
Love is no different:
You build the garden,
choose the plant,
do the work,
care for it with immense zeal.
By caring you decide who lives,
or who dies... In love
it's no different for us to
have and enjoy it...!
domesticated
thirty-something female
watches deep sea fishermen
battle with her demons
testosterone depleted husband
watches lions mating
in the Serengeti
orange fingers
stray to bite sized
edibles
child plays on a mat
with imaginary cat
a television replays
its family circle
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