Bless me, Father, for I will sin
And go against your laws
But the winds of change are blowing
I must pick up the cause
At break of dawn I'll march to war
My sword will rise again
For our faith will be no more
Should our foe prevail
Sekigahara calls for me
To fight that raccoon fiend
But save me while I'm falling
Christ, my bosom friend
God of Mercy, I'm in your care
Your grace my strength to lift
This cross, your gift that I must bear
Along my battle flag
- In the voice of: Konishi Yukinaga (1558 - November 6, 1600), to Fr. Pedro Gomez, SJ.
-- The Battle of Sekigahara, 21st October 1600
* "that racoon fiend" refers to Tokugawa Ieyasu, who is often derisively referred to as tanuki (raccoon dog) by detractors.
Categories:
derisively, christian, conflict, confusion, courage,
Form: Other
My mule is intelligent, and it loves me.
perhaps it loves everybody,
it's a rental.
I need a shot of confidence.
The mule rests its head on my shoulder.
It's a well-travelled track
but today I have met no one.
I should have left camp in the early dark,
for now a fiery desert sun
is baking the dry earth into hot broken glass.
I imagine our bones
being found some years later
by some kid in an off-road Lexus.
The Mule snorts derisively;
nudges me in the small of the back
to get me going.
A few miles later I'm drinking Tequila
in a cantina
and the mule is falling in love again
with some other intrepid explorer.
Categories:
derisively, poetry,
Form: Free verse
Some folks raise their eyebrows derisively
When I speak of the reality of a heavenly being
But I am convinced of their reality, decisively,
I have experienced their presence, even seeing.
Many times, my guardian angels have appeared
To rescue me from the most trying situations
Some whom I have told looked at me and sneered
Not understanding those other world dimensions.
On the other hand, many folks understand
They, too, have felt the presence of family beyond
And have seen the works of the spirits firsthand
Still, too many have listened politely and yawned.
When our loved ones pass on to that other land
They remember to give their loved ones a hand.
FIRST PLACE WINNER
Written March 11, 2022
"Brian Strands Formal" Poetry Contest
Categories:
derisively, death, future, life, spiritual,
Form: Sonnet
A Friday from hell
I was writing about consumerism.
What is the point when people get up at five in the morning?
buying tumble driers that use plenty of electricity in a country
where the sun shines nearly every day.
A new computer when they can upgrade the old one is such
a waste of money.
I`m missing the point people like buying shiny objects
like crows drown to the sparkly buying new yes, the newness is the future.
When most of the products are made elsewhere
it does little to stem the mass- unemployment in this country.
The earth minerals to satisfy the useless.
I hear you laugh derisively; he knows nothing.
So, you can have your black Friday, and black it is when loans are served
at the end of the month.
The people are fooled and seduced by capitalism,
therefore, banning credit cards, when paying cash, one is more careful.
Categories:
derisively, abuse, allusion, anger, angst,
Form: Blank verse
Mind if I tell you, honestly, I’m not
Proud of obstructionists who forget peoples’ needs
Who speak derisively of folks like me …
Call us liberals because we see vast acres of land
Lying fallow while millions go hungry for a place,
While the wealth of the nation is pocketed by a few
Or, spent lavishly on worthless trips into space
We who believe the past is history … cannot be changed
But can be atoned for, and, can be correctly taught;
We who believe basic healthcare is a human right,
That no child in America should ever go hungry
That no woman should be forced to bear a child
Nobody wants! and who will be another burden,
For I have observed hundreds of children in foster care
Often destined for the ghetto life and abject poverty
While politicians argue themselves into insolvency.
written October 31, 2021
Categories:
derisively, history, how i feel,
Form: Free verse
Fear of numbers is real
They carry adding machines on their backs
Attack with loaded numbered guns
Divide, subtract, multiply the family by one
Sneak up from behind derisively
With two times the pleasure two times the fun
Double their trouble running numbers up to one
Digits on hands and toes repeat the question please
Was it 2 or 3 feet just out of reach
They are counting on you for sum protection
To pull them through suggestions
Children fear math and calculations like the plague
Run from them at multiples of ten
In a fraction of a second gone
Poof!...Like zero, (Is that a real name and number?)
Gone in a flash subtracted
Figures hide behind accountants glasses
Hitting you with tons of taxes
Not to be divisive or derisive
Taken down in dividends like math
Numbers stay on tracks in one direction
On trains I think they’re out to get me
They have no class or paid for tickets
In the end they have no =
no + or - either
Some things don’t add up
You can count on that
Numbers are real
They don't lie
Fear them because they are alive
Categories:
derisively, abuse, conflict, confusion, education,
Form: Free verse
He takes a lone journey leaving out everyone
He looks right, left and right again
Searching out for the faces in sight
He sneaks in the shield of darkness
With smacking and drooling lips
And lustful bulging eyes
Mirroring only scrumptiousness
Unable to wrest his mind’s biddings
He muffles his mumbling conscience
And swoops and heists to the coffers
Scooping the sweats of another’s brow
Smiling derisively with a shaming glow
Today he leaves his heart to rehearse the schemes
Seeing already the bounty bought by the trip
He traces his route to his routine ride
And seeks out to cover the tracts
But the unforeseen scene he ditched, sets in
His hands is trapped in the cookie jar
Everyone is drawn in to the hidden story
Categories:
derisively, corruption, satire, society, solitude,
Form: Free verse
Words in life
are easily scorned,
derisively decided worthless
and yet;
I hear it, whispering through the wind,
welcome in anticipation...
your voice.
Sealing those canvasses
shut.
Waiting, on words
the brushed bruising of lips,
quickly accepting of my own
two, too blushed,
too blooming.
It is not just words I wait on
but your touch;
crushing the chasm inside
to build me.
Only then can the sparrow nestled on my chest
fly - fly free
to your arms.
Oh - encompass me?
Categories:
derisively, love, words,
Form: Verse