It’s easy to hide behind words,
with the truth left abandoned and stark
It’s easy to hide behind words,
with your feelings sharp pointed and dark
It’s easy to hide behind words,
when the emperor buys you new clothes
It’s easy to hide behind words
—whose deception dishonors you so
(Villanova Pennsylvania: January, 2020)
Redemption-
Regrets realize.
Essential spares save.
Dishonors temporize.
Executive pardons rehabilitate.
Many extra rewards recognize, many pardons forgive.
Purpose transient whims excuse.
Temporize pardons mercy graced,
Individual weeps grieve.
Other dishonors reconcile.
Numerous pardons forgive.
4/4/19
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2019©
As we age we regret words of anger and spite
That were heard and remembered and can't be unsaid.
The remarks we thought clever or proved we were right
That resulted in losses of friendships instead.
All the heartbreaks that came from suspicion and doubt,
The betrayals and hurts we refuse to forgive,
The companions and love that our pride has cast out,
And the chances we missed that we'd like to relive.
All the pathways not taken and bridges uncrossed,
All the times had we acted, a difference made,
The potential delights that timidity lost,
And the kindness and debts that we never repaid.
All the secret dishonors we long to forget,
And the wrongs we inflicted in order to win.
For the strongest of sorrows are those of regret,
And the saddest remembrance is what might have been.
* * * * *
Or as Whittier phrased it, far finer and first:
"For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
the saddest are these: It might have been"
My Heart beats faster when I touch my Gun
Loch David Crane,
Border Patrol Auxiliary
26 January 2010
We track illegal aliens in the snow.
It's easy to see where their booties go.
But "huddled masses yearning to breathe free"
should wait in line and come here legally.
Your thievery dishonors those who came
here legally, but have Latino names.
If you, like others, waited patiently
we'd welcome you "from sea to shining sea."
"Observe, report, direct" and document:
these lawful practices are our intent.
On nights like this, lit brightly by the Moon,
I monitor the freqs from our comms room.
My heart beats faster when I touch my gun:
it's in the holster empty, safety on.
(freqs are frequencies on the radio in the Communications center.)
Unmask the fool
Who openly dishonors
What love really is
And who suffers from it
Who openly says that
Who suffers from no love
From it he shall die
What love could he have
Openly dishonors everyone
Unmask-ing the truth
The fool only loves pain
Love really is more powerful
Than all of this
Russell Sivey
Entrant into Debbie Guzzi's "Et cetera" Contest
2/26/2012
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.