Downside Poems | Examples

Skirting The Downside

Everybody
wants to go
to Heaven
(but)
Nobody
wants
to die

Everybody
want to change
the truth
(but)
Nobody
wants
to lie

Everybody
wants to bend
 the law
(but)
Nobody
wants
to get caught

Everybody
wants to fall
in love
(but)
Nobody
wants  
— pain and loss

(The New Room: August, 2025)

The Downside of Life as a Bear

  Smell this, Pooh-Bear
    I can't, Piglet

  Why not, Pooh
    My nostrils are in the shop

Downside Spring

So, sure, the sun shines brightly every morn,
And birds will share, with all their brilliant tunes;
Amazing colored flowers will adorn
What once were gray and blah and lifeless dunes.

Admittedly it’s warmer in the day,
And cloudless skies can cheer the weary heart,
And gentle breezes whisk the blues away
As life, once more, begins its own restart.

But, as the sun stays longer in the skies
The pressure builds to try to get things done.
And wives and mothers have their battle-cries
To get to cleaning, there’s no time for fun.

It’s hard to laze when Spring is on the loose,
But Winter will provide its own excuse.


2/17/2023
Written for Spring is Not All poetry contest
Sponsored by: Michelle Faulkner

Downside of Spring

On the frigid wings of the northern breeze 
waned winter with frayed feathers flies away, 
clears the mist from shining sky out of freeze, 
song of birds brings life in ambiance grey. 

On silken leaves’ cradle blooming buds glow, 
with cascade of color petals unfold,
zephyr ripples fragrance in fervent flow, 
but spring also has its downside untold.

Insects crawl out after hibernation, 
stinging bees build hives in unwanted place,
allergens spread as  season’s creation,
from defrosted ground dust fills warm air space. 

Though compared to winter it is tender,
spring is not all encompassing splendor.

_______________

February 6, 2023
Syllable count : 10 per line  (HMS)
Rhyme checked with RhymeZone.com
Contest : Spring Is Not All
Sponsored by : Michelle Faulkner

The Downside of Not Voting

If you don't vote, 
Extremists will take note,
And politicians will seek a different coloured coat,
As extremists become more eager to vote,
With your absence at the polling booth giving them hope,
That democracy will work in their favour, 
And their words will be the only ones of note.

Downside Ups

Spirits eclipse Left
Wisdoms backseat a right mind
heavenly coupons

Smile Turned Downside Up

Moments of despair with anguish and resent unroll,
With the touch of some cold memories and decontrol,
They crumble my heart and I feel ruffled again.
As ripples when they waveringly resurface, 
I try and held myself against them and brace.
Once again I play a silent war with stories of the past ;
I fight to resist them so as to efface and off I can cast.
I release slowly what I carry along yet but within..
For I know I need to ascend from the hollow baggage in.
It can't be a thing of tomorrow and I need to overcome,
For I know what's gone shouldn't affect what is to come !

Upside To the Downside

There's often an upside to the downside
of taking the wrong fork in the road.
Everything you thought or were taught,
might be be for naught, 
if you insist on doing things your way.
But.. you could rise above the fray.
Then doubters might say,
they helped pave the way
for the genius,
they claim,
was their friend.

Up the Downside

As I climb the ladder I am going up the down side

                  by James Edward Lee Sr.
                             2/21/18

Downside Up Snowman

Lodged on a high valley in this far town
People like to turn the world upside down
In winter sky overturns
The snow cover children churn
Snowmen they make do something new on own.

A fat snowman comes to park downside up
Sniffing the frozen ground with red nose sharp
To stay straight head needs to strain
Blood from the legs goes to brain
Twig hands won’t help if he wants to stand up.

December 24, 2017.

Downside Up of Confused World

nose started to see 
                                 with feeling sense of smelling 
                                      eyes started to smell 
                                  with feeling sense of picture 
                                down side up of confused world

The Downside of Being a Poet-Unedited

Poets have a greater capacity
to express love and longing
painting pictures of passion's pleasures
They excite and ignite the imagination
That's the beauty of being a poet

Poets are so steeped in the need for beauty in wording
that they use their talents even in posts
Weaving wonder with words
they make you believe
you are above and beyond
the realm of mere mortals
you heart sings and takes wings
feeling affirmed, your needs confirmed
by those special terms of endearment
until you read
the self same expressions elsewhere
bubble bursting despair
then you bleed

That's the downside of being a poet
You lose a bit of your honesty....

What about me?

I have to rush to classes in twenty minutes, but this just had to be said and couldn't wait at all....No pics to go with it....No editing...so please...don't censure.

A Downside of Adulthood

Whatever you discover,
It’s the grown-up thing to share it
And when others flaunt their joy in it,
You have to grin and bear it.

For there really is no reason
To keep secret what you’ve found
When some other folks can benefit
From how you’ve worked the ground.

Still, there might be some resentment – 
Just a tiny little twinge – 
When you hear of their enjoyment
While you’re stuck out on the fringe.

It’s a downside of adulthood
That to sulk’s not in good taste.
Suck it up, for generosity
Rarely is misplaced.

Downside of a Writer

They say Im a lover but I know I can also be a fighter/ 
Im living in darkness today knowing tomorrow ain't going to get any brighter/ 
Im so heavy in the pain I don't know when *****in life is going to get any lighter/
 My *****in life is all crooked and loose I don't think it's going to get any straighter or tighter/
 I just need to be useful and not happy is what I lost sight of/ 
Im a matchbook making matches light up because without me there ain't no striker/
 Im just a lost poet trying to find deep within this hard head as a true Writer.....

The Downside

I know I’m getting older;
The calendar can’t lie.
The years of staying out all night
Have simply passed me by.

My clothing still looks youthful.
My energy’s not low;
Yet I’m not fooling anyone
And this is how I know:

As soon as I step on the train,
I’m offered up a seat.
It’s chivalrous, polite and kind
But also bittersweet.

For even though I will accept,
(A subway seat’s like gold.)
That person’s really telling me,
“Hey lady – you look old!”

Though courtesy is wonderful, 
Please don’t misunderstand -
I’d rather blend into the crowd,
Quite happy just to stand.

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