to inhale and exhale poetry in every breath I take
In retirement more and more
Everyday feels like a Sunday
It doesn’t start that way
But it certainly ends that way
Like no matter what I did today
Rest, play or work
Tomorrow feels like it’ll be a Monday
When the week begins
And everything starts again.
(7/23/26)
My dog ate my homework,
the teacher heard before.
But this time I’m telling the truth—
I dropped it on the floor.
Right beside his dinner dish,
before I could react,
he chewed it up and swallowed it.
I could not get it back.
Now my homework is gone.
It’s literally no more!
The alarm rings, morning starts,
coffee cools before it’s dark.
Clock in, clock out, the hours race,
another day gone without a trace.
Screens, machines, the endless pace,
the same four walls, the same old space.
Lunch feels late, then it’s already night,
time keeps slipping just out of sight.
Monday’s gone, then Tuesday too,
Wednesday fades, Thursday drifts through.
Friday’s here before I know,
wasn’t it just Monday, not long ago?
We chase the hours, they don’t stay.
Night turns to morning, then drifts away
We move through work and all we do,
Time keeps moving, it slips right through
But somewhere in the constant motion
a breath, a glance, a fleeting view.
there’s a moment that feels like living,
even as time runs through.
Everyday, anytime
I go through pains
It strengthens and sharpens me
Making me stronger and bolder
To strive and thrive relentlessly.
Everyday, anytime
I go through threats
It makes me courageous and fearless
Sharpening and awakening
My soul to venture amidst danger.
Everyday, anytime
I go through a test
It brings out my best
Resetting my mindset
Giving me rest.
Everyday, anytime
I go through defeat or deceit
It makes me wiser and smarter
Lighting my awareness
If you don't go through it
You won't know what it takes.
From the time I awake
I chased the light
playing chicken each moment
waiting for death to swallow me up
it didn’t take much,
all i had to do was look into your eyes,
for the first time in this short while,
the severe pain in my heart at least tells me,
what am i doing this for?
i know i took the stupid route,
but how does the route matter,
if my destination remains the same?
i wish to come back
show you im me
but the me i want you to see.
would you still live that day a hundred more times, even though i’m in it?
I'm not
remotely thoughtful.
Is this some new me?
Can we always understand our moment?
And so what?
If I ignore that Pineapple cloud,
Is that actually a problem?
Does it require attention and praise?
Maybe this is how I'll move through spring.
Everyone gets to do what they do.
Otherwise, I'm good, good, good.
.
.
A song for this:
Simple Life by Girl Scout
Make everyday matter with every breath you take
Everyday Has Problems
War Continues
Do you listen to all of the garage being built up
Do you protest along the sidewalk
Madness everywhere, continues
Another holy war planet in the desert
At every turn, is complete chaos
The government is divided
No one has a solution
Our freedom of speech has evaporated
The new is always pessimistic
Nothing is getting done
Too many people involved
When do we draw the line
It’s past the point
Leadership becomes dictatorship
For no one wins
Another lost war begins
Truly, we have lost our way
Everything is divided by turmoil
The world is depleting all of our resources
No one does good
Not even one
Conflict never subsides
False promises are aggravating
We are pushed to the brink
Soon it will be World War 3
morning shadows
storm and clouds
temperatures fall
I stumble
through the house
television plays
rhetoric
I get ready
the day calls
traffic jam
horns blast
somewhere
bombs explode
conflict
a constant circle
conflict
horns blast
bombs explode
somewhere
traffic jam
the day calls
I get ready
rhetoric
television plays
through the house
I stumble
temperature fall
storm and clouds
morning shadows
Every day, God reigns;
High on above mountains.
He stands above up;
As well as in us;
His voice thrust, He rises,
He's a rush, He reigns down on nature;
He creation, creator Elohim;
Everi day, God reigns
high on top above mountains.
im stands above up
kukuma as for we
im voice thrust, im rises,
im's a rush, im reigns down on top nature.
Im creation, creator Elohim
Every day, God reigns
High on above mountains.
He stands above up
As well as in us
His voice thrust, He rises,
He's a rush, He reigns down on nature.
He creation, creator Elohim.
2/19/26
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr 2026
(Bold letters in Nigerian Pidgin Language )
Where have I seen you before?
Did you catch me smiling through modes of a dream?
Why does your face stay in my mind?
Polarized behind closed eyelids at night.
Leaving its fading iridescence to desire.
And suddenly the flame is blown out.
By the placid warm breath of a new dawn.
Left with silence and memories to rend.
Until you adorn the theaters of my mind again.
Everyday
Everyday, I slowly crawl out of bed
Everyday, I drink a monster to wake me up
Everyday, I wonder what assignments I won't do
Everyday, I wait for the end of the school day
Everyday, I drive home … at the speed limit
Everyday, I lay with my dog and watch tv
Everyday, I argue with my brother
Everyday, I eat dinner with my family
Everyday, I play games with my friends
Everyday, I hope for a better tomorrow
E clipse of the sun mesmerizes us
N early blinding awestruck onlookers
I dle gossip intermingled with tall tales
G argoyles whisper them in gardens
M aestro orchestrating seasons’ dance
A nd above reigns a sky that rules our world
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
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