Ben the bull was gentlemanly and debonair
He had a unique personality, he filled the air
The others in the barnyard got out of his way
He marched though the fences, big and gay
With his blue silk scarf from the farmer’s wife
And his fancy patchwork jacket, he had a good life
He wore a fashionable rip in one leg of his jeans
His diet was not like the others, he had fancy beans.
Why is he treated better than all of us? Asked a chick.
His rooster father tried to shush this observant hick.
No one talked about it but this is the USA
Where the biggest bullies now get ahead these days.
He is like those April birds,
waiting for the passage to sweet summers,
after the fragrant spring has passed through their wings.
The birds return home, after the winters have departed,
likewise, he discovers himself, spreading smiles at the break of dawn.
A warm presence like a sunbeam, a true child of summer,
his gentlemanly manners, perhaps learned from his mother.
His smile shines like the sun, oh, a true tulip he is!
May the Lord bless him with eternal happiness, like a field of flowers under the clear sky.
And in this dance of time, he rises like a bird seeking its heights,
seeking the warmth of summer in every ray, in every breeze that caresses his face,
with a heart open to light, to all that is beautiful and unspoken,
embracing each day as a gift, as a promise of a new beginning.
He is like that moment of morning when the sun meets the dew,
a soul finding its way home among memories and dreams,
with every step, with every smile, bringing summer into the hearts of those he meets,
and thus, in his universe, flowers bloom endlessly, and the song of birds is eternal.
Poetry Soup abounds in poets who are special in unique ways and for me it was so hard to single out just one. So I was reluctant to join this contest. However at the last moment, I thought of choosing one, Edward Ibeh, a true gentleman in my eyes, who never comes to limelight, except for the contests he holds from time to time.
E - Effective words in place, a poet’s grace.
D - Diligent in duties and devoted to virtue in every place.
W- Wisdom and humility combine in this forbearing soul.
A - Authentic heart that cherishes life in its whole.
R - Radiates kindness like a guiding light.
D - Dignified in character, making many hearts bright.
I – Illustrious poet with a passion for his art, so genuine.
B - Braving adversities, in family and community shine.
E - Elevates fellow poets, giving due respect to all.
H - Honorable in every way, he's a gentlemanly soul.
At my first sight of him,
I saw such a benevolence,
the Cuban youth with mocha skin
and bright root beer-brown eyes,
he only loved me,
I, a frivolous woman.
He was nineteen, I was twenty-two,
his steadfast devotion of heart,
my UK heritage fire.
How I wish I could send him a message
through the timelessness of poetry,
breathed into his dreams by an angel,
to say, when I think of us forty-three
years ago,
I sing a song of the sea.
We were U.S. Navy recruits in the
challenges of boot camp.
He thought my plain looks were
beauteous,
he, so serene and gentlemanly,
what a man should be.
He gave me an engagement ring,
when we graduated that hot
Orlando, Florida day,
the loving man too good for me,
how I hurt his truest of cherish,
he only loved me,
the woman of a thousand fragments.
Not long after he went out to the
vasty romantic sea,
I wrote him ending our engagement,
I never saw him again.
The years a flash of decades,
that brought my sorrow in tidal waves.
When I set sail in my elder's nocturnal
sleeping sojourns,
I think of him as my memories soar
as if an oceanic bird,
and awake-
to sing a song of the sea. ~
Arrogant hornless bull from farm roots
Dressing in dapper gentlemanly tweed suits
Topping his shirt with a gorgeous striped tie
Some of the cows in the pen say “my oh my!”
What is it about a suit? The blue collared bull asks.
Upset with their feminine wiles, his face is not masked.
He gives the hornless bull a nod with his mean hoof.
Do not ask me for a selfie, for I have no evidence or proof.
Sometimes I wonder what it would be
Like to just sit, just you and just me
And not say a word yet in silence speak loud
Through hearts via hands, honored and proud
That my hand is holding yours, soft to the touch
Your hands are so lovely, I want to so much
Lift them and kiss them gentlemanly
You're so charming, a woman of elegancy
There’s a Nobel Prize for Peace
There’s probably one for war
I’d like to plead the case
For adding just one more
They say he was just a hungry toff
Feeling the need of a quick snack
Between some few games of cards
Thus allowing him quickly back
To those gentlemanly pursuits
Worthy of a man of his station
But to all us modern rushed folk
He’s the benefactor of the nation.
Johnson perfected dictionaries
Wellington his really useful boots
Worthy causes there no doubt
Scarce worth the merest of hoots
Compared to Earl of Sandwich
With his eponymous fast food
Easily and quickly adapted
To every nuance and mood
So lift your glasses please
Ply toasts upon the head
Of the man who first invented
Fun with two slices of bread
All hail to thee, John Montagu
The world doth owe great debt to you
Never shout, but wait for a moment
Kindly reserve every bad comment
Show not openly your emotion
As it may lead to sad demotion
Check your tongue with caution
Interact with great forevision
When someone is really wrong
To inform him, never prolong
Do it in a gentlemanly way
Help all and positively stay
Rectify the errors of all
By being a lovely pal
To err is no doubt human
As it is the most common
When you point out the mistake
No one's heart you must break
Very wisely tackle the World
World will supply you gold
If your words comfort and soothe
Your life will become fully smooth.
Father's love is unique for every daughter
That makes her confident, vigor and stronger
He is the one giving all his powers
Making her daughter smile by the blessings he showers
No alternative of him could be ever found
He is indeed the treasure buried under the ground
He is like a burning candle giving away his light
Carving the path to walk and clearing the sky for flight
His love is godly that is free of cost
He serves us like guest and considers himself a host
But my life has become dark since he had gone
I can't find that love and mercy he had shown
I wish he had lived more to love me with gentlemanly charm
And protect me from every trouble and harm
He is sleeping deep there in his grave
No one is here to make me strong and brave
Dad! please come to my dream, I want to see you
You are my hero and yes I love you
May God bless His Mercy upon you over and over
May you rest with peace in Heaven forever.
Faerie Leaf had no idea of her loveliness, being raised by two brothers
Her lithe light movements and her delicate ways were noted by others
She is gorgeous and kind. She has a loving heart, said men’s mothers.
They wanted her for their sons. Some of them tended to smother.
Faerie Leaf enjoyed the attention but was not puffed up or proud.
She did not enjoy meeting people who were boastful, arrogant or loud.
She had several faeries to chose from out of the mystical faerie crowd.
She chose the most gentlemanly faerie, the only one who bowed.
You made me a whore
In the guise of romance
Blond, blue-eyed
Skin like a porcelain god
Decent enough to pass
For a real boyfriend
With your gentlemanly
Opening of doors
And your macho job
Operating a bus
All you wanted I willingly gave
For the things you paid
The giant buffets
The bowling games
Then a stroke took away
Half the man you were
Left your right hand
Right foot paralyzed
I wonder what you can still do
With your good hand and foot
Ninety pounds gone
The spark still in your eyes
~Frosty Interlude~
She ambled in the frosty woods.
Wondering, if with her imbalance
problems and her cane, if she should.
Still, she forged ahead bravely through
slippery branches and dead grass,
Till the world tilted and she went
crashing onto her _ss!
As luck would have it, a fellow-
canes-man was there.
He greeted her and brushed the
dead leaves and frost from her
graying, full head of hair.
Stood the grateful woman up,
and took her to his gentlemanly
lair.
Hot chocolate and cookies were
placed on the table.
He gave her a warm, Turkish towel,
to dry her long hair, making her
serenely comfortable.
They spent that entire November
day together!
A day she will always with sweet
thoughts and in her heart, fondly
cherish and remember!
11/1/2019
Musical rainbeats
Harmonize upon the roof
Static on the radio
A love song, a love dance
Our feet slide in step
There is the heat of
Your hands on my waist
The nearness of your face
Your amber eyes radiate gold
And I don't know where to look-
I think about another
I said "Forever" to
Our forever did not
survive two summers
I wonder if I can ever believe
In forever, again
Silence too potent
We untangle, unlock
"Thank you for the pleasure of your company,"
You say, in your winsome, gentlemanly way
"You don't have to go; this was all I wanted,"
I almost say - but don't
Because it wasn't all I wanted
In my memory, we are
silhouettes in moonlight.
9/12/18
On our first date I was breathless and nervous,
Trying to be engaging, but doing lip service.
Our hands brushed at dinner and I did not dismiss,
I looked into his eyes, and wondered how he would kiss…
When we left the restaurant he put his arm around my waist,
And I could feel the electricity where his fingers were placed.
He opened my door like a gentlemanly date,
And he had me intrigued as to the next move he would make.
Then suddenly he crushed me in his arms so tight,
I could hardly breathe, but could see his face in the moonlight.
He kissed me slowly and deliciously, and I didn’t want it to end.
As first dates go, this was definitely a ten!
Looking for Carl Sandburg
almost one hundred years
after your Chicago apologetic
i am searching for century-old signs of the city
rushing to see them in a few too-short days
when it is bundled in
cloud and rain and mist and fog
but the bold Big Shoulders are still there
braced against that famous wind
cocooning the brash and brazen young man
defiantly declaring the city as a
titan of industry
but still
on street corner after street corner
the polite poor sing to the city
jangling coins in paper cups
pauper islands in a luxurious sea of
business – industry – culture
almost one hundred years on
looking for signs of your city
i finally sense a shadow of you
sauntering down a grey sidewalk
in the mist and fog
your charcoal coat open – flapping
in the wind
your grey-white hair swept sideways
in that gentlemanly style
yet you are only almost visible
like a water-thin reflection or
a film of clouds backlit by
the inconstant moon
your steel eyes ponderous
your lips a solid line
the words to call your name
are as much an apparition as you
disappearing around the corner
a wraith in the mist
Sub Categories
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.