First, love hears the bell
before the hand has touched it
dawn before daybreak—
Reactions are quick and sure,
latency's irrelevant.
Later, there's a pause
a brief delay in response,
as both already
know what to say, why, and when
and then, how each one will react
Next maturity
permits an intermission,
hearth-warm brief silences
in the shared conversations,
a time to trust the givens.
Misunderstanding
blooms slowly in known voices—
old maps for new roads
the old answers come too soon,
not from who stands at the door.
So love must relearn
the true art of latency—
to pause—then reply
with enough consistency
to stave off complacency.
Rayland Givens is getting old.
He's still quick on the draw,
but now he's more internally aware,
more thoughtful as he shoots
his Glock 19 into hearts and guts.
He's grown, matured,
i hate that,
in his youth he used to quip
humorous asides as he shot the bad guys.
He had anger, I mean real anger,
and that made him interesting.
Now he's older
and looks like he wants to go fishing
or write a poem or two.
I am almost overwhelmed
with sadness.
I still like his hat.
forgot how to smile
can't feel the sun
each second hated more
than the one before
pressed too hard
deep is despair
hopeless used to be fun
so far from the beguns
all my givens up
tears are crying for themselves
passed numb so long ago
please let me go
there is nothing else inside
stopped life
hurt needs to be felt
pain needs a receptor
but all inside is broke
please let me go
there is nothing else inside
please
I will place my law within them
And write upon their hearts
I will be their God
And they will be my people.
Jeremiah 31:33
Back in our student days
We learned how bills become laws
How ideas
Written pieces of paper make their way through the legislative process to help us live our lives together in community
Laws
Properly written and lived by
Lead to harmony
Ensure justice for all
God’s laws
Found in the Old Testament
Reinforced by the teachings of Jesus
Are written on the hearts of Go’s faithful
Lead us to recognize
The central place of God in our life
The instiller of laws that have their foundation in the greatest of all God’s commandments
We must love God
Love one another
It is love that is written in our hearts
Love that leads to many harmony
And justice for all
Steve Givens
Turned to Poetry: Jac R. M.
Poetry Form: Free Verse
Got a fierce understanding for the Lord
But I know you don't understand
Why? Ya misbehaven now
But I got me free choice see
I got a fierce understanding of the Lord
And my understanding is
That once I've repented
And I've resented
Been forgiven
Now I'm winnin
Been giving mercy
Mus B thankful
Filled wit thanks givens
Got ta C Him ( hymns ) for mice self
Don't take ma word for it
Ya, gotta C Him for your self
This is how I see it I was going to be it
I got a fierce understanding of the Lord
5/19/20
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr 2020
From Anthology "God You Are More Than a Song"
Religion has too many givens,
the takeaways few, far between
Questioning ravaged, intelligence savaged
—the mind left to wander and dream
(Bryn Mawr College: February, 2020)
Undisturbed, they'll tend their own business
Without any pseudo fear.
History, mystery and strength comes to mind
When I think of bees.
B is for brutality to some bees
B stands for black obsidian, like gem of honey bees
B is for invisible bloodshed some of us never see.
I think of the bold, the beautiful family of bees
Spreading love like honey, all across the globe.
Bees are as boundless as time
Their language you can comprehend, because
Nature has it; bees were first in our world.
B is for bright works saving at least one soul
B stands for the blind tasting honey, then did what was right
B is the queen bee venerated by all.
Black, brown and yellow bees of profound givens,
It takes an extraordinary sensuous person, to
Fully understand bees.
The solemn lives of bees have been underestimated
Down through the passage of time, but
No weapon formed against them shall prosper.
*
Let those who see fit dwell in empty rooms
Enveloped by darkness, not understood
Drenched in self-pity that loudly consumes
A world they've chosen, I care not nor would
As though their pains run deeper or longer
A blackened hood of loneliness to wear
Invisible disguise, to seem stronger
This fatal thought of illusion, life cares
First and last breath are both silent givens
The world between is but a changing choice
Decisions decided, never forgiven
When the heart and head speak with separate voice
Lonely the rooms filled with cries from hearts lyre
A song of sorrow and anguished desire
4/17/14
survival is a plot-
not some innate
thirst, nor the
curse of life.
so many lives
criss-crossed
wide open acres
of paths lost.
there are no
more choices,
decisions are
givens & living
is a story
retold. i have
the secret, the
non-life- i keep
it locked, i keep
it cold. the secret
is old, i have yet
to know. when i
hold my breath
to tickle death,
to feel my parts
unfold- i know it's
there. for the rest,
i don't care, i can't
worry, i can't what-
if, i can't let it go.
Every lesson earned
Should be a lesson learned
Some lessons hard
Some not so bad
Some have made you laugh
Other's have made you sad
Through it all, you should live, learn and grow
The book "A Journey of Life's Lessons" (short stories in poetic form of inspiration
and self reflection)
by C.L.Givens. It will have contents pertaining to you or someone you know
Check it out at Amazon.com
Buy it for yourself or for a loved one
Peace & Blessings
There was a strange whisper at first
A strange light in the distance as well
Yet a pure comfort had felt like love
Of silence in a mind… withheld
And the dark was seen clearer then the light
Encompassing all there was... untouch
Like life known to have lived to have died
Beautiful, if only to perceive as such
Time was of no relevant here
Perhaps only dreams can be welcomed as close
It seem a place enriched of after fear
Those of where honest hearts never flow
And moving in the stillness of time
Yearnings were alluring, feelings were forsaking
It feels and it felt to be a million years behind
Troubles as troubling yet desired in desiring
From without… within… chants withheld and I withhold
Yet, all was forgotten…deprive of a place to stay
And I couldn’t sympathize with the givens to enfold
And I know, no more am I entitled to remember this day
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.