By the street lamp I savor
my cherry-cola snow cone
while licking deliciousness
from a mound of shaved ice as
I slowly sip its sweet tang
and relish at intervals
nibbles from a lemon bar
whose icing gladdens my tongue
After the concert
Now, in the afternoon of my life
My thoughts are about love and romance
These pesky things are disturbing
My tough exterior makes me soft and weepy
When no one looked is now in front and
Naked I appear; yes, you old fool
Words of love and music for the heart
Make me cry and loosen the knot of old
Resentment tells me nothing matters
Except loving someone and not being afraid
Love is the freedom that gladdens the
Tired heart and cleanses the dust that fell
On wisdom and truth
After The Storm
Now that the spring tempest is over and the ground
is littered with twigs and juicy, green leaves flung
off mother tree long before they should, it gladdens
the woods that the old oak still stands although it is
almost hollow inside and is home to a family of foxes,
myriads of insects, and a 40 years old bachelor hawk.
It is the oldest wild tree around; there is an older
one though an olive tree that still remembers when
Roman soldiers marched through here and the young
centurion who rested in its shadow, fell asleep and
dreamt of becoming a new Cesar. Whether he made
it or not the olive has no way of knowing. The reason
other trees were glad the oak endure is that that its
presence gives them the hope of longevity
The sight of a peacock gladdens my heart.
Is this because it's a form of fine art?
Good things are going to happen, my mind says.
Is a peacock, in any way, a whiz?
A black cat crosses my day-to-day way.
I am doomed—in my heart of hearts, I say.
Impulsively I press the reverse gear.
The sounds of souls and ghosts, within I hear
While the squeak of a squirrel is a fun
At the sight of an owl, why should I run?
Fear of death strikes me when I see a bat.
Diseases cease me when seeing a rat.
Why should blossoms fear the thorns around them?
Should, for the whims of snakes, the birds succumb?
Doesn't the sense of fear dwell in one's mind?
Shutting the sight of faith, should one be blind?
Portrait
This portrait of you gladdens me
It looks like you; depravity
you’d hate it, friend
it’s pitiless,
displays your foul malignity.
Your smile, well
it’s ominous
vampiric canine alias.
The painter tried to hide that smirk
to cover sleaze in fancy dress,
not all paint can cover murk.
He captured your peculiar quirk,
that nostril flare of snobbery
you were a nasty piece of work.
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Skin bright,eyes shine brighter than the noon's ray.
A smile that gladdens the heart of a weary stranger,
And causes death to sigh in envy.
Shall I compare thee to the volcano?
The eyes of molten magma.
Piercing stare that melts the heart of the proudest man,
And the face that consumes one with awesome delight.
Shall I compare thee to the brightest star?
For your skin shines like the angel that you already are.
A face that causes the gloomy hell to shine bright,
And my stony heart,to leap in fiery delight.
What else shall I compare thee to?
For your beauty is greater than the diamonds too.
And your sunny face,
A testament of nature's ways.
Always do your best; that is right
such brings fulfillment to the heart
granting you God's joyous delight.
Always trust the great Lord; so true
such verily gladdens the soul
smiting feelings, gloomy and blue.
Always practice kindness; oh, sure
such builds up good and firm friendship
creating fellowship pleasure.
Always stay teachable; yes, check
such smites folly and deceit's pest
shielding from ignorance-caused wreck.
Always reign against hate; seek peace
such rancor inflicts guilty pain
exposing well-being’s disease.
Always seek to rejoice*; be nice
such forgiveness-bliss melts despair
along reconciliation price.
Always be a blessing; so pray
such indeed shows your genuine love
illumined by Christ's gracious ray.
*Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
August 7, 2023
3rd place, "Letter to My Children or to my Unborn" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Anoucheka Gangabissoon; judged on 10/5/2023
Love’s melody has Midas touch
Love says it all and means so much
Love is leaving the world behind
Love generates one’s peace of mind.
Loving someone above all else
That's the real meaning of wealth
Love’s truly what happiness is
Pure contentment and joyful bliss.
Love’s the key that opens one’s heart
Together always from the start
Bountiful blessings come what may
A gift that’s opened every day.
Love raises and gladdens the soul
Love makes your world special and whole
The seed that brings doting displays
And fragrance to auspicious days.
Love is what keeps the flame alight
Boosts the day and enchants the night
Love with all your dynamic knack
Love will come boomeranging back.
Tho' life has many swerves and turns
Love's candle consistently burns
Love gives a reason for living
Love means trusting and forgiving.
Love's a song as precious as gold
A melody one’s heart doth hold.
The scent of reading,
It pervades our chambers,
The dew of knowledge,
It moisturises our being.
The scent of reading,
It diffuses into a hidden part,
Concealed in our subconscious mind,
Stealthily it comes to the fore when needed.
The scent of reading,
Like the aroma of flowers in spring,
It envelopes us,
We glide in its richness.
The scent of reading,
The luxury of its fragrance,
It chauffeurs through the door of insight,
We're haloed by its light.
The scent of reading,
It gladdens the heart,
We take flight on the wings of knowledge,
We're embellished with stars.
February 9, 2023.
Wine gladdens the heart, they say
I find it makes me drow-zay
Love flows through
The spirit who knows Him
The way, the truth, the life
Abiding on the inside
Whispering hope on the soul
Who hears His word
And knows…
The wonder of grace, precious faith
Raining through each prayer
Embracing the life who agrees…
His light reflects the passion, the praise
Of a heart who knows He is King
Love flows from the heart
Who hears His words and knows
There is joy for those who listen and receive
The beautiful promises of One who brings
Hope to the spirit, faith to the soul…
Love that inspires…
Hearts to know what it is
To believe in His assurances, His grace
The reflections of serenity
Brought to life in the souls of those who know Him
The One who is kind and wise and gives…
Every heart the spirit that comforts
The One who brings solace
The One who heartens
Love like this is complete
It stirs feelings of abiding relief
Gladdens the spirit and cheers the dreams
Of those who simply listen and believe
He is the way to find unending peace!
A Soul’s Breathing Way
Alleluia —my soul reaches — while
Presently
My body keeps still — only in the motion
Of breathing —
Unable to walk — I lie here
Riding time — through visions
over land and seas
Wild —
Without maps or measures — as
Before humanity determined
Moons or integers —
Alleluia — my soul discerns
Serenely
The musical turning of light
Lulling me along
To unset shores —
This ride to physical recovery —
Waiting —- wafting —
Will bear neither boredom nor
impatience —
While wending
Ever gently
On breathing’s rythm —
Alleluia — my soul gladdens
In songs of surrounding angels —
And is ever conscious —
To stay always praising —
Yahweh —
Three in One
Blessing — promises of
Breath and healing
I hold —
Alleluia —- my soul longs to sing
With a faith known
Prior to its birth or Eden
————————————————————————————-
(c) sally young eslinger 6/11/22
Glory to God….
What a great grandma I have.
Flowers come natural to her.
Now why can’t I too
Have green fingers like her?
End of September is the beginning of Fall.
Yellow sunflowers lower their head,
Harvest will start to produce oil.
My grandma has a few and a producer
Always comes to gather the wilting blooms.
The farmer always gives her bunches
Of blooming celosia., so stunning to look at.
Can you blame the young children
Who dare caress the soft curly heads?
Chrysanthemums flourish in her small garden
Where a patch is reserved for them all year long.
They flower all year long till autumn comes
And then they flourish all the more.
But my favourite flowers will always be
When Autumn gladdens grandma’s garden
With red Chinese Lanterns, a reminder
That Christmas is now so near.
Dear grandmother has a knack
As she wove them in garland form
Until Halloween is past and then
We’ll bury them with the rest.
9 December 2021
Strand No 1042 Poetry Contest
The morning came to me
With an unclear face
The sun shines bright in me
Than it has ever bless the sky
With a staggering feet i stood
Like a man ridiculed by strong wine
Words couldn't measure my mood
Nor the sweetness i felt inside
With a dim eyes of foggy visions
I stare like a partial blind man
With an empty head of no concentration
Lost i was in a world of unusual smiles
I wondered what gladdens my soul
With pleasures so unmeasured
Then i saw your naked star glow
And remembered our last night dance
Your fair figure rest on my bed
Like a seductive statue of romance
The pleasure play replays in my head
and tingles my erotic feelings
I was made hungry in satisfaction
The willing heart of a weak bone
I bow to you to admit every addiction
To your touches and fleshy warmth
With your caresses my little rod
Grew into a long and harder mantle
You made me speak in tongues of gods
Whenever I strike your open heaven
Your burning smoke of temptation
With body that makes me beg for more
Your curves of inhaling intoxication
That empties a man's heart of pains
Another Day
Night-time is my daytime spent wishing on a lonely star,
Silent thoughts of pain long spent.
Dreams and promises that came and went, simple songs of things never to be, the song of a bird in the dark lament’s the passing like the hands on a clock ticking away.
The passage of the moon through the midnight sky, velvet smooth onyx dark pierced by diamond glinting stars.
The sun shines it’s bright light dimmed by clouds masking all beneath, a mellow warmth gladdens all it touches like a newfound love or the sound of a new joyous birth.
Waves of happiness crash upon crumbling walls of despair built to protect from hurt and sorrow, a new time is forming new life beginning.
You came and stood by me not saying or asking, just showing what I was missing and the things that could be.
One day at a time, yesterday is gone and tomorrow is yet to be written, love to some is a game you whisper on the air take the chance and follow; lets step together and see another day as this slowly ends.
By
Patrick D
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