Unfilled to over-flowing,
as was her bottle of tears,
with weeping for the fallen woman,
while from her lips to God's ears...
said the Mother Superior,
“I have completely lost track
of how often the Archbishop and I,
wearing ashes and cloth sacks,
crept into the crypt
and made the beast with two backs.
Altho' no one can hold a candle,
to his Grace, yes,
not even the Venerable Abbess,
flagellation notwithstanding,
as a nun married to You,
who committed sacrilege,
I'm ashamed to confess,
I broke your Lord's Commandment
as an unrepentant adulteress.”
A rose as it grows has no cute little nose
Has no voice that can drive a man wild
Has no eyes to ensnare any man who looks there
Has no cheeks that might flush if he smiled
No saunter, no wiggle, no fun little giggle
No sharp and intelligent mind
No power to make any timid man wriggle
No humour, no shapely behind ;-)
No way to say yes to a white wedding dress
No way to agree to be mine
No way can a rose hold a candle to you
Though a rose can be rather divine
So a rose can coerce many men into verse
For a rose has its own beauty too
Yet a rose that you chose for your bouquet or hair
Shall take mere second billing to you
Isn't she a sight?
Her inner nature has began to take flight.
No person on Earth will ever hold a candle
to the beauty of her inner wisdom.
Years of lessons to sift through
before she would see herself in that same view.
She wanted to give up.
She tried to tap out.
God just kept telling her
there was a purpose for the pain
and everything would not likely sound sane.
That pain she lived and the love she lost
was all paid with the highest cost.
She was determined to show the world of truth
Just how they had managed to continue the growth.
If you got to see the reality of the person she is within,
then know that mind of hers is always going to win.
She cried and begged for the pain to certainly end,
yet there she was,
the rock and hard place
and the pin would do her in.
She was nowhere near perfect
but her soul was full of a fire.
God would always re-stoke her
and the blaze would be higher.
No man can oppose the truth of her survival.
How else did she live
in the faces of her rivals?
I’m sitting here wondering
how I made it through the day.
My heart aches, my eyes are swollen.
My wish to have you back is not a reality.
The stark truth is
you are never coming back.
Last Christmas, we celebrated
the whole day with you—
knocking on your door at dawn,
sharing a breakfast feast
around your table.
So much happiness and love
surrounded us
on that fateful day of 2023.
So much hope for the new year,
ending the year skating with the family.
I would have held you longer.
I would have told you I love you every second.
I would have stared into your eyes
and breathed in your aura.
I would.
I would.
I would.
But I no longer can.
Now, the world is not as bright.
A big piece of the puzzle is missing.
Your energy, your smile, your kindness—
taken for granted when you had breath.
No one can hold a candle to you.
You are a shining star,
beaming so brightly down on us.
A somber Christmas
Remembering,
and missing
YOU.
The VOW
I can't recall the day or time when I fell for you,
That precious, defining moment when I grew fond of you.
That's how much I have grown obsessed with you.
But I guess the answer lies deep inside,
In the once-empty void I call my eyes.
spend a lot of sleepless nights thinking about how all this is going to play out.
You wanna hear my vow so bad, it makes you shout.
Sadly, despite the volumes of dictionary and literature I seem to consume, I can't find words that hold a candle to you.
I can't bear the thought of anything being a fluke.
Through the bloom of spring to the harvest of autumn. All I know, today, yesterday, and tomorrow,
Is that I will love you through joy, rain, sunshine, and sorrow.
My leaves never droop and my flowers stand high
I bloom through the year as the seasons pass by
I witness the daffodils stand proud and tall
I see warmer weather put paid to them all
The alliums follow, the marigolds too
Then plants that will flower the whole summer through
Impressive by some standards, you might agree
But none of these plants hold a candle to me
The roses come close as they bloom into fall
And still here I stand as I scrutinise all
I watch as the wind brings down apples and pears
I won’t drop my leaves but I see them drop theirs
For I was put here by a man with a spade
Because it gets hot and there isn’t much shade
And all year I brighten this spot where I’m placed
I’m plastic - and there’s no accounting for taste
stars at night too hot — to handle
sizzling their light can't hold — a candle
February 26, 2023
A New Crystalline - Any Theme Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Tania Kitchin
I seek it here, seek it there
I cannot find this L word anywhere
L is the start of many words
Some of which are never heard
When going to kindy or at school
Is it because L isn't cool
Like Lancelot and Lalawithika
(I don't think that names a sticker)
Lalawithika, what a handle
It does not hold a candle
To other names like Milton
Milton, who lived at the Hilton
With his parents and brother, Mel
Milton's first name began with L
Perhaps L. Milton is too shy
To let us into his secret why
He does not use this letter, so
We may never know
Why Milton will not tell
Milt's reply:
LOL, Shirley. I'm glad I inspired you to write a poem. Okay, so I've never been called by my first name, even in childhood. My first name was the name of a rich old uncle who died and left me nothing.....what were my parents thinking? I've always been called "Milt" or "Hank" (in the military). Please feel free to call me "Milt" and resign yourself to never knowing what the L stands for. LOL
My reply:
So pleased the poem made you smile, Milt...Give my regards to your brother Mel. Thank goodness L will always remain unknown to me now. LOL...
I wrote this in May last year.
O Greta, dear Greta of Huskey Mountain Road,
If I loved you more, my heart would explode.
It has been a blessing to know you this year,
To watch you grow bigger and ever more dear.
I can’t hold a candle to love that is true,
A love that would die for both me and for you.
The universe expands; it never contracts;
That’s God making room for the love he enacts,
And all the small children whom He calls His own,
He calls them by name, before they have grown.
For all else is rubbish, yes, all else debris,
Compared to the knowledge that Christ’s calling me.
And so, my dear Greta, I fervently pray
The gift of salvation is coming your way.
----------
(a birthday card inscription on the occasion of Greta’s 2nd birthday - found in a file on the computer - she just turned 3...)
Santa Claus, a man born for the Anniversary of Jesus our savior Babe
Another year has passed. As we celebrate the Anniversary of Christ
Rays of light benignly shine on a makeshift stable. It's an Anniversary set
Aside for the Savior of the world. We take delight, in his Holy Anniversary.
King of Jews, Almighty One, Abba, Advocate, we could never repay you for this
Event. You deserve to be honored each December heart and soul. Its Buon
Natale in Italy, Joyeux Noel in France, frohe Weihnachten in German. As we
Devote ourselves to commemorating your special day, we gather around and
Resurrect your birth through celebration and song. We know that you are the
Instrumental object of our Saving Grace. You are, "King of The World"
Christmas is s time of year when we celebrate the Anniversary of Jesus.
Kris Kringle can't hold a candle to you, you are Our Leading Star.
Oct 9 2022
Sponsor Sara Kendrick (Happy Anniversary Sara)
Contest Name Anniversary
Wherever you go, don't forget
Bring your own sunshine along
To brighten up the path you travel
Singing a happiness song
It's certainly possible, look at me
Can't wipe this smile from my face
Mona Lisa can't hold a candle to Jacko
Brightening the darkest place
Am I happy with my life so far
Bet yer sweet bippie I am
Was never much of a complainer ever
Or a down-in-the-mouth type man
So wherever you go, don't forget
Give everyone a big high five
Never leave home without your sunshine
You'll brighten up so many lives
If poems come from out of the air,
At the moment, I should go there'
I could have a poetry fest,
Only choosing the very best.
Shelley would not hold a candle to me,
As I float around aimlessly.
Hoping that I'll be inspired,
Before I get too old and tired.
To pen something that pulls heartstrings,
Or poetry that takes on wings.
And flies so high,
Up in the sky.
It captivates and fills a need,
When people read,
Poetry, Poetry soothes the soul,
Unfortunately, my muse and pen are in control.
If poems do come out of the air,
My brain will not allow me to visit there.
I seek it here, seek it there
I cannot find this L word anywhere
L is the start of many words
Some of which are never heard
When going to kindy or at school
Is it because L isn't cool
Like Lancelot and Lalawithika
(I don't think that names a sticker)
Lalawithika what a handle
It does not hold a candle
To other names like Milton
Milton who lived at the Hilton
With his parents and brother Mel
Milton's first name began with L
Perhaps L. Milton is too shy
To let us into his secret why
He does not use this letter, so
We may never know
Why Milton will not tell
Sweet 16, Sealed in Wax
Nothing compares, can't hold a candle,
To our togetherness in love,
Hand in hand we share our "One-dle",
As a ship in harbor, we nestle in our cove!
Nothing's like sweet sixteen,
Enamored , married & matched to Barbara,
"Aishes Chayil" humble yet royal queen,
She has "tzniusly" survived Chaim's parabola!
16 annuals as one, traditionally one gifts wax,
Not diamonds nor strings of pearls,
Our companion hood Bananagrams max,
Together, our joy unfurls!
Also known as Blooma Yehudis,
"Blossom of Thankfulness" is her label,
Such crocus lotus presence is greater than Buddha's,
Barbara's loyal! Her love sturdy as a cable!
Sweet 16 flies by like an arrow,
Bezrat Hashem, we'll be together for many more,
This verse is composed in Chaim's marrow,
There's affection aplenty yet in store!
Barbara's put up with O.C.D. plus Ataxia,
How? Chaim in gratitude, quietly thunders & wonders,
Worse than raining "Cats & Dogs", worse than "Hailing Taxis",
Barbara patiently endures Chaim's blatant blunders!
A touch of smooth ivory, brought laughter to your eyes.
That familiar gazing giggle that creates such a mess,
no truth fortelling nor desiring ever to confess..
bristled in numb hands wrought in unquieted disguise.
Is it too much that I ask? a few fresh ground beans,
shouted impatiently at the empty vessel.
The smell of coffee chiding me as I wrestle..
empty cup bask'd in dream; of one sugar, one cream.
Could you see me turning red with every turn that flaunted,
did guilty pleasure spread, leaving with little other choice.
Or was it embarrassment heard in that admiring voice.
A valentine chore done just for you was all I wanted.
'Oh honey let me help you', whispered into my flushed cheek.
I don't hold a candle to you dear, a truth clear to see..
As you drew near I heard two soft kind lips say,
'My love you're turning the handle the wrong way'.
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