The preacher told the crowd to go home and love
on their family
You to the far right and back of me
can't know
that the warmth of blankets keep me home
How many doorways should I enter
holding out for hope?
The sprawl in my chest
pulsing from upset
is often tamed
enough to wake and earn my wage
Bartering with God
my soul the fee
May it go unnoticed
that it's a worthless thing
I make no promises
I take no oath
Just living until all the stops just go
I'm a tired thing
spinning in circles
believing the path
however just tracks
of the other lost and fallen
I'll wait on God
Surely He sees
that I am wrapping myself up
Silly clumsy little sheep
Burning like fever in the spring
our love affair was on the wing
then drifted away on the summer wind
now I'm thinking of you
how good it used to be
holding on to precious memories
and every teardrop has a tale to tell
every teardrop fills a wishing well
changing like autumn leaves that fall
your love it comes and goes
then melts away with the winter snows
and I'm dreaming of you
things we used to do
holding out for those eyes of blue
and every teardrop it blinds reminds
every little teardrop brings me back to you
would that I could
say the words to mend
the heartache heartbreak
of this summer's end
"REMEMBER"
Remember. I remember the pain passing away.
I watched as the pain numbly died to itself, to the
deaths I have caused,
shredding softened hearts.
Remember. I remember the past,
Holding out hope for mere laughter.
At this, I laughed until I cried.
Hope…
An unfortunate weak child.
Cancer, I believe;
I did not cry for Hope, this time.
Remember. I remember I spat-
promises to love-
countless promises spoken in vain.
Abandoned vows, dropped on fault lines.
All-my-fault-lines
But, too, I remember…. I…
I remember being invisible and you could not see.
I was trying to draw you closer.
Hoping to lay you down.
The vaulted sky set
with stars, water lapping the pier
in prayer and all around me,
the late evening air still warm
from the day. What holds this
all together also holds me
in the moment, the gentle breeze
that is blowing in from the sea
is my breath, the restlessness
that moves deep below
the surface calm
is my restlessness.
I am tired of holding out,
at times thrashing against gravity
to preserve the subterfuge of me.
Be it alone or a part of the evening
in its quiet rest, the drift of the tides
and the star filled heavens
arched in splendor above me,
we are all being drawn inextricably
towards a somewhere, knowingly
or unaware, joyously or in fear,
towards home.
I had not seen her since she was a baby
her mother wanted to name her Naomi
in Japanese this meant straight, direct and beautiful
her father was holding out for Himari, after her mother
Himari means sunflower
Himari had been a marvelous little girl
a curious risk taker who loved life
she had an enthusiastic need to learn new things
at twenty-eight she showed continuing intelligence
we met, and she was polite, pleasant, and brilliant
I told her stories about her parents, and she was grateful.
She rarely met people who knew them before they knew her.
I remarked on her glorious eyes and her marvelous listening skills.
She was the best lunch partner I had ever known.
I knew I would never forget her and I never have.
the luminous nature of our Self
is playful and spontaneous
formless with full freedom
positioned in singularity
choosing to don a form
to feel winds of duality
that love be ingrained
and embodied within
with this knowing
we mindfully cognise
underlying unity of life
propelled by will of God
treading gently on earth
oozing loving compassion
holding out a helping hand
to all souls we chance to meet
I had a dream of heaven, in the dream, I saw the new Jerusalem coming out of heaven and hovering above the earth. The fanfare of bright angels and trumpets filled the air. God was standing to my right, holding out white garments that were so pure they looked like gold.
An angel was standing to my left and had a scroll with the names of God's jewels on it. When he called my name, I was lifted before God. God said something to me, and He placed a robe on me, I was then lifted into heaven's tranquility.
The scene was one of pure holiness as angels moved about. I never felt such deep peace and happiness as I experienced in my dream. As I moved around in heaven, I knew it was because of God's salvation plan that paid my passage to be there.
The atmosphere was refreshing a place I had never seen before and when I woke and realized I was still in bed I closed my eyes and went back to bed.
you owe me an apology
you owe me better
you owe me promises and dreams
you owe me the sun and the moon
you owe me better
i haven't given up on us
but i'm holding out
for better
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Amour
comes with its price
masked armour
worn fiercely
by dark nights
eventually
lifted
for love or folly
facing what’s
in front of you
the past
dark knights
removed
the once broken
now unbreakable
the veiled
amour
unveiled
Armour
comes with its price
arrives brandishing
like a sword its prize
delivers its secrets
all in good time
gauntlets
thrown down
wrists and palms
exposed, holding out
for the crown
all for Amour
the darkest night
light shining knight
bare faced and naked
at a Sovereign's feet
eventually
kneels down
Candide Diderot. ‘24
amour
armour
night
knight
I’m in awe of Fannie, my female Coton del Tulear
since her pups were born, realizing now.
She just played the idiot for our amusement,
climbing on, and bouncing off furniture,
she knows damn well, 'she’s not allowed on'.
Running around after the old lady’s cat,
(one of my favorites)
her small enough to get anywhere the cat could.
Sorta evening up the outcome of the whole chase, but.
This not eating sometimes for days holding out for
table scraps.
Her worst bad habit bothers me the most.
I'm in awe of Fannie.
Now at first whimper from those pups of hers.
She’s up and running to them, and.
Did you know, the mom dog licks the pup’s genitals
to make them go to the bathroom, and then, eats or
drinks their waste when they do.
As far as I’m concerned.
She could have those damn table scraps when
those pups of hers are gone.
She’s earned them.
Lee had dreamed of a woman with blue eyes.
It is only a dream! Everyone told him.
I think she is my soul mate, he said.
I am holding out for her.
He held out and held out and held out.
The only sibling in his family who was not married.
His family was hounding him now.
They wanted him married and happy.
I have not found her! He persisted.
Finally they wore him down.
He dated a girl with brown eyes.
At their wedding dance he saw the girl with the blue eyes.
Three little old ladies came to Chester’s door
He did not know it but he had met them all before.
One had lived with him and took care of his children four.
Another he had been engaged too, but jilted with the girl next door.
The girl next door was the last one to arrive, she was holding out tea.
It is rather delicious, she told him, our secret womanly apricot recipe.
The police had no clues that day in the death of Chester.
The three hags went home grinning and said, “now we go after Fester.”
Fester was Chester’s twin, and he had been evil to them too.
They frequented his Michigan doorstep at a quarter past two.
Come in! He said. I have been expecting some gorgeous gals like you.
They watched him as he tasted their offering and turned a brilliant blue.
It’s only another day without you
When nobody’s around I crave for you
It’s only another day without you
Holding out my heart for you
So take it with care cause I crave you
It’s just another day without you
If I could take you close I would kiss you
If I kiss you I will crave you
Everyday
Largely overlooked
Juneteenth Independence Day, Freedom Day
Emancipation Day – commemorates the end of slavery
In the United States
Most States that is
There are 20 states still holding out
In 1863 slaves were freed
Texas withheld the information
It wasn't until 1865 that the slaves were
finally told by soldiers at the end of the war.
Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into
Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3
Proclaiming that the enslaved
African Americans there were free.
Let us be brave and not hide history and rejoice in
the emancipation day.
I've bridged
the space between
the page and your eyes
with these words,
now they are easing
their way in,
brushing past a memory
or a feeling, still fresh
from yesterday or lingering
in the mind from years ago,
a joy or a hurt, a hollow
that has never
quite closed over.
I will rest here awhile
and reach out
to that trembling
presence that always
seems to stay hidden
in your shadows,
too afraid to draw near.
I will gather words
to slowly shape
its face into form
so that you may
recognise who it is
as it comes closer,
holding out its arms,
asking, after all this time,
to be loved.
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