If Not Poems | Examples

what love could i seek if not yours?

what love could i seek if it’s not yours?
a joyous ode to your name— 
even sorrow would glee to hear.

i’ll leave some words on your doorstep
slowly relenting, slightly scrambling.

like the way they were in my tongue,
your name’s as sweet as the morning dew,
waiting for my lips to utter
each syllables describing all of you

don’t spare me from your benevolence
don’t spare me from your rage
don’t push me away when the voices 
get to the corners of your circle

breathe me in and hollow me out
let me hear the ache in your voice
before the wind’s whistle blow you away 
from me

How does one fill Silence, if not with awkward lines

How does one fill silence, if not with awkward lines 
I conjure up an emotion or sing a song 

How does one  fill silence, if not with awkward lines..
Should I drop a meme , a gif or stickers

How does one fill silence, if not with awkward lines …
Do I send a picture or a  trending video or reel

How does one fill silence, if not with awkward lines…
Tell you a story or ring in a favourite memory 

How does one fill the silence if not with awkward lines??
Silence is scary like some unknown is calling
Silence can be enlightening but not when I am craving  
Wanting to know your thoughts and wonders 
So forgive me …Oh and  just let me be seen ..
if I do end up filling silence with awkward lines!!


Premium Member if not now, when?

mesmerizing
the playful glitter
of ondulating waves
the sun beckons
come and play ~
there may not be another day



AP: Honorable Mention 2025

If Not For

If Not For


morning would be just morning
the sun would hide behind clouds
stillness would be without meaning
the road would lead to nowhere
the skies would be without promise
my life an empty page

                                              Dreams

morning would be a life bursting forth
the sun would share its light
stillness would burst into chorus
the road would lead to stars
the skies would be an ocean
my life a book of poems

(folding mirror style)

If Not For Christ

If Not For Christ
by Lanier Thomas

If not for Christ I am aware I’d be dead.
When I was young I was quite out of my head.
The wrong things controlled me. I thought it was I.
Jesus still loved me. I have no idea why.

Like a light in the darkest of stormy nights,
Or when the waves crashed about and gave me frights,
Jesus was there and lifted me in His arms
And carried me safely from all of the harms.

I owe Him my freedom, which I did not know.
I owe Him my life that I had squandered so.
I cannot repay Him for His affection,
Love is all He asks for His intervention.


Premium Member If Not Truth Then What

If not truth

Then what

Pretence and distance

Simply…..not a lot!


Insincerity and dishonesty

Echoed through hollow words

Spoken 

Though never truly heard


Trust diminished

Destroyed by lies

Perpetual doubt 

Relationship demise

Premium Member TO Jane: if not here, I'll see you up there

Jane who long the 
road-to-self-discovery,
married and living
in Carter's wake--turned leaf o'er
Reagan's Mid-East, ALL MY BEST

If Not For The Flowers

I could deny,
God in everything,
But for the Flowers.

Alarm, if not smoke is there, anymore!

The ceiling fan orbiting, on and on
reminded after many spectacular nights,though,not this. 
Pulchritude perhaps begins before Paul care.

The window pen hardly opened these days.
reminded me, that I, will need to see before eyes gaze anymore.
Ponderance, perhaps nurture before a short story

The art piece, the paperweight or the color pencils too
skins often are preferable with peach color.
or a healing hand with a giggle almost gargling there.

"Whom, did you see in me? Your substantial one?"

If Not For You

If not for you, I wouldn't know
What true love really meant.
I'd never feel this inner peace;
I couldn't be content.

If not for you, I'd never have
The pleasure of romance.
I'd miss the bliss, the craziness,
Of love's sweet, silly dance.

I have to feel your tender touch;
I have to hear your voice;
No other one could take your place,
You're it; I have no choice.

If not for you; I'd be adrift;
I don't know what I'd do,
I'd be searching for my other half,
Incomplete, if not for you.

Premium Member If Not For Love

If not for love, the world is lost
    on storms at sea, mankind is tossed

  If dawns the morn, o'er dry land
    man has a chance ~ to try again

If Not For Sky

"if not for sky"

if not for sky would there be light
light from the moon that guides
guides us through silence of darkness

yet if not for sky would there be warmth
warmth from the sun that radiates
radiates from early dawn to dusk of night

too if not for sky would there be rainbows
rainbows that fill far and wide with color
color that fully spreads beyond the sea

still if not for sky would there be life
life bestowed to all for peace and harmony
harmony to forever shine upon mankind

SkyWatcher
07-28-23

If Not Cremated Then What

Don’t bury me in an eco-pod
for I am biodegradable already.
Don’t bury me in the earth,
or animal feces I might birth
nor in lead
because while lead is harmless to the dead
it is after all lead.
Don’t bury me under stone,
beneath a stone all alone.
Bury me in fermenting compost,
you may leave my feet 
sticking out just for laughs.
Yes wormy me, good an
germy, awfully squirmy,
until all is dank and smelly,
the I will grow roses 
out of my belly.

Premium Member If Not For Dying

When I’m enticed by the allure of forever,
Ambivalent, I query, prospect of eternity:
If there’s no dying, what fate’s my destiny?
Would such existence be sans meaning?

Would I be the compassion of pious soul
If I am blessed with permanence of life,
Or a deathly tomb of a heartless stone
Dispassionately ignoring wounds of strife.

Having been spared of inevitable death
Will I become an arrogant tyrant’s shrill,
Or will I rule alike a kingdom of goodwill
Embracing venerated grace of cordiality.

Would I be a garden of spring blossoms
Or scorched landscape of barren desert,
Would I be a resplendent autumnal show
Or decaying rot of woes in wintry throes.

Would I be a night of nightingale’s song
Invoking themes of endearing dreams,
Or would I be echo of horrid nightmares
Howling in dawn of things gone wrong.

Immortality, I fear, will lure me ignobly, 
If not a mortal, unknowable I would be;
But for transience, would humble life be?
If not for dying, would precious living be?

April 23, 2022
Placed 1st: If I were Immortal Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Anoucheka Gangabissoon

From Contender To Champion the Titlist

worry! worry ! worry!
                            we got alotta people to
                                       impress
                            prepare: prepare: prepare
                                  you know they
                                  gonna put you
                                    to the test
                                 all eyes on you
                                 all eyes on me
                          We gonna Rock the Night
                                 Rock the Night
                            Best at doing our thing
                          Rock tonight, Rock tonight
                   We be the best at doing our thing!
                             Yeah gotta be worried
                   about what the night gonna bring
               we wanna be champions in the morning
                                Worked real hard
                                now it time to do
                                       our thing
                        We wanna be Champions in
                                     the morning!

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