I spent so many lonely days,
many even lonelier nights,
asking of myself
the whys and wherefores
of this terrible life.
To suffer such ignoble pains,
to be unjustly accused
of things I had not done.
I searched and sought
for reasons unknown.
Did I deserve such a life?
Or should I count the blessings,
a handful of good times?
Should I be content
with what I've received?
Can I say I'm incomplete?
That I have not achieved?
Or is there a balance somewhere
that is forever eluding me.
Do I double count ill luck?
Do I half the good old times?
I must at least be sincere-
evaluate my life complete.
Yet if it's peace I seek
I must remember
that it is not for me
to ask why this, why that,
rather admit that happiness
comes only if we accept and say
"Thy will be done".
Then I'll need to trek
uncharted roads,
fall into dark ravines;
meander through ugly days,
loiter through dreary solitary nights.
For I shall find all comfort:
the sadness I left behind.
When things grace us,
Our faith and resilience soar.
We feel stronger and worry about nothing.
When hit by ill-luck,
Our actions shrink up.
We trudge with faintness and falter.
Things may take divergent paths.
Receive them with the same verve.
Stand sturdily and accept.
In my youth, I remember an innocent time
When I dreamt that big dreams would come true
But all those dreams have since been stolen.
Fate is made hard by the evil thoughts of men.
Tho' I strove for good, ill luck accrued.
In my youth, I remember an innocent time
When life was unscripted, the future was golden.
Dreams burned as bright as the morning sun's hue
But all those dreams have since been stolen.
Power is the motive behind the heart's assassin.
Thus, life hurts like a sword turned in the wound.
In my youth, I remember an innocent time
When I sought in vain the faith of a paladin
Who'd champion my cause, to be approved
But all those dreams have since been stolen.
God curses both the righteous and the wicked
But punishment without fault seems cruel.
In my youth, I remember an innocent time
But all those dreams have since been stolen.
SELF AWARENESS
I pass days after days through several colours of rays,
Yet not confused when life is dark,
but enthusiastic and zealous,
confident and decisive to overcome ill luck.
Never pessimist, always optimist
whether free or got stuck.
Endured enmity, not lost dignity.
I honour my ego till it supports self esteem
to fulfil desired dream.
Always brave, even in grave.
Life is a challenge to explore transcending death.
12/09/22
A Brian Strand Premier Choice No.54
Contest by Brian Strand
Started on a happy note that foggy cold December day
School being closed, for adventure, our spirits craved
After breakfast, with my cousins, I joyfully set out to play
Catching fish was our pastime, ill luck we always braved
That day, into the pond I fell, but by a stranger, miraculously saved
Dec.7.2022
A December Memento Poetry Contest
Sponsor- Andrea Dietrich
Please decide firmly your life's aim
Via toiling, success you can claim
In case you are driven by lethargy
Will get wasted your whole energy
If postponement is, by you, made
How can you succeed my comrade?
Very easy to put off things lazily
Victory loves one who works busily
Fools quit by terminating their hope
Against pressures they Can't cope
Wise souls swim against ill-luck
And win through sheer hard-work
When setbacks come, losers weep
When opportunities come, they sleep
Wise people trap via brain chances
Their mind and ideas, trust enhances
If you go ahead with a firm attitude
You will win as you are damn shrewd
Never flinch and lose courage dear
Tear and fear are enemies to cheer.
N1,000.00 for a mad beggar;
The rare spectacle would make you stagger:
Nation’s Top Bank Note on palms of pure dirt!
I had to yield to Strongest Suspicion
And out fish Giver’s Concealed Decision;
A need to criminalize Donors
Or they don’t taste what resembles honors:
Prayers for The Truly Charitable
While citing Pious Men: Veritable…
“This might be just Enchanted Money,
Whose taker would not at all find funny;
instant withdrawal of releasing hand
making The Very Giving less grand;
The Mad to be Twenty Thousand Times so,
The Sane fully cease to sensibly flow:
Receiver inheriting Givers Woes,
Start absorbing ill-Luck and its sad blows.
One should not in Life try to Charity
With Propriety place on parity:
Indeed, Begging is a risky venture:
A Boxer staking some tooth or denture.
How cool to sway naïves unaware,
Cooler still, a man of ken fair,
Even a wall were I persist,
Not one— a half-wit puffed with air!
How pundits are plagued with spite’s tide,
Powerful with over-spilling pride,
Green horns nigh uninitiated,
Vexed, my verses had once decried.
One may from a croc’s jaws get free,
May sail across a maddened sea,
Wrap a cobra around his neck,
How hard to please one, fool that be!
Not so hard to get oil from sand,
Quench thirst off mirage in parched land,
Even to fetch a rabbit’s horn,
How hard to bring round a ham hand.
What fascinates: world’s attitude,
In other’s ill luck feeling good—
Schadenfreude and a Freudian glee,
How world’s today stuck with the crude!
___________________________________
Tongue-in-cheek |06.05.2022|
Fascination and Awe Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Jeff Kyser
Mark gave his honest Instance
Of the very circumstance
In which men kept their distance
From Next-Door Neighbor Constance
Anchoring it in Mischance,
All Adams to take no chance,
As An Embittered Constance
Had thrice shot three from near distance,
Their mouths gaping in Askance,
Even as their hit bodies did a funny dance …
You mark All Adams, An Embittered Constance
After ill-luck in near distance
Is something to mourn like mischance!
If
we win,
we feel glad.
Ill-luck is faced,
the losers become
sad and disappointed.
Either winning or losing,
Nothing is permanent in life.
Let's realize this amazing truth.
Then we can remain joyful forever.
E Forms- Etheree - Poetry Contest
Etheree poetry form only.
Sponsored by: Constance La France
Syllable Count: PS
Date: 15-02-2022
PLACED: 3rd
black clouds in the blue
started raining cats and dogs
submerging the roads
A man was walking in rain queerly.
Mocking at running men unfairly
An umbrella he had.
But ill-luck made him sad.
Wind upturned it; he was drenched merely.
fate does strange twists; no remedies for; one should stop giving oneself airs.
Charlie Hai-Lim-Ku Poetry Contest
Monoku poetry form only.
Sponsored by: Charles Messina
Date:31-01-2021.
Placed : 2nd
Generally dreads the kitchen:
The incalculable losses it occasions one’s image.
Often with fried, oily chicken:
A company that doesn’t anything damage!
For all early morning jogs promptly ready!
Its healthy rejuvenation of a woman’s waist!
Has resolved not to be domiciled in a periphery,
Wherever seems to suggest a satellite
Eating rice with much stew against Beriberi:
A tradition of treading roads of laterite.
Unparalleled roles of reforms she can play
But sometimes the very driver of a fratricidal truck:
The ultimate prices of natural sacrifices she can pay,
Yet, the chief character behind some municipal ill-luck…
Not infrequently, recipient of cheers of a mammoth crowd,
As much the earner of the first bed in a bedlam.
From time to time a powerful voice on human affairs very loud
Not inconceivably between two hearty friends building a dam:
In some cases, emerging the people’s torchlight and battery,
still in others, the mastermind of a scheduled adultery.
There was a pretty child blessed with carers
Boundless joy encircled home and their dears
Ill-luck dogged them, their lives
The spirit of child soared high
Heart-rending scenes moved the dears and the nears !!
FATE’S FOOTFALLS
Fate beyond prediction,
Fate beyond dictation,
Fate beyond prevention,
Fate somehow compulsion.
Fate steps in life
in friendship or in strife,
sometimes silent, sometimes loud,
flashing bright or showing cloud.
Fate’s footfalls may be slow or rapid,
bestowing success or making stupid.
Good fate in the past
appeared on sudden gust,
doing marvelous miracles.
Ill luck when came,
putting me in shame,
failed to overcome obstacles.
03/13/18
'FATE'S FOOTFALLS' Contest by John Lawless
Miracle dinner
Benny had gambled away his last buck
Hungry and couldn't believe his ill luck
He fell down and prayed
His neighbour's bird strayed
For dinner, he had a dish of roast duck!
July 2, 2017
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