From the womb it seems I birthed into a cocoon
Cant say I had known for sometime I was alive
Much learnt whilst unaware for almost four years
My memories say I'm one calendar says I'm five
Things that seemed important over sixty years ago
The latest shaped shoes or a top ten hit parade song
At fifteen peer pressure shaped how I would behave
Learning to discover where I would eventually belong
No manuals to assist a father raise three young children
Imparting to dependants the way I had been mentored
Dealing with an aggressive workplace, finances and self
At thirty overwhelmed, swearing in this poem is censored
A new century arrived grandfathering is such a blessing
Responsibilities of existence have largely been lightened
Now turned fifty still feeling some traces of distant youth
A positive outlook on life has recently become heightened
Having reached the age of seventy over eight years ago
As an alternative thinker there is a chance I am outcast
I am far removed from alignment with majority opinion
Rejecting thoughts postulating how much time I might last
Sound as loud as a whisper or as quiet as a scream;
music weaving in, weaving out, and weaving in between every dream ~
dreaming is the most beautiful thing,
I see your spirit as delicate as sculpted Ming,
there in your favorite place upon the piano bench
as if the melody you play and play again could quench
the love-sickness left within my soul at your departing~
No! It’s whispers loud and screams of quiet the memories are ceaselessly imparting.
Hanging Mistletoe
Prompting holiday kisses
Imparting joy and peace
Angry Conifers
Trees in the avenue
have a weird sense
of humor
Long roots cracking up
finely laid cobble stone
pavement
Slightly bent easterly
give pain in the lower
trunk
The younger trees
bleat about older trees
taking space
Older trees show
distain of needy trees
no dignity
Trees are silent
lack imparting skills
shake leaves
Written: March 18, 2025 for contest Sponsored by: Rick Parise
*****************
A tall tree stands quietly, imparting its tales,
dew drops fall like stars in the morning.
Flowers develop beautifully before tossing,
the sky gradually shifts color, to our avail.
Nature's ever-changing splendor is shown,
life's passing events are cleanly captured.
Solitude fosters heartfelt attraction backward,
stillness possesses what time implies on its own.
Watching seasons perform in their ballet,
dinge is a profuse nostrum nature may spray.
Every breath causes life to wither and sway,
leaves become gold and then float away.
On powdered crystal wings Heaven descends to humbled Earth
Sparkling glimpses of jewelled treasures to some elegant worth
Pure, immaculate white no matter the depth to coming twilight
Billowing through myriads of veils, all fingerprints in first flight
She now dares to fall where she must, from dream in flutter
Dancing delicately...Swirling...Twirling into suddenly crisp hover
Shifted...Swayed...She enthralls my leaping, dizzying fascination
Like no other before, I marvel as she defies hurling gravitation
Intricate kaleidoscope of spirals linked and apart
Glittering feather like you float to repose my heart
Scintillating fragile, beauteous rays, my Dear always
Imparting uniqueness my touch never in time betrays
"Can you see Fred, Rita?"
Were the only words spoken.
The caring nurse said them
Whilst I was consumed
by a torrent of tears
My eyes shed with shame.
My frame was rocked by
That final breath she took
As she left my World.
I should have been strong,
My spiritual understanding
Should have held my hand
In just the way I had
mentally held hers...
tucked beneath the crisp
White hospital sheets.
Instead I had stroked
Her smooth cool forehead.
Such gentle stroking
Hopefully imparting peace
And helping remove fear.
Here was the fated comma
Preceding 'goodbye' full stop.
These were her life's
Final moments, predicted
By the doctor who had called
And advised me to come.
I hung on that doctor's words,
And dared to whisper
She should not fear death
She should just 'let go'
Her struggle, her past,
The pains she'd endured,
Her life long story
Now come to an end...
A new story just beginning.
She must have heard me.
She must have listened,
Even fully understood,
For there was no drama,
Nothing to mark the moment
Save for no new breath
following the last.
© griffonner 2022
Imparting wisdom which is dumb but isn’t
obvious once it’s within your vision
though something before you had always been missing
You were young once, sexy and thin
but as you grow older the biggest you’ve been
it didn’t matter when the mirror did flatter
now you don’t recognise the old man getting fatter
parts hanging lower and not ones that matter
a contagion of flaps that evenly scatter
And it’s a cliche but you understand more
wishing you knew what you know now before
but you don’t dilly dally no flip and no flap
doing what you didn’t even though you look ca-rap
Age may do less while knowing much more
without all that judgement you’re not insecure
yet age doesn’t last it must stop and snore
but if you adjust life’s better than before
The tempest gathering hearts;
Souls imparting dire wisdom;
Holistic premonition preordained;
Nothing gathered souls prearranged;
Words of life speak forth life;
Shallow be the maker heart that beats;
Elohim
Creator of majesty
Universe is His dynasty
5/26/24
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr 2024
In the midst of a wet night,
Discovered myself upon a viaduct.
Straggled or vagrant, uncertain.
Not petrified by the dark, rumbling sky,
Amazed to find the place familiar.
I perceived the faintest advancing steps,
On turning back, delighted with her presence.
The cold, shivering breeze,
Waved her black long hair.
I insisted not to blink.
She ambled,
At my fore now, only whispered.
I apologize greatly, for concealment, for eons.
I was denied your presence: a shadow's grace.
Only welcoming death set my soul free.
Fate unveiled its script,
Offering me a last goodbye.
Imparting my truth before the noose claims me.
My world knows no dawn since....
Now gone, shine bright, bring me dawn once more.
Conveying my farewell,
I plunged into the water.
Bewildered-reincarnated.
Faced....
My damp eyes.
Aroused by achievement ardor, awakened by the Almighty
Blest being of mine blossoms beyond besetting boredom blight
Carving creations circumspectly
Delighted by dreams’ desire to dare and do…
Empowered toward exploits* earnestly enabling
Freed from frustration toward faith-fortitude flight
Girded, governed, geared toward growth's going glow
Hope-hoisted held high, happily healed
Illumined, instructed, influenced for instilling and imparting---
Jubilantly joining reaching-out journeys
Kindled with knowledge while exercising kindness
Living in the light, led by the loving the LORD along learning-leaps!
*Daniel 11:32 ... The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
Alliteration in ABC
January 21, 2024
6th place, "YOU CHOOSE ONCE MORE" Poetry Writing Premiere Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 1/27/2024
Amazed to learn about the Almighty’s goodness
Blest hearts of ours praise God with gratefulness
Cared for by teachers who instill wisdom’s fullness…
Dear mentors, thanks so much for your diligence
Enriching us with lessons amidst patience
Fervently imparting virtues of blest prevalence…
Gearing us toward character development
Hoisting constantly our literacy advancement
Influencing carefully steps toward great achievement…
Jubilantly, we greet you, “Blessed teachers’ day”
Kind are you with your leading to the right way
Loving us as your children who long for truth’s ray…
Ministering* teachers, continue with Your guiding role
Nurturing us, your students to attain functional goal
Opening great opportunities toward good success pole!!!
*Romans 12:7 - Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching.
September 22, 2023
2nd place, "Voice" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Eve Roper; judged on 9/24/2023
Despite vanilla's subtle sweet and unique exquisiteness
it's encumbered by being considered plain basic and unexciting.
It's seen as being neutral, insipid in need of embellishment
It's a blank soft white canvas needing to be added to.
But in essence, the vanilla bean seed
has a sweet, creamy, sweet and slightly floral taste.
It has a gentle lovely and subtle aroma.
Vanilla is the muse for every dessert makers dream,
In custard, ice-cream, cookies and cakes you adore,
Vanilla infuses its magic in every bite we explore,
Imparting a fragrance that lingers long on the tongue.
Vanilla much belied, maligned, vilified, mocked and ostracized,
Deserves another go, all on its own, plain and simple!
Ice formed in craggy spirals
Upside down and billowed
on the outstretched arms
of a winter dead willow
still awaiting Spring’s charm
sunlight peered through
the glistening frozen crystals
as the ice-dripped nature’s tears
falling upon the cold gripped ground
near the site of memories from yesteryear
loved one’s gathered in close circles
on the wet crunchy chilled lawns
while warm voices rang
a murmuration of hymns
in the dirge of grief to brave
amid sorrow and loss
notes fondly resonated in prayer
praising the life in death that crossed
in the crisp and wintry air
departing to the grave
imparting music to heaven’s gates
two doves embellished in pure white
soared while lamenting its lyric
with rueful cooing to ethereal heights
singing upon angel’s breath the loss, the love
stirring the clouds overhead
finding their way back home
following the footsteps of the dead
August 7, 2023
When wonder of my worth erupts
and threatens everything I know
Volcanoes of emotion rush
imparting such a mighty blow
Oh why, to be so insecure
to feel unwanted and alone
Assuming, surely it’s my fault
When no one’s calling on the phone
It must be me, not smart enough
no college gave me a degree
Perhaps, it’s just now I’m too old
There's nothing left for them to see
So unattractive I must be
Perhaps, I sing the same old song
I try too hard to fit the mold
to finally feel that I belong
I’ve wasted oh, so many tears
of my existence on this earth
To try to know just how it feels
to never wonder of my worth
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