A diamond in the rough
Both feet in depth to help it up
But no matter how much I scrubbed
I couldn't wash off the mud
Though my teary eyes could see its bright form
It's wrapped in mud so I gave it up
"He will progress toward retrogression..."
Such prognosis haunted me years ago
Causing agony to a mother's heart
Yet refining my faith* to radiate.
Now, my precious special child triumphs well
Empowering us toward thanksgiving
Since he gestures that stars are diamonds
as we praise the Lord God for his blest milestones.
*Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.
December 13, 2025
3rd place, "DROP THE CLICHE" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Nette Onclaud; judged on 12/25/2025
A shabby opaque stone, rough, dull and grey,
Hidden behind the veils, out of the way,
No sparkle bright, nor any fancy shine ,
But a rugged rock of an olden time.
With patience, diligence and loving hand,
A craftsman with skill, carves across the land
And comes out with a villege beauty so dear,
A shining diamond for all to cheer.
Written: December 10, 2025, for contest: Drop The Cliche Sponsored by: Nette Onclaud
*************
A bit of starlight lies under the clay,
Its core rhythms stand years of wild dust.
Not a smooth beam, but a shattered ray,
A secret flame that exudes trust.
It hums like thunder bound within a seed,
A jagged hymn that shivers in the dark.
No crown awaits, no diamond rough creed,
Just a wild stone emitting a charm spark.
To find me you must dive in the deep
Eye of beholder or volcanic peak
Am I just a boulder
Under scrutiny
Mine me with your shoulder
Rapist break into me
Like liquid lava hot rolling
A seventy five mile deep digging creep
Once, I found a youngster in the last row.
Our eyes met together out of the blue.
A hidden glow of scholarly brilliance
I perceived from his timid berry eyes.
As his guide, turned to be a catalyst.
My cogitation didn't go abortive.
When glide through the pages of nostalgia,
I hear the echoes, "Diamond in the rough".
At the first meeting, we were not impressed.
His manner was disdainful and obsessed,
acting as if he wished to be in charge,
as this new neighbor walked to our garage.
Yet, first impressions are not always key.
We learned this when my husband hurt his knee.
In charge for sure, this “diamond in the rough,”
took over our yard work without a huff.
Life issues out many difficult trials
For in each problem we face, lies a lesson
In overcoming, we discover our smiles
Accepting what can't change, our stress lessens
We're born like a jagged diamond out of style
Through storms and darkest nights, we search for heaven
So let us embrace all of life's major strife
Navigate through all the problems of our life
I'm a diamond in the rough a bit rough
around the edges
Many jewels may go unnoticed buried deep
until found to be a blessing
I just mine within my mind to bring forth
what I have found
It's like I'm an ocean full of buried treasures
you can call me a liquid noun
I make noise without a sound but make waves
with lucid thoughts
What I possess is worth the world if you appraise
it but something that can't be bought
From an early age I was taught to speak my mind
though it may be unorthodox
I am a flaming light that grew from darkness so
I guess I'm a paradox
It is the spirit that so graciously gives us peace and keeps us inspired and optimistic during this amazing life.
Let no one talk down to you or degrade you which in many cases, cuts like a knife.
Where malace, envy and hatred abide, make a concerted effort to bring forth and inject love.
Where there is pain bring empathy into the atmosphere and where there is wickedness, show righteousness from above.
Slumbering within all off humanity lies magnificent skills, untapped powers and amazing ideas, all emanating from pure thought.
Open your mind to a new reality, one that includes a perfect mind, a strong body and benevolent spirit which the school systems have never taught.
The cultivation of inner awareness is simply a state of liberation, a state of transendence.
As life unfolds as the peddles of a rose, it reveals a glimmering translucent diamond, a clearing of the soul after repentance.
I found you, alone, over looked, ignored.
I could see the potential, the beauty,
A diamond in the rough,
Your face was streaked with dirt and marred.
‘Twas clear this would not be easy.
Smiling, I cleaned you best I could,
Analyzed your every side,
Took you home with me,
Work began, as I knew it would,
After many long hours, I sighed.
Bright and shining, my smile will not fade,
For the blue and green prize of my work, Jade!
It is the spirit that so graciously gives us peace and keeps us inspired and optimistic during this amazing life.
Let no one talk down to you or degrade you which in many cases, cuts like a knife.
Where malice, envy, and hatred abide, make a concerted effort to bring forth and inject love.
Where there is pain, bring empathy into the atmosphere, and where there is wickedness, show righteousness from above.
Slumbering within all of humanity lies magnificent skills, untapped powers, and amazing ideas, all emanating from pure thought.
Open your mind to a new reality, one that includes a perfect mind, body, and spirit which the school systems never have taught.
The cultivation of inner awareness is simply a state of liberation, a state of transcendence.
As life unfolds as the peddles of a rose, it reveals a glimmering translucent diamond, a clearing of the soul after repentance.
Cut and polished by your past
formed under intense pressure,
A jewel hidden in the stress
changes dark to luminous;
Each facet catches the light
you slowly begin to shine;
A diamond in the rough.
I write for the diamonds,
all quartz to be damned
The populace deafened,
and jaded demand
That anything selfish,
their wills to be pawned
My jewels though not many
—sparkle beyond
(The New Room: February, 2021)
Fascination is peering into a dazzling diamond shining like chrome
Imagining what the finished product will turn out to be,
In what sort of golden setting the stone will likely find a home
Whether the precious jewel might someday accompany me,
Or be sealed away in a museum under an imposing glass dome.
Such is the fate of many dazzling gemstones discovered in the rough
Fashioned by the skilled cutter into a stupendously stunning piece
Only an oil-rich baron, or reigning royalty, would have enough
Money to buy it.Perhaps, someone who owns an island in Greece?
A fellow like me could not even put up a believable auction bluff.
TWELFTH PLACE WINNER
Poem written on November 24, 2020
for Emile Pinet's Quintain (Sicilian) poetry contest
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