Inherited Poems | Examples

she inherited millions

she inherited millions
her parents’ house, furniture, clothes, knickknacks, jewelry, daddy’s watch
never spent a penny on a couch, never chose a painting or a necklace
satisfied with mommy and daddy’s things, wore mommy’s clothes
a spinster, who spent her money frugally on groceries and utilities
turned her thermostat down to fifty-six in the winter, to save money
satisfied with her parents’ furniture, never chose a comfortable couch
left a million dollars in the bank when she died
no one to give it to

Inherited Jawbones

I’ve taken up polishing skulls.
Not trophies, 
just my kin—
their sockets still 
echoing
what they aren't 
ready to hear.
Though it's only 
what they've said 
themselves.

I never knew 
what reckoning meant
however,
in terms of preparation,
that is, 
my training 
for the abrasing escalation 
of the manner 
in which they've behaved?
That's easy, 

I crack pebbles now,
knuckles before a fight,
teeth on a dare—testing 
hollow sentiments.

It's kept me protected,
but I will say this: 
it hasn't attracted many fans.

Inherited Chains

I remember wishing for her happiness, 
for if she smiled, all would be fine. 
She was a tempest, 
a storm of anger, sadness, and despair, 
Allowing the darkness to consume her, 
an abyss too deep to repair. 

She let the shadows dictate her life, 
Surrendered to the pain and grief
Her laughter was a distant memory, 
her joy a dream, 
In her eyes, 
the spark was lost, 
replaced by a silent scream.
 
I refuse to be a reflection of her sorrow, 
I crave joy before my final tomorrow. 
I want to break free from this inherited chain, 
To dance in the sunlight, 
to kiss away the rain. 

I strive to find my own light, 
to carve my own way, 
To embrace the dawn of a brand-new day.

I was born with a foreign hunger, inherited from the shadows of those who were

I was born with a foreign hunger, inherited from the shadows of those who were,
they placed a dream in my hand like a shining blade and told me to carve my future,
but the metal rusted in my deep sleep, leaving me to waver on paths of mist,
now I chase smoke through iron halls, where ambition drips
from the jaws of broken clocks, time defies me with a grin of merciless gears—
I run, and it devours every step, every moment stolen from me,
I am weary of digging graves and calling them milestones,
when each dug grave is just another reminder of what I have not been,
in a world of rusted dreams where choices are carved in cold stone,
and I, a traveler through stopped clocks, seek light among the ruins,
but only shadows answer me, whispering the burden of unfulfilled desires.

My ''Inherited'' Greed

 
My blessed dearest mother was a hoarder of food,
our cupboards and freezer where over flowing;
this inherited "greed" in me I have subdued,
rest in peace mom-   MY battle is still on going !

___________________
June 21, 2022


Poetry/Quatrain/Epigram/My "Inherited" Greed
Copyright Protected, ID 06-1467-014-21
All Rights Reserved, 2022, Constance La France


Written for the Premier contest, Greed
sponsor, Margarita Lillico,  Judged 06/30/2022

The World We Inherited

There is so much pain around the world:
A burqa clad young girl returning from college
Riding a scooter,  attempts to reach home sooner
But a huge truck rams her flimsy ride and she is torn
Into two.  She calls home  and tells them  she is going away!

A sad young father with a babe in arms is boarding a bus
To return home from the free hospital to which he had taken
His baby for treatment. He finds he is unable to pay the fare:
His pocket is picked. Thieves waste no time on compassion.
There are cases of babies seized from despairing moms.

They mourn a world where they say:”Man eats man!”
Women going to work lauding their gold chains
Are assaulted and their precious ornament seized
In a moment by well dressed thieves who come
Riding, chain snatching and fleeing on motor bikes!

Inherited Tribal Skirt

Wearing our tribal skirt
I’m reminded of my grandmother
who has bequeathed me rich distinct cultural heritage.

Adorned with our traditional costume
my heart is pleased, imagining my Lola*, my Mom’s mother
smiling delightfully, beholding her granddaughter proud of her roots.

Midst the nostalgia brought by such clothing
I see myself beside Lola’s bedside, listening to her
as she would vividly narrate heroic acts of fellowmen during the war.

Having in my possession a so-called “heirloom”
my gratitude to Lola is intensified through virtues instilled 
by Mama, reverberating with, “I learned those from Nanang**.”

Praising God for His blessings
I’ll value the piece of treasure I inherited
my Lola has passed on, along legacy of a good name.***

*Lola-the word we use to address our “Grandmother”  
**Nanang-My mother’s term of endearment for “Mother.”
***Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.  

March 15, 2021
1st place, "I Remember" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Malabika Ray Choudhury; judged on 3/17/2021.

Inherited

My child it is not you at fault ,
These feelings are not yours,
This situation isn’t yours to fear,
You have a special gift that means you feel what others feel,
Especially when others get too near,
The tears you cry,
The eyes you dry,
The blame you take on board
Emotions that I wish you never knew,
But even though it pains me so to see all that you feel,
I know that it’s a special part of you.

Inherited Spirit

A good spirit in him abides
From birth his dispostion same
Nice, gentle character inside
A spirit born with love aflame

A spirit born with love aflame
Others born without good character
Only through rebirth good proclaim
Become great traits inheritor

Become great traits inheritor
Spread an awesome Spirit of love
Expand pure  like honey's nector  
Not only once but always think of

Inspired by contest:

Inherited the Dreams of Lunatics

Inherited the dreams of lunatics!
like a "straw eaten up" blowing by wind
to mind's eye," so I rushed
cleaves the heart whiteness in anger
from the upcoming days.

Ah _ oh( lunatics' wisdom) 
How many wounds you left in the mind!
When submerged herein
So! I reached a half crazed, 
and half sagacious.

Inherited the dreams of lunatics!
So fantasies came drunk, 
like a ghost roams ecstatic hilarious
Not for the mind - eloquent
Nor ear sober.
Laughing and crying
Then crying and laughing
Then cry

An exquisite images without hypocrisy,
Nor unambiguous as if a kinsfolk road
became Straight. 
Shouted in amazement for a half a minute, 
and then died.
So there is no grief fueled by or poultice.

Inherited Traits

John had his mom’s eyes
Inherited her kindness --
Keen sense of humor
 
Sweet sister-in-law
They shared love for animals --
She and I still close
 
Never met father
John tried to avoid his fate --
Died young like his dad
 
 
 
*Entry for Dr. Ram’s “In-Laws” contest

Characteristic Traits Inherited

C_ Characteristic traits are genetic
H_ He inherited being compassionate
A_ A mouth he had, used language so graphic
R_ Ruff mix vulgarity and passionate
A_ At desperate time in his troubled life
C- Contact with the Savior opened his eyes
T_ Touched by the loving Father eased his strife
E_ Eternally changed became very wise
R_ Raised from the common became angelic
I_ Intellect possessed beyond his learning
S_ Studied God's word to levels to be drastic
T_ Time on earth extended God's rewarding
I_ Inherited characteristic grand
C_ Coupled with Holy Spirit makes man

Contest name:As You Like It
Sponsor: Brian Strand

What I Inherited

She moves elegantly, strolling, walking, running, being free, being full, full of pride,
full of ambition, full of everything except me.

She has vision, she has dreams, so she sacrifices, because she has needs, she cuts and she
bleeds, she takes it all in order to achieve.

She loves but leaves it be, the 9 to 5 has more need, more need than the need for me.

She takes no vow, no for better, no for worse, she works the blocks to fill her empty
purse, and fills her belly and then pays the nurse.

Dollar bills, to pay bills, full spoons to feed babies, questions get maybes.

Filthy hands leave dirty prints, soft moans leave evidence of gentle caresses,and that
kiss.......................

Oh that kiss.

Soft lips mending, tongues blending, till wills be bending, shocks and impulses our brains
keep sending.

Inside cores melt, creating a feeling, subliminal, leaving me all to myself.

Inheriting the memories, memories you forgot, but I couldn't

Inherited In Love

Passion filled envelope
passed from generations
stuffed with revelations
sealed with gar gum glue
Pockets emptied in it
trinkets, pendant copper
the shell encrusted stopper
to a flask of slow gin fizz
Secrets buried deeper
lipstick kissed and minted
songs of icy winter
echo crystal cracked
Gift to son or daughter
love alive from ancients
they'll pass it down if patient
and willing to fall in kind...

Inherited Medals

Each of us is a warrior:
For earthly survival,
For the Lord of our soul.

What determines the time of service
For each individual warrior?
Conscription? Consumption?
Was this culprit a volunteer?

An honorable discharge
Is really all the old warrior seeks.
In the end the medals and commendations
Don't matter
As iconoclasts, gathering dust at the last.
In the material form they represent
Symbols, of the warrior's human achievement,
Rusting, deteriorating, without a hint
Of what they originally meant.

Value not the icon,
But hold it close to your heart.
It represents the culmination of humanity,
And your memory of it, the most precious part.

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