Judging poetry contests is as easy as comparing a hog to a car
Or a tub of lard to a gasoline engine and a movie star
Trying to be objective is not in the equation at all
comparing unlike things to each other is a likely fall
some are witty, others do not follow a single contest rule
I laugh at some, others are so well written they make me drool
Rght away I sort them into piles of two – one good, one not so much.
Cannot divulge my secret, but it would infuriate my Aunt Dutch
She likes everything to fit into a tidy little clean box up high
Judging poems against each other makes me roll an eye
How do you say this one is good, and that one is not
When none share a purpose, is that all you’ve got?
I used to moan and wail and torment myself with the result.
Now when I second guess my finalists, I yell “Halt!”
Just put the top three in a shake up order and try again.
The gold always rises to the top no matter what shape I’m in.
You call me villain, cold and cruel,
Yet I’ve done nothing but breathe and endure.
I walk alone, not to isolate—
But to escape the sting of your quiet war.
You don’t scream, you don’t strike,
But your silence cuts deeper than knives.
You dress your disdain in concern,
And call it care while you twist my mind.
You say I need help,
But never ask what hurt me.
You diagnose me with your own delusions,
Projecting shadows where there’s only light.
I’ve searched myself for the monster you see,
But found only bruises from your beliefs.
You wear sanity like a crown,
But it’s forged from fear, not truth.
I am not broken.
I am not yours to fix.
I am not your mirror,
And I won’t reflect your chaos back.
So call me cold—
I’ve learned to freeze the pain.
Call me villain—
I’ve survived your story without becoming it.
But don’t call me crazy.
Because sanity isn’t yours to define.
And I am not yours to destroy.
Just judging myself
I know it’s just a shame,
that I waste my days, losing all my pride
I push others aside,
that affection can’t compare to those beautiful eyes
I think of him, That voice and that grin
And I am hooked right back and then,
I’m wondering when he’ll be in my life again
I’m no victim, I’m the crime
I’ll keep chasing him until I get my time
I just want to feel truly seen again
Just by him and no other men.
By Rosie Hill
(To be sung to the tune of “Cruella DeVil” from Disney’s 101 Dalmatian)
Angela DeVil, Angela DeVil.
Often misunderstood
As after a kill
To see her is to think
Of a devil from hell.
Angela, Angela
Why not give the girl a chance
Perhaps you will
See the real Angela DeVil.
At first you’d think
Angela had no heart
But know her better
In time you’ll realize
She’s not to be despised
You’ve been judging her wrong
Along with those
Who have been telling lies.
Like most of us
Who have been misjudged
She deserves to be heard
Before we resent
Her name’s just a label
Don’t be misled
See the angel in the DeVil!
May 4, 2024
Baguio City, Philippines
Look at her vile dress.
Who am I to judge? Eye thorn,
My life, inward mess.
As human beings judging others seems to be a common thread..
but remember:
The way we judge another does not determine who THEY are…
but who WE are instead.
It is human nature to judge others…as if it’s in our neutrons and protons…
which means we need to be careful on what we base our judgements on.
Knowing I have this tendency I do my best to try…
to determine what I feel are the best traits to judge other people by.
I try to judge people by how kind they are….their compassion and their honesty.
Are they polite to those they do not know…do they have patience and empathy?
When I’m judging others all these factors play an equal part…
I like to think I judge others by the love that’s in their hearts.
I try not to judge people by their physical appearance…
if they’re tall, short, fat or thin…
I try not to judge people by where they were born…
or by the color of their skin.
I try not to judge people for being the people they were born to be…
I try not to judge people just because they don’t look or act like me.
Since I was born with this tendency to judge…I try to make it my goal
To try and never judge another person by the things over which they have no control.
Would you judge someone who has no food to eat ?
Would you judge someone with no shoes upon their feet?
Would you judge someone who walks around in rags.?
Would you judge someone who's home is carried around in bags?
Would you reach out and help someone to stand?
Would you help someone by giving them your hand?
To give a helping hand some people refuse to do.
So consider your answer carefully and let's hope its not you.
Judging - and Not!
You are not the judge
But judge you must
I
Two trees, two fruit
Thistles, thorns: not food
Good fruit - good tree
Bad fruit reveals tree-truth
II
Matthew 7 reveals heaven
As in Second Eden
Read "Revelation" - last book
Garden Truths, discern fruits
We judge others with ease, so very harshly!
But what about ourselves?
Not one of us is pure nor sinlesss,
Unless you are dead, of course.
Moralists have great fun, they do judge all!
Yet....Christ loved sinners and saints.
So why judge another, it’s not your place!
What sins are hidden behind your smiling face?
Humanity is not perfect, why pretend it to be?
With hate against your fellow man~ tis what
Satan loves to see.
Ring loud the church bells~do remind others to love.
Stop verbal and written attacks~they live in red hot,
Satan’s heart and gloves.
Christ said, “love one another, as I have l loved you.”
This takes patience and getting off your high horse, too.
It’s acceptable to correct your brother in the human race.
But look in the mirror first~ before so casually labeling
and dismissing another, as a total disgrace!
6-22-2022
~2~
I’m over Siri-ous,
I’m over-charging,
My screen time is up,
I watched at p0rn again,
My audio volumes are up,
I’m searching stupid things,
I’m not closing all my circles,
I haven’t walked long enough,
I don’t stand at all the right times,
I may be an online shopping junkie,
I’m spending too much time on Tiktok,
My heart jumps around the wrong guys,
I’m looking at bright screens late at night,
I’m getting too many calories from cocktails,
I’m not taking full advantage of my subscriptions,
I need to upgrade my hardware, software and my attitude.
Humans were never made to be labeled, just to be loved properly.
So if you catch yourself judging or ridiculing either out loud or silently.
That is because your ego is well intact and you think you are better than he or she.
Forgetting, we have all been forged with the same blood, bones, tissues & debris.
We all are born and die with the same breath of life.
We are all guided by whatever circumstance we were landed with by divine.
Labels and boxes, hinders us and dissipates our minds.
But it shows who can be easily influenced or manipulated through time.
I dare you to think outside the box with the invisible lines.
Use the universe as a guide and start looking at the beauty, numbers and signs.
Look within, heal yourself and look between the metaphors, between words and rhymes.
If I give you my heart;
Will you realize it’s not perfect?
If you see my ways will you pray for me anyway?
O’
Man humanity
I am doing the best I can;
Humanity
Stop judging me, stop being mean
Humanity
12/13/21
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2021©
Sonnets, epics, narratives, blank verses...
All have their meter, music, and rhythm sure;
Haikus, senryu, tankas, lymericks...
What style is great? Who, ever, can measure?
I might say my story in a sonnet,
You might illustrate it through an epic;
Any form could be just a car bonnet,
Wherein the engine should seldom fall sick...
Every composer of work has a plan,
As a well-wisher I can contribute;
Well-given suggestions are well-taken,
Each art to The Master we attribute
Criticism is another gift-sharing;
Sharers need to be loving and caring.
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