Who Knocks
"Who knocks so quietly on the cloister's
port a poor girl from a land afar."
We sang that song at school and always
made me emotional, I could picture this
poor waif seeking shelter
Now we know what happens to the poor
and pregnant women seeking shelter at
at a convent run by brainwashed nuns
The woman from Donegal told us when
She came here at 17 and was pregnant
How was she to know this nunnery of
sexually frustrated who had taken a vow
who, in hatred, had turned this a sin worse
than death
When the time comes for our girl from Donegal,
to give birth, she was ill, and they gave her a sedative
Then, as a child was born, she heard a scream
of one drawing of air for the first time
They told her the baby had died; had she
dreamt, no, but there was nothing she could
Christianity is a good religion, but why is it
When it becomes an institution, evil enters
through the front door, while saintliness is
out of the back door like a shroud
Who could find the sheer temerity?
To wallow in such ( sin-serity )
My Diploma Reads
“School Of Hard Knocks”
Miracle Man
1/6/2025
Your time and your talent I once heard said,
was all a young person needed to get ahead.
So I’d rise up early and lace up my shoes,
I spent a few years just paying my dues.
The life goal I had was to retire some past fifty,
but this wouldn’t happen without being thrifty.
I posted my goals where I’d review every day,
along came promotions and raises in pay.
I invested in the market and had a 401-K,
investing paved the road that I travel today.
In the “school of hard knocks” I learned tricks,
and I was able to retire at the age of fifty-six.
Twas thirty years ago, since ending my quest,
I have no regrets, because God has truly blessed.
it is four- thirty-eight a.m..
I was not aware until I heard the loud knock.
Bam.
at the front door
next to my recliner
I glanced at the clock.
Four-thirty-eight a.m.
BAM
BAM
two more loud angry-sounding knocks.
I froze for a couple of minutes.
who would be out there?
If I answered the door, would I be sealing my fate?
Would I be annihilated?
I had to walk in front of the picture window to get out of my chair
the curtains were wide open.
I expected to see a face; I knew it would frighten me.
I peeked out the small glass window in my front door.
A small raccoon was staring at me.
He was drinking the dog’s water
I saw no person whatsoever.
My husband was awake by now.
He wanted to know who had knocked so hard on the front door.
I looked up “ghost knocks”.
There are many stories about them.
I truly do not think it was a person.
My husband thinks it was the raccoon.
I do not.
this was the knock of an angry grown man.
we may never know.
Winter knocked
but no one answered.
Since Summer went on holiday
and Spring is still in bed.
Autumn hears but is sunk so deeply,
so comfortably
into the pumpkin colored easy chair
that it cannot be bothered
to get up and relinquish
the leaves off the trees
or the puffs of dandelion seeds
or the ghost of a warm breeze
which haunts the days.
So, Winter knocks in vain.
Some parents insist,
And some parents resist,
In sending their children to the school of hard Knocks.
Before they start throwing rocks.
There is no doubt that both sets of parents Love their children,
And want to save them from ruin,
But reality is a hard pill to swallow,
When in the virtual it is easy to wallow,
And only a love that is tough,
Can prepare us for when our ball lands in the rough.
There is also no doubt that both sets of parents,
Wish for a better turn of events,
And spending time in tents,
With children,
Where all talk is even,
And tent flaps open to heaven,
We might just have less reason,
To think about throwing rocks,
And live to see the day, the school of hard knocks,
Is no longer advertising for more children,
To save them from ruin.
it's a starting point
life struggles are life lessons
we learn as we go
9-25-23
"the equinox knocks"
Summer leaves
exiting green
Autumn leaves
entering
color
fully
Taught
Fall down
Get up
Setbacks
Life learning
Discerning
Discipline
Fulfilling
Prospective
Hard Knocks guideline
Understanding
Putting one in the know
Process being slow
Tears
Advice
No coincidence
Day by Day
Week by Week
Year by Year
Month by Month
Buy and Buy
Functional into able
Being stable
Accepting with complex
Effort with every try
Ready to enter
Concept in effect
Sometimes a reject
Hard education
Life’s presentation
Stature
Negativity and Positivity
Full blown
Hard knocks
Over and out
When you are shaken to your core
and old man grief knocks at your door.
Life feels as if a storm passed through,
and left you feeling numb and blue.
Whether caused by a loss of job
or one who was a dear heartthrob,
or loved ones who are laid to rest,
Grief is a never-welcomed guest.
Grief may come when we least expect,
and in our soul his tent erect.
How long he stays depends on you,
dealing with him could bless you too.
Frequently we are given the time,
to prepare for the painful climb
out of the hole, our losses leave,
thus causing our souls to grieve.
Failure to grieve compounds the pain,
Increases stress and mental strain.
Eventually, your brain will snap,
making you flip and blow your cap.
Please do not be afraid of grief.
Ask God to strengthen your belief.
Let Him walk with you through the pain.
In the end, you will reap great gain.
The next time grief knocks at your door,
think of it as a common chore.
If you work through it to the end
your wounded heart your God will mend.
I stand by my love forever
In stormy and gloomy weather
I shall be your navigator
In times of persecution and betrayal
I shall be the even handed judge
When vicissitudes of life
Strike and destabilise your emotions
I shall be the shoulder you cry on
When providence knocks and lifts you up
I shall be that smile of gratitude
That will dissipate years of
Anxiety and tribulations
I stand by my love forever
Neville Knox was a trusting soul,
He believed all that people told him.
Even those who came around,
To harass and even scold him.
No matter what the suggestion,
He would do whatever they said.
From putting his hand in the fire,
To breaking a rock with his head.
All in town would snicker and laugh,
They really thought it was funny.
He made it so easy to stiff him,
And borrow all of his money.
On a fateful day he was asked,
By a group of people he trusted.
To swallow a gallon of gas,
Then spontaneously combusted.
In a trophy case he resides,
On his urn was this notation:
Inside lies his final remains,
Guilty of his own cremation.
Life lessons are sometimes,
Hard to take,
Lessons not learned
Will cause heartbreak
A student with closed eyes,
Will, not know much,
And this isn't very wise.
We never stop learning,
However long we live,
We should take every chance,
Of the opportunities that life gives.
Life is like a lottery; in many ways,
With winners and losers,
Always with a price to pay.
Life isn't fair; that is true,
If you have learned your lesson
This knowledge will benefit you
At the end of life, when we take stock.
The most educated of us all,
Learned from the SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS!
You Walk Into Stonewalls, Just To Feel The Hard Knocks
O where do you go when you can no longer stand
When flowers are fallen and dying colors bland
Everywhere fly sorrows, heart does not agree
And amidst darkness, even eagles cannot see.
You walk into stonewalls, just to feel the hard knocks
Breakfast is cold, crunchy as sharply broken rocks.
O do you from such pitiful state ever rise
Morn comes crying, bad is everyday surprise
Night wails its curses and moon refuses to shine
And in that lonely, you know you've lost what is fine.
You walk into stonewalls, just to feel the hard knocks
Breakfast is cold, crunchy as sharply broken rocks.
O can one ever a new island hope to find
When misery has come and sealed his eyes blind
What can a poor boy discover to give release
Or dare to dream of that true love, joy and sweet peace?
You walk into stonewalls, just to feel the hard knocks.
Breakfast is cold, crunchy as sharply broken rocks.
Robert J. Lindley, 4-20-2022
Rhyme,
Note-
Some days bring a bit of sunshine
Other days, dark-sorrows return
When lost romance, treasure so fine
For her love, I cry, I so yearn.
[ ]
I heard his knocks from above
and smiled
heard her sing
and gave
smile
in our sadness
to her voice
and all it brings
well within her
pain
walk of words
she spoke
watch this
missed in the mists
that miss her mission
imp possibly smooth
wiped every tear
i caused
caustic acid
accused the guilty
across the splintered light
as it stayed
tendrils of light
that pixil
ate ink dropped
from black ink
spat on this page
could nerver look
away
a whey
a way
a weight upon
my shoulder
the rest of ewe you's
above
whats a bove
anywhy's late her
for her will never bee
just beeing
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