Lace Up Poems

My Diploma Reads School Of Hard Knocks

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.

UP

Get up,
Now, shut up.

Strap up,
Zip up,
Lace-up,
Button up,
Now, go and level up.

Why are you looking down?
And why are you wearing that ugly frown?

Look at you, looking like a clown.
Stop playing; this is not a circus, so stop fooling around.

Get on up now,
And find out how.

Put down the 'Weary Willie' frown.
Now get up so you can get down.

Go get it,
Be invested in it.

So, shut up
And get up!

Up, up, up!

There Is Honey

Butter the toast, butter knife, bread.
blue plate, no sunlight, short-sighted blue night,
electric rings of silence.

Breakfast is slow,
not that hungry but there is honey
and I am lonesome in a tired body.

Soon, hands will press the tabletop,
will rise up, push up to lace-up walking shoes,
enter the coming light
that unsteady, unready light
with its slippery yo-yo gleams,

enter it all; the concrete hills,
the leaf and branch, the cast-up legs
of the still twitching,
the buoyant tumbling of the living,
the pumped-up throats
of the starry-eyed singers,

enter it fully, growing less unlikely,
enter myself as an unrepentant prodigal son
returning home.

Walking

You have to walk away before you can walk in
Something must die for a new to begin

So lace up the Rockport and sing, "Good Day."
Then gracefully walk with no delay

Shaking the old, dusty, haggard load
Now ease on down, ease on down the road

Know that walking away is not a sign of cowardice
Instead, it speaks to strength so walk in your purpose

Move boldly and aimfully ahead
Only sit at the table where LOVE is fed

This old cycle of life gon' keep on a turnin'
So make sure that the fire in your soul keeps a burnin'

Walking,  walking upright in the sunshine of life
Far away from the dark clouds of strife

Feeling the blessed rays from the sun
Giving sweet praise to the Almighty One

Just keep that rhythmic heel-to-toe flow
No looking back, straight ahead to your new chateau

Each Passing Clouds

The sailing ships above my head,
unimageable shapes navigating through,
as I walk the lonely stretch of the beach.
Memories stir chapters of the past.

I always wondered what my life would have been
if I took a different course, then the one I took.

That day the colors fanned out and whiffed
of redolence unmistakable that Spring had arrived.
The sound of the train had wakened me up that day
from thought as I waited for him at the station.
A considerable distance, listing to recurrent rumbling roar
of the train's vibration snaking on the rail score,
metal wheels rhythmic clatters over the rail ties the closer it neared.

He stood still for a minute before he stepped off the train.
He was tall, alluring sculpted body, in a dark brown suit
and Stetson hat, short lace up Oxford shoes; a gentleman.
He was a man I had met while in the service.

We spent a couple of weeks enjoying each other’s company, 
but the joy of it wasn’t enough.
He decided to reenlist again, applied for Officer Candidate School. 
I didn’t see him again.

His image still imprinted in my mind.



3/8/2023

A Long Walk East

The  birds gossip to one another
as I walk  back from the farmer’s 
market, whispering to each other that I
spent way too much on daikon radishes 
and hibiscus soda. I take refuge from their
words  in my own mind. I  had a crazy
thought today, my love, and I just wanted
to bounce it off your romantic brain.
I thought about how  wild the world is
that if I just leave my house and walk
in one direction long enough I would reach
the ocean eventually. If I  spent less  time
writing poetry and more time walking east,
I  could revel in the sea breeze and shake
the sand from my hair. I could kiss the salt
spray and build castles out of driftwood. 
I could weave the dune reeds into a fiber
crown and place it upon  your head 
and anoint you queen of the universe
or at least our 30 feet of white sand.
So if you think that that’s a good idea
and that yes, I could easily  take a break 
from writing poetry I will lace  up my good
walking shoes, my dear, and leave the pens
and paper at home, walking east into the sunrise.

Our Baby Ballerina

surrounded by satiny yellow roses
She drops to the floor
playing with her lace up shoes
our princess, our baby, our ballerina
the one who danced her heart out today

In the Eye of the Beholder

nature's lace up for the taking
a sunray glorifying leaf, stick, pebble and cloud
in my eye each precious jewels



AP: Honorable Mention 2022

Posted on September 8, 2022

Self Improvement

Self Improvement
Haiku: by Miracle Man
12/14/2021

How to get ahead,
means wake up, get up, lace up,
be dependable.


My Grandfather once said
he’d never heard of anyone dying from hard work.

Ducks In a Row

we paraded behind him

he in a fawn casual jacket
military badge right breast pocket
over a maroon v neck cardigan
even in summer 
dark blue trousers
sharp crease
hands behind back
hair neatly slicked down -
  stiffly upright

me next aged 7
gray flannel shorts
gray slipover
clunky brown lace up shoes
newly scrubbed
  eyes round as saucers

mum last
head down
brown slacks
white blouse
sandy blond
  vacantly beautiful

I would keep turning to look back
at mums place
mum had a place
  last was here place

not wanting to fall back
trying to keep up with long striding dad
occasionally trying to get in front
the sharp knuckled rap
on my head
  from an unyielding god

people looked at us *****
as we marched down the road
all the way to the park
to sit on a bench
dad on one side
me in the middle
mum at the end
  sitting silent

pigeons drew near
seeking breadcrumbs
we had no bread crumbs
when it was time
(dad always decided)
we stood up
then filed back home
  to listen to the radio

listening
dad nearest to the set
nothing to say
me on the floor fidgeting
mum in the kitchen
  fading away

Change Your Ways Wdj

When demons come and join the fight,
they’ll jump the fence and flee the light.
They will know they’re on the losing end,
they’ll soon switch sides and seek amends.
This battle will end before it starts,
the holy soldiers will play their part.
Trained by God they will not lose,
be careful of the side you choose.
The sky will flash and wield its sword,
the wrath of God brought by the Lord.
Hear the truth and change your ways,
or you will face your end of days.
Satan now claims to be on top,
but his reign on earth will soon be stopped.
Lace up your boots and pack your lunch,
wait for the mighty counterpunch.

December 22, 2020
Your Advice To The Youth Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Edward Ibeh

Loving His Ballerinas

Dancing goodness filled each corner of her heart
She was a ballerina today and it was marvelous for sure!
She twirled and pirouetted and loved every movement

Enjoying her glittery lace up slippers as much as any girl could
I am a dancer! She squealed to her daddy who had come to watch
He saw her mother in her, and he smiled, loving her even more
Which until this second he had not thought possible

Have You Had a Drink Tonight - If So Slip Off Your Shoes

Have you had a drink tonight my love?
If so slip off your high heeled shoes
I can then at least try and count 
All your ugly toes 

As with the crash of broken glass
Which you normally sprinkle
Those ugly toes of yours
Might just start to me to twinkle

Which then urges me without a drink 
To want to have a tinkle 
You though are the one
Who likes to play with winkle

But I will keep it in my sock
Before it starts to wrinkle

And have a drink myself tonight
Then lace up both my shoes
So all my own toes will never be there
When you decide to choose

DAMO

March and Fight

Mothers getting their breast cut off so they cant feed 
their children in need
of a natural right 
so i will march and fight
against apartheid 
throw away the suit and tie
lace up your boots and fight 
for a reason why
when we go to war we have no idea 
we been could of stopped north Korea
from polluting the airways with diarhea
and multiple gassing 
look around whats happening 
the core of our declaration of independence is cracking
our politics and governments are lacking 
chip your arm and they start tracking
id rather have my head cut off than to give that any backing
id rather hear the truth
than some gold toothed wanna be spit some garbage in the booth
between me and you i just want to hear whats true.

Amphitrite

She walked in fluid nature of her own romantic sighs
Tranquil vibes ebbs dim candlelight from the starry skies

Stuck inside a dream, a victim of the moaning sea
of the air I breathed, I hunger and buckle to my knees

Caused by her ambience waves of deep vibrant royal blue
surroundings and enchanted silent creeping through

Amphitrite the goddess – queen of the sea unfurl
her children around her neck each sealed in each lustrous pearl

So striking in a twilight blue silk gown like the night
fits perfectly against her slight curves quite a lovely sight

Silk open toe stiletto heels   lace up her legs with grace
layered long hair along her sun kissed heart-shaped face

With a smile she entwined her arms with mine and out the open door
When morning came, to leave me lonely as before

Poseidon, I see why you were captivated by her exquisiteness 
always by your side in your chariot drawn by fish-tailed horses

5/5/2017

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