Loaded with
lovingkindness…
love of the
Lord
leads yon
liberty in
lifting-up
lives toward
lightheartedness
lavished by lively peace.
There are different ways to interpret reality:
rose-coloured-glasses wins over the pessimist.
Why throw a dark shroud over day-to-day
there’s really nothing to gain ~
a smile always prevails over the frown.
Your outlook affects your mood
and your mood’s what measures your happiness.
Lightheartedness will always win in the end:
seeing the good side is an art,
it’s a skill that improves with practice.
It doesn’t take long to come naturally
once you start reaping the implicit benefits.
It’s a well kept secret
better than any magical spell ~
think good thoughts even if they’re fantasy.
Your heart is a garden requiring weeding ~
nurture the flowers and attract the sun.
Lineku: 3 stanzas of 5-7-5 lines, each line has 5 or 7 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
My approach to life has always been
One of lightheartedness and happy to be alive
However, I recall my early years, expecially my teenage years
When I was filled with self-doubt
Thought of myself as quite unattractive and lacking in people skills
Until I got out in the working world
And realized my humour helped push me through
I discovered people love to laugh
It helps them through their gruelling day at the office
Humour has carried me through my whole life
Through my good times and especially through the tough times
My motto is, “if I can't change things...
Oh well, this is the way it is, so no sense being unhappy forever”
Though at times it can be extremely difficult
I've always manage to eventually laugh at life
I've discovered it's the only way to survive
I'm not suggesting that everyone is capable of this
But it's my secret to a long and happy life
So there you have it... why I'm known as “Jester Jack”
A title of which I am so very very proud!
I'm just happy to be alive!
in streams of sunbeams inviting
my face to turn upwards
I am captured by intangible senses of
nutmeg and cinnamon communion-
candy-coated moments blossoming
As the wizard of memories wakes a dream
speechless and smiling
standing and body turning with movement
I am drawn onto the shag carpet
of blades sprouting green lightheartedness
tickling the soles of my feet
unabashedly bare
naked on an aimless path
shuffling gaited rhythms of a waltz step
striking with carefree muted thuds
on the squishy sod
jumping-running-skipping…
lifting ever higher-a freedom
that only children know
visitors from the ghosts of my youth
appear from the mettle of my core
singing, talking and laughing
each lyric echoing unrestrained
their haunting chimes pasted
in a basket of blue skies painted
with art of clouds
colored like vague stranded souvenirs-
a pictorial imbued across the horizon
a stage-play of our backyard friendships
step-by-step twirling-arms swinging-round
bare feet colliding with smiles
and I…..with great laughter...
I danced with them all!
November 2, 2022
This or That Vol 14 Poetry Contest
Renascence
Sponsored by Edward Ibeh
Save some time each day for pure enjoyment
Learn the value of a hearty laugh,
Nothing is so refreshing as pure contentment
Make a funny comment your autograph,
I’ve learned a valuable secret from our Jack Ellison
Reading his limericks each day,
He has a unique way of teaching us this lesson
In a joyful, non-confrontive way.
Keep in mind, we never get too old to enjoy
The lighter moments in our life,
Lightheartedness is a wonderful, available ploy
To rid ourselves of all injurious strife.
written March 26, 2022
The clouds were chased away
Leaving behind thirst quenching rain
Glittering pearls of moisture
With rainbows in every droplet
Warm sunrays breaking through
Ever so gentle and soothing
A veil of peaceful silence fallen
Breathing candied sighs of relief
A sweet taste of serenity
The frightful wind vanished
Welcoming calm after the storm
A still hush of lightheartedness
Extend a warm nurturing caress
Basking in a doting sun
Revitalized with a good stretch
And sun’s soft kiss on my cheek
Read on air by invitation ~ June 12, 2022 'POETS HARBOUR'
Published in my photo/poetry book ~AFTER THE RAIN~ 2019
AP: 1st place 2020
Submitted on December 26, 2019 for contest STRAND SPECIAL 10 sponsored by BRIAN STRAND - RANKED 3RD
Vacation
Countdown
Anticipation
Enticing tropical suns
Dreamy azure skies
Caressing warm breezes
Vivacious toe polish
Skimpy sandals
Flimsy sundresses
Colorful cultures
Exotic architectures
Vibrant traditions
Festivals and feasts
Joy and laughter
Leisurely freedom
Lightheartedness
Childlike awe
Feverishly fanatic
Infatuated
Travel Bug
AP: 2nd place 2020
Language of heart circuitous
Longing for cherished levity
Labyrinth walks ethereous
Leaden soul soothed of self pity
Listening to a chirping bird
Let the looping calm sink inward
Lightheartedness morphs luminous
AP: Honorable Mention 2020
A palpable hovering haze
of intention or expectation
hangs in the silence
Avoiding the issue of attraction
As it weighs burdensome
On the lightheartedness of friendship
And its virtue of affection
Subtle yet really hardly so
Stubbornly refusing to name itself
And come out in the light
Somehow ashamed of its own existence
Yet here we are already in the What If
AP: 2nd place 2020
My greatest inspiration comes
in the darkest of rooms.
My bedroom holds no lamps,
my windows covered with shades-
Fear not…
for I am content when
the sun descends and the
twilight rises.
The beauty of my opacity resides inside
the meaning of my existence.
I was born at three a.m.-
in complete murky darkness.
There’s elegance in the dim-
There’s clarity in the loss
of light.
It’s cold,
yet warm when I enter the shadows.
It’s noisy,
yet quiet in my head as I wallow in
what some may call prison,
but not me, I call it my fortress.
I find myself in darkness,
for the light bears no witness to
my shame-
I hold the fear of a fallen angel,
and yet…
the darkness rises above
to relieve the pain of an ignited kindle.
Shroud me in sheers and shield me
from daybreak-
Lightheartedness shines
when darkness radiates-
Euphoria prevails
when shades of black beam.
Dusk instead of dawn,
black instead of white-
Blind instead of perception,
Darkness instead of light.
March 18, 2017
A simple little phrase - with meaning so profound.
Quit running and hiding in your space underground.
This phrase applies to people and animals alike.
From us you should no longer feel the need to take a hike.
With arms open wide we're here to welcome you.
Why stay alone with feelings sad and blue?
Open up your heart and give us a chance.
Set free your spirit - laugh often and dance.
Throw away negativity and any feelings of doubt.
Give everyone a clean slate - enjoy what life is all about.
Don't dwell on all the times when others have let you down.
With lightheartedness and a smile you can chase away that frown.
Furry friends and animals can knockout that dreaded stress.
Also any ugly comments which caused you such distress.
Throw wide the doors and windows to your heart - let true happiness begin.
Come to me, I'm by your side - just open up and...... Let Me In!
Jolly is this man who fills our days with jubilingo and Jackanese
Affectionate and articulate with arms ageless as an ocean breeze
Charming and cheerful, corky is not his choice of wine
Kind in all that he does, with knowledge larger than life
Empowering his enormous heart that beats in each verse
Laughter and lightheartedness he brings in the light of each morn
Loving each day, spouting out some limerick's bout our ladies
Intelligent, irresistible and witty, inspiring to say the least
Sweet as a swig of southern sun tea, so they say : )
One in a million , so proud to call Santa Jack ours
Now sing happy birthday to the man who's an everlasting star
Happy Birthday Jack
Love Charma and Tim
My approach to life has always been
One of lightheartedness and just happy to be alive
However, I recall my early years, especially my teenage years
When I was filled with self-doubt
Thought of myself as quite unattractive and lacking in people skills
Until I got out in the working world
And realized my humour helped push me through
I discovered people love to laugh
It helps them through their gruelling day at the office
Humour has carried me through my whole life
Through my good times and especially through the tough times
My motto is, “if I can't change things...
Oh well, this is the way it is, so no sense being unhappy forever”
Though at times it can be extremely difficult
I've always manage to eventually laugh at life
I've discovered it's the only way to survive
I'm not suggesting that everyone is capable of this
But it's my secret to a long and happy life
So there you have it... why I'm known as “Jester Jack”
A title of which I am so very very proud!
I'm just happy to be alive!
© Jack Ellison 2014
Alone in quietness of space.
This singularity, this darkness, that is how I find myself at the moment. So different form how I once saw it. I choose it.
The presence or absence of someone else will no longer define me as a person.
No, I do not need someone else’s notion of love to feel loved. I know what it is; I know how to define it.
For I am no longer a slave to its tidal passions, the ebb and wane with someone's emotional moon. No longer will I be shackled to it like Andromeda to the rock.
That is all easy to say, but hard to do.
Can I accomplish the " no longer needy phase of my life." I am finding more and more that I like the quiet in my life the oneness with myself. The wholeness I feel; I am alone in the dark, reflecting, recharged through silence.
The beauty of my own thoughts, whether regret or validation. Intimacy within my own mind.
Closing my eyes and river of emotions moves through me in minutes. The heavy sadness of regrets the lightheartedness of joy, they are emotions that all exist within me. I am okay with all my emotions now, with the good and the bad. Reflective nature of the mirror of my mind.
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