Long Reluctance Poems

Remembering that day in May - when I became corporate prey
On this unforgettable day - an innocent child was thrown away
Last night as I lay in bed - I read the news here's what it...

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“I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed” (Sonnet XLI)
by Edna St. Vincent Millay

I, being born a woman and distressed
By all the needs and notions of my kind,
Am urged by your propinquity to find
Your person fair,...

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There are times in life when we deal with strife
    And are helpless to the powers that be.
Where we are sequestered by doubt... and still tossed about
    By others...

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Since my early teens until I reached about 45,
I had pursued my life's dream of working fulltime
in the Gospel Ministry.  There were many aspects
whereby such a dream could express itself and be
fulfilled.  For...

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This piece was inspired by a similar conversation I had - only with my father - when I was in my teens, shortly before he passed away from cancer. This was tough to write -...

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The moral mortgage of mice and men 

Yours truly quite astute,
especially regarding cute
little field mice, also known 
as meadow voles,
which imprecation one doth emote,
when aforementioned animal burrows inside
leaving pellet size poop in their wake
suddenly presenting...

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As dusk settled to star-filled night, they finally came.
Amongst the burning huts, he knelt before the two Gods,
their bright white skin flickering red anger within the light of the fire.
One stood with turtle shell gleaming...

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ENCHANT ME!
(A Contemporary Animist’s Prayer) 

To the shared breath of life:

Enchant me!
Whisper to me in the cadence and rhymes, 
the deeper susurrations of this tellurian realm
with its numinous places that already call out
my name!
Talk to...

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alas, until that fateful day when strange events arose around him
The uncontrolled powers he felt within
Growing stronger as his fight to hide them grew ever more dim
At last bursting forth to be revealed once again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



For...

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Purposely, intentionally
enter out my reluctance and enter in a nose dive back into the past
a Samurai Jack experience
It has to be here somewhere
these long forgotten memoirs pieced together yet never mentioned
never verbally spoken nor handwritten
They...

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This is the story about the man who sought refuge in my heart
His glance told stories
It sang songs, reviving and pioneering all at the same time 
His melody was beauty and foreign, a vacation I...

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You're moving through life with knowing it can merge into struggle and strife but regardless, you take aim moving above and beyond! Next thing you know, you take a tumble, a significant stumble, and down...

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GOOD TIME ( translated in  two other languages)
Good time lies in onerous tracts
Where the minds reject
It shelters in a solitary world
Fidgets like a hovering danger
Reluctance, the only neighbouring sister
Dominates the city


Good time lies in...

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Crackling leaves, amber and gold
Crunch beneath my feet, silencing the cold
Vibrant hues in grace arising, twisting
My thoughts, reflecting each memory, each
Blessing… 

Crisp laughter – oaks chuckling, pines whispering
Amused by the hilarity of a cool September...

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Screwed XI Contest
Sponsor: Rob Carmack


There's seven deadly sins, I am number one.
When the darkness comes, I am very fun.
My wrath of death seems to follow you
turning your brightness into black and blue.
My anger is released...

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The earth slips into a deep sleep
all beneath its surface now dormant
sleepy animals curled up in their dens
soon to fall into the sleep of hibernation
all now slowed down awaiting the snows
trees now denude of their...

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~names allured ere call of wind _conferred again to Alls’ begin~
~meandering souls ebb tides of sea _ so shall marrows forever be~

We hark unto ye trumpets, O elephants_ tis proclaimed magnificence_
As Ye Bellow of Life’s...

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The love in her, the hate in war and the unjustly moment in time
Is reality the indefinite cause to forbid and discern The Ancients behind?
Decidedly, I lifted her off the ground and began the loneliest...

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The little boy in the corner, who didn’t want to come,
Expressed his shy reluctance, but encouraged by his mum.
He knows he has to listen, and  encouraged to join in,
He doesn’t want to be there,...

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Princess Layla, daughter of king Philip, had her life set since the day of her birth. From a young age, she was taught embroidery and the duties of a wife. Now at the age of...

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The Eager Traveler
by Ahmad Faraz
translation by Michael R. Burch

Even in the torture chamber, I was the lucky one;
When each lottery was over, unaccountably I had won.

And even the mightiest rivers found accessible refuge in me;
Though...

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Why do I miss your voice? Is it because it’s one I should, and want to hear, or am I being selfish, thinking I’m entitled by length of my years. Or is the answer within?...

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Marian Kaye 2012
The Elements of Pain at Midnight
Can I be perfunctory about pain?
The sound of rain begins…
Having never had much pain
Old age brings opportunity
Why I wonder
Why explore the wonder?
It’s suspicious the way I hesitate
The cringe,...

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Once held a Title
A means to associate oneself
With thee Who meant more
Although it was not felt until
Another time
Perhaps the wrong or right time
It is hard to say
Thee Who Meant something
Even though, at the time
I was...

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It's early morning
I've not yet decided who I am
Thoughts are settling here and there
Building a picture
There's a reluctance on my part to fill in all the spaces
I just don't want to see
I'm very afraid of...

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