Long Shelf Poems
Long Shelf Poems. Below are the most popular long Shelf by PoetrySoup Members. You can search for long Shelf poems by poem length and keyword.
you call me when its good for you
which is hardly ever
its like I'm a convient friend
one who wont sever.
keeping me in mind
you say to yourself
"oh i call her later"
you stick me on the shelf.
You take me down
when there is none left
one doll friend of many
my heart is going deaf.
what is it with you
and your "I'm sorry"s
if you took the time
you wouldn't have to make up stories.
Am i that convient?
am i your chore?
what keeps you around?
Our friendship is on the floor.
you have tons of people
you talk to each day
i guess i should understand how easy it is
to throw your best friend away.
"I love you so much Ravin
your the best of a friend to me"
your words fall upon deaf ears anymore
what ever happened to WE?
" you will always be the one i come to"
" you are my bestest friend"
you say these thing so carefully
in hopes it never ends.
"I'll call you later"
"no not today"
" I'm at the bar"
" cant find a way"
when i call you are so occupied
you haven't listened to a word i have said
" hold on" 8 or 9 times
the "call you back" lies you fed
you know i am here
and i love you so much
i come to you about everything
its my heart that is crushed
I thought i was good enough
for you to come to anytime or day
why is it you put me on this back burner
and leave me here to decay.
you'll see one day
there is none like me
your TRUE friend is still here
but yet you choose not to see
you seem not to care
as much as i thought you did
why should i still be here?
because i am a REAL friend.
you have crushed me a few times
only to see me come back
you use me when there is no one else
you talk to me to pick up slack.
so here i sit a paper wait
waiting to be used again
will you ever realize
I'm your number one fan?
i keep all this dust hidden
on that shelf you put me on
waiting for a call from you
why am i not gone?
so i sit here today
writing aloud
spilling my heart to you
hoping you hear my sound.
keep from that shelf
keep me close to you
don't use me when I'm convient
I have better things to do
I love you with all my heart
Is it impossible to see?
I try to be the best i can be to you
but what about me?
"its a best friend thing"
is what we used to say
you seem so distant now
what made you go away?
leaving you with this
please know i am here
just give it some thought
and keep me near.
Form:
"melliflous birds are still cooing in the forest of my amber dreams " (by poet)
a gift from my father - on the first day of college,
"Golden Treasury"...A book of poetry...
the first poem I read... "She Walks In Beauty".
I carried that book throughout my life, even when I stopped reading poems...
even when poetry wasn't the priority any more,
Instead I looked at recipe-books - how to improve my culinary skills,
and became almost a champion chef in a few months.
Wordsworth and Browning were far away from my thoughts,
Coleridge? Oh No! Porphyria's Lover, and Ancient Mariner...
did not exist in my world of reality!
how many glorious summers went by ~ how many frosty winters ~
Delicious food, excellent company,
chasing after active children, stressing about job-opportunities,
exotic travels, grandiose entertainment ...
had time for every little trivial thing in the world...but no time for
the book my father imagined his daughter would embrace the most!
then one miraculous day...when even my father gradually forgot
the girl who used to blossom in the world of words, and poetry....
I found my precious friend collecting dust,
neglected, discarded, in the corner of a shelf.. couldn't believe it was waiting for me with a beating heart ~
each and every page came alive with a magical touch ~
still my name clearly visible, handwritten with my father's calligraphic dexterity !
almost shaking to spot my long-lost treasure, I cried!
overwhelmed with emotions, tears fell!
as if a candle burnt and melted.
every drop of tears brought back the lavender memories ~
of an exhilarating past... my passions, my yearnings,
tender dreams of lilac hues never attained, the abandoned path I was supposed to tread ...
a path strewn with lyrics and verses, ballads and
sonnets like blazing auburn leaves of autumn ~
now shockingly empty and despairingly barren.
the forgotten aspirations and never-met goals...the tremendous sense of loss,
of crushing heart-break, of torturous frustration,
all flooded in!
many lonely years have gone by!
melliflous birds are still cooing in the forest of my amber dreams
ultimately my first love has returned !
First Place
May 15, 2021
Inspired by “ He gave her a book” contest
Sponsor: Mystic Rose Rose
My love for you is wider than Victoria Lake
And taller than the Empire State
Now, I could give you more than that
So surely you want me back
Is it a crime? Please tell me, if it’s a crime?
That I still want you
And I want you to want me, too
I wake up at night with you on my mind
Your soul passes through mine all the time
When I realize that you’re not in my life
Warm, salty tears flow from my eyes
My life feels pointless without you here
Every night I manage to shed a few tears
I’ve been in love with you for a whole seven years
But I’m “All Cried Out” over you
The thing is, you really have no kind of clue
Though, it’s not hard to see that you don’t really want to
In my world, only you
What would I do for your love?
No, no, no! The question is
What I would not do?
My friends wonder what is wrong with me
Cause I’m in a daze, from your love you see
I just had to let you know
Got a thing for you and I can’t let go
Reminiscing to “Have You Ever” by Brandy
I wonder what I gotta do to get you in my arms
What I gotta say to get to your heart
I wish you’d understand how I need you next to me
Trying to figure out why you don’t feel the same
Has got me losing sleep
I mean, I look in your eyes and lose myself
With you I always put my salt on the shelf
Cause I know that together we could be beautiful
But you’re not willing to let your feelings go
With each day, my love for you grows
But, you don’t care, I’m sure
You might just appreciate it in all but, I need more
Cause I wanna “Rock With You”
And maybe “Take It To The Top With You”
I just wanna love you, baby
Always thinking of you daily
When you come my way
You brighten each and everyday
With your sweet smile
You really are my everything
And you truly are my happiness
Something special I see in you
I can’t find in anyone else
You make my life complete
Because of you I can’t sleep
A special part of me
And only you hold that key
Though, I only want the best, it’s true
I can’t believe the things I’m willing to do for you
There’s no need to hold it back anymore
I find there’s nothing I won’t do for your love
“I Keep Holding On”
Cause the love I have for you runs so strong
SO PLEASE REMEMBER THIS FOR ME
When you think you can’t go nowhere
My front door, and love, will always be here
Or when life treats you unkind
Please feel free to drop by anytime
Form:
The Antique store
Antiques she adored, a relic he was.
She had a special place for art.
Unfortunately it wasnt her heart.
I'm clinging on to the older things
the antiques of our time.
Sometimes they break or get lost.
I cannot replace them,
no one can replace them.
But I'd rather have an antique
than nothing at all.
At least I can say I enjoyed it at some point.
Teach me to make beautiful.
No beauty can I find.
Search me whole.
Tell only what thoughts appear to be mine.
First comings need an exit of least disgrace.
No one wants to be kept waiting.
For then their time might never come.
Trimmed antiques in dusty lace.
A whole world
Begging for
Change
Daring to dream
Endless altering realities
Figuring that the end
Generates a new start
Hinging on the application of
'I'
Just in terms of understanding
Knowledge of the self
Learning about the
Magic inside all of us
Nearing that
Ominous future
Persistent in the
Quest for a better tomorrow
Reach for it!
Stand up for it!
Teach the young to
Usher in their new era
Vestiges of ours gone
Without a second thought
Xenoliths of a different time
Yellowed antiques
Zealous youth to push aside our failures
When you don't need me,
you put me on a shelf
with your dusty trophies
you never really earned,
and antiques
you never took care of.
I'm up front, visible,
easy to reach
at your convenience.
But I know you would rather
take what you need from
your precious china cabinet.
Just know that when you fumble,
when you slip up,
and when you stumble,
your precious china will break.
But I will still be here.
I have gathered all time tellers,
grandfather clocks, alarm clocks, phones, watches -
to tell you that : I have all the time in the world for you.
It might not be the most sophisticated way
to say that I have an ear for listening and a heart for consolation,
but don't be too skeptical with my methods.
Forgive me, maybe, perhaps, if I can't be so bold and concise.
At least, now we've got all these antiques to talk about.
he is a lover of brokenness.
he likes antiques,
collecting little fragments of things.
he hates breaking them,
so he finds brokenness,
fixes it up a little,
takes a few pieces and leaves.
he's already taken a bit of me,
and unless I shatter again,
he'll leave forever.
By Aliza Kashmala Kiran
Take a glass and fill it half full of water.
We have often heard by some the glass is half full,
by others the glass is half empty.
Now which is it half full or half empty?
It is both,
it is how you look at it.
Now that the world and maybe yourself have gone mad,
how are you seeing this glass?
Half full or half empty?
For the half full group let's take a deeper look.
As you get bored which is coming,
what shall I do?
Clean out the basement, attic or garage?
You say, I don't have a basement, attic or garage.
Great, I know you have a closet or two and many drawers.
We may find things we have been looking for,
We may find things we forgot we had,
We may find things we need to be using,
We may find things we can give away,
We may find things that are a surprise to us.
For the half full group let's take an even deeper look.
We may want to find those old board games and dust them off,
put away the computer and TV games.
We may want to find those old books and dust them off,
remember what it was like to feel and read a book.
We may want to find someone in your home to just sit and talk with.
If living alone then pick up a pen and write a long note to each person you know.
Do your Christmas cards with a special note inside,
be productive with the down time and life you have been given.
For the half empty group let's take a deeper look.
Guess you can sit around and watch TV until you go insane,
scream and holler until no one will listen to you,
have nothing to show for the wasted time and life you have just lived.
For the half empty group let's take an even deeper look.
Will you make yourself sick over this,
Will you walk the floor and not sleep,
Will you come out of the other side when it is all over.
Yes it will all be over one day.
How will you come out of the other side?
May I suggest you have one very special book,
I know you must have this very special book on a dust filled shelf or in a box somewhere.
If you truly do not own this very special book then go online.
What very special book is this you ask,
the bible which has all of the answers to all of the questions you are now asking.
Maybe, just maybe, after reading this very special book for all the lonely days and nights, people will continue to read this very special book for the rest of their lives.
Date Written 3/19/2020
The taste of joy, so crystal clear,
It’s the feeling of a soaring soul,
An escape from chains that take their toll.
Freedom, the right to be yourself,
To speak your mind and not just shelf,
To choose your path and your own way,
And live your life, day by day.
Freedom, the power to create,
To explore new worlds and innovate,
To make your mark on history's page,
And leave a legacy for every age.
Freedom, the promise of a better life,
A world without hate, fear, or strife,
Where all are equal, and none oppressed,
And love and peace forever blessed.
Freedom, the light that guides our hearts,
The dream that drives us to do our part,
To stand up tall and never cower,
And fight for freedom, every hour.
Freedom, the air we breathe,
The wind that blows, the river that flows,
The sun that shines, the bird that sings,
The world that is, and everything.
Freedom, the fire within,
The spirit that soars, the heart that beats,
The dream that lives, the hope that springs,
The will that drives, and everything.
Freedom, the gift of life,
The right to be, the choice to make,
The path to walk, the road to take,
The journey that shapes, and everything.
Freedom, the bond of love,
The peace that reigns, the joy that fills,
The kindness that gives, the mercy that heals,
The grace that saves, and everything.
Freedom, the call of destiny,
The purpose that calls, the mission that drives,
The legacy that leaves, the memory that survives,
The greatness that inspires, and everything.
Freedom, the promise of tomorrow,
The future that waits, the dawn that breaks,
The sky that opens, the horizon that takes,
The world that awaits, and everything.
Freedom, the anthem of the soul,
The song that sings, the voice that speaks,
The prayer that seeks, the faith that believes,
The truth that guides, and everything.
Freedom, the light of the world,
The torch that shines, the beacon that leads,
The symbol that stands, the flag that waves,
The spirit that lives, and everything.
Freedom, the spirit of humanity,
The essence that unites, the power that transforms,
The vision that inspires, the dream that informs,
The legacy that shapes, and everything.
So let us cherish this precious gift,
And let our spirits soar and lift,
For freedom is the hope that we all seek,
The future bright, and never bleak.
Inside each of us, three entities exist.
It has nothing to do with having a tryst.
There’s a triangle consisting of the I, the YOU
And the SELF. By the way, I’m sure this is true!
The I and the YOU within, each live in its own house.
Sometimes they want to live together but don’t know how.
The I has boarded its windows and doors.
The YOU goes its own way and mostly ignores.
Then one day, who knows why? the SELF appears.
“Hey, remember me. I live here too” …And the I and YOU hear.
The YOU has sometimes dabbled with the SELF.
But the I has kept herself locked away, high on the shelf.
The SELF has awakened though and shines its light.
It can’t help it. That’s how it's made. There is no night.
The light eventually peeps through a crack in the wall.
Warming the I fast asleep on her shelf in the hall.
There’s no way now for the I to hide from the YOU.
The SELF has exposed her existence. Did I say? I’m sure this is true!
Now the YOU is curious about his neighbor, the I.
She’s quite beautiful; and after all, they both live inside.
So the YOU knocks on her door even though it is boarded.
The I has done her best to keep her energy hoarded.
But the SELF, without fail, continues to shine its light.
And the YOU keeps knocking on her door. What a fright!
She buries her head under a thick comforter,
But the SELF and the YOU are relentless. They just won’t let her.
She gives up finally and removes all the boards.
Unlatching the chains too, she cracks open the door.
One thing’s for sure, she won’t let the YOU inside.
She tentatively steps onto the porch. The I can no longer hide.
I now declares to YOU that she enjoys his company.
But she can’t let him in until she turns I into ME.
For you see, the I has been asleep for a long time in the dark.
She must now discover herself in the light. Find her own spark.
The reason the I went to sleep in the first place you see
Is because the YOU took her over and wouldn’t allow her to be.
All the while I and YOU are learning about themselves.
The SELF just continues to shine its bright light on their shelves.
It’s in no hurry. Its light won’t burn out. It can wait till they become present.
For the SELF is the Super Energy Light Field that is their essence.
By the way, I don’t remember; but maybe you do.
Did I say? I’m sure this is true!
FOCUS ON OUR FAMILIES
The devil is quite busy in most families today,
Though most of us don’t realize the roles that he will play.
He keeps the parents busy with jobs and on the run,
He keeps the children active with all sorts of worldly fun.
He keeps the bankbook busy with things to buy or bills,
He keeps the schedule full of so many worldly thrills.
The social life he offers with the parties or the drinks
Appeals to many people; it’s so much fun, they think.
He keeps the spirit busy with no time for the Lord,
The more that he stays active, the more is his reward.
He fills us with excuses, which we often think are good
Why we can’t be committed and serve God as we should.
He builds in us a spirit that’s critical to be,
And so we look at others and our own faults we don’t see.
He keeps our lives so active with all his sights and sounds
So that when God might need us, we just can’t be around.
He tries his best to keep us so centered on our self
That far too many hours our Bible’s on the shelf.
He lets us spend our money on things we think we need--
A tithe? We can’t afford it! An offering? No, indeed!
And he’s redefined the marriage in many different ways,
It’s now for “live together” and even for the gays.
The parents and the children just don’t communicate,
Instead it is the TV, the CD, or the tape.
And then there are computers or Nintendo games to play,
Or magazines or books to read to fill the time today.
The young folks are rebellious, defying Godly laws,
But don’t you dare to spank them, regardless of the cause!
Keep God out of the schools, the church separate from state,
And don’t speak out on morals which someone violates.
We could go on much longer with all the devil’s schemes,
And as the days keep going, there are new ones, so it seems.
The vision of the family is so obscured and blurred
That we need it corrected through the message from God’s word.
So let’s focus on our families and how to make them strong,
To reinforce commitments, to overcome our wrongs.
For God first made the family, and He has a perfect plan,
So let’s listen to the messages that come now through His man.
They come straight from the Bible, God’s word, tested and true,
Let’s let them clear our vision, and our families renew!
Written for “Focus On Your Family Month,” Heritage Baptist Church, January, 2000.
The Lie
I am an insect waiting to be squashed!
I stare hard at the ground
as if fascinated, enthralled by it
while, above, eyes of cold-cobalt
wait to gouge and burrow out
any self-belief that might still remain.
“WELL?”
It always starts with that unsettling word.
Ironic as ‘well’ it certainly is not.
“COME ON!! I haven’t got all day!”
The next sharpened remark; his checkmate,
and the denouement usual swiftly follows.
I try to speak but my weighted words
require a wheelbarrow to carry them out.
I am snagged, on the jag, of repeated criticism
which over the years has shrunken me;
diluting my beleaguered confidence.
Most of my childhood years I understood
and welcomed the fluctuations of emotion
however the grammar and punctuation
of every day skirmishes of family life:
the questions marks, the exclamations, the..... ellipses
were rules, restrictions that became impossible to follow.
So here, once again, stands my father’s temper
attempting to confront nay dominate me.
At this point, if my body had consented,
I would have galloped over the nearest horizon
however all my moving parts had gathered together,
loitering, on a corner, spreading rumours and gossip
that had rendered me rigid and immobile!
My only escape, my bolt for freedom, lies… in the lie.
Yes, an untruth, that had lain in the top shelf
of my mind for many troubled days,
fermenting in its own insidious juices.
Now sliding treacherously from the corner of my mouth,
this worded assassin, homes ruthlessly on its target
…my firework of a father.
Suddenly his face tightens, a thought frightens,
his rigid body a jolt of electricity,
as disbelief snakes its way into his thinking.
His anger reddens, his reasoning darkens
and his fists…..boulder.
But the lie has lain down beside him
fabricating disappointment, bewilderment, distrust
deep into the windows of his eyes.. then...much deeper.
Gradually I turn the key in the ignition of my pride
carefully closing my hands, knitting my fingers,
creating a statement of both prayer and defiance.
Later a thought dangles in a corner of my mind,
a consideration, a contemplation of how far the lie
will layer down into my father’s subconscious
before he understands that the lie is a…
Trojan horse carrying … the truth!
Ian Souter
“Lenny”----- Woman who you talking to;
Like I’m some sort of fool;
And why you got to raise your voice;
Like there’s nothing I can do?
“Sue”---- It’s you at whom I’m talking at;
It’s simple as all that;
And my point it must be amplified;
Because your ears seem covered by your hat
“Lenny” ----- Look it here miss short ****;
When I put you to your knees;
You might be chocking on those words;
And fighting for a breeze.
“sue”--- Oh really Mr. moldy pants;
Is that something from Art Crumb?
You’re just jealous of my toy;
But you like it when I’m done.
“Lenny”--- So now we’re talking posit traction huh?
But it’s sure to cause a wreck;
And the one thing that I notice was;
It can’t pick up the check
“Sue” Why do we dance this twisted tango;
To this song called stand by me;
And we’re always looking for the truth;
But we always disagree.
“Lenny”--- I don’t know what the answers are;
But please don’t go away;
Without you there’s an emptiness;
That kills me slow each day.
“Sue”--- Fine but No more floating like a butterfly;
Or stinging like a bee;
I know you’re just a stubborn fellow;
But you’re where you’re supposed to be.
“Lenny”--- I know you’re right my lovely;
But I can’t help myself
I keep wondering how I got so lucky;
But I’ll stick it in a bottle now; and keep it on the shelf.