I am caught in a loop:
starving for your validation,
yet terrified of being know.
When I open up, you minimize the hurt,
driving me to explain myself further.
But exposure is a threat -
I don't want you to see me.
So I hide.
Waiting for the day
the fear wins,
and I run again.
Are we the shade of the shadow
or a shadow in the shade.
Are we sashaying toward pinhole dreams?
While trudging above an open grave.
It all seems like a giant garish gothic play
acts and players hand-picked centuries in advance.
Hobbled masses humbly kneel on crumbs to pray.
Realizing opinion nor ballot was ever worth a damn.
These two-legged, greedy, greasy snakes.
Eyes made of slag have no vacancy signs.
Clogging up our gossamer soul veins.
They're here to minimize, intimidate.
Project, disappear, dismiss, assassinate.
Straitjacket the masses with normalized madness.
We, the people, are not the ones playing God.
Poisoning water, field, sky...
Smiling in the light while eating innocents.
In the shadow of ritual and sacrifice.
These devils openly mock and taunt us now.
(byproducts of a boiling swamp).
Yellowing the face of flailing freedom.
A billion greenbacks can galvanize
such audacity and shallow bravery.
Of these deeply soiled oligarchs
and pathetic plastic kings.
As humans, we major in mistakes,
And we minor in imperfections.
Although our pursuit may have been innocent,
It was ill advised and still a big mistake.
Some things are done for old times sake.
Some curiosities later create heartaches.
Often, excuses are made to minimize the pain.
But there may still remain an ulgly stain.
This "March of Madness" men make,
Mostly meant to Minimize Momentum,
Must mean our "Maker" made...
"Molecular Miscalculations!".....(DNA + OCD) = SOS
They are far and away
Separated from the day
They light up the night sky
And by morning light, they say goodbye
They do not make thunder sounds
They watch over us, all around
One astounds us in the morning
Another gazes at us in the evening
There are millions making the stary nights
Turning the darkness into the light
We often look up to those heavenly stars
And declare our dreams from distance far
O morning star, may God light up my life
O evening star, may I be free of fright
O stars of night, you dispell the darkness
O stars of night, you also minimize sadness
O stars of night, so quiet but yet with so much to say
O stars of night, kings and queens under the canopy
O kings of the night, I've seen you falling without causing fear
O queens of the night, it's because most times you burn up in the atmosphere. *
Alphabet soup
Brain food
Carrying mood
Daring attitude
Elicit creativity
Fudge negativity
Garner expressions
Hold court
Imagination distorts
Jam uncontrollably
Keen lyrically
Love life
Minimize strife
Never assume
Onward march
Pastel arch
Quintessential reign
Rising star
Setting bar
Tactical quest
Universal goal
Vindicated soul
Whimsical voyage
Xeroxing lightning
Yearning heightening
Zenith procured
GOD'S Grace permeates the universe
EVERY generation matters to God
NEVER ignore nor minimize God's grace
EVIL and dark acts are brought to the light
ADAM lost Cain and Abel, but God gave him Seth
LOSSES plus God's grace yield great gains
OPENED hearts make redemption possible
GOD highlights his forgiveness and love
'YES!' to Rahab the harlot and to Bathsheba the adulteress
"A personal shout-out to our sponsors and their vapid articulations who made this message possible," ... by The Poet.
Poets and poetesses ascribe to a greater call,
in their endeavors to make their chosen path a cure-all
from those who trivialize and minimize their virtuous
field of poetry's righteous domain and their arduous
measures to maintain a certain quality in their works
of art, to the world of writers past and present, networks
that tethers a fragile grasp on absolutes discipline,
and severance from the mundane, effortless, and simpleton,
out from the left field, melodramatic, sugarcoating,
southpaws are unreasonable and consequently, nothing
our opponents that come out from the left field properly
have no concept of true value to offer poetry.
Meritorious lessons, verily memorable
meant by organ grinder or street musician I virtually met
move me to mention my meditations…
Midst his marvelous music
my momentous milestones are filled with hymns*
magnifying the majesty of the Supreme Almighty…
Musing about his magic
my mind is mesmerized with charm of melodious
minutes meandering toward merriment-mirth…
Marked by his impact along what his messages impart
my mentality seems to murmur against
mistakes human nature succumbs to as
my spirit melts toward meekness-moist
mending for magnanimity while aiming for God’s
mercy of faith's flame and truth's frame-merging.
Mentored on functional management
my ministry pursuits never minimize
mighty miracles of the Lord against
mysteries lurking and mockingly
mounting over the last organ grinder’s
monkey business matters.
*Ephesians 5:19 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”
November 4, 2023
2nd place, "The Last Organ Grinder" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Silent One; judged on 11/22/2023
As I sit
I breathe deep, in and out
I struggle to calm my mind
Contemplating; what is this life all about?
I like my life
I love my family and friends
Life is filled with opportunities
I've learned a lot from the losses and the wins
Yet there is something going on
A feeling floating in the air
I try talking about it
It's not to provoke; it's because I care
We tend to take this life for granted
Yet there are victims all across this great land
The irony of this problem
Is we’re too quick to lend a “helping” hand
We fear that our kids will suffer
So we minimize the challenges modernity brings
We rescue them too quickly
They end up not learning a damn thing
So, we attempt to ignore or erase
The guilt and shame within our mind
So we “help” again
Entitling the weakest generation known to mankind
We have lost our ability to discern
Our emotions have completely got in our way
We wonder how this happened
Were completely blind to the road we have paved
As I sit
I breathe deep, in and out
I struggle to calm my mind
Contemplating; what is this life all about?
Greed of all kinds, more for power n’ pelf
Drives men to play many a mischief
It enters our world like an invisible elf
Making one demean his esteemed self
Greed is like an uncontrolled steed
It might gallop in reckless speed
Any time it can kick you down to bleed
Sometimes even causing a stampede
Running after wealth is a wild goose chase
The snobbish, wealth can easily entice
Often they have to pay a heavy price
Greed generates greed and many a vice
Money is seen by some as master and Lord
Sad, they strive everyday to hoard
Even if a lot of wealth is procured
Alas, one never feels fully secured
The root cause of many a malady is greed
We witness the ills it does everyday breed
Minimize the wants and focus only on the need
Thus from monstrous greed, let us be freed
You can’t get it from table of dice:
Your planned riches and Earth’s paradise
When you win some heart you simply slice:
The no-more-sure of eating served rice,
On folk’s dining tables eyes of mice:
To “Friend, come and join us” “Oh! That’s nice.”
So, do release the pressure on dice,
Your keen interest in throws minimize,
Or one day you win and someone dies,
Or fail a hoped luncheon of fried rice,
Family starving plus kitchen mice…
Paradise not from dice thrown and won twice,
Peace of mind not from one thrown and won thrice;
Bad News a dice thrown and one paid sad price.
One sunny morn, a broom is sweeping a floor full of dirt. The dust pan said to the broom, "I will help you!"
"Thank you," said the broom. "Thank you for helping me minimize my work."
"I am not always around," the dust pan said, "...because not all people buy me after buying you."
"Hard to explain and I really don't know why?" the broom averred.
"I wish we can be partners all the time, cleaning the world full of mire," the dust pan added.
The broom panting, "Sometimes you are more useful than me, but I'm glad you're here for me!"
Mother nature cannot quite replicate
The way Your mind perceives the universe,
The beauty's in Your eyes that shapes Your fate -
Precious, though far from perfect, and all Yours.
Well gravelled path, paved smooth, will beckon - yet,
Let Your own compass navigate You through.
To maximize Your dear destiny’s bet -
Don't minimize Your faith and trust in You.
Your attempt to mimic the perfection,
Desire to excel others comes at a cost.
In vain drive to be someone else’s reflection
Your unique charm, that no one has, gets lost.
If we, who make the change, are all the same,
Slim chance for a bright better universe.
Mankind's compelled “making a difference” claim
Relies on diverse minds - theirs, mine and Yours.
March 3, 2023
Our lives have become so simple
Yet stress and anxiety are at an all time high
We’re overweight and depressed
Extremely offended most of the time
We’re wealthier than we’ve ever been
We have more food than we can eat
We’re metaphorically and literally fat
We can't see our problem, nor our feet
We lack perspective
All of our hardships have been taken away
Our human nature that was developed in another world
Is counterproductive in modern day
We have to begin to take responsibility
Regain what our parents stole in our early life
Suffering will then become a lesson
We can minimize our strife
Life is now simple
The problem is our tiny point of view
Clarify and evaluate our place in this world
Then you can appreciate the human sacrifices that came before you
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