With nerves of steel and iron will,
I rolled a boulder up a hill.
With perseverance, guts and grit,
I almost reached the top of it,
but the rock then went the other way,
and as I speak to you today,
I must tell you the reason that
I stand before you, pancake flat.
A highly trafficked public toilet:
Leftover excrement,
tissues of tears.
Hiding from an ex,
or meeting a perfect stranger.
Throwing up nerves of steel,
collecting hand sanitizer.
Making it just one more hour,
writing initials all over the stall.
The last moment of the night,
looking at the next event flyer
under the hand dryer smiling.
Phone numbers,
hearts, and bragging rights.
This venue has changed names,
the bathroom stayed the same.
Oh the stories it would tell.
You have nerves of steel, like everyone wants.
I admire your casual nonchalance.
A falling piano could not erase
the serene countenance on your face.
Heavy burdens they bare,
Hearts thrive on showing care.
Heads strong with nerves of steel.
Help many a hurt heal.
Heroic yet humble
Have no cause to stumble.
Heroes - not all wear capes!
She wore uncertainty on her shoulder
hesitation held back her shoes
Twitches split her left forearm
these emotions seeped into their news
Let him explain, she considered
nerves of steel need not preparation...
In the pit of a parental boardroom
one word ~ eloped ~ sealed their doom
Have fun playing baseball, hint number one
finish the season though you’ve never won.
Can’t win if you don’t play, work on point two
find the skills you need, then practice them too.
The count’s at three, try to pick the right clothes
Not too tight pants and zippers that will close.
Moving on to cleats with thought number four
be sure they fit, that’s what sizes are for.
And rule five: no cussing, use your tongue's brake,
backtalk, name-calling are habits to break.
Watch your temper, ideal number six -
you’re not that feisty cat which your dog sic’s.
As for step seven, it’s long overdue
learn from your mistakes, know what NOT to do.
Keep the dugout clean, we’ll call this clue eight
squelch farts, don’t throw up cause you over ate.
Tip nine; learn when to bunt and when to steal
It makes for more fun, but takes nerves of steel.
One more then done with these suggestions ten -
if you chew gum, spit your wad in the tin.
World Series fades, into new pastimes we buy
...Roll on, past baseball to a creed we can live by,
...Respect for others grants our ego fond goodbye.
October 22, 2022
Welcome to 5th floor burn unit,
UCSD Medical Center.
This is the sign you pass,
As you enter.
They ask what happened,
How did you get burned?
They do this all with
Care and concern.
On a scale of 1 to 10,
What's your level of pain?
Your cussing, swearing,
You cry and complain.
They take me to a place,
They call wound care.
Nothing here is familiar,
You're not aware.
Wound care is a special place,
Full of pain and narcotics.
Stool softeners, I.V.'s with
Liquid antibiotics.
They scrub the burns with
Soap and water.
It's like leading the lamb
To the slaughter.
The cries and screams,
You can hear down the halls.
They bounce and echo
Off the walls.
You come to a place of awe,
For the angels that work in this place.
The scrubbing of the burns,
You learn to embrace.
This is where you find out,
You have nerves of steel.
There is a method to the magic,
In this place to heal.
Turbo1904
A woman can be a sweet and gentle soul
With a heart of gold and nerves of steel,
She can hold her own in the worst of times
And let you know exactly how she feels.
She can tell you who and what she is like
To define her in words is seldom necessary,
For her beauty and charm is self-evident
Nothing about a woman is at all ordinary.
I define her as one of God’s best creations
Grandmother, mother, sister, aunt, friend
A nurturing, loving, phenomenal delight
The best women I know, a delightful blend,
I never define a woman in biological terms
She is so much more than eggs and sperms.
[definition of a woman]
HONORABLE MENTION
Written April 11, 2022
For "u Choose" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Anthony Biaanco
Who cares when one cries?
Who cares when one dies?
Corpses are found scattered all around;
The earth is turned into a burial ground.
Pretend not to be dumb;
And your body has gone numb.
If the mayhem continues, who will survive?
Forget not your right to live.
Become not the living dead;
Rise to the occasion instead.
In togetherness, we heal;
Have the nerves of steel.
Why wait for a Samaritan!?
It starts with you;
If not you, then who?
Your Peace Message to the World Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Anoucheka Gangabissoon
Date: 03-04-2022
Place: 1st
An advanced man in his time
feelings tamed everything adjusted
intricacies tucked away in pockets
there was no fur, it was all in leather
nerves of steel, heart of iron
had a golden health
silver thoughts,
did not bear children,
only manufactured them
He didn't have love, he had possession
stopped being people, to be
a project... !
It was lived in pure hapiness, because happiness
he simply bought
in the market !
It felt so good to see your face,
With you came a little peace in this chaotic place.
Your silent yet your presence is noticed by all,
As you approach me GOOSEBUMPS my flesh begins to crawl.
I'm taking back your close your so near,
I can't believe your standing in front of me your here.
I'm hoping you don't pick up on the excitement I feel,
I learned that I have nerves of steel.
You’re smiling and seem to be at ease,
I'm holding my breath saying breathe, breathe, breathe.
When your gone I process and think it went well,
I'm wondering what you think with you it's hard to tell.
Then you sent a text and some pics that made my day,
I was a little worried I did not want to chase you away.
A friend said you handled that and I'm proud of you,
I wasn't sure how I would react no one knew.
No reason to be Angry, Prideful, or Unkind,
Thank You for bringing peace of mind!!!!!
TURBO1904 9/12/2021
Poetry's a tough business, you know
Each new poem reinvents the wheel
Staring at a blank page takes nerves of steel
'Rest on your laurels?' -- You'll have nothing to show
I've heard that writing poems is an escape
But why flee something easy to do
Like nuclear physics or perfecting Kung Fu
Let the scoffers try to get into 'poetry shape'
As for me, I'm off for a round of pre-poetry drills
~ So my pen is primed to deliver thrills and chills!
A man from Ohio called Neil *
Was known for his calm nerves of steel.
So when, out in space,
Darth Vader gave chase,
He said 'Cool it, guys,no big deal!'
18.07.19
* Neil Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio and was renowned for keeping cool under pressure.
* Darth Vader for non Star Wars fans is an iconic villain
Breezy and gallus with nerves of steel
In him the team's heartbeat you could feel
He was the brains of that Celtic outfit
For that he deserves this little tribute
Exploiting an opening with defence splitting pass
Which allowed his teammates to step on the gas
Not being a man to turn the other cheek
Retribution he chose often to wreak
A little man but a giant on the field of play
Bertie Auld's name on Celtic fans' lips will always stay
Here was the Lion with the necessary bite
Always and ever ready, and up for the fight
Uruguay 0 - France 2
Uruguay bad day
Les Bleus take total control-
France-Belgium showdown
Brazil 1 - Belgium 2
Brazil's own-goal gaffe
brilliant Belgium bests Brazil...
Belgium comes of age
Sweden 0 - England 2
Swedes hit Pickford wall
England's clean sheet victory
"...coming home" -maybe
Russia 2 (3) - Croatia 2 (4)
Russia's journey ends
Croatia show nerves of steel...
showdown with England
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