When under the gun how can one
not be outdone by nepotism
or overcome by favouritism
altho' the norm they're no more
than a form of terrorism
a nebulous opponent none can fight
on the human landscape
naught but a blight
from which we can't escape or run
any self-respecting someone would shun
and as for me you see
I was obviously yet definitely
born in the wrong place
at the wrong time with the wrong face
seeing promotion from outside in the cold
not a foot could I put over the threshold
what with doors slammed progress jammed
out of my depth in over my head
can't get a look-in may as well be dead
Fear is life's only true opponent
Fear is a clever treacherous adversary
It is known throughout history
It has no decency
It respects no law or society
And above all, it shows no mercy!
It searches for the weakest spot
It finds it quickly and then it
Puts your life in a knot
Fear begins in the mind and
Makes you blind to the power of your destiny
Fear disguises itself in doubt and
This gives way to the avenue of disbelief
Fear brings a level of anxiety
As your emotion starts to weaken
Soon you forget that there is a beacon of hope
You think you cannot cope but
In reality, you are stronger than any storm
As an individual of time, the heart must
Reach its prime against all odds!
The sun sets as evening approaches but
Nothing can stop the sun from rising in the morning
And even though fear is life’s only true opponent
Hope is ever present and hope shines in the darkness
Mark Frank
Copyright 2023
"The Opponent"
Something familiar
breezes across
the smile
you balk
at the familiarity
for a very short while
the opponent
opens your windows
stealth like on pause
softly
sensuously
like a cat
for a split
second
violation recognised
and blithely
dismissed as
ridiculousness
yet like an
unwelcome intruder
slides the door open
en garde
lethal
messages
despatched
and plundered
sliced, and red
the comeback
cleanly
murdered
(LadyLabyrinth / 2023)
Only History
You name historical figures
And the they endured
It’s almost you wanna be them
Named you a wannabe
Reliving your trauma
Making it mine to suffer
As they did and you do
But remember this dear victim
They were all somebodies
While you’re a nobody
Pain is pain trauma is trauma
Status is status a loser is a loser
Enough said there
from LIZARD SNAIL 124K
Nick Armbrister and other writers
out late 21 or early 22
Draw?
The loser is just that
Till he becomes a winner
The winner is a winner
Till he becomes a loser
Take you till I hit you
Knocking you out cold
Then you later hit me
Turn the tables round
It’s a big circle isn’t it?
Round and around we go
Loser winner winner loser
Is the result a draw?
from LIZARD SNAIL 124K
Nick Armbrister and other writers
out late 21 or early 22
Strong opponents to beat,
A dozen of them, at the very least;
Their profiles on ‘Great Champions’ Sheet,
Each claimant to some dreary feat,
One of them, you dare not even greet,
Because he could you still make a mincemeat,
If he a chance picked and it was damned neat!
Out of your body squeeze clammy heat
And a ravaged one toss into a field of wheat.
J-ust overmatch the opponent,
O-vercome the cruel covid;
M-itigate the adversary,
A-bate the enemy so
R-abid.
M-ightily overmatch the opponent,
E-liminate the formidable foe;
J-eopardy of being infected,
I-s causing worry and woe.
L-et your health and wellness win,
L-ose not the fight in torment;
A-lleviate the morbid menace,
N-icely overmatch the
O-pponent.
Topic: Birthday of Jomar Mejillano (June 20)
K-iller opponent in silence
A-ttacks the humankind;
T-he threat of hazardous horror
H-asn't been far behind.
L-et the killer opponent
E-vaporate into oblivion;
E-rase the onerous outbreak,
N-egate the crowned contagion.
S-anitize your both hands,
U-sing soap or detergent;
E-liminate the dreaded dirt,
S-top the killer
O-pponent.
Topic: Birthday of Kathleen Sueso (May 30)
R-abid
I-nfection
S-ilently
A-pplies
B-acteria
O-f
N-asty
G-rime
A-dvancing
D-readed
O-pponent
Topic: Birthday of Risa Bongado (May 24)
Form: Vertical Monocrostic
M-ystery
H-orribly
I-mplements
N-asty
E-pidemic's
C-oronavirus
A-s
N-otorious
O-pponent
B-rutally
A-pplies
S-ickness
Topic: Birthday of Mhine Canobas (May 10)
Form: Vertical Monocrostic
I see him flinch and I figure out his next move
Because I have studied him, and now have the ability to persuade.
We dance the dance, but both know I may win
For I took the time to understand him, and study him
And in his rush to share his prowess with me,
He neglected to learn anything about me at all.
His flinch is gone quickly, but not quickly enough.
We both know the battle is over because I took the time
and made him comfortable, and earned his trust, and learned him
Whereas he knows not his opponent and has no clear direction.
I smile, not a smile of encouragement,
a smile of victory.
This he recognizes….
T-he
R-abid
I-nfection's
C-oronavirus
I-s
A-ttacking
R-esidents
A-s
M-ysterious
O-pponent
S-preads
Topic: Birthday of Tricia L. Ramos (April 24)
Form: Vertical Monocrostic
H-azardous
O-pponent
N-icely
E-vades
Y-ou
L-etting
Y-ucky
N-astiness'
O-utbreak
D-isappear
I-mmediately
Topic: Birthday of Honeylyn H. Odi (April 23)
Form: Vertical Monocrostic
D-efeat
Y-ucky
A-ttack's
N-astiness
Z-one
I-mmediately
A-s
N-ose
N-icely
E-vades
P-andemic's
R-aunch
A-voiding
D-eadly
O-pponent
Topic: Birthday of Dyan Zianne V. Prado (April 17)
Form: Vertical Monocrostic
D-roplets
A-nd
R-abid
L-ink
I-nfect
N-ose
G-iving
&
D-isease
A-nd
I-nvisibly
S-triking
Y-ou
A-s
N-ecessary
G-uidelines
U-pend
L-ethal
O-pponent
Topic: Anniversary of Darling & Daisy Angulo (April 09)
Form: Vertical Monocrostic
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