Opt Poems

Monorhyme for Our Time

I cannot make it simpler, plainer, flatter:
do not mistake my words for salesman’s patter:
‘direct’ is not the same as ‘idle chatter’.
You own a thing you never ought to shatter –
you got your Constitution on a platter,
and ‘peace’ beats ‘bleeding’. Never opt for spatter!
The former’s better (trust me) than the latter.
It’s fish that’s nourishing – ignore the batter
(the only thing it does is make you fatter).
We Europeans know. We have the data.
When enemies come challenging, don’t scatter.
Repose is better for your soul than clatter,
the dormouse wiser than the loony Hatter.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Oh good - Aubade

I wake again, the sky still ash
Mostly soft, not quite the weight of lead
seen at five a.m; that god awful flash
of knowing there is nothing when dead

Here inside a room, trying to recall
if sleep or darkness shapes it all
Whiskey breath eats away my face
Oh good! Aubade… finally shows a trace

The afterlife sleeps in, it always does 
Woken up in the usual way
Another drink, a top-up buzz
Lifts my spirits, just above dismay

I fumble around with unopened post
Get dressed, eat flakes, feeling like toast
Hope and despair make a meagre pact:
That life bears fruit, and breakfast lacked

I breathe, then sniff, try steady a hand
light a smoke, or slap on a patch
Gesture defiance, attempt to stand
brave it out past the hallway latch

Go search, or not, for what comes after
opt in, opt out, call on the pastor
Who's high as a kite on altar wine,
“There's nothing” he sobs, “or do you bring a sign?”
His eyes light up, as I offer him a line
And you know! that day turned out just fine.

Summer Challenges

The sun rays from above come into play,
Causing men and beasts alike look thirsty;
They care to stay well-watered every day,
And to protect even each plant and tree.

People opt for light-colored, loose textile,
So they can easily breathe the fresh air;
To aid their body contain heat hostile
Of the scorching sun that's too tough to bear.

Smooth skins apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen,
Wearing hats and sunglasses for their eyes;
They seek shade under the leaves vast and green,
Thanking the sun behind the cloudy skies.

Summer makes us learn symptoms of heatstroke,
Heat-related illnesses say no joke.

Addiction Sense

    Addiction is not merely the repetition of pleasure, but a drug's capacity to co-opt the body’s systems — much like a virus — for its own symbiotic, self-perpetuation.

    When we conflate this bio-chemical entanglement with the psychological effects of behavior, we mistake appetite for affliction and misdiagnose the very nature of human cravings.

    This isn't just "Semantics". It misdirects therapy, moral judgment, and public policy.

Overview'

There are terms humanity uses, phrases words appear."
To communicate emotions, in aim of clarity, or  to help
Verbally in communicating our anxiety, or sense of honour
Even anger, love or fear.' Some terms are formed generically.' Yet others are forged and planned.' To strike
At the spirit, heart and souls of 'right thinking women and
Man' the word ( elites ) is being used to describe indeed
The dregs..' its as dis-informative in the context and concept
Indeed its correction ' must get now on its legs' to 
Highlight those of repulsive ways..Who glorify abuse who
Plan nightmares today.' Who facilitate urusry murder and
Greed, who co-opt and co-erce for the basest of needs who
To be validated are willing to do the vilest' the dirtiest things.)
Scum could do.' I find no word low enough.! No term that
Will match.' To the acts of these lunatics and the sick dreams they hatch.' (They call wicked for good) remember
My friend; (2020?) and just extrapolate' then and only things will
Get on the mend!

Zen mode

divine consciousness 
capsuled in form
employs five electricities 
to look at itself
in childlike wonderment 
awed yet nonchalant 
recognising the illusion
as but a dream template
wherein by feeling contrast
in the dance of polarities 
that as love is imbibed
and wisdom garnered
we opt to remain motionless
in time dissolved stillness 
in the womb of vast space
through whose pores we see
light of heavens from beyond
illumining the totality manifest

Black And White

Black And White

We are given all the pieces
to play and indulge in life’s great feast
outrageous fortunes be dammed! 
Given full reign to  Ego’s unfettered beast
and the moves we make shall 
establish our legacy
Why are we here?
We can either dazzle with brilliance
or baffle with bulls*it
Shameless are unleashings of doubt
only makes a lesser us grow
inhibits our muses 
disables our abilities to sprout
I’m no longer vulnerable
to slings and arrows
validity with magnanimity instead of
sentiments design to disparage
are a marriage of lucidity
Opt for words that heal, and  clarity!
Phrases that reveal
a simple way of life, 
carpe diem,  austerity 
too much comfort makes   a lazy lone
what a poet shall write
shall be etched in stone
in  B
         l
          a
              c   k          

            and 
  
             W
          h
        i
       t
         e   ,)

A Racehorse Named Desire

Should we have walked six miles instead of two?
What else were I to do?
Bowed down and raging
Fuming in our cages
I left it all to you

You wield your power
and I could only cower
to the fear of losing
With you I'm always losing
How awful the decline
Fanfare to jeers
Running into the fears
Stayed by the friend
The cause of my end

They don't know your ache
Torn between familiarity and desire
A lustful spiral
Why is it all dark when it's supposed to be black?
I am better than your lack

Now faraway and mending
You opt to continue what I've ended
The unspoken is so loud
between every line
every pause
never innocent, this cause

I fell here but not far
I pained here but not broken
I wear the stain of what belongs to you
Freedom in manhood
to feast without repercussion
I, scourged for fighting battles
only I know I've won

Because with you I'm always losing
but you're the lost one

so set sail

to invoke God’s grace
opt to remain still
tone down thought flow pace
enter heart and surrender will
ripples of bliss mists embrace
sip soma nectar to heart’s fill

Risk Quote

“If you opt for a safe life, you will never know what it is like to win.”
Richard Branson


strange, I take many risks, but I still don’t know what it is like to win

Sorry, no! I don't want to go gentle into that good night

Sorry, no! I don't want to go gentle into that good night!
I'm not up for a long, unendurable, end-of-life fight.
When it's my time, I'll opt for a quick, euthanistic squirt,
so I'll feel only a tiny pin prick of hurt,
as my eyes bid a gentle goodnight ~ to the dying of the light.

vision mismatch

why do we opt to trauma bond
with whims of relatives
when their expectations
are both selfish and irrational 
and inconvenient to comply with

we should not
yet we tend to do
signalling bondage 
to an imaginary script
we really do not need to follow

Subjective

I know that art’s subjective;
Everyone has different taste,
So one exhibit that I love
Might be, to you, a waste.

The same applies to music – 
Some like opera, jazz or blues,
Country, rock and roll or show tunes – 
What some pick, I’d never choose.

And what about vacations?
Many opt for beach or isle,
While a city with museums
Is a trip to make me smile.

Disagreements are expected
Where the government’s concerned,
But to me, what’s most upsetting
Is the lesson I have learned…

That no longer can we argue
With civility and poise.
Respect has been replaced with
Lowlife nastiness and noise.

This has come to be accepted – 
Points of view can’t be discussed
And the bullies bloviate and leave us
Trampled in the dust.

A Royal Tale

“There is a charm about the forbidden 
that makes it unspeakably desirable,” 
                                                           Mark Twain

Hark! 
does not the exclaim 
of pain reign 
the winds’ swallow? 
skyward clouds of rain 
are hollow. 
untrammel’d, is it heard 
promptly, 
by the maimed; 
airin’ of songman’s floggin’ 
for ne’er shalt again 
the Queen’s ear be tamed  
by lyrics of him, him who sing 
courtship ballads. 
nor thief nor baron 
opt for the Queen’s favor, 
in land of Holland, 
forbid by King’s order. 
erstwhile, 
uncouth poet claims 
her secret sorrow. 
and she? 
his verses so hearted 
of longin’

The way to joy, enjoy on the way

Slow and serene could I walk at the jheel 
If wore on my visage a pleasant smile, 
Relaxed to core, deep-set laity to feel, 
When weary thoughts were left behind to pile. 
A seed of joy within sprouts peace and love, 
What a perennial source in life it is! 
But not for me in rush, ever on move, 
Ever on rise a buoyant sea to seize.  
Life’s leisured walk, a sprint nor blindfold race, 
If to reflect I opt for peaceful pause 
That puts me in prime touch with inmost face, 
Where’s joy in chasing a gossamer gauze? 
   Too bad, it dawns to me on a late day 
   That there's no way to joy, joy is the way. 
_______________________ 
Sonnet |03.08.11, revised January 2025| joy, journey
Poet’s note: A jheel (Hindi) is a shallow, sprawling lake.

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