A misfit in Liverpool
I think of oranges when I see a painting by Constable of a morning sun
that looked like blood orange dripping nectar down on some
fishermen trying to catch eels on the dark surface of the bay.
There were sail-ships too ready to hoist sail in the morning wind.
When I lived in England, I met several police constables, most
of them, nice blokes, but during the miners´ strike, they became
radicalized, they had a good talking to by those higher up and
were also promised plenty of overtime.
John, a police constable fifteen years on the beat and no promotion-
a friend of mine refused to partake in hitting miners over the head,
he continued his lonely beat, but at the station, he was ostracised,
a lonely figure in need of a friend- He often came into my cafe after
hours, we drank vodka with orange juice, lamenting the time we lived in. John took early retirement, and I sold my cafe.
plane, bus 'n train
elevators 'n escalators
revelers 'n sale-day crowds
is where we meet
STRANGERS!
looking away,
with no eye-to-eye contact
no nod, wink, grunt of 'Hi's',
never ever recognizing
the sharers of the commons
shoved together
withdrawn incognito.
Here for thee be :
The Ten Commandments of Crowd Etiquette
Thou Shalt Honor Thy and Their Personal Bubbles
Thou Shalt Not Partake in Olfactory Betrayal
Thou Shalt Not Greet Strangers with a Nod, Only with Indifferent Defiance
Thou Shalt Yield Thy Seat only to the Ill, with-Child, Frail, Aged & the Lovely
Thou Shalt Stand Thy Ground, Letting Others Squeeze Pass Reluctantly
Thou Shalt Not Covet Another’s Seat or Space
Thou Shalt Keep Thine Phone Silent at Thine Side, and Do Not Speak
Thou Shalt Bear No Grudges for Shoves, Humphs & Grunts in Tight Spaces
Thou Shalt Honor all Queues, Despite their Length and Thy Lateness
Thou Shalt Yen the Zen of Strangers in Common Humanity
As an emerald, ruby, and sapphire,
You are most meticulously adorned.
Beyond boundless sacred zeniths higher
With Him, you are gloriously enthroned.
You, in His sight, are a mystic treasure.
You're more precious than the most precious gem.
His love for you is beyond all measure.
Aren't you above the creational helm?
There's merged in you His image and likeness.
It's this that makes you a unique jewel.
You're made to partake in His holiness.
In Him, like pure pearl in a shell, you dwell.
Written: March 22, 2025, for contest sponsored by Craig Cornish
***********************
In the heart of my kitchen spices exude their aromatic allure
a harmonic blend of flavors coddiwomples mute grief. . .
cimmerian saudade in emeritus pickles, a nostalgic taste
longing for a whiff of jasmine s p e c k s. . .
the acridity of blue cheese, the poignancy of bygone days. . .
lavender aromas snip from vessels of proclivity
hidden under an ominous cloud of r e m o r s e
on par with brimstone-soaked steam,
harmony strives to alleviate concealed pain
pleading palms to purge passed-over prose
as seclusion seeps still as a slow-spreading sickness…
Scathed by sadness solitude simmers silently,
In this mixture, marvelous magic manifests for mending
spicy ambrosial nuances partake in a gracious w a l t z
pain intermingling with delight
a buffet embellished with dishes of acrid herbs,
the core character intertwines with previous fails
textures and fragrances intertwine
to create a tapestry rich in pain and d e l i g h t,
harmonizing sadness and joy in life's tangled web.
They're the murder
The puppet
For disgrace
Steadily bullying
Whosoever fails or loses the race.
That's the game
They play
Murdering
People's confidence
By belittling.
Steadily irritating
Whosoever they hate
Because they don't act
Or misbehave like them
Steadily murdering
Who don't support
Or partake in their game of mediocre.
They don't want you
To elevate without them
Even when they're not supportive.
They know your history,
Victory and glory; so they want to be part of it
They always want to be part of your glowing
But not part of the suffering and criticisms.
They want to partake in your glory and victory
Even when they don't know the story
They always watching, while you do the working
Then come in, when you start earning.
If they can't do or have it;
They won't let you, rather they disrupt it.
Be the game changer not the fighter
Never let them chain or tame you
Vibrate higher, so you can fly higher
Liberating yourself from toxic people.
People ruin good things or people,
If they can't have it or be one.
Raise your game highest and tightest
So mediocre people can't participate in it.
Love is a beautiful thing
A thing of thy soul
the song we all sings
But only few
Have the courage
To dance to thy beat
The rhythm of the heart
Without retreating even amidst the heat.
No hate no love
Just like no wound, no healing
Love in the air
So undisguised
For it's Valentine's day
Love the reason for the season
Some give it unconditionally
Without seizing or leaving
Many fake it, just to partake in it.
In my country
Nigeria to be precise
Babe will block babe
Just to post main babe
People date for sex and things
Not love, just for fun and funds
Our country na cruise
Many take advantage
Few do it from them heart
If you broke
Them go dribble your heart play am like ball.
They sit at your house like gunslingers
well too bad I rent an apartment
you lost it pal try again later
black coffee
got a latte I was sipping on and it just hit me
no bite no vigor
just weak soft creamy syrup
yeah there’s wind in the sails but no catharsis
maybe that's what's wrong with kids these days
they got their iced coffee Frappuccino bull
no gumption
no Moxy
they want their cream and their sugar
maybe that's why I’m bitter
bitter coffee straight black like my soul
even the crema betrays its true intention
god the kids these days just wouldn’t understand
maybe its just over here in the states
I wonder if the kids in the UK still partake in tea time
guess I should read up on this or maybe just strike up
a conversation ha yeah right. Talk about on brand
nothing too relevant
I like the sound of that
makes me think of how poetry ought to keep itself
or at least the poems I write
need to read
need to go to the library
I need to feed once again on the blood of knowledge so that I might fill my veins
with more of this sweet sweet writing juice
LIFE MATTERS
In this world, we live in
Color and race should not define who you are
Fighting and hating just leaves big scares
Each day we should live with no fear
It seems hatred is growing year after year
What will it take for us to live in peace
And stop harming people because of their beliefs
What we need more now than ever is love
And to be able to forgive and always put down the gloves
We should always live within our heart
And never have hate tear us apart
What matters in life comes down to is the choice you make
And the type of living you partake in
lost on a path that doesn’t exist
the life taken out of the living.
the blood is still warm
but her life runs cold.
no where to go
no where to be
but a dweller in the attic
above the sea,
of stars on the wall
and the symmetrical window panes.
they are all fake
an illusion to what is really hidden,
outside along the horizon
is where her future lies
but if no steps are taken
then tomorrow will be the last sunrise for her to partake in.
Is it acceptable to blaze so fervently?
Aflame with longing for the unattainable
To crave melting in their embrace
An emotion beyond understanding
Persistently yearning for their words
To partake in the exchange of energies
Uncover the details of their day
And unravel the threads of their plans
To yearn for a replay of our last encounter
Reliving the moments of entwined lips
Bodies swaying to a well-known cadence
This sensation ensnares me
Every attempt to escape is futile
You draw me back, compelling me to ask:
Is it permissible to burn with such intensity?
An Auld Lang Syne Happy New Year!
Let me tell you ‘bout my body parts
While in sobriety
They’re as old as an old farts
Oh, auld lanxiety
(chorus)
For auld lanxiety my dear
For auld lanxiety
We’ll try not to think ‘bout it
For auld lanxiety
And surely walking now’s a chore
And surely society
Will push me down on the floor
I have auld lanxiety
I no longer run about the docks
With naïve gaiety
Because my legs are just like blocks
Since auld lanxiety
(chorus)
For auld lanxiety my dear
For auld lanxiety
We’ll try not to think ‘bout it
For auld lanxiety
We use to partake in many sports
We loved variety
But my parts are now the rusted sort
Oh, auld lanxiety
But I still can lend a trusty hand
With propriety
And we can drink just like we planned
For auld lanxiety
(chorus)
For auld lanxiety my dear
For auld lanxiety
We’ll try not to think ‘bout it
For auld lanxiety
(fictional body parts)
Time to pack our suitcases and leave winter with the snow on the ground
The beaches of Waikiki await are arrival, soon to greet us with their warmth and tropical sounds
A lifetime of fond memories soon to be created and stored for all eternity
A relaxing week of fun and entertainment is now a virtual certainty
The colorful waters of the ocean lapping at the shore greet us as our feet hit the sand
Surfboarders ride with the waves with their sculptured bodies and beautiful tans
Tonight a luau is ours to partake in, an island feast with hula dancers swaying in the night breeze
Tropical drinks abound, and I am sure will go down with ease
After dinner, a stroll down the beach with the moonbeams lighting the way
A trip to paradise what an experience, I wish I could stay
If you need to get away I promise this is the place you want to be
A smorgasbord for your senses just wait and see
The mind is all things, the architect of our waking dreams. To dream is to experience real things, they aren't as fake as they seem. It only seems the world is full of things composed of things that don't matter. I argue that everything is relevant in this realm of endless matter. Etherical thoughts solidify constructing the world we see. What's outside is really within, internal thoughts come to be. I'm expressing what's inside of me, so you partake in yourself. We all eat from the same tree; this world is fruit of the self.
Enter the maze at your own risk,
find yourself within your intuition;
Walk with haste the wind is brisk,
follow the heart with satisfaction;
Kicking up that back road dust
sharing peace on nature’s behalf;
Skip for a spell feed wanderlust,
carpe diem carve your own path;
Partake in more than one side quest,
there are things yet to be touched;
Adventure is so easy to digest,
fly when your cheeks become flushed.
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