The US tariffs declares the plot is lost
shielding the tired and old, from the new kid on the block.
Focusing on the past admits failure to compete
with others on a level playing field.
It says we've lost all
hope in our future innovation
and bright sparks in our populace
to lead us to our prosperity!
Gambling with WWIII
Let Putin feel the power
Of the USA poker face
Invite Ukraine to the table
Stack the chips up high
Welcome their citizens
With open arms
We already send them weapons
We already send them aid
They're already a Democracy!
Let's add them to our flag
With a Star worth more than money
Worth more than fame
You've forced our hand
Let's plan to create a new US border
You won't mind if we're your neighbor
War is not a game with
Toy soldiers, greed, and the need
To level out the playing field
Stop Russia' s own manifestation
Of mind-boggling pretentiousness
Watch out Putin, here we come ...
The 51st state: Ukraine!
Finally my blood began to coagulate,
signalling that wounds inflicted by fate had healed,
paving way for my presence, to pass through heaven’s gate.
I played out my hand as of the cards, I was by destiny dealed,
equal in both joy and pain, dancing gleefully in the rain,
knowing God holds my hand on life’s playing field.
Detached from mundane thoughts of loss or gain,
I dissolved my wayward ego in the womb of love divine
and thus Holy Spirit magically cleansed my soul’s sin and stain.
As polarities orbit each other, I see how love for love does pine,
in timeless time entwining blissfully under God’s oneness sign.
The playing field level
your words versus mine
A race to forever
embedded in rhyme
The score has been tied
neither side giving ground
Both phrases and couplets
inscribed to astound
It’s late in the game
when a stanza takes off
Outpacing the others
no images lost
As darkness approaches
but one voice remains
Returned from the heavens
— posterity claimed
(The New Room: February, 2024)
Born to a fantasy of wide renown,
When elves and dwarfs shared among men.
While seeming to dwell upon the topic of,
Who had the most powerful weapon back then.
This common theme has continued throughout,
Mankind's journey to open the doors of time.
By pursuing the ideals of bigger and better;
Constant improvement, and ignoring the crime.
Back and forth, the battle has raged, between those
To make a bigger gun, & those making a stronger shield.
Because there's always a place the soldier is needed,
and no one wants a level playing field.
Such wisdom in the art of war,
Drives the politics in nations and states.
Where the infamous, ' Military-Industrial Complex ',
Is the real demon in front of hell's gates.
This is the reality that comes with power,
As in, the bigger kid often carries the bigger stick.
And while most hope the big kid is no bully,
One rarely knows if he's guilty... or just really slick.
Docked your own can it tote-n-land home
Locked unknown antidote to amp the mode
Clamped-n-sewn your stamp will show
Plan it slow in a long tramp you know
Boat the load and camp your stow
Go for broke to brand a glow
Sold your joke now stand-n-soak
Hold folk accountable and count your table
Don't poke a mountable route make a staple
Flow on ropes tight like cable
Low-n-behold a dangle blame angle
Won't hold me-n-strangle in a shame shamble
That’ll level the bevel playing field left disheveled
Hips shoveled as his groveled
It’s bliss behold miss molted
Changes skin manages kin
Estranges them bandages again
Rearranges agendas to gain
Free ranges attendance scars remain
Eerie chances dependence hard refrain
Flee dances of steep step stances
Weep wept lands won’t weaken plans
We keep kept cans to seep sunken strands
You deserve our adoring praise
For You alone are worthy of honor
Making our playing field more even
Gifting us with strength and power
To vanquish our enemies' schemes
We cannot express our thanks enough
For Your name is our provision
Let Your favor and mercy flow
This year will be one of recovery
Be still and know, trust in Your plans
For all that You died for us to gain
We will inherit in Your holy Name.
From the miniscule, to the grand vestibule,
Balancing forces are summoned to equate.
Where one seems to create more distance,
The other looks to attract and deflate.
Just as water in a vessel
Seeks to find its very level.
There's gravity about humanity to
Wrestle, among God and the devil.
Constantly pushing and pulling,
Recognizing difference while being the same.
While maintaining anonymity,
Avoiding any credit or blame.
With a powerful nature to compare,
As if a regression to the mean.
It looks to a level playing field,
That's righteous and clean.
So as we hold all of our heroes,
High above the earthen mound.
Knowing the praise may be short-lived,
If there was no equal ground.
‘Your wish is my command’
he said it just as any woman in love
might want to hear
He said it like he was evening some score
somehow leveling the playing field
but said like he might really mean it some day
He said it like he was divulging some deep secret
that might otherwise never see the light of day
yet here was one step closer to a goal or destination
He said it loud and deliberate
so I could not misinterpret
or pretend I did not hear
‘Your wish is my command’, he said
so I’d know that somewhere below the surface
he meant it to some degree
I knew he liked the gallantry of it
and might even want it be true
so I took the gift as it drifted onto shore
Lone and castaway, a care package of sorts
I didn’t know what I might do with it
but I gathered it under my wing and
offered it a home within my heart
AP: 3rd place 2022
Posted on September 24, 2022
As we get older,
Our ability to demolish what is on our plate in short order,
Becomes a pleasure no longer,
And without teenagers around to even the playing field,
Leftovers would continue coming out of left field,
For ever and ever until we find ourselves under the field.
But with teenagers around,
All us non-teenagers get to stay longer above ground,
As the food served up is fresh,
With nothing left on any dish,
That can be served as leftovers,
Which reduces the dangers,
Of obesity for us non teenagers,
From eating portions that are over generous.
Now all we must do is reduce the size of our drinks,
To celebrate the end of leftovers,
If teenagers are around,
To keep us longer above ground.
With Light infused into our daily reality,
we abandon rage at our common banality,
and words flow with warmth as a fresh summer's honey,
for wretchedly poor, for the ones with the money.
Silver spoons feed the rich and privileged classes,
and common cutlery for the great unwashed masses.
We pass our lives on a small twirling planet,
some hearts tiny as quarks, and some hearts hard as granite.
We are not all the same. We are not equally blessed.
Some of us don the finest linen, some, hardly dressed.
Smiles alone level no uneven playing field.
Only Love can bring us Light. Heaven's Light does Love yield.
.for public domain
You might be riding a wave of awareness.
Withstand, endure, suffer, and strive.
Maintain a clear mind to unworn insights and wellness.
Once you've reached your last objective.
Always remember that life isn't a level playing field.
You get what you want or need every now and again.
Despite how awful or dismal the situation appeared.
You'll get beyond anything if you just have faith then.
In moments of hardship, we bear mistakes.
It is essential to maintain a firm grip on the reins.
First Place Contest Winner
Written: July 13, 2021
A Brian Strand July 18 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Brian Strand
Cupid tapped my sailor on the shoulder,
“That one…” he pointed at me.
He aimed at me, sent the sailor’s seabag too -
we shoot to the top of Everest
with all its dangers.
We tumble and climb, tumble and climb
until at last we are forever in each other’s grasp.
My sailor proposed too fast with a golden ring.
I accepted after he begged for two weeks.
Mind over matter was defeated by head over heels.
I had been shy. If we had met earlier we might have passed by
each other but the playing field was all new. There was adventure
in his soul and longing in my heart to soar to new heights.
The sailor’s seabag was heavy with his past
but he found love and loves (children and grands)
and a God that was bigger than everything.
Tulips delirious dance, twelve with big fat leaves. Tulips alive
with life not death. Roses hold beauty but tulips last.
A sailor’s ring surrounds my finger. Ebon-etched leaves, unique.
Cupid’s bow in shadowbox - a little worn and bent in our heart shape.
2/7/2021
Knowing one could have been a contender,
Is sometimes enough.
Knowing that the opportunity was given,
Is sometimes enough.
Knowing that it was yours to keep or to give away,
Is often enough.
Knowing the playing field was as even as was humanly possible,
Is often enough.
Knowing all the information given at the time was correct,
Is often enough.
Knowing there are opportunities elsewhere,
Is often enough.
Knowing one has the freedom to choose,
Is often enough.
Knowing all these things,
Is often enough to keep the green eyed-monster at bay.
Knowing all these things,
Is always enough to look back without anger.
Knowing all these things,
Is always enough to widen your circle.
Knowing all these things,
Is always enough for you, to perform kindly acts.
Knowing all these things,
Is always enough to tell you, who you are.
Knowing all these things,
Is always enough for you to act kindly to others,
who are not there yet.
Knowing all these things,
Is always enough for you to spread the word.
Tera” The Game of Life
We all play major roles in this set-up called the game of life.
Us trying to get rid of certain gamers is only causing us strife.
We should be thinking about the purpose of each and all.
Start referring to those others as “We” instead of “Y'all”.
This Game is not our strategy, so why sacrifice our dignity?
Giving thought to these facts, I will take the liberty…
There is due diligence of the hoodlums, so fine worth in the hood.
Need for the vigilance of gangsters, so let them form gangs.
Unfair Rules that must be ignored, so bring forth the ignorant.
Acknowledge the acts of the haters. Progress is made from the efforts of debaters.
Everything we need is present and accounted for and found in this sphere.
If this is not so, then, why else are they on the playing field? Why are they here?
And if you do not think these strategies are in active play… then wherein The “F”antasy have you been!
………07142020
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