My dad had thirteen siblings
worked for every thing he ever got
many hand-me-downs but no handouts
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Keep smiling through dark times,
life’s a rollercoaster of ups and downs
~ your attitude your only strength
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Woke, and proud
Now the KKK , ok that's uncool
killing nature? that's so unschooled
Charlie Brown my Hero
he stood for humanity, not D Cheney
have you ever met a cat loving the KKK
between me and you
Bugs bunny would say no way
more woke than any coyote
coyotes
loving genocide, starvation and
a plenitude of banned books
not woke just a narrow minded joke
be woke
not a racist fifty year old bloke
The essence in us is the same as the essence of the sun
Cast to be found and displaced
stake and brave to a common bound
new to a four-point barrel of rolls
because me this search point opening
bumper speed as slow to show eternal
for they came brain to some knowledge
In inspired to college for they are acknowledged
to brave and creep lot and low in each
believe and see us fetch for they are gone
let us see your heart at our neck
so, believe a person outside but won't chief
food of support bait on the court
range to a bird that is frowned abound
girl is spins above order just and open
sidetracked or railroad tracks
walk a pound trail of Bizzle and God
rapper of obtention or complete mindless
nation wise and starting writing to best
space minds earth higher combine special gifts......
They built this world for the other hand,
Every door, every tool, every scissors command.
Ink smears across my palm like war paint,
While spiral notebooks mock me with their constraint.
But I am the mirror breaker,
The rule shaker,
The one who writes backwards
And dreams in reverse.
Ten percent revolution ninety percent poetic evolution
I am the southpaw standing alone
Against a kingdom of clockwise clocks
And right-turn locks.
My hand moves left while the world turns right,
I am the shadow boxer in broad daylight.
Every signature is an act of defiance,
Every handshake, civil disobedience.
They say I'm sinister—
From the Latin for "left"—
But I am the artist
Of beautiful theft,
Stealing moments of pure rebellion
With every stroke of my rebellious pen.
I am differently commanded.
So here's to the lefties, the rebels born,
Who face each day like breaking dawn,
Carving our paths through a backward maze,
We are the 10 percent uprising,
The minority surprising,
The ones who reach across our bodies
To write our own stories.
Tilling the fields ‘neath a hot blazing sun
Removing the weeds when the rain's pouring down
Baling the hay in the heat and humidity
Breathe the dust of the chicken coop, abject humility
A farmer’s right proud of his livestock and crops
He tends them and serves them ‘till the day that he drops
In Texas we have our heroes,
And of them we’re mighty proud—
There’s the Alamo in San Antone,
Where our cannons spoke out loud.
We’re proud to be called Texans,
We’re proud to be called free;
We’re the best state in the Union—
On that we all agree.
Texas is the Lone Star State,
Together we shall stand,
For it’s the folks of Texas
That make this state so grand.
Now we don’t go lookin’ for trouble,
Or talk a lot of jive—
Just living large in Texas,
Free and so alive.
Not claimin’ to be perfect—
Well… maybe just a bit.
Sure, we’ve made mistakes,
But we’re fixin’ all that .
And Texas still has manners,
We hold our morals high.
We love a good tall tale—
But won’t abide a lie.
So come on down to Texas,
Sit and stay a spell.
But cross us or betray us?
We’ll send you straight to hell.
Every day when I wake up
I’m grateful for the happiness waking up evokes…
I’m not only grateful that I woke to a new day
but in this political climate…
I am also grateful to be woke.
.
I
The prognosticator
strung together with
hamstring
not born with
yet acquired
Spill 'pon slip
'bout the damsels
their acuity
their devote
their
profession
From mine last breathe
i share their tenure
with the future
hamstrung'd
Their chattels
shall be
amplified
proud to be an american (in jest)
i saw the mailman steal my letter
i saw the tax man steal my dime
just when i thought things were better
i saw the preacher steal my time
i saw the mexican steal my border
and the terrorist steal my plane
gas so high i can’t afford’er
but still i pump ‘er just the same
my boss became a very rich man
and his boss was richer still
i didn’t understand their master plan
and i suppose i never will
the dog pound repossessed my stray
the ford dealer took my car
it was on empty anyway
so i know he won’t get far
the banker closed my bank account
the gardener took back his plants
wells fargo got just a small amount
but levi’s repossessed my pants
alfani took the shirt off my back
florsheim’s now has my shoes
my new socks are from a gunny sack
least i don’t owe union dues
the plumber took my kitchen sink
the carpenter took my wood
so about this time i’m startin’ to think
if this is bad i need some good
tonight i’ll sleep beneath the stars
and feel a gentle breeze
i’ll wonder why god went so far
just to get me on my knees
© tolbert
“…I’m proud of you…”
The words sting in vain,
The words hit me like a train,
The tears crawl to my eyes,
The protective barrier dies.
“…I’m proud of you…”
My world crumbles,
My words stumble,
My heart races,
My throat rages.
“…I’m proud of you…”
All things lost,
All thoughts are at a cost,
All people don’t exist,
All tears fall without resist.
“…I’m proud of you…”
Get it together,
Get all barriers to face the contender,
Get to laughing it off hurry!
Get the act on so they don’t worry!
“Thanks. I appreciate it..”
They believed the lie,
They will never see me cry,
They will never see the brutality,
They will never find out the assailed reality.
Proud lion stood against the wind
Defying it to do its best
The wind recognized the resoluteness of lion
Admiring his strength and bravery
Not the first element to acknowledge the power of lion
A tattoo that may have been from youth
Could be of a religious reference too
How horrific it would feel you would be blue
Torn from your life family country rights refused
Some may accuse you of being in a gang
Yet KKK and Proud Boys are the very same
Not any of them are arrested put in chains
Double standards are free falling like rain
Red and white glory freely flies
Mapleleaf, strong and proud, framed by bright blue skies
From glacier fjord to mountain stream
Over fields of gold and trees of green
Nothing is more beautiful to see
Than that red maple leaf flying free
The simple flag is our greatest treasure,
Heralding a nation beyond measure
There is nothing I would rather be
than an honored member of this country
Under the threat of pen or gun
We stand together, under this flag, we are one
This is my first time at the Lincoln facility,
And the experience has been wonderful for me.
The staff here has been as nice as any staff could be.
They have been fast, efficient, kind, and super friendly.
Gerardo, our study manager, takes care of us,
And Holly and Amber are as helpful as they come.
There hasn’t been one, single reason to make a fuss.
Everyone here has made us all feel very welcome.
The blood draws by Summer, Jared, and others went well.
With steady hands and soft touch, I didn’t feel a thing.
Aside from an extra chest tab that made me feel special,
The ECG staff always knew what they were doing.
To Stephanie, Rebecca, Kevin, Lauren, and Joon,
Libni, Kylie, Antonio, Abby, and the rest,
Stacy, Jolene and the other nurses’ station, too.
I hope that we have treated you well… you’re all the best!
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