Filicide is a thing most people
Would rather not think about.
And until this past month
Would rarely even talk of.
Now it’s on everyone’s mind.
They say there are “only” 150-200
Such cases a year in America,
But that doesn’t seem like only a few to me!
The fact 71% are committed by the mother
Also stays beneath the mainstream radar.
I guess we just don’t want to know,
But it’s right there in our face
In our myths and legends and personal stories
(I know I was intimidated by my mother
growing up, always aware she held the true
power and control in the home
and even some degree of omniscience,
and I’m no Sleeping Beauty or Snow White).
Just look at the number of children mothers kill
Before they are even born
(more than a million per year!).
Does that qualify as an epidemic?
An epidemic of what?
Confusion and convenience,
Anxiety and despair,
And above all selfishness.
After all motherhood
Is the ultimate act of selflessness
A doorway of no return.
Which reminds me of all those children.
Now that the sanctity of motherhood
Has been disgraced and debased
Are apple pie and baseball next?
(9/4/26)
As with my first and last nom
This stanza has no 2nd vow'l.
A bit of a mind whirl to omit it
You could go crazy and howl...
It's difficult to think of words
On spot without it.
But you and I can accomplish this.
Don't doubt it!
Voilà! Does this qualify for a task that hooks?
It's not as straight forward as it first looks!
By the sacrifice, of your parents, grand parents siblings children and young adults
Deaths, from 2020 up until now respond..
No less' is it never again? What say you
all.?
The remedy is quite simple, refuse to listen
When the harpys call.' Just look around and
Qualify.. Now no more fear, why not give it
A try?
My poems are all write off's as such.'
They qualify, all true poets will know thus.' I reckon most others, will just roll on by.'
hello soupers... i don't know why the winners' list of 'color my mood' contest has not been published...it is on my contest page though; so for your peace of mind, here are the final results... i'm sure TSP admin is taking a look at any tech concerns that may have occurred during the final locking of this challenge...
congratulations to all winners!...see you guys in my new contest; please follow all rules to qualify... thank you for supporting my creative endeavors!
------------
COLOR MY MOOD
Contest Judged: 5/30/2025 7:03:00 AM
Sponsored by: Nette Onclaud | Send Soup Mail
See Contest Description
Place PoemTitle Poet
Contest Winner Medal 1 White Andrea Dietrich
Contest Winner Medal 1 Aquamarine Bernard F. Asuncion
Contest Winner Medal 1 ORANGE Lyric Man
Contest Winner Medal 1 Aquamarine Constance La France
Contest Winner Medal 2 Grey Craig Cornish
Contest Winner Medal 3 Grey Sotto Poet
Contest Winner Medal 3 Aquamarine Maclawrence Famuyiwa
4 White Regina Mcintosh
4 Orange Anne-Lise Andresen
4 White CayCay Jennings
4 Grey Troy Greece
4 AQUAMARINE Paula Goldsmith
5 Red Subimal Sinha-Roy
5 ORANGE Anuradha Sowmyanarayanan
6 White Shinsaku Ashida
Freedom
The word
Appears to
Qualify the
Freedom which
Cannot be
Qualified...
Feeling from heart, thoughts rested, our awareness
rejuvenates pulse of soul, ever present
in the background, yet cognised in staid stillness …
for those who listen.
Cultivating gentleness, firm our focus,
rapture rises, brought forth by kundalini,
Divine Mother’s caress of sublime delight …
for souls who are pure.
Waited patiently in lines to cast the vote
The turnout was expected; patience was tested
Uneasiness, hungry, and tired enough to be tempted
To leave the line, but frustration heavy in tote
Some feel it was not a honest fair win
Ballots were burned prior to election
Should there been more ballot protection
Oh well, candidate chosen with a jovial grin
Just pray this candidate is honest and true
A lot of talk of what is needed in this nation
Many voters are celebrating with elation
Some voters will continue to be sad and blue
Everybody will not be happy no matter the circumstance
Its the fate of the political experience for voters
Both parties campaign hard with ads and funny posters
Switch. Different party, its like the nation qualify for a refinance.
If I could change the world,
I’d get rid of alarm clocks,
eliminate the endless lines,
send mosquitoes packing, and transform Mondays
into something gentler.
If I could change the world,
sunbreaks would brighten up rainy mornings,
dogs would wander freely in all the parks,
and Wi-Fi would never fail.
If I could change the world,
there’d be no tears, no vestibules,
no “just deal with it” or “you’re being too sensitive”—
and traffic would become a thing of the past.
If I could change the world,
pizza would qualify as a cure,
weekends would become five days long,
and a laugh that is too loud
or sobs in poignant films
would be deemed strong enough
to make a real impact.
No news is good news, they say
I thoroughly agree
I had no news today
No news is good to see
Old news remain the same
As always and before
But I don’t play that game
I qualify no more
I read the items labels
I need to know the truth
How much of carbohydrates
They’re selling me to use
I watch the youtube travels
Without a sound, just views
No mysteries unraveled
That is the best of news
I’m playing cards with AI
I’m reading books I’ve read
I don’t exploit my eyesight
With other people’s bread
And other people’s wine
Which I will never taste
Because I’ve some of mine
My little news to waste.
A mortal I am without a doubt,
a chance of nature from which I sprout,
a blank from the past that never was,
a blank future into which shall pass.
like flickers of sparks blown in the night,
am a brief moment of life in sight,
like bubbles in rain that float and burst,
am flesh and blood that goes back to dust!
transience is wisdom of creation,
immortal not my expectation,
no pleasure of birth, no fear of death,
my sojourn on or under the earth.
qualify me not with names you give,
nor the relations with whom I live,
not degrees that I have earned in schools,
nor trade I did that have taught me tools.
I am a blank as nothing can be,
a soundless whisper is what is me,
the truth of my being makes me smile,
an inch is this life, then blank for miles.
I’m just twirling in the center of my room.
I’ve got way too much to do.
Has that ever happened to you?
I’m assailed, derailed and impaled by indecision.
I can’t find my lucky pencil and I have a final in 90 minutes
I have lab results to qualify and I’ve a term paper to finish.
I have two problem-sets due and I must arrange movers.
Despite my burn-out, I should start packing for move-out.
In order to get our reservations and tickets in hand,
we’ve got to finalize our summer plans.
On my theoretical schedule - I’m behind -
oh, and there’s a mountain of laundry to climb.
In finals week everything is ratcheted up.
and there’s the weighty and unavoidable demands of sleep.
I’m just a girl about to pass out in her room, over-caffeineed,
from chugging a large, iced coffee after 3 hours of sleep.
I’ve read that stress can affect valuations.
I think it’s true.
I twirl.
.
.
Give Paris One More Chance by Jonathan Richman (Youtube ZMF7Jq8xNGI)
I Want You Back by Trijntje Oosterhuis
Make a Rainbow by Benny Sings
Let Her Go Into The Darkness by Johnathan Richman
For those who qualify for this costly trip,
permits will be given for travel to the moon.
Friends, family, or lovers may apply as a unit
for this one and only “out-of-the-world” experience
lasting no more than one week.
Since the moon has already been colonized
by the greatest of our world’s minds,
moon vacations are comparable to
educational fun field trips where folks
will view mankind’s unique adjustment to moon life.
To qualify, people must pass a test
involving simulation of space travel.
Both adults and children must also pass a test
determining their ability to cope with the experience.
Those with criminal records need not apply.
Having qualified, my husband and I enter daily
free lotteries within our designated small region.
With a chance of one out of a thousand each day,
we figure we will get our trip before we die.
We can’t wait to view earth from the moon!
It was said “ good things never last"
Last Last we lost her untimely
It was said “gone too soon"
Soon enough you will live again
Again nothing less of the lessons you've thought will forever live
It was said “painful exit"
Exiting this world was indeed painful
Painful is less of an adverb to qualify the verb ‘pain
It was said “Rest in peace"
Peace that weigh your way to eternal glory
Glory that elude the painful exit
Several testifiers testifies of fervent love
Love exemplified like Tabitha
Tabitha deed never dies hence you shall for ever live Omada.
Family’s purpose respond consent concord harmony oneness
Licenses aptitude ability qualify oneness harmony
Collect travail attempt struggle respond oneness
Ujamaa’s service product consume society produce various
Impetus intents apropos purpose fitting resolve mission
Fertile inspire imagine product qualify oneness harmony
Believe loyalty ability fitting resolve mission oneness
11/22/2023
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2023©
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