i might have acted like i didn't care
but i always dreamt of you coming back
~ ultimately it had to be your choice
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Liberty, freedom, unchained
Plenty, riches, love sustained
Repentance,Forgiveness, not stained
Abiding, sheltered, in safety contained
Faithful, fruitful, on the right path remained
Knowledge, truth, wisdom, attained
From sin, self, and evil refrained
True Love, delight, joy, unfeigned
Heaven, eternity, eternal life, gained
They fortified themselves into an Alamo of their own making
Walled themselves to keep the weird one out –namely me.
I thought it was brilliant, and it was totally unexpected.
I knew them, and had no idea they were this creative
I had grown up with them, in spite of them, fading them.
My little sister wanted a window, but she was outvoted
They had dusted off their sandals, they wanted nothing to do with me
I had been born an interloper, and had remained an outsider all my life
Which was okay with me, for I never felt less welcome anywhere
Okay, maybe one place, but that was just for a couple of seconds.
Finally my little sister escaped the family status quo
She had never believed in my evilness, for she knew me
She remembered some good things; maybe all good things
I had adored her, and frankly, you cannot fool a child.
She looked me up, and we began a friendship.
It was an opportunity for me to worm my way back.
But I was an eagle now, no longer a worm,
So I allowed the walls to remain tightly bound shut
Glad she had created a door though.
“Bless the life, God
Our lives, our living
Our property and children
Turn them into tranquility of our eyes
Amen.”
I was listening to his voice
There was something, some emotions
To the fullest, when he speaks like that.
From the window, I could sense the outside world
Life is still on, although the hour is late , so late now.
The mystic night was yet unfolding in layers of emotions
And we were longing for a life, loved and peaceful and normal.
What are you thinking? A voice asked, softly and politely, a gentle voice
What was I thinking? I was not sure about that. I was never sure about that.
A mysterious night could leave a lot of mysteries unsolved, untouched with her.
I was at the doorstep of that unsayable verse, and the rest remained a silence.
Within Shattered Heart, Remained A Fire Still Lit
Beset by grievous sorrows, his past full of sins
facing darkest evil truth, not mind's wishful spins,
what else could a deeply broken man try to do
when lamenting soul was tormented by loss of you?
Life carried on, nights became his one true solace
finding retreat, leaving behind this world's malice,
with his memories of your smile and glowing face
prayers cried out, that no other could your love replace.
Within shattered heart, remained a fire still lit
from its leaping flames, came echoes sent to transmit
depths of soul's faith in someday again meeting you
living life as one, as you both had planned to do.
Always, reality's hope crashing, came to bear
Epic loneliness, he is here, while you are there.
Robert J. Lindley, 7-15-2018
Sonnet, ( Death's Epic Pains That Remain)
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poems_poets/poems_by_poet.aspx?ID=33466
Trump Remained Manure for Sure
Trump surely remained manure for sure;
He was more than we could ever endure;
Could hardly wait,
For him to ventilate,
Would stay in closet completely obscure.
Jim Horn
Hope, A Little Remained
She walked the creaking floors of the rat-infested room,
trying to remember what tragedy had sent her to this shabby place.
Her heart felt the desperate pains, that lost love sends in aching waves,
praying her sleeping infant does not wake and cry out from its feverish thirst.
He paced the cold cell, languishing in deep misery, heart shattered,
each step an eternity echoing curses, a testament to his broken pride.
Although thousands of miles apart, he felt her loss, never-ending sorrows,
dawn would come, priest would take his last confession, yet Hope remained.
7-03-2018
For Silent One's, eight lines of fate, when you wonder if it is too late.
Author Dana Redricks
December 1, 2016
I have seen a lot of things go on in my life
I have seen many people come and go.
I had days when I didn’t know where my next meal was
coming from and days when I felt so alone, but through
it all you were there to catch me when fall and through
it all I’ve Learned to trust you knowing no matter how
I felt you would never turn your back on me.
Even when it is was hard for me to see that in you;
I had the victory you remained faithful through it all.
Through it all, through it all, you remained faithful and
never turned your back on me.
I had many people let me down and when I needed them
They were nowhere to be found, but you were there
Through it all in the good times in the bad too, when I’m
happy and when I’m sad. You remained faithful through it all.
Nearer To God Remained
While away all of the time had waned
Things exist that are hard to be explained
Bothersome behavior having no beat
And only thing will do is self-defeat
Nearer to God I have always remained.
Jim Horn
The lighting, it was over-bright
yet still his face remained in shade
'tis better not to children fright.
The lighting, it was over-bright
but with the falling of the night
he would emerge when none would aid.
The lighting, it was over-bright
yet still his face remained in shade.
dwr 6/19/2016
There was only a little confusion left in his breath,
cheap whiskey had dried up nearly everything but
the stale taste of her name.
So, he spoke it.
The small boy inside,
the one with the bruised cheeks
and chubby lobes.
The quiet one.
The one that had nothing but love, for everyone.
In that moment, he was revived. He reached out.
For his friend.
But she was across town.
She wouldn't recognize his voice anyhow,
she had never met this boy.
She had only seen the scruffy,
clench jawed face of the man that
boy had become.
The broken spirit
and bitter joy.
The drunk.
The anxious.
The shattering facade.
He lights a cigarette and looks to the sky,
wondering if she'd answer the phone.
What she would say?
Is there anything left to say?
He decides that there is.
It's the only words willing to brave
the journey. The only truth that remains.
"I'm sorry."
-James Kelley 2013, All rights reserved.
“What He Got, For Loyal He Remained”
A man dead here,
A man dead there,
A sword fallen here,
A sword fallen there.
Bewildered,
The general looked around,
His heart,
Beginning to thump and pound.
His army was torn,
His fighters were dead,
And everyone would question,
By whom were they lead.
His heart told him to stay,
His mind told him to go,
The face of the king,
The face of the foe.
The battle would be lost,
Not necessarily the war,
The confusion of illusion,
The wrath of thor.
As he stood there thinking,
His heart divided in to,
His army was fleeing,
What should he do.
No, he decided,
What a coward he would be,
If a losing battle,
Even he would flee
So he picked up his sword,
And struck upon the enemy,
Turning a losing battle,
Into a great, big victory.
He didn’t live to see the celebrations,
For he was killed by astray arrow,
But his achievement was great,
For the chances were narrow.
His name went in history,
His bravery others did crave,
And what he did get,
Was a decorated grave!
My Love for You Remained
What torment is there greater than love so feigned?
For despite great pain, my love for you remained.
Thy passions, ignoring dreams, lust sought and claimed.
Crying, all the while, my love for you remained.
Dry promises, from your lips, enslaved my brain.
My heart clung to hope; my love for you remained.
Although thoughts void of hope endured great pain.
As joys slipped away, my love for you remained.
Secret lovers revealed that our love lie stained.
Contrived excuses, my love for you remained.
Friends told me that believing you was inane.
But without complaint, my love for you remained.
Lust, like a lion flaunting his mane… ingrained.
Wishes not yet won, my love for you remained.
Mockery, criticism and anger reigned.
Desertion came; and my love for you remained.
Adoration ended as my heart maintained.
Defeat proclaimed. But my love for you remained.
© Name withheld for the Contest
January 29, 2010
Poetic form: Ghazal